Lalji’s Nairobi
By Nitin Nanji
Publication Date: 30th August 2023
Publisher: Independently Published
Pages: 282 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
British Gujarat, 1905.
Despairing of the social injustices and crippling taxes under the British Raj, Lalji, 19, flees to British East Africa hoping to build a better life using his natural business skills and acumen. But he soon finds unexpected dangers in his new home- turbulent politics and war with German East Africa- as well as some surprising opportunities. A combination of luck, coincidence, and his flair for commerce lead to early success.
Then, just as he is at his most vulnerable, a new threat emerges from where he least expects: from within his own family.
Can Lalji beat overwhelming odds to fulfill his hopes and ambitions?
A story about survival, faith, ability, humanity, and a deep desire to succeed.
Excerpt
The Mombasa-Nairobi train was due to leave at six in the evening. Premlal had prepared a light meal they could have for supper and a bag of mangoes with bananas for breakfast. He provided the details of his friend Raman Bhatt who ran a guest house for vegetarian travellers in Nairobi.
The ticket office sold first, second and third-class tickets. First was for whites only, Second had bunks and accommodated three to a compartment while Third Class was hard bench seating with barred open windows. Being on a budget they opted for Third and were relieved to see three other groups of new immigrants on the platform. One was a newly married couple. The husband had been in Nairobi a year and just returned by a European steamer with his bride.
Lalji was intrigued to see the contrast between the man and his wife. He was dressed no different from most who wore either a dhoti (traditional attire for men) and shirt with a pugdi (turban), or substituted the dhoti with a cotton patloon (trousers). The wife, however, was wearing a scarlet and gold sari pulled down at the front into a veil so no more than her mouth and nose stud were visible. She was heavily bedecked with gold bangles and a Mangal Sutra, her matrimonial necklace. She could have been wearing her wedding outfit, thought Lalji. They were clearly going to be received in Nairobi by relatives and he wondered when he would be bringing Janki here the same way. To his surprise, the newlyweds had also purchased third-class tickets.
Goodbyes were exchanged on the platform after the carriages rolled in alongside the platform. The engine driver was a middle-aged Sikh dressed in black overalls. His turban was blackened with soot and grease but a glint of orange showed in each fold on one side revealing the original colour. The noise from the steam vents and valves from the engine roared deafeningly and the black steel wheels, almost as tall as a man, slowly ground to a halt. Anyone about to board the train was struck in awe of the Raj who could not only make the machinery but transport it across the world, then commission it to run in a new country. Ramji noticed a group of white soldiers smoking on the platform. Like in India they were on duty for train security and would accompany the guard in his compartment.
Nizar and Ramji were in deep conversation with Premlal about stopping and praying at the tomb of Seyyid Baghali located two hours out of Mombasa. Seyyid Baghali was a Muslim indentured labourer who had worked on the railway when it was constructed. He was well known for his physical strength and various miraculous feats were ascribed to him. It was becoming customary for the train to stop on request at the place of his tomb. The place was known as “McKinnon Road,” and passengers were allowed off the train to pray for a safe journey. If no stop had been requested the train drivers would slow down to a crawling pace and blow a long whistle in salute. Premlal suggested the four travellers should stop and pray at the tomb. Lalji reflected on the prayers said at the Socotra crossing a few days earlier for the same purpose. At precisely six o’clock, the whistle was blown by the station master. The guard was dangling out of his compartment with his green flag ready to wave it once everyone was on board. The engine driver blew two loud and long whistles to encourage any stragglers to get on board.
Once on their way, the train seemed to linger at a man’s walking pace for some considerable time. There was an immediate incline to start with and it would remain much the same all the way to Nairobi, sitting at an altitude of five and a half thousand feet. The journey took between 13 to 14 hours; much depended on wild animals on the tracks.
The sun had gone down quickly and it had become pitch dark, with a cool breeze blowing in their faces. On reaching McKinnon Road they, along with a few others, were escorted by two soldiers to the tomb of Seyyid Baghali where they bowed in respect. Nizar led the prayer asking for a safe journey to Nairobi. Within minutes they were back on the train, the soldiers stubbing out their cigarettes on the side of their wagon.
The carriage was quiet, each one lost in their thoughts or dozing off. Lalji found himself thinking more of Janki, her eyes and her anklets. Bhasker was humming a tune absent-mindedly.
A few hours after the McKinnon Road stop there was a sudden screeching of the brakes and whistle blowing from the engine, outside a place called Voi. All in the third-class compartment had been asleep, some with blankets covering bodies and faces to keep out the mosquitoes. They looked like corpses lined up in a morgue. Startled, everyone sat up as the guard and two soldiers rushed up to the front of the train on the outside. Someone in the dark asked the guard what the matter was and he whispered back, “Elephants!”.
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Nitin Nanji
Historical novelist of Indian parentage, born and raised in Kenya, educated in England, writing about India and East Africa under the British Empire.
Nitin has come to writing his debut novel after retiring as a doctor. Born in Kenya before its independence he came to England at the age of fifteen. His parentage is Indian, his grandfather having moved during the British Raj from Gujarat in India to Colonial East Africa as an economic migrant.
'Lalji's Nairobi' is set in the early part of the last century, inspired by the stories of Indian migrants who settled in East Africa. A 'rags to riches' story of the experiences of Lalji as a determined young businessman who grapples with the challenges of living in the new colony.
Within the backdrop of a racist administration, Nitin immerses the reader into the times and norms of colonial society and shows how Lalji achieves rapid success despite difficult odds, leading a team of four compatriots from his village.
The novel is well-researched and retains the undertones of the era. Nitin's intimate knowledge of the three cultures of the colony (British, Indian, and African) succeeds in making this an enjoyable and authentic read.
'Lalji's Nairobi' is now an award-winning novel that recently won acclaim from the prestigious New Generation Indie Book Awards as a 'Finalist'. It also earned Five Stars and the 'Highly Recommended' award of excellence from The Historical Fiction Company, which has recently also awarded the book with a silver medal in the Blixen Africa Category.
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