INKED INHERITANCE: STORIES STITCHED ACROSS GENERATIONS - MANALI DESAI

 
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“…the journey never really ends. It simply moves on – in memories, in stories and in the people we love.” 

'Aboard the Memory Train' - Manali Desai

This beautiful quote could well encapsulate the premise of Manali Manan Desai’s twelfth book, ‘Inked Inheritance: Stories Stitched Across Generations’, a book that she wrote to honour her grandparents who had played such a significant role in her childhood, and life. As she puts it, “Inked inheritance is for these four people – all of whom I wish I had more time with.”

The cover glows in sepia, evoking a feeling of nostalgia and memory, with three generations all holding books in their hands, smilingly engrossed in their contents, which again symbolises Manali Desai’s fascination with books and reading, which link the past and the present.

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The book is divided into four sections – Roots tethering her to the people who shaped her, Wings denoting selves stitched together, Storms referring to the griefs carried by human beings and finally, Shelter the love that remained.

Most of the stories in the book lend a feeling of euphoria and well-being. The emotions are myriad – joy, sorrow, nostalgia, regret, envy, affection, hatred, betrayal… and the characters live life like all of us do, going through all the feelings and experiences that we all do.

When I started reading this book, I felt that I was delving into a bowl of sunshine. Various queries arose in my mind, about the situations the protagonists found themselves in, and the solutions offered by the author which were simple, yet effective. The quotes that were peppered across the narrative were apt, shining a light on the stories, enhancing them further.

“I didn’t think silence could be this loud – with birdsong, rustling leaves, the creak of an old chair or the soft turning of a page.” (From ‘Peace Between the Pages’, a deeply emotional story of love and longing)

And again – “Living in his friend’s shadow had felt like living in someone else’s season – waiting endlessly for sunlight that never quite reached him.” (From ‘Coming Out of the Shadow’, a tale of frustration and envy)

Some stories deal with the conservation of nature and the environment. ‘A Birthday Wish Come True’, ‘From Soil to Soul’ and ‘To Storms that Stay’ deal with memories, and the attempts to relive the past in the present day, leaving the reader with a feeling of intense nostalgia and a yearning for the days gone by. 

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The presence of grandparents in many stories, either in person or in spirit, their valuable life lessons, the principles that they lived by and their relevance in the lives of their grandchildren make these stories a joy to read. For example, ‘Old Soul, New Scroll’ and ‘Peace Between the Pages’ are two narratives which start in reluctance and hesitation and end with absolute surrender and joy, an indelible bond between the old and the new generations.

Four stories stand out from the others as they explore genres different from the latter, maybe because they were written on prompts given by Authoropod – 'Honey(Un)moon', 'The Borrowed Umbrella', both evoking a sense of horror, 'The Banyan Tree Brew' where the theme is murder and 'A Season of Belonging' which touches on the supernatural element, stories which highlight Manali’s versatility.

While I was browsing through all the stories, some of them nestled in my heart, easily turning into my favourites - 'Once Upon a Page' where nostalgia, love and longing lock arms, 'Old Scroll, New Soul' and 'Peace Between the Pages' where relationships ebb and then move on to fulfilment.

However, my all-time favourite story in the collection is 'Stitched With Words' where Malini’s grandmother stitches old fabric along with her words, and it is only at the end, after a lifetime, that her granddaughter understands that dreams cannot be outgrown, but tailored, a sentiment that is so true for all dreamers and doers.

“For the longest time, this book existed as scattered notes, half-finished drafts, forgotten ideas and stories waiting patiently for their turn. Then they took shape slowly and steadily over the past two years on my blog. Today, I finally get to share it with everyone.” Manali Desai

Going through Inked Inheritance was an experience – heartwarming and poignant, joyful and nostalgic, thought-provoking and at times, painful, Manali Desai has put her heart out there for the world to see. In the beautiful story titled ‘Feel-In-the-Gaps’, the protagonist, Rishan, loved his Dadu’s house – “… the smell of freshly baked cookies, the glow of fireflies in the backyard, and the sound of old stories told from a creaking rocking chair.” A quote which could very easily be the theme of this heartwarming book!

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 PS: I was honoured to be part of the virtual launch of Inked Inheritance along with Nilshree Damani Yelulkar on the 13th of June 2026.

  

WHERE WORDS FAIL, MUSIC SPEAKS!

 
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“Music is life. That’s why our hearts have beats.” Cecily Morgan

In times immemorial, music existed! Not in the manner that it does today, but in the rustle of the wind, the whispering of the greens, the gushing of water and in the crescendo of a waterfall! It nestled in the buzzing of bees, in the melodious chirping of the birds and the sonorous rumbling of thunder… these were, perhaps, the first sounds that inspired the very idea of music. In fact, it was Shakespeare himself who said, “The earth has music for those who listen.”

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The very first musical instruments were believed to be bone flutes that came into existence in the Upper Paleolithic era. Different civilizations – Egyptian, Greek, Chinese, Persian, Mesopotamian, Middle Eastern and of course, Indian, had their versions of ancient music that influenced the world.

In olden times, early man in hunter and gatherer societies also used crude instruments like rattles, drums and shakers out of gourds, reeds, bark and skins.

