Graphic Guides

I have discovered a quick and interesting way of upgrading my knowledge. I have started reading Graphic guides . My library was already overflowing with graphic novels and now come the graphic guides. Graphic novels are very popular with book thieves. My friend in Pune is losing graphic books regularly from her library collection. I have realised that graphic works can be very addictive for any age group of readers. My initial curiosity is turning into active scouting for the right content in the graphic form. The Introducing series of graphic guides published in the UK by Icon books Ltd can be sourced in India through Penguin Books. I am grateful to Penguin India for pricing the books sensibly .The books are in the range of 200 odd pages ,easy to hold and carry and the content is delightful . Capturing highlights and salient points of the topic the language is compact . I was able to complete one book while I was travelling on a very hectic schedule. And I am not a very fast reader . The illustrations are wonderful to look at and enhances your engagement with the theme.

Take for example the book “ Introducing : Wittgenstein : a graphic guide”. The book opens with an illustration of the palatial house of the Wittgensteins and details about his birth and parents. I found it easy to put the character into context. If this can happen to an adult reader like me I am sure this will definitely have a much stronger connect with young minds .One page captures an important phase at Trinity college with few sentences spoken by G.E Moore, Russell and Wittgenstein and three portraits of these men.” Wittgenstein always looks so puzzled…” .” Do you think I am an idiot” .“Why do you ask” . “Because if I am I’ll become an astronaut. But if I am not I will become a philosopher’

The format , I feel is excellent for new age readers who lack the time and mental training to delve into complex theories and detailed discussions on topics of wider interest. After the childhood obsession with various comic characters like phantom , tarzan , batul ,hada-bhoda I am seriously rediscovering the pleasures of reading graphic books. I also feel that it is a nice way of relaxing by admiring the sketches and possibly gaining some new knowledge as a spinoff.



Further reading


http://www.introducingbooks.com/book/group/Graphic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphic_novel

Medicine's Strangest Cases (Strangest series) [Paperback],published by Portico ,315p.This edition published in 2009

The book contains over 100 anecdotes from over five centuries of medical history. This collection of true tales ranges from the painful to the hilarious. We were brought up in an era when doctors were regarded as God in most Indian homes. Patients and their families never thought of questioning the doctor’s judgement at any point of time. Times have changed and the patient-doctor relationship is full of suspicion and mistrust nowadays. Almost two decades ago a young doctor who was going to the UK to complete his MRCP degree had remarked that doctors should be treated like any other professionals .They had to deliver against payment and that is where the transaction ended. I had found the logic contrary to my understanding of the noble mission of medical profession. Michael O’Donnell’s book portrays the profession from a wide range of angles. The stories are strikingly refreshing written in a concise manner in two to four pages each .The headings are imaginative and sometimes quite    humorous.

Followed by a brief introduction the book opens with a chapter called “The case of the vanishing father figure” where O’Donnell talks about Hippocrates and the Hippocratic Oath. In 1973 the science writer Dr Robert Reid wrote “It takes little consideration of the Hippocratic oath to conclude that it is a bigoted and dangerous document. It embraces hardline trade union practices…… As well as encouraging nepotistic incompetent hierarchies, it hands out totally ambiguous ethical advice.” O’Donnell writes “ One dangerous effect of the Hippocratic inheritance is the way  it is used by those who think that because they have acquired a medical degree, a divine light sparkles somewhere about their person”. I was pretty amused reading this statement but I must say the doctor is not alone guilty .Often divinity is bestowed upon them by well meaning patients and their families.

Trust me I ‘m a doctor recounts the story of Alexander the Great and the young doctor Philip the Acarnanian .Alexander was struck down  by a debilitating disease during his sojourn in Asia Minor . When the king’s physicians refused to treat him Philip agreed to try his skills. In spite of receiving a warning that Philip might poison him Alexander went ahead and swallowed the potion that Philip gave him. He recovered to win the battle against Darius.

In The Surgical Triple Whammy the author narrates the funny and sad story of the surgical speedstar Robert Liston a daring and successful Scottish surgeon who was known for his operating speed .Before the coming of anaesthetics the most admired of a surgeon’s skills was his operating speed. Sometimes his speed had “side-effects”. Once while amputing a patient’s leg in his standard two and a half minutes time his flashing knife removed the poor man’s testicles and on another occasion he inadvertently removed the fingers of his young assistant.

