REVIEWS
C. Rajagopalachari: By
K. T. Narasimhachar. Heritage
Publishers. Connaught Circus,
The multi-faceted personality of Rajaji can
profitably lend itself to any amount of good study. If anyone’s life could
yield much material for rich lessons to be absorbed by the keen citizen of a
future
Here is a volume by one with a keen perception of
the springs of action of a wise man of the present age who, along with the
Mahatma and many other giants among the first-rank politicians of the country,
gained a place in the history of the freedom struggle. But the author’s claim to have said much of his life may not be
justified, for we gather a worthy study of Rajaji’s
mind only in a greater measure in these pages. True, Rajaji did not himself
relate much about his own past and what few incidents that could be collected
fill the need in a meagre way. Except the episode of his early explanation for
the blue colour as represented in Mythology for God,
which has also run into different versions, there is not much matter concerning
his upbringing or his striking personal qualities till his entry into public
life.
The chief merit of this book of nearly 180 pages is
the successful portrayal of Rajaji’s gifts as an
administrator and the chapters on him as “Interpreter of Indian Culture”,
“Eminence as a Writer” and “Devotee of Dharma” are really well-chosen to
instill in the reader the legitimate pride that we as Indians can feel in his
mastery of understanding of our great heritage. An example of the author’s
brief yet convincing manner of interesting the reader in his
description of Rajaji can be availed of in the following paragraph: “Though he
dealt with everyday problems of political life in
The
writer possesses a clear and convincing style which adds to the merit of
brevity of encompassing vast materials within a few hundred pages. The index
makes the book more useful for ready references.
–K.
CHANDRASEKHARAN
Rajaji: Life and Work: By R. K. Murthi. Allora Publications, Dayar Ganj,
New Delhi-3. Price: Rs. 50.
This
is a short sketch of Rajaji’s eventful life and
political career, offering the readers almost some of the same details which
have been dwelt upon by other earlier publications in this centenary year of Rajaji’s birth. But because of the
incidents mentioned being the same, the narrative does not on that score lack
intrinsic quality for engaging us. Each writer tries to view the
thoughts and activities of the great man from his own particular angle.
Therefore naturally the stress changes with everybody’s reactions and so
provides the general reader ample material to peruse and ponder over.
The
author has very usefully added the last seven chapters containing enough peeps
into the versatile mind, regulated behaviour and
clean habits of Rajaji which, despite again of the already familiar anecdotes,
prove of immense source of interest. The fact they are so rich of objective
lessons to most of our leaders in public life, they are sure never to reach the
limit of saturation.
–“SAHRIDAYA”
Rajaji and Gandhi: By B. K. Ahluwalia and Shashi Ahluwalia. Allora publications, Dayar Ganj,
New Delhi-2. Price: Rs. 50.
This is another new publication upon
Rajaji to mark his birth centenary. It contains the incidents in Rajaji’s political life which inevitably was connected
intimately with Gandhiji. The writers of the volume have spared no pains in
selecting the main incidents which had a bearing upon shaping Rajaji in the
Gandhian philosophy. There are parallel streams of activities in the lives of
both the leaders to justify the similarity influencing the high moral purpose
of both when brought among the tasks of public life. The sources, of course,
for the materials gathered are almost some of the same previous publications on
them. Some of the critical stages during the national struggle for freedom in
which Rajaji’s part had proved the extraordinary
stamina of his intellectual powers and clear assessment of men and affairs, are
shown here against the background of the intensifying drama of communal
conflict and unpredictable fortunes that confronted the nation in its long
story of liberation.
The
last few chapters describing the personal qualities of both the leaders easily
prove of absorbing interest, though even there anecdotes mentioned of Rajaji’s wit and humour have been
extracted from earlier books like Bimalesh Chatterjee’s Thousand
Days with Rajaji. The brief but very perceptive introduction of Prof. K. Swaminathan is more his own contribution to the thought
upon Rajaji than any real introduction to the present volume.
–“SAHRIDAYA”
Beginnings: By Penelope Farmer.
Copies can be had from B. I. Publications,
This
is a unique anthology which brings in one volume several myths which have been
prevalent in the ancient world.
