Reviews

Indian Contribution to World Thought and Culture: Published by the Vivekananda Rock Memorial Committee, Singarachari Street, Madras-5. Price: Rs. 150.

To mark the Swami Vivekananda Centenary (1963) and the erection of the Rock Memorial (1970), an influential committee of savants and distinguished students of history and art, was formed some years ago. At the time of the inauguration of the Rock Memorial, the labours of the committee in bringing out a monumental volume of 700 odd pages with ample art plates and illustrations in colour were achieving their expected fruition. We have before us a very sumptuous volume of highly valuable matter in the shape of articles upon all aspects of Indian influence in the various fields of human activity such as art, literature, archaeology, religion, science and history. Thus both in ancient times as well as medieval period, the great expansion of Indian thought and culture in distant lands like the Philippines in the East and Africa in the West, not to speak of nearer realms such as Java, Indonesia, Iraq, Egypt and others, bear distinct traces of the Indian mind in vivid visual arts and culture. Eminent scholars have vied with each other in swelling this tome with their researches which go to prove how India and her ancient culture had permeated to a very great extent the culture of other lands and yielded results which are of permanent interest to the connoisseurs of art and the students of religion and science.

The book commences with a tribute to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa from the pen of the celebrated historian, Arnold Toynbee. It is necessary to mention his own words in order to make readers of the volume find themselves alive to the immense significance he has attached to the Indian thought cherished for ages here. He says: “The survival of the human race is at stake. Yet even the strongest and most respectable utilitarian motive is only a secondary reason for taking Ramakrishna’s and Gandhi’s and Asoka’s teaching to heart and acting upon it. The primary reason is that this teaching is right–and is right because it flows from a true vision of spiritual reality.”

It is evident, the collaborators in this task have in their minds the objective “to bring home to the minds of all, the forgotten, but very important, chapter in the history of Indian culture in general and of Hindustan in particular, which has been rescued from oblivion by modern researchers.”

There are about 70 articles with adequate bibliographic appendices added to each of them at the end, which clearly reveal what amount of earnestness has imbued the Editorial Committee to present this volume to genuine students seeking knowledge from these pages. The significant results of researchers in the fields of religion, ethics, art, medicine, crafts, architecture, sculpture, philosophy and literature have found a place here. We have the cult of Ganesa influencing far away parts of the world like Tibet and Japan, the Niti literature obtained in the Mahabharata and Chanakya’s Arthasastra or the Panchatantra and Hitopadesa, which have been translated into many languages of other countries, entering into the ethics and morals of the peoples of those countries who have tasted them. The art of ship-building, the architecture of temples, the impact of Indian tradition upon numismatics, the development of scripts and a variety of similar subjects are arranged here with an eye to their value in impressing their potentiality for emulation upon races and traditions other than ours.

The second section, whose pages are numbered in Roman numericals to distinguish them from the earlier pages, the reports and pictures taken at the time of the inauguration of the Rock Memorial are in extenso printed in order to give the reader an idea of the importance that has been attached to the occasion.

The third section contains some momentous writings pertaining to Swami Vivekananda’s own mission of propagating Hinduism in our own as well as other countries. Swami Ranganadhananda’s tribute to Swami Vivekananda id itself an illuminating interpretation of the great work of the Swamiji and is a fitting culmination to a volume of such varied and amply thought-provoking material.
–K. CHANDRASEKHARAN

Some Constitutional Problems: By K. Subba Rao. Published by the Registrar, University of Bombay, Fort, Bombay-32. Price: Rs. 20.

The Indian Constitution came into force on the 26th January, 1950, and since then within two decades a number of amendments to the various articles have been effected. Particularly Part III, containing Fundamental Rights, has been subjected to a number of restrictions as a result of the amendments.

Sri K. Subba Rao, a former Chief Justice of India, delivering the Sir Chimanlal Setalvad Law Lectures of the year 1967, under the aegis of the Bombay University, has made vigorous comments upon the manner of Parliament’s attempts to whittle down some of the rights guaranteed as fundamental. He has also made valuable suggestions as to working the Constitution without frequent recourse to amendments. To hold the Constitution as sacred and inviolable and to instill reverence in the hearts of the citizens of Bharat for maintaining it unsullied, he has really very much to say.

In a lengthy chapter on the judicial pronouncements of the Supreme Court in the matter of safeguarding the rights of the citizens against inroads into their guaranteed condition, Sri Subba Rao has not spared pains to prove by discussing some of the important decisions of the Supreme Court during the period.

With his experience as the head of the judicial administration of India for a number of years, he has also many valuable ideas to improve matters pertaining to the administration of justice in our country. Thus, he has ample suggestions to offer regarding the constitution of benches in disposing of constitutional matters, the method of appointment of judges and their salaries, the future language of courts, the need for maintaining an All-India Bar and even in such matters as the regulation of court dress of judges and advocates as well as the publication of legal reports of cases. He is for the continuance of English for higher courts and reports, as otherwise the vast legal literature in English might be lost to the legal education of practitioners of the higher courts.

