Reviews

Rabindranath Tagore: Through American Interpretations: Edited by Ira G. Zepp Jr. Writers Workshop, Lake Gardens, Calcutta-45. Price: Rs. 60.

This is a valuable volume of essays written by nine persons after a careful study of the poet’s mind and writings. Apart from placing the poet’s contributions to literature as of a permanent source of inspiration, no very high-class critical estimate of some aspects of his writing has been examined hitherto in the crucible of a growing science of literary criticism. Hence additional materials also have been provided in order to substantiate the approaches of useful assessment of erstwhile mere tributes to the poet’s genius.

The editor’s brief article on the description by the poet himself on being a “Ferryman” lights up how appropriate will be the appellation in viewing him so, especially when he proved in himself the boatman carrying between the East and West rich experiences in cultural exchange.

The next article about Tagore’s nearly seventeen months’ stay in America with intervals during his five visits to the country, amply supply us how much he was influenced by the enormous advance made in the West without at the same time losing his strong belief in his own country’s fundamental philosophy.

In the estimate of Tagore’s aesthetic imagination the poet’s adherence to the norms of aesthetics as propounded in our Alankara Sastra richly endowed by no less critics of the type of Ananda­vardhana and Abhinavagupta, makes the subject one of absorbing interest to the later day students who do not compare Western and Indian concepts in poetics, especially in the wake of Rasa-Dhwani theory.

We then enter a field of criticism where Tagore’s English versification is put to a very searching analysis and found to be lagging behind correct standards according to Western norms of poetry. No doubt much of the English translations from Bengali to English after the Gitanjali, Crescent Moon, Gardener period when they were rendered by the poet himself, appear not of much inherent quality both in its music and language. But to imagine even the earlier ones which got the poet from the Swedish Committee the Nobel Prize were also not free from defects would mean only that changes in evaluating poetry due to vast post-nineteenth century critical outlook should have caused the writer’s candid dissociation from earlier thinkers such as W. B. Yeats, Rothenstein, Ezra Pound and others. But revealing correspondence have been quoted here as showing the very same earlier judges of Tagore’s poetry having slowered down in their enthusiasm. Even to the extent of feeling that the Nobel Award itself could have been due to more of a consideration that an Easterner must be recognised, looks a bit far-fetched. Readers can recall how the book Tagore seen through Western Eyes by W. W. Aronson allowed us to have glimpses of more of prejudice against an Indian receiving the Award than any penchant favouring it. Anyhow times have arrived when more material gets available and fresh evaluation also must be entertain­ed without bias.

Tagore’s fictional output, though commendably of a high order, cannot escape legitimate criticism of some stereotype characters and the greater slant in making his heroines a bit more for earning sympathisers.

The chapters on Religion, especially “spiritual religion” as conceived by Tagore as also by the philosopher Dr. Radhakrish­nan, come in for a clear enunciation of the chief philosophical bases from which their minds should be judged as having similarly espoused views in various contexts.

When dealing with Tagore’s contemporaries such as Gandhi and Vivekananda and their eminent services in securing for Indians freedom not only from Western control in politics but in thought, in the wake of the great scientific advance and rational thinking born of Western contact, the contributions to this volume have highlighted the main benefits arising from healthy exchange of new and old concepts without at the same time never losing sight of our spiritual heritage as of a more substantial opening-board to sanity and objectivity of outlook in a rampant, mad world of conflicts of ideals.

To the Tagore library this is a most useful addition.

–K. CHANDRASEKHARAN

Dwarakanath Tagore–A Forgotten Pioneer: By Krishna Kripalani. NationaL Book Trust, India, Green Park, New Delhi-16. Price: Rs. 25.

The life and achievements of Dwarakanath Tagore, the grand­father of Rabindranath Tagore, the poet, have been attempted to be portrayed in this volume by Krishna Kripalani who requires no greater credential for the task than the very fine biography of Rabindranath Tagore written by him about the time of the birth centenary of the poet. But one will have to accord the author more credit here for having constructed a full length life with considerable difficulty in gathering materials. Apart from Press cuttings and a few documents obtained from the India Office Library and the British Library (Museum), hardly much infor­mation could be gleaned of Dwarakanath’s activities in England which he had visited twice in 1842-43 and 1846-47.

A princely life had been led by Dwarakanath on whom the Goddess of fortune had showered all her stars. From being a Zamindar holding vast extents of land, he combined in his endea­vours commercial adventures through which easily he became familiar with other countries at a time when Indians, particularly of the Brahmin community, were totally unaware of business in­stincts. The chapters of the early family life and the orthodoxy which prevailed in the home are given with details sufficient to make us understand that with such a domestic environment a person of Dwarakanath’s qualities could not have ordinarily made departures both in the manner of living as well as the observances of religion. Still, he made from the start a courageous venture to be seeking wealth with an earnestness that surprised many others earlier in the field. He earned a lot and spent a lot on many deserving public institutions so that Calcutta and its suburbs were filled with acts of benevolent gifts of funds from him to worthy causes.

