Reviews

My Life and Times–Vol. I: By V. V. Giri. Macmillan & Co., Patullos Road, Madras-2. Price: Rs. 70

Some of our important men in public life have in recent times recorded events of their times and their own part in them. If not all of them are regular autobiographies, they have in a measure tried to conform to certain norms and given the benefit of their motives for actions as well as reflections, to posterity. Everyone need not be a Mahatma to confess with absolute truth his inner workings of mind and make the reading public become aware of what only a saint among men can perform. Other men with a good record of public work can also engage the curious public with what and how opportunities came to them to serve community or country, and help the eager generations to follow them in their wake. Autobiographies as part of literature can also acquaint writers with the needs of a changing world ready to seek ways of service and communicate them in as attractive a manner as possible.

Sri V. V. Giri in this volume of his early beginnings and education before entering public life, has provided in a very readable narration of facts how in a family of creditable public life he was born and how his education in Ireland helped him with knowledge of organising well-directed agitations on behalf of those in need of support. Thus when he landed in India he was able to become soon a labour leader with adequate information of the problems facing capital and labour in our country. Without adornments of any kind he has chosen to give us details of his early work for labour in general and his later growth in the atmosphere of Gandhism which swept the country from end to end. Whatever other thing he has been able to impress upon us or not, one factor cannot escape us–his frank avowals and clear views upon all the decisions he took while doing his allotted share in the freedom struggle under the leadership of the Mahatma.

To show how in a situation of highly embarrassing contortion of facts, inherent in politics, he had steered clear of likely suspicions, can be had from an episode narrated here. Once as Minister of Industries in the Madras cabinet he had to lay the foundation-stone of a textile mill in Salem and he made a speech while performing it. The press reports gave the impression that he had favoured mill cloth in preference to Khaddar. Fully in the Gandhian movement as he was, it created a doubt whether he was only lukewarm in his support of the Mahatma’s economic programme. So a letter at the instance of the Mahatma himself was written to him by Mahadev Desai, requiring an explanation. Immediately Giri wrote pointing out his duty as an Industry Minister to accept the invitation to lay the foundation, which act was only in conformity with the practice observed by the rest of ministries in the other provinces and also referred to the incorrect press report regarding his speech. The distortion in the press report came to light and the Mahatma was satisfied.

Another revealing incident gives us Giri’s outspokenness and his freedom from sophistication of any kind while dealing with men of the eminence of the type of Rajaji. At the time of the formation of the Prakasam ministry in Madras, it was whispered in some quarters that Giri disclosed ambitions to secure leadership for himself. At any rate, Rajaji remarked about it in the presence of Gandhi, which later reached the ears of Giri. At once with his usual straightforwardness he wrote to Rajaji expressing regret at such an impression having been entertained by Rajaji while circumstances would go to prove how he did only his duties by the Congress dictates and never sought anything for himself. The reply which Rajaji sent in answer lifts us to a different plane altogether when such misunderstanding arise between men of seasoned public life. He wrote “....You have put me to shame by your patience and dignity and, what is more precious of all, by your affection....Don’t I know how much you suffered? In fact I told you, I think, how greatly I admired your fortitude.....” (P.172)

In an autobiography incidents associated with such high-class-men as Gandhiji and Rajaji are likely to raise much public curiosity and interest. Still, how Giri in his narration has not betrayed any self-consciousness or a spirit of bravado is what makes the reading highly edifying. Maybe there is not much of art in this writing but a clean mind and a healthy outlook are evident in every page of a none-too-prosaic narration.

–K. CHANDRASEKHARAN

Gokhaleana and Sastriana: Servants of India Society, Royapettah High Road, Madras-18.

