Venkat Karra

The Ganesha Pendant Venkat Karra

In the early 70's, Indira, a young bride from Andhra Pradesh, in South India, migrates to the US with her husband Ashok. Indira truly represents a generation of early Indian immigrants who strove to blend the customs and traditions of the east and west. A deep bond is forged between them and another immigrant family hailing from the same region. Spanning over two decades, this friendship is suddenly shattered by an incident in 1997. Despite a terrible loss, years later the families reconcile with a very touching closure. Nostalgia for the old way of life, vivid imagery bringing alive the beautiful rural landscape, combined with a description of the very different social structures of both the countries serves as a backdrop. The novel moves at an easy pace with subtle humor and striking detail. Explanations and a glossary are provided to hold the readers' interest.