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Magic, miracles, mysticism
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Writer Lakshmi Devnath’s second work of children’s fiction, which will be launched tomorrow, traces the lives of the 12 Vaishnava saint-poets
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EDUCATING YOUNG READERS Lakshmi Devnath
She has a degree in music, veena training from Ranganayaki Rajagopalan, knowledge of Sanskrit and love of research. Yet, despite her father’s insistence, she began writing about Carnatic music with great trepidation.
However, the warm response to her efforts dismissed all doubts as she began to take children “Into the World of Ragas” in The Hindu. Soon, her writing branched into related fields. “With unlimited space in Sruti magazine, I could really plunge deep into my subject.” Her profiles of musicians and composers ranged from Annamacharya to Thanjavur Sankara Iyer. “I became emotional when I interviewed him,” she recalls. Eventually, Devnath hopes to produce a comprehensive history of Carnatic music, not only about luminaries, but also about core texts such as the Natyasastra, the Brihaddesi, and the Sangita Ratnakara. She also wants to make the Vedas and Indian philosophy accessible to young readers.
Devnath’s first book “A Class Apart”, was a biography of educationist Rajalakshmi Parthasarathy. Her second, “Poorva: Magic, Miracles and the Mystical Twelve” attempts to educate the young in cultural, religious and literary history. This ambitious work of children’s fiction traces the lives of the twelve Vaishnava saint poets from Poigai to Tirumangai Alwar.
Published by East West Books, “Poorva” will be released tomorrow (October 5) at the Madras Book Club (Hotel Connemara, 6.30 p.m.) with readings by members of JustUs Repertory, and pasuram singing by Anahita and Apurva, disciples of Chitraveena Ravikiran.
Book
Adopting an easy, engaging conversational style, Devnath takes her reader on a magical journey. Her young, vivacious protagonist Poorva zooms back into the 6th-8th Centuries to witness key moments in the lives of the twelve alwars. Finally, she watches the 10th Century scholar-saint Nathamuni re-discover and compile their lost and scattered verses. “I wrote about the alwars earlier in Sri Nrisimhabharati. I revamped and expanded those stories for this book.”
Is the famous Scandinavian masterpiece “Sophie’s World” flashing back and forth in time, her model for Poorva’s adventures? “No,” says Devnath. “I’m yet to read that book. My format came to me when I thought of my young Poorva, just as my previous series was shaped around the girl Sargam.” With two daughters of her own, Devnath is more comfortable with girls rather than boys.
Devnath has used a single master text by Tritiya Brahmatantra Svatantra Jeeyar to source the alwar myths with authenticity. She added historical details from the varying eras, but avoided tampering with the traditional version of the tales, or introducing her own modern interpretations. Her Poorva observes the alwars; but they cannot see, sense or hear her. Swami Thatha, the mysterious tour guide, ensures that the girl remains a virtual presence in those different time and space zones.
Will sequels see Poorva continuing her adventures? “Hopefully, yes. I want to write about many other aspects of Indian culture. I don’t see my book as a religious text at all. This is an attempt to put young readers in touch with their own heritage. The works of the alwars are part of our best poetry, literature and music. And yet our children know more about Shakespeare than the alwars.”
GOWRI RAMNARAYAN
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