REVIEWS
The Moral and Political Thought of Mahatma
Gandhi: By
Raghava Iyer. The
This
is a book which every intellectual in this country as well as outside should
read in order to have a complete picture of Gandhian
thought. Powers of acute penetration and analysis have added much the learned
author in unravelling the many subtle nuances of theoretical
and practical results of estimating the Gandhian
philosophy. Further without an adequate knowledge of the Indian context, an examination of the Gandhian
proposals would prove of immense difficulty to understand. In these and other essentials
of equipment, the author no doubt has won his claim to our admiration owing to his thoroughness
of study and exposition.
The
author has spared no pains in studying all the mass of writings of Gandhiji, which itself is a stupendous task, and
tried to enlighten the reader with a detailed investigation of the moral,
ethical, religious, spiritual, economic and political approaches that have distinguished
the Mahatma’s findings after his phenomenal earnestness in solving problems
that face governments and the governed.
In
a really exhaustive examination of Gandhiji’s moral principles and philosophic
thought, Raghava Iyer has
helped us to view the background of Gandhiji’s evolution as a thinker of no
mean order by bringing before us the circumstances that shaped his early mental
make-up.
In
chapter after chapter, the author has elaborated the concepts of Satya and Ahimsa,
their intimate relationship to each other, non-violence as a creed and as a
policy, Satyagraha and its difference from passive resistance, Swaraj and Swadesi, means and
ends in politics, and so many other points of significance characterising
some of these concepts. In understanding Gandhian
political ideas, the author has usefully compared his with the thought of many
early thinkers of both the West and the East. A regular treatise, of the kind of a Sastra, has been the outcome of these labours of the author.
The
brilliant introduction to the book and the concluding chapter of assessment
make the student of Gandhian philosophy alive to the
uncommon meticulousness which has been brought to bear on the discussions here.
Perhaps, no other author in recent times who has essayed the full scope of Gandhiji’s thought has so carefully
avoided straying into the historical or biographical aspects or Gandhiji’s life and confined himself
to the main study of abstract principles which guided
Gandhiji in life.
The
notes and bibliography at the end considerably add to the usefulness of this
publication. A word of appreciation
also is due to the clean printing and execution of such a closely packed material.
–K. CHANDRASEKHARAN
The Rambles of Thimma,
the Dull: English
translation of Dr D. V. Gundappa’s ‘Manku Thimmana Kagga’.
Parijatha Publications,
Dr
D. V. Gundappa’s achievements are many in different
fields. He is a publicist of the first order, an experienced journalist, a scholar
of unceasing studies, a writer of profound thoughts and not the least a
poet of considerable merit in his own Kannada. If he is called upon to interest
himself in any problem of public importance, his judgement and practical
suggestions are of a dependable nature always. Hence, with an experience which
extends over more than half a century of public life and literature, his mind is
never fatigued by the demands on his endeavours in fresh
fields of national activity and expression.
These
verses in translation from his Kannada book have necessarily a reputation for
their many-sidedness or enlivening
the literary-minded as well as the philosophically-inclined among the readers.
A translation into English is no doubt fraught with difficulties, as the translator
himself has confessed to, in his preface. Sometimes the meaning too defies easy
comprehension of the author in the translation, as for instance the stanza
which reads:
Like
the treasure of the poor man who hoards
The
ocean in the earthen pot, the golden bars of sunlight in his window
Faith
that tends to repose limitless power within an Image
Is
the refuge of small minds.
The last line makes the normal meaning somewhat
obscure and makes the reader doubt the purpose of the poet, whether he is
railing at the world for its lack of faith or he really feels otherwise about image
worship itself.
On
the other hand a good deal of imperishable thoughts can also be gleaned from
verses of singular depth of
content and beauty of expression. Certainly the Kannada must be more intimate
and enjoyable to people with knowledge of the language. Another instance of a
verse which illuminates the reader’s entire understanding runs.
The
two eyes grasp but one view by their combined attention
The
two hands execute but a single purpose of
the mind
Out
of dualism, monism and within
monism dualism
This
is the sport of the Soul.
The
last line lifts our minds certainly to a plane of understanding the nuances of an entire system of
philosophical speculation.
Space
alone restricts more specimens being offered from these 945 verses of terse, epigrammatic contents, for
our enjoyment. Indeed it is a volume of verses to ponder over during many
readings and never at all in one stretch for the purpose of reviewing.
–K. CHANDRASEKRARAN
Letters from Sri Ramanashramam-Vols. I & II: By Suri Nagamma. Translated by D.
These
letters of a devotee of Sri Ramana
Maharshi, a Telugu lady, are published in English for
the first time. There are nearly 241 of
them here, written originally in Telugu and now translated into English by her
brother for the benefit of a
wider public. They range chronologically from the year 1945 to 1950, when the sage
attained Brahmanirvana.
