Short Takes
Poetry, drug abuse and eminence

A Touch of Greatness 
By R. M. Lala.
Rupa.
Pages xii+210. Rs 195.

Reviewed by Randeep Wadehra

Hagiography is often looked down upon as one-dimensional biography. Derived from the Greek word hagios, the term originally meant "the biography of a saint". Later on, it was used to denote any admiring biographical account. The accounts of saints’ lives, which flourished in the Middle Ages were chiefly meant to promote faith among the readers. Such works paid little or no regard to historical accuracy and, by their focus on the miracles wrought by their subjects, spawned fantastical fables, which have passed into folklore. Although hagiographic, Lala’s accounts are no fables. These tell us of real men and women who achieved greatness by the dint of hard work as well as unwavering adherence to strong and positive value systems. This volume portrays C. Rajagopalachari’s stalwart sense of history and modest perception of his own role in shaping the country’s destiny, and Banoobai Coyaji’s trailblazing efforts in promoting public health services of high quality that, especially, the poor could avail of. Then, there is Morarji Desai, described by Lala as probably the only Indian who spun the charkha in London’s famed Claridge’s Hotel’s plush suite; the simplicity and strong work ethics of Azim Premji and JRD Tata leave us awestruck. Portrayals of Manekshaw, Shastri, Mother Teresa, Subbulakshmi, Kamaraj etc should inspire today’s youth.

The Dewdrop World
By Maniinder.
Unistar.
Pages 154. Rs 295.

Poetry is much more than "imaginative prose". It is an enchanting mix of rhythm, sound, word and image that provides distinct shape to a narrative. There was a time when rigidity in form was the norm. For example, iambic pentameter was considered essential for blank or heroic verse. Although many still adhere to such norms, the trend is towards experimentation with form, content, theme and imagery. Nevertheless, certain themes are perennial, which are prominent in this volume too, viz., love, longing and despair (Ways of love; Throughout the silent night), death (Dying ... an Art), relationships etc. However, poems like Cry of Violin, Song of Immortals etc indicate that the poet’s imagination and concerns do go beyond the familiar territory. The poems in this anthology are well crafted and illustrated.

Drug Addiction in Punjab
By Ranvinder Singh Sandhu.
Guru Nanak Dev University.
Pages xii+152. Rs 150.

Addiction to narcotics is rampant in Punjab today. Its adverse consequences are there for all to see. Punjabi youth, once known for prowess in sports and other physical activities, and much sought after in the Armed Forces, is fast joining the ranks of has-beens and dregs of the society. According to one survey, more than 70 per cent of Punjab’s youths are addicted to drugs. This volume confirms the dismal and scary picture. Citing a report that describes Amritsar’s Maqboolpura as a "locality of widows" Sandhu points out how, despite the efforts of good Samaritans like Master Ajit Singh, Kiran and Brij Bedi etc, drug abuse continues to be a menace there, as also in Amritsar and the rest of Punjab. This volume systematically studies the problem of drug addiction. Apart from delving in the relevant literature Sandhu has compiled/cited statistics while providing socioeconomic profiles of not only drug addicts (described by him as "victims"), but also their suffering families and kin. He goes on to trace the various types of hard drugs being (ab)used by Punjabi youth, and their sources and trails, viz., the Golden Triangle in South-East Asia and the Golden Crescent comprising Afghanistan, Pakistan etc. Most of these drugs are meant for the western markets but since these pass through various Indian cities, the local youth fall victim to its fatal attraction. The book also goes on to study the psychological/behavioural patterns of drug addicts; useful for social scientists, scholars and policy makers.

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