Book Reviews

Way of Life: King, Householder, Renouncer: (Essays in honour of Louis Dumont): Edited by T. N. Madan. Motilal Banarsi­dass Puhlishers Pvt. Ltd., Delhi-7. Price: Rs. 190.

A mere look at the updated bibliography of Professor Louis Dumont provided in the book is bound to raise eyebrows even if one has not even heard of the outstanding anthropologists of our lime. Professor Dumont’s contribution to social sciences is greatly applauded in all parts of the globe and it is in the fitness of things that this festschrifttis brought out on the occasion of his seventieth birthday.

The first part of the book gives an intellectual profile of Professor Dumont. Jean Claude Galley’s short write-up on the interests, of the Professor and his conversation with him speak of the mind of Louis Dumont. It is an invaluable piece of work for anyone interested in the man who “sought to establish a dialogue between Indian and Western civilizations in the firm belief that such comparative studies must ultimately, constitute the best guarantee we have of arriving at a genuine, sociological understanding of mankind as a whole.”

The second and the third parts contain 17 essays by 16 scholars from five countries and they are intended as much as a contribution to the sociology of India, in the making of which Professor Dumont has played a very distinguished role, as they are offered in his honour. The essays deal specifically with the Brahmanical ideologies of kingship, householdership and renunciation.

The very fact that this book has gone into a third printing within a short span of five years serves is proof for the amount of scholarship that has gone into the making of this book. The book helps us in many ways to know the different views of scholars on the goals and stages of Hindu life. Hierarchies of kings in medieval India, kings and their wives, Brahmacharya, householder, wanderer and renouncer form the subject matter of the essays gathered here.         Surely a worthy addition to anthropological studies.

M. P. PANDIT

Fulfilment Through Leprosy: By Prof. T. N. Jagadisan. Published by Kasturba Kushta Nivaran Nilayam, Malavanthangal P. O., Kandachipuram S. O., South Arcot District, Tamil Nadu. Price Rs. 250.

“Fulfilment Through Leprosy” is an unusual title for any autobiographical account, though it is arresting. Some people think of “fulfilment” in spite of leprosy, in a like situation. But then, Professor T. N. Jagadisan is an unusual man, who had led an unusual life. There is something extraordinary about his career, which reads like a story of adventure.

Teacher, writer, speaker, editor, intellectual, social worker, institution-builder, Jagadisan now nearing 80, had in his eventful life, successfully tackled more problems than any ordinary man in his position could have thought of so living, faced more challenges than a fair share that might have daunted less men and women. Every challenge was turned into an opportunity by a man, who has come out of the whole ordeal, with a smile on his lips and a prayer in his heart.

It was not for nothing, it seems to us, that Professor Jagadisan was born on 2 October 1909, which happens to be Gandhi Jayanti Day, exactly four decades after the Mahatma. As it happened, Mahatma Gandhi was one of the two or three great men, who played a crucial role in shaping the career of Jagadisan. The other was the Right Honourable V. S. Srinivasa Sastri, whose association came to him even earlier. Sastri was in fact, his mentor and master. He was to Sastri what Boswell was to Johnson. He not only wrote his biography with the utmost care and competence, edited his letters, speeches and essays, but also sought to emulate his lofty and difficult example to the best of his ability.

Born in a poor but orthodox and upright family, Mr. Jagadisan had his education at Chidambaram, taking his Honours Degree in English language and literature. After serving at many places, far and near, like Karachi, Alwaye and Madurai, he returned to Annamalai University at Chidambaram to become “an admirer and disciple” of the Rt. Hon’ble V. S. Srinivasa Sastri, the Vice-­Chancellor, at that time (in the late ’Thirties).

By about 1941, it was found that Professor Jagadisan was afflicted by leprosy, and he had to leave the teaching job, though it soon became known that it was of the non-infectious variety, and was curable. Cured indeed he was, in due course, thanks to the untiring efforts of the specialist, Doctor Cochrane and others.

Since then, Professor Jagadisan dedicated his entire life to the service of leprosy patients on one side and that of literature and liberal values on the other. First, it was the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association, later the Hind Kushta Nivaran Sangh, of which he was the Secretary. He soon came under the spell of Mahatma Gandhi, whose blessings and support were instrumental in the establishment of the Kasturba Kushta Nivaran Nilayam at Malavanthangal. From humble and unpromising beginnings amidst bramble and brushwood, it has over the years, grown into a huge complex, of hospital and hostel and other facilities for leprosy patients.

