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The Amazing Story of the Man Who Cycled from India to Europe for Love
Pradyumna Kumar, known as PK, was born into a poor, untouchable family in a small village in eastern India. All his life he has kept a palm leaf bearing an astrologer’s prophecy: “You will marry a girl who is not from the village, not from the district, not even from our country; she will be musical, own a jungle and be born under the sign of the ox.” But not until PK attends art school in New Delhi do his stars begin to align. One evening, while drawing portraits in a park, he meets a young Swedish woman, Lotta von Schendin — and this brief meeting will change the courses of their lives forever.
This is the remarkable true story of how a young Indian man armed with nothing more than a handful of paintbrushes and a secondhand Raleigh bicycle made his way across Asia and Europe in search of the woman he loves.
This is the remarkable true story of how a young Indian man armed with nothing more than a handful of paintbrushes and a secondhand Raleigh bicycle made his way across Asia and Europe in search of the woman he loves.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 424 reviews
January 20, 2022
Eine wirklich Lesenswerte Biopgraphie, die mein Herz tiefst berührt hat. Wer sich auch für die Kultur İndiens interessiert, erfährt durch das Buch viel über die Etnologie und die Hintergrundgeschichte Indiens z.B über das Kastensystem.
July 10, 2017
An interesting story about a man who defies his society's expectations and, in the process, does exactly what it says on the tin: cycles to Europe for love. At times, the translation of Andersson's prose can sound preachy and repetitive. The book delves into the caste system as if it wants that to be the main focus though never truly achieves this goal. Clearly, PK's caste is essential to his identity and yet, Andersson sometimes jars us between love story, journey of enlightenment and treatise. Nevertheless, this book opened my eyes to the continual discrimination in a country not far from mine and this, perhaps, is where the true heart of the book lies.
September 20, 2015
Mir hat die Geschichte jede Menge Gedankenimpulse gegeben. Haben wir einen freien Willen oder ist alles vorbestimmt?
May 15, 2017
It's an incredible story this. And it is worth being told. But I wish the narrative was more about the actual journey and the experience of reaching Sweden from India on a cycle. The author devotes probably the last third of the book to this and that too in a really rushed way. A large part of the book is about India, the caste system, the injustice and yes, while all this is relevant and needs to be told, it is a little misleading to the reader based on what the title of the book suggests. It becomes a little monotonous before you reach the actual journey itself which is a letdown.
November 28, 2017
Lots of problems with this book. First of all, the journey indicated in the title did not begin until halfway into the book. Also, the bike ride began in India and ended in Iran. The rest of the journey was by car, bus and train.
The writing was very stilted at times-possibly due to poor translation. And, frankly, the main character, PK, was not particularly interesting, at least in the way he was portrayed in the book. I have a feeling that he is much more engaging in person.
The writing was very stilted at times-possibly due to poor translation. And, frankly, the main character, PK, was not particularly interesting, at least in the way he was portrayed in the book. I have a feeling that he is much more engaging in person.
October 11, 2019
Mooi verhaal, maar ik vond het wel langdradig en had soms moeite mijn aandacht erbij te houden. Leuk is wel de toevoeging van de foto's achterin, zodat je niet vergeet dat het echte mensen zijn waar het verhaal over gaat.
June 23, 2018
- Ho ricevuto una copia di questo libro in cambio di un'onesta recensione -
Per i riferimenti a immagini e link-> https://thebooksblender.altervista.or...
Tutto comincia come in un film di Hollywood (o Bollywood, visto dove siamo): in una giungla indiana, in un'umile capanna, lo stesso giorno della nascita del profeta dei cristiani, un bimbo appena nato sta per ricevere la sua profezia personale dall'astrologo del villaggio.
La profezia sostiene che il futuro di questo bambino sarà quello di sposare una donna di un'altra tribù, di un altro villaggio, provincia, stato, nazione. La donna in questione sarà una creatura musicale, del segno del Toro e possiederà una giungla.
Prima un arcobaleno spunta sopra la testa del bambino; qualche settimana dopo un cobra, animale sacro, gli si infila nella cesta dove dorme senza ferirlo. Insomma... il destino di questo bambino pare essere già tracciato e sicuramente splendente.
Ma gli anni passano; la donna delle profezia non si vede da nessuna parte e intanto Jagat Ananda Pradyumna Kumar Mahanandia, per gli amici Pikej (o PK), deve barcamenarsi in un'India piena di pregiudizi e ingiustizie.
Perché lui è un fuori casta: va bene se i compagni di classe lo isolano e corrono a lavarsi se per errore entrano in contatto con lui; va bene che lo battano con il bastone; va bene che i fondi stanziati per la sua borsa di studio all'università vengano intascati da un burocrate corrotto.
La storia di Pikej parte davvero con le migliori premesse: una profezia che promette una storia d'amore eccezionale, un'India magica e piena di segreti, una vita fatta di ingiustizie e prevaricazioni dalle quali non si aspetta altro che il protagonista (determinato e quasi-incrollabile) riesca a riscattarsi.
A tutto questo si aggiunga anche che il nostro non è un semplice "protagonista" di un libro, ma è una persona in carne e ossa (con la sua personale pagina Facebook, per la cronaca).
E la sua storia vale davvero la pena di essere raccontata, perché non c'è solo il viaggio Nuova Delhi-Borås in bicicletta (una buona parte almeno): c'è anche la conflittualità della società indiana; l'incentivazione dell'ingiustizia sociale; ci sono le difficoltà (economiche, spirituali e quelle "terrene" come lo "scontato" bisogno di mangiare); c'è l'amore per l'arte e il disegno e la pittura; c'è lo scontro - brusco, cattivo - con la realtà che non sempre permette di realizzare i propri sogni; c'è l'incontro con personalità di spicco (per es. Indira Gandhi).
E alla storia di Pikej ci si affeziona per tutto questo: perché è vera.
