‘The Highlands of Yore’ is a story that spans generations, about the life and transformation of the indigenous people of the mountains—the Raya community, settled in Betta, a fictional district of Tamil Nadu.

These five stories spread across five centuries comprise tales of desire, yearning, unease, sisterhood, understanding, distance, suppressed rage and disconnect—everything a reader can relate to.

‘The Wayward Journey’ opens at a dangerous time in the 16^th century when a kingdom is at war with four neighbouring Sultanates, and the people, led by their queen, undertake a treacherous journey to the mountains.

Set in early 19^th century, ‘Sisterhood of the Hills’ demonstrates the trust and bonding between the women of the community. In ‘The Rise of the Alien Wind’, British soldiers arrive at their doorstep and disrupt their lifestyle and peace. 

Fast forward to the 1990s, ‘The Sprouts of Dispersal’ follows a Raya woman who married into an affluent family that had made their fortune from the tea industry. Everything comes full circle in ‘The Obscuring Highland Home’, set in the present day, when the dwellers of the mountain are being forced out to make way for exploitation in the name of development. 

The women of the community have long been the keepers of knowledge, agents of choice, and fierce protectors of their people. The rituals and beliefs are carried forward through their lineage. They are strong and brave, but between the lines, we feel their exasperation and deep unease.

Purchase Links:

Over the centuries, the land and the people gradually change. Customs meant to preserve memories and traditions are cast aside. The promises made to the land are forgotten and broken. Where once they stayed united and true to themselves, now cracks have appeared and conceit has taken roots.

History repeats, but the only person who can see how it all comes about, is the reader, who experiences the foreboding of what’s to come. Monisha Raman uses the technique of intergenerational connectivity to examine themes of resilience and memory. The land serves as a witness as well as a character that shapes the culture and the identities of the people.

The story I liked best is “The Sprouts of Dispersal”, in which different threads intertwine to bring the narrative to life. The character’s arc is captivating and keeps the reader hooked.

“The community presented in this collection is partly influenced by many aboriginal groups in South India,” writes Monisha Raman in her Author’s Note.

Monisha Raman has an engaging, lyrical style of writing. Her characters are well-developed and have several shades. Although each story skips a century or so, the pacing is unhurried, keeping with the transformations of the nature she describes. Each story has connected sub-plots or themes that enrich the feel of the story. Her world comes alive around us—the mountains, the valleys, the forest, and the river as much as the people. 

One can but appreciate the author’s commitment and firm determination to bring forgotten stories to the world. While the setting may be fictional, the underlying truth, like the land beneath their feet, is solid, real and all too familiar. When a character says, “Like the coffee, everything in the hills was authentic back then,” we feel the heartache and the nostalgia just as she experiences it.

The Highlands of Yore is a reminder that the only thing we can count on, the only thing that persists, is change. It recalls the strong bonds the human race once had with the planet, and how closely interconnected our lives were. As time passed, human beings grew aloof, sometimes even destroying the very nature that protects and nurtures us. 

The Highlands of Yore by Monisha Raman is published by Readomania. 

—

Reviewed by: The Hemlock Journal’s reviewer

About the Author

About the Reviewer