Reviews

 

Romain Rolland: the Story of a Conscience: By Dr. Alex Aronson. (Padma Publications, Fort, Bombay). Pp. 215. Price Rs. 5/8.

In this admirable book, Dr. Aronson traces the evolution of Romain Rolland’s Great Conscience from birth to death. Dr. Aronson shows how Tolstoy influenced Rolland in his youth and how again and again he goes to Tolstoy as a measuring rod, when he tries to comprehend a Gandhi or a Vivekananda. The biographer skillfully presents the gradual change in the attitude of Rolland towards the Russian experiment. He must find a “bridge leading from Tolstoy to Gandhi,” and another “between the non-violence of Gandhi’s faith and the violence of Marxist reconstruction.”

Dr. Aronson writes:

Only very gradually does his attitude towards the Revolution change. All through these years he expresses his aversion for “certain methods of its police,” for “its narrowness of doctrine”, and “its dictatorial spirit”. But he also wishes it to be acknowledged that he was “among the first to recognize its greatness and its historic necessity.”

It gradually dawned upon him that abstract discussion on Ends and Means, on the problem of non-resistance or non-aggression, were futile, as long as the social order in which they lived was largely based upon violence–either direct or indirect. To change the social order any “means” are permitted even, if need be, violence. “The whole question”, says Rolland in 1931, “is to know whether the constructive program of the USSR is leading to a more just human organization, the only just and fruitful one...” And if the reply to this question, is in the affirmative, then “one has no right to make gestures of disgust because the builders had to soil their hands….”

This is the last phase. But he started with a conception of an ‘elite’ whom he regarded as the foreruuners of humanity, and of the masses was misunderstood them. He had also conceived of defeat as moral victory–Beethoven’s deafness, for instance. He believed also in a mysticism of action.

Not only is Gandhi more ‘Christian than Tolstoy, he also lacks that split in the personality which is the common characteristic of all contemporary European intellectuals. His is a unified sensibility, and everything in him is “natural, simple, modest, and pure: whereas in Tolstoy, pride fights against pride, anger against anger, everything is violent, not excepting even non-violence.”

And just as in his previous books Rolland had compared the precursors of the past, the leaders of the French Revolution, for instance, with contemporary politicians, he also first applies the common standards of modern politics to Mahatma Gandhi. And he finds that they do not fit him. Even compared to European revolutionaries–and Rolland at that time also includes the revolutionaries in the Russia of 1917–he seems to stand on an infinitely higher level of awareness. For Gandhi is not, like our European revolutionaries, a mere maker of laws and decrees. He is the creator of a new humanity. And in Gandhi also, Rolland sees a precursory who, though in advance of his time, yet has never denied his people. Being their leader he is part of them. For as Rolland had said in his early plays thirty years ago: in humility and defeat all are equal. He finds on his face “no sign of triumph”, in his heart “no sign of vanity.” And he adds: “He is and remains a man like all other men.”

Two long quotations from the book have been given, for it is an interpretative biography, admirably done. The best way of dealing with such a book–the subject as well as the treatment–is by including fairly lengthy quotations in the review. The book provides the reader with an excellent ground of contemporary literary Europe. H.G. Wells, we find, is, as usual unable to understand the significance of Rolland’s Above the Battle. In an article he comes to the conclusion that Above the battle is the result of some personal, though obscure, quarrel between Rolland and the litterateurs of Paris! Thomas Mann, who had since retraced his steps, wrote in an attack on Rolland that the right was always with the stronger.

One would only wish that the book had contained a fuller treatment of The Soul Enchanted, and fewer printer’s errors. A better photograph of Romain Rolland would have been more welcome.

V. V. Prasad

Sidelights–By Saka (Khasa Subba Rau. Language Publications, 12, Thambu Chetti St., Madras, Price Rs. 2/-).

The art of sketch-writing has always baffled learners. It induces them often to dogmatise on meagre data and to appear to be on tea-drinking terms with the entire world. It may either stimulate them to portray imaginary qualities in their favorites with an air of reality or to pass severe strictures on comparative strangers with a seeming look of healthy detachment.

We are more sensitive in this country than Europeans, and one has therefore to be careful to avoid giving offence. The writer of pen-portraits of living persons has to deal with the foibles of his subjects in a light and breezy manner. He may gently prod, but not deeply cut. Agreeable banter is permissible, but not too deep a vivisection of any person’s character, especially when it is of the wrong sort. For another reason also the writer has to eschew too deep an analysis. Human character is so mysterious and complex that one can never always claim sureness of insight.

Sri Khasa Subba Rau is a person never to ignore any of the proprieties. Writing, he has always understood; and journalism generally has given him abundant opportunities for equipment to write on a vanity of topics. Public men and politics, in his fairly long experience as a journalist, have given him more of insight into human nature and his “Sidelights” have never failed to attract intelligent readers, even as they were appearing periodically in the Dailies.

Politicians, lawyers, administrators, journalists and artistes have all claimed his interested attention, and we have, therefore, before us a commingled fare for eager understanding and animated discussion in friendly circles.

In apportioning praise to the various sketches, perhaps there will be as many orders of preferences there are readers. But none can deny Khasa’s art at its peak in the few pages he has devoted to Srimati Rukmini Devi and Sri G. A. Natesan. For, strangely enough, he seems to have been too much obsessed with his own political faith while estimating some of the politicians and not adequately informed of forensic details while dealing with some of the lawyers that take the stage.

