Reviews

Rabindranath Tagore: by Masti Venkatesa Iyengar, (Published by the Author) Gavipur Extension, Bangalore City. Price Rs. 6–0–0)

Sri Masti Venkatesa Iyengar holds a pre-eminent position in present-day Kannada letters. Ripe in administrative experience and versatile in his talents, he is today the zealous head of the Kannada Literary Academy. The pioneer craftsman of the Kannada short story, his best stories are also among the world’s best in the genre. Not a professional author, Masti has written (it would appear) under a certain spiritual or artistic compulsion, and no wonder his short stories wind their meaning into our hearts, to nestle there for ever.

The first of Masti’s works to appear in English was Popular Culture in Karnataka, a delightful introduction to the epic of Karnataka’s age-long strivings and realizations in the fields of literature, the arts, religion and social life. Next came that fascinating “taster”, The Poetry of Valmiki, which takes the reader by easy alluring stages to the core of Valmiki’s poetry and purpose. Masti’s short stories, Englished by himself, appeared a couple of years ago in our volumes, and the short novel Subbanna came out as separate volume. It is a measure of the success of these books that Masti has now issued an English version of his original Kannada brochure on the life, works and times of Rabindranath Tagore.

There is certainly no dearth of books on Tagore, but there was nonetheless a place for a study like Masti’s. Here, indeed, we confront two powers at once, two personalities that equally have sucked inspiration from the same venerable Mother. Impediments of distance and time and language are no bar to Masti agreeably responding to Rabindranath’s dynamic gestures iridescent flashes and half-articulate heart beats. To many of us (including Sri Masti) English offers the sole open sesame to the multiverses of Homer, Goethe, Dostoevsky and Tagore. The available English versions of these great world figures are conceivably much less than the originals–and yet we can do no better than rest content with them and make the best of them. Granted Masti’s limitation, it invalidates his book on Tagore no more than Shaw’s ignorance of Norwegian or Middleton Murry’s ignorance of Russian validates their studies of Ibsen and Dostoevsky.

It is to little purpose to follow Masti here from chapter to chapter. His ten chapters, spread out over about two hundred and fifty pages, cover in considerable detail every important facet of Tagore’s life and works, both intrinsically and in the historical context of the Bengali renaissance, itself the spearhead of the Indian renaissance. Masti shows very clearly how the work of Ram Mohan Roy and the leaders of the Brahma Samaj, the pioneering trials and triumphs of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, inevitably climaxed in the dreams, ideals, determined endeavours and splendorous achievements of Rabindranath Tagore. Facet by facet, Masti holds to our enraptured gaze Rabindranath’s stupendous literary achievement. The Poet, the story writer and the novelist, the dramatist, the letter-writer and the essayist, the philosopher and the prophet of the Religion of Man–these divers personalities of the great Laureate of renascent India are lovingly (but not blindly) anointed with the balm of reverent appreciation. And there are appropriate paragraphs also on Tagore’s work as a musician, as a painter, as a speaker, as a nationalist politician, and above all, as the educationist from whose dream was born the many-chambered edifice of Visva Bharati at Shantiniketan.

Masti’s study of Tagore is primarily addressed to Indians, although others too may doubtless read it with pleasure and profit. Scholarly in the sense that every judgement in the book is born of authentic personal experience, it is fortunately free from pedantic heaviness and pseudo-subtle hair splitting. Masti has taken deep and frequent draughts at the Tagorean spring, and these have become a part of his literary culture. And as he is a first-class storyteller, his literary appreciations also have the casualness, the naturalness, the friendliness, and the purposiveness of his great short stories. From quotation to summary, from summary to comment, from comment to quotation again–and so we are led on and on, we are wheeled about to our delighted discomfiture, we watch the moving panorama of vision and incident and character and natural scenery. We thrill at the sight of Urvasi, we dissolve into tears in the Cabulliwallah’s company, we ponder deeply about Chitrangada’s predicament, we would gladly tear the veil of the King of the Dark Chamber. We wish to tell our animated and talkative guide that some of his reactions are ours as well–that “The Wreck”, interesting as it is, is not quite a convincing story–that Tagore’s “genius was essentially lyrical”–that Tagore was truly a supreme lord of language….but Masti doesn’t give us a moment’s respite either to express our agreement with his judgements or (more rarely) to strike a note of dissent. But, after all, with a person like Masti by our side, it is wiser and more fruitful to be the eager, enraptured listener.