Sri S. R. Venkataraman, the devoted secretary of the Madras Branch of the Servants of India Society, has spared no pains in presenting these two volumes to the public. At the birth anniversaries of both Sri Gopala Krishna Gokhale and the Rt. Hon. V. S. Srinivasa Sastri, pamphlets containing some of the hitherto unpublished speeches or writings or tributes about them as well as rare utterances and statements from them were assiduously collected by Sri Venkataraman and distributed to members in the audience on those occasions. In the case of Gokhale twelve such pamphlets and fifteen in the case of Sastriar, have so far seen the light of day. They have been in turn now separately bound as volumes and priced with a view to enabling the wider public to avail themselves of these treasures of profound thought and delightful reading.

Gopala Krishna Gokhale’s fame consists in the amount of hard labour he had spent in tackling problems–political, economical, educational and financial–of the country and his dedication to the service of the motherland in advancing its progress in all fields of activity. His competence evidenced in the budgetary discussions of the Imperial Council of his times and his moral fervour in selfless work to improve the lot of the vast majority of our countrymen living in hand-to-mouth existence, are examples of high human endeavour for many generations to emulate.

Apart from the speeches which he had made, there were occasions when he had produced literary causerie of a type unusual for one who was always dealing in statistical figures and facts. Thus we have here a poem in English of fourteen stanzas which give us a token of his ability to enliven general readers with thoughts of a different kind. This volume also contains assessments of Gokhale by men and women such as Lokamanya Tilak, Dr C. R. Reddy and Sarojini Naidu, which portray him as not only a great patriot but as a great gentleman.

On Sastri, fifteen such pamphlets have been together bound in a single volume with a leading literary piece in the shape of a short story from the pen of Sastriar. The episode which he has described deals with the conventional mother-in-law’s cruelty her daughter-in-law, but the tale he has unfolded is so moving that it convincingly proves the author’s gifts in that genre of writing. There are other contributions of his whose range and variety are sufficient to entice any reader; for the topics discoursed upon include, The Schoolmaster’s Test, What is Music, The Art of Public Speaking–themeswhich emerge with the unique stamp of his own mastery of English and individual approach. Indeed, these two volumes together can serve the purpose of knowing about the two kindred souls in the relationship of master and disciple, yet free of each other in their distinct contribution to liberal thought.

–K. CHANDRASEKHARAN

Glastonbury: By Ancient Avalon, New Jerusalem. Edited by: Anthony Roberts. Copies can be had from B. I. Publications, Dr D. N. Road, Bombay-23. Price: Rs 47-80.

The present book is an interesting collection of a number of essays on the religious importance of Glastonbury. It attempts to produce a harmonious inter-relation between the various articles generally trying to enhance their underlying common concepts.

The land in the far South-west of the British Isles is situated between the sea of the Bristol Channel and two ranges of the hills called the Mendips and the Poldens. This is an area that has a romantic and mysterious tinge about it, and has a long history of strange dreams and endless mystical revelations. The focal point of the area and its arcane forces is Glastonbury. The roots of the mystery of this tract are found through a synthesis of pagan ritual, and natural, magic intuition. Christianity came late to the area, first as an inheritor, then as an usurper, and finally as a destroyer.

To a general reader, totally unaware of this mystique, and the ancient tradition, the whole concept appears bizarre. To fully understand this magical approach, which has an appeal to certain types of inhabitants of the British Isles, a full perspective of awareness is necessary and the present work seeks to encompass this awareness in a detailed study of many varied disciplines of learning.

The book contains twelve articles written by various authors. They point to a double symbolism, viz., the twelve hides given by the pagans to the inheriting Christians and the twelve signs of the zodiac so intimately connected with the Gladstone mystery.To one who is un-initiated to this ancient pagan tradition, the theme brought out in the various articles appears to be bordering on naive belief. If one has an understanding mind, with a generous understanding of the springs of faith and belief of the human spirit, wherever it occurs, this ancient pattern of awesome complexity and rythmic balance, becomes understandable.