In collaboration with Raja Ram Mohan Roy, the great reformer, he supported the abolition of Suttee, and though the former was an iconoclast, Dwarakanath remained till the last conforming to Indian conventional ideals and never violated any of the Hindu codes of religious functions. Himself having been on terms of social friendship with many Europeans of that age his lavish entertainments and scale of living contributed not a little to his name easily conjuring up a very prodigal lover of good things of life. Unlike the usual tendency in a millionaire to lead a life of mere luxury, he was both an epicurian in his tastes and a hard worker for advancing the conditions of his people living in abject penury. He was associated with institutions such as the Hindu College. The School-Book Society, The Medical College, The Native Schools of Calcutta, the Vernacular Schools, the District Charitable Society, the Blind and Leper Asylums – to mention some of his philanthropic activities. Again he showed extraordinary interest in arts such as painting and music.

He held correct views of our ancient Indian culture and could easily convince some of the Western scholars of those times by imparting to them vivid and enduring correctives whenever they tried to be contemptuous of our religion and institutions. For a sample, when Max Mueller, the great Indologist, expressed his dislike of Indian music, he said that one should not at once dislike an art the moment it is heard, for on account of early unfamiliarity it becomes unengaging. On the other hand he advised them that “if you studied our music as we do yours, you would find that there is melody, rhythm, harmony in it, quite as much as in yours. And if you would study our poetry, our religion and our philosophy, you would find that we are not what you call heathens or miscreants but know as much of the Unknowable as you do and have perhaps even deeper seen into it than you have.”

He was much appreciated by the British of those days and he was a constant guest at the Buckingham Palace where Queen Victoria and her Consort Prince Albert, both entertained him and received fine souvenirs from him in exchange of gifts from themselves.

It is a life told with much sympathy and understanding, especially in the circumstance of the “Prince’s career throughout having been too much engrossed with Western society and the few and far between of details for providing a connected whole in the fullest sense of a biography.”

–K. CHANDRASEKHARAN

Lost Dimensions: By Sisirkumar Ghose. Bibla Impex Ltd., 2/18 Ansari Road, New Delhi-2. Price: Rs. 80.

In this delectable collection of essays by Dr. Ghose we traverse a variety of landscapes and soulscapes: Myths, Symbols, Mysticism, Aesthetics, Existentialism, Art, Poetry, Human Destiny, Consciousness, Psychology of Social Development, Kundalini, New Age, Return of the gods and more. The versatility of the author’s mind makes every theme enjoyable and purposive. Through all the discussions there runs the consistent note: “The abdication of the inward and upward look, the rejection of the transcendentals in the struggle to be modern. An exclusive concentration on the transient rather than the terminal, on the contingent rather than the original unconditioned, has meant the loss of a necessary dimension, call it the soul, spirit, holism, evolution.

The treatment is not content with exposing the hollowness of the culture of the modern man. It draws attention to the dangers gathering on the horizon and takes pains to provide ways and means to retrace the steps and take alternate routes to a future that can be glorious and fulfilling if only we work for it. The author emphasises that the crux of the change lies in ourselves: change of consciousness, harmonisation of the within and the without, acceptance of life in a worshipful spirit. He is an optimist by conviction and underlines the several promising developments that are taking place, both in the East and the West, in the field of Consciousness research. For the key lies in consciousness.

Dr. Ghose writes brilliantly, delightfully and convincingly. One only wishes that there were not so many quotations from others, almost on every page. They are not needed; in fact they interrupt the flow of the argument.

–M. P. PANDIT

Icons and Sculptures of Early and Medieval Assam: By A. Bhattacharjee. Inter India Publications, 105, Ananda Nagar, Delhi-35. Price: Rs. 80.

Assam known for its Sakta culture is also a treasure trove of icons and sculptures representing all the five gods – Siva, Sakti, Vishnu, Surya and Ganesha and also Buddha. But all these were left unnoticed and unstudied for a long time.            The credit of having surveyed these and furnished the details pertaining to these in a book-form goes to the author of this work, which is a compre­hensive and also descriptive catalogue of all Brahmanical and Buddhist icons in Assam.

Details about the name, weapons, metal of the icon, attendants, ornaments, height, number of hands and heads of 145 icons are given here as far as possible. Quotations from scriptures that describe a particular form of a deity are also given here and there. Plates of these icons are also included in the text, leaving nothing desired for a clear understanding of the subject. Glossary of technical terms, word index and bibliography of books and journals make this a complete and self-sufficient work.

