Book Review: Non-fiction/ India: A Portrait by Patrick French, Penguin/2011, 436 pp; Rs699 (Hardback)
Rabindranath Tagore and James Mill represent the two different world; their worldviews were in complete contrast as Tagore never accepted the drawing of boundaries in the cult of knowledge but Mill stood juxtaposed of that. If Tagore did it for the better sake of humanity, James Mills plotted a very virulent discriminatory education system to not only maximise the influence of western world but also to ruin the consciousness of ruled subject, India. This nation otherwise had a clear edge being among the oldest civilisations. For knowing the starting of western subversive historiography, there is need to know the dynamicism of last few centuries through observing the growing tussle between biased western theorists and defending old culture!
Patrick French, who has credit of writing a cocktailed/sandwitched book on Tibet and a funny biography on an unusual though a nice subject for him, V.S.Naipaul had already displayed enough through these works, that he is still not clear what the basic of writings should be in the domain of history and how it’s different from travel writing, caricaturing or gambling with the subversive motives. With his new book, India: A Portrait, he has chosen to maintain all the trash ideas into main sight and leaving aside the beauties and strength, which this nation possesses. Ofcourse, India is not free from the parallel strains that are coinciding with its rapid growth but inequitable distribution of resources as a strong economy but the cases in Europe are even much graver, where the tall claim of stellar performances in either economy or in other field is simply crazy or the lost old pastime of past.
I will not say Patrick; an Irish gentleman totally resembles Bob Christo’s characters or the “Curzon” but he has worked on this India project with all wrong adventures and minimal understanding about this truly difficult nation. His claim of writing an intimate biography of1.20billion Indians under the present work could be the classic case of single biggest fatal in terms of statistical calculation. Barring the accounts of few long established and equally faded Indian Intellectuals including Amartya Sen or Meghnad Desai, a jobless Venkatesh(for meeting him, he travelled to Karnataka rather sensitizing the mind for plights which is pervasive), the very long and inhuman description of Ayushi episode and few other senseless descriptions, it’s hard to get anything new, striking and balance. That disappoints heavily after spending hours reading a thick book without any gain of information or new insights. Even grimmer could be the realization to any reader including myself that Patrick doesn’t want to show the loopholes in Indian systems as wrong but more often as inevitable byproducts. That’s nothing less than a brazen exercise of subversive follies with idealizing own trivia as remarkable judgement before a nation which has honour of possessing countless thinkers of high intellectuality.
Patrick must have spent his valuable time in India, like many other writers from the west travelling across the India which is less dusty than anticipated, counting the trees, monkeys, elephants, beggars before reaching Taj Mahal or Surajkund Mela for a smiling snap under the canopy of wisdom tree! From this imagined and false wisdom tree, the shape of India they want to choreograph in their mind and fails miserably doing this. The disservice of this kind does all harm to the sentiments of integrated global economy which is now runs on potential of emerging economies. India’s good or bad reliance on the liberalisation of its economy has atleast given a much needed momentum in its domestic entrepreneurship whose impact is now being felt worldwide. I am sure, Patrick has not even the remote understanding of business, and his interview with Sunil Mittal shows it candidly. He has forwarded his talk on philanthropy with Sunil, that’s awkward but even on this how he could forget this same western world is going to turn philanthropy into a profit business with establishing a special stock exchange in the posh city of London!
So no surprising, innovation is being taken by few as the “labour of love” for spreading not so holly ideas of CSR in business under a proven western sermon that “conventional wisdom” has its limitation, so the virtue of good thoughts always winds from the western side that’s simply ridiculous and unsustainable. A nation with GDP touching close to the $2trillion can’t be taken so lightly any longer; there are flaws with the growth pattern of India but all admits it, so it’s already passing through a makeover. Over fancied description of sachet shampoo reminds that author has deep addiction of watching the “advertising contents” of nonstop TV channels, because he is clueless that an Indian management professor, C.K.Prahlad, who had coined the term “fortune lies at the bottom of pyramid” that furthered the consumerism at down of hierarchy. It deserves accolade as sensible capitalist agenda which maximises profit and also forward even a tint of welfare. But alas this book has written so flat and pointless, that not even a single aspect of new India have carried in proper light, that’s gross injustice with the title of this book!
