Forging a fresh perspective
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Some interesting reads in Kannada...
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Indira Priyadarshini
yavara Manassu
Mattu Varchassu
By A. Sridhara
Writer is Publisher, Rs. 290
The book under review is an attempt to correlate the larger socio-political culture of India, especially during the turbulent phase after the death of Nehru, with the personality of one of the most dynamic and controversial figures of Indian politics, Indira Gandhi. One could read this book from two different, though not mutually exclusive, perspectives. The first is to understand the political ethos of the country, particularly from the late 60's to the early 80's, through the powerful political energies released by Indira Gandhi. The second is to sensitively understand the psyche of the charismatic Indira Gandhi, with all her contradictions and dualities, through the chaotic, divisive socio-political forces that were at work in this country, and that contributed quite significantly to her many eccentricities and blunders. In other words, the book tries to forge a unity between the personal dimension of Indira Gandhi and the larger historical configurations of the times of which she was a major figure.
However, the book, drawing heavily from the academic training of the writer, is largely a psychological study of Indira Gandhi, and, consequently, is not heavily influenced by socio-political studies and analyses. The writer foregrounds the subject of his study through constant references to many masters in the field of psycho-analysis and underlines his comments with the support of ideas borrowed from those great masters. At no stage does the writer make observations or pass judgements without the solid intellectual support of thinkers who have written extensively and deeply on human personality and all its complex manifestations. A. Shridhara is particularly indebted to Erik Erikson, Piaget, Sigmund Freud, Ernest Jones, Rollo May, among many others who have written on human personality and behaviour, for his conceptual formations and postulates.
Compelling factor
In a significant way this book compels us to come to terms with the major problems that the Indian polity had to confront under Indira Gandhi's leadership. The split of the Congress party, the nationalisation of banks, and the declaration of Emergency, happen to be a few of the major turning points of Indian politics and the writer tries to offer an explanation to these crucial points through his reasonings that are psycho-analytical in orientation. It is necessary to remember at this stage that Erich Fromm did this in a remarkable manner (especially when writing about Adolf Hitler) in his "The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness". Shridhara's work is perhaps the first of this kind in Kannada.
But what needs to be stated quite emphatically is that much as one recognises the value of Sridhara's work in our context, the need to shape broad political perspectives by raising fundamental questions as regards the relationship between politics and ethics is far more significant than psycho-analytical studies. In Indira Gandhi's case itself the various barbaric acts during the Emergency (the sterilisation programme, the demolitions at Delhi - especially the incidents at Turkman Gate) and the murderous steps in Punjab (the role of the Army before and after "Operation Bluestar") have to be clearly understood as manipulations, strategies and acts of treachery that were purely political in nature. Clearly political gains determined the nature of these acts committed by Indira Gandhi. Chanakya and Machiavelli would prove to be more useful in understanding this phenomenon. With his strong psycho-analytical background, A. Sridhara would certainly do well to complete the picture of Indira Gandhi he has efficiently sketched in this book by writing a sequel from a political perspective.
N. MANU CHAKRAVARTHY
(For copies, contact
94488-34545)
The new mediation
Vachana Pravesha
By M.S. Ashadevi
Akshara Prakashana, Rs. 100
It is no small task to present vachanas in a manner accessible to students seeking entry into the genre. M.S. Ashadevi achieves this through a language that is jargon free and a selection that is most representative of a corpus of writing and an insight into Veerashaiva religion and philosophy. Vachana Pravesha (third in the beginners series from Akshara Publications) as it is titled, explicates many of the central ideas on the Veerashaivites, the most revolutionary thought in Indian history and of the middle ages examining different aspects of their writings in a variety of cultural situations. It is divided into eight units as - word, language and poetry; society, values and work culture; God and temples; devotee, mystical experience; women; being-in the world.
No selection is benign and value free. Here too, underlying the collection is an understanding of Veerashaivism of the 12th Century. The few existing introductions and enormous amount of secondary scholarship available on the subject typically provide a single window to the vachanas - as either literary, feminist, religious and/or of it being a social movement. Implicit in the selection here is an understanding that attempts to rise above these stereotypes and given ways of understanding by maintaining the complexity of thought and the density of their writing. The notes that are provided as a supplement to the "original" text is characterised by a language that refuses to become an impediment between the text and the reading, thus providing a free access.
Initiation
Explained here in a way which makes it both accessible and relevant, the collection serves as an entry into the ideas of some of the more well known and often discussed thinkers like Basavanna, Akka Mahadevi, Allama Prabhu, Chenna Basavanna and many others. The selection also makes available some of the less discussed vachanas of Adapada Appanna, Muktayakka, Gogavve, Neelamma, Muktayakka, Molige Mahadevi, Akkamma by implicitly situating their thought within its philosophical and historical context, thus making the representation multifaceted.
The book makes an essential reading for undergraduate courses and those of who are curious about the vachanas and is an invaluable resource for the beginners and more advanced students alike. Perhaps the series would do well to be aware of their power of supplanting new meanings however reflexive they may be. Finally, shouldn't the beginners know something more than the literary canon of Kannada culture?
SUDHA SITHARAMAN
Leafing Through is our fortnightly column that introduces Kannada books. Publishers may please send books for this column to The Friday Review, The Hindu, 19 & 21, Bhagwan Mahaveer Road, Bangalore 560001.
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