In Nine Rupees an Hour, Aparna Karthikeyan captures the fading rhythms of rural Tamil Nadu, stories of artisans, farmers, and skilled workers whose livelihoods are slowly disappearing. Through intimate portraits and unflinching honesty, this book is both a tribute to resilience and a reminder of the cultural and human cost of neglecting traditional work.
Why I Picked This Book?
A beautiful cover picture with a thought-provoking title made me pick this book up for a read. The title “Nine Rupees an Hour” made me pause and think, can this be? The book is written by Aparna Karthikayen, who is an Independent Journalist. I further checked the credentials of the author and found that she works with various media houses, including PARI – People’s Archive of Rural India, founded by P. Sainath, a well-respected journalist. As many would agree, any creative or journalistic association with P. Sainath is an endorsement in itself. So, I picked up the book, took the plunge, and I’m glad I did.
The Book
The book introduces us to lives shaped by generational skills: silambam masters, palm-leaf weavers, handloom artisans, and agricultural labourers. These are people who carry the knowledge of centuries, yet now struggle to survive in a market that prizes speed and mass production over heritage and craft.
“We work with our hands, but it is our hearts that are tired,” says one artisan in the book. This single line lingers long after the page has turned.
Behind these personal stories are the realities of caste, which continue to shape opportunity, dignity, and livelihood in rural India. Karthikeyan’s narrative makes it impossible to ignore the fact that a wage of nine rupees an hour is not only unsustainable but also symbolic of a deeper economic neglect. Livelihoods are not just about earning an income. They carry history, pride, and a sense of belonging. When such work disappears, entire cultural lineages vanish with it.
Karthikeyan writes with the rigour of a reporter and the sensitivity of a storyteller. Her storytelling is clear yet lyrical, carrying both the need and urgency of documenting the truth from the ground and the tenderness of listening. The truth emerges not from data but from lived experiences, spoken in the unfiltered voices of the people themselves.
Our Verdict
About The Author
Aparna Karthikeyan is a storyteller and an independent journalist. She volunteers for the People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI) and has written for them, as well as for The Hindu, The Caravan, The Wire, Scroll, and other publications on culture, books, and livelihoods. She has authored books for children and published short fiction.
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