|
The author, who is a product of
this missionary outfit, describes the Naga Hills as "Naga
country" and insists on "Naga nationhood." He
regards the formation of the state of Nagaland as a
superimposition against the wishes of the Nagas, and its
acceptance as the biggest blunder of the Naga political
leadership. At the time of India’s Independence, he says, the
Nagas could join neither Pakistan nor India because they were
neither "Muslim Pakistanis" nor "Hindu
Indians." This basic flaw of regarding India as a Hindu
state colours the outlook of the author.
When he talks
about the years of Naga insurgency, he paints the Indian
soldiers as monsters who burnt villages, tortured innocent
villagers and raped women with impunity. But one would have
expected him to throw some light on the actions of the Naga
underground, the treatment they meted out to those who did not
agree with them, their funding, training and sources of their
arms supplies.
About the
situation in Nagaland today after the ceasefire of 1997, he
laments that under the present system the poor are becoming
poorer, the rich are becoming richer, the educated are becoming
more educated while the uneducated remain the same. Now these
are grievances that also come from most other parts of the
country. To that extent, Nuh puts Nagaland in the mainstream of
Indian life.
At the end of it
all, even this ardent advocate of an independent Nagaland
acknowledges the futility of the dream and advises the Naga
underground to come to terms with New Delhi. He even goes on to
suggest the pattern of relationship between New Delhi and Kohima
that he would like to see.
A Handful of
Sand translated from Assamese into English
by Snigdhamalati Neog.
Spectrum Publications, Delhi. Pages 199. Rs 220.
This is a
collection of short stories by Assamese women writers, which
deal primarily with the plight of women in a society that has
traditionally treated them with disdain. You read about
exploitation of women, but not always by men. They are seen at
the receiving end of compulsions of poverty, age, custom,
terrorism and several other factors. There are men, but they are
there only to fill in the secondary roles. There are rebellious
women, there are submissive women, there are bold women, there
are timid women, there are tradition-bound women and there are
women who out of dire need are forced to trade their bodies but
refuse to sell their souls.
The 22 stores in
the collection represent the works of Assamese women writers of
the 20th century. These writers have woven their stories with
remarkable clarity of thought and each story has its own flavour
and brilliance. Among them is Indira Goswami who has been
honoured with the Jnanpith Award.
The very first
story, "The Brahmin’s Daughter," by Chandraprova
Saikiani, describes a rebellious widow who defies society and
gives birth to a child outside wedlock. She faces all the social
hypocrisy and encounters all adversity with courage and finally
succeeds in making her life meaningful.
"Prejudice"
by Indira Goswami shows a cold and dispassionate widow who does
not mind resorting to immoral ways to maintain herself and her
children but refuses an honourable proposal for marriage because
the man making the proposal is of low birth.
These stories
about the travails of women caught in different situations are
in no way peculiar to Assam. With different names and different
locales, these would apply equally to women in any other part of
the country. This gives the stories a wider appeal. These
selected works of Assamese women writers thus transcend the
boundaries of state and language in their scope and content.
India’s 50
Most Illustrious Women
by Indira Gupta.Icon
publications, New Delhi. Pages 367. Rs 195.
The place of women
in the Indian society has varied in different periods. Mythology
records instances of women fighting wars, side by side with
their men, and also making scholarly contributions to
philosophical discourses. But in recent times the situation has
been different. In periods of political turmoil and lawlessness,
women were confined to the home, kept in purdah, and denied the
benefit of education and freedom of movement. Heinous practices
like "sati" and polyandry took root. In such a
situation the woman came to be treated as an inferior being,
always subordinate to the male. The 20th century was a period of
cultural and social renaissance and political awakening. The
freedom struggle brought a number of women to the forefront and
several of them made a significant contribution to
nation-building in post-independence India.
The author has
picked 50 women of the 20th century for their contribution to
national life. At first sight, 50 appears a reasonable number,
but as one looks at the list one feels that even if the author
had doubled the number, there would still be left many more
eminently qualified to be included in the list of illustrious
women. This, of course, is an effort to give recognition to
women who have in their diverse ways made an impact on the
national scene and represent the struggles and achievements of
India’s women.
The author has
divided the book into nine sections, according to the field of
activity chosen by each woman. The first section contains the
life sketches of women whom the nation has honoured with the
highest award — the Bharat Ratna. Each woman in this section,
however, equally deserves to be mentioned in sections relating
to their fields of activity.
Some of the women
selected by the author came from affluent families but many of
them belong to poor and middle class families.
The courage of
pioneers of dance and music like Balasaraswati, Sitara Devi,
Gangubai Hangal — to mention only a few — was really
commendable. But one feels the absence of women in business and
commerce and science and technology. It is evident from the fact
that there is no section devoted to these spheres of activity.
Kalpana Chawla strangely finds place under "Sports and
Adventure" where she enjoys the company of Bachendri Pal,
Karnam Malleswari and P.T. Usha.
|
