Rhizomatic Perennials: Resilience and Survival in Kenyan Asian Memoirs

Neera Kapur-Dromson’s From Jelum to Tana (2007) and Parita Mukta’s Shards of Memory (2002) chronicle the determination and pioneering spirit of their forebears, South Asians who migrated to British East Africa to work on the railway or to set up shops and small businesses. Both authors highlight the resilience, traditions, and community spirit of these early migrants. The combination of a conservative outlook and hold on traditions has suggested a socio-ecological link between perennial plants and the migrants’ strong belief systems and ability to survive on the bare minimum.