The
author demonstrates not only the astonishing variety, the intriguing
illogicality, and the ancient wisdom of myth, but also the inexplicable and
extraordinary way in which the mythical thinking,
recurs again and again in every corner of the world. The book contains more
than eighty stories and poems taken from
The
author clubs together the fundamental myths under seven headings ‘Earth’,
‘Man’, “Flood’, ‘Fire’, “Death’, ‘Food Plants’ and ‘The End of the World’. Each
of these sections is preceded by an illustration done by the well-known
American artist Antonio Frasconi. Each section also
contains a very useful preface by the author herself, where she discusses the
scope and significance of her findings.
Taken
as a whole, the series of myths, presented here points clearly and distinctly
to the basic idea, that there is some kind of unity behind creation, which
seems for ever disunited, but which always unites again. Modern physics
postulates that matter and space alike are composed of the same varieties of
basic particles in ever-shifting combinations, and ancient myths seem to
anticipate this finding. The recreation involved in the very destruction seems
to be a common factor of universal life. This is reflected in an oblique
manner, in the message of the myths, that in order to create something,
something has necessarily to be destroyed first.
Of
particular interest is the chapter of compilations of ‘Death’. The various
stories taken from
Woven
from these ancient myths is to be seen, the same broad story of ancient man’s
wonder at the beauty, the complexity, and the variety in creation, and his
attempts through various philosophies of logical understanding and intuition,
to explain and to synthesize them. The myth makers arrived at the truth, that
to live one has to die, and to die one has to live. “In my beginning is my
end…In my end is my beginning...” said T. S. Eliot. But the myth makers arrived
there long before he did.
–DR. N. RAMESAN
Golden Harvest: By K. Chandrasekharan.
Bombay-7. Price: Rs. 15.
The
present collection includes the nine lectures delivered by the author as the
Tagore Professor of Humanities at the University of Madras during 1968-’69, and
constitute the second series of his lectures delivered in that capacity, the
first having been published already under the title, “Culture and Creativity.”
Mr.
K. Chandrasekharan has himself a poet’s sensitivity, and responds inwardly to
the most delicate intimations. He is, therefore, eminently fitted by natural
endowment to experience, appreciate and echo the subtle nuances of feeling and
affective vicissitudes implicit in a poet’s utterances. This is amply borne out
by the profusion of poetical extracts that fill the pages of the book as one
advances from chapter to chapter. The citations are not from Tagore alone.
Indeed, in some of the chapters the central luminaries are Kalidasa, Valmiki,
Vyasa and Kamban, while Tagore comes in for purposes
of a summing up and by way of a brief mention, which contains more through
suggestion than explicit expression. The chapter on “Thought and Imagery” would
serve specially to show how close Tagore is to Kalidasa, for instance. Tagore,
as Mr Chandrasekharan demonstrates, is next only to
Kalidasa in his similes.
The
chapter on “Fact and Fiction” illustrates by means of copious references not
only to Tagore but to Valmiki’s Balakanda
of “Ramayana,” Henry Warren’s “Wise Reading,” Virginia Woolf’s
“Granite and Rainbow” and to other English literary critics like Somerset
Maugham and Kenneth Payson Kempton, that the garb of facts are too tight a
dress for Truth while “in fiction she moves with ease.” The author has in this
chapter succeeded high- lighting Tagore’s excellence as a story-teller.
“Humour is life-belt” is eminently readable and keeps the
reader’s attention buoyed up. “The Art of Biography” offers substantial fare.
“Failure of Freedom” could have drawn more fully from “the Religion of Man”,
and “Materialism and Spirituality” from “Creative Unity.” Mr
Chandrasekharan’s scholarship is well and truly
reflected alongside of his poetic perception in the pages of the present
publication.
–PROF. K.
SESHADRI
Vedanta and
A novel approach and a still more novel conclusion.
In the elaborately argued view of the author, Vedanta has always represented an
anti-rational movement in
The
book would be amusing but for the mischievous intent.
–M. P. P.
The Autobiography of a Free Thinker: By
S. Subramanya Iyer, Devi
“I
shall be a lifelong student of Nature and a correspondent to humanity”, thus
vowed a young man in his teens and it has taken four decades for him to blossom
into a free thinker with cosmic horizons on his mind. The present volume is in
a sense his testament to humanity, coming as it does after a series of books of
universal themes in which he has identified himself with whole Nature at
different levels.
