Book Riew on 'The Wreck : Rabindranath tagore' by Aishwarya V. Chaturvedi

‘The Wreck’, a translation by Rabindranath Tagore of his Bengali novel ‘Naukadubi’ is novel based on the concept of changing-of-wives. Various main-streams films in Bengali and in Hindi have been directed on this novel’s plot. It would come across as a carefully scripted novel with a perfect blend of human emotions and philosophy. It is very strange as to how the author manages to end the novel on a positive note.

This novel explores the human emotions of its 4 main characters belonging to different walks of life. All these characters witness a tragic turmoil owing to a natural disaster: Ramesh, a Calcutta educated lawyer, Hemnalini a well-educated upper class woman, Kamala, a traditional Indian-rural woman & Nalinaksha, a charming yet kind-heated doctor. Ramesh is forced by his father to marry a widow’s only daughter. Even before he could have a glimpse of his wife, tragedy befell as their boat was totally shattered in a thunder fall. On gaining consciousness, Ramesh finds a woman in a bride’s garb, who he assumes to be his wife. Meanwhile, Hemnalini, in a state of shock is taken to Kashi by her father, where she meets Nalinaksha, who too had lost his wife in a boat. Thereafter begins a string of melodramatic revelations and unexpected encounters. The novel seems to be overburdened with the moral values and society’s orthodox culture. This probably takes the sting out of the novel which renders the novel a dull one. Though the author as used imagery on a strong front, yet the novel lost the thrill as the story unfolded.

Talking about the demerits of the novel, there were far too many coincidences than one would expect. Also, one would definitely question Ramesh’s sense of responsibility towards Hemnalini. Similarly, too many actions seem to be of questionable approach. But, the novel does succeed in questioning our flawed sense of tradition and morality. I, as a reader was forced to ponder over the philosophy as to what happen when there is a strong conflict between societal obligations and heart’s will. Each character goes through a similar sense of introspection in the novel.

The concept of mistaken identity is an old one. But, Tagore successfully blends it with the shipwreck and put forth a novel based totally on Indian cultural and norms of his time, wherein people are forced to accept traditions. Being of poetic background, Tagore used a lot of metaphors. The very concept of ship-wreck can be thought of as a human life’s parallelism. Certain thoughts are imposed on us, and we are expected to abide by them without raising any question. I am totally convinced of this ideology. I found it easy to connect with various characters, especially the one of Ramesh. It is worth reading this novel.

Pather Dabi - The Right Of Way

Sarat Chandra Chatterjee

Translated by Prasenjit Mukherjee

Pather Dabi was first serialised in a bengali monthly journal Baghbani between 1922 and 1926. It created an enormous furore because of the insurgency it advocated against the British Government. The government decided to proscribe it when it appeared in book form. However in the last chapter published in Baghbani, the legend to be continued was added to delude the authorities into thinking that more chapters will follow. In the meantime the book was published after some efforts on 31st August, 1926. 5000 copies of the book were published and all of them got sold in the first week, so that when the police arrived to confiscate the book, no copies of it were found.

Pather Dabi is a unique and difficult piece of text. It has the elements of a a regular story, philosophy of human life and the tales of the ruthless oppression of the Indians by the British regime very intricately intertwined. The reader of today's era has most certainly forgotten the struggle for Indian independence. Nor is the feeling of pride owing to the struggle that took place years ago present in anybody's heart anymore. This book, though not presenting a complete story of the struggle, definitely stirs the reader's mind and makes him feel strongly against the oppressive acts of the British and how fellow countrymen too had joined hands with these butchers.

The story started with Apurba, who was an orthodox Brahmin and lived with his family consisting of his mother, two elder brothers and their wives. He was the only hope for his mother who had refrained herself from touching food cooked by her daughter-in-laws. Apurba was shown to be the Hero of his mother's life. He was 21 and was offered a job of 500 rupees a month in Burma. After some heated discussions his mother allowed him to go to Burma but sent along a Brahmin servant Tewari to cook for Apurba.