He has closed his address with a brief survey of the powers of the President and Governors under the Constitution. But underneath all his forceful analysis of the Constitution and its unique emergence as a result of the labours of some of the most responsible and richly-endowed intellectuals in the legal field of our country, there runs a thread of thought that what has been claimed as the achievement due to the amendments could have been won really with the same effect, if not better, if only people had worked our original Constitution with a ‘little more time, patience, expense and adaptability’.

–K. CHANDRASEKHARAN

The Philosophy of Man Making: By Santi L. Mukherji. New Central Book Agency, Chintamani, 8/1 Das Lane, Calcutta-9. Price: Rs.20.
This work is almost a reproduction of a thesis for the Doctorate degree in Philosophy of the University of Calcutta. Swami Vivekananda’s social and political ideas are compared, contrasted with those of the philosophers, political thinkers and sociologists of both ancient and modern times. Swami’s outstanding contribution to the Indian Renaissance in all its aspects is brought to limelight. His influence upon the Indian luminaries like Mahatma Gandhi and Sri Aurobindo is well-documented. Swami’s misinterpreters are corrected.

Swami Vivekananda gave a practical bent to the age old Vedanta and it is known as Neo-Vedanta or Practical Vedanta which has five characteristic features. Universality, Impersonality, Rationality, Catholicity and Optimism. His religion is at once theocentric and anthropocentric and this is his Vedanta. Cult of growth–individual, social and national–is the kernel of his philosophy. For the individual it means his becoming the perfection itself, or God.

Education according to Vivekananda is the manifestation of the perfection already in man and religion is the manifestation of his inherent divinity or perfection and hence education and religion become more or less synonymous. In fact there is nothing secular in his outlook. The idea of nationality is essentially spiritual in character. Chapters on Society and State and the Eternal in Vivekananda deserve a close study. Swamiji proclaimed that “a junction of the great systems Hinduism and Islam–Vedanta brain and Islam body–is the only hope for our motherland.” This and many other opinions of Swami Vivekananda have a relevancy even to the modern India, and they are worth hearkening to. This valuable work sheds a fresh light on Swami Vivekananda’s philosophy and is worth studying. The notes and references and the indexes–all covering about 60 pages–highly enhance the value of the book.
–B. KUTUMBA RAO

Laghu Prabandha Samgraha: Edited by Jayant P. Thaker. The Oriental Institute, Baroda. Price: Rs. 15.

We congratulate the editor for having brought out these Prabandhas extending over 31 pages in all with a very critical and comprehensive study, lemicographical, cultural and historical. A free English translation of the text is given. Subjects like the probable sources, relation with other Prabandhas, language and style, authorship, and cultural gleanings are adequately dealt with. It may be noted here for the readers’ consideration, that the author generalises that Prabandha is a form of literature of historical anecdotes widely cultivated, specially by medieval Jain Writers of West India, written in a regional style of Sanskrit which may be described as simple, popular, colloquial Sanskrit as contrasted to the Classical.

As the learned Director, Sardesai, has pointed out, this publication is useful in a variety of ways to the researchers of medieval Sanskrit literature and especially of its peculiar idioms known among scholars as Jaina Sanskrit, and also to the students of medieval Indian History and Culture. While editing the text nothing that is critical or informative is left out by the editor. In short this is a very good model of a critical edition of a text.
–B. KUTUMBA RAO

Indian Literature of the Past Fifty Years--1917-1967: Edited C. D. Narasimhaiah. Published by the Director, Prasaranga, Manasa-gangotri, Mysore 6.

This jumbo volume comprises a seminar contributions. The subjects dealt with are: “How major is our literature of the past fifty years” and “Indian Writing in English.”

The works in English of a long line of authors from Dutts and Ghoshes down to present day writers. R. K. Narayan, Raja Rao and others are discussed and assessed. Similarly stalwarts who wrote in the vernaculars of different regions are considered and appropriately sized up. It is doubtful whether the books, mentioned in the papers, satisfy the critical canons, for a due evaluation. And this is specially with reference to ‘Indian Writing in English’.

All things said and done ‘Indian Writing in English’ will obviously be Indian. It cannot be King’s English or Queen’s or ‘U’. It cannot have the colloquial ease and the native gait of Dame English. It finds itself as one among the Commonwealth hybrids.

Aesthesis, the parent of which is Ananda, is said to be the prime characteristic of poetry according to Sri Aurobindo. It can, as well, be extended to prose too. Any great work–prose or poetry–should touch the kindred points of heaven and earth. It cannot be mere communication of “concrete experience in a vital language”, as spelt out by P. Lal (page 20.). Comparisons, anent art and authors, are invidious.