It is to be noted here that Nataraja, who is found in icons found in Southern India dancing on Apasmarapurusha, is in Assam hewed out as dancing on the of a bull. Three icons of Hari­hara are also located here. An icon, surmised to be that of Bhairava, holds Danda in one hand and “Matulunga” in the other, and this Matulunga fruit containing seeds is described as symbolic of numerous atoms that represent the seeds of the whole world. The author took pains to trace and correlate this verse in the Vishnu Dharmottara and quote it here. Among Sakta images also there are two that are syncretistic – a combination of Sakta and Vaishnava elements. From these we can learn how a compromise between Saivism and Vaishnavism and Saktism and Vishnavism was attempted at even about 9th and 13th centuries A. D. respectively to which period those Saiva and Sakta images belonged.

Surya’s images are found with two female attendants named Nikshubha and Rajni, said to be his queens. Many such interest­ing points can be gleaned from a study of this precious work which cannot but be treasured by any student and lover of iconography. All libraries must have this book on their shelves.
–B. KUTUMBA RAO

A Study in the Dialectics of Sphota: By Dr. Gowrinatha Sastry. Motilal Banarsi Das, Bungalow Road, Delhi- 7. Price: Rs. 35.

Ever since the publication of Bhartrihari’s Vakyapadiya, many books and papers were published on Sphota and Sabdaadvaita in­cluding a paper on the latter subject by the reviewer in 1936 in “Kalyana Kalpataru.” Doctrine of Sphota is one of the great con­tributions of Indian grammarians. In the present volume the learned doctor describes in detail the theories regarding Sphota as expounded by the logicians, Mimamsakas and grammarians. Views of Kumarila Bhatta, Mandanamisra, Vachaspatimisra, Jayanta Bhatta, Bhartrihari and other grammarians are explained. Merits and demerits therein are pointed out. The main contribution of the author is his reputation of Jayanta Bhatta’s arguments and exposition of the deep implications of Hari’s theory. Sankara’s Advaita is compared with Sabdaadvaita in a passing way. His interpretation of the words Akshara Paramavyoman, Uma and Brahman, his novel construction of a sentence in the Kena Upanishat, wherein the word “Uma” is construed as an adjective to ‘striyam’ identification of Uma, the power of the sky, with Vak, the power of Brahman, etc., deserve a close study and scrutiny. In addition to the dialectics of Sphota, classification of Sphota and authority of Agama are also discussed in the last two chapters. Detailed notes with relevant quotations and explanations thereof and detailed notice of contents are immensely useful to any reader. Pointing out the definite and distinctive meanings of the words Varna, Sabda, Akshara, Pada and Dhvani with their equivalents in English will remove some doubts of the readers. Students of Sanskrit grammar and philosophy are sure to be benefitted by a study of this work.

–B. KUTUMBA RAO

Realization of God according to Sri Aurobindo: By George Nedumpalakunnal. Claretion Publications, Bangalore-55. Price: Rs. 16.

There are many books on Aurobindo’s philosophy, but very few are mainly devoted to a study of “Realisation of God” accord­ing to him, and this valuable work, which was presented for the degree of Doctor of Theology of Pontificial Gregarian University, Rome, fulfills that desideratun. Quintessence of Aurobindo’s philosophy is presented in the first chapter in a lucid, comparative and a critical manner.

The second chapter describes the nature of Gunas, Ignorance, Ego, Evil and Suffering and Desire that are considered to be the obstacles of self-realisation. Integral Yoga “which is the method for God-realisation is a conscious effort of man to realise his reality of existence and his attempt to manifest in the world” and which has Karma, Bhakti and Jnana for its constituents, which purify physical, vital and mental natures of men respectively, is described in the third chapter. The above three methods, viz., Work, Love and Knowledge are described in the next three chapters in a clear manner and the distinguishing features of Aurobindo’s views therein are pointed out. It may be noted here that Sri Aurobindo accepts Tantric aims and stresses on the importance of the concept of Divine Mother, and Parinamavada is acceptable to him. Synthetic view of Sri Aurobindo’s teaching on God-realisation in the seventh chapter highlights his new approaches and must be carefully studied.

The eighth chapter devoted to a critical evolution shows us the scholar in the author, and herein thoughts of Sri Aurobindo are compared and contrasted with those of Christ. This work enlightens a student of Aurobindo’s philosophy, and deserves to be studied by all those who aspire for God realization.
–“SANDILYA”

Storm Warning: By Keshav Malik. Samkaaleen Prakaashan, New Delhi. Price: Rs. 10.

