REVIEWS
Speeches
and Writings of Rt. Hon. V. S. Srinivasa Sastri.
Vols. I and II. Published by the Rt. Hon. V. S. Srinivasa Sastri Birth Centenary Committee,
In two volumes of
very attractive get-up, the committee of the
Srinivasa Sastri Birth Centenary Celebrations,
Mahatma Gandhi
cherished for him a personal loyalty and love which alone are sufficient to endorse the mettle of his pasture. Astute as
a politician, wise as a
statesman, deep and learned as an educationist and above all,
graceful and enviable as
a letter-writer in English, he can always
captivate any reader with an earnestness for correct knowledge
of English and a sober attitude in life towards progress and
advance in public affairs.
Here are gathered
some of his utterances, letters and other writings, which easily
present to the reader a comprehensive idea of Sastri as an
able Politician and patriot of the first rank. Moreover there is an incurably chaste outlook on almost every subject that he handled. Again for soundness of opinions, in times when the mass-hysteria of the Gandhites would
allow hardly any room for appreciation of detached or sober views
on political situations, he showed
no frailty to guard himself against both the British authorities
as well as his own countrymen. For an example of some of his clear, forthright attempts at convincing his opponents of what he deemed was his duty to stand by without fear or favour, let us just select
from the speeches in the Imperial Council then presided over by the
Governor-General and Viceroy under the British dispensation, a passage which
tells in no equivocal language his alarm at the passing of the Rowlatt Bill. Warning the British Government he said, “I am
always on the border land and, for personal reasons, if for nothing else,
undertake to say that the possession in the hands of the Executive of powers of
this drastic nature will not only hurt the wicked, but it will hurt the good as
well as the bad, and there will be such lowering of the political tone of the
country that all your talk of responsible Government will be mere
mockery.....the bureaucracy armed with these repressive powers will reign
unchecked under the appearance of a democratic Government.” We know how true were his words of prognostication, when the Jalianwalla Bhag massacre took
place under the reign of terror of Michael Owdyer,
the Governor of Punjab. One more example to show how
correctly he had judged of the trend of indiscipline in the wake of the boycott
of students from entering the portals of schools and colleges. Speaking at the Appu Sastri Memorial
meeting (1939) while dwelling on the topic of ‘birthrights’ he uttered some of
the most prophetic words that an experienced publicist can be credited with.
“Among the demands put forward are certain unheard of rights, often styled
birthrights and declared to be inalienable and indefeasible. Students must be
represented on managing bodies, consulted on all important matters, especially
matters of punishment and appointment and retirement and dismissal of the
staff, allowed to sit for public examinations without a preliminary sitting,
and guaranteed percent of passes at them. These rights will be enforced, as
occasion may require, by strikes and boycotts, by picketing, blocking of
passages, lying prostrate on the road and fasting.” What a word for word true
picture of the very acts of violence Sastriar had
spoken of, we find today happening in our colleges and universities! (Pp. 286,
287)
Sastriar
laid the entire country under a deep sense of gratitude by his discourses on
the Ramayana, which have been already collected in a separate volume under the
aegis of the
As priceless treasures, the two
volumes will prove in any library of the world, and there can be very little
doubt that readers will benefit greatly in studying these volumes for gaining a
proper perspective in life of values which had endeared, some of these worthy
sons of
The volumes could not have been
better introduced to the world than by a noteworthy writer as Sri N. Raghunathan, whose credentials for the task cannot be
doubted or questioned.
–K. CHANDRASEKHARAN
Sankara and Shanmata. Souvenir Published in
connection with the conference on “Sankara and Shanmata” held in
It was an unusual sight, during the
nine days from the first of
June 1969, to find both scholars of
varied countries and general
public interested in religious subjects, attending in crowds the conference
arranged with the blessings of the Acharyaswami of
Kamakoti Peetham. Many were the papers read and many were
the informing lectures delivered during the very active sessions on all the days, that people would have felt it a great want had not Sri N. Ramaratnam collected
all the learned papers and published
them without delay and priced the volume, nicely got-up, for a very
nominal amount.
