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 background 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
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 of poetry, 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