By the River Pampa I Stood  (English, Paperback, Jose Geeta Abraham)

There is an ethnic Christian Community with a two millennium old heritage in the southernmost part of India, where nature has endowed the land and the people with an abundance of grace and beauty. The people belonging to this community are known as Syrian Christians or Nasranis. The novel features a typical Syrian Christian family its great history, its traditions, its joys and sorrows, its secrets....

The story spans over a century and gives an insight into the life of the Syrian Christians of Kerala, which is steeped in traditions dating back to the time of the apostles of Jesus. They are a breed of people who abide by age-old conventions and ancient laws and abhor changes. The caste feelings and feudal hierarchy prevalent in the first half of the twentieth century and to some extent to this day are analyzed carefully as we progress through the history.

The plot of the story is a fictional one but the historical backdrop and descriptions of people, their customs and traditions, the feudal set up and the social discrimination are all original - and have always remained a part and parcel of the social fabric of the community.

The author has put in a fine thread of satire as she weaves her way through the story spanning almost a century taking the family from glory to imminent degradation and decay.

About the Author
Geeta Abraham Jose is a post graduate in the field of Electronics & Communication Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M). Although she is a technical person, Geeta has always considered literature as her first love. She started writing at the age of five when she was presented with a beautiful diary by her mother! She has published a number of poems and articles in various magazines.

Geeta grew up in Hyderabad and Kerala. An academician by profession, in the field of technical education, she now lives in Dubai with her husband and daughter.

'By The River Pampa I Stood' is her first novel and describes the life of the Syrian Christian community of Kerala which has a history and tradition dating back to the days of the Apostles.