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Sketches from Memory:
A Journey to Gandhi (Vol. I) Sketches from Memory:
Remembering Gandhi (Vol. II)
Margaret Chatterjee’s two volumes, entitled Sketches from Memory, however, are a very refreshing change from the usual memoirs or autobiographical writings. The prime focus of the author in these volumes is not so much on self as on the galaxy of personalities Chatterjee came in contact with during the course of her life and issues of importance that need to be addressed in our present-day circumstances. Semi-autobiographical in manner and style, the book is a magnificently layered account of the thoughts and experiences of this internationally renowned scholar. The first volume, Sketches from Memory: A Journey to Gandhi, chronicles a tale of Chatterjee’s journey from one culture to an entirely different one. The introductory sketches deal with author’s early life, the influences that were at work and the interests developed. Her interest in philosophy is visible even at a very young age. The volume takes the reader down the memory lane without burdening one with dates and events. Unshackled by chronology, what evolves is an extremely refreshing portrayal of human spirit in full bloom. With great flare Chatterjeee manages to turn every day situations and people she met during the course of her unusually meaningful life into a fascinating narrative. In her subtle description of different cultures, peoples and objects, lifetime experiences are brought into the volume. Outstanding figures from the realm of arts, music, philosophy, history and politics occupy the centre stage along with ordinary people from different walks of life in the first volume. If on the one hand, we are introduced to greats like Nirmal Kumar Bose, Mulk Raj Anand, Nirad Chaudhari, Bimal Prasad and Joachim Wach, to name a few, our mind is tickled with her remarkable portrayals of ordinary people like the ‘Gypsy’, ‘Ice Cream Man’, ‘Undertaker’, German teacher and the Japanese gentleman among others, on the other hand. While some of these people had links with Gandhi or belonged to the Gandhian era and were fellow travellers in her journey to Gandhi, the portrayal of ordinary people is indicative of Chatterjee’s unusually wide travels and the huge variety of people she came in contact with. Chatterjee’s keen sensitivity to things around her is brilliantly illustrated in this volume. One could easily visualise and relate to the events and people being referred to by the scholar. Giving subtle description of different cultures, Chatterjee provides us with a fascinating account of her experiences as a student, teacher and colleague. What emerges is a wonderful story about life that has been and is even today so meaningful and memorable. The second volume, Sketches from Memory: Remembering Gandhi, takes a different course from the first. The focus in this volume is not so much on personalities as on issues. Remembering Gandhi, as the sub-title may erroneously suggest, does not deal exclusively with an activity of recall. On the contrary, the volume begins with contemporary world and looks back at Gandhi from that perspective. It is emphasised that Gandhi’s relevance is not confined to a specific historic situation as is often maintained these days and that Gandhi can be a key to understanding and serve as a guide in our very different world, complex circumstances and dilemmas today. It is argued by Chatterjee, who has six books on Gandhi to her credit, that Gandhi’s talisman of commitment to actions which would empower the poorest of the poor and his plea to be civilised instead of discussion on clash of civilisations could provide answers to some of the pressing contemporary issues like those of terrorism, climate change, food security and so on. The two sketches of Khansama and the Assembled garment, however, appear to be incongruence to the central argument of this volume and should have been included in the first part. Remembering Gandhi provides some hitherto not commonly known anecdotes about Gandhi such as Gandhi having played tennis in Darwen, Lancashire, during his visit after the Round Table Conference. "Incompletly autobiographical", as the author herself admits, the volumes leave out a large part of her personal life. But for a sketch about Ma and Pishima (her mother-in-law and aunt) and a fleeting reference to her daughter Amla, there are hardly any references to her family. Yet, we get to know so much about Chatterjee as a person. As such Chatterjee’s work opens a new vista in the writing of memoirs. The book has so much to teach the readers by way of how to view the self and the world.
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MEMOIR
usually is a chronological account of the life history of an author or a
particular event in which the author has been a major player. The shadow
of minor actors claiming major roles for themselves is not unlikely in
such writings, especially if written from memory without the support of
diaries or documents.