Ma il guaio - temo - sia avvenuto in fase di realizzazione. La vicenda, così come raccontata da Per J Andersson, assume più i contorni di un distaccato rapporto giornalistico, fatto per dovere e non molto sentito dal narratore.
Si parte con un resoconto dell'infanzia dei due protagonisti (con un rapporto 10 a 1 in favore in Pikej; a Charlotte - Lotta - si dedica solo qualche rapida pagina) per proseguire con l'età adulta.
Pikej affronta tutte le problematiche che ho indicato poco sopra (anche se con rigoroso riscatto professionale da parte del narratore che non riesce a coinvolgere il lettore); Lotta semplicemente procede con la sua vita senza troppi scossoni da perfetta ragazza bianca (o, comunque, il narratore non si impegna molto a rendere interessante la vita della bionda svedese, che sembra più un incostante fantasma che prende consistenza proprio prima dell'incontro con Pikej per poi aleggiare misterioso fino a quando lui non arriva in Svezia).
Poi ecco il giorno dell'incontro tra i due: il clou del libro, no?
No... La storia d’amore è abbozzata molto approssimativamente, stropicciata in poche righe e mal approfondita come se il lettore si dovesse accontentare di un semplice "si sono visti e si sono piaciuti... e poi c'è la profezia, ricordi?", quando invece dietro ci sarà stato un mondo dietro: il diverso approccio alla vita, la differente educazione, le società di provenienza culturalmente e socialmente diverse, la diversa quotidianità dalle piccole alle grandi cose e moltissimo altro.
La parte finale, scritta in prima persona, ha un sapore diverso rispetto al resto del libro: più intimo e un po' più "sentita". Ma si tratta di poche pagine finali che non riescono a recuperare l'intero romanzo.
Ciò, infatti, non scrolla via la sensazione di apatico distacco che permea un po' tutto il romanzo.
Peccato perché poteva rivelarsi davvero un bellissimo libro.
Ah... p.s.: qualcuno dia il mio numero all'astronomo, perché potrebbe essere davvero utile! XD
February 14, 2017
I requested this book because from the title i thought this might be "AN AMAZING" love story, but was utterly disappointed. This book is anything, but a love story.
It is well written, and description of India/Kerala can you help imagine,,,,however i am not in agreement with how "Untouchable" situation is described in this book.
Main characters are PK, and Lotta,...but we get to read about PK, Lotta is like a ghost - a girl PK falls in love with and yet we don't know why.
PK talks about "everything happens for a reason and believes in his destiny" about marrying a girl from abroad, and yet he can't stop grieving his personal circumstances..I felt that personal challenge kind of gave him an opportunity to take a different path. It is very one sided story.
I admire his determination, and yet the way he talks about "Brahmin" In my opinion it is purely based on his limited experience. In one chapter he talks about, how he did not mind and actually preferred British Raj because they didn't discriminate and yet we all know that British had a slogan "no dogs and Indian allowed in some places".
In the last chapter (i think) he talks about a Brahmin (from his own village) had replaced god's pictures with his and his wife picture....really???? It just proves that the point that the poor treatment about untouchable was down to lack or no education and not so much about the caste system. There are missing part about how love developed, and actually how life evolved between PK & Lotta developed once PK reached Sweden...
Thanks Netgalley for this book.
It is well written, and description of India/Kerala can you help imagine,,,,however i am not in agreement with how "Untouchable" situation is described in this book.
Main characters are PK, and Lotta,...but we get to read about PK, Lotta is like a ghost - a girl PK falls in love with and yet we don't know why.
PK talks about "everything happens for a reason and believes in his destiny" about marrying a girl from abroad, and yet he can't stop grieving his personal circumstances..I felt that personal challenge kind of gave him an opportunity to take a different path. It is very one sided story.
I admire his determination, and yet the way he talks about "Brahmin" In my opinion it is purely based on his limited experience. In one chapter he talks about, how he did not mind and actually preferred British Raj because they didn't discriminate and yet we all know that British had a slogan "no dogs and Indian allowed in some places".
In the last chapter (i think) he talks about a Brahmin (from his own village) had replaced god's pictures with his and his wife picture....really???? It just proves that the point that the poor treatment about untouchable was down to lack or no education and not so much about the caste system. There are missing part about how love developed, and actually how life evolved between PK & Lotta developed once PK reached Sweden...
Thanks Netgalley for this book.
May 3, 2016
Jetzt mal ehrlich: Der Titel erschlägt einen fast, oder? Ich hätte nie gedacht, dass so lange Buchtitel Sinn machen, aber lasst euch gesagt sein, der Titel ist Programm: Ein Inder fährt mit dem Fahrrad einmal um die halbe Welt, um seine große Liebe Lotta in Schweden wiederzufinden. Und es klingt nicht nur romantisch, es ist auch noch eine wahre Geschichte - was das ganze noch schöner macht.
Beginnen tut die Geschichte allerdings ganz am Anfang, nämlich bei der Geburt von Pikay, dem Inder. Gut die erste Hälfte des Buches dreht sich um sein Leben, wie er aufwächst, mit welchen Problemen er zu kämpfen hat, da er ein "Unberührbarer" ist und so weiter. Hier bekommt der Leser einen tollen Einblick in das indische Leben - und wie das Kastensystem immer noch vorherrschend ist, zumindest in den Köpfen der Menschen. Das war wirklich interessant und hat auch Hindernisse aufgezeigt.
Pikay steht im ganzen Buch im Mittelpunkt, auch nachdem er Lotta getroffen und sich verliebt hat. Sein Leben ist wirklich bemerkenswert - was er alles geschafft hat, da kann man nur den Hut vor ziehen! Aber inhaltlich möchte ich jetzt nicht zu viel verraten.