Large fees and how to get them is about doctors attempt to balance the demands of Hippocrates and Mammon. Faddy about his Food  tells the story of a three year old Spanish child who refused to eat and was taken to various doctors  by the anxious mother .The child thereafter  underwent a stomach operation which revealed he had swallowed 30 pebbles, two collar studs, two  buttons, two coins ,one screw and two plastic gambling chips.

The tales are extremely well chosen and is eminently suitable for lay readers. An excellent read for information, leisure and entertainment. Michael O’Donnell was a practising doctor, was editor of World Medicine and wrote a weekly column for BMJ.

The book can be ordered directly from www.anovabooks.com .Other topics under the strangest series – boxing,golf,sailing,tennis,television,scientific inventions political characters etc.

Ref:
http://www.amazon.com/Medicines-Strangest-Cases-Michael-ODonnell/dp/1906032904 - #

Arthur and George ,Julian Barnes. Jonathan Cape

Julian Barnes finally won the Booker this year for his novel "The Sense of an Ending" after being nominated several times .The chair of this year's judges, former MI5 director general Stella Rimington, said the winning title had "the markings of a classic of English Literature. It is exquisitely written, subtly plotted and reveals new depths with each reading." I have read one book by Barnes and I have been captivated by his storytelling skills. Arthur and George was nominated for the Booker in 2005 but missed the trophy. After reading Arthur and George I had wondered how such a well constructed novel could fail to impress the judges. A&G will definitely figure in my list of all time favourites.


Arthur and George is the story of two lives Arthur Conan Doyle and a provincial half Indian solicitor George Edalji and the convergence of these two lives at one point. George is wrongly convicted by the police for killing of horses at Wyrley .George approaches Sir Arthur to help him fight his case which finally leads to George’s vindication.

The story is told mainly from two perspectives that of Arthur and George with some characters coming in between. I found the section and sub-section headings interesting. There are four main sections –Beginnings, Beginning with an Ending, Ending with a Beginning and Endings. The sections have sub-sections which simply alternate between Arthur, George, Arthur, George and sometimes George and Arthur, George, Campbell, George and Arthur. It is a mystery and the narrative keeps you involved throughout.

But Arthur and George is not just a crime story .Set against Edwardian background it is about Christianity, religion, racial discrimination, justice, love and society in general.

“The general opinion is that cities are violent, overcrowded places, while the countryside is calm and peaceable. His own experience is contrary: the country is turbulent and primitive, while the city is where life becomes orderly and modern.” I found a resonance in similar thoughts shared by a friend of mine who had been posted in a rural institute sometime back.

The discussions around race and religion -where George says “There were teasings and jokes. I am not so naïve as to be unaware that some people look at me differently. But I am a lawyer …. What evidence do I have that anyone acted against me because of race prjudice? …. What concerned me about more about the police was their lack of competence” and Sir Arthur comments “ The truths of one’s religion and the truths of one’s religion do not always lie in the same valley”- are insightful.The book at times had reminded me of Harper Lee’s classic novel.

The book is also about Sir Arthur’s life, his longstanding relationship with Jean, his work, his psychic and spiritual quests, his experiments with séances, his travels around the world.Sir Arthur's fans will definitely enjoy reading about the life and times of the famous man who still remains a popular household name across the world.
 Arthur and George is also a highly readable book because of the language which is simple and classic.The  360 page book is available in both hardback and paperback. I will definitely recommmend it as a brilliant piece of writing.

Ref:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/oct/18/booker-prize-julian-barnes-wins

Gilgamesh : A new English Version by Stephen Mitchell, Profile Books,First South Asian Edition Distributed by Viva Books 2006, Rs 325/-

“Who is like Gilgamesh? What other king
Has inspired such awe? Who else can say,
I alone rule, supreme among mankind?
The goddess Aruru, mother of creation
Had designed his body, had made him the strongest
Of men – huge, handsome, radiant, perfect.”


