REVIEWS
In this admirable book, Dr. Aronson traces the
evolution of Romain Rolland’s Great Conscience from birth to death. Dr. Aronson
shows how Tolstoy influenced Rolland in his youth and how again and again he
goes back to Tolstoy as a measuring rod, when he tries to comprehend a Gandhi
or a Vivekananda. The biographer skillfully presents the gradual change in the
attitude of Rolland towards the Russian experiment. He must find a “bridge
leading from Tolstoy to Gandhi,” and another “between the non-violence of
Gandhi’s faith and the violence of Marxist reconstruction.”
Dr. Aronson writes:
Only very gradually does his attitude towards the
Revolution change. All through these years he expresses his aversion for
“certain methods of its police,” for “its narrowness of doctrine”, and “its
dictatorial spirit”. But he also wishes it to be acknowledged that he was
“among the first to recognize its greatness and its historic necessity.”
It gradually dawned upon him that abstract
discussion on Ends and Means, on the problem of non-resistance or
non-aggression, were futile, as long as the social order in which they lived
was largely based upon violence–either direct or indirect. To change the social
order any “means” are permitted even, if need be, violence. “The whole
question”, says Rolland in 1931, “is to know whether the constructive program
of the USSR is leading to a more just human organization, the only just and
fruitful one...” And if the reply to this question, is in the affirmative, then
“one has no right to make gestures of disgust because the builders had to soil
their hands….”
This is the last phase. But he started with a
conception of an ‘elite’ whom he regarded as the foreruuners of humanity, and
of the masses was misunderstood them. He had also conceived of defeat as moral
victory–Beethoven’s deafness, for instance. He believed also in a mysticism of
action.
Not only is Gandhi more ‘Christian than Tolstoy, he also lacks that split in the personality which is the common characteristic of all contemporary European intellectuals. His is a unified sensibility, and everything in him is “natural, simple, modest, and pure: whereas in Tolstoy, pride fights against pride, anger against anger, everything is violent, not excepting even non-violence.”
And just as in his previous books Rolland had
compared the precursors of the past, the leaders of the French Revolution, for
instance, with contemporary politicians, he also first applies the common
standards of modern politics to Mahatma Gandhi. And he finds that they do not
fit him. Even compared to European revolutionaries–and Rolland at that time
also includes the revolutionaries in the Russia of 1917–he seems to stand on an
infinitely higher level of awareness. For Gandhi is not, like our European
revolutionaries, a mere maker of laws and decrees. He is the creator of a new
humanity. And in Gandhi also, Rolland sees a precursory who, though in advance
of his time, yet has never denied his people. Being their leader he is part of
them. For as Rolland had said in his early plays thirty years ago: in humility
and defeat all are equal. He finds on his face “no sign of triumph”, in his
heart “no sign of vanity.” And he adds: “He is and remains a man like all other
men.”
Two long quotations from the book have been given,
for it is an interpretative biography, admirably done. The best way of dealing
with such a book–the subject as well as the treatment–is by including fairly
lengthy quotations in the review. The book provides the reader with an
excellent background of contemporary literary Europe. H.G. Wells, we find, is,
as usual unable to understand the significance of Rolland’s Above the Battle.
In an article he comes to the conclusion that Above the battle is the
result of some personal, though obscure, quarrel between Rolland and the
litterateurs of Paris! Thomas Mann, who had since retraced his steps, wrote in
an attack on Rolland that the right was always with the stronger.
One would only wish that the book had contained a
fuller treatment of The Soul Enchanted, and fewer printer’s errors. A
better photograph of Romain Rolland would have been more welcome.
Sidelights–By Saka (Khasa Subba Rau. Language Publications, 12, Thambu Chetti St.,
Madras, Price Rs. 2/-).
The art of sketch-writing has always baffled
learners. It induces them often to dogmatise on meagre data and to appear to be
on tea-drinking terms with the entire world. It may either stimulate them to
portray imaginary qualities in their favorites with an air of reality or to
pass severe strictures on comparative strangers with a seeming look of healthy
detachment.
We are more sensitive in this country than
Europeans, and one has therefore to be careful to avoid giving offence. The
writer of pen-portraits of living persons has to deal with the foibles of his
subjects in a light and breezy manner. He may gently prod, but not deeply cut.
Agreeable banter is permissible, but not too deep a vivisection of any person’s
character, especially when it is of the wrong sort. For another reason also the
writer has to eschew too deep an analysis. Human character is so mysterious and
complex that one can never always claim sureness of insight.
Sri Khasa Subba Rau is a person never to ignore any
of the proprieties. Writing, he has always understood; and journalism generally
has given him abundant opportunities for equipment to write on a vanity of
topics. Public men and politics, in his fairly long experience as a journalist,
have given him more of insight into human nature and his “Sidelights” have
never failed to attract intelligent readers, even as they were appearing
periodically in the Dailies.
Politicians, lawyers, administrators, journalists
and artistes have all claimed his interested attention, and we have, therefore,
before us a commingled fare for eager understanding and animated discussion in
friendly circles.
In apportioning praise to the various sketches,
perhaps there will be as many orders of preferences there are readers. But none
can deny Khasa’s art at its peak in the few pages he has devoted to Srimati
Rukmini Devi and Sri G. A. Natesan. For, strangely enough, he seems to have
been too much obsessed with his own political faith while estimating some of
the politicians and not adequately informed of forensic details while dealing
with some of the lawyers that take the stage.
The publishers deserve our warm congratulations, no
doubt, for including in this volume two more sections, containing a miscellany
of articles from the same author on various other themes of interest, which at
once preserve the freshness of a reflective mind and the elusive charm of a
literary craftsman.