The volume is divided into sections appropriate to the contents therein. Thus we have a
General section; then the Shanmatas of Ganaptyam, Kaumaram, Shaktam, Vaishnavam, Saivam and Sauram; the third section
deals with the Advaita
preceptor, Adi Sankara; and
the fourth section contains tributes and studies
of the present Acharya of the Kamakoti Peetham.
It is needless to single out any particular article for
comment or criticism. Yet one cannot pass without mentioning the contribution of Dr. Raghavan
who has brought out the salient points
of a worth-while study of the Shanmatas as Adi Sankara classified and established in their proper
setting. Our grand old leader, Rajaji, has not failed to stamp his personality
in an article entitled ‘Godlessness’
in which he deplores the growing scepticism of our people in our ancient faiths.
(Our learned reviewer has himself contributed an
essay On “Rama–The Ever-crowned”
to the volume,–EDITOR)
Also we find in the other sections
important topics like ‘The Origin and Development of Kaumaram,’
‘Sri Kamakoti Peetha of Sri Sankaracharya’
which give us a clear view of the birth and gradual intensification of worship
of the deities and the aspects in which devotees should view such worship.
There are also articles by eminent
scholars and savants from foreign countries. Either they are extracted with
permission from extant publications of theirs, or they are fresh writings from
their pens. The section on the present Acharya of Kamakoti Peetham
contains soulful estimates of his services to the cause of spirituality and ‘bhakti’ especially.
A number of photographic blocks as
well as tri-colour plates enhance the value of the
publication. Except that the volume of such significance and usefulness had no
page of Contents and Index in the end, there is little want for us to feel
about the entire work of dedication, which those connected with it have been
capable of bestowing upon it.
–K.
CHANDRASEKHARAN
Sri
Vallabhacharya by Bhai Manilal C. Parikh.
Published by V. M. Parikh, Harmony House,
This is a satisfying account of the
life, teaching and tradition of Sri Vallabhacharya
who flourished in the 15th century A. D. and revived the Bhakti movement in the
western parts of
The special contribution of this
system, writes Sri Parikh, is the doctrine of Grace. To the surge of Bhakti,
devotion, from the human end there must be a response from above; it is Grace
that consummates and builds up, pushti. “Try
to refer yourself to God by faith, hope and charity, surrender wholesale and
turn all that you are and have into an instrument of divine grace by a sincere
consecration, and God will lift you to his own plane. The efficacy of divine
Grace comes out most beautifully in his system. Grace works by itself, provided we open ourselves to it by the wholesale
surrender implied in our consecration. Lastly the goal to which Vallabha invites us is the highest possible, It is nothing
less than a formal participation in very
life of GOd,
Beatific Vision. For Vallabha maintains that
at the end we shall know God in himself, in his own Light and Warmth.”
The book contains
an interesting chapter on the abuses that have crept into the practice of the teaching and the measures that have been taken to
correct the wrong tendencies.
Eternity in Words: Sri Sri Aurbindo’s Savitri by
Rameshwar Gupta. Published by Chetana Prakashan,
44 Yusuf Building,
This study of Sri Aurobindo’s
epic of 23 thousand lines, Savitri: A
Legend and a Symbol, is specially welcome
coming as it does, not from a
devotee but by a scholar of English literature. Prof. Gupta presents his understanding of the work in a rational frame and shows how Savitri
is the archetype of Future
Poetry. In a telling comparison
with the other notable epics in English and European literature, he points out how the thought range
of Sri Aurobindo is more than cosmic and the spirit that breathes
here is not of the earth but of the transcendent spheres. The World is not left out; on
the other hand, there is a series of worlds that have claimed treatment and the sweep of the imagery
covers even the television.
The author
discusses the origins of the
story, variation from the theme
in Mahabharata, the conversion
of a didactic story into a
symbol of the spiritual evolution of
man, the technique employed to express
high spiritual experience into terms of human language and examines
the worth of the poem purely as a poetic tour
de force. He illustrates his points and communicates
to the reader something of his enthusiasm.
The study is prefaced
with a brief account of the life
and work of Sri Aurobindo with
particular attention to the literary
side of his genius.
A systematic
thesis focussing
attention on a Poem that is unsurpassed
for its Mantric potency, occult accent and spiritual appeal.