He
traces, in these pages, how his mind has developed, what books have influenced
him most, which personalities have played a part in his evolution, and what he
thinks of the present day problems and life-situations. “A comprehensive vision
and an integrated outlook on life” is his goal and who shall say one has
reached it? It is a constantly developing movement.
The
book is interesting and educative.
–M. P. P.
Tapovan Katha: By
Kalipada Guha Roy. Pongi Publications, Sri Vaishnavi
campus, Madras-52.
It
is stated in the introduction to this book that the same Divine Flame that took
the form of Rishi Yajnavalkya in ancient times, has
been periodically embodying itself in each yuga, and in the present Kali age it has taken the form of Dada Kalipada Guha Roy. Many were the
conversations that devotees had with him and the volume under review contains a
selection from these. We are taken again and again in these pages to what Dada
called the Maharshi’s Tapovan where
elevating things take place. The subjects covered pertain largely to Sadhana of
the soul which provides for the beautification of worldly life and communion
with Nature as part of the discipline.
–M. P. P.
Dr Pattabhi Sitaramayya: By Dr A. Prasanna Kumar. Published by the
This
regular study of the incessant work done by Dr Pattabhi Sitaramayya for nearly
sixty years in the political field of this country is a very useful chronicling
of the times also. Since the Madras Congress of 1908, his active part in the
deliberations of the Congress is carefully scrutinised
and the assessment of due credit paid to the veteran patriot. From early, Dr Pattabhi’s slant towards
In
Khadi work as well as in Harijan
uplift programme his eminent services were much appreciated by Gandhiji.
Gandhism as distinct from Socialism of Nehru actuated him from the beginning
and he never yielded his views to persuasion from the other side.
His
“History of the Congress” in two volumes was a laborious undertaking which
added much credit to his solid contributions :
Congress. Strongly opposed to Communism, he would not also be guided by the
Leftists in the Congress led by Subhas Chandra Bose.
His
memorable role in bringing about to successful completion of the States’
Peoples Conferences paved the way for the later work of consolidation by
Vallabhbhai Patel of the Native States into the Indian Union.
Enough
spade-work in collecting materials has preceded this writing which is quite
readable. Though Dr Pattabhi’s autobiography itself
could have supplied some early details, there is hardly any doubt that the
attempt here to give an almost complete picture of Dr Pattabhi Sitaramayya’s political life is crowned with the success it
deserves.
With
the pages of copious references, bibliography and index, this volume will be of
very instructive help to students striving to know of the hard times before the
independence that we got.
–K.
CHANDRASEKHARAN
Socialist Thought of Jawaharlal Nehru: By
Benudhar Pradhan. Academic Press, Gurgaon-1, Haryana.
Price: Rs. 44.
Jawaharlal Nehru and his Economic Policy: By
Mrigen Bose. Published by Smt.
Anita Bose, 152 Dum Dum
Park, Calcutta-55. Price: Rs.
15.
The
former Prime Minister of India, Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru, has come in for a great
deal of adverse comment during recent times, especially after the defeat of
Mrs. Indira Gandhi’s government at the Centre. It is,
however, a matter for great disappointment and dissatisfaction that the very leaders
who fought alongside of him and who at one time regarded him as the hero of the
nation should have gone about decrying all that Nehru stood for. They have even
tried to devalue the importance of this great man in the national context. It
is, therefore, refreshing to note that some books have come out recently to put
across to the people the precious ideas of Mr. Nehru and what he stood for.
In
the first book under review, Mr. Benudhar Pradhan gives a graphic description of the evolution of Mr.
Nehru’s socialistic thought. Nehru was an aristocrat by birth in the sense that
he commanded all the riches that one could hope for; his father had already
made a name as a distinguished lawyer and the surroundings in which Mr. Nehru
lived in his younger days were such that they would not promote exactly any
kind of socialism of which he was to become a great champion later. Nehru
developed the concept of socialism as he understood in his book entitled
“Glimpses of World History.” It was his firm view that the shortcomings of
capitalism and democracy would make socialism inevitable. Imperialism and
capitalism cannot be improved and “the only real improvement is to do away with
them altogether.” His association with Gandhiji no doubt mellowed him a great
deal. Gandhiji himself said that while he and Nehru differed a great deal in
their political convictions, he was pretty sure that Nehru had deep down him a
spirit of compromise and conciliation that had endeared him to the young and
the old alike. It was at the Lahore Congress that Mr. Nehru expounded his
intellectual conviction in favour of socialism.