In conclusion, I welcome Sri Masti’s brochure on Rabindranath because it is engagingly personal and discriminating, it is unlaboured and conventional in idiom, and it is creative in its purpose.

K. R. Srinavasa Iyengar.

Satyagraha–Its Technique and History by R. R Diwakar. Foreword by Dr. Rajendra Prasad; Prefatory Observations by Kishorlal Mashruwal–Published by Hind Kitabs, Bombay. Price Rs. 5-12-0.

The non-violent method of redressing social and political wrongs which Gandhiji has initiated in India has evoked world-wide interest–and though Gandhiji’s writings during the last many years provide enough elucidation, a book like the one under review fills a real need for the earnest student anxious to get at the fundamentals and an authentic record of Satyagraha  practice in a synoptic way. The Karnatak leader has done the work of writing a text book admirably for as Dr Rajendra Prasad says, he “has also taken his course of training in a laboratory.”

The birth and growth of the Doctrine as conceived by Gandhi briefly traced, and the principles underlying Satyagraha have been expounded with lucidity and scholarship. The campaigns launched by Gandhiji both in South Africa and India–down to 1942–are briefly recounted. There are valuable appendices, a glossary and a bibliography which make it, specially for the foreign reader, a valuable book of reference.

We congratulate the publishers on this valuable contribution to contemporary political literature.
K. S. G.

Religion and Modern Doubts: By Swami Nirvedananda. Price Rs. 3.
Our Education: By Swami Nirvedananda. Price Rs. 3-8-0. Published by Vidya Mandira, Dhakuria.

“Religion and Modern Doubts” is a reasoned plea for the reinstatement the religious outlook in the modern world that professes to go all out for reason and verified facts. The author argues convincingly that the bed-rock the Vedanta is thoroughly scientific and that the system of thought propounded by the ancient Hindu seers was a systhesis of life and its problems viewed as a whole.

“Our Education” covers rather well-worn ground. One wishes the author had approached the problem less with the reformist and more with the revolutionary outlook–to effect a root and branch reform. There are categorical suggestions–and they are valuable so far as they go–to round the angularities, and make up for the deficiencies of the existing system. What seems to be needed, however, is to build entirely with reference to national needs and founded on national genius–and with as little concern as possible with what is being done in England or U. S. A.–with the facile idea of imitating a feature or two from these countries, which is what at present educational Pandits trained abroad seem inclined to do.
K.S.G.

Sritual Teachings of Swami Brahmananda: By Swami Prabhavananda. Price Rs. 2-4-0. Published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Madras.

Swami Brahmananda, the first President of the Sri Ramakrishna Math, shared with Swami Vivekananda the blessings of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa in abundant measure and represented the potential as Swami Vivekananda represented the kinetic energy of the great spiritual store-house that was Sri Ramakrishna. Swami Brahmananda’s life, his conversations and message, which form the subject matter of this book provide an authentic record of great value. The book is daintily got up–and will provide unfailing inspiration to all aspirants of Truth and a Righteous life.

Sri Ramakrishna and His Mission: By Swami Ramakrishnananda. Price As. 10. Published by the Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Madras.

This is a reprint of a lecture of the Swami in 1900 and published in 1910. The Swami was the first apostle of Sri Ramakrishna to South India and was one of the intimate disciples of the Master. We have here a simple, varnished presentation of the Master’s life and message by one who was above all things, a great servant and devotee. The Publishers deserve our attitude for reprinting a pamphlet that was long out of print.

Our Women: By Swami Vivekananda. Published by Sri Ranganathananda, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Karachi.

