Some interesting Kannada reads...
Feathered Jewels of Coorg
By Dr. S.V. Narasimhan
Coorg Wildlife Society, Rs. 99
This bilingual book beautifully documents the richness of the avifauna of the small Kodagu district. The book contains the descriptions and sketches of 305 species of birds along with synoptic notes of each family. The initial chapters have a useful, concise and good general description of bird morphology, anatomy, general usefulness of birds, migration and tips for bird watching. These details make the book more useful for a general reader. The main text contains brief description of each species with its common and scientific names in English, Kannada and Kodava languages. The status, key morphological characters, habitats, habits are clearly explained. Thus the book is not only a good checklist, but also a valuable field guide to the birds of Kodagu. The descriptions of bird species are precise and follow the standard format.
These are excellently supported by the beautiful colour paintings by the author who is professionally a practicing physician. Giving details of specific bird watching areas within the district would have enhanced the usefulness of the book. Zafar Futehally, the famous ornithologist, writes in his foreword: "The book is invaluable in arousing an interest in birds among the population of Coorg, and Narasimhan has done great service to local birders." He adds: "Dr. Narasimhan is fortunate in his profession. Apart from the service which doctors render to mankind, they develop the habit of looking at things closely, attempting to connect cause and effect."
This elegantly printed and neatly got up book goes a long way in fulfilling the need for such practical information about birds as also about the natural wealth of Kodagu. Feathered Jewels of Coorg emphasises the urgent need for protecting all our natural resources so that our lives may be better and more joyful.
For a well-produced book like this, the pricing is surprisingly low.
K.B. SADANANDA
Camera Kannu
By B.R. Lakshmana Rao
CVG Publications. Rs. 600
A year before B.R. Lakshmana Rao came out with his first collection of poetry, Gopi Matthu Gandalina, a couple of his poems were published in Akshara Hosa Kavya, a representative anthology of poems by the Navya writers that was brought out by P. Lankesh in 1971. Lankesh had introduced Lakshmana Rao as a promising poet. Camera Kannu is collected poetry by Lakshmana Rao, who has emerged as an important poet of our times with seven anthologies of poems to his credit. Gopi Matthu Gaandalina, Tuvataara, Lilliputtiya Hambala, Shangri-la, Aparaadhamgala Manniso, Bhartha Bindhu Rashmi, Nanna Geethe, Yede, and Evalu Nadhiyalla.
Camera Kannu is a voluminous album of photographs of life within and around us; shot in different lights and shades and from different angles by Lakshmana Rao at different periods in his life; dawn, noon and twilight. "What my eyes saw/and what touched my heart/is only my real world," Lakshmana Rao wrote in the poem "Mithi." Probably these lines explain his poetry better.
Though he started writing poems when the Navya movement was at its peak, Lakshmana Rao, unlike most of the Navya poets, is neither cynical nor melancholic. His thought and style is not ponderous and complex. Instead, his poems are simple and full of dynamism. His is the language of the urban middle class, whose life he mirrors in most of his writings.
Through his "hidden" camera, Lakshmana Rao captures unique and subtle images of an orthodox father, a possessive mother, a rebellious son, a jilted lover, a traditional wife, love in its varied forms, deception, romance, sex, marriage, the human nature and relationships. Even a Gundappa Vishwanath, a Monica Seles, a Steffi Graf and a P.T. Usha inspire him and become the subjects of his poems.
In Lakshmana Rao's pictures, the reader often sees his own images. Probably this could be the reason why one is tempted to read many of his poems again and again. Several of his lyric poems (bhavageethe) which have been set to tune by well-known music composers and are included in the book. While the poems of dawn mainly deal with generational conflict, youth tumult, perception of love and sex, (for instance "Appa," "Nirbaghya Premiya Haadu" ), the poems of the noon focus on the grim realities of life and reflect deep social concern.Though Lakshmana Rao raises his voice in his unique style against social problems in poems such as "Nirakshara Kukshige," "Samshayathmana Vilaapa" and "Neevu Heliri" he is not a rebel.
Poems of the twilight such as "Galileo" and "Eega" have deep spiritual trappings and also mark the evolution of Lakshmana Rao from "thunta kavi to "prabudhha kavi."
K.V. SUBRAMANYA
Leafing Through is a monthly column that features Kannada books. You can send the books to Friday Review, The Hindu, 19&21, Bhagwan Mahaveer Road, Bangalore 560001.
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