Book Reviews
ENGLISH
The Meaning of Macbeth: Edited by Bhupendranath Seal. Published
by SAS Publications. 11 A Ram Banerjee Lane, Calcutta - 700 112, Price Rs.50.00
- 93 pages.
This
uique book is a collection of eight critical essays on MACBETH by the teachers
of English of Calcutta colleges. The
book is fittingly dedicated to the memory of a teacher-scholar by the Editor
who is himself a teacher of English.
The
study of Shakespearean tragedy is vast and deep. The temptation to write on it is strong and irresistable. Among the four great tragedies MACBETH, the
shortest play, presents a formidable challenge to critics. Shakespeare criticism is something every
lover of the dramatist wishes to attempt but hesitates to commit in print. In this context the attempt of the
adventurous teacher-critics is laudible and commendable. Surely a lot of hard work and clear analysis
has gone into each of the essays. The
teachers of the Calcutta colleges have gone about their business with the
confidence and gusto of professional critics.
The
edition reveals a two fold fulfilment of purpose. The first is that teachers can produce critical appraisals at
once fresh and unambiguous, convincing and clear in the stand they take on
aspects they choose to discuss as in this book. The second is that practising teachers do possess latent talent
and prove sound critics given the right kind of direction and encouragement as
the editor has done.
The
imaginative inclusion of excerpts from G.K. Chesterton's hitherto unpublished
essay on the Macbeths and an examination of a few observations of Caroline Spurgeon on the imagery in
MACBETH at the end of the book adds weight and enhances the value of the
edition.
Chesterton
in the essay mentioned above says that Shakespeare survived his own age and ours too. We may add that Shakespeare is relevant for all times and climes.
-D. Ranga Rao
Maiden
Flight (Stories) - Dr.
Vasa Prabhavati, Vasa Publications, Malakpet, Hyderabad - 500 036, Book Links
Corporation, Narayanaguda, Hyderabad - 500 029; pp97; Rs.95
There
is no dearth of good story writers in Telugu. There are some Telugu stories
which were translated into English, Russian and other European languages, but
their number is small. The main draw
back is that Telugu story confined itself to the Telugu reading world. If they are translated into Hindi they would
reach atleast half of the country. If they are translated into English they can
cover the entire world. Of late this stark reality has been realized as a
consequence of which quite a good number of writers are publishing the English
versions of their Telugu originals. Some are translating themselves while some
others are getting their stories translated by others. In this course the
latest addition is Dr. Vasa Prabhavati’s “Maiden Flight” translated by Dr. P.
Bhargavi Rao. Prabhavati is a senior
writer and a multi faceted genius. Besides being a story writer she is a
novelist, poet, playwright, essayist and what not. Virtually she competently touched every branch of
literature. She has had scores of
Awards and honours including some very prestigeous ones. Madras Telugu Academy, and Telugu University
honoured her with their “Puraskars’.
The
book “Maiden Flight” contains 12 good stories. The title story “Maiden Flight”
is about a woman who sacrifices her marital pleasures for the sake of her
family. In many families when the bread
winner dies and the eldest is a daughter who is educated, normally the
responsibility of looking after the family falls on her. She educates her younger brothers and
sisters, performs girls’ marriages and in the process remains a spinster. By the time every one in the house is
settled she crosses her marriageable age and none comes forward to take her
hand. Anasuya is one such woman. How long she could control her natural
passions? Her student Mohan who is
quite young in age and coming from a different caste develops love for her
which she could not resist. Finally she
elopes with him coolly. People comment
and even condemn. But she has taken a
natural course. “The Secret” is about
one Chalapati who is addicted to bribes yet irritates all including his wife
with his miserly and peevish behaviour. How he taught a lesson by his wife is a
guarded secret. Thus all the stories
enthral the readers. The translation by
Dr. Bhargavi Rao is straight, simple and refreshing. Kudos to both.
-Dr. K.R.K. Mohan
“Another
I” K. Srinivasa Sastry by Yugadi Publications, 303, Amulya
Apts., Tarnaka, Hyderabad - 500 017. Price : Rs100/-; ($ 8)
“Another
I” is a collection of essays that largely deals with the concepts of time, the
time that is like a friend that greets us all the time and the human being is
the active connection between time & eternity, eternity which is like a
stranger and stares at us. The author also deals with the feelings, the
relationships among people, the indifferent attitude of people towards one
another and the individual’s constant feeling of loneliness. He enumerates on
the perception of the human world, the relevance of science and art to society
at large. He expresses that the artist has more dimension of freedom than a
scientist and the suffering of an artist is more than and is different from
that of a scientist, in his experiences and circumstances.
There
is philosophical brooding over death and journey after death. The author
relates time and death and death in turn being related to eternity.
