First published by Context, an imprint of Westland Publications Private

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First published by Context, an imprint of Westland Publications Private
Limited, in 2021
1st Floor, A Block, East Wing, Plot No. 40, SP Infocity, Dr MGR Salai,
Perungudi, Kandanchavadi, Chennai 600096
Westland,  the  Westland  logo,  Context  and  the  Context  logo  are
trademarks of Westland Publications Private Limited, or its affiliates.
Text and photographs copyright © Suchitra Vijayan, 2021
ISBN: 9788194879053
The views and opinions expressed in this work are the author’s own and
the facts are as reported by her, and the publisher is in no way liable for
the same.
All maps included in this book are historical. They are representational
sketches and not to scale.
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system,
or  transmitted  in  any  form  or  by  any  means,  electronic,  mechanical,
photocopying,  recording,  or  otherwise,  without  express  written
permission of the publisher.

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For Meera, Amma and Appa

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CONTENTS
START READING
PROLOGUE (MY) ISHMAEL
INTRODUCTION