K. C.
Tribunes of the People–By P. R. Ramachandra Rao, Published by The New
Book Co., 188-90, Hornby Road, Bombay, Rs.3-14-0.
Srimathi Sarojini Devi, Jawaharlal, C. R. Rajendra
Prasad, Patel, Azad, and Abdul Gaffar Khan are the contemporary figures who are
graphically described in the work. In spite of the too well-known nature of the
subject of these essays, the author is able to maintain the interest of the
reader because of the well-turned epigrammatic style of writing which reminds
one of the hammer and chisel of the sculptor rather than the delicate brush of
the painter. But for the prohibitively high price, the book should prove to be
very popular.
Pakistan–The Problem of India–By Dr. Shaukut Ulla Ansari, Published by
Minerva Book, Anarkali Lahore. Price Rs. 3–8–0.
Dr. Ansari has considered this problem in all its
aspects and it can safely be claimed that his pronouncement against the
two-nation theory is thoroughly convincing. All the relevant facts pertaining
to this problem have been given and the considerations for and against have
been examined in an impartial manner. The author’s conclusion is that even if
Pakistan is established, apart from its not being a solution of the problem, it
will harm the Muslims. The work is a valuable contribution to the literature on
the vexed question; it is authoritative, fair and certainly conclusive.
C. R. S.
V. Krishnaswami Aiyar–By K. Chandrasekharan–Kalaimal Publishing House.
Price RS. 8–0–0.
“There can be no better use for money,” said a
writer “than to spend it in spreading the knowledge of a noble life.” Mr. K.
Chandrasekharan must jump with joy at this quotation, for he has produced a
large-sized and well got up life of his father with great labour and at great
cost. Let us hope that a grateful public will soon create a demand for a second
edition of this meritorious biography.
For meritorious Mr. Chandrasekharan’s biography is
in several respects. Few writers could be as fortunate as Mr. Chandrasekharan
has been in his subject, for the subject of his biography is a most virile and
magnetic personality, abounding in light and shade and full of the drama of
life. But to his good fortune Chandrasekharan adds patience and perseverance in
search of biographical details and a skill in presenting them. He is almost a
pioneer in this part of India in the art and science of building up a living
and growing picture of a dynamic life with the aid of original documents,
diaries and letters. And he has a right conception of biography, for he has
resisted the very natural temptation in a son to raise a pious monument and has
given us a credible picture of the human being that V. Krishna swamy Aiyar was.
In the picture that the author gives us the private man shines as vividly as
the public figure. Mr. Chandrasekharan is at his best when he describes his
father’s tender affection and great regard for his brother or the admiring and
loving mutual friendship of Krishna swamy Aiyar and Gokhale. Mr.
Chandrasekharan’s proper conception of biography is bound to influence other
writers and his book will inspire in any similar efforts.
One, however, wishes; here and there that Mr.
Chandrasekharan had not adorned a tale or pointed a moral. And at last with one
comment (or is it conclusion) of his, readers of the biography and friends of
V. Krishnaswamy Aiyar would find it difficult to agree. The author thinks that
if his father were alive today, he would follow in the footsteps of Mahatma
Gandhi. I have discussed this question with a friend or two of Krishna swamy
Aiyar, and they think that his great and powerful personality would have been
pitted against Gandhiji, and ranged on tire side of co-operation and
constitution-building. Mr. Chandrasekharan’s biography leaves a definite
impression of a man born to lead and not to follow, and to lead in constructive
and constitutional nation building. And Krishnaswamy Aiyar’s stature is not
rendered any the less by supposing that he would not be with Gandhiji today. I
have discussed this point at some length because there are admirers of Gokhale
and even Dadabhai who feel impelled to claim that these great figures of the
past would be with Gandhiji, if they were alive.
T. N. Jagadisan
Kannada yatre–By M. Narasinga Rao, M.A., P.O.L., Publishers: - Karnataka Sahitya
Mandira, Hyderabad (Dn.), Price Rs. 1–8–0.
This book is a fine essay on the tour of the author
and his friends in some parts of the Karnataka country after attending the
Shimoga Conference of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat. The visit to Udipi, in
south Kanara, is also described. The author discusses in the course of the
narrative many problems of a social, religious and literary character, and
expresses his own views which show a fresh and well-balanced outlook. Besides
lively and sympathetic character-sketches there are picturesque descriptions of
the Western Ghats and the South Kanara District, visited by the author, which
are very readable and interesting.
The essay might have been divided into chapters
with headings and made more attractive. The book is an original contribution to
modern Kannada prose literature.
Gokula Nirgamana–By Sri P. T. Narasimhachar, Publishers:–Kavyalaya, Mysore, Price Rs.
1/-
Gokula Nirgamana is a song-play of Sri P. T. Narasimhachar, dealing with Krishna’s exit
from the Gokula. The love of the Gopis for Krishna, the devotion of the saints
and the admiration of all the cowherds are brought out very well in this
two-act play”
A purely idealistic form of literature (as this
drama should be viewed) cannot attempt portrayal of a realistic nature. The
author, on the whole, has kept this distinction well in mind in the portrayal
of character and speeches.
Some of the songs in this play can be classed
amongst the best pieces of modern Kannada poetry. The invocatory song of the
poet at the beginning of the second Act is an instance in point as also the one
at the end of the play. Radha sings in great sorrow at the sight of the flute,
whose owner, Sri Krishna, has deserted it and has left it behind on his exit
from the Gokula.
The adaptability of this play to the stage depends on
the existence of a team of gifted dancers and highly capable musical direction.