After an unbroken service of four decades and more to the cause of leprosy, projecting the message of faith and hope at home and abroad, Professor Jagadisan has cause to look with satisfaction. But he prefers to look forward with enthusiasm. In the apt words of President R. Venkataraman (incidentally a college contemporary of the author), who contributes a foreword, “The biggest and brightest medallion he wears is the medallion of service – service without expectation of reward.”

Group-Captain Cheshire says the bare truth when he describes Professor Jagadisan’s autobiography as a “very moving book.” It is, in fact, a very human document, vivid and gripping without any over-statement, tender without being sentimental.

Dr. Paul W. Brand neatly sums up the life and work of Professor Jagadisan, when he observes: “The story is told by a master of language and expression and by one who had learned to master himself in order to place himself at the service of those in greater need.”

Inspired by the example of Father Damien, the centenary of whose death is observed this year, Jagadisan has been lucky in his contacts, ranging from Dr. Cochrane and Group-Captain Cheshire to Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.

This autobiography is a record of the history of leprosy–­from ostracism to care, from care to cure, from cure to rehabili­tation. It is a lot more than that. It is essentially a human document, rich in feeling, wide-ranging in interests, meticulous in detail. The portions dealing with the care of his disabled daughter, Mina, are among the most moving. She indirectly made him move forward with greater determination. It is quite a com­prehensive story, told with powerful emotion, controlled by intellectual discipline, that should satisfy a variety of readers, general as well as literary, popular as well as professional.

The personality of the author stands out of the exciting and absorbing account as a man of commonsense, courage and com­passion. A rare example of the man of words as a man of action. A poignant story of patient suffering, tireless work and steady fulfilment.

Dr. D. ANJANEYULU

Rabindranath Tagore’s Aesthetics: By Prof. K. K. Sharma. Abhinav Publications, New Delhi - 16. Price: Rs. 70.

“Tagore” wrote Keyserling, “is the most universal, the most complete human being I have known”. And viewed in historical perspective, it is clear that Tagore constituted not only a link in the long chain of cultural evolution, was also the prophet of the Indian renaissance heralded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy. It is appropriate therefore that Prof. K. K. Sharma has focused his attention on Rabindranath Tagore’s aesthetics. Indeed Prof. Sharma correctly argues that an aesthetic philosophy emerges from the variegated writings of Tagore “which is absolutely invaluable to apprehend and appreciate his creative mind as well as Indian and Western arts and literatures.”

The most sophisticated application of the universal law of harmony can be perceived in Tagore’s aesthetics. Here it is necessary to stress three aspects of Tagore’s aesthetics. First, in an essay entitled The Limbs of Painting, Tagore emphasized that outer proportion must be reinforced by inner harmony. For drawing a face accurately is draughtsmanship, whereas drawing it with feeling is art. Secondly, as pointed out by Prof. Sharma, the artist in the Tagorean perspective grasps the truth of living only when he realizes its fusion with the infinite resulting in its full growth and richness.” Here it is well to realize the profound truth that poetry has been written about Grecian urns, but never about Grecian hammers. And the principle of creative reconciliation or a summing-up of the deeps of the creative process viewed as the law of unity-in-diversity, constitutes the third aspect of Tagore’s aesthetics.

The key to Tagore’s aesthetics is derived from his well-known poem Dui Nari – Urvashi and Lakshmi. Urvashi, the queen of passions, symbolizes a flaming revelry which distracts all mortals. Lakshmi restores the serenity of autumn – its combination of repose and maturitt – to man. Perhaps it could be argued that the symbolism of Urvashi and Lakshmi is similar to Nietzsche’s distinction between the Apollonian and Dionysian elements in art. However, Tagore’s poem is based on the philosophy of reconciliation – Lakshmi’s successful attempt to reestablish the original harmony interrupted by Urvashi.

