Kushti Kid: Storm in (or Storming) the Akhada! [Review]

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Title: Kushti Kid
Author: Vibha Batra
Cover Design: Vibha Surya
Publisher: Scholastic India
Type: Paperback
Length: 104 pages
Age group: 9-14 years

I’m fortunate to come from a family where breaking glass ceilings was quite the norm. My grandfather’s sister was a feminist long before it was fashionable, and my in-laws valued individuality over outdated gendered roles. This privilege shapes my perspective—so when I see books like Vibha Batra’s Kushti Kid, I wonder if they can still engage me. Spoiler alert: this one did.

Kushti Kid follows the story of Qainaat, a young girl inspired by the Phogat sisters’ story on the silver screen. Determined to learn kushti, she faces resistance when she tries to join an akhada. The gatekeeper, Birzu, and the teacher, Bhaiyaji, see her enrollment as a “sin.” But aided by her father and the district magistrate, Bhaiyaji has to grudgingly accept her. Even after joining the akhada, she’s relegated to rolling rotis for the other (all male) students instead of learning kushti. Despite the unjust treatment, she chooses peace and quiet over confrontation—a reality many Indian girls can relate to. Amidst this struggle, she finds an ally in Tanki, one of the other students.

For this review, I decided to let my 11-year-old book dragon Kyra and her friend Harshad have their say. Here’s what they had to say—edited (a little) and unapologetic:

“Finally, a book where the father fights for the protagonist’s dreams instead of her fighting him! And Tanki? We all need a Tanki—funny, loyal, and not afraid to tell you the truth, even if it stings.

We loved Qainaat’s journey. She starts off as a leaf tossed around in a storm but, with support, becomes the storm herself. Watching her tear apart discrimination was so satisfying—like watching someone shred a fragile leaf—what she started off as! The characters of Birzu and Bhaiyaji were so annoying that we actually wanted to reach into the book and slap them.

We also loved the illustrations. They represented the characters quite effectively. Be it the mischief of Tanki, the simplicity of Qainaat or the annoying arrogance of Bhaiyaji.

The story was thoroughly enjoyable. It’s written simply, but never in a way that feels like it’s condescending. We recommend it to anyone who loves a good story—or to those who need convincing that girls can do anything. And if they still disagree, use the book to bonk them on the head.”

Disclaimer: I do not endorse, condone, or support any head bonking, violence, or the use of books as weaponry—no matter how tempting it might seem when dealing with annoying characters. Please read responsibly!”

That’s their review. Now for my two paisa: What I loved most about Kushti Kid was Qainaat’s journey of finding her voice and fighting for her right to learn kushti. Batra doesn’t let the much written theme of gender stereotype turn into a cliche. Her story is a fun, fast-paced read, that Kyra, Harshad, and I all loved. Recommended for everyone—especially those who need a friendly (or not-so-friendly) nudge to see what girls are capable of. Happy reading!

You can read the review of Gobi Goes Viral by the same author here. The previous book by the same author-illustrator duo: Pinkoo Shergill Pastry Chef. [Both books have been published by Scholastic India]
Other books by the author can be found here.

If you enjoyed this review and wish to get into the akhada with all these intriguing characters, you should order the book from Scholastic India (kbc affiliate link), please type Vibha Batra or Kushti Kid in the search bar after clicking this red button.

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Disclaimer: Mandira, Kyra and now Harshad, are a part of the #kbcReviewerSquad and received this book as a review copy from the author & publisher via kbc. Mandira is the author of the award winning book Children of the Hidden Land. Her new release Muniya’s Quest for middle graders is getting rave reviews!