Apurba joined his office in Rangoon and occupied his newly allotted wooden flat with Tewari. He entered into a row with his christian neighbor and the dispute rose. He also met the neighbour's daughter Bharati, who he found very pretty. Though the row became uncontrolled and Apurba was dragged to a court where he was unjustly proved guilty and fined. He made a friend Ramdas Talwalkar at his office. A number of incidents happened where he was discriminated against, inspite of his education and high post. He seethed in anger at this unjust treatment meted out to him just because he was not a Gora. Though he felt strongly about the oppressed Indian class, he was a coward and did not have the guts to openly cry out for justice. His friend Talwalkar however proved to be a very courageous man and helped him face his neighbours. Though Apurba stated that the practice of not touching Indians and treating them like low people was bad, he failed to see the irony in his statement since he himself didn't touch food made by Bharati.

His impression of Bharati had turned sour after the court incident. One day when his house was ransacked by thieves in his absence, it was Bharati who drove them away and protected his property. It was clear that Bharati was sorry for the treatment meted out to Apurba. But Apurba instead of being thankful became suspicious of her. Bharati also took care of Tewari when he caught small pox in Apurba's absence. Apurba was very thankful in his heart towards Bharati, but he failed to overcome his orthodoxy and practice of untouchability and insulted Bharati unknowingly. Apurba developed a liking for her but failed to see Bharati's feelings for him.

He met Sabyasachi, the protagonist of the story a quarter into the book. He was at first introduced as a criminal. But Apurba realised the merit of this disguised man and appreciated the work he was doing for the country. He was inducted into an organisation called Pather Dabi by Bharati and it's president Sumitra. There he found out that Sabyasachi, who was referred to as Doctor by everyone there, was the heart of this organisation. He started to learn about Doctor and his virtues. He joined the work of helping the factory workers by agitating them to strike against their masters who were exploiting them. He also involved Talwalkar in one such meeting with the factory workers. But the Police intervened and arrested Talwalkar for his treacherous speech. Apurba was shaken up and after getting embarrassed for accusing Doctor of being heartless but later discovering that Doctor had already freed Talwalkar,  he walked away from Pather Dabi. He was later sentenced to death by the Pather Dabi members for disclosing secret information to the police. But Doctor saved his life by single handedly vetoing this decision for Bharati's sake. The other members of Pather Dabi were against it but against Doctor they did not dare do anything. From here on the story turned towards Doctor as he talks to his fellow revolutionaries and justifies his methods. Bharati became like a younger sister to Doctor and they shared many long and deep conversations. Doctor revealed the incident that stirred him to take up this path. He then cited many examples of other countries like China and explained to Bharati that the religion that the Europeans preached, the peace that they talked about was all a farce. He revealed that he does not expect the factory workers or the peasants to contribute to the revolution as he knew that their strikes would be crushed again and again. He only expected that the blood they lose will ignite the minds of the educated because they are the ones who will bring about a change. Bharati reproached his method saying that bloodshed need not be the only answer, and that Doctor, with his superior intelligence and wisdom should be able to find another way. Doctor laughed at Bharati and said that the peaceful ways she talked about are illusions. He explained how the Europeans used these missionaries to spread their control by using them as an excuse to bring in their armies and conquer the nation. Doctor talked at length about the facts ignored and small good deeds coming into prominence. He commented on their justice saying-
“The concept of justice in civilized European nations cannot conceive why a powerful country should not seize what rightfully belongs to a weaker nation.”

He appreciated the Japanese because of the law they passed hundreds of years ago making it illegal for whites to enter Japan.