He
projects the real life experiences in one or two essays like in “Dream” where
the author brings out the materialistic thinking and the materialistic attitude
of modern man who feels that English education earns our bread whereas Sanskrit
does not earn bread for us. Therefore, everyone would like to give their
children English education rather than emphasise on giving them Sanskrit
education. On the whole, the book deals with ideas which are very thought
provoking.
- Dr. T. Vasantha Lakshmi
Sri
Aurobindo and the new millenium; R.Y. Deshpande; Sri Aurobharati Trust, 5 Kumaran street, S.V.P.
Salai, Pondicherry - 695012.
The
work under review is a timely reminder to us who are on the threshold of the
New Millenium that what we must look for is not only economic development and
political and social stability, not merely a further progress in Information
and other/types of Technology, not at all a further possibility to gratify our
physical and vital desires but a true spiritual evolution of the whole of
mankind when the very cells of our body can house the spirit and our life will
be one of the highest Anada possible.
To
make such an evolutionary progress possible was the mission of Sri Arobindo and
the Mother. Sri Aurobindo has not only presented such a Vision in his The Life Divine and Savitri but striven hard to bring down what he called the
Supermind, the Truth Consciousness to
the earth-consciousness.
The
book is a collection of reflections and reviews published by the author over a
period of time and dealing with the vision and work of Sri Aurobindo. The
brilliant Preface and the Introduction speak of the Millenium of the Spirit Sri
Aurobindo sought to usher in.
The
book itself falls into four sections. The First Section has essays on Savitri, the epic poem in which Sri
Aurobindo poetically presents the evolution of the work from Inconscience to
the Supramental state. Deshpande demonstrates how Aswapati and Savitri are none
other than Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. It is their Sadhana the poem presents.
The
essays in the next sections deal with various themes covered by the essays on Savitri, the nature and meaning of Death,
the stages in which Sri Aurobindo tried to bring down the Supermind into his
body.
The
essays reveal the author’s intimate knowledge of every word written by Sri
Aurobindo or the Mother besides his sound and profound knowledge in every
branch of knowledge whether it be physics or metaphysics, economics or
politics, philosophy or poetry, mysticism or spirituality.
The
book is a great contribution to Sri Aurobindo studies.
-K. B. Sitaramayya
Telugu
Sri
Chittaranjanam: (Lyrics
and devotional songs) by M. Chittaranjan, Plot No.203, Gangotri Apartments, St.
No.6, Habsiguda, Hyderabad - 500 007; pp220; Rs.150/-
This
is a compilation of 55 keertanas,
lyrics and devotional songs written and set to music by M. Chittaranjan, an
eminent songster - in the classical and light music traditions - for over half
a century. In addition to his well
known career as a producer of Light music in the AIR, Sri Chittaranjan has made
a mark as a composer also in the traditional vaggeyakara style. What is
heartening is that he has given notation to each of the keertanas, and other songs and lyrics. That makes this book invaluable to readers and musicians alike.
He
has used not only many of the already popular janyu and melakarta ragas but
also created many a new raga like Sri Nagaranjani, Sri Nagapriya, Sayee priya and
Shanmukhi. He has appropriately used these ragas to set the tunes for the sahitya
such as for example, Sayee priya
for the praise of Sayeebaba, Shanmukhapriya
for Lord Shanmukha, Vagadheeswari for
Saraswathi. What strikes one most is
the reverence and immersion in the bhakti
bhava in his lyrics in praise of Mannava
Amma, who is said to have showered her love and blessings on him profusely,
and in whom he sees the divine trinity - Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvathi.
Sri
Chittaranjan is also credited with having drafted the syllabi for the Light
music faculty of the Telugu University and this work assures his rightful place
among the musical composers - yesterday, today and perhaps, tomorrow.
-Vemaraju Narasimha Rao
Kavita
Samhita (Poetry): Dr.
Nanduri Ramakrishnamacharya 420, Jawahar Nagar, Secunderabad - 500 003; Pp.112;
Rs.75
The
octogenarian Nanduri Rama Krishnamacharya is perhaps the only vestige of the
generation of the glorious traditional poets. Nanduri Rama Krishnamacharya
is a true heir of these great stalwarts. Even at the ripe age of 84 he is fully active and writing poetry. His recent work entitled “Kavita Samhita”
unevils his soul. The word “Samhita”
means a collection. True to the title, the book contains not only poems but
also very valuable memories of himself.
Perhaps this is the only book which projects the feelings of a poet so
frankly and vividly. Some of the poems
are rib tickling satires. In one of the
poems he writes “The Eskimos build their houses with ice bricks without
counting the number. The poets build their homes with dreams without taking
note of realities”.
In
this small book he gives extensive details of his experiences with many
prominent people in the memoirs. Some
are highly memorable. He worked as a
Telugu lecturer in A.C. College, Guntur. Mr. Sipes, an American was the
Principal who did not know even a word of Telugu. Yet when Ramakrishnamacharya told that he translated Longfellow’s
poem into Telugu as “Jeevana Suktam” and read before him he was so pleased that
he immediately raised his salary by 20 rupees.
