Shitala : How India Enabled Vaccination

Written for #1000reviewersclub by @IndicaBooks Sridhar Potaraju's Maxims from Mahabharata showed that the essence of a book is not a function of its width and [a:Mitra Desai 21051926 Mitra Desai https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] knocks it out of the park with Shitala, bringing to light history in a manner that is irrefutable and simple. Despite the arduous historical research put into the work, the author puts the matter forward in a way that is accessible to all and sundry irrespective of age, experience, and most importantly, political alignment. While not a full-fledged academic tome, the book nails its assignment of introducing the general population to the history of the worship of Shitala or Sheetala and the real-world impact of the practice of vaccination it accompanied in the Indian subcontinent long-buried by colonising forces. All claims are firmly backed up by a number of references in research papers.The author does not shy away from the real-world pain the world went through during Covid-19 and uses it as a backdrop for the story. Tara, the stand-in for the colonised, has a conversation with her retired grandfather about the lack of results, reaffirming her faith in western universities, which leads her through a wormhole about the practice of inoculation in a pre-vaccine Bengal with Shitala, the Goddess of Diseases used as an icon of hope and goodwill while the ticcadars attend to the people through means of inoculation. The conversation is easily relatable, homely, and the reader will quickly find themselves identifying with the highs and lows of Tara's emotions as she navigates through this historical labyrinth, uncovering information buried under a mountain of omissions and dismissals. Her stupefaction is a reflection of your stupefaction; her anger is yours.An excerpt from Howell shows the methodology of the inoculation:“When the Bramins begin to inoculate, they pass from house to house and operate at the door, refusing to inoculate any who have not, on a strict scrutiny, duly observed the preparatory course enjoined them. The cotton, which he preserves in a double calico rag, is saturated with matter from the inoculated pustules of the preceding year, for they neverinoculate with fresh matter, nor with matter from the disease caught in the natural way, however distinct and mild the species. From the time he begins the dry friction, to tying the knot of the bandage, he never ceases reciting, some portions of the worship appointed, by the Aughtorrah Bhade, to be paid to the female divinity before mentioned, nor quits the most solemn countenance all the while” - An account of the manner of inoculating for the smallpox in the East Indies, by J. Z. HolwellThe density of the unraveling is elegantly mitigated by the simple conversation between a grandfather and granddaughter. This method of relaying important information to the layman is far superior to hours of lecture referencing books thicker than the reader's waist. It provides the option for those interested to dive deeper and for the rest to bask in the revelation. One can easily imagine this book being turned into a 30-minute movie and screened at various schools, colleges and learning centres to dissipate the darker clouds and not let historical, indigenous novelties die with time. It is a much more positive manner of dealing with decades of decay under foreign rule. I cannot think of a better manner in which topics as electrifying and revelatory as these are conveyed to the general audience, and can only hope more subjects of India's past from mathematics to philosophy are brought to life in a friendly but rich style.To conclude, this is a not literature form of chest-thumping, nor does it seek to show how the understanding of science in Ancient India is comparable to today's ventures - but to ask the perfectly reasonable and powerful question - “what if we were left alone?” What would have been the current state of science in India had we not been endured colonisation and cultural genocide over centuries? How would our mathematics, medicine and physics have been had we progressed on our own terms? History is a deep subject and it is often difficult for a non-historian to validate every sentence or harder, note its absence, but with the presence of all the notes referenced, it can be said beyond reasonable doubt that India was on the right path long before what is normally accepted on a global scale. Shoutout to Subbu Publications for the neat and aesthetic publication. Fits in perfectly within the margins of an acceptable gift without making it seem heavy-a-task to appreciate. Covering this book up with any assortment of wrapper would be an absolute shame.