Book Reviews

The Philosophical Traditions of India: By P.T. Raju, Motilal Banarsidass, New Delhi - 7. Price: Rs. 175.

In the course of his excellent Introduction, the author mentions how in the West there is a widely enter­tained notion that there is no philoso­phy worth the name in India; what passes for philosophy is some kind of religious mysticism. He takes pains to point out the fact that there is a long­standing tradition in India of meta­physics supported by an elaborate epistemology and logic. Philosophy in India arises from life, keeps close to life unlike in the West where generally it is more an exercise of the mind with little relevance to the life of the com­mon man. Philosophy is indeed closely allied to religion, rather to spiritual experience. No Darshana is admitted unless it is based on some spiritual experience verifiable by others with appropriate means. Further, Dr. Raju explains that systems of philosophy in India have not arisen in a historical order. Most of the schools have origi­nated simultaneously; for they are worked out in answer to the needs and challenges of man’s life which has been very much the same all along.

After discussing the nature and development of Indian Thought, he gives systematic account of the Vedas, the Upanishads, Mimamsa, Charvaka, Jainism, Buddhism, Nyaya, Vaise­shika, Sankhya, Patanjali, Vedanta, Ethical Codes in the Epics and finally contemporary trends which are per­haps too brief. Though he mentions the different schools of Vedanta, he seems to think that broadly Shankara Vedanta represents the spirit of the philosophical mind of India. Inciden­tally, while discussing the concept of Maya, he states that this “mysterious energy is blind, unconscious force, or power.” (P. 178) Certainly he must be aware that Yogic experience and per­ceptions in the Vedic tradition do in­vest this “Energy” with consciousness – Chit-Shakti. It is clear in the Upani­shad that Maya is finitising power, it measures out the Immeasurable, mimite iti maya. There need be nothing mysterious about its nature or origin: it is an inherent power of Brahman and is as real as Brahman is.

The author concludes on a posi­tive note: “Philosophy as philosophy of life is more characteristic of the eastern outlook as a whole than mere artificial, intellectual constructions and reconstructions, however exact in their methods like pure mathematics.” (P.237) He is fully justified in saying that philosophies of life appeal more to the Indian mind than mere analytic philosophies. It is a real pleasure to read this well-argued book and repeat­edly agree with the learned, experi­enced philosopher-author.

M.P. PANDIT

(This review was written by Mr. M. P. Pandit before his passing away)

From Man Human to Man Divine (Sri Aurobindo’s Vision of the Evolu­tionary Destiny of Man): By Jugal Kishore Mukherjee. Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education, Pondicherry. Price: Rs. 80.

Among the philosophers of the twentieth century, Sri Aurobindo is unique because he did not confine himself to arm-chair theorising. As a politician, he witnessed the best and worst man was capable of in this world of human affairs. As a Yogi, he tra­versed all the inner countries of the mind, plunged into the very depths of nescience and ascended the highest heights of spiritual illumination. While his article in Bande Mataram and his dramas dealt with man’s present state, his philosophical treatises and poems posited the future possibilities for man traversing up the evolutionary spiral.

The book under review seeks a logical progression in the seemingly illogical adventure of man whose be­ginnings are shrouded in the hard­core mystery of Matter.

In spite of having gained a men­tal consciousness topped by occa­sional glimmers of the intuitive mind, man is certainly not the supreme crea­ture in creation. Aided by wide and deep reaching, Mukherjee presents the transformist views of Lamarck and Darwin that once and for all put an end to man’s self-pride. Paleontology and “the close similarity in the arms of man and ape (which) shows that our direct ancestors were arm-swing­ing apes, perhaps not very different from the living chimpanzee” (S.L. Washburn) have given clear indica­tions of the origin of man. Neverthe­less, he remains a marvellous product of evolution to this day and is also poised to hear “the flute-call of the future.” How will this future man be?