Das Buch ist super romantisch, ohne zu kitschig zu werden. Denn es werden auch Ängste und Zweifel angesprochen. Dass es eine wahre Geschichte ist, ist das Sahnehäubchen - und am Ende des Buches gibt es tolle Bilder, die das Glück der beiden belegen :)
Der Schreibstil ist sehr angenehm zu lesen. Es ist flüssig geschrieben, die Kapitel haben eine angenehme Länge. Außerdem wechseln sich lustige und nachdenkliche Teile ab, sodass es sehr abwechslungsreich ist. Ich konnte das Buch jedenfalls nicht mehr aus der Hand legen und habe es an zwei Abenden durchgelesen.
Wer also Lust auf eine wunderschöne Geschichte hat, sollte hier zugreifen!
Beginnen tut die Geschichte allerdings ganz am Anfang, nämlich bei der Geburt von Pikay, dem Inder. Gut die erste Hälfte des Buches dreht sich um sein Leben, wie er aufwächst, mit welchen Problemen er zu kämpfen hat, da er ein "Unberührbarer" ist und so weiter. Hier bekommt der Leser einen tollen Einblick in das indische Leben - und wie das Kastensystem immer noch vorherrschend ist, zumindest in den Köpfen der Menschen. Das war wirklich interessant und hat auch Hindernisse aufgezeigt.
Pikay steht im ganzen Buch im Mittelpunkt, auch nachdem er Lotta getroffen und sich verliebt hat. Sein Leben ist wirklich bemerkenswert - was er alles geschafft hat, da kann man nur den Hut vor ziehen! Aber inhaltlich möchte ich jetzt nicht zu viel verraten.
Das Buch ist super romantisch, ohne zu kitschig zu werden. Denn es werden auch Ängste und Zweifel angesprochen. Dass es eine wahre Geschichte ist, ist das Sahnehäubchen - und am Ende des Buches gibt es tolle Bilder, die das Glück der beiden belegen :)
Der Schreibstil ist sehr angenehm zu lesen. Es ist flüssig geschrieben, die Kapitel haben eine angenehme Länge. Außerdem wechseln sich lustige und nachdenkliche Teile ab, sodass es sehr abwechslungsreich ist. Ich konnte das Buch jedenfalls nicht mehr aus der Hand legen und habe es an zwei Abenden durchgelesen.
Wer also Lust auf eine wunderschöne Geschichte hat, sollte hier zugreifen!
Want to read
April 3, 2017
I cycled from India to Europe for love
in:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandst...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlWwH...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5sZm...
November 22, 2021
Per J Andersson is een journalist en medeoprichter van Vagabond, het bekendste reismagazine van Zweden. Elk jaar vertoeft hij wel een periode in India.
Het boek Het wonderlijke verhaal van de man die van India naar zweden fietste voor de liefde past dus perfect in Andersson zijn interesse gebied. Aangezien hij Zweed is werd het boek vertaalt door Daniëlle Stensen zodat wij er ook van kunnen genieten in het Nederlands.
Het boek herbergt het waargebeurde verhaal van Pk en Lotta.
PK is een straat artiest die portretten van mensen maakt om de kost te verdienen. Pk heeft weinig bezittingen en koestert een profetie die hij kreeg bij zijn geboorte. Hij zou trouwen met een meisje dat niet uit zijn dorp kwam, zelfs niet uit zijn land. Ze zou muzikaal zijn en een jungle bezitten. En het sterrenbeeld stier hebben. Als op een koude winteravond een blonde jonge vrouw vraagt om haar portret te schilderen hebben ze direct een connectie. Pk weet dat zij de ware is. Eens ze naar Zweden vertrekt en Pk geen andere opties ziet om haar achterna te reizen koopt hij zich een fiets en besluit de oversteek te wagen naar Zweden. Naar de liefde voor zijn leven. Een reis vol tegenslagen, vriendschap en ontberingen.
Het verhaal start traag op. Er zijn niet veel gebeurtenissen omdat de auteur er goed zijn best doet om Pk zijn achtergrond te schetsen. De werking van het kastesysteem komt uitgebreid aan bod. Dit is wel interessant maar vertraagt wat de leesflow.
Het reisverhaal op zich verdwijnt tijdens het verhaal toch wat naar de achtergrond. Wat echt op de voorgrond treed is de uitwerking van Pk zijn karakter. Qua uitwerking is dit in het verhaal echt tot op de details af. Eens het boek uit is ken je Pk van binnen en buiten en kan je niet anders dan hem lief hebben. Soms wat naïef maar een hart van goud.
Wat een gemis kan zijn is dat de omschrijvingen van de landen en gebieden die hij doorkruist niet overdreven beschreven worden. Dit was eigenlijk de motivator om dit boek te gaan lezen dus bleven we wat op onze honger zitten.
Iets wat mogelijks persoonlijk zal zijn voor elke lezer is dat dit boek in de derde persoon geschreven werd en dat de vraag rijst wat er zou veranderen in het lezen moest de ik-vorm gebruikt worden. Meer het verhaal beleven vanaf PK zijn schouder.
Het boek sluit af met een dankwoord van Pk maar wat vooral interessant is zijn de foto’s. Pk en Lotta delen op het einde van dit boek verschillende foto’s uit hun persoonlijke albums. Een reminder dat dit verhaal waargebeurd is.
Conclusie
Een traag startend verhaal maar met een karakter uitwerking om u tegen te zeggen. Maar wat te weinig omgevingsbeschrijvingen om aan te voelen als een echt reisverhaal. Niet tegenstaande dat het wel een leuk verhaal blijft om te lezen.
Engels
Per J Andersson is a journalist and co-founder of Vagabond, Sweden's most famous travel magazine. Every year he spends a period in India.
The book The wonderful story of the man who cycled from India to Sweden for love fits perfectly into Andersson's field of interest. Since he is Swede, the book was translated by Daniëlle Stensen so that we can enjoy it in Dutch as well.
The book tells the true story of Pk and Lotta.