The book is rather heavy reading. If one patiently goes through the huge complexities in a field which is unknown and apparently unconnected, and which it is difficult to unravel, one becomes aware of a small core of simplicity resting equilibrially at the centre. As our ancients had said, wisdom really is balance, and the present book hopefully contains aspects of this wisdom and sparks the alchemical matrix into growing life.

The content of the articles as well as the ground of the contributors are varied. We have Christopher Castle, who is a painter and print-maker, who has spent his later life expressing directly the magical patterns of ancient Britain. He is followed by Donald L. Cyr, who has worked in the ballistic field and involved in various projects of NASA. He is a firm believer in the theories of Isaac Vail, an American Cosmologist. Then, we have Nigel Pennick who is a microbiologist, who claims to have discovered an East Anglian terrestrial zodiac. Bristol’s publisher John Michael who is celebrated as a modern occult writer is yet another contributor. We have then sensitive psychic Kenneth Knight, a talented painter who has lived in the Glastonbury area for years. The other authors are all equally talented.

Among the many interesting subjects discussed in the book are “Glastonbury” by Antony Roberts, “Hidden Treasure of Glastonbury” by Donald L. Cyr, “Somerset Legendary Geomancy” by Janet Roberts and “the Zodiac Temples of the South-west Britain” by John Michael.

Particularly interesting is the last essay “The Afterward”, by Colin Wilson who has given a readable account of the occult philosophy of leys that have begun to emerge in the past ten years and which is still in a vigorous stage of development.

Taken all in all, the book makes very interesting reading. To one who is steeped in the ancient tradition and the mythology of the past, some of the conclusions which broadly emerge as a result of this growing literature, viz, that for Glastonians, their land is alive with the divine, viz., Consciousness of the gods, the trees, stones, hill and soil, all participating in this consciousness, as the ancient landscape at Delphi reflected the Grecian pattern of geomatic magic, would seem a fact.

The book has been well-written, and carefully edited, and is worth a reading.

–Dr N. RAMESAN

Rabindranath Tagore (A Guru with a difference): By B. B. Bose. Tagore Research Institute, P-2 Lake Road, Calcutta-29. Price: Rs. 15.

In this tiny volume of about a hundred pages, the author, belonging to the Tagore Research Institute, has given us the gist of some of the Tagore correspondence. No doubt, the Tagore letters have assumed a voluminous proportion, and only a few are the subject of the present book. The poet, along with his considerable writings, had written letters to many eminent persons such as C. F. Andrews and also to many domestic figures; many of the letters have already seen the light of day in print. Here is a good selection from the pile which proves how the poet had been a spiritual guide to some of his intimate circle. In the correspondence between him and Deenabandhu C. F. Andrews the few excerpts found here provide us with how effective has been his ministration to the soul of the recipient of his message.

To mention some examples of his advice, let the following be scanned with care in order to understand the profundity enshrined in them: “... ... it requires a great deal of spiritual sensitiveness to feel the life throbs of God’s reality behind the vulgar callosity of words ......” (12)

“I felt that I had found my religion at last, the religion of Man, in which the infinite became defined in humanity.” (13)

“Nothing is better than to perform the ordinary duties of life simply and naturally, willingly and gladly.” (18)

“I accept the Nara Devata, man developed as God as in the Buddha who is not a figure in a legend.” (27)

The concluding chapters of the book relate the feelings of the disciple towards his Guru, Tagore.

With a significant foreword from the pen of Sri V. V. Giri, this small collection will always profit the reader.

–“SAHRIDAYA”

Yesterday and Today: By K. P. S. Menon. Allied Publishers, Mount Road, Madras-2. Price: Rs. 30.