This is a compilation of the sayings of Swami Vivekananda, not as loose statements but edited with much skill into coherent discourses under various headings. The Swami was the first among Indian liberators, and even after the lapse of half a century, his message has an appeal and a freshness that belongs to the realm of ideas that are eternal and imperishable. Modern India is in a state of ferment–and a great deal is being said and done in regard to the emancipation of Indian women. This pamphlet is a timely contribution and particularly valuable as it states in the Swamiji’s own eloquent and forceful manner the ideals of Indian Womanhood.

K.S.G.

Two Sisters: By Rabindranath Tagore, Visvabharati Publication, Price Rs.2.

The novel deals with the lives of the two sisters Sarmila and Urmimala. Sarmila is the wife of Sasanka, but is more fitted to be his mother by her innate nature. There is a certain identity in the temperaments of Urmimala and Sasanka, which would have “made their lives happy and perfect, had they been thrown together by providence”.  But a strange fate binds the lives of Sarmila and Sasanka on the one side and the lives of the light-hearted Urmimala, and the severe and uncompromising Nirad on the other. Hence results a tragedy. The novel moves on with its many ups and downs. We sail on the crests of several and varied emotions–the affection and tender care and the mute pain of Sarmila, and the sudden transition of Urmimala from cheerful play to remorse and intense heart-search. Tagore is supreme in the depiction of the agony and joy of the human spirit. As we proceed towards the end, we are seized with the fear that Tagore might close it with an answer both unnatural and unconvincing. But his penetration into human affairs is far too deep and his touch as an artist is far too sure. The answer is given: it is the great sacrifice offered up by Urmimala. Therein lies the greatness of Tagore’s Two Sisters.
S.P.

Oxford PamPhlets. (1) Transition in India from War to Peace: By Gyanchand As. 8. (2) Indian Emigration to America: By S. Chandrasekher, As. 6: (3) Architecture: By Claude Batley, As. 6.

The Oxford Pamphlets have now come to stay, and they will be in increasing demand in the post-war world, for the problems of Peace appear even more formidable than those of War. Firing has ceased on the battle-fronts but there is war in men’s hearts. There was unity in war, there is only division in peace. We are in a state which may be described as being between war and peace. We are too tired to fight and yet have not the vision to bring peace and good-will on earth. There is the problem of Food, of Housing, of demobilisation and employment, of racial discrimination etc., but all these are secondary. Our problem is moral; it is not merely a return of the world to the past but a re-living in the light of Truth and Non- violence.

Dr. Gyanchand deals with the problems of transition from war to peace in India, and indicates the nature and character of these problems. It is a brief and able survey.

Dr. chandrasekhar, now a lecturer in the University of Pennsylvania, writes on Indian Emigration to America. Indian Emigration is now a problem of national honour, now that India is to be independent soon. Indian emigration to America, which started in 1900, was gradually reduced from 5,351 in 1900 to 338 in 1942, due to legal, and illegal, restrictions. This is a humiliating story, but fortunately the American Government is on the path of correcting this mistake.

Claude Batley’s booklet is stimulating. It is on Indian Architecture, its history and tradition, its beauty, and its excellent suitability to the climatic conditions of the country. The danger that faces India today, says Claude Batley, is the danger of losing her individuality in architecture. The old Indian designers achieved results which were, says Batley, brimful of ‘thinking and feeling’. This is a booklet well worth study by all.

N. A. Nikam

The Untouchables of India: By Louise Ouwerkerk. Oxford University Press, 1945. 48 pp. Price 1 sh.