Appreciation, for what it is worth and not prejudiced judgment, is the essence of evaluation. It may be better left to hoary time to judge the works for humanity and accord rankings. The fittest, always survive. And the catch-pennies write their own obituaries.
–K. SUBBA RAO

Crisis of Crisis: By Sisir Kumar Ghose. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay-7 Price: Rs. 2-00.

The author strikes the right note in saying that a crisis is not merely a challenge but also an opportunity to work out a total change. It is in this light that he highlights the crisis in modern society, be it in the field of education, gulf between generations, pollution, etc. He invites attention to the several attempts in progress to resolve these crises and underlines the need to draw upon the extant Mystics. He argues that they can help in four significant ways:

“First, they will correct our inadequate and mischievous world views. Secondly, they will point to the right means to achieve the right ends. Thirdly, instead of an escape from life they will provide new centres of awareness and centres of self-activity. Finally, they will not be concerned exclusively with the inner life of the elect or a band of peculiar people, but try to generalise the gnosis in the life of the people, provide a model or nucleus for a society of the free.”

A refreshing approach, optimistic and far-seeing.
–M. P. PANDIT

Vishnu Sahasra Nama: By Dr T. M. P. Mahadevan, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay-7. Price: Rs. 2-00.

In the course of these two lectures, Dr Mahadevan expounds the role of Bhakti in spiritual life, the importance of nama-smarana, remembrance of the name of God, in Bhakti Yoga and the special reverence in which the various sahasranamas, Thousand Names, are held. He speaks of the grades of worship, those with form as the basis and those with name as the core. He cites from the scriptures to prove that worship with repetition of name is of a higher type than that of form.    In an interesting passage he writes:        ­

“Bodhendra offers six reasons for showing that the utterance of the Divine Name is superior to the other disciplines taught in the scriptures. In the first place, the repetition of the name, which is open to all irrespective of caste, stage in life, and sex, involves no injury, to any living being. Secondly, it does not stand in need of any ancillary aid. Thirdly, in producing its result, it does not require the intercession of a third person. Fourthly, its practice is not conditioned by the time factor; namajapa can be performed at any time. Fifthly, there are no restrictions in regard to place. And, sixthly, there are no ritualistic regulations for practising the repeti­tion of the Divine Name.”

He gives the ground of the Vishnu Sahasra Nama as given in the Mahabharata and goes on to analyse the names of the Lord in all interesting way. They describe the Divine Godhead in his transcendent status, universal aspect and also in his individual manifestation. Philosophical distinctions are reconciled and the way is made easy for the aspiring mind to realise the Divine in the manner that is natural to it.

A simple and useful presentation.

–M. P. PANDIT

Manu (The Origins of Social Thought): By Kewal Motwani. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay-7. Price: Re. 1-00.

Dr. Motwani has been a pioneer in the field of Indian Sociology and his work on Manu is widely acclaimed. The present book is in the nature of an introduction and serves its purpose very well. The doctor does not regard Manu as a legendary person as many do. He is a human Rishi who has laid down the Law for the governance of human society. And his counsel is not merely for the Hindus but for all humanity. A separate section surveys the impact that Manu has had on various peoples on the globe.

Summing up the salient features of Manu’s social teachings, he writes: “A monistic cosmology, assertion of the supremacy of the soul in man and the universe, place of values and goals in social life, classification of human temperaments, their functions in group and personal life, division of fruits of labour or compensations of different groups, emphasis on self-transformation, possibilities of social progress and social decay are some of them. Manu considers the world meaningful in terms of the Spirit.”
–M. P. PANDIT

Glimpses of Greatness: By Yogacharya Hansara Yadav. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay-7. Price: Rs. 5-00.

A purposeful selection of stories from the Indian Mythology drawing attention to the underlying wisdom in a way that would appeal to young impressionable minds. Thus there is Ekalavya renowned for his devotion for the Guru Abhyasa, practice; Prahlada a byword for devotion to God; Dattatreya who has twenty-four teachers from whom he learns all that is to be learnt and so on. Lord Krishna, Savitri. Nachiketas, Satyakama, Bhishma, Sri Rama, Anasuya, Shravan Kumar are the other themes. Tastefully illustrated, the publication deserves to be prescribed for reading in the secondary schools.
–M. P. PANDIT

Studies in the Proto-History of India: By D. P. Misra. Orient Longman Ltd., New Delhi. Price: Rs. 20.

The present work under review comes from the pen of D. P. Misra who is a scholar, educationist and politician. The author attempts to correlate the ancient Indian tradition contained in the Vedic and Puranic literature to the known theories of Archaeologists in order to enlighten the early history of India.

Regarding the vexed problem of the original home of the Aryans, Sri Misra brings to light fresh evidence from ancient Indian Tradition to point out that the area north of Hindukush constituted the original home. As to the habitat of the Indo-Iranians, it is located in the region round about Bactria.

