Subhechcha Ganguly 
Subhashree is a dedicated writer, thinker, and enthusiastic reader, as well as an honest book reviewer. She’s a talented wordsmith, adept at crafting poems and puns, and she’s known for her gift of weaving words. Since childhood, she’s displayed a natural talent for writing, often scripting skits and dramas. Her artistic abilities extend beyond language; she’s a skilled rangoli artist, creating vibrant patterns with colorful flair.In the beautiful chaos of parenthood, Subhashree’s endlessly curious child ignites her quest for more stories, always seeking new adventures before the current one concludes. This passion fuels her writing journey, where her goal is to bring joy to children through captivating tales and inspire them to create their moon shots.After her tenure as a research associate at IIT-Madras, she now resides in Jamshedpur with her family, where she turns dreams into reality through her passion for writing children’s nonfiction and fiction.
Without further delay let’s dive into the insights of the wonderful story “Manicure in Mundirikuppam”
There is the determined Nila who wants to change the destiny of her Amma and her entire coastal village plagued by blackened marks from manual cashew shelling (based in Tamil Nadu).
In many rural parts of India, manual labour remains a persistent challenge despite efforts to mechanise industries. “Manicure in Mundirikuppam” tells a poignant story of human struggle and resilience. The tale unfolds against the backdrop of cashew nut shelling, a labour-intensive process involving manual labourers using hammers and pebbles to crack the tough outer shells. From harvesting the cashew fruits to painstakingly drying and cracking the nuts, the work is gruelling and exhausting.
Exposed to caustic cashew nut liquid, their hands bear black marks that flare up at the slightest touch of chilli or washing powder. Often, they subsist on bland diets, and their lungs suffer from nighttime coughs due to the dusty work environment. Despite these challenges, A young girl Nila’s unwavering determination to bring a resolve to her mother – is what the story is about. Packed with riddle, suspense, and twist in the climax, the tale has everything, both children and adults would enjoy. The grim reality behind the white beautiful tasty cashews- is brought to you as a delightful read.
Q1) Before diving deeper into the story , tell us about when you first began writing ?
Ans My writing journey began at a young age, around seven years old, when I started crafting elaborate notes to defend myself or apologize for mischief or wrongdoings, even when my parents frowned upon them. This evolved into writing one-liner birthday poems and keeping diaries, which I meticulously re-read, corrected, and modified, tearing out pages to rewrite them with improvements in mind. Despite no one else reading my work, I found joy in the process, learning from my mistakes and refining my writing. It was like my own secret world of words! Years later, after the birth of my daughter, her endless curiosity for stories reignited my passion for writing, prompting me to create new tales before the previous ones had even ended. It’s amazing how her bedtime stories turned into adventures for both of us!
Q2) What was your first writing piece?
“Dawn of twenty – shall make you dwell in plenty.” This was a one-liner birthday wish I wrote to my school teacher who turned forty. Later, in 7th grade, I won the second prize in the poetry contest titled, “If I Were the Prime Minister.” That was my first full-fledged poetry. I still hold it dear to me.
“Undo all the terrorism,
Unearth terrific decoitism
Undue favouritism
Unfair nepotism- and the
Ugly linguistic chauvinism
I shall show them the exit from our country.
Forward or backward be you no matter.
Formula be “place for the better”
Peace and harmony county wide
Law and order take them into their stride
Job for all nation’s goal
I shall put my heart and soul
To convert India into a place worthy of living on the whole.”
Q3) Scholastic is a very high notch publisher, how was your journey and what was the feeling when your story “Manicure in Mundirikuppam”, got selected .
Ans: I submitted my manuscript with 556 words, hoping it would become a children’s picture book. After three months of waiting anxiously, I toyed with the idea of self-publishing. Then, Scholastic responded to my email: ‘Your story sounds interesting, and we want you on board.’ Just one line, but my joy soared. They later asked me to turn the 556-word manuscript into a novella. It took me over 8 months to add layers, bring in more characters, work on character development, transitions, and fix the climax. And that’s how ‘Manicure in Mundirikuppam’ came to be.