The
lady mentioned as possessing no regular school or collegiate education, with no
pretensions either to knowledge of any
other tongue than her own. Yet the reader may not exclude the possibility of her education in the true sense of the word. Her capacity for details
in narration as well as her mental level for observation of spiritual matters can easily
persuade the reader to conclude her acquisition as any day far greater than
that of the so-called educated among us.
There
are too many incidents and conversations of the sage of Tiruvannamalai
reported here to select any few even for pointed reference in a short review.
His all-embracing compassion for all creatures including animals and birds of every kind, his care in teaching
others by practice and not by
precept alone, his learning being carried as a burden with him, his total
sympathy for the lowly and the lost, and last but not least his sense of humour
breaking out on every occasion to relieve tensions in the atmosphere–all calculated
to portray the sublime qualities which Bhagavan alone
as the unique exemplar in the line of great
sages of the land, could reveal
as a Jivanmukta so well described in the Bhagavad Gita.
This
book of 463 pages is of absorbing interest to those inclined spiritual
knowledge. Its unpretentiousness itself is its source of attraction. None of
the readers can afford to miss the golden opportunity afforded here for
learning the traits of the
truly great and profits by the lessons inlaid in them.
–K. CHANDRASEKHARAN
The Image of
This
volume contains twenty four critical studies which discuss the response of
British, American and German writers to
Though
The
image of
Professor
P. S. Sastry’s paper entitled Indian Themes in T. S. Eliot deserves special mention
for its critical acumen, profound erudition and sagacious assessment. The
entire ground has been covered with masterly sweep and thoroughness. Eliot’s
intimate knowledge of Indian philosophy has been amply illustrated by Dr. Sastry. It is no wonder that the subtleties of Indian
philosophers so fascinated Eliot that most of the great European philosophers
looked like school boys by contrast.
R.
A. Dave’s paper on Walt Whitman’s Passage to India, K. R. Chandrasekharan’s Thoreau and India, Mulk Raj Anand’s article on Anglo-Saxon attitudes, L. S. R.
Krishna Sastry’s paper on The Hymns of Sir William
Jones provide much interesting and informative material on the chosen topics.
It
is very difficult to single out anyone from among the twenty-four studies for special
praise because each one is marked by penetration and competence. But I would
like to commend K. R. Mahishi’s well-documented paper
on Sir Edwin Arnold and India which holds the attention of the scholar
as well as the general reader. Edwin Arnold assumed charge as Principal of The Deccan College,
This
commendable volume exhaustively deals with various aspects of Western response of creative
writers to the multi-sided life of
–Dr C. N. SASTRY
The Ten Great Cosmic Powers: By
Dasa mahavidyas or ten great disciplines of knowledge occupy a prominent place
in the Shakti cult. Each of these ten is a Brahma Vidya and self-realisatlon is the
goal of all these Vidyas. The esoteric meaning and
other details of these Vidyas are a hidden secret up
to now. All credit goes to the author, a scholar and a Sadhaka,
for having brought out this monograph unravelling the
mystery of these Vidyas for the first time. The Vedic, Upanishadic
and Puranic base of these Vidyas, their significance
and symbolism, forms of the
deity meditated upon Mantras and Bijaksharas,
historical study of the
practice of these Vidyas, and their mutual relationship and important guide
lines for Sadhakas are all presented herein in a lucid
manner. Supreme Time force for example is Kali. The one universal formulation
of energy of sound and speech
is
Expressed
in another way, “The supreme stir ready for manifestation known as Paraa Vak is the great Cosmic
Power Tripura Bhairavi, Pasyanti Vak is
Vast
scholarship, deep insight and critical research talent are all writ large on
every page. A wealth of information regarding the Ten Mahavidyas
is found herein. It is for the seekers and inquisitive readers to make it their
own.
–B. KUTUMBA RAO
Kularnava Tantra:
By M.
P. Pandit. Ganesh & Co., Madras-17. Price: Rs.
10.
The
Kularnava is the foremost Tantra
of the Kaula school and deserves
a close study by those that desire to understand the tenets and practices of
the Tantric school. “Under the conditions prescribed,
the Sadhana taught in this work is said to be the
practical application of the principles of Advaita Vada
which the Agamas of this school teach.”
Kaula sastras it is claimed are
based on Vedas. “Tasmat Vedatmakam
Shastram Viddhi Kaulatmakam.” The symbolic meaning of the five M’s is
explained as follows: “What flows from the Lotus in the Supreme Ether above is
the Wine, this is the real wine to be tasted by man.
Cutting a sunder of duality is the true eating of meat. Yoking the host of the
senses to the Self is the true eating of flesh. The woman to be waited upon is
none other than the Inner Shakti that is lying asleep
in the ordinary animal man and is awake in the Kaula.
The rush of “Ananda” that ensues on the meeting of
this Supreme Shakti and the Supreme Self is the real Maithuna the final Ma.”