It’s indeed ironical that the free and fair exchanges of views are still being blocked by the narrow pursuits and over consideration on geography, race, history etc as reference points. The second big concern is the lack of sound studies, rhetoric is swiftly catching it as substitute which is indeed unfortunate and not going to do well for anyone in longer course. Surprisingly, no Indian scholars is trying to distort the historical basics of west, even the post-colonial writings are basically dealt through the narratives of struggle between power and subjects not as the conflict of culture. These malices are the brainchild of western world and their time is over now, so cultural discourse or historical writing should be no longer written through the prism of empire. World is free, so should be the thought in both east and west…Patrick and rest fellows should understand it and must adopt a good reading habit of Indian writings, that’s indeed very rich in different areas. As knowing the conflicts of growth in India through an outside perspective, this book would be an essential read for both the incorrigibially optimist and pessimist readers!
Atul Kumar Thakur
New Delhi, February 05, 2012, Sunday
Email: summertickets@gmail.com
Showing posts with label Penguin/2011. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Penguin/2011. Show all posts
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
The big Bihar story
Book Review: Non-fiction/Biography, Nitish Kumar and the Rise of Bihar by Arun Sinha, Penguin/2011, 389 pp; Rs699 (Hardback)
The Bihar movement headed by Jay Prakash Narayan accomplished the rise of a new political generation that was based on socialistic ideals. Unfortunately, its immediate beneficiaries, notably Lalu Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan proved the complete antithesis of those hatched idealism by great socialists in 1970’s. Nitish Kumar, third important pillar of JP Movement remained the glimmering hope of blend, which constituted through the real politic and rational idealism. He parted the way with the bunch of cruel jokers pretending as people’s custodian in 1994; in the course of time, Lalu Yadav’s rustic antics kept deteriorating to the bawdy bottomline and Bihar started to known as the derivative point of whole mess on earth. When Nitish succeeded to dethrone the family rule of Lalu in 2005, he had sworn as the Chief Minister of almost a bankrupt state. In last six years, Bihar has significantly risen, and all its fundamentals are sound enough now with the quality improvements in governance, law&order, infrastructure etc. This biography of Nitish Kumar by Arun Sinha, a veteran journalist and close friend of him introspects well the politics of Bihar in last four decades and how lastly the turnaround took place in the land, was consistently in bad shape for long!
Nitish started his political career in 1969, when he was in his teenage as a member of the Socialist Youth Council, a student front of Lohia’s SSP. Nitish always had a thinking mind with him, much before it was recognised by the eminent social historian, Ramchandra Guha, who ahead seen in this politician, all the hope of Indian democracy. Son of a visionary Congress leader, Ram Lakhan Singh who was never treated fairly by the Congress high command, Nitish was always taken in his circle as super meritorious. Nitish was very good with academics, so he joined the prestigious Patna Science College and later Patna Engineering college for his further studies, here he emerged as a student leader during those troubled phase. Late 1960’s was not a comfortable time worldwide; there were upsurges of radicalism among the youths. In India, Bihar became the hub of resistance against the dynastic politics of Congress. Finally it was the Bihar movement of 1974, and with the affiliation to Chhatra Sangharsh Samiti leading to the JP movement during the emergency years, that lift Nitish to the state level. Arun Sinha was himself a part of that political activism, later he took the course of journalism and done remarkable works on Bihar and beyond. As Indian Express reporter, he was the man who led the real story of unfortunate police atrocities in Bhagalpur at national forefront; then the Congress government and its Chief Minister, Jagganath Mishra’s role were vindicated and they met to wrath of people in next election. This book is another best from his side on Bihar.
As an observer and close one of Nitish’ inner circle, he reveals in this book the details which reintroduces Nitish even more humble than people knows him reading before this biography. And, it’s not exaggeration in any manner. Leaving the second part of this book, which gives the material on technical knowhow of NDA government’s grand achievements under the aegis of Nitish Kumar’s leadership, the first part is totally new addition of super real facts on this prominent political scion of Bihar. In initial phases, the decent public composure of Nitish was prohibitive for him to stand to match with the unruly counterparts of socialist movements, like Lalu Yadav who tasted early success and hyped fame in political life. Unlike him, Nitish maintained the idealism of Jay Prakash Narayan, and fought many elections without the early success until in mid 1980’s, when he was elected to Bihar Legislative Assembly. In the meantime, he spent time in his constituency, reading avidly, ferrying on local buses/trains, skipping lunches by the dearth of money but always kept chasing the long term prospects in politics.