Gilgamesh , the oldest story on earth was written ,in ancient Mesopotamia in second millennium BC and predates the Iliad by at least thousand years. Its hero Gilgamesh was a historical king of the city Uruk (modern Iraq) and had an intimate friend Enkidu.Enkidu was a naked, wild man who was civilized through the erotic arts of the temple priestess Shamhat .With Enkidu Gilgamesh battles many monsters and when he dies he is inconsolable and sets out in search of someone who can tell him how to escape death. A brilliant tale of self-discovery Gilgamesh has been compared to the great epics but was lost to civilization for over two thousand years. The eleven clay tablets in which the story was inscribed in cuneiform was discovered in 1850 in the ruins of Nineveh. The great poet Rilke wrote in 1916 “Gilgamesh is stupendous” .He considered it to be a masterpiece in world literature.


Mitchell’s translation is superb and easy to read

“Humans are born, they live .then they die
------------------------
But until the end comes enjoy your life,
Spend it in happiness, not despair'"


“…….Suddenly ,savagely death
Destroys us, all of us, old or young
And yet we build house, make contacts, brothers
Divide their inheritance, conflicts occur
As though this human life lasted forever”


Gilgamesh’s despair after the death of Enkidu and his travails have been likened to Buddha’s renunciation and search for truth. The poetry is haunting and the feelings expressed by the poet are eternal.

"I cannot bear what happened to my friend.......
My beloved friend has turned into clay----
And won't I too lie down in the dirt
like him and never rise again"

 Mitchell writes a detailed and fascinating introduction to this composition where he describes the historical and cultural context of this epic. The story of the discovery and decipherment of the clay tablets is itself a great tale. A young English traveller Austen Henry Layard found tens of thousands of clay tablets buried in what was left of the library of the last great Assyrian king Ashurbanipal. Twenty five thousand of these treasures were taken away to England .In 1872 George Smith a curator in the British Museum first realized that a great story was written on the tablets. Probably such discoveries reflected the brighter side of imperialism and redeemed to an extent the various looting expeditions of the imperialists.

The Unbearable lightness of being/Milan Kundera, Translated from the Czech by Michael Henry Heim ,Faber and Faber,2004

The cover description says it is a story of irreconcilable love and infidelities. I picked up this book because I wanted to read Kundera. I wanted to read Kundera for a while but kept on delaying because I have heard all along that he was a cerebral writer and was not easy to read. The final push came from my friend who described him as a simple yet complex writer. According to my friend you can dwell on a sentence or a phrase from Kundera’s works for hours just to get a sense of what the author was trying to say. I was interested. Kundera did not disappoint me. He was not too intimidating either. The book is about relationships and the essential polygamous nature of man-woman relationships. While reading the book one wonders whether monogamy is a myth that society carefully nurtures. The story revolves around Tomas, Tereza, Sabina, Franz and others. The book begins by challenging the “mad myth of eternal return” which Nietzsche called the heaviest of burdens. “What then shall we choose weight or lightness?” Questions are raised on love, betrayal, sexuality, repression, freedom of speech etc.


Tomas a surgeon who has had over 200 women (erotic friendships) in a span of twenty five years is forced to leave his profession on account of writing a critical letter to the editor of a newspaper condemning the communists. Sabina is a woman who thrives on the concept of betrayal .She abandons Franz who leaves his wife of twenty years to be with her. Franz dies while travelling abroad with his mistress and in his death his wife finally claims him as her own. Tereza is torn between her love for Tomas and the anxiety over his constant infidelities which tear her apart. Tomas realises he loves Tereza but thinks love and sexuality cannot be equated. Tereza’s dog Karenin plays a key role in the novel and is instrumental in bringing Tereza and Tomas together in the end.



The book is strewn with sentences like these

“We can never know what to want because, living only one life, we can neither compare it with our previous lives nor perfect it in our lives to come”..

” And what can life be worth if the first rehearsal for life is life itself?”

“In a society run by terror, no statements whatsoever can be taken seriously. They are all forced ..”


I wonder if the translation has been able to capture the spirit of the original of such a philosophical novel. The 300 page book should be read slowly and in leisure.