–M. P. PANDIT
Religion of Tirukkural by Dr. Muthuraman,
Professor of Philosophy, Pachaiyyappa’s
College, Madras-30. Published by the Author. Price Rs.
5.
Along with the Bible
and the Das Capital,
the Tirukkural shares the distinction of being
the most widely translated work of literature
in the world. Nothing definite is known about the exact age, faith, class,
parentage, etc., of the great Tamil bard Tiruvalluvar. In 1330 epigramatic
couplets spread over 133 chapters, the poet deals with all the ideals to be
cherished and practised in the pursuit of Dharma, Artha and
The Kural
is undoubtedly recognised as a universal treasure but
in stressing its universality Dr. Muthuraman could
have avoided certain needless controversies, especially when he makes no claims
to originality in bringing out an addition to the existing works on the great
masterpiece. Thiruvalluvar was an idealist par excellence
but he can be called a saint or a sage only in a loose sense. He was extremely
secular and catholic in his approach to life and appellations like “age,”
“religion” etc., in relation to such a universal thinker detract from the glory
of the poet. Dr. Muthuraman’s work starts with the
usual accolades for the ancient past, the glorious heritage, etc., of the
Tamils. One wishes he had pursued this subject in a mote scholarly way, citing
authorities pro and con regarding the age of the Sangam
poets instead of merely repeating the shibboleth of the modern Tamil
chauvinists. And the author is treading dangerous ground when, in his zeal to
be in tune with current political trends in Tamil Nadu,
he tries to allude that the post-Sangam literature in
Tamil represents a decline and decay compared to the glory that Tamil once was!
It does no service to the cause of Tamil not to feel proud of Kamban, the Alwars and Nayanmars and a host of poets of the medieval era. And
then, is it necessary to involve Tiruvalluvar in
current controversies on Family Planning?
–T. C. A. RAMAN
A
Study of Telugu Semantics by Prof. G. N. Reddy.
Published by
Semasiology,
a branch of linguistics, is a most pleasing and interesting subject. But this
did not receive as much attention as it deserved from the linguists. Especially
is this the case with semantics in Telugu. As such this Study of Telugu
Semantics, a thesis submitted for the Ph. D. Degree, is a welcome addition
to the library of linguistics.
Part I of the volume
deals with the meaning of the word Semantics, the relation
between the word and meaning,
meaning of meaning,
the theory of Sphota, Dhvani,
and context and cognition. Theories and conclusions of Western linguists like Bloomfield, Gray, Sanssere, Palmer, Ogden,
C. K. and Richards are considered and compared with those of our ancient
scholars like Patanjali and Bhartruhari. Some
of the conclusions here are
noteworthy: “The Phonemes or the Phonematic pattern with normal time sequence is
analogous to the sphota of Patanjali and the Sound to his Dhvanis.” “We thus see
that the explanation of relation
between a linguistic form
and its content as explained by the modern linguists and psychologists is more or less
similar to what was postulated by the ancient Indian grammarians and philosophers.”
Parts II and III are devoted to descriptive and historical
semantics respectively, wherein the author takes up many words and phrases
from Telugu and considers the changes in meanings
thereof. The chapter on the Historical
Semantics is more interesting and scholarly. In fact a study of comparative and historical
semantics of all Dravidian languages
taken together is a long-felt desideratum and we hope that all the universities in Andhra, Tamilnad,
–B. KUTUMBA RAO
Sabda
Vrittis by Dr. Marula Siddiah. Published by the
Vritti
or the powers of words is
an unexplored topic in Sanskrit
linguistics, and the credit
goes to Dr. Marula Siddiah for having made a comprehensive
and comparative study of
the same and presented his findings in
this volume. Definitions available
of the word Vritti in almost all the branches of
Sanskrit literature, as far as they
relate to linguistics, are
discussed in detail and the author concludes that Vrittis are mental faculties to coordinate words with speech sounds. Likeness in the thoughts of ancient
Indian linguists and modern linguists is brought to lime-light. “Discussions on Abhidha, Lakshana and Dhvani are amicably settled in the light of
the views of Western scholars.” Finally the
learned Doctor concludes that Vrittis unite Psychology,
Epistemology and Philosophy. According
to the author Anvitabhidhana theory “bears testimony and
withstands any critical test as is based on scientific grounds. This book is
most useful to post-graduate students of Sanskrit literature in particular and
to all Sanskrit lovers in general.
