by Vashti Bowlah

Cover Art and Illustrations by Vashti Bowlah
Cover Design and page layout by Preddie Partap
Foreword by Professor Ken Ramchand

Nostalgic, evocative and entertaining! These words sum up the 16 stories in this debut collection which center on the lives, culture and heritage of East Indians in Trinidad & Tobago, appealing to readers from ages nine to ninety.

These stories reflect on the humble lifestyles, struggles and hardships of the lower income groups where parents often made tremendous sacrifices to ensure that their children have a chance of a better life.

There are stories about love, loss, relationships, traditions, arranged marriages, domestic abuse, folklore, and many other themes we can all relate to. Some of the stories take us back to when aajee sat by the chulha to make roti, children played hopscotch together, or having a black and white television meant you were part of the elite. There are stories to make you laugh while others will make you cry.

Kumar Mahabir

is a full-time anthropologist at the University of Guyana (UG) and Fellow of The Eccles Centre for American Studies, British Library (2022-23). He is a former Assistant Professor at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT). He obtained his Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Florida (UF). As a doctoral student, he won a Florida Caribbean Institute Award, an A. Curtis Wilgus Grant, and an Organization of American States (OAS) Fellowship.
Mahabir received a National Award (Hummingbird Silver Medal) for his contribution to education in his country in 2011. He was among 50 recipients who received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the UWI Alumni Association.
Mahabir is the author of 12 books to date.

Under The Peepal Tree

by Vashti Bowlah

Book Info