Gandhiji was, of course, not unduly perturbed at the socialistic ideas of Nehru
and the radical pronouncements that he was making on and often though he was a
little worried that Nehru was moving a little too fast. But he was confident
although Nehru held strong views on socialism, he was
not a communist or a revolutionary. Even so, it was largely due to Nehru’s
insistence and perseverance that the Congress ultimately veered round to the
view that social and economic issues should be given adequate consideration. As
the author rightly said, Mr. Nehru firmly believed in interpreting socialism in
the language of
For
those who have lived when Nehru was in power, it is more than clear that it was
the socialist in him that made him talk about the importance of agriculture. He
said on one occasion that as agriculture is the principal occupation of the
great majority of the people, it must be the first concern of the State.
Subsequently, during his years of power, Mr. Nehru perpetually harped on the
agricultural sector of the economy in spite of the industrial bias and gave it
prime of place in the national economy. His concept of socialism with its
emphasis on purity of means and non-violent technique, to use the words of the
author, ultimately assumed the form of socialistic pattern of society as
defined at the famous Avadi session of the Congress.
It was to him that the nation owes the public sector for he felt that the
“important thing is that the strategic points must be controlled by the State.”
Nehru developed his own brand of socialism and his concept of socialism was not
one as of objective necessity of a capitalist system, a system emerging out of
the conflict between means of production and production relations. The concept
of violence and the use of force that are inevitable for socialist
transformation is for Nehru at a discount in
The
second book deals as the title denotes with Nehru’s economic policy. Nehru,
says the author, was eager to move
–M. PATTABHIRAM
English Translation of Selected Palms of Kazi
Nazrul Islam: By Sri Buudha Chakravarthy. Sahitya Akademi. New Delhi-1. Price: Rs. 5-00.
Kazi Nazrul
Islam’s poetry overwhelms the reader like a cyclone with thunder and lightning.
Revolt against all forms of slavery is the recurring theme of his poetry.
Freedom from all imitations is the destination of his daring journey. Breaking
all barriers he identifies himself with all, irrespective of caste, creed,
religion, race and nationality, but of this universality of his world-view
emerges his philosophy of humanism which glorifies man almost with religious fervour. It is true that Nazrul
is not religious in his outlook. But his crusading zeal is typically religious
in its intensity. The emphasis in his poetry always falls on the cataclysmic end
of the existing values. He does not attempt to nationalize his intuitive
perception of the oneness of all men. He feels it and therefore proclaims it,
as it were, from the peaks of hills. He is like Whitman in his reckless
readiness to identify himself with all.
However,
the rhythm of these poems, at least in translation, is too martial and
unvarying. Repetition of phrases and images makes them somewhat monotonous.
However, Nazrul’s courage, candour,
clarity, truth and humanity are qualities that continue to inspire the
freedom-fighters of all ages to come. The translation has brought out the
revolutionary spirit and the martial tone of Nazrul.
–DR C. N.
SASTRY
Aspects of Indian Literature: The Changing Pattern: Edited
by Suresh Kohli. Vikas
Publishing House,
This
book is thematically divided into five chapters: (1) Literature and divisive
tendencies, (2) Obscenity and sex, (3) Literature and protest, (4) Literature
and the law, (5) Social realism and change, and presents an elaborate survey of
changing patterns in Indian literature. Present day writings are
social-oriented. Slum life, proletarian aspirations, corruption, nepotism and
other social evils are some of the themes covered. These are specific and immediate problems with limited objectives and a
materialistic outlook and want in breadth of vision and opulence of emotions.
Time-tested convictions and beliefs are jettisoned as superstitions and myths
and the impact of monstrous industrialism and a soulless scientific education
proves disastrous to the moral stamina of youth. This genre of literature
dubbed as social realism can be bracketed with professional pidgin and
subject-oriented stuff which till yesterday was a controversial topic. Realism
is not idealism. On any count it is imperfect. All imperfect social
organizations are breeding grounds of revolutions which in no way contribute to
the cultural growth of the people. Literature is hailed as an adequate antidote
to fissiparous forces in the first chapter of the book while counting human
attitude too as primitive factors. This is so far true if it is not tainted by
modernity. In chapter two it is contended that sex is not tabooed in Indian
literature and that is a recent concept imported by the British and that there
is nothing obscene when it is found in literature. No doubt sex has a place.