Scientists cannot foretell the future shape and capabilities of man, but the visionary can, asserts Mukher­jee and presents a clear account of Sri Aurobindo’s philosophical specula­tions in this matter. Without denying the present human conditions and at the same time drawing creative les­sons from our Vedic past, Sri Aurobindo feels that man’s future evolution will receive conscious direc­tion from man himself. Mukherjee presents the ways in which man should prepare himself to assist the evolutionary adventure. Obviously, Yoga is a time-tested way that helps man perfect himself, to move from a many-winged ignorance to an all-embracing knowledge. He gains the su­praphysical sight, paradrk. Thought and speech then follow the illumined mind. Thus man’s inner being stands transformed.

For those who would avoid vain questionings and who would rather set to work, the Aurobindonian Yoga can be of illimitable help for Sri Aurobindo was himself a Yogi, a spiritual centre for experimenting with the higher pos­sibilities.

Jugal Kishore Mukherjee himself has provided an excellent and practi­cal introduction to Sri Aurobindo’s Yoga in this book.

DR. PREMA NANDAKUMAR

Walt Whittman and Rabindranath Tagore - A Study in Comparison: By C.N. Sastry. B.R Publishing Corpora­tion, Delhi. Price: Rs. 120.

Dr. C.N. Sastry, known all over Andhra as “Amarendra”, has been a consistently good researcher and writer. A college teacher with decades of standing in ELT, he always wrote with precision and authority on seri­ous matters. The present work has been a journey without maps, charter­ing the regions of mind common to the visionaries of the orient and the occident. Both Tagore and Whitman have been modern in the very best sense of the term. Dr. Sastry brings out the best in both the subjects of his study and makes a comprehensive and con­vincing comparison. At the factual level the study provides the chronolo­gies of the life and work of both the poets. The subsequent eleven chapters delve the depths of the minds and hearts of the two intellectual poets. These open up vistas of the author’s extensive understanding of their achievement.

The universals of poetry – spon­taneity, transcendental love for crea­tion, the Upanishadic adoration for the creator and His handiwork, Na­ture, in its myriad glories, an unswerv­ing faith in human endeavour and a quest for excellence in imaginative expression characterize these two cos­mic poets.

One is sure to be convinced that the scholar, himself (who, unfortu­nately, is no more amidst us now) shared the vision of the seers – vates sacer was Carlyle’s term in his Hero as man of letters – with his own in­sight.

DR. V.V.B. RAMA RAO

Animal Welfare and Nature: Hindu Scriptural Perspectives: By G. Naga­nathan, A publication of the Centre for Respect of Life and Environment, a division of the Humane Society of the United States of America. Price not stated. Copies can be had from the Theosophical Society, Madras - 20.

In this booklet Mr. Naganathan who worked for the Information and Broadcasting Ministry of the Govern­ment of India, in the Engineering Wing of the All India Radio, gathers, out of inveterate concern and deep study of the classical literature of India, gems of truth, of eternal validity and universal applicability, about animal welfare and Nature as contained in the scrip­tural writings and sayings of the Rishis of old whose solicitude for all created beings and for their continued welfare was an article of faith and a testament of compassion surpassing every other known human sentiments. The equality of all creatures of God, the immanent and the transcendent, without distinctions of their status in the evolutionary scale or their utilitar­ian aspects in the Cosmic scheme, is stressed with copious quotations from the Upanishads, the Bhagavadgita and the Puranas, spotlighting the many dark corners in human behaviour and attitude to Nature and her bounty, the beautiful flora and the enchanting fauna, the invulnerable ecological balance and environmental purity and integrity.

The benedictory “Saanti” mes­sage, the culminating wish expressed in every important Vedic hymn, is brought to the fore focussing the at­tention of one and all on the impera­tive necessity of harmony and peace reigning throughout the world of creation, not only for maintaining the bal­ance of nature but mainly for the perpetual well being of all living organisms in these decadent times when the global cohesion is itself threatened by gigantic destructive forces unleashed through demoniac powers of the atom.

POTHUKUCHI SURYANARAYANA MURTHY

The Role of Tamil Poets in Freedom Struggle: By P. Gomathinayagam. Mukil Pathippagam, Rajapalayam. Price: Rs. 30.