Sri K. P. S. Menon is well-known for his delightful snaps of life from many points, official and non-official, serious thinking and light chaffing, pleasantries and purposefulness. In this volume he has collected some of his writings which had already appeared in dailies and periodicals of both India and foreign countries. Indeed, a good many of them bear re-reading more than once for the intimate picture they give of men of importance such as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr Radhakrishnan, Sir C. Sankaran Nair, Mrs Indira Gandhi, V. K. Krishna Menon, Somerset Maugham and Muriel Lester, Gandhiji’s London hostess. His experiences as an officer of the Indian Foreign Service, his trenchant observations on the foreign policies of U. S. Statesmen, his none-too-concealed contempt for the role of America in the Vietnam long ceaseless war, his own breezy assessments of many other diplomats and last but not least his cherishable devotion to domestic leanings, are strewn about these pages. More than anything else, the language and style of his mark him out as a seasoned penman of no small significance.

–“SAHRIDAYA”

Srimat Bhagavadgita–A Study: By Masti Venkatesa Iyengar. Published by Jeevana Karyalaya, Bangalore. 19. Price: Rs. 12.

The author’s approach to the Gita is avowedly “that of a student of literature.” While appreciating the language of the Gita for its pellucid clarity and identifying its style as “drakshapaka,” – “the style of the grape as distinguished from the banana and the Coconuts” –he maintains that a great deal of interpolation has gone into its text, as it stands popularly recognised and accepted today. The original Gita, as part of the great epic Mahabharata, must have been much shorter. Indeed, the epic itself as a whole accommodated such additions, increasing its length to a hundred thousand verses from its original twenty-four thousand and elevating it into “Mahabharata” from its initial status of simple “Bharata.” Instances are cited from the body of the text, as well as from its content and contextual relevance, to substantiate the stand. The author enters a strong protest against an unquestioning acceptance of unenlightened tradition in regard to the literary value of the Gita, which in turn would vitiate an adequate interpretation of its message and meaning.

“The Gita makes no secret of its meaning,” asserts the author, and goes on to add that “the best commentary on the Gita is the Gita itself.” Hence the need to study the Gita directly and in its original form and within its own initial range.

Masti Venkatesa Iyengar’s simple and forthright rendering of the text in English is followed by a delineation of its core-argument and a discussion of the main topics included in it, and these would provide guidelines for a full and free grasp of the teaching of the Gita, which gets itself summed up towards the close of the book. Masti’s presentation is difficult to surpass in the utter simplicity of expression and in the ripeness that is reflected in his treatment of controversial issues.

–PROP. K. SESHADRI

A Book of India: An Anthology of Prose and Poetry from the Indian Sub-continent. Edited by B. N. Pandey. Rupa and Company, Calcutta. Price: Rs. 15.

The foundations of Indian culture were laid firmly three thousand years ago. The Sanatana Dharma of India has since strengthened itself through centuries of Puranas, Itihasas, Folklore, Dramas, Stories of Wisdom and Morality and Superior Poetry. Today we are confronted with an immense heritage. So vast is it that we are most of us ignorant of even the more significant portions of India’s culture. An anthology like this reveals the depth and breadth of a unique culture and whets our appetite to know more and more.

Indian culture has many facets. Its recorded history begins with the Indus Civilisation (2500-1550 B. C.). Sir John Marshall briefly reviews the highly evolved town planning of the people 3000 years ago. Thanks to Mr. Pandey’s well-chosen quotations we race through Kautilya and Ashoka, the coming of the Muslim conquerors, Babar and Jahangir, the impact of the West, the introduction of the English language, the advantages and disadvantages of British rule in India, the Indian National Congress and the Gandhian Era, and then the Partition.

We can approach Indian culture through her geography also. The Himalayas, the Ganges, the cave temples of Elephanta, Ajanta and Ellora, the eternal Benaras, the architectural triumphs of Indian temples, the Moslem contribution to India’s geographical landscape, the shimmering beauty of Srinagar–endless grows the list. The geographical contours of India seen through the poet’s mood offer another fascinating study. Sunset and night, spring and summer, the exotic flora and fauna, the animalia common and sacred and the changeless village life where one may see “a simple life beautifully lived” reflect Indian culture in their own ways.