PK is a street artist who takes portraits of people to earn a living. Pk has few possessions and cherishes a prophecy given to him at birth. He would marry a girl who was not from his village, not even from his country. She would be musical and possess a jungle. And have the zodiac sign Taurus. When on a cold winter evening a blond young woman asks to paint her portrait, they immediately have a connection. Pk knows she's the one. Once she leaves for Sweden and Pk sees no other options to follow her, he buys himself a bicycle and decides to cross the road to Sweden. To the love of his life. A journey full of setbacks, friendship and hardship.
The story starts off slow. There are not many events because the author does his best to outline Pk's background. The functioning of the caste system is discussed in detail. This is interesting but slows the reading flow somewhat.
The travel story itself disappears somewhat into the background during the story. What really comes to the fore is the elaboration of Pk's character. In terms of elaboration, this is really down to the last detail in the story. Once the book is out you know Pk inside and out and you can't help but love him. Sometimes a bit naive but a heart of gold.
What may be a lack is that the descriptions of the countries and areas he traverses are not exaggerated. This was actually the motivator to start reading this book, so we were left feeling a bit hungry.
Something that may be personal to each reader is that this book was written in the third person and the question arises as to what would change in reading if the I-form was used. Experience the story more from PK's shoulder.
The book closes with a word of thanks from Pk, but what is especially interesting are the photos. Pk and Lotta share several photos from their personal albums at the end of this book. A reminder that this story is true.
Conclusion
A slow-starting story but with a character development to die for. But not enough descriptions of the surroundings to feel like a real travel story. Notwithstanding, it is still a fun story to read.
Het boek Het wonderlijke verhaal van de man die van India naar zweden fietste voor de liefde past dus perfect in Andersson zijn interesse gebied. Aangezien hij Zweed is werd het boek vertaalt door Daniëlle Stensen zodat wij er ook van kunnen genieten in het Nederlands.
Het boek herbergt het waargebeurde verhaal van Pk en Lotta.
PK is een straat artiest die portretten van mensen maakt om de kost te verdienen. Pk heeft weinig bezittingen en koestert een profetie die hij kreeg bij zijn geboorte. Hij zou trouwen met een meisje dat niet uit zijn dorp kwam, zelfs niet uit zijn land. Ze zou muzikaal zijn en een jungle bezitten. En het sterrenbeeld stier hebben. Als op een koude winteravond een blonde jonge vrouw vraagt om haar portret te schilderen hebben ze direct een connectie. Pk weet dat zij de ware is. Eens ze naar Zweden vertrekt en Pk geen andere opties ziet om haar achterna te reizen koopt hij zich een fiets en besluit de oversteek te wagen naar Zweden. Naar de liefde voor zijn leven. Een reis vol tegenslagen, vriendschap en ontberingen.
Het verhaal start traag op. Er zijn niet veel gebeurtenissen omdat de auteur er goed zijn best doet om Pk zijn achtergrond te schetsen. De werking van het kastesysteem komt uitgebreid aan bod. Dit is wel interessant maar vertraagt wat de leesflow.
Het reisverhaal op zich verdwijnt tijdens het verhaal toch wat naar de achtergrond. Wat echt op de voorgrond treed is de uitwerking van Pk zijn karakter. Qua uitwerking is dit in het verhaal echt tot op de details af. Eens het boek uit is ken je Pk van binnen en buiten en kan je niet anders dan hem lief hebben. Soms wat naïef maar een hart van goud.
Wat een gemis kan zijn is dat de omschrijvingen van de landen en gebieden die hij doorkruist niet overdreven beschreven worden. Dit was eigenlijk de motivator om dit boek te gaan lezen dus bleven we wat op onze honger zitten.
Iets wat mogelijks persoonlijk zal zijn voor elke lezer is dat dit boek in de derde persoon geschreven werd en dat de vraag rijst wat er zou veranderen in het lezen moest de ik-vorm gebruikt worden. Meer het verhaal beleven vanaf PK zijn schouder.
Het boek sluit af met een dankwoord van Pk maar wat vooral interessant is zijn de foto’s. Pk en Lotta delen op het einde van dit boek verschillende foto’s uit hun persoonlijke albums. Een reminder dat dit verhaal waargebeurd is.
Conclusie
Een traag startend verhaal maar met een karakter uitwerking om u tegen te zeggen. Maar wat te weinig omgevingsbeschrijvingen om aan te voelen als een echt reisverhaal. Niet tegenstaande dat het wel een leuk verhaal blijft om te lezen.
Engels
Per J Andersson is a journalist and co-founder of Vagabond, Sweden's most famous travel magazine. Every year he spends a period in India.
The book The wonderful story of the man who cycled from India to Sweden for love fits perfectly into Andersson's field of interest. Since he is Swede, the book was translated by Daniëlle Stensen so that we can enjoy it in Dutch as well.
The book tells the true story of Pk and Lotta.
PK is a street artist who takes portraits of people to earn a living. Pk has few possessions and cherishes a prophecy given to him at birth. He would marry a girl who was not from his village, not even from his country. She would be musical and possess a jungle. And have the zodiac sign Taurus. When on a cold winter evening a blond young woman asks to paint her portrait, they immediately have a connection. Pk knows she's the one. Once she leaves for Sweden and Pk sees no other options to follow her, he buys himself a bicycle and decides to cross the road to Sweden. To the love of his life. A journey full of setbacks, friendship and hardship.
The story starts off slow. There are not many events because the author does his best to outline Pk's background. The functioning of the caste system is discussed in detail. This is interesting but slows the reading flow somewhat.
The travel story itself disappears somewhat into the background during the story. What really comes to the fore is the elaboration of Pk's character. In terms of elaboration, this is really down to the last detail in the story. Once the book is out you know Pk inside and out and you can't help but love him. Sometimes a bit naive but a heart of gold.
What may be a lack is that the descriptions of the countries and areas he traverses are not exaggerated. This was actually the motivator to start reading this book, so we were left feeling a bit hungry.
