Book Reviews

BOOK REVIEWS

“IN SEARCH OF MONU­MENTS” by S.P. Shorey sponsored by INTACH - Hyderabad Chapter. Hydera­bad, Published by Booklinks Corpora­tion, Narayanguda, Hyderabad - 500 029. PP80 - Price Rs. 80

The Hyderabad Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) deserves to be congratulated for having commis­sioned this Atlas of Hyderabad’s pro­tected monuments, which is ably exe­cuted by S. P. Shorey, who is an Archi­tect and Town Planner by qualification and Profession.

The Atlas contains the lists of protected monuments by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), by the Archaeological Department of the State Government, list of cairns (heaps of stones piled up) and list of cromlechs (circles of upright stones built in ancient limes), giving the ground plans and routes to reach such monu­ments, when any person interested in visiting them may locate and reach them without difficulty and identify them. The Atlas also has indicated the list of protected monuments as listed by the State Government, but could not be located by the author. They are. 1. The Akkanna - Madanna Temple (Kukatpally) 2. Hindu Temple in Patancheruvu and 3. Remains of the Jain Temple in Patancheruvu.

One more significant table in the Atlas is the list of Historical monu­ments, buildings, structures and spe­cial monuments which deserve to be included in the list of protected monuments. In fact, it is this list which is more purposeful because any struc­ture which is more than 100 years old only qualifies to be designated as a protected monument; Since these structures are less than 100 years old, or are not declared as protected monuments by law, face the ugly risk of being pulled down by the builders to make way for the flats in the land­hungry metropolis. This is a timely caution to the State Government to take urgent action for protecting the national heritage, by declaring them as protected monuments.

Though this is not a book of History, it serves as a useful tool for understanding the history of Qutubshahis and the Asaf Jahis. This Atals will be very useful to the enthu­siastic teachers of History in the Schools so that they can explain the significance of the monuments to the school children when they are taken on study tours to the places of histori­cal interest in and around Hyderabad city and adjoining districts. It will be good if the INTACH takes up similar ventures in all the districts of Andhra Pradesh so that the general public is made aware of such historical struc­tures of national interest.

Dr. B. P. Rao

Tamil translation of “NALA­DIYAR” - Translated by T. Srinivasan and Chandrika Rajamohan - Shanthi Publishers, 5, Sripuram II Street, Royappetah, Madras - 600 014. Price: Rs. 5.

“Naladiyar”, one of a group of eighteen Tamil classics of the Sangam literature period, is an antidote to mankind’s ills. It has a perennial rele­vance, and its relevance is greater today than ever, when man rushes headlong towards self-destruction in the height of his unwisdom. Some­times, it is dilectic, sometimes, it is remonstrative, sometimes, it is satirical, and it is a guide and a corrective. Its simple verses are as simple and terse as the verses of Tirukkural. Composed by a number of Jain saints and compiled by Pandumanar it con­tains the quintessence of the Vedas and the Upanishads. Sad it is that it is a work of verses of four lines. Nala­diyar has four hundred verses which have been divided into forty chapters, and like Tirukkural, it treats of ethical code, it addresses itself to people in diverse situations, to people as differ­ent as kings and house holders, as different as teachers and administra­tors, enjoining on them their duties.

The very first invocatory verse sets the tone for the entire work bring­ing about an atmosphere of philoso­phy as it emphasises the evanescent nature of our lives. The first chapter of ten verses is on the evanescence of wealth, and each verse pokes fun at the greed of man who is the embodi­ment of selfishness. Each verse elo­quently proves how demeaning is greed! A verse says: “The Lord had decreed that each man should live for a particular period. No one can live beyond his allotted time escaping from the clutches of Yama. He who has money, realising that the very next day, conches and drums may an­nounce his death in his house, should distribute it to the poor”.