Let us turn from places to people. What a roll call of honour from the Vedic Rishis to Sri Aurobindo! Poets and philosophers, administrators and architects, recluses and religious leaders–all of them dedicated to the ideal of human unity. Even the common man is not forgotten by the editor. Here is an evocation of a Tamil Coolie girl:

“Primitive are you ... simple,
And of knowledge you have none,
Whence comes this air of royalty,
As you walk in scorching sun?”

Humour and satire have their appropriate riches too. Here is a thought-provoking verse from the Dhammapada:

“The fool who knows he is a fool,
A pandit is at least in this;
And the fool who thinks himself a pandit,
He is called a fool indeed.”

Mr. Pandey’s vast canvas seems to miss nothing. The manners and customs prevalent in India, popular festivals, poetry and myth, and the great religions are all well-represented. The book is, besides, generously illustrated with photographs.

–DR. PREMA NANDAKUMAR

Six Long Poems from Sangam Tamil: Translated into English verse by N. Raghunathan. Vighneswara Publishing House, 283, Linghi Chetty Street, Madras-1. Price: Rs. 12.

Mr. Raghunathan is himself a unique Triveni or triplestream, a rare confluence of the three major literatures in English, Tamil and Sanskrit, not to speak of his encyclopaedic knowledge of the gamut of world literature. He recently made his magnificent contribution to Sanskrit literature by publishing his nonpareil English translation of the entire Srimad Bhagavatam. He has now placed the world of Tamil literature in his debt by publishing these vignettes from Sangam poetry, the translation into English verse of six long poems out of ten collectively known as “Pattuppattu” or “ten idylls.” Mr. Raghunathan is, however, no stranger to the Tamil literary world as his volume of short stories and collection of plays in Tamil have been acclaimed by critics as excellent examples of the respective genre.

The Pattuppattu is a collection of ten poems, the composition of which is assigned to the epoch of the third Sangam. The eight poets, who were the authors of these poems, were among the renowned Sangam poets and the kings celebrated in the works were their patrons. The theme of the poems is predominantly of the nature of “aham” and subordinately of the nature of “puram,” the subjects largely relating to the five “tinais” or literary conventions according to the explanation furnished by the great grammarian Tolkappiyanar. The language, the classical style and the terse metre peculiar to that style are all typical of traditional Sangam poetry.

The six poems translated by Mr. Raghunathan are Mullaippattu, Kurinchippattu, Nedunalvadai, Pattinappalai, Perumpanarruppadai and Tirumuruharruppadai. The four Poets who composed these works were Napputanar, Kapilar, Nakkirar and Uruttiran Kannanar. The poems depict the social life of the people in ancient Tamil Nadu and afford precious material to the student of its political history. The Tirumuruharruppadai of Nakkirar has assumed a sacred character about it and is learnt by rote by every ardent devotee of the Subrahmanya cult.

Apart from the terse nature of the Ahaval metre of the original and its monolithic sentence-structure, the poems do not lend themselves to easy versification into English because of a totally different culture represented by them and the entirely dissimilar syntax of the Tamil language. Perhaps only Mr. Raghunathan could have met these challenges with such confidence and expertise.

Many modern Tamils are not familiar even with classical Tamil poetry, not to speak of the inevitably archaic language of Sangam poetry. To them this tiny book of 118 pages will be a boon to be thankful for. Those who are unfamiliar with the Tamil country and the history and traditions of the people cannot hope for a better introduction to the beauties of Sangam literature.

–T. S. PARTHASARATHY

Christian Poets and Tamil Culture: By Rev. Dr Dayanandan Francis. The Registrar, University of Madras, Madras-5. Price: Rs. 10.

This book is one in the series of Golden Jubilee publications –lectures delivered at the Dr S. Radhakrishnan Institute of Advanced Philosophy, University of Madras, and published under the General Editorship of the Director, Dr. V. A. Devasenapathi.

