What does one go looking for in India?

AS the main theme of Bernard Pivot's "Bouillon de culture", the most popular literary programme on television in France, the title was catchy. Six writers had been invited and five recently published books on India discussed, but on the whole, the programme was disappointing. The choice of writers left a lot to be desired, the booboos such as Hinduism replacing Buddhism in India, did not really inspire confidence. But the fact remained that India was the theme and they all spoke about India for more than an hour and a half, on a Friday evening. But as the cliche goes, something is better than nothing.

As literary programmes go, an earlier programme called "Apostrophes" ruled the roost for over a decade in France. One of the most watched television programmes, it made Pivot a powerful media personality, courted by publishers and writers alike. In its heyday, it had a large faithful audience that could make or break reputations. Whenever an author was invited, his or her publisher made sure that the books were readily available and expected the public to charge to bookshops the very next morning and buy the books of the writers impressed upon them the previous evening. "Apostrophes" was taken off the air after 10 years, but Pivot continued in a new avatar, and launched "Bouillon de culture" (literally a cultural khitchdi), with not merely authors, but film makers and other cultural personalities as well. But Pivot being Pivot, the programme continues to have a heavy dose of writers and books.

Indian writers (not counting Salman Rushdie of course) invited either to "Apostrophes" or "Bouillon de culture" have been extremely few and far between. In recent memory, Arundhati Roy was on this very Franco-French programme and made quite an impression.

So when Pivot suddenly decided to devote a whole evening to India, there was considerable surprise, especially as a country rarely figures as the main theme of the programme. Apparently Guy Sorman's "Genius Of India", was, in a curious kind of way, the inspiration for Pivot's programme. An economist, journalist and writer rolled into one, Sorman is known to readers in India through half a dozen English translations of his earlier books. This book portrays a very readable and positive image of India. Sorman writes with ease, and on the programme he soon stood out as the most articulate of the panel, capable of talking of Kabir and Xerxes Desai in almost the same breath. Being an active columnist, he is versatile and puts forth a newer version of India than what is generally found. One may not necessarily agree with his politics, but there is no denying the fact that he has made a significant contribution to the debate on India.

The second book was a typical masala novel containing all what sells and is needed to make a best seller. The Only Lover, with Radha and Krishna on the brightly printed cover is, ironically, a historical novel about Vasco da Gama and the Portuguese occupation. Set in Kerala in the late 15th Century, Krishna, an astrologer and brahman (what else!), is surrounded by a Syrian Christian, a White Jew and a Muslim and, of course, "sacred dancing girls", maharajahs, and what have you. The story is supposedly heavily researched, with the two co-authors having made numerous trips to Kerala and accessed archival material. It was launched with great fanfare by the publishing house. Though the impact made by the authors on the show would hardly seem to motivate crowds in bookshops, unconfirmed reports quote a figure of 30,000 copies being sold within the space of a month.

Guy Deleury, another knowledgable and versatile India hand, though not accepted as such by the French Academic establishment, has brought out yet another book, this time on India, The Rebel Continent - a sweeping account of everything from the caste system (a leitmotif in French scholarship) and the bhakti movement to the Indian tradition of rebellion. Though the book is meant for the general public, it carries a detailed bibliography after each chapter. An absorbing book from this former priest who spent over 25 years in India, notably in Maharashtra.

Also present were Regis Airault who has written about the "India syndrome" affecting Westeners, based on his experiences as a psychiatrist in Mumbai, and Francois Gautier, the French newspaper le Figaro's correspondent in South Asia and author of Another Vision Of India.

In addition to the writers invited to the programme, there were a host of books presented, notable among them being an excellent biography of Ambedkar by Christophe Jaffrelot - surprisingly not invited - and the Encyclopaedia Of Indian Cooking by Jean Papin. This one is not a banal recipe book but a treasure-house of information on Indian cooking, spices and the art of receiving guests in homes. In fact, Piquier, a South of France publisher specialising on Asia, has brought out over 10 books on India in the last two years and is moving full steam ahead: literature, detective novels, recipe books and even reference books and modern classics.Going by the number of books published on India in the last few years, by the number of special issues of journals and magazines and the unending dance and music performances all over France, India seems to be once more in fashion.

RAJESH SHARMA

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