Bharati was moved by these talks and realised that Doctor had had many sufferings in his life and therefore his heart had turned stone out of hatred. She implored him to think of a peaceful way, not only to prolong his own life but because she believed that if the lower classes didn't prosper, the country would be doomed. To this Doctor replied calmly that his aim was not the welfare of the country, but its Independance. The path he walked didn't have a right or wrong. Bharati was still not convinced and wished to restore India to its former glory hundreds of years ago through her peaceful efforts. Doctor corrected her by saying that the past of the country was very sad too. Despite being glorious, our ancestors ran when the Huns and the Muslims attacked and destroyed and desecrated the temples. The same happened when the British attacked. He implored Bharati and his other revolutionaries to create an India which is not bound by ancient scriptures and truths, for they are now invalid. When a character said that we have been following these principles since past times, he responded-

“In this ever changing world, there is nothing like unchanging, inviolate truth. Truth too has its births and deaths in every age. In every generation, it adapts to the needs of people. To believe that what was true for past ages would be true in today’s world would be an error of judgement like a blind superstition.”

He cited that the caste system was useless now for if people were to only follow the professions assigned to them, they would surely perish. Bharati and the others reproached him for speaking ill of the religions and accused him of advocating lies and deceiving people. He replied in his ever calm tone that to him only that is true which is relevant.

“Religion is basically a sham. Just an age old superstition. Religion is man’s worst enemy”

Despite being rebellious, Doctor's thoughts make an impact on the reader. The reader too, especially in today's modern light, realises that Doctor was indeed right. Today when we see an official showing favoritism, we get mad at him so much. If we try to imagine a time when showing favoritism towards Europeans against Indians in their own country was not only common but also an accepted practice, then we might be able to understand a fraction of the anger and hatred experienced by the revolutionaries of those times. His decision to use the peasants as stepping stones was also right for he had himself explained that just like a cow, these peasants loved peace more than anything else. One might succeed in igniting a spark in them but they would themselves extinguish it when they remember their love for peace. Doctor believed that the peasants were not yet ready to take up the fight for their rights and therefore forbade the poet-revolutionary Sashi to write songs for them. He urged him to write about the malices of the society and the bad practices that endanger the Indian society so that when Independence comes, the people have those songs and poems to guide them into building a better society.

A romantic side of the story is also developed along side between Bharati-Apurba, and Doctor-Sumitra. Apurba was banished from Rangoon and Bharati became heartbroken at having loved such a coward and mean person who never realised her love for him, and went away without thinking about her even once. She tried to get over Apurba and succeeded majorly till she came to know that Apurba was back in Rangoon and the mother whom he loved more than anything else and revered was dead. Her love came rushing back and she got worried for Apurba that being an utterly useless person when it came to caring for the sick as she had witnessed when Tewari was ill, how must he have managed without Bharati. She brought him back to her house and took care of him.
Doctor being the person he was, didn't let feelings like love take root in his heart. Despite Sumitra's efforts, he remained stone-like. “I am just a stone” says he at one instant. He couldn't settle down ever owing to his activities, nor could he get emotionally attached to anyone strongly. His only exception was Bharati, whom he got attached to only because he had distanced her from the activities of his organisation because her thinking was different and not suited for a path of bloodshed and cold blooded killings. He had a keen sense of perception and his opinions about a person seldom came out wrong. He displayed care for his friends and extreme caution and the ability to adjust to any surrounding and live and eat just about any kind of food. These abilities made Bharati shed many tears for her brother. She could not bear to think how strongly he felt for his motherland that he was prepared to live in such inhuman conditions and yet face indignation at the hands of fellow Indians. He was a great man who was prepared to die for his country. Sabyasachi was the result of the tyranny of the British Rule over Indians. He had given up all rights as a human to fulfill just one goal. His heart had stopped aching and feeling emotions. And for this reason he valued the heart of Bharati which had the blessing of being in love. He remained calm even in the worst of situations. He laughed at the half assed efforts of the so called political leaders to introduce reforms. He struck fear in the hearts of those who knew what he was capable of.

Sabyasachi or Doctor is portrayed as a super human soul. The character is in lines of the revolutionary leaders of the pre-independence era. The mental strength necessary for such a kind of work is understood from the mould of his character. The conditions in which the revolutionaries have to take shelter in, the constant danger they face, the way they handle situations, the way even after all these, the doctor remains cheerful and confident all through is indeed an inspiring account.

