BOOK
REVIEWS
ENGLISH
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 back 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 back 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