This
work contains readings in English from the Tantra by Shri M. P. Pandit and an introduction by Sir John Woodroffe to the Tantrik text
series. Readers can have an idea of the theoretical, ethical and philosophical
parts of the Tantra herein. Quotations from the Upanishads,
Bhagavadgita and Sri Auroblndo’s
Savitri, similar in thought to that of the
Tantra, and an appendix containing word-explanations
enhance the value of the work.
–B. KUTUMBA RAO
For Seekers of God: Spiritual talks of Mahapursh Swami Shivananda. Advaita Ashrama, Calcutta-14.
Price: Rs. 9-00.
Translated
from the original in Bengali, these talks by Swami Shivananda
are of perennial interest to seekers of God. Swamiji
it must be recalled, was one of the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, and was affectionately called “Mahapursh” by Swami Vivekananda in recognition of his stature
of soul and natural capacities.
Comprising his conversations,
answers to questions and his comments on
men and things during his ministry at Belur Math,
these pages cover an extensive field. Prayer, meditation, japa, practice of yoga, satsang
(holy company) are the main topics. Reminiscences of the Master and his
disciples, visions and dreams including those bearing on the Shiva-origin of
Swami Vivekananda are some of the
interesting contents bearing a stamp of authenticity. To relate an incident or
two:
“Once,
at the Belur Math, Mahapurshji
said: ‘In those days we were living at Almora with Swamiji. When a devotee asked us if we could do
thought-reading, Swamiji called me to one side and
taught me how to do it. He said, ‘If you want to read someone’s thought, first
make your mind a blank, and then whatever thought arise in your mind, know it
to be the thought of your inquirer.’ Upon hearing Swamiji’s
explanation, I said to the devotee: “Well, shall I tell you what you have in
mind?” Saying this, I made my mind a blank by meditation and then I became aware of a particular thought
arising in it. I said to the devotee: “Was this your thought?” He admitted that
it was. (Pp. 146-47)
“One
night I slept near Swamiji (Swami Vivekananda); there
were Shashi Maharaj (Swami Ramakrishnananda) and some others as well. Suddenly I woke
up to find inside the whole curtain flooded with a brilliant light. Swamiji had been by
my side; but now I could not find him there. Instead, there slept a
number of Shivas–all
of the age of seven or eight years, without clothes and white in colour and their heads covered with matted hair. It was the
light emanating from their bodies that lit up the place. As I looked on I was
dumbfounded at the sight. I could not understand anything at first. I thought
it was a hallucination; so I rubbed my eyes and again looked at it–there slept
the Shivas, sure enough, just as before. So I was in
a fix and sat up with wonder; I did not lie down again. Besides, I was afraid
that I might touch them with my feet unconsciously during my sleep. So I spent
the whole night in meditation. When the day dawned, I found Swamiji
sleeping just as before. When I told him everything, he laughed heartily.
“Long
afterwards, while reading a hymn to Vireshvara Shiva,
I discovered a mantra about
meditation on him that contained a description just like; and then I knew that
my vision was quite true.” (Pp. 297-98)
–M. P. PANDIT
Introduction
to Indian Philosophy: By Ruth Reyna. Tata McGraw Hill
Publishing Company, New Delhi-49.
Dr
Reyna has a number of books on Indian philosophy to her credit. The present
one, however, is easily her best in so far as she entered into the spirit of this
philosophy which is essentially based upon experience. She has little
difficulty in showing how much of the schools of Indian philosophy represents a line of advance or a stage in the growth of the
human soul Godward. She traces a continuity in the
historical development of the tradition from the Vedic period though the Upanishadic and the post-Upanishadic
orthodox schools down to the present day. Heterodox schools like Charvaka, Jainism and Buddhism receive understanding
treatment. Key concepts of the Reality, Man and the World are discussed at
length.”
She
observes: “While Indian philosophy speaks of God, of Ishvara
the personal deity, of Hiranyagarbha or World Soul,
it is in the main, a philosophy of man and a philosophy for man. Every major
system of Indian philosophy takes its beginning from the practical problems of
life and searches for the truth in order to solve the problems of man’s
existential life. While dominated by the concern for the inner life, it does
not wander in the metaphysical wastelands with no practical aim in view.”
–M. P. PANDIT
Twelve Tears with Sri Aurobindo: By Nirodbaran.
Sri Aurobindo Ashram,
This
is a fine book which should be written by a dedicated disciple like Nirodbaran. Though in his foreword he says that “This book
is written mainly for the disciples and devotees of Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother”, it is for all “enthralling.” He described it as “a faithful amount of
what I have seen and heard and what part we played in the great drama with the
Master as the principal actor.” In other words: it is a vivid description of
the life and activities of, and his own experiences with, the Master (and the
Mother) during the last phase (of twelve years) of the Saint’s life. Hence the
book can be aptly described as a sort of “autobiographical biography” in
enchanting prose.