Sri Misra in the course of his work, argues that the Harappan civilization was developed by the Asuras, a stock of Aryans who were driven by the Devas to this region. The entry of the Aryans into India is placed in 2150 B. C. as against the prevailing view of 1500 B. C. He further opines that the Aryan civilization reached its maturity during Buddhistic civilization.

The book is worth reading as it throws considerable light on the early history of ancient India.
–Dr K. SUNDARAM

Popular and Unpopular Essays: By M. G. Gupta. Chaitanya Publishing House, Allahabad. Price: Rs. 12.

The forty-seven essays in this collection are grouped under six heads: Science, Politics and World Politics, Indian Affairs, Miscellaneous, and General. In these stimulating essays, Dr Gupta covers a wide range of themes, a large number of which have a permanent interest, and a few have a topical interest. The subjects chosen include serious ones like “Science and Religion,” lighter ones like “Names and Name-Keeping,” and even utilitarian, ones like “Horticulture and the Home.” Whatever the topic, Dr. Gupta’s amazingly rich scholarship, delightful style and wit make each essay a unique intellectual experience. The examples for his arguments are drawn from almost every branch of knowledge, a fact which justifies the description of this book as a synopsis of human achievement and human failure. 
The book is most useful tostudents who prepare for competitive examinations. To the general reader who is intellectually curious, these essays provide an exciting treat.
–Dr E. NAGESWARA RAO

Spinoza and The Upanishads. A Comparative Study: By Dr M. S. Modak. Published by the Registrar, Nagpur University, Nagpur. Price: Rs. 6.

“The Hindus were Spinozites,” wrote Monier-Williams, “more than two thousand years before the existence of Spinoza.” It is generally accepted that the outlook of life as shaped by Spinoza’s philosophy shows a certain affinity with the Hindu temperament in general. In this thought-provoking comparative study of Spinoza and the Upanishads, the author drives home certain important points: The Upanishadic thinkers start from “self” as the primary reality while to Spinoza, it is “substance.” The self cannot be reached by mere intellect, it, could be grasped by intuition alone. To Spinoza, intuition is merely “thoughtfulness matured to inspirations.”

The author discusses the meanings attributed to the word ‘Maya and says that the world of sense-perception is real according to Spinoza, for things are modifications of the original reality; but they appear to us as finite because of our partial understanding of them. If we overcome this defect in our understanding, there is no danger of our misconstruing them. The world is no distortion of reality.

The author concludes that the Scientia Intuitiva gives man his true place within God while in the Upanishadic knowledge man realises that the Self is Brahman.
–S. SHANKARANARAYANAN

The West Looks at India: By Krishna Nand Joshi. Prakash Book Depot, Bereilly, U. P. Price: Rs. 7.50.

This volume forms part of a larger project, entitled “Studies in the impact of Indian thought on English writers, 1750-1950”. By English writers is meant those who wrote in English and they include American writers too.

From Shelley, whose dream it was to visit the promised land of India, to James Joyce whose linguistic experiments and intellectual formulations owed something to the involutions of Indian philosophy; we have here a cross-section of the Western response to Indian thought, as represented in the work of eight writers. Shelley was drawn to Indian mythology and imagery as could be seen in his works, “The Revolt of Islam”, “The Indian Serenade” etc. Ruskin and Tennyson, both products of Western materialism and victorian property, had but a superficial understanding of the Indian spirit. The American trinity, Emerson, Thoreau and Whitman reveal a deeper involvement with the ideas basic to Hindu philosophy, as found in the Bhagavad Gita and Vishnu Purana, the Vedas and the Upanishads. Thoreau envisaged a mingling of the pure stream of Walden with the holy waters of the Ganges. D. H. Lawrence’s response to the East, as represented by India, was ambivalent–a groping for the mystery of meditation, combined with a revulsion against the more obvious manifestations. The author would seem to think that Joyce showed a subtler grasp of the Indian approach, with particular reference to Sankhya, and a well-deserved scepticism for later forms of spiritualism, like Madame Blavatsky’s.

It was just as well that some of these Western seekers never set foot on India. It helped them to keep the glorious image intact and save themselves from disillusionment.
–D. ANJANEYULU

Manu and Tiruvalluvar (A comparative study): By Swami Ramananda Bharati (Prof. K. R. R. Sastry). Sangam Publishers, 11, Sunkurama Chetty Street, Madras-1. Price: Rs. 10.