The story ended with him finally leaving for Singapore to kill a fellow revolutionary who had turned traitor and had compromised the entire organisation that Doctor had set up there and had gotten many of its members killed. Everyone, including Sumitra, Bharati and Sashi, was apprehensive that Doctor might get killed because the police there knew him well and the man he was going to kill was very experienced himself. But nothing moved Sabyasachi. He took farewell and walked off amidst a heavy storm with his baggage to board the ship for Singapore.

"A few moments later there was a clap of thunder near by. Lightning flashed and for a moment gave them a last glimpse of Doctor...

...Just for a second! The next moment everything seemed to disappear in the darkness again"

BOOK REVIEW- STAR CROSSED

KARIANDA  NAZHALGAL  - a novel written by Ashokamitran is the original title for its remarkable English translation  STAR CROSSED  by V Ramanarayan

Fiction, drama,a story- sometimes almost unrealistic and unbelievable tightens the grip over readers but STAR CROSSED uses a whole another aspect . The beauty of the novel lies in conveying message by bringing out its characters meticulously .Elaborate and gripping description of people and places bears resemblance vivid scenes of a movie.

This novel concerns Kollywood-the Tamil cinema.  But turns the focus of readers from the limelight and glamour to the lives of providers of mass entertainment, remaining behind the silver screen and contributing significantly in their own way.

Ashokamitran has used his characters to bring out the reality of the daily lives of not so familiar cinema people. Its description contradicts our prevailing notions of glamour and comfort towards such characters. Behind the scene manager, cameraman, technicians, errand boys not only are devoid of glamour but also not being able to make their ends meet during the off seasons .Their pitiful condition is heartfelt by the true detailing of their lives. The novel also suggest that movies is a risky business. Reddiar producing a movie goes bankrupt the next day. To some monetary crisis is a threat to their survival and to some personal relations is on stake. Even the smallest to biggest have their fortunes knitted to movies; rising and falling with it.

There is a tiny bit of sarcasm casted on film folks, when the film chamber chief refers to Indo-Czech relations to be ancient completely unaware of the fact that Czech was a country of recent origin.

The translation seems to pretty amazing, captivating our imaginations. Ramanarayan has left few of the native words untouched, rest have been translated for reading ease quite wonderfully. The author has used third person narration in the whole novel except in the last chapter where he himself narrated the novel to completion. The language is simple and does not bear sentiments in particular to someone; still is profoundly moving.

On the whole, I liked the way characters speak for themselves and the essence developed by minute details overshadow the lack of story.

By  SHIVAM SHAH

2011ce10401

Review :- Those days

Raj Kumar

Entry no:-2011EE10474

Hul232

Review on the novel “Those day” by Sunil gangopdhyay.

This novel “Those day” is really strange and affected me. The real novel is in Bengali written by Sunil gangopdhyay and translated in English by Aruna chakravarti without losing any reality. This novel was written on time of 19^th century when whole India including Bengal struggling for independence. the real pictures of Bengal's society  of that time are tried to draw though this novel. About 70-80 characters are built (may exit) that itself indicate colossal descriptions of the novel. This novel arise social  issue like widow marriage, Brahma samaj, Women education, child marriage etc through various event and characters very keenly which touch can touch any heart. The life of zamindar and peasant and their thoughts, their living style and conditions of that time all are described in gorgeous way. Mainly characters in the novel are from rich two families of Singhas and Mukharjees.

In starting a child in form of womb about 7 mouth born named Nabin kumar,later on become one of famous the social player of that time. He also translated the Mahabharata. Ram kamal Singha a wealthy zamindar father of Ganganarayan and Nabin. His wife Bimbabati loved both sons equally.  He always love his mistress kamala sundari,  but at death time she tell truth about nabin’s father is someone else  named Bidhusekher. He get deep pain. Although Nabin grew up in zamindar family but he familiar with problems of peasants and feel their feeling , later on he lead them and known as social revolutionary of that time like other Iswar chandra vidyasagar, Madhusudan Datt(poet). lot of work done by Nabin for society. The adopted elder son of Ram kamal, Ganganarayan is also one of the broad character. From begin he was good in study and sharp minded. He was always obedient to his parents. He comes to know about love and affection through his first love Bindu daughter of Bidhubhushan Mukherjee a famous lawyer. Actually Bindu was a widow. And about marriage of widow was the one of the bad thought of that time.  So many peculiar things done by him for getting his love due to afraid of her father but he never succeed till last. Her father sent him  to kashi for  live like a proper sanyasi for more than 2 year. After returning he married a widow through her he comes to know dark side of women and familiar with conditions of women. Through every character author tried to aware us of circumstances and condition of that time. Women education, widow marriage, Bal vihah, views of society towards women etc  in every topics there are a deep thoughts and enormous discussion.

