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A celebration of
culture and history
Reviewed by Mahesh
Sharma
The Dussehra of Kulu: History
and Analysis of a Cultural Phenomenon
by Karuna Goswamy, Aryan Books in association with IIAS, Shimla. Pages
313. Rs 3,600
The
Dussehra of Kulu is an exceptional event where number of deotas,
representing particular area and community of the erstwhile kingdom,
gather at the Dhalpur ground to pay homage to the presiding deity, Sri
Raghunathji, who is the ruler of the Kulu state since the
mid-sixteenth century.
Prison
diaries: Life behind bars
Reviewed by B. L.
chakoo
Colours of the Cage: A Prison Memoir by Arun Ferreira. Aleph.
Pages 176. Rs 295
Sometime
in 1984 when I was at Warwick University, UK, a friend of mine spoke
to me about the police atrocities on innocent people in the 1984 riots
of Punjab. Many impoverished peasants and educated people who wanted
to be good citizens for no fault of theirs were suspected to be
‘terrorists’ espousing a new radical theology of unwavering
devotion to the formation of Khalistan.
Seeing
our identities through western eyes
Reviewed by Harjeet
Singh Gill
In/Disciplines: Notes on
Politics, Education and Culture by Rajesh Sharma. Three
Essays Collective. Pages 207. Rs 345
In
in/disciplines, an anthology of disparate papers, the author
has dealt with the complexities of Punjabi identity, literature and a
number of other concerns vis-a-vis state of education, politics and
culture in present-day India.
Seeking
perfect answers
Reviewed by Aditi
Garg
Throwing Sparks by Abdo Khal. Bloomsbury Qatar
Foundation. Pages 349. Rs 499
Abdo
Khal surprises with his nimble narrative in his first novel to be
published in English. Having started out as a preacher, he became a
primary school teacher. Throwing Sparks won the International
Award for Arabic Fiction.
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