But ugly imagery is off bounds. Obscenity is as ancient as the fig-leaf with
which awakened innocence covered its nakedness (Bible). Chapters four and five
are dedicated to subjects susceptible of social protest: censorship or
proscription at the hands of inexorable law. All of them are Existentialist
issues one has to face and live with so long as he lives and moves on this
perishable earth. The literary trends and directions
towards which Indian literature is moving, do not appear to be so much
edificatory and do not nourish higher impulses that motivate man to nobler
achievements. They are derogatory and demoralising
and add no inches to the stature of a great literature of any clime whether it
be Indian or foreign. Timelessness and universality are the two traits of an
outstanding work of art. A lack of these essentials turns literature into
jejune, anarchic and inefficacious creation useless to life.
–K. S. RAO
Advaita Vedanta: By R. Bala Subrahmanian. Centre for Advanced Study in Philosophy,
This
is an authentic and exhaustive exposition of Mandanamisra’s
Advaitic Philosophy as expounded in his work “Brahma Siddhi.” The six chapters herein deal with the means of knowing Reality or Pramanas,
Khyativadas or the Theories of Error, Nature of
Reality, Refutation of the Theory of Difference, Avidya
and the way and goal, viz., Moksha. The dialectics
involved herein are all presented in as lucid a way as possible. Arguments
advanced by others like Naiyayikas, Mimamsakas, Vijnanavadins, Dvaitins, Visishtadvaitins and Bauddhas are at first presented and then are refuted as it
was done by Mandana. Study of the theories of error,
nature of Moksha, relation between Karma and Jnana and nature of Reality and Avidya
will be of absorbing interest even to a lay man as there is not much of
intricate metaphysical jargon therein. As Dr T. M. P. Mahadevan put it in his
preface, this is a good manual of Advaita and should be owned by every student
of philosophy. We await similar publications on Ishta
Siddhi, Naishkarmya Siddhi, Advaya Siddhi and finally Advaita Siddhi
also from this centre.
–B. K. RAO
History of Maithili Literature: By
Dr Jayakanta Mishra. Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi-l.
Price: Rs. 15.
The
book under review is one among many, planned by the Sahitya Akademi
under its scheme of publishing, in English, histories of literature in the
languages recognised by the Akademi
and getting them translated into other languages, so that Indians all over the
country will realise that “Indian literature is one,
though written in many languages.”
Maithili is one of the
languages recognised by the Sahitya Akademi in recent years. It is the native language of the
inhabitants of a large tract of densely populated land in Bihar and
It
is interesting to note the following observations of the author: “The film and
the modern novel are great enemies of the drama. Fortunately, there are no
films as yet in Maithili” (P. 279) and “It must never
be forgotten that poetry is, of all forms of literature, the most conservative
and therefore the old forms continue to elicit response” (p. 307). It is apparent
that modern Maithili literature has yet to grow and
is sure to grow as it cannot remain immune from the influences which modern
literature in other Indian languages are subject to.
–Dr R. S.
MUGALI
The Date of Kurukshetra War: By
A. V. Chanda. Ratna Prakasan,
The
controversy regarding the date of Kurukshetra war is
a perennial one. Number of historians have already
written on this problem. On the one hand there is an extreme view that the war
was never fought. It is only legendary. In the text-books on Indian History,
the date of the war is assigned to 1000 B. C. This view is seriously questioned
by scholars. Sri A. V. Chanda in the present work
refutes the prevailing view and tries his best to prove that the Kurukshetra war occurred in 3137 B. C.
In
the first chapter, the background to the Rigvedic war
is traced. It is stated that the Pandava princes were
reportedly born and reared in the Himalayan region. Pandu
was the younger brother of Dhritarashtra, the ruling
chief of the Kurus of Hastinapur.
Pandu had to live in the forest region because of a
curse and when he died, the Pandava children were
brought back to Hastinapur. The rivalry between the
sons of Dhritarashtra and Pandu
ultimately led to war. In the course of this chapter, the social, religious and
economic background is drawn.