Another important character is extremely brilliant person named Michal Madhusudan Datt who belongs to very wealthy family. He used to write poem because he love to poetry. He changed himself into Christian as that time often people’s passion. With time he came toward to English  from Bengali . These type of event implies that most of people affected from English culture and language. It begin to grow as a global language. The young of that time affected from poetry of him.

There are marvellous description of freedom fighting at 1857 when our country was struggling for freedom and justice. Author introduces some real character of that time too like Raja ramamohan rai, poet Madhusudan Dutt and Iswar Chandra vidyasagar etc. Several parallel stories and events are described which make novel more impressive. These are familiar us about behaviour and relationship between Englishmen and Indians, between zamindar and peasant, between Englishman and zamindar.

Another interesting thing in the novel is introducing Englishmen as a major character like David Hare and John Bethune. Both were educationist. They roamed around the country and saw many of people in India were illiterate so they decided to teach children and people of India. They spend whole life here for education of people. They also effected from Indian culture. These both English characters were in real. The narrator took some real character of that time and some are imaginary. Its narrative style is so fictive that both real and imaginary seems real and so effective.

The central message of this novel is for arising social awareness among us, understood the present time, know darkness and bitter truth of life, and do best job for our country and society as people like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, the reformer; Michael Madhusudan Dutt, the poet; the father and son duo of Dwarkanath and Debendranath Tagore; Harish Mukherjee, the journalist; Keshab Chandra Sen, the Brahmo Samaj radical; David Hare and John Bethune, the English educationists in the novel.

Brilliant translation by Aruna Chakraborty! It didn’t realise me as it is translation.   All make this novel make marvellous.

Book Review on 'THE WRECK : by Rabindranath Tagore'

The Wreck (1921) is a translation by Tagore of his Bengali novel Naukadubi (1906). It's one of the full length novels by Tagore and is based on the dilemma of mistaken identity which somehow leads to an exchange of wives. It is originally titled as "Naukadubi" and appeared in English version in Tagore's life time itself. In my opinion the book is beautifully narrated and interspersed with descriptions of varied human emotions, it is full of action and powerful human interest. Through this novel Tagore suggests the rift between the reformist and progressive Brahmosamaj and traditional conservatism of Hinduism.

Another important aspect I noticed was that the novel had an ingeniously constructed story unburdened with philosophy and ended on an optimistic note.

The novel started with a boat wreck, which had to play a large part in future course of the novel. Two marriage parties were drowned in a boat wreck. Many people met with death, the only survivors being one of the bridegrooms, Ramesh and the other party's bride, Kamala. Kamala and Ramesh hadn't seen their life partners before, so they thought that they were the recently married couple. They tried to forget all the misfortunes and tried to settle somewhere. Ramesh sooner realised the error, and was full of remorse. Meanwhile he remained attracted to Hemnalini. There started the gap between them. Later on in the course of story, Kamala met her real husband, Dr. Nalinaksha. He accepted Kamala thus leaving Ramesh free to marry Hemnalini. According to me the novel is full of improbabilities and coincidences, yet it continues to enjoy popularity because of the positive way in which the novel unfolds. Though the novel began on a tragic note, its optimistic ending would have satisfied any reader. Even though the characters and the turn of events are from another era, I didn't find any problem in connecting with the characters, thanks to the well-thought over way in which Tagore wrote the novel. I genuinely felt like going inside the book and giving each of them a sound thrashing for the way they are thinking & behaving.