A strange and haunting beauty pervades the poetry of Keshav Malik. Each poem in the volume under notice is a chiselled piece of unostentatious art. The simple colloquial diction, a sweet patterning of thought in delicate syntactical units, typical Indian sensibility and sense of values in juxtaposition with the Western commercial civilization make his poetry a thing of joy: In “Storm Warning,” he gives a warning to the power-drunk bellicose nations that their “comfy hour’s sands” will not last long. The very dread weapons now being stock-piled themselves deter them by administering shock treatment to them. “And then it will come / the oceans mighty roar / and with the mighty roar come fear /and fear will shake out the tear. “The table fan” and “Addled wave” make an amusing reading. “The halved” is a fine poem on the androgynous nature of man into which the poet presses the Christian and Pagan myths into service to achieve a pleasing complexity of thought and language.

In the very first poem “Excess” inspired by the mighty Blakean line ofwisdom, “the road of excess leads to wisdom”, the author strikes a characteristic note: “A purpose, a purpose: and in the end to pass beyond all goal and purpose / and through the eye of the needle /to reach the clear night of absolute rest”. In “The Flame of an Anger” he vents his righteous anger at the insensible stone-faced tyranny and invokes the presence of the fierce dancing Kali to destroy the lawless. “O Holy of Holies, fiercely flaring forked tongues of whirling Kali / Wrap up in your red folds the souls / of all lawless kingdoms.” Malik has a magic way with words: “...and round the globe the thrilling tiding raced like a night express on into breathless, exultant roll”; “Round and about / the town’s civic round abouts”; “the brisk buzzing saw of confusion / whirs as it did at mad-eyed dawn”; “My heart wore tiger-stripes one night”; “I tell you tell me not /there is to the ado more than the human fact.”

–Dr. G. SRIRAMA MURTY

            Alone with the Spouse Divine (Ekaanta Seva): By Venkata Parvatiswara Kavulu, Rendered into English by B. Rajanikanta Rao. Published by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, Tirupati. Price: Rs. 15.

“Ekaanta Seva” holds a unique place in the evolution of modern Telugu poetry. It marks the transition from the classical mode to the romantic trend in Telugu poetry in the early decades of this century. Though early critics missed to grasp its signi­ficance the master of lyrical poetry, Devulapalli Krishna Sastry, contributed a masterly introduction which is as inestimable in value as Wordsworth’s Preface to the Lyrical Ballads. He hailed Ekaanta Seva as the Gitanjali of Telugu poetry and set forth the credo of romanticism in his Preface, recognising this pioneering attempt as the precursor of a new trend in poetry which gradually evolved into the romantic school.

Exalted treatment of love is one of the shining facets of romantic poetry. The theme of Ekaanta Seva is the intense longing of the human spirit for union and communion with the divine. Balantrapu Venkatarao and Voleti Parvatisam composed this poem in collaboration in a mood of sublime enraptured elevation, in a style which is suffused with poignancy of feeling and rare delicacy of touch. It is simple, sweet, supple and suggestive. There is art which deftly conceals art and renders ita rare aesthetic treat. The style of Ekaanta Seva serves as a shining example of a literary masterpiece which, according to T. S. Eliot, has the virtue where every word is at home /Taking its place to support the others / The word neither diffident nor ostentatious / An easy commerce of the old and the new/The common word exact without vulgarity / The formal word precise but not pedantic.” So the poem lingers in the mind with an aura and aroma that thrill us.

To translate Ekaanta Seva into English is as difficult as to translate Francis Thompson’s The Hound of Heaven into Telugu. Translating a classic of Indian poetry into English is a challenging proposition as the rhythm, idiom and music of English are entirely different. Even a master-poet like Gurudev Rabindranath did not succeed fully in capturing the delicacy and musical charm of his Bengali lyrics in his English renderings which often read like paraphrases of his opulent originals.

Though Rajani is a poet of eminence in Telugu, though by nature as well as nurture he is in tune with the spirit of the original and though he has made a very sincere attempt, we miss in the English rendering much of the magic and the music of the original lyrical sequence. One fails to understand what the translator sought to accomplish by violating the tradition of using capital letters where they ought to be used.          
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In the preface by Sri P. V. R. K. Prasad the word “playwright” is wrongly printed as “playwrite” and needs correction. T. T. D. deserves thanks of gratitude for embarking upon the project of publishing such literary works which exhale the spirit of devotion and which spread the sweetness and light of Indian culture. 
–Dr. C. N. SASTRY

Indian Theory of Knowledge based on jayanta’s Nyayamanjari: By G. D. Bijalwan. Heritage Publishers, M-116, Connaught Circus, New Delhi, Price Rs. 65.