The
book comprises eleven chapters. “War and Politics” lets us know that, despite
he was “a mortal opponent of the British Rule in
The
book offers a rewarding study. It supplies many details which are hitherto
unknown and gives new insights into the life, work, mind, mission and especially the
sense of humour and wit, of the Saint. It has no
doubt an enlightening book giving authentic information; and it can be accepted
as an ancillary book to Professor K. R. Srinivasa Iyengsr’s
illuminating volumes on Sri Aurobindo. It is a must to every one who is interested
in philosophy, religion and literature.
–Dr K. V. S. MURTI
Fundamental Relationships and their logical
Formulations: By Frederick S. Johnston, Jr. Philosophical
Library,
The
volume under review is a pioneer attempt at building up a new system of
thinking to accommodate concepts and doctrines that do not fit into the
traditional logical scheme. The large number of concepts which we today make use of are not amenable to the treatment
of the modes of reasoning put up by traditional logic. The method outlined here
is a synthesis of the traditional and new logical concepts. The concepts are at
once satisfying to the scholar’s conscience and the man of the work-a-day
world. The concept of Reality outlined in this book is that of a growing one
and not a static vein like that of the Absolute.
The
concept of reciprocity, the
relation of transition and
reciprocity, the concept of conflict and its derivatives in
the fields of Science, Religion, Art and History are all analytically examined
and clearly stated with diagrammatic illustrations. The volume breathes a pervading
religious sense in its exposition. The exposition is refreshing and there is no
second-hand material brought in to pad the thesis. Logical clarity in
exposition helps us to attain precision in thought and exactness in expression.
Sir Richard Livingstone has an instructive saying in this connection–“An apple
a day keeps a doctor away, a good definition keeps a charlatan away.”
–Dr P. NAGARAJA RAO
The Revelation of Humanity: By Jonas Sepetys. Philosophical Library,
This
work under review examines the philosophical concepts of space and time in the
context of modern science. The treatment is more psychological than philosophical.
The central theme of the book set forth by the author is “that man who is
absolutely enclosed in his Space-Time scope can contact the universe only from this scope.” From
the signs in the Space-Time scope we detect the “realitic
inside” and the “metaphysical outside.” The author’s approach to the concept of
man is not partial, for it seeks to combine the physical and the psychical elements
in close harmony. The slant is on the physical, vital and organic.
The
chapter on Reasoning (3), Freedom and Responsibility
(6) Ethics (4) and on the rise of Culture (5) are refreshingly rewarding
reading. However, one misses the bibliography and the index that would have
helped the readers.
–Dr. P. NAGARAJA RAO
Industrialization and Rural Society: By K. M. Kapadia and S. Devadas Pillai. Popular Prakasan,
Bombay-34.
The
book is an outcome or field investigation during 1964-1965. The main purpose of
the study was to analyse the impact of
industrialization on the economic and social life of the
The
study brings out the different patterns of changing social life in three areas–the
township, the impact villages and the agricultural region. The processes of modernisation and neo-traditionalization
were found at work side-by-side. This can be said to be the major finding of
the study. Analysis of change in different spheres bears evidence to the two
major processes.
Besides
bring quite informative and analytical, the book has an appendix on field work
and a post-script under the title ‘Bulsar-Atul
Revisited.’ These two are valuable and useful for any researcher involved in
field work.
Undoubtedly
the book is a good addition in the field of rural sociology.
–Dr K. RANGA RAO
Lal Ded: Edited by Jayalal Kaul. Sahitya Akademi,
Lal
Ded is a Saint-Poetess of
By
nature, she was spiritually bent. Daily she used to cross a river; have her
devotions at the shrine of Natakeshava Bhairava and returned home late with the pitcher of water
on her head. Both her husband and her mother-in-law suspected and were not soft
on her. Later they discovered the truth. And yet they maltreated her. The
saying goes, “they may kill a big sheep or a tender lamb, Lalla
will have her hump of stone all right.” One day, as usual, she entered the house
late after her religious exercises with the water-pot on her crown. Her
husband, in umbrage, broke the pitcher with a stick. But, hey presto! the water remained frozen. With that, she filled all the
vessels in the kitchen and threw the surplus outside, which collected into a
pond. Even today people call it the pond of Lalla.
Much
miraculous powers this saivite yogini
acquired by her austere and godly life. This incident travelled far and wide
and visitors came in crowds for her ‘Darshan.’ As if in
obedience to an inner call, she left her home for good to take her message to
the people.
She
lived at a time of social and political upheavals. But in no way, they affected
her itinerant evangelism. Her sayings caught on. Her divine image is likely to
inspire generations to come as it inspired generations past.
And
it is a Rahimat (blessing) to darkling mankind to
have such ‘avatars’ on this priggish earth to salvage it from a ‘pralaya’ of spiritual collapse.
–K. SUBBA RAO
the Mind of Morarji Desai: By Basant
Chatterjee. Orient Longmans,
Madras-2. Price: Rs: 6-50.
