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Bengali novel Ghaire Baire, which reflects social and political conditions in Bengal during Tagore’s time, was first translated by Surendranath Tagore, who took quite a few liberties with the original to cater to western tastes. Satyajit Ray’s famed film version of this narrative too made quite a few concessions to cinematic pre-requisites. Guha claims to have remained faithful to the original. The stylised prose, ornate metaphor and soliloquised narrative may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the characterisation is superb.
Lal asserts that the Indian state is somehow undermining the much more profound Indian civilization. He talks of the politics of information. He also examines the manner in which Gandhi has been robbed of his real persona. However, he falters while evaluating India. His suggestion that Indians are cowardly and slothful is unacceptable. Our history doesn’t bear this out. He cites our craze for setting inane records for the Guinness Book of World Records as a sign of apathy towards physical exertion. He underplays our martial traditions epitomised by the likes of Ajatshatru, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Chchatrapati Shivaji, Rani Laxmi Bai, Maharana Pratap, the Kargil heroes et al. He mentions our dismal Olympics records as proof of us lacking ‘manliness’. He intimates that the fist-fight by Bollywood film protagonists is our way of making up for inherent national timidity. A recent report in The Tribune of four-year-old Budhiya Singh from Bhubaneshwar completing 58 km in seven hours contradicts Lal’s verdict on our ‘indolence’. Nevertheless, this
collection of erudite essays deserves a serious read. Baba Bhagat Singh This is a story of Bhagat
Ram who became Bhagat Singh after being baptised by Guru Gobind Singh.
He served the Guru and the community with single-minded devotion, which
earned him the sobriquet of Baba. However, apart from the fact that he
was born in Machchiwal village, Sikka has not given the details of the
Baba’s family. This book should interest the devout. |
Home and the World
Of Cricket, Guinness
and Gandhi
