BOOK REVIEWS
ENGLISH
INITIATION, Michael Miovic, M.D., Shri Aurobindo Society, Hyderabad,
xxviii + 296 pp
INITIATION is an unusual and extraordinary book. Authored by Dr.Michael
Miovic, M.D., an American by nationality and a psychiatrist by profession, the
book deals with contemporary Indian spiritual philosophy. Genuinely
enthusiastic from a very early age, of spirituality, as practiced and professed
by the saints of modern India, in
particular by Shri Aurobindo Ghosh, and driven by his professional studies in
allied fields….. psychology, parapsychology, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis,
theology, telepathy, ESP… etc., Dr. Michael was determined to take a plunge
into the realm of the spirit. That brought him down, all the way from USA, to
the places where these saints had actually lived in the physical body… Shri
Aurobindo’s Ashram at Pondicherry, Shri Ramana Maharshi’s Ashram and Arunachala
at Thiruvannamalai, Shri Satya Sai Baba’s Ashram at Puttaparthi, Shri
Ramakrishna Mutt at Belur, and Shri Rabindranath Tagore’s Shantiniketan at
Kolkata. It was at Shri Aurobindo’s Ashram at Pondicherry that he eventually
attained, by the divine grace and blessings of the great Master and the Holy
Mother, what he was so very earnestly seeking…. INITIATION into spirituality.
That was indeed a grand lifetime fulfillment for an earnest spiritual seeker.
Indian Spiritual
Philosophy:
Over the centuries, Indian spiritual philosophy had
its tremendous influence on the rational mind, both eastern and western alike.
In fact, with deeper understanding and appreciation, its influence is now
growing at a rapid pace. The reasons for this phenomenal appeal are many. There
are no religious dogmas to blindly accept, no religious rituals to practice,
and no personal Gods to worship. The transformation of the self from the
conscious material plane comprising the body-mind-ego complex, obviously with
its own inherent sensory limitations, to the super-conscious blissful plane
(sat-chit-ananda) of freedom and fearlessness, a plane devoid of
body-consciousness and ego…. is the crux of the philosophy. This elevation of
the self from a state of creaturely survival to a state of joyful divine existence is open to all earnest
spiritual aspirants to attain here and now
through renunciation, self-discipline, and meditation, irrespective of
one’s nationality, religion, language, caste, creed, and colour.
Super-consciousness or Pure-consciousness (samadhi) wherein one merges with the
self or soul (atman), one’s own ultimate real divine nature, is a state of the
mind that one can actually practice (sadhana) and realize for oneself in this
very life.
Shri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga:
Among the saints of modern India, Shri Aurobindo
occupies a unique and special place in that he had his formal education at
Cambridge, subsequently turned into a staunch freedom fighter (for which the
then British Government sent him to jail several times), and eventually was
blessed with divine spiritual revelation…. The glorious turning point in his
dynamic life. He then developed, over the decades, typically his own theory of
liberation based on psychodynamics and consciousness. According to Shri
Aurobindo’s theory of cosmic salvation, the paths to union with Brahman are
two-way channels; enlightenment comes from above(thesis), while the spiritual
mind (supermind) strives through yogic illumination to reach upward from below
(antithesis). When these two forces blend, a gnostic individual is created
(synthesis). This yogic illumination transcends both reason and intuition and
eventually leads to the freeing of the individual from the bonds of
individuality, and by extension, all mankind will eventually achieve liberation
(moksha). Thus Shri Aurobindo created a dialectic mode of salvation not merely
for the individual but for all mankind.
Integral Yoga Vs Psychotherapy:
In the chapter ‘Integral psychology’, Dr. Michael
dwells on a detailed analysis of Shri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga that revolves
around consciousness and its evolution. There he identifies the unique eastern
wisdom, and foresees its invaluable contribution and mani-fold applicability to
the already well-developed western techniques in the areas of psychiatry and
psychotherapy. That indeed would be a remarkable blend of the great spiritual
wisdom of the East and the mighty technological power of the West.
- Kambhampati Krishna Prasad
An Exotic Tree: Abdul Rashid Bijapure; Writers
Workshop Reddbird Book, 162/92, Lake Gardens, Kolkata, 700 045; pp 57; HB Rs
100/-; Flexiback Rs 80/-.