The book based on the disserta­tion by the author for his M. Phil. Degree of the Madurai Kamaraj Uni­versity, deals with the lives and patri­otic inspiration of great poets in Tamilnadu during the turbulent times of the freedom struggle. As Prof. S. Manickam, his guide and Professor of the University, has observed in his commendatory foreword, the author has given a brief and interesting ac­count of some of the leading poets of modern Tamilnadu whose revolution­ary writings strengthened India’s his­toric struggle for freedom -  Subrah­manya Bharati. V.O. Chidambaram, Kavimani Desiga Vinayagam. Na­makkal Kavignar Ramaligam, Kaviyogi Suddhananda Bharati, Bharatidasan, Jeevanandam and Tiru V. Kaly­anasundaram. Giving the biograpnical details about the poets, the author de­scribes their part in the freedom movement, inspiring their compatriots with a stirring spirit of patriotism and yearning for Independence from the foreign yoke.

As usually dissertations for de­gree abound in, this book also con­tains information loosely packed and not organised well. There are many avoidable solecisms, printing errors and repetitions – probably owing to hasty preparation and printing of the textual matter without careful revi­sion.

POTHUKUCHI SURYANARAYANA MURTHY

Jnanakkavi Ramalingar: By Purasu Balakrishnan. National Book Trust, Green Park, New Delhi - 110 016. Price: Rs. 21.

As Purasu Balakrishnan rightly says, Ramalingar (1823-1874) was a Buddha of our times. He was insightful, meditative, one who had rejected the baits of the world, a Sadhaka of the metta bhavana. His metta (Maitri: Friendship) was extended even to plants and creepers. Ramalingar was a tremendous personality of India’s 19th century renaissance. Purasu Balakrishnan, was among the first to dis­seminate widely an account of Ramalingar’s life and ministry through an English biography for National Book Trust.

Since Purasu Balakrishnan is a fine writer in Tamil as well, his trans­lation reads like an original work. We learn of the effortless ease with which Ramalingar acquired a mastery of tra­ditional Tamil poetry and himself be­came a fine poet. His intense spiritual nature no doubt granted him occult powers but Ramalingar was more in­terested in the Satiya Dharuma Salai, a free kitchen that is still feeding the poor, the hungry and the homeless at Vadalur near Chidambaram.

In an effort to help man build a direct bridge to the Divine unhindered by obscurantist traditionalism and blind ritualism, Ramalingar founded the Samarasa Sudha Sanmarga Satya Sangham. He initiated the worship of a glowing lamp for this purpose as the symbol could easily connect the individual soul with the Supreme.

Purasu Balakrishnan’s homage is a gem that brings illumination for all those who are interested in our heritage as well as in individual Sadhana.

DR. PREMA NANDAKUMAR

Flowers and Their Messages: By The Mother. Fourth Newly Revised Edition, 1992. Sri Aurobindo Ashram Publica­tion Department. Pondicherry. Price: Rs. 125.

Flower is a fragrant rainbow; flower is a visual song; flower is a celestial dream materialised over the terrestrial globe and eventually flower is a flower because it is an embodi­ment of pure living enchantment of cosmic life.

Since time immemorial the flower has been held in great esteem, admiration and adoration; it has been deemed as an object of inspiration and illumination both for secular and sacred pursuits of man. It is an ephemeral manifestation of the eter­nity unmanifest.

The present volume contains not the flowers but the forms of the flow­ers. The form of an object is different from the object it represents. The pic­ture of a mountain is not the mountain it depicts. Thus a book does not contain the objects but the forms of the objects. The object is tactile while its form is visual.

This “Flowers and their mes­sages” contains eight hundred pic­tures of flowers done in line and mass, in black and white, except four in colour. The pages in the book con­tain not merely the charm of the forms but the calm of words as well. The profundity of thought and feeling is the semi-abstract expression emerged from the Mother inspired occasionally by Sri Aurobindo’s aesthetico-intellec­tual effulgence.

The Mother’s penetrating de­scriptions and statements regarding the enchanting floral splendour are unique both in phraseology and ideo­logy. The Mother’s subtle awareness of each flower in its scientific and aes­thetic aspects, in its structural and functional variations is immensely profound.

She is, never tired of enthusias­tically answering the queries of inquisitive aspirants about flowers of innumerable shapes, colours and fra­grances.