Prof. K. K. Sharma’s work on Rabindranath Tagore’s Aesthetics is not only well-argued and impeccably documented, but is also an impressive contribution to a neglected aspect of Tagore’s thought. And the publishers ought to be congratulated on the excellent get-up.
A. RANGANATHAN

Collected Plays and Short Stories: By Sri Aurobindo. 2 vols. Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry. Price: Rs. 200 per set.

This two-volume set was originally published as a part of the thirty-volume Sri Aurobindo Birth Centenary Library in 1971. The present edition is its third impression. Volume I contains Perseus the Deliverer, Vasavadutta, Rodogune, and Eric, while Volume II contains The Viziers of Bassora, Prince of Edur, five other incomplete dramatic compositions, two pieces of Juvnilia, and the short stories. Of these, “The Phantom Hour” is the only complete story. Of the others, “The Door at Abelard” is almost finished, while “The Devil’s Mastiff” breaks off at a crucial juncture in the tale, and the last, “The Golden Bird,” is an incomplete parable.

It would be superfluous to “review” these works because they have been with us for quite a long time and have already been written about. However, I feel that Sri Aurobindo’s plays need much more attention than they have received so far. And, of course, the short stories, though they are so few in number are utterly gripping and fascinating. I, personally, am a great fan of these stories. They seem to represent a totally different dimension to Sri Aurobindo’s literary genius; if they are any evidence to go by, he would surely have made a first class writer of thrillers and detective fiction had he so chosen.

So let me end this short book-notice by merely saying that at Rs. 200 per set, these books are certainly a bargain. Libraries and collectors should order them if they haven’t done so already.

MAKARAND R.  PARANJAPE

The Human Voice: An Anthology of Czech Poetry (1920-1988). Translated by Jarmila and Ian Milner. Samkaleen Prakashan, 2762, Rajguru Marg, New Delhi-110 055. Price: Rs. 30.

Some Songs and Poems from Rabindranath Tagore: Translated by Pratima Bowes. Allied Publishers Private Limited, New Delhi, Price: Rs. 60.

Songs of Grace: Selections from St. Ramalingan’s poetry. Translated into English prose by M. L. Thangappa. All India Books, Sri Aurobindo’s Action, Pondicherry-2. Price: Rs. 8.

Translation is an art that can never satisfy the giver and the receiver. And yet civilisation cannot survive without trans­lation. Man must needs communicate with his fellow-human beings to grow upward in material prosperity and spiritual consciousness. Translation may be a flawed tool but is the only tool that can help global understanding. Jarmila and Ian Milner have taken up a welcome task in translating select poems from the Czech language into English. Even a first glance assures us of the riches within The Human Voice. Nature’s varied moods and colours apart, the poems reflect the sadness within the Czech heart that has seen much sorrow in its history. One cannot but shudder when Ladislav Stehlik says unemotionally, “the dead have lost their names” in “Jewish Cemetery at Rabi”. Contemporary poets, however, appear to be somewhat free of the Great Shadow. They are now more concerned about the future than the past. Jaroslov Cejka’s “Trees” is a wonderful poem that could be the marching song of environmentalists the world over.

The aim of Pratima Bowes is to convey the aesthetic qualities of Tagore’s poems to the reader. To bring into English the “subtle suggestibility of metaphors and turns of phrases” in the original is no easy task. Mrs. Bowes has chosen from half-a-­century of creativity: Manasiwas published in 1890 and Seshlekhain 1941. Her pointed introduction traces a definite progression in Tagore’s thought. The Gitanjali period was “a man to man emotional exchange” with God; the First World War ushered in a change and “the image is no longer of a loving and dear friend waiting to offer security and fulfilment after heartbreak. He is now also ‘the terrible’ who demands utmost sacrifice from man”; a reconciliation of sorts is achieved later on and terms never lost Faith. Truly a lover of man, nature and poetry.

“I have, at various moments,
tasted immortality through
my joys and sorrows,
seen the infinitude
on the screen of the finite,
understood that the final significance
of my life has always been there,
where reigns the beauty of the Supreme,
where plays music that is ineffable”.

Swami Ramalingam’s (1823-1874) life was one of compassion for the poor. He established the Samarasa Sanmarga Sangham proclaiming the path of right living and practical goodness. He was also a great Tamil poet and one of the earliest among the moderns to write in a language free of punditry. M. L. Thangappa has done well to present a selection of the Swami’s stirring devotional poetry. The translation is unpretentious and true to the original.

