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Balinalli Belaku:
Leo Tolstoy's A Confession
Translated by Madhura Chenna and Simpi Linganna
Adhyayana Mandala, Rs. 60
GREAT VISIONARIES have the capacity to delve into the inner turmoil of human psyche and offer lasting solutions to individuals if not communities at large. Leo Tolstoy belongs to this exclusive group of writers who captured the modern angst in all its horrifying details. However, what makes him unique is his uncompromising commitment to activism, based on his tentative convictions. Confessions was written when he was forty years old and it was translated into Kannada, sixty-seven years ago.
Madhura Chenna and Simpi Linganna, writers and social activists of long standing in the hinterlands of Karnataka, were on the look out for something that would serve as a model for good values, rather than translating a text merely for its aesthetic or literary value. To revive the book at this critical juncture of human history is sure proof of the publisher, and its editor K.C. Shiva Reddy, who excels in ventures of this kind. The book is extremely well produced with eye-catching photographs and supportive bibliographic material.
Tolstoy is not a mere theoretician indulging in fanciful speculations. On the contrary, he makes a practical attempt to trace many possible alternatives to their logical conclusion and to assess their worth. Ultimately, he finds his solace among the poor who have to eke out their existence from day to day, but nevertheless are propelled by love and brotherhood. These virtues are realised in age-old practices such as simplicity and charity rather than mere rhetoric.
He is particularly severe against writers who consider themselves above the ordinary milieu just because they wax eloquent about things and precepts that they do not practice. A perusal of the body of knowledge generated by physical sciences and social sciences also ends in disappointment. Finally, he finds succour in religious texts, which according to him contain a true explanation of the problems that have puzzled the mankind. However, this is not a return to the hegemony of the church or that of any other religion.
The translators provide a short and appreciative introduction to the writer and his work. The book is very communicable and evocative because of its simple and lucid style. It is a must in the bookshelf of any person who is moved and puzzled by the phenomenon of life.
H.S. RAGHAVENDRA RAO
Hingidru Nam Kamti
Krishnananda Kamat Pratishtana, Rs. 35
HINGIDRU NAM Kamti is a collection of articles by various people (from age 21 to 87), on Krishnanda Kamat, the man of many talents.
The account of Dr. V.B. Nadkarni in the book is too long. It could have been edited to retain only important details on Kamat's Scientific Photography Lab and how he was unable to find a job to suit his qualifications and aptitude. Jeanne Roth, Mr. Kamat's pen friend for nearly 40 years, in her essay admits that she has forgotten details of his visit, excepting the meal he cooked. Madan Pandila, his college mate at Syracuse, New York, writes a very sketchy essay and it gets worse with all the glaring typos.
The letters section makes for interesting reading. They also have a strange quality of growing precious with age. Letters can become interesting and invaluable after a long time. Niranjana makes a confession of not having read two of Kamat's books. S.H. Nayak in his letter jocularly says: "Your name is Krishna, but your wife is fortunate to have Rama for her partner."
A person who is associated with silk reeling and who never met Kamat personally, D.G. Malliakrjuna, has written a passionate piece on what an influence Kamat was on his life. There is a humorous poem by V.G. Bhatta, Gandana Hucchige Jyotsna Mecchige. K.V. Subbanna in his essay "Krishnandara Smarane" says how Kamat was capable of writing twice or thrice the number of books he actually wrote. He could have even produced a volume of Vishwakosha!
Ravi Hegde talks about the man's genuine passion for zoology. When the author went to him requesting for a photograph of Iralukuppe, a kind of frog, Kamat took great pains to look for it and even sent it to him. M.J. Rajiva Gowda says how Kamat was ever ready to share his knowledge to whoever approached him. When Mr. Gowda went to him to get macro photographs, he let him into technical secrets that others would cling on to.
His wife, Dr. Jyotsna Kamat, also a writer, has edited the book. But it has an unforgivable error. The date of his death has been printed wrongly.
H.S. MANJUNATHA
Rangasuneri
by Mallikarjuna Kadakola,
Manjushree Prakashana,
Rs. 100
THOUGH THEATRE movement in Karnataka has a long history, there has been no steady documentation. Over the years, plays have just become an integral part of literature, as there has been no effort to record any of theatre's activities. Except for an earnest attempt made by Nataka Academy to record the history of professional theatre during B.V. Vaikunta Raju's chairmanship, nothing has been really done.
Rangasuneri, a collection of published articles on theatre by Mallikarjuna Kadakola, a creative theatre person, is a novel attempt to document theatre history.
The title of the book could be understood as golden moments of theatre, in a very broad sense. But in literal terms, suneri means the shimmering gold or silver paper, which brings glitter to the stage.
Writings on theatre can be classified into three categories: ideology, personalities and productions. Rangasuneri contains writings from the last two categories. From what he writes, it is very apparent that he has been associated with both amateur and professional theatre for a good length of time. Most articles in the collection are journalistic and therefore seem limited. Nevertheless, Kadakola makes it interesting. His articles transcend the dreariness of a daily report with a very unusual, engaging narrative style.
The profiles are intimate. For instance, when he writes about Yenagi Balappa, he addresses him as "walking theatre" and calls Mudenoor Sanganna the "ageless friend". But one feels that in the process of listing their achievements, he doesn't have enough details on them as individuals.
In spite of all its limitations, Rangasuneri takes the readers into the lanes and bylanes of the past and present of theatre. Kadakol in his enthusiasm to write about popular personalities hasn't forgotten the lesser-known. Rangasuneri is a significant contribution.
MURALIDHARA KHAJANE
Leafing Through is a monthly column on Kannada books. You can send in responses to Friday Review, The Hindu, 19&21, Bhagwan Mahaveer Road, Bangalore 560001
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