This Redbird Book of the Writers Workshop has its
distinct mark imprinted on it. It is extremely elegant to look at, very rare
printing errors, and high quality production with handmade cloth binding. Its
claim to provide visual beauty and intimate texture of book feel and a hand
drafted artifact is quite justifiable. ‘The Exotic Tree’ is the first published
work of Sri Bijapure of Gondia(Maharashtra), a compilation of his poems
published in different journals including the TRIVENI. He is a highly promising
poet and is presently a Lecturer in English.
Sri Bijapure extensively uses symbols to convey the
main idea through the medium and the piece The Exotic Tree is one such. Indeed
the book makes an absorbing reading.
- Vemaraju Narsimha Rao
War A Heart’s Ravage: Seela Subhadra Devi (Translation of
Telugu poem Yudham Oka Gunde Katha)
According to Wilfred Owen, “All a poet can do today is
warn. That is why true poets must be truthful.” No doubt the poet Seela
Subhadra Devi had been truthful to what she wanted to say to the global human
spirit in the book, “War A Heart’s Ravage”. Amidst the mad catastrophes created by political power
maniacs and the mindless revenge tactics conceived by religious fanatics, the
innocent human child and the mother are the worst sufferers. In this backdrop
of Pralay Tandav of war nobody questions life’s purpose any longer. The poet
has been successful in creating heart a wrenching emotional picture as captured
by her sensitive mind. Images hurl at us with the speed of missiles, jolting us
to the reality. By reading the poem, not only do we visualize the inhuman
butchering but also we feel the actual fear felt by those who had been haunted
by sudden attack of war and gory death. One simple example is “legs slide like
lifts, stairs as skates slither”.
The poet’s clarity of thinking is laudable at such
places as when a mother is shown as an independent being separate from religion
with inherent power to wipe out war tendencies. In a moving appeal- the poet
exhorts all mothers to nurture the children in such a way to earn their names
themselves after birth totally unlinked to religion.
War poetry always had its impact on poetry reading
masses. But there is a marked difference between the earlier war poetry, which
was a tribute to the brave soldier who sacrificed his life and this book. Here
there are no war sung heroes. No patriotic feelings aroused. Only the mother
and the child untouched by religion emerge as the victims of cruel schemes of
the likes of Laden and Bush etc.
On the poetic canvas, we find not only war paintings
such as “missile seeds sprout smoke trees” but also find a solution towards the
end. The poet appeals for “a healing balm of fellow feeling”, for hatching one
integral human offspring. There is a touching message to all the mothers “to
lend their wombs to re-consecrate this planet with human touch—.”
A special mention of the translators P. Jaya Lakshmi
and Bhargavi Rao should be made whose painstaking efforts resulted in giving
the impression that the poem is originally written in English. Words and
characters from Hindu mythologies give a taste of Indianness revealing the True
Indian Spirit. Telugu words such as “Puli Judam”, retained as they are, make a
curious reading.
- Lakshmi Turlapati
TELUGU
Vyasa Gouthami (Literary
Essays): Prof.
Bethavolu Ramabrahmam; PS Telugu University, Bommuru, 533 124; pp 228; Rs.
120/- US $ 15.
This masterly compilation of Literary Essays on
various topics by Professor Ramabrahmam, an eminent literateur in Telugu is an
anthology of the various articles as wide as the special individuality of
Telugu Literature, Telugu grammar, critiques of the works of Nannaya, Srinadha,
Madhunapantuala, Viswanadha, Tenali Ramakrishna and others, a highly useful one
on translations, from Sanskrit to Telugu; and the art of composing poems in Avadhanas,
a particularly special exercise prevalent only in Telugu.
Prof Ramabrahmam speaks with authority on both
Sanskrit and Telugu as he is proficient in both the languages and critically
analyse the values of works in either language. This is evidently clear in
every essay in this volume. Indeed one is struck with the vast range and depth
of his knowledge in these languages.
His essays on translations are masterly. He notes that
most of the Telugu writers have followed the original work in Sanskrit but
deviated or elaborated when they felt necessary thus imparting a new flavour to
the product. One had to be particularly careful to avoid the construction of
sentences in passive voice, as it is alien to Telugu usage, while at the same
time ensure that nothing important in the original is left out. For example, in
Sundarakanda of Ramayana, Hanuman consoles Sita Devi saying “Antam
Drakshyasi”. Which means that she will see the end of the miseries. In
Telugu this usage of “seeing the end” implies that one would fight and win
against the other. The translator has thus to ensure that the translation does
not lead to a different meaning from the original. To ensure that one has
indeed to be an authority in both the languages.
