Book Reviews

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MAHASARASWATI - The perennial Spiritual Stream” Dr. Prema Nandakumar, Kalai Avangam N/5, Adyar Apartments, Kottur Gardens, Chennai-600 085; Rs.90/-

Dr. Prema Nandakumar’s book, “MAHASARASWATI” is a mine of unique ideas, reflecting on the presence of the goddess as power of Truth and Inspiration arising from the cosmic consciousness of the Vedic Rishis and flowing down through the many centuried culture of India as the perennial spiritual stream blessing the many saints and singers and poets to the modem times.

Bringing out the association of the goddess with the Vedic Rishis, the author quotes the three Riks by Rishi Viswamitra and then proceeds on to an explanation of the same by Sri Aurobindo.

Dr. Prema Nandakumar quotes the many melocious sounding Sanskrit expressions used by the sage Vasistha, describing the goddess - from Saraswati Suktam in the Rig Veda Samhita.

The goddess is associated with one of the seven rivers that had at one time flowed through India. Hence it is that goddess Saraswati is a deity who flows on like knowledge. The book refers to the many legends connected with the river and Rishis of vedic times.

The author says, “while the Ganges is considered the holiest of rivers, it is surprising that it is Sarawati who occupies Vyasa’s consciousness.”

It was on the banks of Sarawati that Viswamitra performed severe austerities to gain the Brahma Rishi status.

“He realized his aim, and even today his rik is recited by millions as the golden key for spiritual attainments. It is the Gayathri Mantra.”

The author then gives an account of the various Ghats and their importance. The Saraswati cycle in the Mahabharata is a tremendous gift from Vyasa.

Then there are narrations of some legends connected with the various temples of Saraswati.

Goddess Saraswati is worshipped in every Indian household. Great saint musicians like Purandaradasa and Dikshitar have sung her praises. She is a giver of Higher knowledge - Para Vidya. She is pure consciousness - Vimala vignanaam. She is the one who grants pure speech - Vaak Suddhi.

Saraswati is a mighty river of supreme knowledge - Brahma Vidya. She is Sarada of Adi Sankara and she is Vagdevi. In Devi Mahatyam she is Chandika who puts an end to Shumbha. She pervades all Mantra and Tantra. Modern poets like Nirala and Biharilal Chakravarthi adored her in their poems.

“So streams on the Vedic Saraswati garmented in a million hues, enriching eternal India.”

The last two chapters of the book are rightly dedicated to the two great votaries of the goddess of wisdom - Subramanya Bharathi and Sri Aurobindo. According to Subramanya Bharathi not following the vocation of education sincerely is a desecration of Saraswati. Building schools for the poor and educating a poor child is the greatest service to Saraswati.

When undesirable forces prevail over the earth, then the sacred river flows as “antharvahini” an inward flow enriching great and receptive minds -resulting in the yoga of Mahasaraswati.
- A. Satyavathi

CREATING-KILLING COSMIC TIME: Pronab Kumar Majumder Writers Workshop, 162/92 Lake Gardens, Calcutta -700045; p91.HB Rs.140, FB Rs.100/-

Sri Pronab Kumar Majumder is a bilingual poet writing both in English and Bengali, his mother tongue with equal facility, and his credentials as an Indian poet writing in English on a base of substantial creative work in Bengali is a pattern quite familiar to many of us. All his earlier books of poetry in English are also concerned with time, and all the Book-Titles bear that imprint. I know of no other poet who is so much engrossed with Time, named all his books after Time, a fascinating subject though it is. And here comes ‘The Creating-Killing Time’, an enigmatic title. This reviewer feels that it is time that this gifted poet winds up this serenading with time, it nothing else, on the book-title front.

