LEAFING THROUGH
Sannadu Sundara,
Small is Beautiful by
E.F. Schumacher, translated by Eswar Simpi
Sapna Book House, Rs. 125
The translation of internationally acclaimed classics into Kannada has a poor track record and hardly gets noticed. Some of them are fore-grounded for the wrong reasons. The book under consideration is an exception that deserves a detailed study because of its intrinsic worth as well as contemporary relevance.
Ernst Schumacher is a German economist who was trained in Oxford and taught at Columbia University besides having hands on experience in agriculture, trade and journalism. These experiences and a close association with activists searching for alternatives to capitalist economics persuaded him to delve deep into the problems caused by mega planning and mercenary global interference.
Small is Beautiful along with Good Work and A Guide for the Perplexed, has carved a niche for itself among the books offering possible solutions for the myriad problems caused by the modern, materialistic life. Times Literary Supplement has chosen Small is Beautiful as one among the 100 most influential books published since World War II.
This book is described as a classic of common-sense economics: "Enormously broad in scope, pithily weaving together threads from Galbraith and Gandhi, capitalism and Buddhism, science and psychology." (The New Republic)
Schumacher embarks into a study of economics "as if People Mattered", the goal of which is obviously, diametrically opposite to a policy of treating people as targets meant to purchase the commodities manufactured by an aggressive industry.
The first part of the book delineates, the invasions of man on nature and consequent erosion of resources. The second part is devoted to an analytical study of avowed resources such as nuclear power and their detrimental effects. Education that overemphasises science and technology at the cost of spiritual concerns, results in an unrestrained use of goods leading to a proliferation of industries. The individual psyche is bruised in an environment promoting mass scale production.
The concluding part probes critically various models of development provided by the west and their applicability in the context of the third world. The author is manifestly against privatisation, huge industries and a transfer of readymade goods from the West rather than knowledge and technology. He is convinced that small enterprises are much more eco-friendly, manageable and open to constructive ideas and suggestions. More importantly they fit admirably in the framework of the vision of life propagated by the oriental societies.
This book is a must read for any pro-active student of modern societies and their travails. The events that have taken place after the publication of this classic have made it more relevant, because it is not a critique of technology per se but a very strong indictment of powers that control it. Consequently, it acquires political overtones and advocates a re-assessment of our priorities and the methodologies. It is impossible to give a summary or a critique of this book in the context of a review.
Eswar Simpi, the translator, was himself a teacher of Economics and a passionate student of literature. He has done a competent job and fulfilled a long felt need. The English equivalents are provided wherever the Kannada translation of a technical term is ambiguous. The onus is now on our academic institutions to prescribe this and similar books as a part of their curricula. That will expose the student community to the benefits of appropriate technology and production by the masses rather than mass production.
H.S. RAGHAVENDRA RAO
Baagilacheya Mouna by Roopa Hasan
Lohia Prakashana, Rs. 50
Around 1970 only two poets wrote women's poetry. And they were men. Since 1980 there are a good number of women poets seeking attention. Their main problem is, they don't have a tradition. And most of them have not read women poets writing in English. They do not know how to use Kannada prosody. That is why they do not attract our ears and stir our imagination. This is true also of our young men who are writing poetry. They break prose statements and place groups of words one below the other. You will not find even a trace of imagination. But some poets are making attempts to express themselves breaking the tyranny of prose. Roopa Hasan is one of them. Baagilacheya Mouna is her second collection.
The poem in the collection "Come once in a way, O Sea!" shows her strength and her weaknesses. The poem is obscure and is yet interesting. The speaker of the poem is thinking of the sea and the sun. She is agitated and anguished. She is looking for new possibilities and promises. Instead of making ordinary statements, the poet is trying to think and feel through images. That she has not succeeded is a fact. But that she has chosen the difficult path of imagination is admirable. She is determined to find her way. If Roopa persists, she will learn the craft of poetry and the way of organising her experience. She has no models, but she is promising.
SUMATHEENDRA NADIG
Sere by P.N. Srinivas
Purogami Sahitya Sangha,
Rs. 200
Known more as a film director (Spandana, Ene Barali Preethi Irali) than a space scientist, P.N. Srinivas has also authored some books. One of them has won a national award too. Sere, his novel released recently, is quite successful in holding the reader captive.
Having been in the U.S. for about two decades, Srinivas here tries to find out why Indians who go there don't return at all. Vasu, the scientist in the novel, gets a hefty salary cheque but he is under surveillance every second. Two of his colleagues die mysteriously just around the end of their work contract. A system breakdown enables him to give a slip and fly back to Bangalore. But effects of globalisation here leave him puzzled.
"After about 150 Pages, I thought it was beyond my capability to handle such a complex subject and had stopped," said the author. But the readability has not been affected thereafter.
In fact it is the flash-back account of Vasu's two year stay in a village that is too elaborate and some details of the later phase — efforts to get a second class pass — are trivial. Two characters stand out — Vasu's teacher Puttappaiah who is responsible for the turning point and his younger brother Seena with whom he shares all his dilemmas.
The novel takes off from America but hovers more over India and finally lands here. (Vasu flies to U.S. only after Page 210!) The author projects an image of future Bangalore and a rural corner of Karnataka in the last few pages. There may be elements of exaggeration but it certainly is a pointer.
He has touched upon, though subtly, many aspects of globalisation, Americanisation, marginalisation of poorer sections of society etc. Certainly a work to take note of.
H.S. MANJUNATHA
Leafing Through is our Kannada books column.
You can send books and responses to Friday Review, The Hindu, 19&21, <243>Bhagwan Mahaveer Road, Bangalore 1.
H.S. RAGHAVENDRA RAO
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