Sunday, May 11, 2003		Books

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An Occidental perspective on Oriental myths
Randeep Wadehra

Adonis: A Study in the History of Oriental Religion
by James G. Frazer. Rupa & Co., New Delhi.
Pages viii+239. Rs 150.

SIR James George Frazer was a Scottish anthropologist. Some of his works are Totemism and Exogamy (1910), Man, God and Immortality (1927) and Creation and Evolution in Cosmogonies (1935). His most famous, and voluminous, work is The Golden Bough (1890). It deals with ancient cults, myths and rites, drawing parallels with early Christianity. The book under review is part of Frazer’s Book 1 titled Adonis, Attis, Osiris from The Golden Bough. Attis and Osiris were from West Asian, especially Egyptian, mythology. The carnal worship of Attis and Cybele is attested to in London, as well as at Gloucester and Verulamium — thanks to Oriental cults entering the Roman Britain. Osiris was a principal deity in Egyptian mythology. He represented the male productive force in nature, and became identified with the setting Sun. Thus he was regarded as the ruler of the realm of the dead in the mysterious region below the western horizon.

The subject of this book was originally called Tammuz by the Sumerians, the Greeks named him Adonis. In Greek mythology he was a beautiful youth, born of an incestuous relationship between the King of Cyprus, named Cinyras, and his daughter. He was secretly kept in custody of the queen of underworld, Persephone. When a wild boar killed Adonis, Aphrodite pleaded with Zeus to restore Adonis to her. Since both Aphrodite and Persephone loved Adonis, it was decreed that he would spend summer months with Aphrodite and winter months with Persephone. The death and resurrection of Adonis is symbolic of the natural cycle of death and rebirth, thus originating many a lore in Asia and Africa. Here is a passage, from the book on pre-Partition India, "`85 when a child dies in Northern India it is usually buried under the threshold of the house in the belief that as the parents tread daily over its grave, its soul will be reborn in the family`85 children of Hindus are buried, not cremated. Their souls do not pass into the ether with the smoke of the pyre, but remain on earth to be reincarnated in the household`85 In some places it is believed that if the child dies in infancy and if the mother drops her milk for two or three days on the ground, the soul of the child comes back to be born again."

Adonis is associated with seasonal changes and other natural phenomena that made ancient people invoke divine intervention. Frazer feels that the Oriental mind is capable of accepting and believing two opposites — science and superstition co-exist in the Eastern mindscape. For example, Indians could assimilate scientific astronomy along with the untenable myths of astrology. An absorbing read.

How to Write & Speak Effective English

by Edward Frank Allen. Arora’s Book World, Ambala Cantt.
Pages 374. Rs 125.

English has become the global language for communication. Even such insular and ethnocentric societies as the Russians, the Chinese and the Japanese are now learning the language. India is said to have a headstart over the other non-English-speaking countries. However, demand for good teachers of the language is increasing, as shown by the rush for admissions to the so-called public schools.

This volume caters to this need. It introduces the readers systematically to the art of writing English, making them aware of common errors and pitfalls in using certain words. Spelling, punctuation and pronunciation too are taught in an easy-to-understand manner. The author emphatically underscores the importance of using simple words. Fancy words and phrases can be irritating when used by the inexperienced. So a language is all about choosing the appropriate expression. This is where this book comes in handy.

Blank Page to First Draft in 15 Minutes

by Phillip Khan-Panni. UBSPD, New Delhi. Pages 137. Rs 125.

So you have been entrusted with the task of composing a presentation and do not know how to begin? Suddenly a bad case of jitters afflicts you. Should you make something up? No, says the author, don’t ever fictionalise your presentation. Coming up with a credible first draft postulates certain presentation skills, which in turn require one to understand the processes that enable one to marshal thoughts constructively, and then translate them into clear messages "that others want to hear".

While preparing the presentation one must keep in mind its relevance to the occasion. Choose your theme carefully. In order to attract the audience’s interest one must come up with a catchy title. It is important to be aware of the core message. All this requires brainstorming sessions. Some like to do the brainstorming alone, which is fine by the author. The underlying mantra of this book is "stay focussed".

Step by step, the book takes the reader up the path of effective communication. You want to sell your product, your skills or services, or have top quality stuff in your stock, but how would the others know? This book tells you how to let them know — effectively.