Morarji,
as an administrator, a politician and a family man is to be had in this slim
volume. His ideas, on a wide spectrum of subjects: inheritance, democracy,
dictatorship, economics of freedom, socialism, non-alignment, religion, alcohol
and sex are put down in question and answer form.
The
statements recorded are balanced and to the point and show ample experience and
unerring wisdom.
The
personal testimony appended last reveals Morarji as a householder with a
disciplined and abstemious way of life. His thrift and meticulousness in money
matters are exemplary. Whether it is a nation’s or domestic finances, he can be
counted as the fittest man to expertly handle and make wise use of them.
He
is a strict vegetarian and a lover of Bhajan and Kirtan. Happiness and unhappiness are to him illusions of
the mind. Such equanimity points him out as a Nishkama
Karmi.
When
his promised autobiography sees the light of day, the reader will have more
about Morarji than what is presented by the author.
–K. SUBBA RAO
Yakshi from Didarganj: Poems by P. Lal. Price: Rs.
12.
Alter Sonnets: By Paul Jacob. Price: Rs. 8.
Ashes of gold and Other Poems: By Kshitij
Mohan, Price: Rs. 10.
Rusted Laughter and Other Poems: By Vijay N. Shankar. Price: Rs. 15.
Some Post-Independence Bengali Poems: Selected and translated
by Pradeep Banerjee.
All
the above books are published by the Writers Workshop,
The
five (four Redbird and one Saffronbird) volumes
afford a cross-section of the different varieties of contemporary Indian Poetry
in English.
Professor
P. Lal, the Chief of Writers Workshop, himself is a prominent poet. Yakshi from Didarganj is
the Fifth Volume comprising his new poems. The range of his themes in the
volume is indeed wide. The little poem, “Yakshi from Didarganj”, has lyrical beauty. The poem has Keatsian touches. “Syllables on the Ground”, “The Exit” and
“Sonnet 155” are specimens of high
poetic imagination. Lines like
Though
generations on generations advance,
My
passion nourishes your mortal hair.
There
is a door through which we pass
Naked
on hands and knees...
haunt the reader’s mind for
some time.
Alter
Sonnets is
the Second Volume of Paul Jacob’s. sonnets. These are
stated to be ‘striking new experimental sonnets’. They appear to be the
products of real imagination and intense feeling, religious awareness and
profound scholarship. The opening line of the first sonnet itself is striking:
The
way to heaven is simple and slow.
The
poet starts with ‘love’, passes through ‘wild state’, awaits the ‘word’, and
craves for ‘redemption’. A symbolic ‘religious devotion’ or bhakti
pervades the sonnets:
May
prayer itself be whole.
Over
this weakened the earth shall burn for you.
There
is also the element of ambiguity which contributes to the imbedded over-and
undertones in these sonnets.
Ashes
of Gold is
Kshitij Mohan’s First Volume of poems. He is a young
man in his twenties, and his prose-poems betray some youthful imbalance. Dream
is the key-term, and ‘child’ is a recurring ring image, in his poems. With
childish curiosity, he seems to write in a dreamy way:
If
the Earth be my mother I shall not relent
but reach to the stars
for a handful of emptiness and emerald
and dreams
of quicksilver.
He often refers to higher objects: heaven, sky,
galaxies, stars, planets, clouds, etc. But
Like
smoke on the sullen hillside
trickling into the sky,
thoughts
burn,
rise,
then diffuse.
He
comes down to accept: ‘the flesh is my spirit’, and admits:
It
was the beginning and the end
and now, no dreams tie me to the clouds
floating on inverted heaven bowls.
The themes and the titles apart, the thought
fluctuates up and down in his poems. There is promise in his poetry.
Rusted
Laughter is
again Vijay N. Shankar’s First Volume of poems. The
texture of his poems is somewhat akin to that of Kshitij
Mohan’s, and the presentation of thoughts is circumlocutory. He is not dreamy: ‘Without
dreams I am not weak...’ Ambiguity (plus some indifference to the norms of
language) appears to be the persisting feature of his poetry. Despite the
varied titles, there appears a pervading concern with ‘time’ and ‘self’. There
are occasional lines of real poetic weight like:
Breeze
circles like an idle old man
crackling in a sadness of Time....
It
was difficult
to learn not to love. To pass
to insincerities.
Some Post-Independence Bengali Poems is ‘a random transcreated sampling’ rendered by Pradeep
Banerjee. The translator says: ‘This endeavour...attempts to acquaint a wider section of readers
unfamiliar with Bengali, with the diversified traits of contemporary Bengali poetry.’
Twenty-one poems on different themes of twenty-one Bengali poets are selected
and transcreated in simple English. They range
between simplicity and ambiguity, exhibiting varied trends of thought and
technique. But they clearly bear the stamp of the transcreator.