The object of this book is stated to be to curb the growing marked tendency in India to develop regional independence and to strengthen the centripetal forces in Bharat by taking up an integral topic, as a comparative study or Manu of Northern India an Tiruvalluvar (1st century B. C.) of the South. The book has 63 pages divided into 10 chapters. The first chapter is Introductory,” the second deals with the special features of Manava Dharma Sastra the third, leans in favour of fixing the date of Tiruvalluvar as the first century B. C., the fourth is headed “As Foreigners See Him.” The fifth chapter refers to the 49 impromptu verses by 49 poets in praise of Tiruvalluvar and the Kural, called Tiruvalluvarmalai. The sixth chapter deals with the plan of the Kural containing 133 chapters of ten venbas each, making 1330 couplets. The seventh chapter refers to the nine principal commentaries which have interpreted the Kural. We now come to the main chapter of the book, the eighth, which makes a comparative study and points out “that the administrator-transformed sage, Tiruvalluvar, had an uncanny grounding in the Upanishads, the Epics, the Manusmriti, the Arthasastra and Kamasutra, is well established by reference to the texts.” The Tamil and the corresponding Sanskrit texts given, make the parallel and similarity striking. No wonder therefore that in chapter nine, the author draws the conclusion “A comparative study of the first-two parts of Sacred Kural dealing with Aram (Dharma) and Porul (Artha) has brought out clearly the genesis for 19 Kurals in Part I and 40 Kurals in Part II either in the Mahabharata or the Manu Niti and in the close adapter of all these, viz., Kautilya in his monumental Arthasastra.”

Many of the conclusions drawn by the learned author, the parallels quoted by him are also to be found in two Tamil books, one by Dr P. S. Subrahmanya Sastri Balarurai (1939) referred to by the author in the select Bibliography and the other–Ttrukkural Nootrettu, published by Sri Kamakoti Kosasthanam (1950).

The author has rendered a distinct service to the English reading public by this comparative and valuable study.
–T. V. VISWANATHA AIYAR

Lenin Through Indian Eyes: By K. P. S. Menon. Vikas Publications, Delhi-6. Price: Rs. 12.

As the founder of the first Socialist State in the world and as a master theoretician of the Communist creed, Lenin had brought about a revolutionary transformation in international society. He gave a new dimension to Marxist theories and had applied Marxist principles to a predominantly agricultural society in a manner not visualised by Marx himself. His influence on Indian Nationalism was profound, Tilak was an admirer, so was Mahatma Gandhi, and Nehru followed many of his theories. Gandhi chose to be influenced by Tolstoy and Nehru by Lenin. The Russian revolution shook India to the core at a time when the Indian people were striving to come into their own.

The book under review makes no reference to the way Leninist theories influenced the Indian thought and revolution. There is not even a passing reference to the split in the International Communist Movement between Troiskeyists and Leninists and its consequent effect on the Indian Communist Party. Though Lenin’s judgment of Mahatma Gandhi as a true revolutionary leader of Indian Nationalism is referred to, there is no attempt to discuss in depth the influence that Lenin exerted in the shaping of the nationalist thought and movement in India. There is a passing reference to Mahendra Pratap and his revolutionary government in exile. The eminent author is a former Ambassador to the U. S. S. R., and is known to be an admirer of the Soviet State. Much more was expected from the facile pen of the author. The book can be considered an introduction to the subject taken up for treatment. ­
–T. C. A. RAMANUJAM

The History of Literary Criticism: By Dr P. S. Sastri. Published by Lakshmi Narain Agarwal, Agra. Price: Rs. 12-50.

Parallel to the process of creative literature runs the process of the evaluation of literature: the criticism. No history of literature can ever be just a record, a bare statement of fact about the creative literature. It is bound to include some elements of criticism.

Similarly, a history of criticism will also be a criticism of criticism, to a great degree. In such works, the author need be doubly cautious to ensure that his own critical zeal does not encloud the soul of his subjects’ point of view.

Dr. Sastri’s work is a pretty and spacious window on the world of literary criticism, extending from Plato to Eliot. Though he has taken into account the whole Western world, accent is naturally on the English critics and schools of theories propounded by them.
–MANOJ DAS

Serpent and Columbine: By Santhi Padhi. Published by Orient Longman, Ltd., New Delhi. Price: Rs. 5-50.

One of the most intriguing and, fascinating personalities in English Letters is Francis Bacon. As the author of this book observes, epitomes of Bacon’s character by various critics have given him protean shapes: Prometheus, Janus, Faustus, Apollo, Hercules, a new Machiavelli, a Prophet and a new Moses, so on and so forth.

Dr Padhi’s work is constituted of four academic observations on Bacon: reflections on his life, a study of his thought, a study of his style and an evaluation of his wit.

Dr Padhi’s’ studies are learned yet not heavy. Most interesting of the four chapters is the last one, “Flashes of Merriment”. Indeed, “the wine of Bacon’s wisdom being generally labelled a dry wine, one is agreeably surprised to find the persistent dash of humour that inspirits his writings, perhaps least restrainedly in The Advancement of Learning.”
–DEVAPRIYO

Insects: By Dr M. S. Mani. Nationa1 Book Trust, New Delhi. Price: Rs. 5-25.