Time is no doubt a fascinating subject for poets, philosophers, scientists and astronomers alike. Einstein considered it as the fourth dimension. Plato had his views on it. So Pronab is in good company, and time plays its roles in creation and destruction, as witness or participant for all life forms. Pronab grapples with time as a poet, philosopher, and thinker, and in that process rolls these roles into one. Creating and killing as time progresses, is the function of what are known as Black Holes in space, into which all materials disappear, and at the other end of the ‘Hole’, also shaped like time, new worlds are probably being created. Probably, Pronab got the concept of the title from these Black Holes. The vital importance of time is known to humans through birth and death and as a yardstick for incidents and events in between. ‘The title poem moves around all these ideas, and is much deeper than what appears on the surface.

It must be said to the credit of this poet-philosopher that he has dared to dream or imagine the size of the problem of this “indomitable irresistible irreverent omnipresent ambidextrous” (to use the poet’s own words p.1) entity. Nevertheless, the book is not all about such enigmas. From the edge of time, he moves inwards. Various scenes of man’s life on earth, the things he sees and passes through, are also dealt with. But all poems have imbibed a dose of philosophizing. Even in the ‘Mirth of Earth’ p.37, he says’ in my aloneness I hear enchanting chimes.’ And adds that ‘The joy of boundless world is his best choice.’ and ‘It is bliss to be human and living’ ibid. There is dormant a tone of melancholy even in his enlarged sense mirth. Here is poetry for those with a philosophical bent of mind, and I should think there is a bit of philosopher in every thinking mind. The poet raises many questions, but leaves it to the reader to find answers. The world to day is in need of the right questions, and Pronab’s significant contribution is on that score. ‘Volcanic Eruptions’ p.66, and ‘Gujarat Earthquake’ 1 p.G7 are very much happenings around us, and affecting it, here too he does not come to the nitty-gritty of individual suffering or its relief, but hovers on a higher plane referring to the working of destiny and man’s helplessness. Micro-verses p.60-61 contains little gems that sparkle on the plate of time. He also speaks of terror and terrorists in ‘Killing Craze’ p.54.
From lofty speculations on cosmic time, the poet descends at times to the living realities the humans face as they journey through time. There is interplay of philosophy, humanism and a touch of melancholy in most of the poems. On the whole-the book is a sumptuous treat for all lovers of philosophical poetry.
- Dr. R. Rabindranth Menon

SPARKS AND FUMES: Keswar Dutt, B. Rahabhushana Rao; 2/9, Arimuthu Achari Maistri Street, Triplicome, Madras:1932. pages-100.

The book is subtitled ‘Pen-Pictures of Andhra Leaders’ and is in fact a collection of 13 features authored by K Iswara Dutt for the periodicals Swarajya and Triveni. Endorsing the note of the publisher, The Hindu commented: The comparison with A G Gardiner is inevitable. One could spend not only an enjoyable but a very instructive bout. Mr Gardiner said the book is ‘admirable both in spirit and form.’

The thirteen personalities are: Sir B N Sarma, Sir R Venkataratnam, Mr C R Reddy, Mr N Subba Rau pantulu, Dewan Bahadur M Ramachandra Rao, Mr C Y Chintamani, Mr K Venkatappiah, Mr T Prakasam, Dr B Pattabhi Sitaramiah, Mr K Nageswara Rao, Mr B Sambamurti, Sir K V Reddy and Sir A P Patro. All these characters were living models then. They made lasting contribution for many years after the book was out. The author says, (the book) is meant to be both strange and startling in the best traditions of modern English literature. He further notes two ‘names’ that ‘won for our motherland a great name in the world’: Prof. S Radhakrishnan and Mr. T Raghavachary. Enough is enough.

Many of these 13 names are almost forgotten or at least gone into the corridors of the minds of men and women of this generation, partly because of the excellent and incomparable speed with which matters started moving after the country’s attaining political independence. A glance into the small pages would certainly revive the memory or rekindle the interest in human happenings. In Sir Venkataratnam, ‘the downtrodden finds a champion, the distressed a benefactor, the forlorn a friend, and the orphan a parent. Teacher and reformer, scholar and speaker, sage and saint, he shows that Andhradesa has “not lost the breed of noble bloods.”