Something that may be personal to each reader is that this book was written in the third person and the question arises as to what would change in reading if the I-form was used. Experience the story more from PK's shoulder.
The book closes with a word of thanks from Pk, but what is especially interesting are the photos. Pk and Lotta share several photos from their personal albums at the end of this book. A reminder that this story is true.
Conclusion
A slow-starting story but with a character development to die for. But not enough descriptions of the surroundings to feel like a real travel story. Notwithstanding, it is still a fun story to read.
September 11, 2022
Leuk verhaal en je leert veel over een andere cultuur.
January 13, 2018
It feels there are 2 books here: one is the made-for-Bollywood love story with the customary happy ending, the other is a memoir of trying to find acceptance.
The love story has all the right elements to make it into a movie: despite poverty, caste discrimination and corruption, PK earns an education, admittance to an art school in New Delhi and becomes a popular street artist. Then destiny brings him together with Lotta and they spend a short time getting to know each other while visiting sights and his family. Then circumstances bring them apart again and PK starts on his journey to Europe with just a bike and almost no money. After many adventures on the road, the two are reunited, get married and live a comfortable middle-class life.
The part about finding acceptance is less clear cut, and has no happily ever after ending. Caste discrimination was and still is a problem. Europeans rejecting poor migrants, or frowning on multicultural/interracial marriages still seems to be a thing.
The most surreal part of this book was reading about foreigners on road trips from Europe to India via Iran and Afghanistan. All this happening in the late 70s/early 80s. It’s hard to imagine such a trip nowadays, after the whole area was swept by wars and religious extremism.
(Not so) fun fact: An Indian girl, smart and talented enough to get into art school, can't get married to the engineering student of her parents' choosing because his family asks for an exorbitant 50k rupees as dowry. For comparison, a plane ticket to Sweden would cost 40k rupees, and PK, as a popular street artist living modestly, has only 4k rupees in savings after, probably, a year or 2 of work.
The love story has all the right elements to make it into a movie: despite poverty, caste discrimination and corruption, PK earns an education, admittance to an art school in New Delhi and becomes a popular street artist. Then destiny brings him together with Lotta and they spend a short time getting to know each other while visiting sights and his family. Then circumstances bring them apart again and PK starts on his journey to Europe with just a bike and almost no money. After many adventures on the road, the two are reunited, get married and live a comfortable middle-class life.
The part about finding acceptance is less clear cut, and has no happily ever after ending. Caste discrimination was and still is a problem. Europeans rejecting poor migrants, or frowning on multicultural/interracial marriages still seems to be a thing.
The most surreal part of this book was reading about foreigners on road trips from Europe to India via Iran and Afghanistan. All this happening in the late 70s/early 80s. It’s hard to imagine such a trip nowadays, after the whole area was swept by wars and religious extremism.
(Not so) fun fact: An Indian girl, smart and talented enough to get into art school, can't get married to the engineering student of her parents' choosing because his family asks for an exorbitant 50k rupees as dowry. For comparison, a plane ticket to Sweden would cost 40k rupees, and PK, as a popular street artist living modestly, has only 4k rupees in savings after, probably, a year or 2 of work.
March 14, 2018
A really nice book. Even though the voyage doesn't start until about three quarters of the book are already over. Or maybe because of that. It offers a good overview and insight into life in India as an 'Untouchable'. Even though it is set in the 1970s and earlier, India today still has a lot of remnants from that time, the dust, the people, the railway, the pavement dwellers, the poverty and also the kindness.
The voyage it describes also is a great reminder of how (world) politics shapes and changes whole countries. The protagonist travels through Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan... The Hippie-Trail is alive and kicking in the 1970s, but today, it would mean a totally different trip.
I highly recommend it.
The voyage it describes also is a great reminder of how (world) politics shapes and changes whole countries. The protagonist travels through Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan... The Hippie-Trail is alive and kicking in the 1970s, but today, it would mean a totally different trip.
I highly recommend it.
Read
December 30, 2017Not only is there an amazing story here but you will find that PK (Jagat Ananda Pradymna Kumar Mahanandia) is truly amazing himself. PK's early life, mired in poverty, born an untouchable, should have predicted what was to come for him and you could say, it did. He was born under a rainbow and an astrologer scratched on a palm leaf that he would marry a girl, far, far away. Here are a few things that PK believed in, that got him from destitution, through hardship, and finally, happiness: laughter; the road must be tough; repay kindness. You will find his journey inspiring. -Anna Q.L.
December 31, 2021
Amazing book! It displays both the ups and downs of the main character beautifully. It is written such that it is very easy to read while it is still succeeds in expressing emotions and observations very well. Besides the feelgood story, it is a profound display of the caste system in India from the eyes of a low caste man/boy which gives the book a deeper, political layer. I give this book 5 stars!
July 13, 2018
A most wonderfully written story I could have read forever. I was sorry it had to end. I loved every character and every single description of things...and I learned a little along the way. Just fabulous - wish I could give it 100 stars.
May 15, 2019
I ate this book up. I have a feeling that this is one of the most important pieces of literature I will ever encounter. It was completely unexpected, beautifully written and, above all, a true story. This story touched my heart, and I'm sure it will touch yours as well.
April 5, 2024
Really enjoyed this book! The story, the philosophies, and the caste critiques behind it make it a very enganging novel that you don’t want to put down!
June 17, 2020
„Sieh dich um, hier siehst du verkörperte Liebe. Leute wie du und ich können den Hass in der Welt beenden. Wir sind eine Armee von Desertierten. Wir haben Blumen in den Gewehrläufen.“
„Vom Inder, der mit dem Fahrrad bis nach Schweden fuhr, um dort seine große Liebe wiederzufinden“ beruht auf einer wahren Geschichte und ist einfach nur herzerweichend. In der Geschichte geht es um den Inder Jagat Ananda Pradyumna Kumar Mahanandia, kurz, Pikay.