Follow the link below to read more about the story

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unbearable_Lightness_of_Being

What is Hinduism /Mahatma Gandhi, National Book Trust India, 1994

This book was published on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Gandhiji . Published on behalf of the Indian Council of Historical Research the book is a selection of articles drawn from Young India ,Harijan and Navajivan . I thought of writing about this book because this is one of the most simplest and easiest book I have read on the theme till date.I must confess I have read very little . For people like me who are not scholars but are interested in knowing more about our culture it is difficult to find a relevant book that is not too burdened with scholarly expositions.


The chapter explaining the opening lines of Isa , incidentally my favourite quote and a goal I would like to achieve in life , is the best I have read. Gandhiji speaks straight from the heart. His pride in his faith is evident from the articles . Essence of hinduism is in its all inclusiveness. Many ancient civilisations have died but the hindu way of life still survives and the culture still fascinates many foreigners and Indians alike. A British gentleman who was in Kolkata this week for the first time had a glimpse of the excitement in the city around Durga Puja and was simply astounded. He kept on saying he had witnessed living art in the manner pandals were being made which he called "art installations". This year Germans are involved in the planning and designing of Ekdalia Evergreen Club's Puja.

Gandhiji's writings carry this essential spirit of the Indian culture in words which ordinary people can follow easily.He writes about equality of religions, non-violence being common to all religions, his conviction that God is, that Truth is God, about the message of Gita and it’s Ideal, about Hinduism and why he has chosen to remain a Hindu. Some of the extracts are from his daily discourses and retain the conversational style which makes you feel you are listening to the great man directly. I also liked the very practical nature of the messages which gels with the thought process of a modern sceptical mind. It is a 119 page book with 43 chapters .It is a good publication to possess and read and to reread.

The age of Wonder : how the romantic generation discovered the beauty and terror of science/ Richard Holmes ,Harper Press, 2008

“In wonder all philosophy began: in Wonder it ends….but the first Wonder is the Offspring of Ignorance , the last is the Parent of Adoration” Coleridge Aids to Reflection

The book is a celebration of romantic science a movement which spanned perhaps two generations beginning with Captain Cook’s expedition in 1768 and Darwin’s voyage aboard the Beagle in 1831 .Richard Holmes asserts that the notion of “wonder” unites romanticism as a cultural force and the spirit behind scientific quests during the period. The scientific discoveries of the time had a great influence on the writings of poets and writers of the time including the composition of the remarkable science fiction and cult novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. It was a great age of scientific lectures and also an age when the monopoly of the elite Royal Society was beginning to be openly challenged.

The book is interspersed with numerous references to writings of famous Romantic poets and descriptions of how the various scientific theories affected the works of these brilliant writers. The book carries interesting insights into the lives of men and women and the existing practices in various aspects of human society during the times. Lives of Joseph Banks,the astronomer Wilhelm Herschel, the chemist Humphry Davy and others are portrayed in such a manner as if they are characters involved in a cosmic drama . The spirit of romanticism underlies the fluent narrative and strikes you repeatedly as you get completely engrossed in the story. It is a well researched document and can be enjoyed for its many exotic and rare stories.
Joseph Banks , the official botanist to H M Bark Endeavour commanded by Lieutenant James Cook first” clapped eyes” on the island of Tahiti on 13 April 1769 .Contrary to legend Endeavour was not the first European ship to reach the fabled island .The French botanist Philibert Commerson had already described Tahiti as a sexual Utopia. The book describes the experiences of Banks and his team during their stay in the Polynesian island .Sexual bartering was common and Endeavour lost hundredweight bag of nails in the process stolen by its crew. Thieving was common but the norms of social ethics were different. Tahiti had a life changing impact on the young Banks who on his return broke off his engagement as he found himself at the moment unfit for marriage and civil life.
Some of the expeditions were unsuccessful like Mungo Parks second expedition to Africa in search of the mythical land of Timbuctoo. He lost an entire team of over forty people including his own life in the heart of Africa. Mungo Parks abandoned a successful medical career in pursuit of the unknown. The book has references to medical practices of the times. Fanny Burney underwent a painful operation for breast cancer without the application of anaesthetic. It was carried by the famous French military surgeon Larrey .Fanny Burney screamed all throughout the operation but went on to survive and live for another twenty years.Larrey was known to have performed 200 amputations in twenty four hours after the Battle of Borodino.
The debate around decline of British Science , the infighting around the presidential elections of Royal Society , the release of Charles Babbage salvo “Reflections on the Decline of Science in England “ in 1820 reflect the nature of changing times when science was gaining prominence in other European nations.

