|
Literary Review
First Impressions
SUCHITRA BEHAL
IF there is ever a title that is grossly misleading this is it. The book, according to the blurb, is supposed to be a story about the rise and rise of Hrithik Roshan, who has danced his way into the hearts of India's teeming women. Instead, it is a confusing account of Bollywood, its ephemeral nature, its distrustful mistresses, its crazy gigs and, of course, of all those men and women who toil day and night to make it to stardom. That's Bollywood Boy for you. Everything that you wanted to know about Roshan has been neatly sidestepped as you are filled in with trivia from the land of fantasy. Despite the easy style of writing, despite all the acute observation, the book remains a flop.
Bollywood Boy, Justine Hardy, John Murray, £7.99.
WRACKED by the war and exposed to a number of different cultures and peoples, Malaysia and Singapore have become multi-cultural, multi-lingual societies. There has not been much exposure to literature from this region, so this collection of short stories, spanning over three generations of writers, is not only an indicator of the concerns of their times or their individual expressions on life, but it is also a take on how people in that region have evolved. There is "Salmah" a short crisp piece that talks about a typical young girl in the throes of adolescent anguish; "The Interview" where a veteran survivor of the World War reflects on his years in a prisoner of war camp and the relationship that he develops with his interrogator. There is "Mr. Tang's Girls" which reflects on the changing status of relationships between the benefactor and the beneficiary. Simply written, shorn of moralistic messages or jargon, these stories capture the richness and complexity of a region that is a blend of many cultures and religions.
The Merlion and the Hibiscus, edited by Dipika Mukherjee, Kirpal Singh and M.A. Quayum, Penguin, Rs. 250.
"T was not unreal, but I can see now that it had only a limited, partial reality. Then I saw the world; now I see into the world. I see the Self, the divine spirit that throbs at the heart of every creature." This is Eknath Easwaran's simple description of what changed in his life when he touched the great depths of meditation. It might not sound like the most energising point of discussion to begin describing the life and times of a great teacher, but that is what endeared him to the people who came in contact with him. His undramatic sense of being, his almost low-key lifestyle and, most of all, his amazing compassion for his fellow beings.
Written by two people who have spent years with him, listening to his talks, understanding the significance of his life, this book tells the story of how Easwaran came to develop his method of meditation, the influences that shaped him, specially his grandmother whom he has regarded all along as his spiritual teacher, his education under the British Raj and most importantly how he discovered that the only vocation meant for him was to teach people how to meditate. It is a journey in introspection, one told with devotion, and with an accuracy that makes for interesting reading.
The Making of A Teacher, Time & Carol Flinders, Penguin, Rs. 200.
THERE is a richness in the text that compels you to turn the pages. You may or may not identify with the period being written about, but then with stories and legends as rich and lush as these, that could never be an issue. Known as a refined language, Urdu literature was shadowed without doubt by the ghazal, which even today continues to hold its own. But there was a definite and quiet attempt at telling incidents as they were in the flat rhythmic cadence of prose — specially the short story. The influences were many, but eventually what was thrown up was a culmination of indigenous fables and stories.
This short compilation of stories by some of the finest writers in the language give a peep into the intricate and complex world of human emotions. "The Secret of Civilisation" by Premchand, is a denouncement on how we judge people for what they appear to be; "The Unwanted" conveys the feeling of loneliness and depression that an old father has to put up with.
Qurratulain Hyder's story "Honour" is a touching piece on a time gone by where one woman protects her notion of family honour against all odds. And eventually impoverished, she has to step out into the modern world to keep body and soul together. Definitely a book to be read and savoured to the last word.
Urdu Stories, edited by Rakhshanda Jalil, Srishti, Rs. 195.
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Literary Review
|