Scholastic publishers are pioneers in children’s literature and they are the ones who brought HARRY POTTER across the US. I was happy when they embraced my work too.
Q4) How did the idea of such a unique story strike in your mind ?
Ans It’s based on a true tale from Tamil Nadu, posted on Facebook, revealing the unseen struggles behind the white cashew nut hand processing. The story follows a girl growing up in an environment, where placing food on the plate is a challenge. Against village customs, she walks 16 kilometres to pursue her higher secondary education, aiming to change her mother’s fate and bring resolution. The moment I read it, tears welled up, and I knew I had to bring it to the limelight. I wrote it as a chapter book and credited the real girl and her family in the end.
Q4) Tell us briefly about the story in the book ?
Ans The story revolves around a young girl of 9 who grows up in a coastal village of tamilnadu – Mundiri Kuppam ( Fictional name- Mundiri- means cashew, Kuppam means low dwelling area) where in the entire villagers toil by manually hand pebbling cashew nuts and they are paid by kilos. Their hands are seeped by black marks- that would cause a burning sensation. The girl tries to bring a resolve by educating herself amidst many challenges, one including walking 8 kilometres up and down to pursue higher secondary education. The story highlights the mother daughter- bonding and their monumental sacrifices and helpless situations.
The book has an interesting riddle that garnered the attention of many.
On a remote mountain cliff, a revered hermit possesses the gift of foresight. Two young boys plot to challenge him by concealing a bird, intending to contradict his prophecy regardless of his response. Their plan: if the hermit predicts the bird alive, they’ll crush it; if dead, they’ll release it to the skies. What did he tell? The hermit ‘s gift of foresight would go away if he would lie at any cost. Without losing his powers and saving the life of a poor bird could he have answered? The answer to this riddle is the crux of the whole story.
Q5)There is a mention of the Tribal Goddess in the book. Tell us more about that perspective ?
Ans: Yes. The tribal goddess they worship is called Goddess Kateri. The divine mother of healing. Many villagers of tamilnadu- worship demigods and demi- goddesses by different names. Kateri is one such form they put their faith into. Many rituals are being performed by them which the story colourfully highlights in words. They sing a hymn praising the goddess and seeking her continued blessings. They perform a popular dance- gummi where women form a circular motion bending and clapping their hands in glee.
Mulaipari is a heavy weighted earthen pot that holds 9 sprouted grains which they carry on their heads during procession. These lines come in the book.
“With Mulaipari on our heads, dear Kateri,
You bear our burdens, setting our troubles free!
Whirling gracefully, we join the Gummi dance,
without a hint of dizziness by chance.”
Q6) Writing a children’s book is one of the most tedious processes as it includes a lot of time to get ideas into the young minds. What was your preparation surrounding it ?
Ans : Writing a children’s book is a meticulous process that demands both creativity and adaptability. To prepare, I ensure my creative flow remains uninterrupted and fresh. However, the challenge lies in customising my ideas to resonate with specific constraints and conditions the children grow up. Despite this, it’s a responsibility I embrace, as we become like parents while narrating stories.
A balanced perspective is key in connecting with young readers. Incorporating both the bird’s-eye view and the worm’s-eye view in narration. The book should reflect their thoughts and the unspoken situations they may silently endure.
Books that achieve this become favourites, shaping young minds profoundly.
Q7) What is that one message you want to deliver via the book?
Ans :My story titled Manicure in Mundirikuppam,” from the book “Regional Stories of India,” serves as a poignant reminder of the privilege our children have in receiving top-notch education. Through its pages, young readers are confronted with the harsh realities faced by less fortunate children. This book not only encourages gratitude for one’s blessings but also instills a desire to help those in need and remain grounded in empathy and compassion.
Children often perceive life’s journey as a straightforward path from school to home and back again. However, reality is far more complex. This book not only opens their eyes to the world beyond their immediate surroundings but also imparts the importance of viewing life from both a bird’s-eye and a worm’s-eye perspective, fostering empathy and understanding.