The book under review is an analytical, comparative and critical evaluation of Indian Nyaya (logic) which deals with Indian theory of knowledge, its nature, locus, forms, methods of acquisition and ways of testing its veracity. The treatment of the subject is based on Nyayamanjariof Jayanta Bhatta, a famous logician who made a deep study of Aksapada Gautama’s Nyayasutra with Vedic, Bauddha and Jaina branches of Hetuvada and other Darsanas, orthodox and heterodox, and by a process of elimination of paralogisms andantilogies found in them, firmly established the Nyaya, theories though some of Jayanta’s views about memory and know­ledge were hotly contested by later theorists.

Indian Nyaya expounds Pratyaksha (perception), Anumana (inference), Upamana (comparison) and Sabda (verbal testimony) as the four stages to acquire knowledge and other means of knowing: Sambhava (conclusion), Aitihya (tradition or rumour), Arthapatti (presumption) and Abhava (negation) were discussed but denied ‘Pramana-hood and relegated to the ground­. The yardstick of sense-object contact propounded by Nyaya to understand and know Padartha is found appropriate to cognise dhava (existence of things). And in respect of Abhava (negation) divergent opinions are expressed in its ontological and epistomo­logical aspects.

But Jayanta with his irresistible logic lays down that Abhava too is a distinct type of knowable objects and is capable of perception. What with supernormal contacts as enumerated in Navya Nyaya: Samanyalalsana, Jnanalalsana and Yogajasannikarsha anything is possible of cognition whether it is conceptual or perceptual Reality.

The book makes a valuable vade mecum to any student devoted to the study of Indian Nyaya with all its mystifying and razor-sharp nuances.

–K. SUBBA RAO

Bhakti Yoga: By AswinI Kumar Datta (Translated from Bengali by Gunada Charan Sen). Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kulapati Munshi Marg, Bombay-7. Price: Rs. 20.

Bhakti Yoga is one of ourgreat heritages, cultural as well as literary. The Bhavan has by presenting it again within one’s easy reach, put into their debt all those who care for the preservation of that heritage. Devotion has absolutely nothing to do with age, caste or rank. Childhood is however the fittest time to begin and cultivate devotion. Devotion is quite possible without any learning though none can deny that learning is a great help towards it.

In this book, the author has detailed the several qualifications forthe attainment of Bhakti, how devotion can be acquired and the probable obstacles that could stand in the way of Devotion and how to remove them. Aids to devotion such as self-examination, prayer, the five methods enunciated by Sri Chaitanya, self-dedication and concentration of mind have been well explained. The stages of devotion and the characteristics of a devotee make interesting reading and the concluding chapter on love discusses the characteris­tics of true devotion as could be understood from several examples mentioned.

The author Aswini Kumar Dutta (1856-1923) was a great patriot and educationist. His love of God, reflected in his works inspired in him a great love for his motherland and especially forthe younger generation. As a great teacher and builder of men, Sri Dutta is still remembered and honoured in Bengali.
–P. SRINIVASAN

How God Came into my Life: By Eminent Contributors. Bharatiya      Vidya Bhavan, Kulapati Munshi Marg, Bombay-7 Price: Rs. 8.

The book under review reveals reintegration of the Indian culture in the light of modern knowledge and to suit our present day needs and resuscitation of its fundamental values in their pristine vigour.

A pick of writings of several saints and seers describing how God transferred their entire beings and oriented himself. The experiments and the experiences of the bold, the adventurers and the pathfinders narrated in the form of interesting stories, some autobiographical, make the selection popular and appealing to the young and the old. They cover some important personalities from Jayadev of the tenth century to the late Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar of the twentieth century. The selection also includes the experiences of two international personalities. Frank N. D. Buchman, author of the Moral Rearmament Movement and Upton Sinclair, an eminent American writer, who won the Pulitzer Prize. The sustaining factor of our Indian tradition is that these experimentors are not in short supply even in this machine age and no wonder, the West looks to East for spiritual enlightenment.
–P. SRINIVASAN

Reflections through Gandhian Angle: By Prabhudas Patwari, 46, Parimal Society, Abmedabad-6. Price Rs. 4.

A staunch adherent of Mahatma Gandhi and his principles, Sri Prabhudas Patwari, the former Governor of Tamil Nadu, gives in this tiny brochure some of his ideas for the future, healthier growth of the Indian nature. We find a vivid picture of some of the ills, which during the three decades and more after our winning of Independence, have wrought such a havoc with our ethical and moral grounding that we scarce feel secure of a better condition, in the near future. He has detailed the way in which the country in every field of action – political, economic, social, administra­tive – has not gained what was originally prospected by the Father of the Nation. Gandhiji’s seven points of admonition to the people, viz., politics without its scruples, wealth without labour, commerce without fairplay, joy without conscience, service without humanity and penance without sacrifice are no longer observed except in their breach. The author would remind us not to forget them but take a pledge to cultivate them.