Er ist im Dschungel Indiens geboren und zählt somit zu der Fraktion der Kastenlosen – den Unberührbaren. Man wird ziemlich schnell in das Kastensystem Indiens eingeführt und merkt, dass die Menschen, die keiner Kaste angehören, anders behandelt werden. Pikay erzählt von seiner Kindheit und seiner Schulzeit, die er nicht mit seinen Klassenkameraden in einem Zimmer verbringen durfte, da er keiner Kaste angehörte. Denn die Diskriminierung der Unberührbaren in Indien ist gleichzustellen mit dem Rassismus gegen Schwarze in den USA. Dieser Faden zieht sich durch das gesamte Buch und beschränkt Pikay im Leben und in der Liebe.
„Ich bin kastenlos geboren. Ich habe kein Recht auf gar nichts. Ich habe nicht das Recht, in Indien Liebe zu erfahren“, sind Worte von Pikay, die er in seiner Wohnung mit Kohle an die Wand geschrieben hat.
Das ganze Buch erzählt von seiner Lebensgeschichte als Kastenloser. Wie er von seinem Dorf nach Neu-Delih zieht, um ein Kunststudium zu beginnen. Wie er obdachlos wird und hungernd unter einer Brücke schlafen muss und wie er sich nach unzähligen Selbstmordversuchen wieder findet und sich bis ganz an die Spitze kämpft.
In seinem chaotischen Leben lernt er auch die Schwedin Lotta kennen, die ihm bei ihrem Besuch in Indien, sofort den Kopf verdreht. Als sie anreist, beschließt er ihr zu folgen und fährt mit einem Fahrrad von Indien bis Schweden, und erfährt auch auf seinem Weg dorthin eine Menge Abweisungen.
Ab und an hatte das Buch einige Längen, weshalb ich nicht die gesamten 5 Sterne geben konnte. Doch alles in einem war es eine wunderschöne, inspirierende Geschichte von der wahren Liebe. Außerdem kommt einem ganz oft die Frage auf, wie es sich wohl anfühlt, wenn man ohne freien Willen geboren wird. Kastenlosen in Indien ist es vorbestimmt, dass sie weniger wert sind als Inder, die einer Kaste angehören. Die Erkenntnis fand ich zwar sehr erschreckend, doch es war unglaublich spannend mehr darüber zu erfahren!
„Vom Inder, der mit dem Fahrrad bis nach Schweden fuhr, um dort seine große Liebe wiederzufinden“ beruht auf einer wahren Geschichte und ist einfach nur herzerweichend. In der Geschichte geht es um den Inder Jagat Ananda Pradyumna Kumar Mahanandia, kurz, Pikay.
Er ist im Dschungel Indiens geboren und zählt somit zu der Fraktion der Kastenlosen – den Unberührbaren. Man wird ziemlich schnell in das Kastensystem Indiens eingeführt und merkt, dass die Menschen, die keiner Kaste angehören, anders behandelt werden. Pikay erzählt von seiner Kindheit und seiner Schulzeit, die er nicht mit seinen Klassenkameraden in einem Zimmer verbringen durfte, da er keiner Kaste angehörte. Denn die Diskriminierung der Unberührbaren in Indien ist gleichzustellen mit dem Rassismus gegen Schwarze in den USA. Dieser Faden zieht sich durch das gesamte Buch und beschränkt Pikay im Leben und in der Liebe.
„Ich bin kastenlos geboren. Ich habe kein Recht auf gar nichts. Ich habe nicht das Recht, in Indien Liebe zu erfahren“, sind Worte von Pikay, die er in seiner Wohnung mit Kohle an die Wand geschrieben hat.
Das ganze Buch erzählt von seiner Lebensgeschichte als Kastenloser. Wie er von seinem Dorf nach Neu-Delih zieht, um ein Kunststudium zu beginnen. Wie er obdachlos wird und hungernd unter einer Brücke schlafen muss und wie er sich nach unzähligen Selbstmordversuchen wieder findet und sich bis ganz an die Spitze kämpft.
In seinem chaotischen Leben lernt er auch die Schwedin Lotta kennen, die ihm bei ihrem Besuch in Indien, sofort den Kopf verdreht. Als sie anreist, beschließt er ihr zu folgen und fährt mit einem Fahrrad von Indien bis Schweden, und erfährt auch auf seinem Weg dorthin eine Menge Abweisungen.
Ab und an hatte das Buch einige Längen, weshalb ich nicht die gesamten 5 Sterne geben konnte. Doch alles in einem war es eine wunderschöne, inspirierende Geschichte von der wahren Liebe. Außerdem kommt einem ganz oft die Frage auf, wie es sich wohl anfühlt, wenn man ohne freien Willen geboren wird. Kastenlosen in Indien ist es vorbestimmt, dass sie weniger wert sind als Inder, die einer Kaste angehören. Die Erkenntnis fand ich zwar sehr erschreckend, doch es war unglaublich spannend mehr darüber zu erfahren!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2023
Dit waargebeurde verhaal, met een titel die ten onrechte doet denken aan 'De honderdjarige man die uit het raam klom en verdween' is een verhaal dat het waard is om verteld te worden. Het vertelt over de jeugd van de hoofdpersoon, PK, die in een lage sociale status wordt geboren; dit tegen alle verwachtingen in weet te ontworstelen door zijn tekentalent en een vriendelijke onverzettelijkheid. De schrijver heeft volgens het nawoord zes jaar gedaan over het optekenen van het verhaal en daarvoor vele betrokkenen geïnterviewd.