In
the second chapter, the date of the Vedic Era is discussed. The author banks on
the evidence of astronomy. Some of the passages of the Vedic period show that
Sun was in conjunction with the lunar mansion Phalguni
at summer solistic. Hence the epoch took place at
about 4000 B. C. In the next chapter the author examines the various views
regarding the date of Mahabharata war. After rejecting the
prevailing views, the author points that
The date of Kurukshetra
war is the result of painstaking and labourious research. In spite of what the author has
written, the prevailing opinion that the war took place in 1000 B.C. cannot be
pushed aside and it still holds the field.
The
concluding portion contains detailed astronomical calculations and also several
press-cuttings from statesmen, which refer to the date of the war. In the
opinion of the reviewer this is a serious work and deserves attention of all
scholars.
–Dr K. SUNDARAM
Fundamental Rights and the 42nd Constitutional Amendment: By
Sunder Raman. Minerva Associates Pvt. Ltd., 7-B,
The
42nd Amendment Act which symbolises the highly
undemocratic behaviour of the Congress Government
during the Emergency has been under fire and the 45th Amendment Bill is under
preparation by the Janata Government to amend the
abhorrent portions of the 42nd Amendment Act. The discussion of the book under
review mainly centres around
the controversy over the definition and scope of Articles 13 and 368 in our
Constitution in regard to Parliament’s power to amend the Fundamental Rights. The author has succinctly analysed how the judiciary is devalued, fundamental rights
are curtailed and how the Constitution has become subordinate to Parliament.
The author has rightly pointed out that the duties
mentioned in the 42nd Amendment should have been spelled out in more concrete
form and adds that “the duties without penal provisions would not be
effective.” This conclusion is of doubtful value, for there are various types
of laws under which people can be punished for default of duty. In the final
chapter, after cataloguing the various conclusions that follow the 42nd
Amendment, the author concludes that as the Janata
Party Government does not have the required majority to amend the worst
features of the 42nd Amendment Act, “it is now the duty of the judiciary to
invalidate the damage done by the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution carried
out by the previous Government.” The author has not substantiated how the
judiciary can arrogate to itself a power vested in the Parliament. Moreover,
the passing of the 43rd Amendment Act by the Janata
Government belies the fear expressed by the author in regard to securing the
required majority.
A subject like the Fundamental Rights Vs the 42nd Amendment has a common area for Political Science and
jurisprudence. So there is danger of mixing up of socio-political approach with
legal approach. The author hopes that “the study would be useful to students of
Constitutional Law.” In analysing the decisions of
the Supreme Court in the Golaknath and Kesavananda Bharati cases and the events leading to the
42nd Amendment, discussion of the concept of “committed judiciary” would have
made the work spicy.
The author has judiciously confined to sections in
the 42nd Amendment Act relating to Fundamental Rights only and the book is
refreshingly free from irrelevancies. The discussion on the relevant
aspects of the 42nd Amendment Act is simple, clear and analytical.
–V. LINGAMURTHY
Swami: By R. Ganapathy.
Poompuhar
Publications. 15,
This
bulky volume, in lucid Tamil, is a mine of well sifted information of the life,
work and teachings of Bhagavan Sri Satya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi, who has become the centre of so
much writing and controversy. The author, who is a seasoned writer having to
his credit a number of valuable books, says that he has given, from the vast
mass of material collected by him, a select, unvarnished account, with
“intellectual honesty” and objectivity. He gives many good reasons for styling
the book “Swami” more so, as Baba refers to himself, in the third person, as
such. The book is said to be specially meant for those who genuinely feel and
regard Sri Satya Sai Baba as a Purna Avatara of God and a re-appearance of
the Shiridhi Baba, so that such devotees and
followers may have a true and authentic account and confirm themselves further
in their belief and devotion. The author feels that Sri Satya Sai Baba is a Mahapurusha, a
super-Avatar, beyond all analysis and tests by ordinary mortals, be they
scientists, religious leaders or intellectuals. He is a fathomless ocean and
the author is happy that he is able to offer by way of Purna Kumbha, as it were, a true account of
His Prayaga, Prabhava, Prathapa and Prakasa, all
ultimately climaxing into His Prema and Prasanthi. The book deals squarely with the
“Miracles” and “Lillis”, giving answers to several of the uninformed statements
and prejudiced criticisms.