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There were also towering figures who were credited with creating music, such as our very own Hindu Goddess Saraswati, Shah Jamshed in Persian/Iranian culture and Jubal, the descendent of Cain in Christian mythology. In Chinese mythology, it was the famed musician Ling Lun, whose ear for tunes caught the songs of the mythical Feng Huang birds from where he invented the bamboo flute. The Muses in Greek mythology were also believed to play a part in having invented the arts, including music.

India had a rich repository of ancient music mentioned in Sanskrit, right from the four Vedas to the works of Kalidasa. Ilango Adigal wrote extensively about music in his Silappatikaram, which is considered one of the earliest Tamil epics. It is a glorious tale about the handsome young merchant Kovilan who marries the loyal and virtuous Kannagi, but is led astray by his passion for Madhavi, the beauteous courtesan. Music plays a significant role when the lovers sing about their love for each other and betrayal, in a music festival dedicated to Indra, the king of the gods. Later, they forsake their love and Kovilan returns to his faithful Kannagi who forgives him. She gives him her priceless anklet so that he can make some money to start life again.

When Kovilan tries to sell Kannagi’s anklet to a greedy goldsmith, he is unjustly accused of stealing the queen’s anklet. The incensed king has him executed without a trial. A heartbroken Kannagi storms into the king’s court and proves that the anklet belongs to her. She throws her anklet which breaks open, showering rubies on the floor. The queen’s anklet contained pearls within.

The king, filled with remorse, kills himself, and his queen, unable to bear the shame, soon follows suit. Kannagi’s fury still burns high and she curses the city of Madurai, burning it to the ground, till goddess Meenakshi, the guardian of Madurai, calms her down. Later, Kannagi was worshipped as a goddess holding an anklet in her hand, in parts of South India and Sri Lanka.

The Story of an Anklet - Silappadikaram - The Indian Quest Digital

Mian Tansen’s name is synonymous with Hindustani music. He was a celebrated musician in the court of Raja Man Singh of Gwalior who gave him his first break. Later, he was patronized by Raja Ramachandra Singh Baghel of Rewa. His amazing musical talent and his knowledge soon reached the ears of the Mughal emperor, Akbar. At the age of sixty, Tansen became one of Akbar’s Navaratnas, one of his nine gems, and he was given the title of Mian by the emperor. Tansen went on to compose many classical compositions which form the bedrock of Hindustani music. He was also a brilliant instrumentalist.

Tansen - Instagram

Every year, a national music festival is held near Tansen’s tomb at Hazira, Gwalior, in his honour. Selected exponents of Hindustani classical music are awarded with the Tansen Samman on the occasion.

There are legends galore about the virtuosity and brilliance of Tansen’s musical talent. It is believed that he could cause rain by rendering the Raga Megh Malhar and light lamps by performing Raag Deepak. His talents also included taming wild animals by singing to them.

Another famed singer and poet was Mirabai, whose bhajans about Krishna are sung even today with fervour. Mirabai was married to Bhoj Raj, the crown prince of Mewar, and her adoration for Krishna made her in-laws look upon her with rancour. She would immerse herself, singing devotedly to her blue god, and maybe it was her devout worship that made her escape attempts on her life by her husband’s family. It is said that they tried to poison her pretending to send her a glass of nectar. Miraculously, the poison did turn into nectar, or so the legend goes. They also promised her a basket of flowers, sending a snake to bite her, but again, she escaped harm. It was her music that kept her happy and it was her songs that have survived to this very day, though there are doubts about whether all of them were actually penned by her.

Mirabai - Wikimedia Commons

I come from a family of music lovers who firmly believe the Hans Christian Andersen quote which goes: “Where words fail, music speaks.” Right from the rich and meaningful melodies rendered by Hemant Kumar, Mohd. Rafi, Talat Mahmood,  Kishore Kumar, Geeta Dutt, Asha Bhonsle and Lata Mangeshkar, to the more contemporary music makers like Sonu Nigam, Shaan, Kavita Krishnamurthy and the delightful Shreya Ghoshal, to bands like Colonial Cousins and brilliant voices like the husky Usha Uthup and the evergreen Arijit Singh, music has played a stellar role in all our lives.

When I was growing up, Beatle mania was still prevalent, but there were also albums by ABBA, Boney M, the Carpenters, Kenny Rogers, Neil Diamond (a favourite), Cliff Richards and so many more. The one movie that I can watch repeatedly is, without doubt, The Sound of Music, the story of the legendary Von Trapp family.

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And to end, if there is one song which brings a smile on my face and sets my feet a tapping, it is the brilliant song by Gene Kelly in which he dances ever so delightfully… Singing in the Rain. For those of you who have not seen it, here is the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0asbGJbLKc

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This list of mine is only a drop in the vast ocean of music, and as I hum a song, priding myself on being a bathroom singer, there is only one quote that comes to mind by the inimitable Henry Van Dyke.

“Use what talent you possess. The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.”

 This post is  a part of Mixtape Mood Blog Hope hosted by Manali Desai and Sukaina Majeed under #EveryConversationMatters.