Also the author points out how the private sector in production needs greater attention and active support from the Government, as the decentralization of the sector and the clear demarcation between the small-scale and large-scale sectors could provide between protection to the Khadi and village industries which alone could save the villages which possess huge employment potentiality. In education, in the sphere of women’s advancement on right lines, in the working out of the socialistic pattern of society – in everyone of our country’s present-day requirements, Sri Patwari has his views based on Gandhian principles, which, according to his outlook could alone save this country to work out its democracy according to its own code of enlightenment without prejudiced, ignorant and superstitious conduct of human affairs.

The value of this short paper has been enhanced by a foreword from the pen of Acharya Kripalani.
–K. CHANDRASEKHARAN

Bhishma the Superman: By Prof. K. Subrahmanyam. Sri Rama­krishna Tapovanam, Tirupparaiturai-639 115. Tamilnadu. Price: Rs. 3-50.

Bhishma is an ideal hero and a practical philosopher, and in the words of the author of this beautiful book, “In the Mahabharata he is next only to Srikrishna.” His life, achievements and preach­ings are graphically described in this slender volume in charming and idiomatic English with short and spirited sentences. Full of imagery, expressed in flowery language, and interspersed with philosophical and ethical thoughts, this book is sure to grip the heart and stir the soul of any reader who with his unflagging interest cannot close the book without completing its study. Author’s introduction and Swami Chidbhavananda’s introduction feast the reader with sublime thoughts. The next five chapters entitled, celibacy and sacrifice, silent spectator, inaction in action, fruition of life, merging in the source and chips from Bhishma’s wisdom, bring out the salient features in Bhishma’s life. With its subject and style matching with each other, this work is to be read by every one, not only for its valuable contents but for its beautiful English as well.      
–“SANDILYA”

The Central Questions of Philosophy: By A. J. Ayer. Macmillan Company of India Ltd., Madras-2. Price: Rs. 15.

Sir Alfred Ayer, considered one of the founders of modern philosophical school of logical positivism, richly contributed to modern philosophical thinking by his valuable writings like “Language, Truth and Logic and the Problem of Knowledge”, etc. He adorned high academic posts in Oxford and London Universities, and won the encomium of Bertrand Russell according to whom Dr A. J. Ayer is the best among the present-day philosophers.

This work under review reproduces the series of ten Gifford lectures delivered by Ayer at the University of St. Andrews in 1972-73. The lectures deal with some central questions that racked the brains of philosophers over the centuries. These lectures cover a wide range of topics. An attempt to explain what philosophy is made in the first lecture. The special characteristics of metaphysical arguments are explained. Various theories of meaning, theory of knowledge, relation or body and mind, grounds for attributing consciousness to other problem of inductive; reasoning, the character of scientific laws, the nature of causality, the concept of logical necessity, nature of moral judgements and the freedom of will are some of the other topics discussed in these lectures.

In his lecture on Theology he opines that belief in God cannot be based on sound reasoning. Every lecture is scintillating with original, critical and analytical thinking, and contains rich and stimulating food for critical and pragmatic thought, and a patient and inquisitive reader cannot lay down the book without finishing it. As the author claims, these lectures are of interest not only to those who are already familiar with these questions, but to general readers also, to whom these will provide an introduction. An Indian reader is in many places reminded of Sriharsha’s famous work “Khandana-Khanda-Khaadya”, and some theories propounded in works of Nyaya, and the “Gaudapaada Karikas”. Any inquisitive person has necessarily to study this work either to appreciate or to disagree with the opinions expressed by the author in some places.    
–B. K. SASTRI

The Court Dancer: By Rabindranath Tagore (Transcreated from Bengali). Writers Workshop, Calcutta-45. Price: Rs. 10.

The Writers Workshop of Calcutta has sponsored a volume of Tagore’s Natir Puja transcreated into English from the original Bengali. Many of Tagore’s plays have been rendered into many of the Indian languages as also into English. Earlier, Marjorie Sykes included an English translation of Natir Pula along with another of Tagore’s plays named Chandalikaas her own renderings into English. But the present volume claims something more as it is a transcreation which gives it greater significance because of the translator’s own genius in interpreting the meaning which may not be always obtainable in a word-for-word translation.