(From 80 to 100) Probably
he had a speck of Sri Krishnadevaraya
in his heart. It is said Karunasri
breathed his last in his arms. There
are so many such interesting details in this small book.
The
beauty is that Sri Ramakrishnamacharya dedicted this book to Sri Mantena
Venkata Suryanarayana Raju who himself is a great poet. Normally writers dedicate their works to
those who help them financially or who are influential. But dedicating the book to another great
poet shows the greatness of Ramakrishnamacharya. The book is not only valuable but highly refreshing.
-Dr. K. R. K. Mohan
Sabda
Gaganam (poetry): Oriya
Original Translation: Nikhileswar: Sitakant Mahapatra Sahitya Academy, 35,
Feroze Shah Road, New Delhi - 110 001; Pp.80; Rs.70
One
of the aims of Sahitya Academy is to translate good books of one language into
other Indian languages at affordable prices. This is the largest Institution in
the world which publishes books in 20 languages. It recently published an
Anthology of Oriya poems entitled “Sabdagaganam” written by Sitakant Mahapatra
who was an IAS Officer and a Jnanapeeth Awardee. The translation was done by
Nikhileswar one of the five popular “Digambara Kavulu” (Naked poets).
Sitakant
is essentially a lover of nature. Orissa is known for its natural beauty with
thick jungles, innumerable streams and rivulets, of course the mighty Mahanadi
hills and beaches. All these form
objects for his poetry. Any poet who
loves nature derives pleasure in describing them. But the difference in
presentation makes his poems special.
He analyses Yasoda, Krishna, Nanda etc., from a different angle. In the
poem entitled “Vidushakudu” he writes “The clown weeps at laughter and laughs
while sharing tears”! He finds stripes of the tiger on the wings of a
butterfly.
Nikhileswar’s
Telugu rendering is simple, straight and meaningful. He did full justice to the
original. Generally Art films and modern art are beyond comprehension of
ordinary men. A casual reader has to struggle a bit to get the meaning of some
poems. However all the poems regale the habitual reader.
But
it is perhaps too much to price this book of 80 pages of Rs. 70/-. The Sahitya
Academy should take note of this.
-Dr. K.R.K. Mohan
Endaro
Mahanubhavulu: Jananaddi
Hanumatchastri, Visalandhra, Hyderabad and its branches; Pp.112; Rs.25
India
is a great country where great people were born in all times who enhanced the
glory of every field. Especially the
latter half of the past century and the former half of the present century gave
birth to outstanding personalities. Each one was a legend and an example. But
how many of us know about them? The
present generation practically knows nothing about them. One may not find time
to read biographies. But if they are
given as brief biographies or profiles or anecdotes they would be interesting
as well as inspiring. Janamaddi
Hanumatchastri wrote scores of biographies and anecdotes about great people.
His recent book entitled “Endaro Mahanubhavulu” is a collection of his brief
writings about eminent people earlier published in various journals. His
selection of the personalities and the incidents is exemplery. All the fifty
five pieces given in the book are most interesting and at times highly
touching. For instance the profile of Right Honourable Srinivasa Sastry has two
pronged greatness. He was born in such a poor family which had no money even to
buy salt when somebody gave some raw mangoes for pickle and had to refuse the
offer on this count. He had no shirt to
wear and went to college covering his chest with a towel. Once when he drenched
in rain he had to remove the towel for drying and sat in a corner with bare
chest. The Principal Mr. Builderbek who
was taking his class took objection to it and fined him with half a rupee.
After the class was over Sastry told him that he had no money to purchase a
shirt or pay fine. The Principal was so moved that he took half a rupee coin
from his pocket, gave to Sastry and asked him to pay the fine. He also gave money to buy two shirts. This poor boy rose to the heights of Privy
Council Member, Stateman and an incomparable English scholar. He was given the title of “Right Honourable”
by the British King. Once when he visited London representing India he called
on the Builderbek couple out of courtesy. The couple hosted a party in honour
of his disciple. He narrated before the
gathering this incident. He said this
shirtless Srinivas whom he punished became such a great man for which he felt
happy. This profile presents not only
the greatness of Sastry but also that of Mr. Builderbek. The Principal could’nt have waived the fine.
But in order to ensure discipline he paid the fine. As a magnanimous person he gave money to buy shirts, which Sastry’s
relatives or friends did not do. Those
were the golden days. Will they return again?
Janamaddi is doing yeomen service in digging
out such inspiring stories. Kudos to
him.
-Dr. K. R. K. Mohan
‘Swaatantrya
Siddhi’: By Prof. V.
Ramanatham, VCR Charitable Trust, Secunderabad - 500 017.
