A Long Walk to Water
Although three-fourths of the Earth is covered with water, the amount of drinking water available is very low, and it is not evenly distributed across nations. As a result, some regions use or even waste plenty of water, while others barely get enough for their daily needs. This story revolves around one such region where water is scarce, and people need to walk several miles just to fetch a single bucket. The place is Southern Sudan in Africa.
The story takes us back to 1983, during the second Sudanese
civil war. Salva Dut, an 11-year-old boy from the Dinka tribe, lived with his
parents, three brothers, and two sisters in a small town called Loun-Ariik in
Tonj Country. One day, while he was in school, gunshots and bomb blasts
erupted. Students were forced to flee into the bush—on the opposite side of
Salva’s home. With no choice left, Salva ran farther and farther away, leaving
behind everything he knew.
The war had begun two years earlier. Though Salva did not
fully understand it, he knew that rebels from the south, where he and his
family lived, were fighting against the government in the north. The northern
government, dominated by Muslims, wanted to impose Islam across Sudan. But the
people in the south, who followed different religions, resisted. This conflict
for independence led to widespread fighting. On top of this civil war, another
age-old conflict simmered between the two major tribes—the Dinka and the Nuer.
Separated from his family, Salva wandered with a group of
Dinka villagers toward an Ethiopian refugee camp. The journey was grueling. He
constantly searched for his family whenever he joined a new group along the
trail, but he never found them. Crossing the harsh terrain of the Akobo desert,
Salva was briefly reunited with his uncle. Sadly, this reunion was short-lived,
as his uncle was killed before they could reach safety.
What happened next? Was Salva able to reach Ethiopia? Did the country welcome him? How did he survive famine, drought, and unimaginable challenges? And, most importantly, did he ever reunite with his family? These questions unfold as the story progresses.
The book alternates between two timelines—Salva’s journey in
1985 and the story of a little girl, Nya, in 2008, who struggles daily to fetch
water for her family in Southern Sudan. The way these two narratives connect in
the climax is truly mesmerizing.
Two key takeaways deeply resonated with me:
1. Persistence – Despite enormous hardships, Salva
never gave up hope. He valued life and fought to survive. Whenever he felt too
tired to continue, he remembered his uncle’s words: “Do you see that group
of bushes? You only need to walk as far as those bushes.” This mindset of
taking one step at a time kept him going.
2. Giving Back to Society – Later in life, Salva was
adopted by an American couple. He worked hard, studied diligently, and
eventually returned to Sudan with a mission—to help his people. His efforts
brought access to clean water and changed countless lives. His journey shows the
profound impact of giving back to society and standing for a cause.
Based on true incidents, this book is not just about the
importance of water but also about resilience, harmony, and the power of
service. War brings destruction to both the winner and the loser. Instead, let
us embrace diversity, live in peace, and uplift one another.
A must-read book!
Lovely Narration..❤️
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