Scientific books by Indian authors meant for general readers are indeed very few in our libraries. Dr Mani, an internationally known high-altitude entomologist from Agra, has accepted the challenge and compiled one on Insects, the most familiar ofthe animals we come across in our daily life and yet ofwhich we know very little. With his command over language and authority on the subject he has successfully completed his mission of creating an abiding interest in Insect life in India.

At the outset, referring to the insects as the architects of our landscape and patrons of our agriculture, industry and civilization, the author describes the body construction of these fragile hexapods (6-footed animals), traces their, fossil history to the Palaeodyctiopterans and gigantic cockroaches of the carboniferous period (300 million years ago) and emphasises the abundance of insects in number of species and individuals on earth from earlier times 23 orders of a total of 34 including the more familiar and important insects are described in brief. ‘Child welfare in Insects’ makes interesting reading to a general reader and a specialist alike since it depicts the varied ways of egg-laying and construction and provisioning of brood-nests and in general the solicitude of the insects for their offspring which is in no way inferior to that in humans. A survey of the familiar insects like the Grass­hoppers, the Crickets, the Bugs, the Beetles, the Wasps and Bees and Butterflies and Moths frequenting our gardens is of special interest to any Nature Lover.

In discussing the place of insects in human society, the authors though he condemns outright the injurious ones like the Crop-pests and disease-transmitters, urges us to understand the role of useful and beneficial insects and appreciate the happy balance in Nature that has come to exist between insects and man in India generations ago. To substantiate his observations, he reminds us of the role of insects in pollination of flowers without which we can never grow our Pulses, Oilseeds, Cotton, Mango, Orange and such resulting in acute malnutrition wiping out more than a half of the total human popula­tion in a short time. He deplores the modern trends of our specialists who in their haste to “grow more food” decry the traditional practices of the Indian cultivator who had established a more or less stable and dynamic equilibrium in Nature with the insects from time immemorial into which all other animals fitted themselves. In short, the author feels of the insects and men as inseparable, integral and interdependent cogs in the same wheel of life.

The unique feature of the book, profusely illustrated, is that it deals with Indian insects alone. Personal observations of the author presented here and there and the easy-to-understand style with emotional poetic expressions peeping into the text at relevant places make the book all the more interesting.
–A. G. R. SAI SASTRY

My Years with Nehru 1948-1964: By B. N. Mullik. Allied Publishers, New Delhi. Price: Rs. 25-00.

This is B. N. Mullik’s third in his autobiographical trilogy. The first two volumes have received wide publicity all over the country. Mullik was the Intelligence Chief for a long time and in that capacity not onlydid he have a highly distinguished career but also enjoyed the confidence of India’s top leaders including  Jawaharlal Nehru. That is why whatever Mullik says bears the stamp of authority.

In the first chapter entitled ‘Nehru and I’ the author establishes legitimacy for the title of the book. In the chapters that follow, Nehru’s views on and approaches to security and intelligence operations are elaborately analysed. It was commonly and perhaps erroneously believed in our country that Nehru was averse to much attention being paid to the question of security and intelligence. But Mullik’s book gives a convincing proof to the contrary. Nehru did spend much time and energy on these problems in spite of his multifarious duties. There are chapters on different topics ranging from Telangana to the Chinese invasion. All of them throw light on the problems and tasks faced by the Government of India with regard to law and order and national security and how the Government tackled them.

Liberal use of the first person singular and projection of the author’s own personality are quite common in most modern autobiographies. But they do not appear too obvious in this book as the author does justice to the roles of the other personalities also. The author’s presentation of facts and interpretation of events are the main assets of the book. The get-up and almost flawless printing enhance the value of this highly readable and important work.
–Dr. A. PRASANNA KUMAR

Span of Life (An astrological thesis on Longevity. Second edition, Revised and Enlarged 1971): By Jyotishacharya Govindu Sri Rama Murthi, Director: Bharat Astrology Institute, 7-2-28, New Colony, Srikakulam (A. P.) India. Price: Rs. 9. (India) Deluxe Rs. 12. Sh. 18 (Sterling area) $ 4-50 U. S. A. (Dollar area)

The author had done yeoman–service to the astrological world by the publication, in 1949, of his excellent monograph on longevity, the “Span of Life”. The present thesis is the second edition of the same, revised and enlarged, after nearly two decades.

The first four chapters of the book deal with nearly 130 planetary combinations or Yogams for Baalaarishta or death in infancy, about 40 yogams which annul the evil effects of the above; special combinations for death at different ages viz., short, middle and long lives; and, many of the traditional general rules for the assessment of the three types. The next ten chapters present ten of the more important, different methods of working out the longevity, propounded by the ancient sages, Paraasara, Jaimini, Kaalidaasa and others. These methods are explained in good detail with calculations and fully worked-out illustrative examples most, useful to the beginner, the advanced student and the researcher or practitioner as well. The last chapter gives six example horoscopes together with the judgment of their longevities. The scanty and passing reference to the Western method of determination or longevity, at the end of the conclusion, smacks of lip-service to the method and could well have been avoided.