It gives the gist in English of three lectures originally delivered in Tamil by the author (who besides his specialisation in Theology is a fine Tamil scholar) on The Impact of Tamil Culture on Christian poets, Vedanayagam Sastriyar (1774-1864) and Krishna Pillai (1827-1900), intended to show how the Tamil literary traditions and religious conventions have influenced these two Indian Christian poets who have made their own contribution towards indigenisation and inter-religious understanding and fellowship. In this endeavour the author has succeeded admirably.

The book consists of five chapters. The first deals with Vedanayagam Sastriyar in Tamil literary tradition and the second with Sastriyar in Tamil religious tradition and the remaining chapters similarly with Krishna Pillai, his successor in the tradition to show that even after the conversions to Christianity, they had adhered to the Tamil literary conventions and trends of religious literature and endeavoured to introduce to Christianity not only the words and ideas but also the religious conventions and modes of worship of Tamil culture.

A fine presentation, full of illustrative quotations in Tamil supported by notes and references, of great benefit even to those who do not know Tamil.
–T. V. VISWANATHA AIYAR

Into the Fourth Dimension: By A. C. Hanlon. The Theosophical Publishing House, Adyar, Madras-20. Price: Rs. 4-00.

This book carries a discussion of metaphysics, geometrically and philosophically. It is common knowledge that the universe is three-dimensional, but a fourth one is postulated to represent time-space of Einstein’s Relativity Theory.

Space, in other words enlarged consciousness, is depicted as infinity and unity. The physical world is visualised as its reflex or shadow. As Hinton has it, “in the awakening of this new apprehension the flimsy world quivers and shakes, rigid solids flow and mingle, all our material limitations turn to graciousness,” and the cognition of an immanent and transcendent noumenon is purely intuitional and outside the purview of normal experience.

So the wise, to whom the objective world is illusional, pass easily beyond the limitations of sensuous existence which is fixed within the three co-ordinates (lines, planes and solids) and to whim the innumerable souls of the conditioned existence are so many vibrations of the primordial essence into which they get absorbed at the time of Pralaya or dissolution of the world.

The author who is endowed with intuitive feeling and rich experiences of transcending space has endeavoured to help the reader with simple examples in visualizing the higher dimension. The language is clear and the book reads like an old tale retold.

–K. S. RAO

Reflections on the Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna: By R. C. Roy. Copies can be had from the Author, “Sarat- Tara”, 59 Prafulla Chandra Avenue, Calcutta-30. Price: Rs. 10.

The teachings of Sri Ramakrishna have a special appeal to the modern mind because they speak of a religion that is eminently suited to the conditions of life and the spiritual needs of the people in the new age of Science and Religion” concludes Shri R. C. Roy, his book “Reflections on the Teachings of Ramakrishna” dedicated to all seekers of higher life. The book is only a compilation of the reflections of the author on the teachings of the great saint Ramakrishna as he was going through “Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita” by “M” and other books on the life and teachings of the Master and not meant to be written as a book.

With Ramakrishna, it was never one of words, it was one of experience. As a matter of fact, this book helps and guides the common man to ponder and realise the truth of the oft-repeated statement of Sri Ramakrishna: “Many are the names of God and infinite are the forms that lead to know Him. In whatsoever name or form you desire to call Him, in that very form and name you will see Him”. The compilation has been divided into several chapters–God, Faith, Love, Knowledge, Work, etc.

Ramakrishna’s message according to Swami Vivekananda is “Be spiritual and realise the Truth yourself”. It is the author’s firm conviction that the man who would teach such a message convincingly in the age of Science and reason must needs be a scientist in the spiritual world with a scientific approach to Truth.

–P. SRINIVASAN

An Introduction to the History and Religion of Tibet: By Nirmal C. Sinha. Published by Ambika Charan Bose, 85 Jodhpur Park, Calcutta-68. Price: Rs. 25.