There
are three preliminary points I wish to submit as I embark on this critique of
Professor V.V.Ramanadham’s ‘magnum opus’ entitled ‘Swaatantraya Siddhi’, a
350-page book containing some 1731 verses. In his latest work Ramanadham bursts
out with the fragrance of his poetry and presents a lucid and highly readable
account of our great Independence movement, the trials and tribulations
undergone by the freedom-fighters, and their immense sacrifices for the sake of
‘swatantry siddi’ - the achievement of Independence. This work is of particular
benefit to the post-Independence generations in realising at what cost India
won her freedom and that by nonviolent means and hence what responsibility each
of us bears to preserve it in perfect sanctity.
An aesthetic journey into the
‘mahakavya’ - great poem :
This literary masterpiece, the like of which Dr. C. Narayana Reddy opined has
not been seen after the great works ‘Sivabharatam’, ‘Rana Pratapasimha
Charitram’ and ‘Vandemataram’ - has many distinctive features. It is a ‘mahakvya’,
simply put, in that it has an ultimate objective in view, it has a didactic
purpose and a great motive to inform with a message to the reader - ‘sandesa’.
It has a unified theme, an elevated subject matter, rendered in a form that is
at once attractive, inspiring and pleasing. It has in it sufficient expression
of a variety of human sentiments, emotional experiences, and beauties of life
and Nature; and all these are depicted artistically with a sense of proportion
and propriety. Actually this is a piece of literary artistry. The author
possesses adequate vocabulary, felicity of diction, and vigour of expression,
suggestiveness, modulation and style according to the theme or situation, use
of words that echo the sense (‘dhvani’), a plethora of figures of speech, and
stylic devices such as ‘anuprasa and yamaka’ and command of various metres
suited to the latent sentiments. He has used some eighteen different metres, on
my casual count.
While
dealing with the various episodes contained in his work, the author has brought
within the ambit of his poesy all the common human sentiments like heroic (‘veera’),
terrible (‘bhayaanaka’), chaotic (‘bhibhatsa’), aggressive (‘roudra’), pathetic
(‘vishaada) etc. Of these the sentiment of pity (‘karuna’) has a subtle but
dominating place in this work; and this is not the product of his mere
imagination, but born out of the ‘lived experience’ of the author, along with
his contemporaries. Moreover in this work, all the essential requirements of a ‘mahakavya’
are simply fulfilled - ‘kaavyam yasase, adthakrite, vyavaharavide, siveta
rakshataye..’ Even the objects of propriety - ‘auchitya’ - as laid down by
Panditaraya in his ‘Lakshana grantha’ ‘Rasagangadhara’ and the ‘alankaras’ -
figures of speech - prescribed by Appayya Dikshita in his ‘Chandraaloka’ are
all satisfied.
Ramanadham’s
literary command is evident all through the work. Words follow thoughts with a
naturalness that fills the reader with a sense of adequacy and appropriateness. His description of nature,
landscape etc. are most effective and enchantingly poetic. He has the capacity
to expound his theme with brevity, beauty and effectiveness. In epitomizing and
surveying the events, he has his own unrivalled technique. He has left many
dull and prosaic moments of the long idependence struggle and concentrated on
select themes, to which he imparted intensity of sublime feelings in his
verses. He has literally used euphemisms, pun, witticism etc, with efortless
grace and charm. While quickly jumping from one meter to another in many ‘adhyaayas’
- chapters, he used, in some sub-sections depicting specific incidents or
stories the technique of employing a given metre in the whole of the episode -
a ‘dwipada’, ‘geeta’ or ‘seesa’. On careful reading the beauty of this device
stands out.
It
goes to the credit of Ramanadham that in his composition ‘meaning’ is not
sacrificed to originality of styles; the sense of music is not sacrificed to an
artificial preference for the ‘syllables’, which are maintained without ‘hypes’.
Although in the post-independence period political morality has generally
declined - as evidenced by frequent and rampant scandals - and the temple of nonviolence
is in ruins, the author concluded his work with a note of optimism for better
fortune, with his immense faith in basic human goodness.
-Dr. M. Prabhakara Rao
Shopenheur, German Philosopher says: “In the world
there is no study so beautiful and so elevating as that of the UPANISHADS. It has been the solace of my
life! It will be the solace of my death!”
There are 108 Upanishads. It is the essence of the
Vedas, The content is also called Vendanta
(the end of Vedas). Sankara and Ramanuja wrote
commentaries on them.
Western scholars who did research in Vedas :
Maxmuller; Prof. Rath; Goldstein; Graymann; M.H. Wilson; Dr. Roer; W. Writney;
Bloomfield.
They spent all their sparetime on Vedic Studies. Ralf
T.H. Griffith translated Rigveda into English, Longlois into French and Dr.
Rosen into Latin.