The determination of longevity is at once the most fundamental, intricate and intractable problem of Natal Astrology. Accuracy in it is at best an asymptotic approach to the truth which often eludes even the most learned and experienced of veteran astrologers not gifted with intuition, so characteristic of the Rishis of old. Hence the supreme need and place of such a valuable compilation as this which helps the earnest astrological student and practitioner scale such asymptotic heights and approach the truth as near as one can. The author is to be congratulated for having carved out a strategic niche in the temple of astrological fame by the publication of this extremely useful book.
–P. Y. NARAYANA

Discovering Indian Music: By Raghava R. Menon. Somaiya Publications Private Limited, Bombay, Price: Rs. 24.

“Music is the universal language” said Emerson. Mainly intended for the information of his modern countrymen, who of late have been earnestly appreciating the universality of Indian music, is this slim volume of eighty-seven pages by an able critic who has a first-hand understanding of both Karnataka and Hindustani music on the one hand and of Western music on the other.

An honest attempt has been made at a plausible correlation of the Western ‘time’ and Indian ‘taala’. Otherwise, throughout the book a flamboyant approach to the subject was so apparent that mere readability seemed to have been preferred to intelligibility.

Even this readability at times took liberties with grammatical precision, For example, in saying “If I tell you, a Raaga is alive like you or I, your scientific mind will rebel”, the author was not so much concerned with the interpretation as with the mystification (unfortunately this is the unconscious motive behind the whole process of “discovery”) of Raaga.

Enough attention has been given to Shruti but not to the all-important Laya. Much space has been expended on the varieties of Veena and of the percussion instrument, but the most typical Indian instruments, Shehnai and Sarangi, were overlooked. Subramania Bharati was included among the “saint-composers of the nineteenth century” (though he was born in that century, all his compositions were written in this century).

The book is beautifully illustrated.

TAMIL

Namadu Panpadu: By K. C. Kamaliah Published by Tamil Puthakalayam, 576, Pycrofts Road, Madras-5. Price: Rs. 5.

This is a collection of essays in Tamil written by the author, who certainly knows his job and can efficiently execute his undertaking, especially when he has a sound knowledge of literatures both in Tamil and English. In twenty-six topics in this volume, the author has ably surveyed aspects of Tamil classics, such as Sangam literature, Kamba Ramayanam, Divya Prabandhams, Devarams, Bharati’s writings and later poets like Bharati Dasan. In a sweep of absorbing dives into them he has brought out beauties which lie hidden in the enticing field of Tamil literature. More than that, he has also touched upon literary minds of unfailing interest when he has scanned the Vagmarken of Dag Hammerskjold, who was the Secretary-General of United Nations and met with a tragic death, after having served in his office with great integrity and awareness of his responsibility. It requires, indeed, much of a heart filled with wide sympathies to have included such a human and spiritual outlook, as that which held the departed statesman in its grasp, in a collection devoted mainly to literature of the recognised kind. Avoiding pedantry of any kind, the author has not only enjoyed himself writing these reflections of wholesome nature but has enabled his readers to share them with him with little effort. It is a book to possess.
–K. CHANDRASEKHARAN

TELUGU

Dasaratharaja Nandana Charitra (Niroshtya Ramayanamu): By Maringanti Singaracharya. Edited by Srirangacharya Published by Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi, Kala Bhavan, Hyderabad-4. Price: Rs. 4.

In Telugu, the tradition of citra kavita has been extant since Nannaya. Composition sans labials is only an offshoot of this tradition. However it was Nachana Somanatha (Circa 1285 A. D. 1355 A. D.) who made a beginning in this regard by composing a verse in his Uttara Harivamsa. Rhetoricians like Vinnakota Peddana and Appakavi have mentioned niroshtya composition. Later poets have resorted to this mode of composition only occasionally. Thus Koravi Goparaju (Circa 1400 A. D.), Mudumba Lakshmanacharya and Govardhanam Venkata Narasimhacharya (1856-1935) have composed niroshtya Dandakas. Ramarajabhushana, Ganapavarapu Venkata Kavi, Kankanti Narasimha Kavi, Citrakavi Singaracharya, Kaanaadam Peddana (1770), Kankanti Paparaju, Maringanti Narasimhacharyulu, Madabhushi Venkatacharyulu have composed verses sans labials in their works.