The chapter on renunciation is a metaphysical inquiry revealing the high spiritual aspirations of man in quest of everlasting bliss. The essence of all literature and philosophy is the very ancient but ever - valid principle of righteousness in human conduct. The moral and ethical codes which are found inexpedient in modern function­ing are ignored. Saints, scholars and poets are in society now and then to warn us of the impending collapse of the moral order resulting from our unwisdom. The verses of renunciation written by Tamil Jain saints are full of sublime wisdom. Herein echo and re-echo the voices of the saints of the Vedic age. The true progress which is spiritual progress denoted the soul’s freedom from the cramping worldly bondage, and this truth is stressed again and again not only in this chap­ter but elsewhere in many places. A verse says: “Sins will flee from a man who does penance, just as darkness flees from the place where light spreads”. Another verse says: “He who is wise, realising that life is fleeting, that we will suffer in old age, diseased, and die, should meditate on God even from a young age”.

On the need for the careful selec­tion of friends a verse says: “Without analysing the character of a person don’t befriend him: if you find him unworthy of friendship as he does not have the qualities of love and humility, the hallmark of a good and great man, it is like being scared by a snake in a box when you open it in the hope of taking some sandal-paste from it for applying to your body”. Each verse of the work outdoes the other in pinpo­inting the frailties of man, in leading him from the slush of ignorance to enlightenment.

Naladiyar is testimony to the great intellectual and spiritual heights of divine man. Naladiyar has the wis­est maxims, rarest counsels, loftiest truths. The translators have done a wonderful job in popularizing, a great work which in tone and tenor admira­bly compares with Tirukkural.

R. Sundaresan

ENGLISH

GAYATRI: By Sadguru Sant Kesavadas, Motilal Banarsidas P. Ltd., Delhi - 7. Price: Rs. 30.

“Sandhyavandanam” a happy combination of Hatha, Mantra and Raja yoga, and Gayatri, considered to be the holiest of all Vedic Mantras, is prescribed to Hindus, for daily prac­tice. The author explains the signifi­cance of all the rites involved in Sandhya Vandanam. All the relevant Mantras are given in Sanskrit in Roman script and their meanings in English. Process of Pranayama, Arghya and meditation, etc., is ex­plained. Symbolism of Gayatri, its relation to physical elements, six chakras, presiding deities, etc., are presented in charts. Beautiful pictures of Gayatri adorn the book and are inspiring. Purushasookta with its meaning is also included. Anyhow an interested reader would like to know in greater detail, the relationship that is said to exist between the Pu­rushasookta and Gayatrimantra:

“KASHYAPA”

THE HIDDEN FORCES OF LIFE: Compiled from the works of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother Sri Au­robindo Ashram, Pondicherry, Price: Rs.45.

Divided into eight sections, with the titles - Life through the Eye of the Yogin, Hidden Forces within Hidden forces around: Cosmic and Universal Forces; Occult Forces; Hidden worlds and Evolutionary Forces; Spiritual Forces of Help and Succour; and Life a Mass of vibrations - this thought pro­voking work, not only explains the nature of various forces, but also pro­vides a practical guide in relation to both helpful as well as deleterious forces. Answers by the Mother to the questions like - How can one draw on the universal vital force. on what do our physical reserves depend, are of practical guidance. Answers regarding magic, miracles and occult powers, etc., explain their deleterious nature. Sri Aurobindo’s words “Our fate and our temperament have been built by our own will and our own will can alter them are in agreement with the teaching of Yoga Vasistha and are worth noting by the critics of Hinduism. Sri Aurobindo’s view about divine grace is very striking.

Readers can draw solace from the statement “The manifestation of the supramental upon earth is no more a promise but a living fact, a reality. It is at work here and a day will come, when the most blind, the most unconscious, even the most unwilling, shall be obliged to recognise it”.

“KASHYAPA”

SCATTERED LEAVES (poems): By Mahanand Shanna, Ashutosh Praka­shan, Shiva Kutir, D-29, Shastri Nagar, Meerut, U.P. Price: Rs. 50.

There are some academics who do not fade away with retirement. Mahanand Sharma is an educationist of high repute who continues to be active long after he laid down his office as a Professor. He is a distinguished poet in Sanskrit, English, Urdu and Hindi. His A Rudraksha Rosary (1987) presents in 12 Books of Miltonic blank verse several episodes from the Shiva Purana. Another long poem of Sharma is A Spiritual Warrior (1991) which re­tells the saga of Bhishma.