Mr C R Reddy’s opting for educational front ‘was a loss to politics’ and the other way too. His life, Mr Subba Rau ‘has always in heart the larger interests of the nation. He has contributed not a little to the growth of the Renaissance movement of Andhradesa. Mr C R Reddy is quoted to have said, ‘twenty men like Mr Subbarau Pantulu will make a nation.’ Mr Ramachandra Rao ‘has all the elements of statemanship and none of the qualities of generalship.— Mr C Y Chintamani as he is, he will be a classical example of a self-made man.’ Mr Venkatappiah ‘is an example of respectable mediocrity, — he has a record of “a great spirit devoted with rare purity of motive to the service of public ends.’ Mr. T Prakasam has ‘infinite capacity to suffer the pains and penalties of one’s own convictions.’ Mr B Pattabhi Sitaramiah has ‘hardly anything that he can not accomplish by virtue of his genius. But he has a genius for rejecting opportunities.’ Mr K Nageswara Rao’s as an Indian, he has done his duty to the motherland by throwing his weight on the right side in freedom’s battle. And as a citizen of the world he is among the “Helpers and Friends of Mankind.” Mr B Sambamurti’s ‘vision is only that of a Swaraj in golden hues and russet tints. He is ready at a moment’s notice to plunge himself headlong into any kind of fight that promises liberation for his motherland. Sir K V Reddy’s career ‘was full of surprises, — the one remarkable trait in him was that he kept his balance when he succeeded and his temper when he failed.’ Sir A P Patro ‘could pass for an Andhra among Andhras and an Oriya among Oriyas.

The present reader may not be prone to agree with many comments of the author. Some of the earlier traits of the characters must have been modified in the future; and yet one must agree these portrayals have set a model in Indian Journalism. His facile tact of the language and his sharp vision at events from a totally non-personal attitude do attract the readers’ notice. One may also agree, as already indicated, the portraits need to be updated by an equally competent writer to make them necessarily an adequate part of a full scale history. Will any of the news magazines attempt and accomplish this job? They may even add some more profiles to the series, again not touching the extremity of including everyone and anyone in the name of satisfying the regional balances/imbalances. Even otherwise, the present book, if only it could be retrieved from the oldest libraries of the land, would make a good reading of literature. Book reading, after all, is not a bad idea.
- Srivirinchi , Chennai

Writer’s Expression: Vol. 1- 01.(April—June 2003) Editor: Jasvinder Singh,7/841, Govindpuri, Kalkaji, New Delhi -1100019. Single issue: Rs.25/-

“This inaugural volume is, as stated by the publisher, an attempt at attuning life and literature. It contains scholarly papers on Love Poetry of Dorothy Livesay, Emersons’s Democratic Individualism, Margert Atwood’s Poetry, World Poet Jazuyos Ikeda. Each paper throws ample light on the topics chosen, bringing to the fore the dedicated endeavours of the scholars.

Short stories render the present volume more interesting. An exclusive section devoted to poetry makes the volume engrossing and eminently enjoyable. The whole gamut of human emotions are excellently expressed in these poems. Divergent themes selected in the twenty three poems in this issue lend elegance, enabling the reader appreciate the abundance of poetic talent available in the country. It augers well for the society and the people. A society without poetic sensibility and poetic talent becomes anachronistic, authoritarian and anarchic.

This inaugural volume contains excellent book reviews, laced with a profusion of quotations, demonstrating the devotion of the reviewers in examining all facets of the texts presented. A very well done job! It is, rather, an invaluable service to the discerning reader. Icing on this extraordinarily brought out volume is the text of the address of justice V. R. Krishna Iyer on the role of Voluntary Associations as Democratic Instrumentalities. It will be nice if translations also are included in the forth coming issues.
- Prof. T. S. Chandra Mouli

Art & Poetry today: Volume XXVIII/1: January 2003: Editor: Krishnan Khullar, SAMKALEEN PRAKASHAN; 2762, Rajguru Marg, New Delhi – 110 055; Annual Subscription Rs.160/-.

The present volume is a tribute to Late Dr. Harvansh Rai Bachchan, the renowned poet, great scholar and conscientious teacher. K.B.Rai pays glowing tributes to Dr. Bachchan in the poem entitled Bachchan. He presents the profile of the famous poet who wrote Madhushala in his poem.