Notwithstanding
its 1008 pages (1000 by way of Sahasrarchana and
8 by way of Ashtaguna pushpanjali)
the author says they are but a sample pick from the ocean the Swami is, all
for Lokahita, for our good, peace and upliftment. No one can fully dive deep or fathom the hidden
root or moola or of the Kalpaka-vriksha the Swami is, or understand in whole
even his Karuna Lila–the
visible flowers of that vriksha.
The
Jeevadhara of the whole is Satya and there is no need for anyone to know or learn about Him
second-hand or through miracles (which are but visiting cards whose purpose is
exhausted with the introduction). He is there, for anyone, sincere and earnest,
to see and know for himself, first-hand Prathyksha–by his
own inner Anubhava, in a self-certifying manner.
The
book is full of quotations and references to the Vedas, Agamas, the Gita, the Alwars, Bharatiyar, the Bible,
etc., and points out to the great mission of Sri Satya Sai
Baba, to re-establish in full measure, belief in Vaidikamarga, Asthikya and the Dharmic
way of life and liviing and to kindle, in hearts of
men universal love and harmony–that God and Love are one and the same–which
Baba says is the divine purpose of his birth and presence.
A very readable, well-written and well-produced book with
113 illustrations.
–T. V. VISWANATHA AIYAR
Sri Vasavadatta Vatsarajamu: By S. Ramakrishna Sastry,
Vatsaraja’s romances and Yaugandharayana’s schemes and designs are the subject
matter of this Kavya of nine cantos. Delineation of
love in union and love in separation in the 4th and 7th cantos respectively is
pleasing. Descriptions of the movements of the elephant and the havoc caused by
the intoxicated elephant are natural. Fancy and imagery, flawless characterisation, figures of speech, Upama
and Ardhantaranyasas, noble sentiments expressed
regarding conjugal relationship, etc., and some sayings beautify the poem.
Three minor poems dealing with some pathetic incidents in the lives of Khadga Tikkana, Balachandra and Vedic Harischandra
at the end of this work have their own beauty. Leaving aside some technical
points the work provides a good reading.
–B. K. R.
Kalyana Kalpavalli: Edited
by “Karunasri” Jandhyala Papayya Sastri. Kalyana Bharati, Ravindranagar,
The
first anthology of Telugu poetry was brought out by Sri Muddukrishna
in the early ’Thirties. It was confined to
the modern poets only. In 1950 the Sahitya Akademi
published another which was edited by Sri Katuri
Venkateswara Rao. That was a more representative selection–from old, medieval and modern periods. The
present volume contains selections from poets belonging from 11th to the 18th
centuries – from Nannaya to Chitrakavi
Singaracharya.
The editor who has earned a distinct place among
the modern Telugu poets has taken pains in selecting the cream of the best
poets. Not only that, he has included in the book select verses for daily
prayers and fine dramatic incidents from famous Prabandhas.
An excellent compilation which introduces the best poets to
the lay man and induces him for further study of the Kavyas.
–BHAVARAJU
Srimad Ramayana Vaibhavamu:
By Dr Malladi Gopala
Krishna. Sarma. Arsha
Bharati Publishers, Anantavaram,
True
to its name this work brings out the glory of Valmiki’s
Ramayana in thirty-three critical essays on different topics. Valmiki wrote
this work in order to preach and propagate Vedic Dharma, viz., performance of
Vedic rituals like Yajnas, and other duties enjoined
by the Veda to a householder in particular and to everyman in general. Truth,
celibacy, obedience to parents, discharge of one’s
duty–all these come under Dharma that is universal. In common with all other
writers on the Ramayana, he also discusses the propriety or otherwise of the
character of Ahalya and of Rama’s
killing Vali incognito. The main contribution of the
author to the Ramayana literature is found in his essays 2, 3, 10, 31, 32 and
33. Therein Nature, and importance of Yajnas in general, Asvamedha and Putrakameshti in particular, are dealt with, and explained
with relevant quotations from Vedas also. Significance of Hindu marriages is
well explained. Importance given to hospitality and Karma Marga
in the Ramayana is brought home to the readers. In the remaining chapters,
major and minor characters in the Ramayana are described in detail. A very useful work brimming over with valuable information.
–B. K. SASTRY