Bookwatch
Icon or politician?
WHEN the University of Sheffield lecturer in International History, Benjamin Zachariah, set out to write the historical biography of India's first Prime Minister, Nehru-bashing was a favourite past-time among India's ruling class. But, by the time his book on Nehru hit the stands here, things had changed and how!
With so much written on Nehru as it is, Zachariah's biography does invite the initial reaction of "another book on Nehru!" Evidently, the author anticipated this, and has sought to find an answer to a question he has framed himself: "What was it that made possible the achievements — and the failures — that are credited to the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru?"
While setting out to respond to the question he has set for himself, Zachariah does not make tall claims to originality. Apart from staking a claim to some originality in reconnecting the domestic and international aspects of Nehru's political life and vision, the biographer admits that much of the book is primarily a fresh presentation of what has already been written.
Be that as it may, Zachariah tries to look beyond the cultivated image of Nehru. Though he does find fault with the way his subject addressed "the Nehruvian Project", his tokenism, and betrayal of the cause of non-alignment, the biographer underscores the fact that it was because of Nehru that India became committed to secular democracy — an issue of great debate in recent times.
In conclusion, it is Zachariah's case that however impossible the "Nehruvian vision" maybe to materialise, it is an "enduring set of goals" which provided "direction and coherence to an Indian ideal that was otherwise no greater than the sum of its fragments".
Nehru, Benjamin Zachariah, Routledge-Roli, Rs. 350.
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Vintage Truss relaunched
THE runaway success of Lynne Truss' Eats, Shoots & Leaves has evidently given a fresh lease of life to her first four books. Eager to ride the crest of success that put her 2003 book on punctuation top-of-the-list among Britain's bestsellers, Profile Books has brought out fresh editions of all her earlier forays into book writing. In fact, that's how the publishers have packaged the new edition: "Lynne Truss: Author of the No.1 bestseller Eats, Shoots & Leaves".
A familiar name in Britain — by virtue of the author being a broadcaster — Truss became a recognisable title on Indian bookstands only after Eats which is a passionate case for preservation of the punctuation. After all, modern India did opt for British English and still has some respect for punctuation marks.
Whether her earlier books will find takers in India in view of the reputation Truss has established with Eats remains to be seen, but the special price of Rs. 195 for the sub-continent will be a sure help. Of the four re-runs, Making the Cat Laugh will ring a bell; being as it is "one woman's journal of single life on the margins" — a la Bridget Jones' Diary. Billed as a comic writer, the catch is that Truss is very English in her writing.
With One Lousy Free Packet of Seed, Making the Cat Laugh, Going Loco & Tennyson's Gift, Lynne Truss, Profile Books, Rs. 195 each.
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Surrogate children
REMEMBER Bill Clinton's presidential visit in 2000 and all the media speculation on whether he would bring along his chocolate Labrador, Buddy? Many a citizen across the country wondered what the fuss was all about and saw it as a presidential indulgence, but one look at this Roli compilation of Very Important Pets (VIPs) and it becomes clear that Clinton is not alone.
Tennis champion Serena Williams takes her Jack Russel Terrier, Jackie, everywhere — sometimes even to the tennis court — and Oprah Winfrey is another member of the rich and famous class who refuses to travel without her dogs. For the glitterati, pets very often are their most devoted and constant friends and, therefore, enjoy the best money can buy.
In North America and across Europe, there are hotels, restaurants, bakeries, spas and even fitness centres catering to pets. The latest trend in dog care, the book will have you believe, is "doga" or yoga for dogs. Then there are instances of pets being put through baptism ceremonies like any newborn child of the family.
Though primarily a collection of Western VIPs, India finds mention in the form of Mahatma Gandhi's goat, the Golden Retrievers of the Nehru-Gandhi family, and the Maharaja of Junagarh who could match some contemporary pet-lovers in terms of indulging them. After all, the Maharaja — who owned 800 dogs — is credited with having organised the most ostentatious of dog weddings of his day!
Very Important Pets, compiled by Priya Kapoor and Nandita Jaishankar, Roli Books.
ANITA JOSHUA
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