“The words that come from my lips are not actually my own. They come from him. Why should I – by myself – talk? Who am I to talk? How should I have the divine consciousness in me unless the lord of love moves in my being?”

Dr. PREMA NANDAKUMAR

The Hour of God: By Sri Aurobindo. Sri Aurobindo Book Distributing Agency, Pondicherry-605 002. Price: Rs. 8.

In this fourth edition of Sri Aurobindo’s The Hour of God the editors have introduced a number of changes in the titles and form of the essays, eliminating writings of fragmentary nature and re-arranging the remaining ones to give a sort of continuity and unity to the extent possible, checking them against the original for accuracy and clarity. Copious editorial notes have been added at the end for the benefit of curious scholars. A few passages of prose which have been discovered only recently are included for the first time in the book. The title essay “The Hour of God” is now printed in its entirety. In it Sri Aurobindo exhorts us to set aside our ego and be ready for the expected blissful moment by surrendering to which one can scale to the dizzy heights of success. Biblical inspiration informs the entire piece and makes it a work of prose art. One should get it by heart for its compelling beauty and splendour. Devotees and research scholars alike will be benefitted by this little book.

DR. G. SRIRAMA MURTY

A Premchand Dozen: By Nandini Nopany arid E. P. Pal. Writers’ Workshop, Calcutta-45. Price Rs. 30

Premchand, the famous Hindi writer, is justly appreciated for his fictional output. His novels have earned much wider recogni­tion by the translations into various Indian and foreign languages. Here are some of his stories collected in translation by two authors who have done real service by making a good selection of the stories.

An introduction on “The Art of the Story” starts the volume, does enough help for the reader to have a guidance in his critical estimate of the present book. The technique of short story is evidently not always adhered to by Premchand in some of the stories, which no doubt do not suffer for want of it, as they are interesting in themselves as stories well told. The first two stories are of the type, without any of the short story characteri­stics. “Salvation”,” Price of Milk”, “The Lesson” are certainly bearing the elements of the modern short story. In the language of the translation, the author could have avoided obscure or unfamiliar words sometimes, while normally a more simple expres­sion could have borne better evidence to the simple style of Premchand.

The drama at the end and the preface in the beginning make up a complete picture of the creditable endeavour.

K. CHANDRASEKHARAN

Vikram and Urvashi: By Kalidasa: English translation by P. Lal Writers’ Workshop, Calcutta-45. Price: Rs. 20.

This is a beautiful stage version in English of Kalidasa’s famous play “Vikramorvasiyam.” In elegant language with sufficient attention to the main portions of the scenes not getting clipt in translation, the author has presented the five acts of the original play. Wherever necessary, the verses have been totally or in part removed to confer on the play a felicitous sequence and completion. Very legitimately the fourth act, full with a number of verses denoting the king in madness, has been shorn of the excesses, and we find a play aesthetically satisfying the reader and more so to an audience witnessing the drama. All praise to the author for his craftsmanship.

K. CHANDRASEKHARAN

Three Indo-Anglian Poets (Henry Derozio-Toru Dutt and Sarojini Naidu): K. R. Ramachandran Nair. Sterling Publishers, New Delhi.

The book under review, as the Preface says, is a modest exploration into the early history of Indo-Anglian poetry and offers an interesting discussion of the three major figures of that period.

The three poets that the author discusses are among the few Indo-Anglian poets who never fail to fascinate the readers­-Derozio, Toru Dutt and Sarojini Naidu. The book presents an organised discussion of their lives, the themes and craftsmanship of their poetry, and more importantly, how the poetry of these young geniuses had paved the way for the more mature flowering of poetry in “Tagore and Sri Aurobindo. Some of the observations by the author show a deep and perceptive understanding of the value of these poets. For instance, Mr. Nair comments on the fact that two of the earliest writers of Indo-Anglian poetry should be women, and are heralded as the harbingers of women’s liberty in this country.

Mr. Nair’s book should be an asset to students of Indian writing in English, and beginners in particular.

K. RATNA SHIELA MANI

Zindabad Murdabad: Translated from Hindi by Dayananda Sharma. Writers Workshop, Calcutta-45. Price: Rs. 50.

