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a
Regal Romance BY
Ameer Janmohamed
'This
book is a gold mine for those who
were born and brought up in Mombasa'
Coastweek
- - FORMER
Mombasa resident, Ameer Janmohamed has written a
book about his life and events revolving around it,
writes ANJUM ASODIA.
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Aptly
titled, "A Regal Romance and Other
Memories", this book is a fascinating
journey of a well-known and respected
individual, who spent a major part of his
life in Mombasa, finally settling in London
in 1972.
Ameer,
or ‘Bhurio’ as he was affectionately
known as, begins his book tracing back his
family tree as far back as possible, noting
actual events that occurred and were
recorded in family letters to the late
1800s.
From
his forefathers, grandfather, and father and
down to his own birth, every event is
documented with times and excerpts from
diaries and letters.
The story
then picks up speed through to the family
business, family affairs, deaths in the
family and how it affected his immediately
family and, of course Ameer himself. His
youth, adulthood and final retirement is
chronicled in detail. |
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Coastweek
- - THE
AUTHOR, Ameer Janmohamed at the UK launch of
his book. |
But
this is not just a story about the man himself.
Even
as he speaks (this book seems to come from the
heart), Ameer gives the reader an insight into
society of that time, why things happened the way
they did and other people’s influence on him and
the events that took place.
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Coastweek
- - Some
of the guests queuing up
to have their copies signed by the author.
You
can feel the awe and bond that he had with his
parents, grandparents and forefathers as he
carefully tracks down his lineage.
The
writer has kept his language simple and
clear, making you feel that you are watching
a black and white film as you go through the
pages.
Each
character that he talks about vividly takes
shape in your mind, the numerous photographs
in the book aiding this.
The
book ends with a glossary of Gujerati words
that will be useful to non-Gujerati readers
and an in-depth chronology dating back to
3000BC to date.
This
book is a gold mine for those who were born
and brought up in Mombasa from the 1930s to
the seventies, as they will definitely
remember many events and people from that
time.
For
those, like me, who have an interest in
history and past events, this book will open
a chapter in Mombasa life in that era that
will not only be interesting but educational
too.
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Coastweek
- - AT
THE UK
launch of "A Regal Romance are"
[from left], Literary Agent Jullian Freidmann,
Society Books
- Publishers Quassim, Hom Paribag, Zeenat Janmohamed,
and Book Cover designer Lily Mebratu.
Ameer
Janmohamed came from a very well-to-do
family and thus was involved more with
people in that class of society.
Thus
there is little mention of those that did
not reach that level, which is the only
drawback in the book.
However,
had he written about every little detail in
his life, this would be a much thicker
version and would, perhaps lose the
reader’s interest span which the current
book has.
"A
Regal Romance and Other Memories" will
be regaled by every person that will read it
and was been launched in the UK two weeks
ago.
150
Friends of Ameer, literati and members of the
publishing world in London gathered for a sumptuous
lunch at the Oatlands Park Hotel for the formal
launch.
It
will be available to readers in Mombasa and Kenya in
the very near future.
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