These
volumes no doubt afford samples of some of the diverse trends in modern Indian
poetry. While the work done by the Writers Workshop, publishing the poetry of
new writers, is commendable, it is doubtful whether these little
gesture at the ‘Shrine of the Muse’ can survive the test of Time. A
writer is established only by the virtue of the message communicated by
him through idiosyncratic mode and the totality of his creative work. It seems
certain what Sri Aurobindo predicts about the flourishing condition of ‘future
poetry’: it emanates as the spontaneous mantra of the Supreme from the overhead
planes of the creative sage’.
–DR. K. V. S. MURTI
Dance of Dust: By Dr Krishna Srinivas. Poet Press
It
was Sri Aurobindo who defined poetry as mantra; for a definition of
poetry as hurricane the poetry of Dr Srinivas–particularly,
the title poem in the volume under review –appears to be an eloquent illustration.
The hurricane raised by ‘the awful elements of creation’ in the repertory of Dr
Srinivas has all the components of ‘impressive’
poetry, which on occasions can, and does, slip into verbal repetitiveness and
emotional excessiveness.
The
exuberance of emotion is sometimes sought to be held in check by a kind of
synthetic spiritual profundity: the spirituality, however, like Icarus, fails to rise to the heights, as, for instance, in
a poem, like ‘Nirvana’, where the potentialities for a spiritual projection
have been frittered away and the poem, like God in the poem, ‘crashes on earth’.
However, ‘Pancha Agni’ is a
highly satisfying poem, although it is not clear if the Vedic concept of panch agni
is kept in mind by the poet. It is curious to note that the five fires soon
multiply into ten fires. Nevertheless, the poem is a memorable tribute to
Mahatma Gandhi.
There
is certainly much passion in the volume; there is also abundant goodwill for
the dawn of cosmic culture. But the volume fails to rise to the heights of ‘great’
poetry, inasmuch as the emotions are rarely tempered with restraint and the
pall of verable recurrence impedes a vision of
freshness in the poetry.
–DR. S. S. PRABHAKAR RAO
Guru Nanak–A Homage: Edited
by K. R. Srinivasa Iyengar. Sahitya Akademi,
As
part of the fifth birth centenary celebrations of Guru Nanak, the Sahitya Akademi organised one national
and four regional seminar on various aspects of Guru
Nanak’s life and work in 1969. The present volume includes thirty of the
fifty-five papers read at these seminars by scholars from different parts of
While
seven papers are devoted to Nanak’s poetry other aspect of his life and work
get adequate representation in this anthology. The age of Nanak, the
Guru
Nanak was not only the founder of a
religion or a religious reformer, but a poet of distinction. In fact, he has
been described as the “fountainhead of
Punjabi poetic tradition.” He had used the spoken language and images of everyday life to reach the masses.
A scientific study of his
medium might throw further light on his message.
Professor
Srinivasa Iyengar’s illuminating introduction
provides a synoptic view of all
the five seminars. Reading this volume of
tributes to the “man of God” that Guru Nanak was is
indeed a profitable experience.
–Dr E. NAGESWARA RAO
Occult Psychology of the Hindus: N. Shubhanarayanan.
Dipti
Publications, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry-2. Price: Rs. 5.
The
unique contribution of the
Vedic Religion is the institution of Samskaras. These take the form of a series of rites
of rituals the purpose of which
is to culture the soul that has taken a body on this earth for its evolution.
As the author says every Vedic Karma or
ritual is performed to satisfy the Supreme Lord, parameswara
prithyartham and the Karla or the doer is only an instrument.
So by performing each of these Samskaras, one is only pleasing the Parameshwara by acting as an instrument in aiding
the progress of the cosmic plan of
Evolution.”
The
Samskaras are said to be forty in number–some are pre-natal,
like garbhaadhaana, pumsavana
and Seemantonnayana, the rites which
culture the embryo in the womb before birth. Upanayana
Vivaha are two important samskaras. The rites performed at death usher the soul safely
and surely to its next birth, as the next step in its evolutionary progress.
The
book under review deals with all these Samskaras in
great depth and detail. The author, himself convinced of the eternal values enshrined in the Hindu way of life, has succeeded admirably in
his endeavour to convince his readers as well. His
erudite exposition of the rationale and significance of these Samskaras combined with his
persuasive logic unveils the truth of these
time-honoured rituals to the modern mind.
–S. SHANKARANARAYANAN
The Word: By Irving Wallace. Transworld
Publishers Ltd.,
The
book gives the world a real, visible Christ in the flesh with his message of
love and peace at a time when people are drifting from their moorings swamped by
materialism.
This
so-called Resurrection Two is based on two ‘Q’ documents, discovered at Osta Antica, by an Italian
Archaeologist Prof. Monti the one, a papyrus in
Aramaic attributed to James, brother of Jesus and the other a parchment in
Greek ascribed to a Roman centurion Petronius.
But
these finds were later found to be forgeries, prepared by a French ex-convict
Robert Lebrun. Since this is a hidden truth, the
dug-out documents were authenticated and their publication was entrusted to a
Wheeler representative of the Syndicate of International Bible Publishers.