The 554 page book reads like a story book and is full of absorbing anecdotes. It is a good way to know about the exciting times of western science especially for people who have little knowledge of scientific history. Richard Holmes writes brilliantly .While reading the book I remembered the strap line of a popular advert of a leading daily “Simply unputdownable”. The paperback edition which is a later edition should be avoided .The print size is difficult on the eyes. The book has lovely illustrations including a photograph of William Herschel’s forty-foot reflector telescope and a Victorian image of the death of Mungo Park on the river Niger. There is a very informative cast list at the end –short biographical entries on different personalities mentioned in the book. Richard Holmes is a Fellow of British Academy and was a Professor of Biographical Studies at the University of East Anglia. Shortlisted for BBC Samuel Johnson Prize ,the book can be enjoyed by anyone including students of literature and humanities.

Links

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/nov/02/enlightenment-science-art

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/295631-19#

One Man’s Bible /Gao Xingjian ,Harper Collins

I have always felt that a great part of literary value of any work is lost in translation. It is often difficult to capture the native charm of certain words, phrases and expressions in a translated version. Transcreation is a better word to use. But one cannot underestimate the worth of translators. I would have never read a Chinese Nobel laureate’s work otherwise but for Mabel Lee’s lucid translation of the original Chinese work.

One Man’s Bible is my second attempt to get a flavour of Chinese literature. I had struggled with the former a story about wolves. This one was much better. The book captures the history of the Chinese cultural revolution with its many excesses in detail.”The masses were like a pack of dogs slinking off to bite as the whip directed, thereby ensuring that they themselves would not be lashed.” The book is a literature of protest, of human dignity and of freedom from tyranny of any kind. People interested in political history of the times will find the book extremely informative.

Gao’s handling of human relationships demonstrates his skill as a master storyteller. When Margareth says “No you don’t understand, its impossible for a man to understand “ or when he writes “what she wants is love and what you want is freedom. You have paid too high a price for the small freedom of controlling your own freedom….” the voices could be from any part of the world from any period of human history.

Born in 1940 Gao Xingjian is a Chinese novelist, translator, dramatist, director, critic and artist, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 2000. “During the Cultural Revolution (1966-76), Gao was sent to a re-education camp because of his learning. He had started to write for himself, but fearing the consequences the aspiring writer burned a suitcase full of manuscripts, including novels, plays and articles, and spent six years at hard labor in the fields.”Part autobiographical in nature One Man’s Bible is a highly enjoyable book.



Ref:

http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/gao.htm

The Canterbury Tales: A retelling by Peter Ackroyd (Penguin )

“ Whanne that April with his shoures sote

The droughte of March hath perced to the rote.” Canterbury Tales. Prologue. Line 1.

“When the soft showers of April reach the roots of all things refreshing the parched earth” Peter Ackroyd retells

Almost three decades have passed since I read bits of The Canterbury Tales in Nevill Coghill’s brilliant translation of the famous medieval composition .Geoffrey Chaucer was born in London somewhere between 1341 and 1343 when English was gradually replacing French as the official language of the court. Son of a vintner Chaucer wrote in a language which was a different form of English which most of us found difficult to follow then .Canterbury Tales is considered to be one of the greatest poems of English Literature. I am not sure if students of literature read the text anymore. In the seventies and eighties the English literature syllabus of most Indian universities was dominated by works of British writers from all ages and genres. The syllabus has changed over the ages and most universities now have a more holistic coverage of world literature .Even the dinosaurian Calcutta University is gradually making its shift . Imagine my delight when I chanced upon the book in the fiction section of the library. Peter Ackroyd retells the story in prose for the enjoyment of contemporary readers. And Ackroyd succeeds in keeping me mesmerised and hooked to the narrative throughout.

