This is the story of a village boy Gopal (symbolic representation of Ramakrishna
Paramahamsa), coming in contact with sadhus residing in the rest house of
his village, developing an interest in mysticism and reaching spiritual heights,
quite unconventionally and rapidly. Another story of Vivek (representation of Swami Vivekananda)
runs parallel who becomes disciple of spiritually enlightened Gopal, known
as Ram Das Baba. While Gopal takes up his destined path of becoming a Yogi with a little resistance from his mother, Vivek had no idea of taking up spiritual path
until his father’s death even though his horoscopes suggested that is his
destiny.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Book Review: Ecstasy
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Book Review: Mandra (Kannada)
Art is divine but need not be the artists. This contradiction
is the plot of this novel. It is the story of a classical singer Mohan Lal and
his women. On his way to mastery of the Hindustani music, he scores over many
females. Two failed marriages and other relationships does not deter him from his
path to popularity and fame, rather they fuel it. Like all things come to an
end, his musical career too tops out coinciding with his failure in indulging
in bodily pleasures resulting in calling off of his relationships. He attempts to review
some of the facts from his past, the responsibilities he ran away from, but with
no great success. His break-down in the musical performance prepares the ground
for the rise of a new artist, one of his pupils and a past associate.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Book Review: Argumentative Indian
This book brings together sixteen essays under a single
title. Here Amratya Sen reasons how India found its identity during different times.
He takes multiple references of Bhagavdgita and the influence ancient writings such
as Vedas and Upanishads had on the culture and lives of the people. He argues how
the Mauryan king Ashoka and the Moghul ruler Akbar had similar outlooks and were
tolerant of different religions. He narrates how Gandhi and Tagore disagreed on
many aspects. He explores how much of the grand vision of Nehru as delivered in
his speech ‘Tryst with Destiny’ is realized.
This books has no bounds as it travels across different
time horizons and subjects. If you are an Argumentative Indian, you should have
this book on your study table.
Book Review: Ascetic of Desire
This is fictional biography of Vatsayana. The story unfolds
the details of Vatsayana from his birth. His upbringing in a brothel from where
he picks up the drivers of the sensuality and lust, and grows up to write the most popular work he is known for.
The story is told through a young scholar, accepted by
Vatsayana as his pupil, who puts the pieces together from Vatsayana’ s life. In the course of events, this young scholar ends up having an affair with his wife. After Vatsayana discovers this, he
disappears, never to be seen again.
This story set in fourth century AD, reveals the finer details of the
lifestyle and mindset of the people lived in those times. But it is the author,
Sudhir Kakar, who represents the characters of the story with a psychological depth makes this book a powerful narrative.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Book Review: The Crimson Throne
This book on Shah Jahan’s reign as seen through the eyes of
two firangi’s (European travellers Niccolao
Manucci and Francois Bernier) gives many insights into the personal lives of
Shah Jahan, his family and close aides. It documents the incident which made
Shah Jahan develop a disliking towards his son Aurangzeb even before he was
born and made him groom his eldest son Dara Shikoh for the throne. It describes how Shah Jahan through his misdeeds
of seducing wives of his nobleman for his humanly pleasures created enemies out
of his loyalists and that lead to treachery in the decisive battle against Aurangzeb.
Personality and behavioral traits of Dara Shikoh are well observed in this
book, it shows why he was an able administrator but a poor warrior. Dara’s inability
to identify his enemies became an advantage for Aurangzeb which he exploited well
to win the war. Aurangzeb gets Dara executed publicly and brutally and that incident creates fear among the crowds and revolt in his commanders.
But Aurangzeb learned from that and employed other methods while ending lives of his
other brothers and a sister, either first moving them to prisons away from public eye or making use of poison.
I would suggest new readers to begin with ‘Empire of the
Moghul’ series where the flow is across generations. Then take up this book
which is more lucid, insightful and gives the facts and rationalizes the twists in the tale. Both books offer complimentary perspectives but yet
different style of presentation on fifth emperor of The Moghul kingdom.
Now my interest is turned away from The Moghuls and I want
to explore other works of Sudhir Kakar, author of this book.
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