Tibet is a land of mysteries whose history would appear to have ended with the usurpation of its control by the Communist leadership of China. The author of the present book has taken a close look at the roots of the people, the traditions and the various factors that have shaped this nation and is in a position to speak with authenticity on his subject. Even though Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru differed from Sri Sinha in his approach, he had at least three meetings with him during which he educated himself in Tibetan history and religion.

Sri K. P. S. Menon writes in his appreciative foreword how “the entire panorama of Tibetan history-cum-religion passes before our eyes: the struggle between Bon, the indigenous religion of Tibet, and Buddhism; the confrontation between Indian and Chinese Buddhism, the triumph of the former and the expulsion of the latter; the rise of the Warrior Kings who were also the Religious Kings of Tibet in the 7th and 8th centuries...the rise of the Dalai Lama as an incarnation of Avalokiteshwara, the God of Compassion...the Dalai Lama’s enforced flight to India and its tragic consequences.

Perhaps the best book on the subject, within a hundred pages, which leaves out no aspect of the life and history of the peoples of that unfortunate land.

–M. P. PANDIT

Yoga (Vol. 2: Depth-Psychology): By C. T. Kenghe. Bharat Manisha, Varanasi. Price: Rs. 40.

In his first volume on Yoga, Dr. Kenghe had traced the development of Yoga from its early beginnings in the Vedic period to Patanjali and post-Patanjali era. He had also drawn attention of students of modern Psychology to certain concepts in this ancient Indian thought. In the present volume, he compares the Yoga insights into the human Mind and consciousness with the theories of the Unconscious and the Collective Unconsciousness of Freud, Jung, Adler, etc. He discusses the differences between the respective standpoints and the areas in which Patanjali and his commentators like Vyasa show greater depth in range. He devotes the latter part of the book to an examination of the eight limbs of the Patanjala Yoga and relates them to situations in the present day Psycho-therapy. Speaking of the inner aspects of this Yoga he writes: “In relation to the seedless state, even these are the outer aspects ... In concentration, the mind is to be tied down to a limited space. In meditation, a continuous flow of the same idea is to be maintained on that limited space. In contemplation, that meditation as though loses its own nature and the object alone shines forth. These three naturally form a continuous process and when this process is fully mastered one gets enlightenment with the higher faculty of knowledge.”

A scholarly treatise which should stimulate further discussion.

–M. P. PANDIT

MALAYALAM

Poorna Jivitam: By K. P. Kesava Menon. Matribhumi Publishing Co., Calicut–1. Price: Rs. 15-00.

Mr. Kesava Menon is one of the veteran social and political leaders of Kerala. He has to his credit decades of service in various capacities and diverse fields of activity. The book under notice presents a detailed account of the life-problems of the average citizen of the land. Mr. Menon gives valuable solutions for the problems which are full of understanding and mature in spirit. Genuine social workers and enthusiastic youth leaders will certainly derive great benefit by this book.
–M. P. PANDIT

TAMIL–TELUGU

Bhagavad Ramanujastuti: Goda Grandhamala, Musunuru, Krishna Dt. Price: Rs. 8.

This panegeric Tamil poem in praise of Srimad Ramanuja, containing 108Pasurams, written by Tiruvaramgatta mudinaru, a disciple of Sri Ramanuja’s close disciple Sri Kurattalvar, is acclaimed as “Prapanna Gayatri” by all Vaishnavites and is given a place equal to that of Gayatri. This is but befitting, because an Acharya is given an esteemed place in the Vaishnava faith also. This is treated as a concluding part of the Tamila Veda also. Such a glorified poem is now placed in the hands of Telugu devotees. The original text in Tamil in Telugu script is accompanied by a word for word meaning and a commentary named “Divyasuryaloka” written by K. T. L. Narasimhacharya, the founder of the Grandhamala. Relevant verses from Sanskrit and Telugu works are also found quoted here and there. A Sanskrit translation given at the end enhances the value of this work.
–B. K. R.