What makes 'The Wreck' a good read is the poetic gems at almost every page of the book. Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) is One of India's most cherished renaissance figures, who put India on the literary map of the world when his Gitanjali was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. Myriad-minded, he was a poet, short story writer, novelist, dramatist, essayist, painter and composer of songs. His worldwide acclaim as a social, political, religious and aesthetic thinker, innovator in education and a champion of the 'One World' idea makes him a living presence. His lyrical nature was pretty evident from the poetic way by which he managed to make me ponder over a sentence or phrase and hence amazed me at the simplicity and in-depth thought with which it was put in front of me... i feel it was really appraisable....

In short, The Wreck came across as a sensitive story, which was well woven around the lives of four people and kept me entangled throughout though sometimes the plot proceeded too slowly. Set in the Bengali background of 1920s the novel is based on the philosophy of true love, eternal loyalty and patience. These words might sound a tad bit dated to today's generation, but the story is progressive in its own way. It subtly takes on the social conventions and questions the credibility of marriage as an institution.

Bricks in the Wall: A Review of Kiran Nagarkar’s Seven 6’s are 43

Bricks in the Wall: A Review of Kiran Nagarkar’s Seven 6’s are 43

The thing that I love most about Coetzee, Banville, and Hemingway’s works, at least the one I have read, is the clarity with which they represent a man in an existential crisis. Although Seven 6’s are 43 lacks the coherence and panache of such authors, it is nevertheless a bold start for topics less explored in Indian fiction. Seven 6’s are 43 explores the feeling of individual isolation that is an integral part of the human condition. The added attraction for me in this book was that all this was done in the context of the indian society. In my opinion, the society which has shaped an individual has a great psychological impact on that particular individual’s feeling of isolation.

The main protagonist is extremely realistic in the sense of a stream-of-consciousness novel. Over the course of the book he talks of a plethora of issues unceremoniously switching from one to the other. From a small child’s fear that someone would take his father away, to a lovelorn and aching heart, to loneliness, to honor, suffering pain poverty sex happiness satisfaction corruption. This is parallel to our own thinking pattern. Just as we randomly switch thinking about one topic or another unless we consciously sit down and force ourselves to think about a particular thing.

The first time I read Seven 6’s are 43, I was startled by the appearance of certain words and phrases in the English translation. Balloon, pinprick, child, dream, numb, comfortable. It got me thinking: how many books exist which have all the words to make up the vocabulary of the song Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd. Not many I suppose. Then I came back to reality and remembered that Seven 6’s are 43 was written in 1974 but Comfortably Numb was released in 1979. The book was originally in Marathi anyway but I can’t help but wonder if this song had any effect on the translator Shubha Slee.

The reason I mention this particular song is that the album and the movie which contains it, The Wall by Pink Floyd is a masterpiece concerned with the issue of an individual’s isolation.

“All in all it was just a brick in the wall.
All in all it was all just bricks in the wall.”

These lines from another song in the album refers to the metaphorical wall that isolates him from the rest of humanity and the movie traces its origins in the form of the origins of the individual bricks of the walls. Pink’s father’s death when he was still a child, passing down of senseless traditions and customs from one generation to another in the society (“Mama's gonna put all of her fears into you... ,Of course mama's gonna help build the wall”)  and the stringent education that aims to obliterate all individuality and grind students into a homogeneous uniform pulp.

One baffling feature of the book is that the narrative freely and smoothly flows from First person to Second Person to Third Person in the book. Although a bit difficult to read at first, it serves a very particular purpose. Whenever Kushank refers to one of his lovers, the narrative switches to the second person. In the whole of the novel he mentions some four or five different women with whom he was involved at one time or another. By the end it becomes difficult to tell how many, initially he mentions their names but by the end there are no longer any names and they all merge into one another. I think this is a particularly significant and suggestive narrative style.  Perhaps he is trying to club all his lovers into a singular cohesive entity, the “You”, and separate himself, the “I” from it. Perhaps to get across the feeling of separation felt by him. In this I unequivocally agree with the narrator. The mindless effort of people to make sure that they “belong”. Clubs, Associations, Institutions, Castes, Classes, and perhaps the ultimate betrayal Marriage. People work hard all their lives just to make sure that they don’t end up dying alone when in fact Is it even possible not to die alone? Do married couples who love each other enough get appointments so that they can die together? Of course not.