Sharma can handle the short lyric also with felicity. Scattered Leaves has several facets. Spontane­ous lyricism takes shape as “Mirage” and “A Lament”. Simple words, a gentle heart and a moralistic view of life put us at ease. So too the poet’s devotional consciousness that gives the meaningful sonnet, “To Guru Nanak”. Like Amrita Pritam, Sharma also prays for Nanak’s reincarnation” to purge and cure this world that’s waiting for its dirge.”

However, Sharma is not always cocooned in his private world. There are topical poems that reveal the fes­tering sores in the nation’s body poli­tic. As a Professor with several decades of experience in the grooves of acad­emy, Sharma is particularly powerful and successful when attacking the moral turpitude of academics.

“The universities were battle fields
Of swelling vanities, jealousies deep,
Ambitions high and lusts for pow’r,
Which clashed and bred the dons’ intrigues.”

Alas! Mahanand Sharma is but speaking the bare harsh, unvarnished truth!

Dr. Prema Nandakumar

HINDI

PARAPAARIJAAT: Poems in Hindi translation - by K.V. Sankara Subrahmanyam (published by the Translator at Sri Sai Sadanam, Behind Canara Bank, Cantonment, Bellary­583104. Price not mentioned.

In his introduction to these verses in translation (from English, Telugu and Sanskrit), Sankara Subrahmanyam approvingly quotes the saying: “Translation is like a wife, not beautiful if faithful, and not faith­ful if beautiful.” However, his own claim that he has attempted to make the translations sakht anusrut (strictly faithful) is difficult to concede.

Translating poetry is more difficult than translating fiction or prose passages. But, truly, Subrahmanyam has a good command over Sankskri­tised Hindi and he deserves apprecia­tion for providing originals in English, Telugu and Sanskrit alongside the translations.

The translations of the different stanzas in the long poem ‘Elegy’ by Thomas Gray convey the totality of meanings, of course with varying de­grees of success. These free transla­tions are beautiful. Translation of stanza 20 which talks about a passer­by having a “tribute of a sigh” is very good, while those of the stanzas 11 and 13 are satisfactory. With regard to stanzas 12 and 15, Subrahmanyam has introduced characters from Indian mythology/literature/politics in places where Gray had referred to “Some village Hampden”, “some mute inglo­rious Milton” and “Cromwell”.

The touching emotions in “On his blindness” by John Milton are reflected in the translation as well, but in a somewhat ‘freer’ and lengthier fashion.

The translation of Arthur Hugh Clough’s “Say not the struggle not availeth” is generally good, but for the second stanza.

For “Elegy on Thryza” by Lord Byron, one again finds smooth-flowing translation. Subrahmanyam has somewhat compressed the ideas of the original, especially in the last stanza which includes the lines: “The All of thine that cannot die/Through dark and dread Eternity/Retums again to me.”

Out of the 108 verses in the “Sumati Satakam” said to have been composed in Telugu by Baddena (Pe­riod not stated), Subrahmanyam has given us translations for twentyfive. Since this reviewer cannot read Tel­ugu, he had necessarily to go by the manner of presentation of the ideas in Hindi, which is satisfactory. Certain ideas (or suggestions of the poet) are appealing: (a) one should discard even gods who stay unmoved while one faces a crisis (verse 2), (b) Don’t prolong discussions with ladies; and with children, have no friendship of disputationists (verse 16) and (c) one’s own misery is one’s hell (verse 18).

As for the 25 poems by Vemana (end of 17th/beginning of 18th cen­tury), also originally written in Telugu, Subrahmanyam’s translation is quite readable, and flowing. However, some of the stanzas make for heavy reading, and are difficult to comprehend, may be because the words used are not in common parlance.

