"It pulls you into a hidden world."
Pink City Kid is a touching memoir by Naresh Kishwani filled with heart-wrenching stories.
Naresh’s debut book is written in his voice and derived from Hindi voice notes translated into English.
However, that is a testament to Naresh’s skill and storytelling power as he takes readers on an unforgettable journey through his childhood.
Raised by his father on the unforgiving streets of Jaipur, Pink City Kid is a canvas of emotion, relationships, hardships, and resolution.
The book was published by 2B[Red] on March 25, 2024.
Unfortunately, Naresh is only one of millions of street children in India, but his story is unique and defies all odds.
DESIblitz is here to help you decide whether to read Pink City Kid or not.
A Story of Determination
After his mother dies, Naresh Kishwani and his sister Raji are raised by their father, whom Naresh calls ‘Papa’.
Known as the Pink City, they start by living in a room in Jaipur.
Their father leaves Naresh and Raji at a woman’s house, whom Naresh refers to as ‘Aunty’.
At a very young age, Naresh must work in the streets of Jaipur to earn his keep and pay his Aunty when Papa fails to do so.
Aunty is mean-spirited and selfish, often blaming Naresh for everything.
However, Naresh has tough skin, and when Aunty’s cruel treatment gets too much, he defiantly leaves her house, swearing never to return.
This shows traces of the determination and resilience Naresh shows throughout the rest of the book.
Naresh and Papa find themselves working at a chai shop. Papa works as a cycle rickshaw puller while young Naresh is a labourer for the chai boss.
The chai boss is a moody, harsh man without legs. However, Naresh is unafraid to stand up for himself and support himself and Papa, come what may.
Unfortunately, Papa’s alcoholism proves to be a stumbling block in his relationship with Naresh.
At every turn, Naresh displays resourcefulness and courage. He makes friends, and despite the Pink City being nasty to him, he finds a solution wherever he can.
When he begins pulling the rickshaw himself, he learns bits of English by listening and attracting tourists who want photographs in the rickshaw.
A kidnap in Agra is also unable to make Naresh lose his willpower and grit.
The reader cheers and roots for Naresh all the way as he navigates his merciless world.
Themes
The themes depicted in Pink City Kid are as important as the storyline.
One of the key aspects of the book is Naresh’s relationships – perhaps the most prominent being the bond he shares with Papa.
Papa is an alcoholic, which makes Naresh sleep away from him. In his drunken state, Papa is also prone to hitting his son.
However, underneath it all is a touching father-son bond that yearns for a better life.
At one point in the book, Papa suffers an accident that almost leaves him immobile, and Naresh tries his best to cure him.
Towards the end of the book, Naresh gets a wonderful opportunity, but one that would require him to leave his Papa.
Naresh responds: “I could never leave my Papa under any circumstances.
“He has raised me since my mother died, and we have always been there for each other.
“What would happen to him if I went away? Nobody else looks after him.
“I could never leave my Papa permanently.”
This highlights the simmering love between Naresh and his father.
Another important theme in Pink City Kid is trust. In these mean streets, Naresh must analyse who he can trust and how much.
He often finds himself betrayed – firstly by Yellow Dog, who is a dog that Naresh loved as a kid.
Yellow Dog goes on to attack Naresh, biting him several times. However, the real scar ends up on his heart.
Naresh is then taken advantage of by several other people, whether that is his family members or the people he thought were friends.
However, Naresh takes all of this as “a good lesson”, and everything ends up in his stride, showing his tenacity and maturity.
His strength is the jewel of Pink City Kid.
Culture & Life of Jaipur
For readers who are unfamiliar with Jaipur, this book paints a genuine picture of the Pink City.
We are introduced to the bustling culture of the city, from its elegant clothing to lavish weddings.
At one point, Naresh participates in the practice of street kids entering wedding functions to eat food.
The culture of rickshaw pullers preferring tourists and avoiding prostitutes is also explored.
Naresh’s language is humorous at times, embedding this sublime story with joviality and wit.
His love for the films of Sanjay Dutt and Suniel Shetty is touched upon.
The pace of the book is steady, highlighting every incident with tenderness and care.
Each chapter of Naresh’s story intertwines the life of a street child with the culture of Jaipur.
As Naresh fleets between Jaipur and Ajmer, train stations become the stuff of nightmares, and we are reminded of the privilege of a hot shower.
Many of us take it for granted, but when Naresh must spend days in a flea-covered blanket and tattered clothes, one drop of cleansing water is gold dust.
The narrative of the book notably does not present Naresh as sympathetic. The point of this memoir is not to feel sorry for him.
On the contrary, Pink City Kid leaves us awed and inspired.
An Unforgettable Tale
The narrative, language, and themes of Pink City Kid are unforgettably unique.
Naresh Kishwani comes across as a soul who is wise beyond his years.
He never gives up and always looks for a solution. The publishing editor of the book writes:
“The book is an engaging and endearing insight into the humanity of the world’s most marginalised people through the eyes of an innocent but highly intelligent child.
“It pulls you into a hidden world as the story develops.
“It’s an ultimately uplifting tale filled with fascinating facts and anecdotes.”
This intelligence sparkles in Naresh’s character in every sentence and word of the book.
Naresh Kishwani went on to marry and become a father, underscoring that courage can conquer hardship in every circumstance.
Pink City Kid is a vivid and vibrant story. Sadly, it encapsulates only one of India’s many street children.
Despite this, everyone can draw inspiration from this book.
It is sure to dazzle readers and is a tale that will stay with them for years after they have read it.
Naresh carries no malice as he recounts his story. That is the heart of the book, which is narrated in a captivating and resplendent way.
You can order your copy here.
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