As he was a born leader, he never distracted by the initial failures though those around him were naturally concerned for his career. Even, Karpoori Thakur approached him to join engineering profession with citing uncertainties involved in political life, but his aim was clear and that was following its course very meticulously so he didn’t confided those suggestions. In 1980’s, he finally made entry into central politics as Loksabha member and later also as state minister in United Front government but his real journey begun as an alternative political force once he thought for delinking from the morally crumbling Janta Dal. He received huge response for his initiative but tactful weaknesses during the 1995 Bihar legislative election, his Samta party didn’t perform up to the mark. His high rise materialised with the blossoming fortune of NDA government at the centre, where he was given crucial portfolios to perform. Samta Party, which later turned as JD (u) shared the boat with BJP but only on its own principles, its finest replication is current NDA government in Bihar which runs through following immediate developmental goals instead relying on the trash non-issues, which are the cases in many other states ruled by BJP.
It’s also true; a great part of his success in Bihar became possible by the preservance and integrity of Sushil Modi. Who together carved out the new functional paradigms and ensured its flawless execution. Today, Modi is the Chairmen of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Minister’s, he took charge of this honour from Asim Dasgupta but unlike him, he never went to MIT for learning economics. He is only the science graduate from Patna University but he has shown by reviving the Bihar’s financial health that the over technicalities of economics can’t win the whole race. This book also flashes the hate/love relations between George Fernandeez and Nitish Kumar besides the figurehead role of Sharad Yadav, who made and later broke the Lalu Yadav’s political mileage in Bihar.
Nitish has always been aware of the inherent ills of power, so he consistently refrained himself from mingling with the complacency. That he exuded best after the land sliding verdict in 2009, when he made no exciting announcements except to humbly accept the election result as by the peoples of Bihar and for the peoples of Bihar. He knows, the journey is still far to be completed as the major challenges of investments and the revival of trade/entrepreneurship is still a big challenge, but he is doing well for meeting the desired goals, even his bitterest critic can’t deny that after visiting Bihar which is indeed passing through a revival time. This biography is of high importance, despite it’s written by a close friend, readers will never feel the wave of extraneous sympathy, whatever the words are endorsing are real and universally true about Nitish. As Ramkrishna Hegde, Ntish Kumar has no ambition for Prime Ministership, and that’s all good for his integrity and Bihar at large. By the reference, Arun Sinha will be known for this well researched work.
Atul Kumar Thakur
Email: summertickets@gmail.com
The Bihar movement headed by Jay Prakash Narayan accomplished the rise of a new political generation that was based on socialistic ideals. Unfortunately, its immediate beneficiaries, notably Lalu Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan proved the complete antithesis of those hatched idealism by great socialists in 1970’s. Nitish Kumar, third important pillar of JP Movement remained the glimmering hope of blend, which constituted through the real politic and rational idealism. He parted the way with the bunch of cruel jokers pretending as people’s custodian in 1994; in the course of time, Lalu Yadav’s rustic antics kept deteriorating to the bawdy bottomline and Bihar started to known as the derivative point of whole mess on earth. When Nitish succeeded to dethrone the family rule of Lalu in 2005, he had sworn as the Chief Minister of almost a bankrupt state. In last six years, Bihar has significantly risen, and all its fundamentals are sound enough now with the quality improvements in governance, law&order, infrastructure etc. This biography of Nitish Kumar by Arun Sinha, a veteran journalist and close friend of him introspects well the politics of Bihar in last four decades and how lastly the turnaround took place in the land, was consistently in bad shape for long!
Nitish started his political career in 1969, when he was in his teenage as a member of the Socialist Youth Council, a student front of Lohia’s SSP. Nitish always had a thinking mind with him, much before it was recognised by the eminent social historian, Ramchandra Guha, who ahead seen in this politician, all the hope of Indian democracy. Son of a visionary Congress leader, Ram Lakhan Singh who was never treated fairly by the Congress high command, Nitish was always taken in his circle as super meritorious. Nitish was very good with academics, so he joined the prestigious Patna Science College and later Patna Engineering college for his further studies, here he emerged as a student leader during those troubled phase. Late 1960’s was not a comfortable time worldwide; there were upsurges of radicalism among the youths. In India, Bihar became the hub of resistance against the dynastic politics of Congress. Finally it was the Bihar movement of 1974, and with the affiliation to Chhatra Sangharsh Samiti leading to the JP movement during the emergency years, that lift Nitish to the state level. Arun Sinha was himself a part of that political activism, later he took the course of journalism and done remarkable works on Bihar and beyond. As Indian Express reporter, he was the man who led the real story of unfortunate police atrocities in Bhagalpur at national forefront; then the Congress government and its Chief Minister, Jagganath Mishra’s role were vindicated and they met to wrath of people in next election. This book is another best from his side on Bihar.