The rest of the volume contains exquisite poetry of Dr. Bachchan elegantly translated into English by Krishan Khullar. Extracts from Madhushala acquaint the first time reader with the poetic genius of Dr. Bachchan. The reader develops regard for the creator of the classic and yearns to read the whole text in the original or in translation.

Krishan Khullar, the editor, displays his linguistic skills and poetic sensibility in translating Dr. Bachchan’s poems titled Madbubala, Aakul Antar, Lehron Ka Nimantran, Chetavani, Atmaparichay and Songs.

A non Hindi reader is certain to appreciate the translations which present the multi dimensional personality of Dr. Harvansh Rai Bachchan as reflected in his poetry. The present volume successfully presents the regard of Krishan Khullar, the editor, for Dr. Bachchan and his famous poetry. It also enables the reader realize the proximity and mutual regard of the two great persons.
-T. S. Chandra Mouli

DARKY (NALLA DRAKSHA PANDIRI:): (English & Telugu); Dr. YENDLURI SUDHAKAR, Associate Professor, PS Telugu University, Bommuru, 533 124; Rs.75/$ 10

This is an anthology of Telugu poetry by the noted Poet of the Dalit movement Dr. Sudhakar. He has thoughtfully given the English translation of his verses on the opposite pages, so that he could reach out to a wider readership. As Mr. Vadali Mandeswara Rao puts it, ‘His appeal as a Modern poet is universal. The progressive and revolutionary writers appreciate his concern for the poor and the oppressed. The Dalits feel that he champions their cause and the feminists claim that his sympathies are with them. And that it the essence of the poetry of Yendluri Sudhakar.

As he states,
What we need now is not a blood price,
But a fearless voice to state our choice;
A new book of law, a new country
A new land and a new Sky.
“I hear the horn of buffalo blowing inside me,
I see soft grains of rice as knives sharpening within me,
Waging a new war against my own higher than you.”
“Offering the son as if (?) a coconut to the Goddess of War is not easy as - robbing of votes.

The above lines indicate the lines of his thought and incisive insight and concern for social justice. To him, a woman is also a Dalit.

“When before my very eyes mother’s bangles are broken
In front of my father’s tomb as a last rite
I hear a breaking sound of Half the Sky falling.”

He freely uses the symbols and terminology of Christianity to forcefully express himself. This book helps one to peep inside the thinking of Dr Yendluri Sudhakar. Kudos to him for the excellent work.
-Dr Mangalagiri Pramila Devi

TELUGU

ANANTHAM: Dr TA Prasada Rao; 101, SMR Habitat, Road No.7, Street No.4, I West Marredpally, Secunderabad-26; pp+ 331; Rs 120.

For over the past few decades, our society has been witnessing a never-before phenomenal exodus of our educated youth to foreign lands, the USA in particular, with great expectations of a fabulous life. University education in India, usually followed by further education in the USA, and invariably leading to settlement there itself for life...has been the standardized agenda for life of our brilliant youth.

Are the US Indians thoroughly satisfied with their fabulous life, with no regrets whatsoever? Is the stunning material progress of the USA everything that one needs to live a happy and complete life? Or is there something more to it? Are the US Indians whole-hearted in their reconciliation to the fact that in course of time their future generations are almost certain to lose their ancestral Indian cultural links? How do the old-aged parents at home in India fit into this drastically changed family scenario? ...are but a few of the sensitive issues that arise in the context. In this novel ANANTHAM, its author Dr T A Prasada Rao, presents a down-to-earth analysis of the reality of the situation in its social, economic, cultural, psychological, and philosophical aspects.

The characters in the novel... Anantham, Sangeetha, Rambabu, Latha, Murali Krishna, Janakiramiah, and Subbaramiah, each representing a typically individual perception and philosophy of life, are so compelling and real-life that they cannot fail to make a lasting impression on the reader.