Alok’s protected and secluded upbringing by his mother makes him sensitive and shy. He becomes a misfit in company of men whose talk he finds crude, especially regarding women. This embarrassment to discuss and joke about women puts the stamp of imbecility on him. His joining the army is an act of protest against his mother and society. In a mock combat meeting with an accident, he is medically pronounced impotent. This is a shock he fails to absorb. This is the starting point of deceit of himself and others. He marries, becomes a political leader which further complicates matters and makes confession of his defect impossible. Deceit leads to more deceit. Finally, he drives his innocent wife to insanity by his confession.

The narration comes in seven parts from six different narrators. The rise of Alok as public figure is extremely sketchy. Character delineation could have been deeper. For a translation it reads well.

B. PARVATHI

India’s Civil Defence in the Nuclear Age: By Rajendra Prasad. Prakash Book Depot. Bareilly.

The concept of civil defence, claims the author, is as old as the history of warfare, though he concedes that only during the last five or six decades has civil defence attracted serious governmental attention. The growth of organised planning, co­ordination and administration of civil defence programmes is traced in the early pages of this small yet excellent work, while the pages that follow contain a wealth of, theoretical study and analytical presentation of issues and problems concerning civil and military matters. Since the book is based on the author’s doctoral dissertation, the chapterization is competently done and the material gathered very ably presented.

This is a very useful book containing relevant information on India’s civil defence programmes. The chapter on the New Image of Civil Defence and the two chapters that follow are of particular significance. This is a book that deserves the attention of the academic as well as the policy maker. Printing errors, however, mar the quality of the work to some extent, though “unclear age” for “nuclear age” does not look wholly inappropriate. Curiously enough the more-than-one-page errata at the end is titled “erreta”. The author should have taken care to write Sir Stephen King-Hall’s name as Sir Stephen instead of Sir King-Hall and Dr. Radhakrishnan not as Radha Krishnan. All the same these are minor lapses in an otherwise commendable work.
DR. A. PRASANA KUMAR

History of Modern Andhra Pradesh: By Dr. P. R. Rao. Sterling Publishers Private Limited, L-10, Green Park Extension. New Delhi-110 016. Price: Rs. 100.

There is a general impression among the educated public, that books on history do not make interesting reading, as they are supposed to contain too many cumbersome details and dates. But the book under review defeats the argument. Prof. Rao carries the readers with him with ease from one event to another. The history of Andhra Pradesh commencing from the Puranic ages of yore and settling down to the present state has been made interesting and readable by the author by scrupulously observing the significant dictum of eschewing irrelevant facts and highlighting the crucial epoch-making, historic events.

The author gives out a short history of Andhras in his introduc­tory chapter, which reveals his capacity of cryptic way of presenting a long history, short and vivid. Precision in language without any show of flourish, an assured web of continuity with quick succession of events, depiction of past in a manner made alive, leaving no significant detail however minute it might seem, are some of the admirable features of this book, enriched and revised in its fourth recurrence.

Starting with the East India Company rule and proceeding through the several facets of Andhra Pradesh the author takes us through the British rule, the birth of Andhra Movement, Andhra in Madras politics, Telangana struggle and the Police Action, the formation of Andhra State, the emergence of Andhra Pradesh. Last but not the least, the appendices on Telugu literature, some eminent Andhras make the book doubly valuable.

The author deserves compliments for bringing out the book, which should be read by one and all eager to know the history of Andhra Pradesh. The printing and get-up of the book are impeccable. The book deserves a place in every library.

K. P. NAIDU

SANSKRIT AND TELUGU

Sandhya Deepika: By Abburi Kalananda Kishore, Bhattiprolu­vari Street. Bhattiprolu. Pin 522256. Price: Rs. 20.

Sandhyavandana is a most sacred and efficacious Upasana bequeathed to us by our ancient sages. The famous Gayatri Mantra, a prayer to the supreme Sakti (or Siva or Vishnu, or Sun God) asking for enlightenment and guiding our thou­ghts in righteous path, is the main part of this daily medita­tion. The author of this translation of all the Mantras, and detailing exposition thereof brings out the significance and rationale behind all the parts of this daily practice. The philo­sophic ground of the Mantras also is made clear. All practical hints and precautions to be observed are also noted. In our knowledge, this is the only exposition in Telugu of this Sandhya practice and Mantras therein serving as a good prac­tical guide also.