Canterbury Tales presents a string of twenty four stories where tragedy,comedy,sex, salacious humour,high romance,heroic all blend together to portray the “variously moving forces” of fourteenth century London. A motley group of pilgrims meet at a London inn on their way to Canterbury and agree to take part in a story telling competition for entertainment during their five day journey from Southwark to Canterbury. It is agreed that the best story would win a supper at the inn on return. As they make their way on the road the travellers have great fun and try to outdo each other with their tales. The characters are drawn from all sections of the society-there’s a Knight , a burly miller, a handsome monk, a summoner, a modest nun, a cook, the good wife of bath who had five husbands, a choleric reeve, a poor parson, a doctor of physic who spoke eloquently about medicine and surgery and other equally interesting characters.

Peter Ackroyd is a historian and writer based in London. Ackroyd thinks the book should be read by contemporary readers simply because it is one of the best works of literature to date .Moreover it is a vivid portrayal of medieval Anglo-Saxon society and fourteenth century history .Ackroyd writes the story in an easy and fluent style which can be understood by all. Written for modern times it is a wonderful attempt to bring a classic work of literature to the masses that are generally more comfortable with prose than poetry. Ackroyd captures the spirit and essence of Chaucer’s narrative to a great extent. However for poetry lovers there is no alternative but to read the text in original along with its translation side by side, to get a true flavour of Chaucer’s mastery over the medium and his skill as a poet and storyteller.

If you have not read Chaucer I would definitely recommend readers to try the book just for the sake of the story itself.

Links:

Reviews

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/books/review/Bloom-t.html

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article5945019.ece

Text

http://www.librarius.com/canttran/gptrfs.htm

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/CT-prolog-para.html

Travels in the history of architecture by Robert Harbison published by Reaktion Books ,UK

This is a book on buildings through different ages of history.Harbison is a professor of architecture and the book is intended for students and researchers of architecture. Lot of it is academic stuff but it is lot of history as well. To a random reader like me it is like travelling through different cultures and societies as stories from history are weaved into each narrative.It is a good book to read and can be used as a reference point for travellers who love to visit historical monuments . The chapters cover Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic,Renaissance,Mannerism,Baroque,Historicism and Modernism styles of architecture.The technical details might be too heavy for the uninitiated .But the historical narrative is captivating.

The Egyptians were obsessed with Death and deified crocodiles, snakes and baboons .Tomb robbery was common and the pharaohs themselves usurped, re-labelled and reoccupied the temples and tombs of their predecessors .The importance of the boat in ancient Egypt, the ceremonial journeys on boats by the Gods can be compared to similar Hindu rituals. The multiple burial sites for Osiris whose dismembered body ended up in thirteen locations finds resonance in the Hindu mythology of dismembering of Sati’s body and the monuments built in various locations of India where the parts of the body fell.

The Doric temple is the greatest Greek contribution to the history of architecture. We find description of the concept of the first shopping mall in Roman architecture, the public baths, the libraries sports fields ,etc .The Colosseum was at one time home for 420 different species of plants some so rare that it was assumed that the seeds were brought from Persia. Gothic style began in a small area in northern France .The author traces the evolution of the style through the descriptions of the beautiful cathedrals and of its extreme example in Beauvais where the high vaults collapsed 24 years after completion and had to be rebuilt with the doubling of bays and piers in the choir.

There are interesting details of Michelangelo’s great architectural project at San Lorenzo, the library vestibule. Michael Angelo could not come from Rome to supervise its construction so he sent a clay model for Ammannati to interpret. The library had a section for rare books too.

In describing Bernini’s Baroque creations the author refers to the canal in Varsailles which is actually like the figure of a cross and measures three miles long on its axis where thousands died of malaria digging artificial water features. It reminds us once again the plight of hapless workers who sometimes even gave their lives in building such architectural wonders


The language of the book is academic and is essentially meant for the student of architecture .But the abundance of historical detail can be enjoyed by ordinary readers too. The book is full of illustrations and has beautiful b/w photographs.An excellent book to be added to your institutional or private library.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Travels-History-Architecture-Robert-Harbison/dp/186189435X#_

KJV (Bible)and Shakespeare

 This is the 400th year of the publication of Kings James version of the Bible popularly known as KJV which was published in 1611. One of our library members a westerner who wears Indian kurtas and looks like an ISCKON follower wanted to know whether the library was celebrating the landmark year in any manner. He pointed out that KJV was not just a religious text it was a work of literature and known for its immense influence on English literary culture. He spoke about KJV and Shakespeare and the many references in Shakespeare’s works. As he recited a few lines it was wonderful to hear the beautiful archaic language and the lyricism of the verses in his native accent.