Dr. Prasada Rao lived in the USA for years together, engaged in his Post-Doctoral research work in Physics, worked for three decades as faculty at IIT, Chennai that includes a decade as Professor, and subsequently retired. Dr. Prasada Rao deserves compliments for bringing out this meaningful novel, presenting a lively, realistic, and unbiased perspective of the US Indians and their life.

ANANTHAM, Dr Prasada Rao’s first novel, is indeed a brilliant start of his literary endeavour. Socially purposeful, intensely thought - provoking, and yet thoroughly refreshing, the novel undoubtedly deserves a place in all our public libraries.

- Kambhampati Krishna Prasad

SINJINI: (Padya Satakam); M.H.V. Subba Rao (Nisapati);114, Gangotri Apats, Huda Complex, Saroornagar, Hyderabad-35; pp 22; Rs.20/-.

This Small book contains 108 poems (muktakas) by Sri Subba Rao, under his penname Nisauati. He was a Superintending Engineer in the Panchayati Raj Department, and has many printed book into his credit, as also many awards and prizes for his poetry. In these poems with the title-piece, Engineeru sinjini ravammu” he makes sweeping Comments la Vemana against the undesirable practices and the political corrpution of modern times. He says that Ministers are fighting not with corruption but in corruption itse1f. He finds it difficult to fill in the trenches of corruption dug up while building bridges, buildings, purchases of water or drain pipes or letting out works on contract. He opines that the ill planned TV serials and the numerous State programmes for helping the poor do not benefit the people at all. His end piece, exhorting others, that “If you applaud my work, I will praise yours” is a caustic remark that reminds one of the modern literary meets. This book has lots of humour in addition to critical comments.
- Dr R. L. Kameswara Rao

WINGS OF POESY : Krishan Khullar; Samkaleem Prakashan. 2762, Rajgaru Marg, Paraganj, New Delhi - 100055. RS. 80.

This is a collection of poems, the theme of which, in general, projects the sordid life style. Many of his poems reflect the different facets of death, some of them are too short to be called poems. Some of them, though short have a humorous tinge, whereas some are prosaic. It is passable poetry. The poem “God Verses I” has subtle humor wherein he tries to suggest that man is superior to God. In this poem he says that god created only man whereas man created humanity and love. God’s creation is mortal but man’s creation is immortal. His poems on our nation are thought­-provoking. The poem “Fare Well” is realistic. It represents the day to day experiences of all of us. In other words, the collection of poems covered all walks of life, from birth to death. The book is good for casual reading. The style is so simple that it suits levels of understanding of all age groups.

- Dr. T. Vasantha Lakshmi

JAYANTHI: (Bilingual Quarterly,) (Telugu & English): Sister Niveditha Foundation. 11-4-654/3, Red Hills, Hyderabad - 500 004. Rs 50/- (Single Copy)

The present journal is brought out by Viswanatha Sahitya Peetham, commemorating the legendary personality of late Sri Viswanatha Satyanarayana. It is no exaggeration to say that there is hardly any Telugu reader, who has not either read or heard about this literary giant. This Jnanpeeth Awardee left an indelible impression on the minds of his admirers.

Sri Guntur Seshendra Sarma says, “There is no branch of literature which Vishwanatha’s creative pen did not touch and turn into gold-poetry, song, story, novel play and criticism. But his Veyipadagalu stands out like the Himalaya among the mountains as a craft of creative genius and as the product of a mastermind, steeped in the culture and learning of his soil”. Therefore it is a great tribute and quite relevant and thoughtful to bring out a quarterly dedicated to Kavisamrat Vishwantha.

The first volume is aesthetically designed with Sri Vishwantha’s figure on the cover. The Journal has an English section also to encourage researchers and scholars to contribute articles and translations into English. It also proposes to bring out new features like “Interview Column” to provide scope for several aspects of his contribution to Telugu literature, and to make the efforts of JAYANTHI inventive, innovative, explorative and Creative.

There is every deed to have such journals catering to the needs of the readers, writers and researchers. Let us ardently wish for the success of this endeavour.

- I. Satyasree