As an observer and close one of Nitish’ inner circle, he reveals in this book the details which reintroduces Nitish even more humble than people knows him reading before this biography. And, it’s not exaggeration in any manner. Leaving the second part of this book, which gives the material on technical knowhow of NDA government’s grand achievements under the aegis of Nitish Kumar’s leadership, the first part is totally new addition of super real facts on this prominent political scion of Bihar. In initial phases, the decent public composure of Nitish was prohibitive for him to stand to match with the unruly counterparts of socialist movements, like Lalu Yadav who tasted early success and hyped fame in political life. Unlike him, Nitish maintained the idealism of Jay Prakash Narayan, and fought many elections without the early success until in mid 1980’s, when he was elected to Bihar Legislative Assembly. In the meantime, he spent time in his constituency, reading avidly, ferrying on local buses/trains, skipping lunches by the dearth of money but always kept chasing the long term prospects in politics.
As he was a born leader, he never distracted by the initial failures though those around him were naturally concerned for his career. Even, Karpoori Thakur approached him to join engineering profession with citing uncertainties involved in political life, but his aim was clear and that was following its course very meticulously so he didn’t confided those suggestions. In 1980’s, he finally made entry into central politics as Loksabha member and later also as state minister in United Front government but his real journey begun as an alternative political force once he thought for delinking from the morally crumbling Janta Dal. He received huge response for his initiative but tactful weaknesses during the 1995 Bihar legislative election, his Samta party didn’t perform up to the mark. His high rise materialised with the blossoming fortune of NDA government at the centre, where he was given crucial portfolios to perform. Samta Party, which later turned as JD (u) shared the boat with BJP but only on its own principles, its finest replication is current NDA government in Bihar which runs through following immediate developmental goals instead relying on the trash non-issues, which are the cases in many other states ruled by BJP.
It’s also true; a great part of his success in Bihar became possible by the preservance and integrity of Sushil Modi. Who together carved out the new functional paradigms and ensured its flawless execution. Today, Modi is the Chairmen of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Minister’s, he took charge of this honour from Asim Dasgupta but unlike him, he never went to MIT for learning economics. He is only the science graduate from Patna University but he has shown by reviving the Bihar’s financial health that the over technicalities of economics can’t win the whole race. This book also flashes the hate/love relations between George Fernandeez and Nitish Kumar besides the figurehead role of Sharad Yadav, who made and later broke the Lalu Yadav’s political mileage in Bihar.
Nitish has always been aware of the inherent ills of power, so he consistently refrained himself from mingling with the complacency. That he exuded best after the land sliding verdict in 2009, when he made no exciting announcements except to humbly accept the election result as by the peoples of Bihar and for the peoples of Bihar. He knows, the journey is still far to be completed as the major challenges of investments and the revival of trade/entrepreneurship is still a big challenge, but he is doing well for meeting the desired goals, even his bitterest critic can’t deny that after visiting Bihar which is indeed passing through a revival time. This biography is of high importance, despite it’s written by a close friend, readers will never feel the wave of extraneous sympathy, whatever the words are endorsing are real and universally true about Nitish. As Ramkrishna Hegde, Ntish Kumar has no ambition for Prime Ministership, and that’s all good for his integrity and Bihar at large. By the reference, Arun Sinha will be known for this well researched work.
Atul Kumar Thakur
Email: summertickets@gmail.com
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Coming of Age
Book Review: Non-fiction/Of a Certain Age by Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Penguin/2011, 234 pp; Rs499 {Hardback}
Compilation of modern Indian social history had maintained for long a feeble pace until few years back, Ramchandra Guha’s India after Gandhi came into existence. The sidelined events of recent past suddenly started getting attention of both the writers and readers and this amalgamation quintessentially seems a quest to know modern India and who influenced it. Gopalkrishna Gandhi, a seasoned administrator, columnist and among the most remarkable “Gandhi “has come out with an anthology of his earlier published essays in Of a Certain Age. Last winter, Ramchandra Guha published his much awaited Makers of Modern India with aim to theorise some of the most original thinker/writer’s work that made overarching effects on India in making. On the contrary, Gopalkrishna Gandhi had chosen to write his essays, as life sketches and with liberal selection of twenty personalities-from Mahatma Gandhi to J.N.Dixit.
Between these two unmatchable figures, Acharya Kriplani, Hiralal Gandhi, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Salim Ali, Pyarelal, Jayaprakash Narayan, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Hiren Mukherjee, R.Venkatraman, M.Krishnen, Jyoti Basu, Pupul Jaykar, Srimavo Bhandarnaike, M.S.Subbulakshami, R.K.Narayan, Somnath Hore, S.Guhan and Dalai Lama have covered through the personal angle of author. Though the book has no fundamental choices of narration and looking after on the works of these formidable personalities but it has also never cease to be formal at any point and that makes overall delineation substantial enough.