However the fact remains that since the bard was dead by 1616 it was obvious that he had composed most of his work well before KJV was published. Yet the myth lives on and inspires people to make confident wishful observations publicly. As I listened to the gentleman’s assertion about the close relation between KJV and Shakespeare I tried to recollect if I had ever heard anything similar in the past while attending lectures by our veteran professors . I drew a blank. I did not find any scholarly references justifying the allusion either.

KJV can be read just for the sheer beauty of its language. The 1611 version has a later (1769) translation which is easier to read.

An excerpt from the 1611 version

“And all flesh died, that mooued vpon the earth, both of fowle, & of cattell, and of beast, and of euery creeping thing that creepeth vpon the earth, and euery man.

22 All in whose nosethrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.

23 And euery liuing substance was destroyed, which was vpon the face of the ground, both man and cattell, and the creeping things, and the foule of the heauen; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah onely remained aliue, and they that were with him in the Arke.

24 And the waters preuailed vpon the earth, an hundred and fifty dayes.”

And its 1769 version

“And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:

22 All in whose nostrils [was] the breath of life, of all that [was] in the dry [land], died.

23 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained [alive], and they that [were] with him in the ark.

24 And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.”

(Ref : http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Genesis-Chapter-7/ )

The richness of KJV as an artisitic composition speaks volumes about the talent of the brilliant scholars and translators of the times who were responsible for completing  the work which is believed to be a very close translation from the Hebrew original.It is a coincidence that they belonged to the same era which had also produced a genius like Shakespeare.

The Uncle’s Story by Witi Ihimaera and Fingersmith by Sarah Waters and Gay writing

Having spent most of my work life in an extremely open and diverse organisational culture I have met n number of colleagues and contacts who led happy lives with same sex partners.I have seen old men pining for their young boyfriends like lovesick teenagers , mature women with wives to manage their homes while they were busy outside . So the rainbow world is not new or strange to me. Yet when it comes to reading books or viewing movies on LGBT themes I am not comfortable. In fact most of the time if I know that there is any trace of LGBT element in a work I prefer to ignore it. In spite of my preferences I must say the two books in discussion will definitely be amongst the top favourite books in my reading list. I had picked up the books at random while browsing through the library racks and had no inkling what the writers had to say. I liked the style while reading the first few pages and decided to read them in full. There was no looking back and I simply loved the stories.

Hei runga, hei raro ! hii haa, hii haa – the karanga the ritual call of Maori women strikes a magical chord in my imagination .I am instantly transported to a world which I can only conjure up in my dreams. The sons are all getting ready to leave for the battlefield as their proud families look on. It reminds me of my ancestors and the songs that Sylheti women sang during various rituals with some lovely dancing . The singing and dancing can still be witnessed in rural Sylhet in Bangladesh. It also reminds me of scenes of tribal dancing and singing witnessed during my childhood days in Jharkhand. Human behaviour is so similar in all cultures.


Witi Ihimaera is an award winning Maori novelist .His publishers describe him as the first Maori novelist. The Uncle’s story is a beautiful and passionate tale of love and longing, of Maori masculinity and Maori beliefs and life. It is also a story of two generations of Maori men. I am not particularly receptive to LGBT themes but Sam and Harper’s love is so poignant and so romantic that you tend to overlook the gender of the characters and what lingers is the overwhelming beauty of love that touches your heart to the core. Sam is heterosexual and later marries and leads a regular life. Uncle Sam’s story made me realise that love in its purest form is truly spiritual. This is definitely one of my most memorable reads.

( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witi_Ihimaera )

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters is a brilliant thriller set in a Victorian background. The narrative and story telling is superb. The turn of incidents keeps you hooked throughout the novel. Same sex relationship is treated in a most subtle and sensitive manner which does not intrude upon the central theme of the book.

Follow the link for the full story.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fingersmith_(novel)


I am happy that I began with ignorance and emerged with a wealth of knowledge. If I had started with prior knowledge of the content of the books my prejudice would have stopped me from discovering such treasures. I would definitely be the loser.