Another great asset to this highly useful book is that
it has a highly erudite and scholarly preface by Sri Kovela
Sampathkumaracharya. In his observation on the translation of Bammera Pothana’s
Mahabhagavata, he critically analyses that the episode of Hiarnyakasipa
has been made into an episode of Prahlada by Pothana. Thus while the centre of
the episode was Hiranyakasipa in the Sanskrit version, it is Prahlada in the
Telugu version of the Bhagavata.An eminently readable work by both
scholars and the ordinary.
- Vemaraju Narsimha Rao
Manoj Das Kathalu: Manoj
Das (Tr) Upadrastha Anuradha; Smt. V.Bala Tripurasundari, 3rd
street, Badri Raj Nagar, Gosani Nua Gaon, Berhampur, 760 003; pp 97;Rs.60/-
Padmashri Manoj Das is a great writer in Oriya and
English and a master story teller. 14 of his short stories are translated by
Smt Upadrastha Anuradha in this compilation. She does the job ably in simple
style and without affecting the original. In fact one feels the stories are
original Telugu stories.
Manoj Das weaves his stories so that the reader
empathises with the characters. In the story ‘Vigraham’, Yogeswar Mishra, the local luminary is distressed to find
that in the town even remembers his name or his greatness of yester years.
Mishra is very much worried that inspite his statue he got installed when in
power, he does not get due recognition in the town. One night, thieves destroy
his statue as it obstructs their view. He feels mighty happy that at last his
name got due recognition.
Narendra Choudary a young zamindar, offers Krishna
Chand, a good actor who portrays Rama in his court, a gold medal but everyone
knows he has fallen on bad days and waits to see how his promise is kept. But
the zamindar not only gives away his gold ring for making the medal but also has to borrow some more money and
presents it to the actor. A moving story well told.
In another moving story on Theft, (Dongathanam), the
background is the famine-stricken Orissa of the Nineteen-Forties. Brindavan
gets 20 seers of rice, and it is the first time in his life to have seen so
much rice at a time. He gives some of the rice to his daughter who comes to his
house for succour and keeps away some rice and tells her that it belongs to others. The daughter goes to
her place and in the night re-enters her father’s house to steal the remaining
quantity for her hungry children. People wake up and chase the thief who
disappears near Brindavan’s house, where they find only the father and the daughter.
The conclusion moves one to tears.
Stories like Nuyyi (well), Topi (cap) make interesting
reading. The vaingloriousness of the politician is brought out in Topi. A
Minister visits a village and when he is resting, his cap is taken away by a
monkey. The organiser learns the truth from a boy, but bluffs the Minister that
the cap was taken by a fan as a memento of his visit and as a mark of respect.
The Minister’s ego is tickled and he sanctions some grant too. A political
satire that does not miss its aim!
All other stories are also well sketched and leave
their impression on the reader. Manoj Das establishes himself as a master story
teller.
Kudos to Anuradha for her gripping translation, and
efforts to bring some good Oriya short stories to the Telugu readers.
- Modali Arunachalam
Rekkala Satakam: (poetry) ; Dr.C.Narayan Reddy; Varenya
Creations, Plot No. 48, Filmnagar, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad 500 033; pp
111; Rs. 100/-.
Dr. C. Narayan Reddy, is a great Telugu poet, who has
won several prestigious awards, including the Jnanpeeth Award, India’s
prestigious literary award. He is a prolific writer and an eminently popular
speaker. This book has a collection of 52 poems and 6 ghazals. The title itself
is poetic and carries one on the wings of muse. True to the title, all the
lyrics are of a high class and contain the stamp of CINARE, as he is popularly
called.
He is unique in his ghazals. He is one of the few that
popularised this form of poetry in Telugu. In his poetry the words acquire
wings and fly with ideas, such a one titled “Rekkala Santakam”. In
‘Paruchukuntu” he says that if one goes on measuring the distance, one does not
reach the goal; only by a vigorous thrust does one reach the destination. It is
indeed a great exhortation and a verity. There is a great philosophical truth
when he says that the leaves vacate the tree that has outlived, making way for
reentry on a young and sprouting plant.
In ‘Ila endukantunnanante’ he exhorts men to bridge the
differences. In another piece, a really
learned man never indulges in self-praise and the applause heard in a meeting
not the yardstick of one’s greatness but only the approval of the wisemen is
the real honour. An eminently readable book.
- Modali Arunachalam