This play of Tagore represents the martyrdom of a court dancer of a king whose disclaim of the great Buddha’s teachings results in his ordering of non-observance of worship of the Lord in his kingdom. The dancer in her complete dedication discards her everything in defiance of the injunction and meets her execution at the hands of the king’s executioners. The inner purport of Tagore’s mind and art in the play have their vital invitation to Rasikas to search for them through the many reactions the decision of the dancer to defy the order of the king ends in. Tagore’s main purpose is to impress the gospel of the Buddha that one surrendering himself or herself to the Lord should give up every thing of the belongings.

The volume is printed with a get-up worthy of a great poet’s work.       
–“SAHRIDAYA”

Nurjahan-A Novel: By Jyoti Jafa. Writers Workshop, Calcutta-45.      Price: Rs. 20.

This novel is more a historical romance; the main interest being the love story of Mehrunnissa (Nurjahan) and Salim, later to become the Emperor Jehangir. The historical events during the reign of that monarch are nowhere deviated from and the steady current of successive episodes starting from the great Akbar and tending towards the enthroning of Salim as king reach a finale in the death of Jehangir. In between are the early lives of some of the characters of the Mughal period gradually growing into their later statures. The author has done well in making Nurjahan not the cruel woman as some historians have painted her but more as an astute ruler with all the charisma born as it were with her birth. Except the tragedy in which her former husband Sher Afghan had been involved, and the long mourning by her with an indomitable will, not to yield to the easy persuasions of people to accept Jehaugir as her lord, the entire narration of events from a regular panoramic series of scenes of the famed Mughal extravagance and rich tapestry of arts enveloping the whole atmosphere of a benign rule under which people seem to have no grievance of any kind, either of grinding poverty or pestilence and disease. Some of the descriptions of the revelries and palace festivals give no idea at all of any shadow of adversity in those times. But all praise to the skill of penmanship for depicting in colours of unfading beauty the patronage which music, dance, painting and the sister arts received at the hands of those despotic fratricidal rulers.

One important matter which cannot escape notice of the reader is the very natural affection of both the emperor Jehangir and his consort towards children. The picture is complete so far Nurjahan is concerned, her rise to queenship and her courageous outlook to be a helpmate to her husband and king of the realm, The language throughout is so well suited to the romantic picture of the times that none will feel bored by the striking quality of repeated environmental plenty and pomp. It is certainly worthy of the Writers Workship endeavour to publish a book of this kind.
–“SAHRIDAYA”

SAMSKRIT-TELUGU

Sriharsha Naishadhamu – Third Part: with Telugu commentary by U. Subbaramasastry. Price: Rs. 12.

Raghuvamsamu: Telugu commentary by Kesavapantula Narasimha Sastry. Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi, Hyderabad-4. Price: Rs. 10.

Sriharsha’s Naishadhamis one of the five famous Kavyas in Samskrit, a study of which is a sine qua non for all students of Samskrit literature. Sriharsha proclaims that he intentionally introduced here and there some literary knots, “grandha grandhis:” as he calls them, with special effort, in this work, and warns readers with half-baked knowledge not to dabble with it. Unless well equipped with grammar and acquainted with the tenets of all the Sastras, one cannot grasp the spirit of the verses, though he can appreciate and enjoy the literary embellishments, play on words, and soaring fancies and imaginations at the end of his study. Hence this Kavya is acclaimed as “Yidvadaushadha.”

Understanding of such a Kavya, thanks to the wisdom and efforts of the A. P. S. Akademi, is now made easy by this Telugu commentary written by Subbaramasastry, an erudite scholar in Samskrit. This is the third part of the work containing the seventh, eighth, and ninth Sargas. Samskrit verses are there with lucid Telugu commentary. All the characteristics of a commentary are seen here. “Padachcheda” or division words, word-for-word meaning, “Vigraha” or analysis of compounds, elucidation of figures of speech, and the final import of “taatparya” including explanations of technical words, all these are given for each verse, In short what Mallinatha’s commentary is for Samskrit readers, that this commentary is for Telugu readers who cannot but acknowledge their deep indebtedness both to the Akademi and the commentator.

Kalidasa’s Raghuvamsaneeds no introduction to the readers and it is the first Kavya studied by all Samskrit students, though it was the fruit of Kalidasa’s matured thoughts. The volume under review contains the first nine cantos of the Raghuvamsawith a Telugu commentary written by K. Narasimha Sastry, well known to all Radio listeners. Word-for-word meaning of each verse is followed by Taatparya or import thereof in lucid Telugu. Derivations of some words are also found here and there. Important explanations found in Mallinatha’s commentary are also incorporated (sixth canto). Elucidation and pointing out the significance of figures of speech, Upamas in particular, would have highly enhanced the value of this work. Nevertheless this is a boon for all Telugu students who desire to have a proper understanding of the text, and we commend it to them.