“You see people. In groups, in countries, in societies. Indians, Englishmen, Spaniards, Germans, Chinese, and then Caucasians, Semites, Mongolians…I see only human beings. As individuals. Isolated, occasionally in groups.”

The narrator also mentions the lies we tell us and our told by adults as children so that we can feel better.

“If Prachinti had been taken to hospital ten months earlier, she might have lived another couple of years. But we mustn’t cry over the past must we? No, of course not.”

And earlier when his mother died. Probably when he was a teenager,

“..“This happens we all have to go one day. Today, tomorrow its god’s will.” And so on. Stroking my back with their hands. “She’s happy. She’s with god. We are all but pilgrims in this world.”..”

We are never told the nature of Prachinti’s or Kushank’s mother’s illness but Kushank’s bitterness is evident in the phrases he used to describe their condition. Needles and tubes hanging out of her arms, fingers, nose. Anyone who can satisfy himself or herself with the explanation that the dead are happy in god’s arms is obviously well versed in the art of ignorance. And then Ignorance is surely bliss. Kushank mentions that it took him thirteen days to realize that his mother was dead. I remember when I read Surely You Are Joking, Mr. Feynman, a sort of autobiography of Richard Feynman the celebrated physicist. He said that it took him a year after her death to fully realize that his wife was dead. At the time I thought this delay in knowledge and full fledged experience of death was nonsense. Perhaps some kind of exaggeration at best. Now I know that the experience of death is not a single shot one. It comes through in waves. Over a long period of time. Perhaps because the mind knows that such a realization and its consequences are strong enough to turn a person into a incoherent, blabbering, paralyzed idiot. What is to be done? Is death conditioning the answer as in Brave New World? Should all little children be taken to terminal wards each week to get them used to death? Yes, that must be it! Desensitize them to all emotions and feelings! Brilliant!

One particular notable detail in the book was that every time the word "god" came up, it was used with a lower-case "g" unless it came in the beginning of a sentence. Because the book is originally in Marathi, I believe this is a result of the translator's interpretation of the book. I remember when I was in the third standard, there was a subject "Value Education". One whole hour each week instilling values into children. My teacher proudly showcased her expertise with the English language by remarking that the word "God" wherever it appeared in our writing was supposed to be capitalized. And the reason? we asked her innocently, impressionable little souls that we were. And lo and behold! the reason was revealed to us as being thus: Children, as you already know God is all powerful and omnipresent and omnipotent and so on and so forth. And so, to show respect for the Almighty we always capitalize the word "God". 

But what I want to know now is this: Is religion anything more than a man-made apparatus to keep the populace in check? Put fear into their minds so they don't question us. Tell them about heaven and hell so that they don't think too much. No, no we wouldn't want them thinking too much now, would we?

The novel raises more questions than it answers. Questions about people's behavior, about your own behavior, about society, about death, about suffering, and most importantly about trying to delude ourselves that we are not alone. Together with my wife, my husband, my friend, my brother, my sister. But I think that asking questions is a good start. It makes you think. The book is no grand treatise on the meaning of life but it does, modestly, pensively, indirectly, probe that question now and then. Seven 6's are 43 is a very selfish book. It hungrily demands attention as it takes you through Kushank's mind: at times clear and logical, at times wandering around thinking about honor and self respect and what not. I enjoyed reading it not just once but quite a few times but it may not be for you if you can't stand 214 pages of dark and brooding. 

Anshuman Dubey

The Home and The World: Rabindranath Tagore

The Home and The World: Rabindranath Tagore

It is rarely that one gets an opportunity to read good books; and it is even scarcer that we can connect, almost immersing ourselves with the ideas portrayed in them. I was skeptical in reading Tagore at first. Given his literary genius, one expects something entirely perplexing and requiring significant clarity of thought to even comprehend what he wishes to convey, but that wasn’t quite the case. The Home and The World was among the few books I would readily call absorbing.