TELUGU

Andhrula Sanghika Charitramu (B. C. 400 to A. C. 1100): By B. N. Sastri. Saraswati Nilayam, Narayanaguda, Hyderabad-29. Price: Rs. 25.

Redoubtable and revered Suravaram Pratapa Reddi, author of “Andhrula Sanghika Charitramu” (Social History ofAndhras) passed away without fulfilling his own expressed desire to provide such a history in relation to early times. The author has thus been privileged to take up the project and present the book under review after determined study and industry and skilful marshalling ofrelevant facts. His diligence and patience have borne satisfactory fruit.

A people’s social history is clearly different from its political history though, of course, much influenced by the latter. It covers all aspects and transactions of life between individuals as such and as members of families, communities and society; except military exploits and political affairs. While so, this book is some-what shy and uninformative regarding education, literature, art and culture and several other matters. It is likely that a perusal of more varied and more exhaustive source material and deeper study can enable the author to produce an ampler edition ofthe book, not only to fill up the omissions but also to elaborate and brighten the rest.

Deserved congratulations are due to the author for the way in which the subject is treated in the book. It appears from it that development and transition all along have generally been smooth without any acute social or religious conflict as such. Religious conflicts/seem to have been confined to the learned inter se. Buddhism, Jainism, Saivism, Vaishnavism, Animism, etc., lived amicably side by side. Conversions en masse or otherwise by the sword was only a post-Mohammadan intrusion. There were no doubt battles. But they were between kings; and affected the people but superficially. It is also interesting that there was no solid cryptallisation ofcaste-rigidity as in recent centuries. A reading of the book will be a pleasant and rewarding experience for the scholar as for the lay general reader.

–T. RAMACHANDRA RAO

Katamaraju Kathalu: Vol. I: Edited by Dr Tangirala Venkata Subba Rao. Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi, Saifabad, Hyderabad-4. Price: Rs. 30.

“Ballads are the vocal portraits of the national mind” ( Lamb) and a “well-composed song or ballad strikes the mind, softens the feelings and produces a greater effect than a moral work” ( Napolean). Telugu literature is proud of its ballads and it has also the distinction of having the ballad “Palnatiyuddhamu”, the oldest in the world of ballads according to historians. The Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi has taken upon itself the sacred duty of rescuing ballads from going into oblivion and extinction by publishing them.

In an extensive introduction of about 290 pages the editor deals with almost all topics related to ballads. The texts of the ballad stories are given with subtitles indicating the divisions of the subject matter.

Dialogue between Katama and his mother (pages 221-228) is of absorbing interest in that it reflects Katamaraju’s individuality and admiration for his father and grand-father, and incidentally points out the so-called defects in our epic heroes. The language is Vyavaharika. There are some surprising features. Enemical kings when they are about to commence fighting exchange letters and in them they extol each other. The introduction is very informative and the text provides interesting reading. About 28 photos orimportant places, temples, and icons add to the value of the work.
–B. KUTUMBA RAO

Ramaneeya Ramayanamu – Uttarakandamu: By Duggisetti Venkata Ramanayya. For copies–D. Bhaskar, 5/24, Prakash nagar, Nellore-2. Price: Rs. 5.

Story in the Ramayana Uttarakanda is the subject matter of this poem. True to its name, the poem is charming in every aspect from the beginning to the end. Sentiments of love in union and separation, pathos, Dharmaveera and Vatsalya are delineated in a fitting manner. Propriety of language and metre is observed. Portrayal of characters is perfect. There is a harmonious blending of prose, songs, modern and classic metres. The poet draws much upon the classical poets in Sanskrit and Telugu, makes it his own, and presents it in a charming manner. Deviations from the story of Bhavabhuti’s Uttararamacharitaare purposeful and pleasing. The author richly deserves the encomiums showered on him by eminent scholars and this work can easily be acclaimed as one of the best poems of the day.

–B. K. SASTRI