We eagerly await the publication of the other parts of Naishadha Kavya which contain some scholarly and literary flashes, and Kalidasa’s Raghuvamsamthat describe the stories of Rama and his successors.    
–B. K. SASTRY

TAMIL

Shrimad Bhagavad Gila (Why Hesitate): Translated by Nallan Chakravarthy Srinivasa Ramaswamy. Annamar Publications, Karunanidhi Nagar, Madras-78. Price: Rs. 5. 90.

The message of the Gita is universal and applies to the whole mankind. The author of this tiny book has chosen the title “Why Hesitate” the keynote of the Gita. He tells us in his preface, of his struggle with life, full of troubles and trials driving him even to death’s door and, how one day, coming upon the “Gita” lying on the table, and going through it, discovered hope and courage, the two things to sustain him and give him the solace and strength of mind to discharge his duty, like the Arjuna, not caring for its result.

The author has done almost a faithful translation from Sanskrit, in easy and readable Tamil, which, one may be sure, will be of great service to those who read it.

–K. SAVITHRI AMMAL

TELUGU

Detenu Diary: By K. V. Ramana Reddi. Copies available with Navodaya Publishers, Eluru Road, Vijayawada-2. Price: Rs. 20.

The author, a teacher of History and Political Science by profession, is not a political activist, in the sense of belonging to any political party. But he has been actively associated with the Revolutionary Writers’ Association of Andhra Pradesh (Viplava Rachayitala Sangham or ‘Virasam’ for short), as also the India-­China Friendship Association of the State. He has been a leading member of the group of writers, which believes in the necessity, no less than the possibility, of effecting a revolution through litera­ture. A Marxist-Leninist by conviction, he never minced his words in giving expression to his views on the nature of govern­ment, at the Centre or in the States.

On the day the Internal Emergency was clamped over the country by Mrs. Gandhi’s Government, Mr. Ramana Reddi was arrested, along with many of his colleagues in Andhra, on 26 June 1975, under the MISA. He was kept as a detenu for twenty-odd months, first at Nellore and then at Secunderabad, till his release in March 1977. The book under notice is a diary maintained by him in jail, covering a variety of matters like the thoughts that came up in his mind, the books that he read, the friends that he met, besides the usual items like his daily routine, his diet, health and other odds and ends about his jail-mates.

The diary includes a few entries in English, along with most of them in Telugu. It also presents some of the letters written by the author to his wife and a few close friends. In the entries, the personal touch is apt to be overshadowed by the political-­ideological, with the fortunes of ‘Virasam’ and the activities of its leading members, particularly the gyrations of Sri Sri standing out glaringly.

Comments on the books, especially classics, read by the author in his enforced leisure, like the fictional art of Tolstoy as also his philosophy of History, the social attitudes of Sarat, the political ideas of Nehru, etc., are sure to be of interest to students of literature. His intellectual interests are fairly wide and his literary tastes catholic, in spite of the fact that his politico-­economic outlook is rigidly deterministic.

A number of documents in English, like letters to the PM, CM and others, as also the statement in court (“Protest against New-Fascism”) are appended at the end. The last is a well-thought­-out expression of his credo as a Marxist-Leninist, likely to be of interest to the student of politics no less than the general reader.
–Dr. D. ANJANEYULU

Daana Raadheya (a drama), Upanishadvani–Secondpart: Both by Movva Vrishadripati, Govt. College, Kandukur. Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh. Price: Rs. 5 and Rs. 15, respectively.

Skill in dramaturgy, propriety in the delineation of characters, poetic imagery and fancy are patent on every page of this stage­-worthy drama of seven acts with Naandi, preludes and interludes, etc. The name of the drama is significant. Kama is the tragic hero. Veera of ‘daana,’ ‘yuddha,’ and ‘mitra dharma’ is the main sentiment. Sringaara, Karuna, Saanta and Adbhuta sentiments are there as subordinates. Inventions and deviations from the original are purposeful. Dialogues are distinctive. Here Karna recognises Srikrishna as an “avatar,” forecasts the fall of Kauravas, and offers his “Punya” to Srikrishna–a moving scene–who grants him a vision of the history of his past births. Kama asks Arjuna to kill him and rid him of the pain caused by arrows. Is the recital of a verse by Arjuna calling into aid all his meritorious deeds warran­ted in this context? A good readable and stage-worthy drama.

            Upanishatvani is a free rendering into Telugu verse of five Upanishads–Mundaka, Mandukya, Aitareya, Kena and Kaivalya. The first part of this work was already reviewed in this jounial. Each Upanishadic hymn in Samskrit in Telugu script is followed by Telugu translation in appropriate verse. This is highly use­ful to all Telugu readers who desire to know the meaning of the Upanishats, without commentations thereon.

–B. K. SASTRI