The publishers deserve our warm congratulations, no doubt, for including in this volume two more sections, containing a miscellany of articles from the same author on various other themes of interest, which at once preserve the freshness of a reflective mind and the elusive charm of a literary craftsman.

K. C.

Tribunes of the People–By P. R. Ramachandra Rao, Published by The New Book Co., 188-90, Hornby Road, Bombay, Rs.3-14-0.

Srimathi Sarojini Devi, Jawaharlal, C. R. Rajendra Prasad, Patel, Azad, and Abdul Gaffar Khan are the contemporary figures who are graphically described in the work. In spite of the too well-known nature of the subject of these essays, the author is able to maintain the interest of the reader because of the well-turned epigrammatic style of writing which reminds one of the hammer and chisel of the sculptor rather than the delicate brush of the painter. But for the prohibitively high price, the book should prove to be very popular.

Pakistan–The Problem of India–By Dr. Shaukut Ulla Ansari, Published by Minerva Book, Anarkali Lahore. Price Rs. 3–8–0.

Dr. Ansari has considered this problem in all its aspects and it can safely be claimed that his pronouncement against the two-nation theory is thoroughly convincing. All the relevant facts pertaining to this problem have been given and the considerations for and against have been examined in an impartial manner. The author’s conclusion is that even if Pakistan is established, apart from its not being a solution of the problem, it will harm the Muslims. The work is a valuable contribution to the literature on the vexed question; it is authoritative, fair and certainly conclusive.

C. R. S.

TAMIL

V. Krishnaswami Aiyar–By K. Chandrasekharan–Kalaimal Publishing House. Price RS. 8–0–0.

“There can be no better use for money,” said a writer “than to spend it in spreading the knowledge of a noble life.” Mr. K. Chandrasekharan must jump with joy at this quotation, for he has produced a large-sized and well got up life of his father with great labour and at great cost. Let us hope that a grateful public will soon create a demand for a second edition of this meritorious biography.

For meritorious Mr. Chandrasekharan’s biography is in several respects. Few writers could be as fortunate as Mr. Chandrasekharan has been in his subject, for the subject of his biography is a most virile and magnetic personality, abounding in light and shade and full of the drama of life. But to his good fortune Chandrasekharan adds patience and perseverance in search of biographical details and a skill in presenting them. He is almost a pioneer in this part of India in the art and science of building up a living and growing picture of a dynamic life with the aid of original documents, diaries and letters. And he has a right conception of biography, for he has resisted the very natural temptation in a son to raise a pious monument and has given us a credible picture of the human being that V. Krishna swamy Aiyar was. In the picture that the author gives us the private man shines as vividly as the public figure. Mr. Chandrasekharan is at his best when he describes his father’s tender affection and great regard for his brother or the admiring and loving mutual friendship of Krishna swamy Aiyar and Gokhale. Mr. Chandrasekharan’s proper conception of biography is bound to influence other writers and his book will inspire in any similar efforts.

One, however, wishes; here and there that Mr. Chandrasekharan had not adorned a tale or pointed a moral. And at last with one comment (or is it conclusion) of his, readers of the biography and friends of V. Krishnaswamy Aiyar would find it difficult to agree. The author thinks that if his father were alive today, he would follow in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi. I have discussed this question with a friend or two of Krishna swamy Aiyar, and they think that his great and powerful personality would have been pitted against Gandhiji, and ranged on tire side of co-operation and constitution-building. Mr. Chandrasekharan’s biography leaves a definite impression of a man born to lead and not to follow, and to lead in constructive and constitutional nation building. And Krishnaswamy Aiyar’s stature is not rendered any the less by supposing that he would not be with Gandhiji today. I have discussed this point at some length because there are admirers of Gokhale and even Dadabhai who feel impelled to claim that these great figures of the past would be with Gandhiji, if they were alive.

T. N. Jagadisan

KANNADA

Kannada yatre–By M. Narasinga Rao, M.A., P.O.L., Publishers: - Karnataka Sahitya Mandira, Hyderabad (Dn.), Price Rs. 1–8–0.

This book is a fine essay on the tour of the author and his friends in some parts of the Karnataka country after attending the Shimoga Conference of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat. The visit to Udipi, in south Kanara, is also described. The author discusses in the course of the narrative many problems of a social, religious and literary character, and expresses his own views which show a fresh and well-balanced outlook. Besides lively and sympathetic character-sketches there are picturesque descriptions of the Western Ghats and the South Kanara District, visited by the author, which are very readable and interesting.

The essay might have been divided into chapters with headings and made more attractive. The book is an original contribution to modern Kannada prose literature.

Gokula Nirgamana–By Sri P. T. Narasimhachar, Publishers:–Kavyalaya, Mysore, Price Rs. 1/-
Gokula Nirgamana is a song-play of Sri P. T. Narasimhachar, dealing with Krishna’s exit from the Gokula. The love of the Gopis for Krishna, the devotion of the saints and the admiration of all the cowherds are brought out very well in this two-act play”

A purely idealistic form of literature (as this drama should be viewed) cannot attempt portrayal of a realistic nature. The author, on the whole, has kept this distinction well in mind in the portrayal of character and speeches.

Some of the songs in this play can be classed amongst the best pieces of modern Kannada poetry. The invocatory song of the poet at the beginning of the second Act is an instance in point as also the one at the end of the play. Radha sings in great sorrow at the sight of the flute, whose owner, Sri Krishna, has deserted it and has left it behind on his exit from the Gokula.

The adaptability of this play to the stage depends on the existence of a team of gifted dancers and highly capable musical direction.

A.     K. P.