B. KUTUMBA RAO

TAMIL

Malligayum Sampangiyum - A Novel: By Purasu Balakrishnan. Tamil Writers Co-operative Society, 710, Big Street, Madras-600 005. Price: Rs. 20.

With a delicate sense of colour harmonies, Purasu Bala­krishnan has sought to juxtapose the flowers jasmine and sampangi, the former all fragrance and purity, the latter heavy ­scented and an image of surrender. Apparently, his intention is to equate the former with Deepa and the latter with Neela. Deepa is a college lecturer, capable, self-possessed, involved in her job as a teacher and researcher. She loves Chidambaram, younger than her by six years. Suddenly bereaved of his parents, Chidambaram draws a little close to Deepa, but this proves to be a temporary move. The deserted Neela with a six-year ­old son wins him in the end but not before a disastrous circus fire in which her son, husband and Deepa perish. Compared to the sombre movement of the tale, the end is heartening. Chidambaram’s enlightened uncle assures him that widow-re­marriage was blessed by the sages in the Rig Veda: “Woman! Come here to this world of living and accept my hand. Be thou wife to the husband. I have taken the bow from the hands of the dead man. Henceforth virility strength, beauty are ours. Let’s be united. Let’s win the world for ourselves.”

As with his earlier short stories and the novel, KaveriKarayile, Purasu Balakrishnan is intent upon creating an atmo­sphere when putting together the story. His professional experience comes in handy for some psychological probings about guilt-complexes. Chidambaram has grown up in a tyrannical household and finds that within fifteen days of his mother’s death, his father has found comfort in the hands of the house­keeper. He attempts to get out of the house, but the shock kills his father. The family doctor lays the blame upon the father’s affair with the housekeeper to allay Chidambaram’s feelings of guilt. Except for the father, every other character in the novel shower their understanding love upon the sensitive young man. He reciprocates the love with transparent sincerity.

Living in our world of small thoughts, it is good to have such novels with a serious import to give a corrective nudge to our actions when we find our elves psychologically disori­ented. Purasu’s characterization of the uncle Saptharishi is a precious gift to the Tamil reading public.

DR. PREMA NANDAKUMAR

TELUGU

Bhagavata Mahatmyamu: A poem by Boyanapalli Venkatacharya, edited by Kapilavayi Lingamurty. Published by K. Krishore Babu, 15-84. Vijayanagar Colony, Kurnool. Price: Rs. 12.

For Hindus, the Ramayana, the Bhagavata and the Gita are especially important because they believe that a reading of these holy books makes the reader derive unlimited religious merit which would help him tide over difficulties in this world and also give him advantage in the after-life. The Bhagavata is usually read in seven sittings on seven consecutive days of a week known as Saptaha (sennight).

The “Bhagavata Mahatmya” is a eulogy of the holy power of Bhagavata Parayana. It contains stories of how men got miraculous advantages through Bhagavata Parayana or even through listening to another making Parayana.

There are more than one Bhagavata Mahatmya in Sanskrit. The usual one prefixed to Sanskrit Bhagavata occurs in Padma­purana. There is another in Skandapurana; still another in the minor Purana Kausika Samhita. The present work derives from Skandapmana.

This is a free re-telling of the stories in a diffuse manner with poetic embellishment which is wanting in the Sanskrit originals. Devotees of Lord Krishna will surely find it rewarding.

The work is cast in the classical mould and style. The author lived in the last part of the last century and the first part of this. Indeed Sri Lingamurty is rendering a great service to Telugu literature by publishing hitherto unpublished works.

“AAGHA-MARSHANA”

Pramukha Vignana Vettalu: By D. Suryanarayana. A. P. Academy of Scientists, Hyderabad-500 007.

Sixty-five short sketches of the lives and achievements of great scientists and philosophers ranging from Hypocrites to James Dewey Watson are brought together in this volume. The author successfully packs many perspectives of the lives of great men, their work and their impact on further activity in a small canvass. The sketches, readable and informative at once, are useful for school boys and undergraduates.

DR. DHARA RAMANADHA SASTRY