In zekere zin is het boek een liefdesverhaal, maar paradoxaal genoeg een erg eenzijdig liefdesverhaal. Het leven van PK wordt uitentreuren beschreven, tot in het kleinste detail. Lotta daarentegen krijgt als onmisbare speler in het liefdesverhaal nauwelijks enige aandacht, anders dan dat PK haar adoreert. Hoofdstukjes over haar zijn kort en karig. Terwijl de twijfels, avonturen, hoogte- en dieptepunten in het leven van PK in detail worden ingekleurd blijft Lotta een afstandelijke Zweedse schone. Het veroorzaakt een storende disbalans in het verhaal; het perspectief van Lotta ontbreekt grotendeels terwijl je daar als lezer wel erg nieuwsgierig naar wordt. Zo duurt het tot halverwege het boek voordat Lotta überhaupt haar intrede doet in het verhaal. Maar ook daarna is ze niet meer dan een accessoire in het verhaal van PK.
Dit alles neemt niet weg dat het een waanzinnig verhaal is en behoorlijk kleurrijk is verwoord. Het leest lekker weg en valt te typeren als een laagdrempelig feelgood-vakantieboek. Eén kleine spoiler: de titel klopt niet. PK fietst van Dehli naar Iran en reist vanaf daar met auto en trein. Desondanks nog steeds een bewonderenswaardig roteind om te fietsen, maar toch.
In zekere zin is het boek een liefdesverhaal, maar paradoxaal genoeg een erg eenzijdig liefdesverhaal. Het leven van PK wordt uitentreuren beschreven, tot in het kleinste detail. Lotta daarentegen krijgt als onmisbare speler in het liefdesverhaal nauwelijks enige aandacht, anders dan dat PK haar adoreert. Hoofdstukjes over haar zijn kort en karig. Terwijl de twijfels, avonturen, hoogte- en dieptepunten in het leven van PK in detail worden ingekleurd blijft Lotta een afstandelijke Zweedse schone. Het veroorzaakt een storende disbalans in het verhaal; het perspectief van Lotta ontbreekt grotendeels terwijl je daar als lezer wel erg nieuwsgierig naar wordt. Zo duurt het tot halverwege het boek voordat Lotta überhaupt haar intrede doet in het verhaal. Maar ook daarna is ze niet meer dan een accessoire in het verhaal van PK.
Dit alles neemt niet weg dat het een waanzinnig verhaal is en behoorlijk kleurrijk is verwoord. Het leest lekker weg en valt te typeren als een laagdrempelig feelgood-vakantieboek. Eén kleine spoiler: de titel klopt niet. PK fietst van Dehli naar Iran en reist vanaf daar met auto en trein. Desondanks nog steeds een bewonderenswaardig roteind om te fietsen, maar toch.
July 22, 2020
Omggggggg! This was such an eye opener and a beautiful story about love and dedication.
" 'He will marry a girl from far, far away, from outside the village, the district, the province, the state and even the country' it began.
'You needn't go looking for her, she will come to you'......
'His future wife will be musical, own a jungle and be born under the sign of Taurus.'
PK traveled pretty much the whole world on a bike to find the love of his life. They say, "Love makes you crazy," and this TRUE story proves so.
(PK and Lotta are real people, and as are all the events from page one to the 281th page!!!)
" 'He will marry a girl from far, far away, from outside the village, the district, the province, the state and even the country' it began.
'You needn't go looking for her, she will come to you'......
'His future wife will be musical, own a jungle and be born under the sign of Taurus.'
PK traveled pretty much the whole world on a bike to find the love of his life. They say, "Love makes you crazy," and this TRUE story proves so.
(PK and Lotta are real people, and as are all the events from page one to the 281th page!!!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2021
Supergaaf boek! De titel klinkt als een flauw boek maar het is erg de moeite waard!
December 12, 2023
Leicht zu lesen, viel Wissenswertes über die indische Kultur. Die Geschichte hat mich jetzt nicht umgehauen, aber es war ein schönes Buch insgesamt!
January 23, 2020
Amai wat een kutboek. Heb zwaar moeten worstelen.
May 14, 2017
This was a very informative and interesting read. I really enjoyed the story, which is a true one. It is about a young Indian boy Pradyumna Kumar, known as PK, who was born into a poor, untouchable family in a small village in eastern India. An astrologer's prophecy stated that, he PK would marry a girl who is not from the village, not from the district, not even from our country; she will be musical, own a jungle and be born under the sign of the ox. He always had this information in the back of his mind.
PK grew up with a lot of prejudice surrounding him and his family because of their caste (untouchables, also called Dalit, who are a member of the lowest social class in India ) It was amazing to learn about all of the different caste systems and all of the sub divisions of them at well. PK, grew up with this prejudice and when young did not really understand why people treated him and his family the way they did. This did not stop PK from going forth in his life and making something of himself. He found he was good at art and wanted to study that rather than what his father would have chosen for him. He goes to a couple of different schools but eventually settles into an art school in New Delhi and here his life begins to turn around. When not in school, he draws peoples portrait in a local park, where he got quite a reputation and even did portraits for well known people. One day he met a Swedish woman named Lotta, who was traveling around India with some friends, and after spending time with her and remembering his prophecy, he knew she was the one he was to end up with. We don't really get to connect with her or her story, like we do with PK, so for me I did not really feel that love, although I know it is there.
Lotta, ends up having to go back to Sweden and the two make plans to reunite, but PK not having the money to just fly to Sweden, decides that he must get there any way that he can, saving up money from his portraits and doing more of them en route, PK buys an old bicycle and decides to ride all of the way to Sweden to reunite with his love. He follows, (The hippie trail, which is the name given to the overland journey taken by members of the hippie subculture and others from the mid-1950s to the late 1970s between Europe and South Asia, mainly Pakistan, India and Nepal ) He had many hippy friends that he had met when he did his art in the park, and he knew this route would take him in the direction he needed.
His journey to be reunited with his love has many adventures and once there a life of learning how to adapt, and how to assimilate into a new culture.
This book was well written and was a great read, I would like to thank:
NetGalley and Oneworld Publications for an advanced reader copy .