The translator does not tell us anything about the authorship of the 25 verses included in “Subhashitani” -- one learns they are by different authors. One finds certain verses particularly interesting, and thought-pro­voking; e.g. (a) Only the weak goats are sacrificed to the gods, and not the horse nor elephant nor the lion. Do gods also kill the weak? (Verse 1): and (b) people generally enquire about our well-being and ask, “how are you?” Every passing moment reduces our life-span. How are we to respond? (verse 21) .

It is rarely that one finds retired government officials taking interest in literary matters, especially in translations involving one’s own mother-­tongue, English and Hindi, and do it with dedication, and so efficiently. May the tribe of Sankara Subrahmanyams increase!

V. Subramanian

SONGS OF TYAGARAJA: English rendering of selected compositions by M. Padmanabham. Published by Kumji, P-536, Raja Basanta Roy Road, Calcutta - 700 029. Price: Rs. 10.

In this small book, M. Padmanabham has published his English rendering of some kritis of the saint-composer and one of the trinity of Carnatic music, Sri Tyagaraja Swamy, with devotion. The content of each composition is no doubt, pro­jected in its essence but one only won­ders how the lilt of the originals and the deep devotional aspect of Tyaga­raja’s outpourings of heart in concen­tration on his Lord Rama could be brought about in translation (in whatever language). Of course, we cannot expect it. But to those who are totally unacquainted with Tyagaraja’s songs, this booklet gives an introduc­tion of the immortality of the musical creations of the great saint-composer, though not exactly expressive of the melody and the meaning of each Kriti in its multi-faceted glory and nuances of emotional efflorescence. The author may take satisfaction in discharging a debt ofhis gratitude to the supreme master of carnatic music.

Pothukuchi Suryanarayana Murthy

A LONELY DISCIPLE (Monograph on T. Subba Row, 1856-90: By N. C. Ramanujacharya published by the Theosophical Publishing House, Adyar, Madras, India: Wheaton. Illi­nois, U.S.A. Price not mentioned.

Among the Indian leaders of the Theosophical Movement which was started originally on November 17, 1875 by Madame Blavatsky and Col. Olcott, Sri T. Subba Row in Madras was a leading light whose erudition and knowledge ofesoteric philosophy were amazing for his age (it was unfortunate he lived only for thirty-­four years) and he was acclaimed for his outstanding merits. He had a suspicion that the Occidental philoso­phies and their propagators were out to stil1e and overshadow the effulgence and the significance of the oriental lore in its many facets, and also to run down the importance of the saints and seers of our country. He had ideologi­cal differences with Madame Balvat­sky, the supremo of the Theosophical society herself, and openly expressed them with a disarming candour and dignified frankness, to the great cha­grin of the disciples and embarrass­ment ofthe master.

Mr. Ramanujacharya, a devoted scholar in the field of theosophy, has projected the puissant personality and the extraordinary abilities, spiritual and other, of the precocious savant and seer, Sri Subba Row, in this short compass of the few pages, with clarity and in respectful homage to the de­parted soul. This book is a fitting trib­ute to the wisdom of Subba Row and his capabilities as also his staunch independence of outlook and thought.

Pothukuchi Suryanarayana Murthy

“HYDERABAD - 400: SAGA OF A CITY” Editor: Dr. K.S.S. Seshan. Published for and on behalf of the Association ofBritish Council Schol­ars, Andhra Pradesh Chapter, Hydera­bad, by Booklinks Corporation, Narayanguda, Hyderabad - 500029. PP. 137: Price: Rs. 90

“Hyderabad - 400: Saga of a city” is a record of the papers presented at “Hyderabad - 400 years” Seminar organised by the Hyderabad Chapter of the Association of British Council Scholars (ABCS) in September, 1991 as part of the Quadricentinnial Cele­brations of Hyderabad city. The specialty of this Seminar was that it has attracted papers from knowledgeable scholars from India and abroad. This publication contains, besides “Message from the Deputy High Commis­sioner, British High Commission, Madras, a Foreword by the Director, British Council Division, Madras, and the preface by the Vice-Chancellor, Central Institute of English and For­eign Languages. Hyderabad, fifteen informative papers on the different historical aspects of the city and State of Hyderabad. However none of the papers delved into the annals of the distant past, not certainly of the situ­ation or events of 1591, except for the reference to the fact that the city was initially founded in that year.

