Book Reviews

ENGLISH

THE PSYCHIC KNOT - SEARCH FOR TOLERANCE IN INDIAN FICTION: Edited by Prof. R.K. Singh. Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad and Published by Bahari Publications, New Delhi. Price Rs. 300/-­

The present book is a compilation of review articles by critics and writers who discuss the psycho-social concerns of Indians placed in the matrix of global context as well as in their local conditions as depicted by the novelists and short­ story writers studied by them. In this changing world of shrinking frontiers, life has been growing more and more complex. With this ground in view the Indian writers have portrayed the life and aspirations, the sense and sensibilities, the ideals and compulsions unravelling the psychic knot that binds the mind, thought and actions of the characters in their works.

The reviews reflect the intellectual and inter­racial relationships among Hindu. Muslim, Christian and foreign communities, the resonance’s and desonances of conflict and resolution of this cross-section of Indian community in its inter-personal and intrapersonal relationships in the national and international situational contexts, adjusting, accommodating, compromising and sharing, transcending the internal and external barriers of the web of life.

A strong strain of tolerance, which is characteristic of Indian life and thought, is shown in the reactions and responses of the people to the dynamics of technological globalisation by the creative writers in their works.

The contributors, twenty in number, collectively present an ensemble of new values, orientations and attitudes that make up the current style of life and living, its rewards and struggles through the experiences of the characters covering a period of more than half a century as depicted in the works under review from R. K. Narayan and Raja Rao down to the writers of recent times.

Prof. R. K. Singh, the editor, sets the tone with his brief but comprehensive editorial and the lead-­review. The reviewers make an objective and critical study of the meaning of life in the face of cruelties and atrocities perpetrated by man on man, by man on woman in the society portrayed through the characters and situations in the novels and short stories analysed by them.

This book will be of great help to the students of modern Indian English fiction and short story providing them with a broad as well as a deep perceptive look at the problems dealt with by the novelists and short story writers over the years in the Indian context. The small print and the close lines (about forty a page) are a strain to the eye. The binding does not go well for a library edition.

–D. Ranga Rao

“CLOUDS IN CAGES”: Poems by Dr. I. H. Rizvi; Prakash Book Depot. Bara Bazar, Barielly. 243003: Rs. 75/-; pp 36

This is the 8th volume of collection of poems written by Dr. I. H. Rizvi, a noted writer in English and Urdu of U.P. containing 35 of his poems and a few haikus. His poems are rich in imageries and draw clear word pictures with great ease. He has a heart that responds to the myriad events in life in various moods. This naturally makes the poems eminently readable and sentiments appealing.

He sums up his writing in one line
­“When Rizvi writes, he bleeds”.

He may not always bleed. But he is certainly moved by the injustices in life. Writing of Diana, he says ­

“O, Paparazzi pack!
you wanted her to stop and fall.
She has fallen into the lap
of timeless immortality - ­
Which dungeon, for yourself, you choose?”

Who does not agree with such sentiments?

“Some times they (the clouds) hang in the balance
            held between the earth and the sky
            like birds strayed firm their flock..”

To keep the purity of the Ganges at Rishikesh, he subtly brings out the ludicrousness ­

            “One may wash one’s own sins, not one’s clothes”.

The writer certainly makes you pause and think when he says things like “Philosophies are wisemen’s follies”

A good reading of a good poet.

- Vemaraju Narasimha Rao

RIVER OF RECOLLECTION: by K. Lakshminarayana (Poems): Inner Voice Publications. Church Road, Principal’s Colony. Parlakhemundi 761 200; Rs. 35/- pp. 42

This collection of poems has some thought ­provoking poetry from the pen of Sri K. Lakshminarayana, a teacher by profession. Some are highly evocative and emotive. In “My friend in Paradise” an elegy on the death of one of his students he pours out his heart and say

“You emptied the ship of intimacy
and loaded it with loneliness”

He pours out his anguish in lines such as

            “I’m a traveller who travels the road to death
who can pour me a cup of love?”

and touches the rampant dowry problem­-

“Woman is born free even in pains
But everywhere in dowry chains.

At times he takes liberties with words like “Ablazing dreams” and “upsurge prize” and “umpteen grievance resulting in vain”.

Though he is pessimistic when he says

“The hanging veils of sorrow
May not be torn by tomorrow;
No cheer in my neighhours to borrow”
he has shades of Shelly when he says

“Summer brings flowers of June”.

An enjoyable reading.

- Vemaraju Narasimha Rao

TELUGU

SAHITI SHAMPA: Editors: Prof. V. V. Ramanadham & K. Srinivasa Rao; V. C. Ramanadham Charitable Trust, Telugu Fine Arts Society, New Jersey, U.S.A.; Rs.30/-; pp 128

This collection ofpoetry, stories, galpikas and literary criticism of Telugu writers of New Jersey is a refreshingly welcome anthology and focuses on the literary efforts of the Telugus settled in the US. Of course, it also includes a couple of local authors. It gives us a glimpse of how the Telugus there keep interacting among themselves and keep the spirit of togetherness, participate in various religious and cultural festivals and gatherings and mix with other families. This is a refreshing contrast on how they behave in their own land. In all these writings, the effort to keep up with the main stream and the current trends in the home country while cherishing the old values is discernible.

This book is thoughtfully divided into four sections - The Kavita Shampa (Poetry); Katha Shampa (Dotry); Galpika Shampa (sketches); and the vyasa Shampa (Poetics). It must be said to the credit of all the contributors that they do exhibit the spark of originality. While some indulge in matter of fact narrative in a lighter vein, a few give their themes a masterly treatment, partaking of the muse.

Oruganti Gopalakrishna’s sketch depicts aspirations of the first generation settler in hoping to get a bride for his son, born and brought up there. He starts with hoping to get a decent and traditionally bred and dressed vaidiki girl to keep up the family tradition; then comes down to a Brahmin girl; later would be satisfied if she is not a non-vegetarian; and would be happy if she at least spoke Telugu; and then further if she is an Indian: and finally, as his son grows up as an Indian-American, would be happy at least if he married a girl. Very suggestive of modern day marriages in that country of progress and plenty!!

Some of the galpikas abound in humour, wit and satire. Parinam Srinivasa Rao lists out the good and undesirable qualities of Telugus everywhere, in a lighter vein, if only they would stop and introspect.

B.A.L. Narayana Rao’s article on ‘Translation’ brings out the various finer points to be kept in mind while attempting to translate from language to another. Maheswara Prasad’s essay on Maghabhatta’s SISUPALAVADHA is Scholarly.

Some poets are proficient in both classical poetry and the free verse, while most prefer the latter for facility of expression. The effort to bring together an anthology of contemporary writers of New Jersey in commendable and is a trend setter. We are sure that the Trust intends publishing such works periodically from time to time.

- Vemaraju Narasimha Rao