One aspirant asks, “Sweet Mother, what should we do with the flowers which you give us every day?” She answers, “Flowers? You ought to keep them as long as they are fresh, and when they are no longer so, you must collect them and give them to the gardener (any gardener you know), so that he can put them in the earth to produce other flowers. Yes, one must give to the earth what it has given us, for otherwise it will become poor”.

The approach in the question as well as the answer is pragmatic, in­stead of physical. Apart from this sort of approach there are several other sorts of approaches in dealing with the flowers in this volume.

The drawings of the flowers are beautiful, while the Mother’s words are wise; and thus beauty and wisdom embrace each other in this volume. Perpetual beauty and conceptual thought penetrate into each other.

Indeed this is a rare volume – a volume that displays the synthesis of word and form: word emanating out of Silence and form emerging out of the void. On the pretext of dealing with flowers the Mother deals with many a thing other than flowers. Thus in this glowing volume one finds philosophy, science, mysticism, aestheticism, art, psychology and many a finer thing that belongs to the physical and psy­chical alike.

DR. SANJIV DEV

Elements’ of Astrology for the Busy Person: By Prof. S. Krishna Rao. The Institute of Education, Culture and Development. 2-1-408/3. University Road, Nallakunta, Hyderabad - 500 044. Price: Rs. 55.

“Elements of Astrology for the Busy Person” written by Prof. S. Krishna Rao is an excellent introduc­tion to the science of Astrology. The learned author exhibits all his pedagogical skills in clearly and succinctly presenting the relevant facts of Astro­logy without burdening the “busy” reader with unnecessary details which are not useful to him at all, unless he indulges in recondite scholarly discus­sions. The book satisfies the crying need of the hour.

The conversational method fol­lowed by the experienced author goes to the very core of the mind of the reader without beating around the bush with a lot of verbiage. Though both the Niryana and the Sayana sys­tems are presented and explained in the book, in a way comparatively, the author’s preference to the Sayana system and his fervent appeal in its favour and forceful advocacy of the same should be given due considera­tion by the traditional astrologers, perhaps in their own and in their clients’ interest. After all, the taste of the pudding is in its eating.

Among the unique features of the book special mention may be made of – his considering the ascendant degree as the Centre of the first house, his clear exposition of the role of the fixed stars, his interpretation of the aspects of Rahu and Ketu, and above all, his modifying the Hindu Dasa System so as to enable him to assign places for the “new” planets – Uranus, Neptune and Pluto – also with­out exceeding the total “predictive Time Frame” of 120 years! In the light of the last mentioned, Part VI of the book “Traditional Indian Astrology – “A Modem Orientation” assumes great significance in the over all content of the book. We may say without fear of contradiction that this part of the book is the real contribution of the author to the science of Modern Astrology.

DR. K. VEERABHADRA RAO

TELUGU

Atma Darsanamu: By Dr. K.V. Raghavacharya, Gandhinagar, Tenali - ­522 201. Price: Rs. 14.

“Ko Addhaa Veda ka iha Pravochat”: Who knows the origin of this creation and who can tell it? This is the query found in the Rigveda. Wherefrom did this variegated uni­verse originate? Wherein does it end? What was at the beginning of this creation? What is Atman? What is Paramatman? How are these three related to each other? What is true and what is false? What is bliss? What is bondage and what is meant by liberation? Is Moksha possible in this world? What are the means for attain­ing Moksha? What is the source of this so-called evil? Questions like these perplexed the minds of the an­cient seekers after Truth. They contemplated and found the answers. They were recorded in what are known as Upanishads in Sanskrit language. Readers eager to know the answers should read this book which gives a clear and vivid knowledge of the sci­ence of the soul according to Sri San­kara. We see before us a teacher who digested and knows the subject he is teaching and who knows how to drive home the main point to the stu­dent in a simple language, without technical jargon. He himself, while for presenting the subject, raises the pos­sible doubts that may arise and dis­pels them, with reason, logic and au­thority.