PK grew up with a lot of prejudice surrounding him and his family because of their caste (untouchables, also called Dalit, who are a member of the lowest social class in India ) It was amazing to learn about all of the different caste systems and all of the sub divisions of them at well. PK, grew up with this prejudice and when young did not really understand why people treated him and his family the way they did. This did not stop PK from going forth in his life and making something of himself. He found he was good at art and wanted to study that rather than what his father would have chosen for him. He goes to a couple of different schools but eventually settles into an art school in New Delhi and here his life begins to turn around. When not in school, he draws peoples portrait in a local park, where he got quite a reputation and even did portraits for well known people. One day he met a Swedish woman named Lotta, who was traveling around India with some friends, and after spending time with her and remembering his prophecy, he knew she was the one he was to end up with. We don't really get to connect with her or her story, like we do with PK, so for me I did not really feel that love, although I know it is there.
Lotta, ends up having to go back to Sweden and the two make plans to reunite, but PK not having the money to just fly to Sweden, decides that he must get there any way that he can, saving up money from his portraits and doing more of them en route, PK buys an old bicycle and decides to ride all of the way to Sweden to reunite with his love. He follows, (The hippie trail, which is the name given to the overland journey taken by members of the hippie subculture and others from the mid-1950s to the late 1970s between Europe and South Asia, mainly Pakistan, India and Nepal ) He had many hippy friends that he had met when he did his art in the park, and he knew this route would take him in the direction he needed.
His journey to be reunited with his love has many adventures and once there a life of learning how to adapt, and how to assimilate into a new culture.
This book was well written and was a great read, I would like to thank:
NetGalley and Oneworld Publications for an advanced reader copy .
June 1, 2021
Eine sehr inspirierende Geschichte! Ich dachte natürlich, in dem Buch geht es hauptsächlich um Pikays Reise mit dem Fahrrad nach Schweden. Tatsächlich erzählt die erste Hälfte des Buches aber Pikays Lebensgeschichte. Sein Leben als Unberührbarer in Indien. Ein Leben voller (wie er so schön sagt) "Sinnlosigkeiten". Ablehnung, Mobbing, Demütigungen, Hass ... all das bestimmt seinen Alltag. Und auch die Tatsache, dass es ihm als Unberührbarer wohl nie möglich sein wird, die Frau zu heiraten, die er wirklich liebt.
Diese Vorgeschichte fand ich sehr wichtig, um zu verstehen, wie ein Inder überhaupt auf die Idee kommt, mit seinem Fahrrad bis nach Schweden zu fahren, um da seine große Liebe wiederzufinden. Und ohne zu viel zu spoilern, kann ich nur sagen, dass die Geschichte einfach herzerwärmend ist und zeigt, dass jeder seinen Platz irgendwo in der Welt hat und das auch die schlechten Dinge im Leben für irgendwas gut sind.
Diese Vorgeschichte fand ich sehr wichtig, um zu verstehen, wie ein Inder überhaupt auf die Idee kommt, mit seinem Fahrrad bis nach Schweden zu fahren, um da seine große Liebe wiederzufinden. Und ohne zu viel zu spoilern, kann ich nur sagen, dass die Geschichte einfach herzerwärmend ist und zeigt, dass jeder seinen Platz irgendwo in der Welt hat und das auch die schlechten Dinge im Leben für irgendwas gut sind.
October 7, 2020
(DNF)
I was captivated by the title of the book and I was so excited to read it....needless to say I was disappointed.
Was expecting this book to be about PK's adventure cycling his way through all the cities to get to his beloved in Sweden but i felt that the book was more focused on the topic of his life in India and not really on his adventure. While i like that the book covers topics like the caste system in India and his humble roots, I did not like that fact that the adventure and love part was missing for a good fraction of the book.
Like many readers, i was convinced that i was going to be swept into a whirlwind adventure...but I'm sorry to say this but he only starts his adventure on page 197 and apparently reaches Sweden by page 247....So that makes 50 pages out of 304 about his actual adventure. Writing style was nothing revolutionary. Would not recommend.
I was captivated by the title of the book and I was so excited to read it....needless to say I was disappointed.
Was expecting this book to be about PK's adventure cycling his way through all the cities to get to his beloved in Sweden but i felt that the book was more focused on the topic of his life in India and not really on his adventure. While i like that the book covers topics like the caste system in India and his humble roots, I did not like that fact that the adventure and love part was missing for a good fraction of the book.
Like many readers, i was convinced that i was going to be swept into a whirlwind adventure...but I'm sorry to say this but he only starts his adventure on page 197 and apparently reaches Sweden by page 247....So that makes 50 pages out of 304 about his actual adventure. Writing style was nothing revolutionary. Would not recommend.
April 5, 2019
In fact, it should be 2/5, but...
First off, the English title is completely misleading - the cycling lasts for about 30 pages and there’s nothing amazing about it (as such). Secondly, the language - style and storytelling- is stiff, if not infantile at times. I think this is because this book doesn’t know what it wants to be - a bildungsroman? A biography? A reportage? I would prefer the latter form. And I must add that the parts where PK is directly quoted are like a breath of fresh air.
As for the ‘but’... I decided to give it 3/5 because PK’s experience and message are in fact very powerful. It is therefore even sadder to see the above-mentioned problems spoiling the reception of this, in fact, rather wonderful story.
First off, the English title is completely misleading - the cycling lasts for about 30 pages and there’s nothing amazing about it (as such). Secondly, the language - style and storytelling- is stiff, if not infantile at times. I think this is because this book doesn’t know what it wants to be - a bildungsroman? A biography? A reportage? I would prefer the latter form. And I must add that the parts where PK is directly quoted are like a breath of fresh air.
As for the ‘but’... I decided to give it 3/5 because PK’s experience and message are in fact very powerful. It is therefore even sadder to see the above-mentioned problems spoiling the reception of this, in fact, rather wonderful story.
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