The Home and The World is appealing right from the very beginning – the title itself. It is always difficult to decide on a correct title for a novel, or even a short essay. It has to give enough, but leave out enough as well. The title of this novel is in fact, more than just an aptly kept summary.  One can assume the title a comparison, a stark contrast between the society of one’s own, and the one outside, a theme that carries throughout the book, through the characterization of two of the male protagonists, symbolic in several interesting ways.

The narration begins with Bimala, in the first person manner, and then vacillates between the three characters as the story progresses. First person narrative has a special attribute, which magnifies the impact of a character on the reader, that is, people generally familiarize with the character in first person, and can relate better to it. This particular feature in writing has been capitalized on greatly by Tagore; the intricacy in the detail of each character’s development eventually leads the reader to be engrossed in the story, with different narratives highlighting the differences in the basic thought process of the three main characters of the story, which is refreshing as well as insightful.

The plot is simple, so to speak. The two characters, Nikhil and Sandip, share a common love interest, Bimala. Married to Nikhil, Bimala is rudimentarily a simple, familial person, whose entire life revolves around Home, her husband Nikhil, and her household responsibilities.

Nikhil is in essence a simple, humble person. Pragmatic and hardworking, he is successful in his business, being the owner of several estates. His societal ideology is unpretentious; he holds no biases against anyone and he respects and honors people from all societal strata.

Sandip, on the other hand, is probably the best-developed character in the novel. Radical in principle, he could be taken to be the actual opposite of what Nikhil’s personality is like. He believes that the means to achieve something may be immoral and deceitful as long as they justify the outcome. Trickery and theft can be used without hesitating even once to get what one wants, because the world isn’t fair.

The story develops steadily though subtle dialogue between the characters, and Tagore has punctuated the narrative with intense philosophical subcurrents, which are immensely thought provoking. You will, throughout the plot, pause and reflect at Tagore’s writing.

The philosophical debates between Sandip and Nikhil on the variety of issues ranging from the Truth to Nationalism, from Want to Passions are greatly interesting and my personal favorites in the book. Bimala’s stance and the vividly philosophical take on her confusion between the two are also admirable. She in some arguments sides with Sandip, because of his radical, more progressive attitude towards every issue, and accuses Nikhil of impotency, and the national affairs and the state of the nation seem more important to her than her marriage, and her domestic life. Her mind changes when she sees Nikhil as her lover, as her caring husband, and she then shuns Sandip for his brusque nature.

The novel is an interesting love triangle; probably the most diversely described one I have ever come across. Interspersed with allegorical references, intelligent metaphors, beautiful imagery, the narrative would appeal to anyone with a heart for logic. The arguments in the narrative are beautifully written, and deeply philosophical, yet spell-binding.

The character development is something that would validate the diversity in Tagore’s writing skills. The three primary characters are so different in principally different things, and each of them is handled extravagantly. Apart from this intricate love relationship between the three, the novel also brings out the national situation at the time, through Nikhil’s character. Tagore brings out the inconsistencies of the Nationalist movement, with several incidents in the story, which highlight the injustice to the common man. Communal violence, oppression by the rich, refusal of foreign goods, and the intermingling of religion and politics are some among the other issues Tagore has conveyed intelligently through this character.

As I mentioned before, the title of the book forms the essence, and is visible throughout. The contrast between the ideologies of Nikhil and Sandip forms the spine of the book – and how Bimala is caught queerly in their midst. She does, however, return to ‘Home’ in the end, after she realizes how Nikhil is the one who truly loves her, and just wants to see her happy, even if he would have to let her go if that is what it would take.

Despite the story being starkly simple and the absence of heightened drama, the book is undoubtedly, an interesting read. The language, the characterization and the narrative are things one would enjoy at any rate. The book might not be a thriller, but it is definitely something that would get you thinking.

-Mehul Katiyar