Subtle things are explained with the help of suitable and illustrative stories, anecdotes and occurrences of daily experience. “Adhyasa” the main plank of Sankara’s Advaita is made easily understandable. Explanation and elaboration of the three stages ­– waking, dreaming and deep slumber – are par excellence. How to prove that Atman and Paramatman are identical? Is it possible to see Atman in all? How are we benefitted by it? Ready answers are found here. Read­er’s would become tranquil and en­lightened and would recommend this to others also.

B.K. SASTRY

Agnisudha: By Sudhama. Sakhi Kumari Prachuranalu, 164-11-310/9/1, Salimnagar Colony, Malakpet, Hyderabad - 500 036. Price: Rs. 20.

            Agnisudha is out and out mod­ern in form and content. “Sudhama” is a reputed poet. The thirty-six free ­verse compositions published in vari­ous journals exemplify the poet’s sincerity, depth of thought and discursive philosophy. While Sudhama has a deep commitment for the best of human values, he does not appear to sloganise any of the ‘isms’ as such and that perhaps adds a new poetic dimen­sion to his thoughts. Fine style, at once poignant and chiselled, an organ­ised thought pattern, a laudable phi­losophy of life, and searching enquiry into the hidden ramparts of man’s mind make Agnisudha a thoroughly readable work with a sense of muse that lingers on and on.

DR. DHARA RAMANADHA SASTRY

Cheekatlo Kaanti Rekhalu: By Dr. Antati Narasimham, Samahi Sahiti, 4, Santosh Aprts., Santoshnagar, Mehdi­patnam, Hyderabad - 28. Price: Rs.35.

This is a novel based on social consciousness. The author has been personally committed to the emancipa­tion of disadvantaged sections of the society, particularly Harijans. He is a firm believer in the abolition of caste system in the Hindu society to eradi­cate untouchability. He advocates cross-culture or inter-caste marriages as workable antidotes for this evil practice.

To communicate his thoughts effectively he chose to write many a novel, short stories, plays and poems. One of his earliest successful novels, Aadarsham contained the same theme. He argues in all his creative literary writings a kind of socio-legal reforms to liberate millions of down­trodden people.

The book under review has set in a situation that existed in the years of India’s freedom struggle which the seeds for emancipation of the disad­vantaged sections. i.e., the Harijans, was sown by Mahatma Gandhi. The plot in this novel revolves round Sashi and Kanta Rao, the two chief charac­ters. The inspiring character in the novel is Dasupantulu. Police Officer Rajarao and his wife Ranee Basant help the hero Kanta Rao and his spouse Sashi to grow. There are Seenu, the son of the Police Officer, another Police Officer Sundararamayya and his daughter Kalyani, an young teacher Durganand and his students Achari, Bhavani, Chayadevi, Nagamani, Sarma and others complete the cast in the novel.

In the story, Dasupantulu, a staunch communist, influences Kanta Rao for social work such as imparting literacy skills to the downtrodden people living in a Harijanwada. Kanta Rao was arrested for his communist ideology. Later, during Quit India Movement he takes shelter in the house of the Police Officer. Seenu protects Kanta Rao and thereafter, he lives with Rajarao’s family. Sundara­ramayya. Rajarao’s successor in Police Department, too takes care of Kanta Rao. During freedom movement, the upper castes actively participated in Gandhi’s constructive programme of abolition of untouchability. Dasupan­tulu after release from jail actively participates in the freedom struggle. He found leadership potential in Kanta Rao and desires to develop him. Later, he has been drawn to Telangana peas­ants’ uprising. During this time, he comes into contact with Sashi, the landlord’s daughter of upper caste, by rescuing her from molestation. Then onwards, she looks upon Dasupantulu and Kanta Rao as her role models. Thus Sashi gets close emotionally during college days and proposes to marry. However, Kanta Rao on grounds of social status declines. Each gets into an argument. The author presents here all his social philoSophy and how the bad caste systemt deve­loped over the centuries. In the narration, the author chooses Saanta (Peace) and Veera (virile) Rasas spicing, with Sringara Rasa in the love episode of Shaahi and Kanta Rao. Thus Cheekatlo Kaanti Rekhalu which means “Rays of Hope in Darkness” is a unique attempt and the author deserves congratulations for pioneering this genre of Dalit literature in Telugu.

BUDDIGA SUBBAMYAN