The authoress, a lady of Dutch origin, who lived and studied in this country for fifteen years, first describes the Hindu caste system, which has created this problem of the outcaste, and then proceeds to give us a fairly detailed account of the various economic, social and religious disabilities under which the Harijans are labouring today. Next comes a description of the efforts to remove these disabilities by such agencies as the Government, Christian missionaries, and the Hindu reformers, inspired by ideals of human equality. The authoress welcomes the fact that the community has now begun to develop its own leadership, and gives a short sketch of the life of B. R. Ambedkar, the “outstanding” leader of the Untouchables. The political aspect of the problem is reserved till the last and dealt with in detail. Some statements by the authoress may not find support in all quarters. For instance, she calls Gandhiji, “a very conservative reformer”, and accuses him and the Harijan Sevak Sangh of striving to make of the Untouchables a fifth caste, though she does not question their real intentions. (P. 26) Again she quotes Prof. Coupland, to point to the poor success of “Congress Ministries (1937-39), to ameliorate the appalling conditions of the Harijan masses. (P. 29). She also speaks of Gandhiji’s “intransigence” the R.T.C. (P.41), and his fasting in 1932, to force “his opponents hands” at Poona. (P. 42). How the Depressed classes form one-eighth of nation (on p.4 and p.38), but increase to one-sixth (on p.43 and p.47), is difficult to understand, as also the statement, “the Vokkaligas of Mysore, an Untouchable caste of agricultural labourers”, (on p. 34)

L. S. S. Chakravarthy

Industrial Location: By Bima C. Ghose. (Oxford University press, Dec. 1945, pp. 32. Price As. 6)

A proper spacing of the industries on the vast stretches of India forms theme of this brochure. The author describes the various factors affecting the location of industries. Thus the industries have been concentrated in small urban areas, for instance, the grouping of jute mills around Calcutta, and of textile mills around Bombay. The economic, social and strategic evils arising from such industrial concentration are next narrated, and the remedy suggested is a planned and controlled dispersal of the industries in several parts of the country, primarily by a system of licensing of factories. At the present moment, when India is about to embark upon large-scale industrialisation in the post-war era, this pamphlet is a timely one.
L. S. S. Chakravarthy

The Revolt in Indonesia: by Asoke Mehta and Pinakin Patel. Padma Publications Ltd., Jan. 46. pp. 53. Price Re. 1.

From August, 1945, the whole world has been witnessing the brave struggle of the Indonesians to free themselves from the Dutch Imperialist strangle-hold. To add some substance to this world-wide interest in Java, Sumatra, and the surrounding islands has been the purpose of this book. It is a catalogue of facts and figures, tracing the history of Indonesia through the centuries,–with particular emphasis on the Hindu colonisation in the early years of the Christian era; the entry of European traders in the field; the emergence of the Dutch as the ruling class of exploiters; the enormous economic gain to the Netherlanders, at the expense of the poor Javanese; and, finally, the forced abandonment of these islands by Holland to Japan in 1942. The history of the rise of the nationalist movement culminating in the declaration of Indonesia, as a free Republic on 19th August 1945, has been sketched in detail. Useful information, in the form of statistics, the Republic’s Constitution and its national anthem have also been appended.
L. S. S. Chakravarthy

Towards a National Theatre: (The All-India Women’s Conference) By Kamala Devi Chattopadhyaya. Aundh Publishing Trust. Rs. 1-8-0.

Sri Kamala Devi rightly insists that if art has to recover its pristine position, it should emerge out of its segregated state as the monopoly of intellectuals and become the possession of all. The drama, which she calls the ‘synthesis of all arts’ is by far the best medium to reach the public mind as it combines within itself varieties of expression to charm and appeal and elevate. But its full perfection is reached only when the theatres pass out of the hands of a somewhat self-seeking group of individuals to the masses at large.

Some of her most telling and trenchant criticism is leveled against the cinema of these days. She detects in the Motion pictures a travesty of drama. The author has some very valuable suggestions to give about raising the standard of the drama. One is to provide essentially simple scenic effects instead of thrusting on to the stage lurid and flamboyant designs. Secondly, the players must be masters of their art and their manner of acting should never, as is so often the case, degenerate into empty mouthing and mimicry. Thirdly, music should be assigned its proper place and should in no case take precedence over acting.

The part that the State has to play in the ‘theatre movement’, is no less significant, as the State is the custodian of the welfare of the people. There should be no commercial motive at the of this and every possible aid should be given so as to make the drama a fit instrument of national uplift.

A.     C. Seetharama Rao