Now Reading: Book review: Life of a tea planter in India
-
01
Book review: Life of a tea planter in India
A new book, 'Tete-a-Tea, Anecdotes from a Life Immersed in Tea' by Gurinder Singh 'Indi' Khanna, published by White Falcon Publishing in 2026, offers a humorous look at the life of a…
A new book, 'Tete-a-Tea, Anecdotes from a Life Immersed in Tea' by Gurinder Singh 'Indi' Khanna, published by White Falcon Publishing in 2026, offers a humorous look at the life of a tea planter in India. The book contains 39 chapters recounting the author's experiences from his career in Assam and the Nilgiris, covering everything from early morning muster to late nights at the Planters' Club.
One story describes how a night watchman was discovered urinating into a rain gauge every night, skewing rainfall records. Another details a golf tournament at the Planters' Club where players had to consume a large drink before each of six holes and were forbidden from relieving themselves until after the ninth hole.
India is the world's second-largest tea producer, with 1.38 billion kg grown annually on 619,000 hectares, valued at US$12 billion. The book provides an insider's view of the subculture of tea planters, who had to be self-sufficient and innovative before the era of modern amenities.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Tea plantations remain a significant employer in Assam and the Nilgiris, with over a million workers. The industry faces challenges from rising labour costs, climate change affecting yields, and competition from Kenya and Sri Lanka. Khanna's anecdotes highlight a vanishing way of life as plantations modernize with technology and regulations. The book is a niche cultural record rather than a commercial or political commentary. Readers interested in the industry's human side will find it valuable, but those seeking data on production or economics should look elsewhere.
Source: nationalheraldindia.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