Shame by Salman Rushdie

Many people find Rushdie unreadable including my pretty colleague who is herself a seasoned librarian and manages our popular reading group . I am sure the group has never thought of trying Rushdie. My first serious attempt at reading Rushdie was “Shame”.Shame is not his lead composition though .Rushdie has an interesting and baffling style. One sentence had over 150 words and one had just two. There are words like “peregrinations” “antediluvian” “imprecations”  “simulacrum” which will make you wonder whether you are reading the novel or the dictionary which you need to consult every now and then. But I loved the expressions “death-encrusted words” “foulmouthed death” “philistine transience” “kiss-lipped boy”, “ectoplasmic arms”. I think Rushdie gradually grows on you and fascinates you.


The fat Omar Khayyam, fatter than fifty melons at the age of eighteen and who becomes a doctor, is a lovable character. He is brought up by three mothers with no trace of a father anywhere and even no mention of who is the biological mother of the three. He marries Sufiya who is thirty one years junior to him. It is a completely fictional world but details of life of an imaginary country are very close to reality. It is a delightful world with all its profanities, purities, scandals, heartbreaks, love, political coups and military Generals. The story telling keeps you engaged throughout and I find the style unique. Enjoyable if you can manage to get involved with the narrative.



http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/book-of-a-lifetime-shame-salman-rushdie-798708.html
http://www.amazon.com/Shame-Novel-Salman-Rushdie/dp/0812976703

Srimanta Sankaradeva by Dr Bimal Phukan

A couple of weeks back I was informed by my colleague that we had a visitor from Kaziranga Books, Assam who wanted to see the librarian personally. Usually I tend to ignore such requests often sending a message through the security that our libraries do not keep local publications. However this time I decided to go and meet this person in the café where he was waiting for a while.I have a soft corner for Assam since my mother's family were domiciled Bengalees from the state. I was greeted by a dignified elderly gentleman in his seventies. Mr Satya Brata Saikia was carrying a copy of “Srimanta Sankaradeva” written by Dr Bimal Phukan . It was a pleasure talking to him.

Mr Saikia was a much travelled man .He had earned lot of wealth in his lifetime .His wife had died of cancer and he had given up everything to nurse her in her final hours. Thereafter he was on a mission to spread Sankaradeva’s words beyond Assam to all corners of the world. Sankaradeva was a Vaishnava saint who had transformed Assamese spiritual life in the 15th /16th centuries. He was not so well known in other parts of India .Sankaradeva preached a monotheistic philosophy.

The book is beautifully designed and printed on high quality paper. There are rare photographs and illustrations of Assamese religious life and culture. The book describes the monastic institution of Xatras and their activities. Written in simple style the book gives an interesting insight into Sankaradeva’s multifaceted life, works and teachings .It also tries to depict some of the practices of vaishnavites.

The writer Dr Phukan is an engineer by profession .The foreword has been written by Amjad Ali Khan, the great sarod player. Published by Kaziranga Books the book is an important addition to the rich treasure of religious literature of India.
(For more information contact  kazbooks68@gmail.com )

Geek Nation : How Indian Science is taking over the world by Angela Saini

Angela Saini is an award winning  young science journalist based in  UK. The book is a record of her impressions and observations on her various visits to Indian scientific and technical institutions. It is a journalist's impression and she writes with enthusiasm.
I enjoyed reading the book .The content is interesting and not too geeky though the writer hops from one geek world to another. This is a book on changing India and the realm is science. At the moment anyone and everyone seems to be interested in India . Indians and non- Indians are equally involved in the debate around India’s emerging position as a global power. Some of the chapters are quite informative and you get to know the views of some very interesting geeks. The writer does not make too many critical comments and the observations are pretty open-ended without trying to draw any definitive conclusion on sensitive issues. It is a good read .I personally got to know about some of the great work being done with e-governance , agriculture and farming in different states of India. The stories around innovations and progress in IT are pretty hackneyed by now . But very few people are aware about the achievements in other disciplines .

I found the chapters on Vaimanika Shastra pretty amusing .I  have not seen any reference to the document in any contemporary writing I have come across.