Yet there are illuminating glimpses of the historical incidents involving Hyderabad, both the city largely, and the State generally. Among the 15 contributors, (including the Editor) JPL Gwynn, a former I.C.S. Officer who had the distinction of being the only Britisher who had stayed on in Madras Presidency and later on in Andhra State and Andhra Pradesh, suggested that ancient houses and private places of historical interest in and around Hyderabad should be declared as national monu­ments and made to generate funds to provide for their maintenance. V. K. Bawa, a retired IAS. officer wrote a detailed and analytical paper on the Constitutional and Administrative structure of Hyderabad State and pointed out how it had collapsed in the middle of the twentieth century. I. P. Gupta, basing his paper on the contemporary events, discussed in the accounts given by European and Per­sian travellers, dilated on the evolving of the Composite Dakhni Culture.           

Similarly, K.S.S. Seshan detailed the events described by French travel­lers and described the situation pre­vailing in the city and in the other places visited by him. Mr. Radhakrishna Sharma and Mustafa K Shervani discussed the evolution and development of Hyderabadi culture. V.V. Krishna Sastry and S.P. Shorey wrote about the historical buildings of archeological interest, particularly of ­the Qutub Shahi structures. Afzal Mohaumad wrote on the socio-economic structure ofHyderabad city, its growth in area, population, demography and a few economic indicators, more from the contemporary point of view than of historical.

C. J. Ernest wrote on the plan­ning perspective of Hyderabad city, once again from the current day per­spectives. There are two interesting papers - one by Masood Ali Khan on the Growth of Urdu Press and another by Iqbal Muzafar Ahmed on the State Central Library in Hyderabad. Both the papers are very informative. There is a paper by V.H. Desai, who is a freedom fighter giving interesting in­stances of his role and experience during the freedom struggle in the Hyderabad State. Balakothandaraman gave a poetical contribution “In Lighter Vein”.

This book is an interesting addi­tion to the other publications brought out to celebrate the 400 years of the founding of old Bhagyanagar and modern Hyderabad. It is to be hoped that, having been endowed with the resources and competence, the ABCS will take up similar projects to high­light the art and culture of the other locations in Andhra Pradesh.

Dr. B.P. Rao

STORY TELLERS, SAINTS AND SCOUNDRELS by Kiran Narayan, Price Rs. 100/-, Publications: Motilal Banarsi Das Private Limited, Jawahar Nagar, Delhi - 110 007.

This invaluable work     under review, a winner of the Victor Turner Prize and also Clews Parson’s prize for folk-lore in 1990, is the first Indian edition, Ancient Hindu fables and stories narrated by a genuine sanyasin to his devotees that thronged around him, from all quarters of the world, are recorded here with notes added to them by the author. These narration having moral and spiritual aroma of their own, had a therapeutic value, in that, they contributed to the mental and spiritual solace of the ardent devotee-listeners. “Hell and Heaven”, “Loin cloth and Celibacy”, “False gu­rus and gullible disciples”, and “Death and Laughter” are some of the titles of the contents, a keen study of which will be highly rewarding. Maxims that have practical bearing in our day to day life, as for example “Every thing is for our good”, “Laxmi leaves those wealthy persons that forgot Narayana”, etc., are illustrated by apt folk tales. Swamiji’s advice, “Go and serve your country. Service to mankind is service to God, but not establishing asramas” has its relevance to all times and climes. I offer my unqualified praise to the author and publishers as well, for bringing out this volume that focuses on the glory and wisdom of Hindu folk-lore.

‘Sandilya’

BRAHMA VIDYA - The Adyar Library Bulletin - Vo1.56/1992. Price Rs. 100/ - Publishers - Adyar Library and Research Centre, The Theosophical Society Adyar, Madras - 600 020.