For a full scale niroshtya composition, Dasaratharaja Nandana Charitra by Maringanti Singaracharya–the work presently under review–is the first in Telugu. The author flourished during the middle of the 16th century. He is stated to have composed his Varadaraja Stuti in his ninth year. His niroshtya compositions alone are said tobe twenty in number Out of36/37 works he composed. Unfortunately, only two of his worksare extant, the present workon hand and Suddhandhra Niroshtya Seethakalyanam. Dasaratharaja Nandana Charitra, it is understood, was first published as far as 1917 and was not available for scholars for a long time. The present publication by the Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi has been very timely in the sense that it saved the work from complete oblivion. Singaracharya, being the author of Suddhandhra Niroshtya Seethakalyanam and a contemporary of Ponniganti Telaganarya could have been the originator of niroshtya and achcha Tenugu traditions; for, it is said that Telaganarya had the help ofMaringanti Appalacharya, elder brother of our author, in dedicating his work to Amir Khan. Singaracharya has eschewed only the labial consonants in his composition. This is in accordance with Vinnakota Peddana’s delienation of niroshtya.

The work is in five cantos al1d on a modest scale by being a straight narrative of Ratnayana. Despite the odd nature of its composition the work has a quaint charm. When we know that these twin traditions of Suddhandra and Niroshtya compositions coupled with nirvacana has been carried into the middle of this century the importance ofthe first full scale work in Niroshtya tradition cannot be over-emphasised. It is well-known that KandukuriVeeresalingam Pantulu and Sripada Krishnamurthi Sastry have composed Suddhandra Niroshtya Nirvacana Naishadhamu (1883)and Achchandhra Niroshtya Nirvacana Harischandra Charitra (1938), respectively.

The editor’s able and extensive introduction as well as the index at the end are very informative and useful. The editor Singaracharya and the A. P. Sahitya Akademi are to be congratulated for their dedicated service in the cause of this not so popular a branch of poetry.
–PROF. SALVA KRISHNAMURTHI

Mahodayam:. By K. V. Ramana Reddi. Vishalandhra Publishing House, Eluru Road, Vijayawada-2. Price: Rs. 15.

This full-length study of Gurajada Appa Rao comes from the pen of Sri K. V. Ramana Reddi who has distinguished himself as a poet and critic of the progressive school. It runs to nearly 550 pages and contains eight chapters. Prompted by an ardent admiration of Gurajada’s works, the author has probed deep into the texture and structure of his poems, stories and dramas. He has conducted extensive as well as intensive research into the social and political factors which got reflected in Gurajada’s works. He has carried to its culmination the critical endeavour that was initiated by the late Avasarala Surya Rao. The study is marked by critical acumen and perceptive assessment of the diverse facets of Gurajada’s literary genius. By the birth of Gurajada the literary world has taken a leap forward. He has blazed a trail that is picked up by writers of later generations. Preserving all that is wholesome in tradition, Gurajada has thrown overboard literary conventions that stifled the creative spirit which always seeks “fresh woods and pastures new.” He has pleaded for a happy and healthy blending of the old and the new. He is aware of the past, alive to the present and unafraid of the future, as all creative artists ought to be. Sri Ramana Reddi’s critical study is aptly named the Great Dawn, as Gurajada happens to be the chanticleer who heralded a new trend in modern Telugu literature. When the eye grew sick of gazing at static dolls of wood he has presented dynamic, shining emblems of art infusing into every character the warmth, the verve and the grim pathos of life. Sri Reddi dwelt with loving care upon all the aspects of Gurajada’s literature that lend it a distinctive stamp.
–DR C. NARASIMHA SASTRY

Mahati: Indian Independence Silver Jubilee Publication. Published by Yuvabharati, 5, Kingsway, Secunderabad-3. Price: Rs.20. (Pre-publication Rs. 7)

This is a handy volume containing one hundred essays covering the progress of Telugu literature since India attained independence. The Editorial Board consisting of Dr G. V. Subrahmanyam, I. Krishnamurty and V. Viswanadham has done a good job in selecting some of the leading scholars, poets and writers in Andhra Pradesh and getting valuable articles written by them.

The Yuvabharati which was started just a decade ago in Hyderabad has done yeoman service in resuscitating the interest of the youth in attending lectures on Telugu literature and in reading and appreciating Telugu classics. It has published quite a good number of valuable books in Telugu, and popularised them amongst the reading public by placing the books in their hands at incredibly low prices.

The volume under review is replete with very valuable articles written by eminent. writers like Professor M. Venkatarangaiya, Dr Viswanatha, Dr D. V. Avadhani, M. Kodandarama Reddi, Dr K. Virabhadra Rao, Sri Sri, K. V. Gopalaswamy, Dr G. N. Reddi, Dr S. V. Joga Rao, Dr Krishnakumari–to mention only a few.

One cannot however help remarking that the number of writers could have been restricted to make the volume an ideal one.

The Yuvabharati deserves all praise and encouragement in its laudable efforts in the promotion and development of Telugu literature.
–BHAVARAJU
21st December, 1973