What’s the strength of these essays is its different timeframe in which they have been written and their universal expression. Contemporariness in closed order often hampers the much essential interest and understanding in longer terms. This is particularly true with the journalistic writings. In academic writings, monotony through abrupt reprisal of wrong context and explanation have its own severe affects that without doubt kept historiography on low standard over the years besides making the slices of past terribly vulnerable through cynical interpretations. Of a Certain Age kind of book is a welcome continuance of new urge for constructive history writing and within the rational constructs.
Post-independence, India witnessed the consolidation of newly build institutions and spread of modernism as single most decisive virtue which in the course of time let assembling the intelligentsia to the forefront. Numbers of home grown intellectuals indeed played the pivotal roles in subsequent phases and India with afflictions to odds never distracted from the basic goals of its Constitution. That remains consistent even today; atleast in high legislative order but it’s also true that the flaws of policy executions are undermining those beauties of India as a well grown nation.
Shades of opinions are infact not bad if it comes with the purpose. Moreover, we need to know more about the work and worldviews of peoples from different domains whom we consider high on stature. This book has keen focus on twenty such remarkable lives without any preoccupations and gives readers a pleasant opportunity of experience sharing. Maturisation of this drive will realise more if history writing will come closer to the very recent past which simply stands on fringe in the lieu of ongoing contemporariness. Knowing history will be only possible through applying proper perspectives in research on history writing. Hope this work will make positive binding in this regard and help paving the way for a culture of knowledge driven discourse..!
Atul Kumar Thakur
November 27, 2011, Sunday, New Delhi
Email: summertickets@gmail.com
Compilation of modern Indian social history had maintained for long a feeble pace until few years back, Ramchandra Guha’s India after Gandhi came into existence. The sidelined events of recent past suddenly started getting attention of both the writers and readers and this amalgamation quintessentially seems a quest to know modern India and who influenced it. Gopalkrishna Gandhi, a seasoned administrator, columnist and among the most remarkable “Gandhi “has come out with an anthology of his earlier published essays in Of a Certain Age. Last winter, Ramchandra Guha published his much awaited Makers of Modern India with aim to theorise some of the most original thinker/writer’s work that made overarching effects on India in making. On the contrary, Gopalkrishna Gandhi had chosen to write his essays, as life sketches and with liberal selection of twenty personalities-from Mahatma Gandhi to J.N.Dixit.
Between these two unmatchable figures, Acharya Kriplani, Hiralal Gandhi, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Salim Ali, Pyarelal, Jayaprakash Narayan, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Hiren Mukherjee, R.Venkatraman, M.Krishnen, Jyoti Basu, Pupul Jaykar, Srimavo Bhandarnaike, M.S.Subbulakshami, R.K.Narayan, Somnath Hore, S.Guhan and Dalai Lama have covered through the personal angle of author. Though the book has no fundamental choices of narration and looking after on the works of these formidable personalities but it has also never cease to be formal at any point and that makes overall delineation substantial enough.
What’s the strength of these essays is its different timeframe in which they have been written and their universal expression. Contemporariness in closed order often hampers the much essential interest and understanding in longer terms. This is particularly true with the journalistic writings. In academic writings, monotony through abrupt reprisal of wrong context and explanation have its own severe affects that without doubt kept historiography on low standard over the years besides making the slices of past terribly vulnerable through cynical interpretations. Of a Certain Age kind of book is a welcome continuance of new urge for constructive history writing and within the rational constructs.
Post-independence, India witnessed the consolidation of newly build institutions and spread of modernism as single most decisive virtue which in the course of time let assembling the intelligentsia to the forefront. Numbers of home grown intellectuals indeed played the pivotal roles in subsequent phases and India with afflictions to odds never distracted from the basic goals of its Constitution. That remains consistent even today; atleast in high legislative order but it’s also true that the flaws of policy executions are undermining those beauties of India as a well grown nation.
Shades of opinions are infact not bad if it comes with the purpose. Moreover, we need to know more about the work and worldviews of peoples from different domains whom we consider high on stature. This book has keen focus on twenty such remarkable lives without any preoccupations and gives readers a pleasant opportunity of experience sharing. Maturisation of this drive will realise more if history writing will come closer to the very recent past which simply stands on fringe in the lieu of ongoing contemporariness. Knowing history will be only possible through applying proper perspectives in research on history writing. Hope this work will make positive binding in this regard and help paving the way for a culture of knowledge driven discourse..!
Atul Kumar Thakur
November 27, 2011, Sunday, New Delhi
Email: summertickets@gmail.com
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