For
promotion of the new version of the Bible, the services of an American Steve
Randall were engaged. And the whole thing was kept as a guarded secret, because
the publisher Wheeler saw a threat to his project in a pastor of Westerkerk Vroome who was
spitting fire and brimstone against the orthodoxy of churches. His radical
views were that churches should shed their cloistered life: take the message of
the Christ to the nook and corner of the world and do something to alleviate
the misery of the poor and the stricken. He smelt the Resurrection Two
undertaking and was on the look out to sabotage it.
Steve
Randall too, the veteran publicist, was on a similar Odyssey, only to satisfy himself
as to the veracity of the writings of James and Petronius.
And in the course of his travels, he happens to meet Vroome
in
But
undaunted by the set-back proceeding on a clue from a paper in the dead man’s Wallet
he could lay hands on a missing piece of fragment No.3 papyrus. And with that in
hand and hopeful that Vroome will assist him in
putting an end to Wheeler’s show puts through a call to Amsterdam; apprises Vroome of his success; and makes an appointment that he
should meet him at Orly airport outside Paris.
But
as soon as he touched down he was arrested on trumped-up charges; tried by a
Kangaroo court and was deported to the States and was refused the return of the
evidence of forgery he brought with him, by the tribunal.
Having removed him from their way. Wheeler and his cohorts
flashed to the world the new
International Testament in a blaze of publicity and all this transpires due to the stark betrayal
by Vroome, who
changes his coat at the nick of time and allies with Wheeler in return
for a promise of a support for
a seat on the central committee of the
World Council of Churches.
Sick
of the events he encountered. Steve finally enters into a compact with the head
of a Raker Institute Maclaughlin
to clear from all strata of life phonies, things and thieves, and create conditions
for a better life to every human being on earth. The author sufficiently exposes
in his book the Sadducees and Pharisees among the salesmen of the ‘Word’ and also the
sanctimoniousness of the churches.
In
the end Steve’s self-addressed answer to the classic question of Pilate: What
is truth? “Truth is love. And to love one must believe in self, others, in the
underlying purpose of all living things and in the plan behind existence itself,” has a flaw. The thing is not
primarily mere belief. The need is one must live in harmony with that purpose
underlying all creation.
In
a book devoted to ‘Word’ lurid
passages with vivid and foul-smelling descriptions of hard-core sex look surprising and unaesthetic.
–K. S. R.
Mattavilasa of Mahendra
Vikrama Varman: Edited and translated by
Dr N. P. Unni. College Book House,
A
Prahasana is a lighter type of Rupaka
(drama) giving scope to humour and it can also be a
farce. All sorts of characters like lovers, courtesans, ascetics and
mendicants are depicted in this genre of drama and often there is hypocrisy,
ridicule and a battle of wits. The Bhagavadajjukiyam
by Bodhayana Kavi and
the Mattavilasa by King Mahendra Varman of Kanchi (580-630
A.D.) are well-known examples, the latter being the earliest known farce in
Sanskrit.
Mahendra Varman was not only a
great soldier and ruler, but also a poet, musician and religious reformer. His Mattavilasa is a delectable specimen of a
Prahasana. Satyasoma, a Kapalin, accompanied by his wench, Devasoma, goes round the
liquor shops at Kanchi quenching his thirst when he suddenly finds that his bowl
(a human skull) is missing. During their search for the vessel, they come across
Nagasena, a Buddhist mendicant, hiding his own bowl
under his garment. Mistaking it for his bowl, Satyasoma,
ably assisted by Devasoma, tries to wrench it from the
Buddhist mendicant. Just then, Babhrukalpa, a Pasupata by religion arrives at the scene and tries to
mediate. A good deal of funny dialogue takes place when a madman suddenly
rushes in and presents Satyasoma’s bowl stating that he
recovered it from a dog.
The characters have been drawn from the
contemporary life of that period. Mahendra Varman highlights the degeneration that had set in among
the followers of the various religions like the Kapalikas,
Buddhists and Pasupatas and the farce is replete with
sparkling dialogue and beautiful verses.
The
Mattarilasa was a favourite
with the Chakyars of Kerala for their Kutiyattam in which dance, drama and music combine.
Although a short play, it used to be enacted for several days at stretch. In fact,
a metrical commentary in Sanskrit in 41 verses called the ‘Mattavilasa
Tippanam’ (reproduced in the book) is an elaborate
discussion of the first stanza of the play. Dr Unni has
taken enormous pains to edit the Prahasana with a
long preface, translation and notes and has stressed its place on the Kerala
stage. This scholarly edition is self-contained in all respects and the reader need
not look elsewhere for further information.
