What if the greatest treasure isn’t what you think?
Discover JHAAL MURI — a story of imagination, curiosity and discovery for young readers.
The book
Some stories are read. Some stories stay with you.
Jhaal Muri (The Snacks Seller) is the moving story of Santu Das — a boy who once raced alongside trains selling puffed rice and dreams.
When a stranger notices him — not with pity, but with belief — his life takes a dramatic turn. From the crowded platforms of Howrah Station to a national youth stage, Santu's journey is a testament to second chances, dignity and self-belief.
This is not just the story of one child. It is a mirror for many. A reminder that sometimes, all it takes to change a life is someone who chooses to see it.
- Written by
- Rajat Pandit
- Publisher
- VisualSketches
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2 December 2025
Inside the world
A platform at dawn. A blue gate. A life that turns.
Every page is hand-painted in watercolour — the steam of a station morning, the hush of a courtyard where other children are already reading.
For parents
Give a child a story instead of another screen.
Santu is not a hero with powers. He is a boy with a cart, a debt of trust, and a choice — which is exactly why children argue about him at the dinner table long after the last page.
A conversation, not just a bedtime read
Honesty, dignity, second chances — the things that are hard to teach and easy to feel when a story does the work for you.
Short enough to finish in one sitting
Readers describe it as short, touching, and hard to put down — the kind of length that turns a reluctant reader into a finisher.
Set in a world they recognise
Howrah station, puffed rice, a hundred-rupee note. Indian children meet themselves in this book instead of somebody else.
Looking for a gift that doesn’t end up in a drawer?
Birthdays, Children’s Day, a cousin’s new school year. A story gets opened again. A toy gets outgrown by Sunday.
Real readers
What people said after they finished it.
A gentle and uplifting tale of hope
“Simple yet deeply emotional story that stays with you long after reading… not just Santu's story but a reflection of countless unseen children.”
A small story with a big heart
“It was short, touching, and left me smiling long after I finished the last page.”
Platform to purpose
“The writing is simple but powerful. It shows how one kind person can change a life.”
Charming and full of heart
“The characters feel real, and the everyday moments are beautifully told. A delightful read that leaves you smiling.”
A touching journey of redemption and hope
“The narrative from Howrah station to the national stage is authentic and inspiring… the message of dignity and second chances remains powerful.”
Reviews are quoted from readers on Amazon and from readers who wrote to the author directly. Nothing on this page is a paid or invented testimonial.
Schools & libraries
Bring JHAAL MURI to your classroom.
A single, self-contained story that a class can read together in one period and talk about for a week. Empathy, dignity of work, and the difference one adult’s belief makes to a child — already on the page, no lesson plan required.
Classroom sets
Copies for a section, a grade or a whole reading programme, priced by quantity rather than per unit.
School & public libraries
Add an Indian-set title to the shelf that borrowers actually finish. Print and digital both available.
Reading sessions
Planning a read-aloud, a book week or a young-readers event? Tell us the date in the form and we'll work to it.
Institutional invoicing
Formal quotation, GST invoice and delivery to the institution's address — the paperwork your procurement needs.
NGOs, CSR & social welfare
Help put more stories into more children’s hands.
JHAAL MURI is about a child that most people walk past. For an organisation working with exactly those children, it is not a metaphor — it is a mirror they can hold.
- Distribution copies for reading programmes and learning centres
- CSR gifting and employee-volunteering kits
- Government and social-welfare procurement, with formal quotation
- Co-branded or dedication pages for a sponsored print run
Bulk & institutional orders
Tell us who the books are for.
Schools, libraries, NGOs, CSR programmes and social-welfare organisations — pricing, formats and delivery are arranged directly with the author’s studio. One business day to a reply.
The author
Rajat Pandit
A visual storyteller with more than a decade across the arts and entertainment industry. A degree in Animation and Multimedia from BIT Mesra and a Master’s in Advertising sit behind every page — JHAAL MURI is written and illustrated by the same hand, which is why the words and the watercolours say the same thing.
One book. One reader. One new world to discover.
Santu is waiting on the platform. It takes one tap to let a child meet him.