–B.
KUTUMBA RAO
Song of Life
(Poems) by Dr. Sankara Srirama
Rao, Eluru 2.
Dr. Srirama
Rao offers in this slender volume an exquisite collection of a hundred
intensely spiritual outpourings which justify Wordsworth’s dictum that poetry
is a spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings. In these days of rank
materialism, spiritual poetry comes upon like an Oasis in an arid desert and
brings “to weary feet the gift of rest.”
Dr. Rao’s
spiritual vision is not precluded by any creed or dogma. Behind these poems
gleams the shining image of the silent master, Meher
Baba, who has come down to the earth not to preach but to awaken. Soaked in the
spirit of the Gita, Dr. Rao derived from the silent master abundant inspiration
that has sustained and enriched every activity of his fruitful life. Not
content with prescribing only remedies for the ills of the body, Dr. Rao has
found a spiritual tonic which vitalizes the drooping souls of those who grope
for a richer and fuller life. Endowed with rich poetic imagination which
promises a new earth and new Heaven, Dr. Rao expressed alternating moods of
exultation and agony in his simple impassioned verse. His spiritual quest runs
like a golden thread through the multi-coloured beads
of his poems and bestows upon them intrinsic unity of tone and temper.
Dr. Rao’s
poems display art which conceals art. The simplicity of his utterance is
matched by artistic sincerity which is the prime requisite of all spiritual
poetry. The rhythm and flow of his verse vary according to the fluctuations and
inflexions of the feelings pulsating behind the line. Dr. Rao has displayed a
remarkable ease and mastery in handling free-verse which exactly suits his
purpose. It is quite a creditable attempt at English verse.
–DR.
C. NARASIMHA SASTRI
The
Revival of English Poetic Drama by Professor H. H. Anniah Gowda, Department of
English,
Professor Gowda
surveys poetic drama in
Had the study
been more uptodate it might have proved more useful and rewarding.
The poetic dramas by the famous playwright,
Christopher Fry, should have received
attention in such a study of poetic drama.
However, this study
is instructive and informative as far as it goes. Particular mention must be
made of his brilliant exposition, and
analysis of Thomas Hardy’s poetic drama The Dynasts where he perceives a new depth and beauty hitherto unnoticed by many Western critics as H. W. Wells observes
in his fine foreword to this book.
–Dr. S. NARASIMHA SASTRI
Education
in the Fourth Plan by J. P. Naik. Nachiketa
Publications,
A nation-wide experiment
in educational Planning has been going
on in the country for the past two decades and there is a pressing need for an
objective evaluation of the resulting problems and
achievements as well as the errors of omission and commission.
The book under review provides
such a review and analysis by
a person who has every qualification to undertake it.
Mr.
Naik’s present book is a passionate call for a radical reorientation of the
entire system of national
education as an instrument of
national development. And this call comes
to us in ringing tones
throughout the course of discussion
on feasible core programmes
devised to bring about a
thorough internal transformation
of education rather than quality improvement
and
expansion.
Countering the cynical criticism
that there is very little to plan with in education or that educational
planning must necessarily be long-term spread over a period of 15 or 20 years,
Mr. Naik asserts that planning is not an exercise
meant for times of plenty but is most called for in times of scarcity.
The most impressive chapters are the
first and the third. After reading these one cannot but sympathise
with the tremendous difficulties and formidable challenges faced by the
educational planner in
Written in a simple, direct and
clear style, and with a critical approach to the issues, the book deserves to
be read and brooded over by all espousing the cause of education in
–C.