–T. S. PARTHASARATHY
Kokila Sandesa of Uddanda. Edited
by Dr N. P. Unni. College
Book House,
In
composing his immortal ‘Meghasandesa Kalidasa blazed
the trail for a new genre of poetry and set a pattern for many later versifiers
to imitate. The oldest of these imitations is the ‘Pavanaduta’
of Dhoyi (12th century), a contemporary of Jayadeva. The ‘Hamsa Sandesa’ of Vedanta Desika (1269-1371)
approximates to Kalidasa’s work in poetic excellence.
Kerala
has made significant contributions to Sanskrit literature and her poets have
produced some fine Sandesa Kavyas. The ‘Kokila Sandesa’ of Uddanda Kavi (15th century) is a
beautiful lyric in 162 verses. Although Uddanda was a
Tamil hailing from the Kanchipuram area, he adopted
Kerala as his home and was patronised by Manavikrama Raja of
Uddanda was not merely a talented poet but a multifaceted scholar
with a legendary fame in Kerala. In this Kavya, the poet
himself assumes the role of the hero, like the Yaksha
of Kalidasa’s classic, and sends a message through a Kokila to his consort living in a village near
In
his long preface of 54 pages, Dr Unni has traced the life
of Uddanda Kavi and his
scholarly exploits in Kerala. Then follows an excellent
resume of the Kavya in English. The text has
been printed in bold type, and the notes and the general index appended are useful.
–T. S. PARTHASARTHY
The Finger on the Lute, (The story of Mahakavi Subramania Bharati): by Mathuram
Bhoothalingam. Published by
N.C.E.R.T.,
This
is the story of Subramania
Bharati, the great poet-patriot of Tamilnadu. The
tale of the truant poet and his wanderings and musings, his adventures and
achievements, his magnetism and love is forcefully told.
Belonging
to “National Integration Series”, and printed in bold type, the book is clearly
intended for children of high school going
age. With a little shift in the emphasis, the tale could have brought
out the glory and poetry in the life of
Bharati. As it is, one gets the impression that one could play truant, be irresponsible
and unmindful of the family
life, and yet be a great poet, and that the life of Chellamma–a
truly tragic life–is somehow less glorious for all her sacrifice and anguish.
–DR. S. KRISHNA SARMA
SANSKRIT
Anaarkali: By Dr V. Raghavan. Published by the Samskrita Ranga, 7, Sri Krishnapuram Street, Madras-600 014. Price: Rs. 3.50.
Anaarkali, an original Sanskrit play, written by Dr. V. Raghavan, is noteworthy for its novel theme which is not only
historical but deals with Muslim characters. The main idea in the play is
integration and the historical and cultural milieu of the times of Akbar and Jehangir that reflected
this synthesis fully and at its best has been used here successfully by the author.
As mentioned in the prologue to the drama, this Saamarasya
or harmony is represented by Akbar’s Din-i-Ilahi, of Sanskrit and Persian in literature, of
Southern and Northern traditions of music and dance, as also social harmony in the
marriage of Salim
with the maid Anaarkali. In fact, the idea of Saamarasya has been developed in such a manner as
to make the final union of the lovers come off smoothly and naturally. The play
also represents the youthful spirit of the author and his maturity in thought and
expression.
It
is not necessary to add anything here about the literary creative work in
Sanskrit by Dr Raghavan or what he has done to keep
up Sanskrit dramatic activity with the Samskrita Ranga, and its productions and publications. Suffice it to
mention that the Anaarkali
has been awarded the ‘Kaalidaas-Puraskaar’ for the
best creative writing in Sanskrit for 1973-’74 by the Uttar Pradesh Government and
the top All-India Kaalidaasa Award by the Madhya Pradesh
Shasan Sahitya Parishad.
–Dr S. S. JANAKI
Essays on the values of the Language and
Literature: By Dr V. Raghavan. The
Sanskrit Education Society,
Sanskrit,
as Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Aiyar says in his general
preface to this book, is the bedrock of Indian culture. V. V. Ivanov and V. N. Toporov two
younger scholars, from modern
–B. KUTUMBA RAO
TELUGU
Jaataka Kathalu
-Vol.
V. Translated from original Pali by Swamu Sivasankara Sastry. Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi, Hyderabad-4.
Price: Rs. 6.50.
The
fourth volume of this series of Jataka stories
translated from Pali by Swami Sivasankara
Sastry was reviewed in these columns sometime back with
a concise note on Jataka stories.
The
fifth volume, presently on hand, by the same learned translator and dedicated
to the well-known scholar-statesman Dr B. Gopala
Reddy contains some thirty-five Jataka stories of
edifying nature.
The
well-known story of Sibi Cakravartin, the selfless giver, finds a place in the
series of stories of this volume but in a different form. Indra, the God with
thousand eyes, asks in the guise of a blind Brahmin, for the donation of Sibi’s two eyes which the latter readily gives despite the
dissuasion of his wives and ministers and later on receives Satya Paaramitaa Cakshus by the
grace of Indra.
The
rendering of the stories in Telugu is lucid and make for interesting reading to
one and all.
–PROF. SALVA KRISHNAMURTHI