Ruby of Cochin

Memoirs of Ruby Daniel, a Jewish woman lived in Kerala. A really interesting book.
By Ruby Daniel, Barbara Johnson
Jewish Publication Society of America
Pages: 240 Price: $ 14.95
BUY FROM AMAZON

Deftly written with the assistance of Barbara C. Johnson (Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Ithaca College), Ruby Of Cochin: An Indian Jewish Woman Remembers is the personal memoir of Ruby Daniel, a Jewish woman born in the East Indian community of Cochin in 1912 and educated at a convent school, and then attending St. Theresa's College. In World War II she served as a member of the Women's Royal Indian Navy, and subsequently immigrated to Israel in 1951, and currently resides on an Israeli kibbutz.

Ruby Of Cochin is a rich and engaging autobiographical story enhanced with historical legends, folk tales, colorful renditions of celebrations in Cochin and women's songs in Malayalam. Filled with rich descriptions of Jewish life that spans several centuries in this exotic culture, this ethnographic work is both the story of all the Jews of Cochin, India, and the tale of one woman. It is also Ruby's own memoir of her dramatic life in India. A woman of strong and enviable character, she chose not the traditional path of marriage, instead attending college and joining the Women's Royal Indian Navy.

Highly recommended reading, Ruby Of Cochin is a simply fascinating window into one woman's life in East India.

(courtesy: amazon.com)