R. PRASAD RAO
Folk
Tales of
Almost every land has its own
heritages, and folk literature is one among them. According to some authorities
like T. Benfey (who published Panchatantra
in 1859), the source and store-house for the folk tales of other nations is
While folk tales mirror the ethos of
a particular region and a particular age, they have a habit of crossing the
barriers of time and space. Panchatantra is
famous in lands other than
The folk tales in the volume under
review are divided into two parts. The first one gives some stories prevalent
and popular in the districts of north and south Bihar while the second part
contains a few tales “intimately associated with certain famous places in Bihar
as well as some tribal folk tales.” Altogether, there are some 78 short
stories. Some of them deal with human intrigues and counter-intrigues (e. g.,
“The Two Cheats” and “The Potter and the Raja”), others
are concerned mainly with animals and still others have both humans and animals
as “actors”. The language is simple, the stories are short, although there are few forgivable lapses on the
printer’s part. But, considering
the size of the volume, the
price is rather high.
–K. V. SATYANARAYANA
Sahitya Samiti Vyasavali – II, Copies can he had from Balaji
Publishers, Tirupati. Price :
Rs. 3.
Here is a
compilation of very good essays covering a wide range of subjects relating
to Telugu language and
literature. All the essays were
prepared by learned scholars and
were read at the literary gatherings organised by the
Sahitya Samiti of Tirupati. Books on literary
criticism in Telugu are by far few when compared with Hindi and Bengali. It is therefore
gratifying to note that the Sahitya Samiti
has taken up and continuing a project
which is very necessary for the development of the Telugu language. The
Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Academi deserves compliments for assisting the Samiti financially in bringing out
this volume. It is hoped that
the Samiti would continue to publish similar volumes and enrich the Telugu literature.
–BHAVARAJU
Johannes Gutenberg: 1468-1968
by Elizebeth Geck, Published by Inter Nationes. Bad Godesberg Copies can be had from the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany,
“The whole
world admits unhesitatingly, and
there can be no doubt about this, that
Gutenberg’s invention
(Printing) is the incomparably greatest event in the history of the
world,” says Mark Twain.
It is impossible
to over-estimate the value of
the contribution made by the invention of Gutenberg to the progress and well-being
of mankind. It is the printing word that carried Gandhi’s universal message of
peace and brotherhood all over the world. Gutenberg’s first work,
significantly, was also a message of love and peace, the Bible.
The book under
review gives us an interesting reading
of the life, struggles and
achievement of the great
inventor. The printing and get-up
are very good and are in
consonance with the great name
that is associated with the book.
Indian leaders are greatly indebted to the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany,
–BHAVARAJU
Studies
in the Philosophy of Education by Dr. V. P. Varma. Published
by L. N. Agarwal,
In this volume Dr. Varma has examined the theories of education from the
ancient times of the Vedas and Plato down to Dewey and Russell. After
faithfully representing the diverse views on education Dr. Varma
pleads for a synthetic approach. He has dwelt upon the helpful role of a
teacher in Vedic India pointing out the impact of the teacher’s personality on
the impressionable minds of the students. As a process of leading out the
potentialities of the student, as an activity concerned with full following of
the human personality, education should receive a better deal in democratic
countries. It embraces culture and religion by working towards the same end. It
should not be treated as Cinderella in a country which cares for the preservation
of the abiding values of life. Dr. Varma’s learned
essays on the different aspects of education deserve close study and careful
consideration by all those who are concerned with the field of education. It is
insistence upon the Greek ideal of an integrated personality should find more
ready acceptance in a world which is losing sight of that oneness because of
the craze for over-specialisation. Not merely a
career-giving but a soul-making education is the need of the hour and such a
harmonious system can be evolved only when we have proper perspective of the
functions assigned to education by thinkers of the East and the West. Dr. Varma’s attempt at presenting that perspective in these
essays is successful and commendable.
DR. C.
NARASIMHA SASTRI
TELUGU
Samskrita Mahabharata Viseshamulu
by Garikapati Krishna Murty. Published by the
Author, Arundelpet, Vijayawada-2.
Price Rs. 7-50.
The learned author narrates herein
in simple and lucid Telugu the main events connected with the lives of Vedayyasa, the five Pandavas, Dhritarashtra, Duryodhana, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Salya, Asvathama
and Srikrishna and incidentally points out their main
characteristics also, as found in the Sanskrit Mahabharata, with relevant
quotations from the text here and there. Summaries of Viduraneeti,
Sanatsujateeyamu, and the 18 chapters of the Bhagavadgita are also included herein. The book is worth
its price and is a good introduction to the study of Mahabharata.
–B.K.R.