A good fare of 13 articles on different subjects in Sanskrit Litera­ture collected herein, together with a Sanskrit text viz., “Mayura’s Mayurash­taka”, with an introduction and apparatus criticus, and studies and reviews of about 43 books invite the readers to study them and be abreast of the modem thoughts and recent findings. One scholarly article concludes that Ananda Vardhana was the foreshad­ower of Abhinavagupta’s Rasa-theory and “The concept of Angirasa” was his main contribution to Indian aes­thetics. Interpretations of Panini’s Sutra” Janikarth Prakrith”, accord­ing to Advaitins and other schools of thought in another essay is illuminat­ing. Elucidation of Madhusudana­-Saraswati’s denunciation of Vyasa-­Tirtha’s, views on Avidya is scholastic. The article on the Ancient Indian scribes is an indepth study. Discus­sions on Dharmakirti’s date and “Unrecognised Virodha in some alamkaras” shed fresh light on the subject. Other dissertations on some sanskrit Plays Karma theory, Alamkara Sastra, Mimamsa, Vedanta, and Vedic meditation on Agnihotra have some thing concrete to say and are enlightening. All scholars and re­search students, I believe, will pre­serve this on their book-shelves for reference and study.

B. K. Rao

TARKSANGRAHA: by Annam Bhatta with Bala Priya Sanskrit commentary by Dr. V. Ramanujachary, 13-1-1/53 Sitaram Bagh, Hyderabad ­500 001.

To our knowledge there is no commentary in Sanskrit on Tarka Samgraha, which is upto the standard of excellence achieved here. The com­mentary is Bala Priya. Appendices and the introduction make the text, “Vriddha Priya” also. The reader feels that a teacher of forty years’ experience is expounding a terse technical subject in his engaging chat.

Examples drawn from day-to-day life, for Upadhi Tarka, Pratyaksha etc., drive home the subject to the readers minds. No technical term is left unex­plained in a lucid language (eg. Tad­vatvam, Uddesa, Vyapya, Avacchedaka etc.,) An introduction summarises the history of old and Navya Nyaya sys­tems, and points out the indispensableness of Tarkic knowledge in a fasci­nating manner.

In the appendices, additional information culled from other classical texts including those of Nilakantha and Udayana on many technical points is presented. The differences between Navya and old Nyaya is pointed out. Indian logic is compared and contrasted with Greek and West­ern logic. Passages from other texts are extensively quoted. For a clear and distinct knowledge of Tarka without tears, this is the commentary I recom­mend.

TELUGU

RASOLLASAMU: by Dr. G.V. Subrahmanyam, 1-8-702/105. Nal­lakunta, Hyderabad - 44. Price: Rs. 20.

Coming from the pen of a very bright scholar in the field of applied literary criticism in Telugu, the twelve articles herein throw a fresh flood of light on many topics in literary criti­cism. Anand vardhana declared that Karuna and Santa are the dominant sentiments in Valmiki’s Ramayana and Vyaasa’s Mahabharata. The au­thor viewing from a differentangle, proves and establishes taking into consideration Telugu Mahabharata and Uttara Ramayana also that Dhar­mavira is the predominant sentiment. The reason behind is described elaborately in the first two chapters. The third essay is an analytical exposition and appreciation of Bhishma’s teach­ings to Dharma Raja in the santiparva of the Telugu Mahabharata. The fourth chapter refers to the different schools of thought each of which holds either Sringara or Karuna or Santa or Adbhuta alone as the sole Rasa., and the author shows a basis for a recon­ciliatory approach. The fifth chapter is captioned “Rasaanaam Rasah”. This is his school of thought as against the previous ones discussed in the fourth chapter, his forte and main contribu­tion to the aesthetics.

Taking a clue from the prefixion of the word ‘Dhira’ to the words udaatta, ‘uddhata’  etc he asserts that there is a basic or prakriti, virarasa, apart from the one in the popular nine, as a source to all, and that Dharmavira is the Rasa of Rasas or Rasa par excellence.

A new vision and a fresh per­spective is there all through the book. This is a good guide to applied criti­cism.

Kashyapa