lumbiniyile rajahamsam.docx

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LUMBINIYILE RAJAHAMSAM: K. P. Ramesh; DC Books, DCKizhakemuri Edam, Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam-686001.Rs. 75.

THIS COLLECTION of travel articles, presented in three parts,gives an overview of some interesting elements of India's culturaland religious ethos, apart from giving a glimpse of the historicalevolution of certain places held high in public esteem for theirspiritual significance.

The first part covers visits to places linked to Gautama Buddha,including Kushi Nagar that houses a museum. The essays providea fairly good description in a lucid language, although one findsclichd expressions for instance, travelling in the chariot oftime and the feeling of awakening from the night of one countryto the morning of another country occurring rather frequently.

Places of historical and religious importance such as Rishikesh,Badrinath, and Delhi figure in the second part. An interaction witha group of Sikhs takes the author's memory to the assassinationof Indira Gandhi (1984) and the dreadful anti-Sikh riots thatfollowed it. Sadly, the time at which this interface happened isnot mentioned. .

The third part features, among others, Puducherry and the SilentValley in Kerala. There seems to be a lack of continuity in thearrangement of articles. Also, his reflections while on a visit toPuducherry do not offer anything new for the reader to cherish.Again, the issues he has highlighted while speaking about his visitto the Silent Valley have been the subject of passionate debatesin public forums across the country and fierce agitations over theyears.


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A person suffering from some ailment chooses the type oftreatment he desires whether to choose allopathy, siddha,unani or ayurveda treatment. Similarly farmers are at liberty tochoose the type of inputs they need for their crops, instead oflistening to others, says farmer Mr. G. Ranga Prabhu, fromTheni, Madurai.

Mr. Prabhu earned about Rs. 3,00,000 from banana (G-9 variety)from cultivation in three acres in 9-10 months using only naturalmanures.A lawyer turned organic farmer, he claims that naturalinputs work best and can result in a good yield.

Open invite

I invite people to visit my field in Theni, to see for themselvesthe healthy growth of my banana crops. I use only waste from


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my piggery unit and some other natural inputs such as effectivemicro-organisms for my crop, he explains.

Presently there are two views regarding crop cultivation according

to him. One group professes its faith in chemical basedagriculture and the other, in using natural methods.

It is best for the farmer to study the pros and cons of both andthen decide on his own as to what methods will suit him, hecautions.

But isn't sourcing inputs such as dung pose a problem for farmersdesirous of taking up natural farming?

True, more than the practitioners, those manufacturing andselling organic inputs today make a good profit. Cows and manyanimals are practically disappearing from many villages (oftensold to the butchers).

Those desirous of taking up organic cultivation must first startrearing a few farm animals as a means of getting the rawmaterials for making the inputs, says his wife Gayatri.

Both agree that dwindling land resources and farmers selling theirlands will pose practical problems for rearing animals.

Holistic approach

Though today organic food is fast becoming a fad among the citydwellers, some 50-60 years ago, our grandfathers' grew cropsonly through organic methods. A holistic approach to the villageecosystem farm, animals, birds, insects was undertaken andeverything played a role in different stages of a plant growth,explains Mr. Prabhu.

But in the name of development and scientific methods ofcultivation the learned scientific fraternity ridiculed these effectivepractices and advocated the need for using artificial inputs.


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Now, the very same elite people realize the dangers of thesechemicals filtering into the food we eat, and are suddenlypreaching the advantages of going organic and eco-sensitive,adds Mrs Gayatri.

Proven fact

According to Mr. Prabhu, it is a proven fact that cost of cultivationcomes down to nearly 70 per cent if natural inputs are used. It isalso a myth that the yield in organic cultivation is low.

The agro-chemical industry's claims of increased yield usuallylasts for only the first few years. After that, farmers report asignificant drop and sometimes complete degradation of the soil,

whereas organic farmers in the same area are able to sustaingood harvests at almost the same levels.

According to a report published in the Confederation of the IndianFarmers Associations (Cifa), the average monthly income offarmers ranges between Rs 1,578 and Rs 8,321, while the lowestpaid government employee gets Rs 10,000, every month. Thereport clearly proves the poor financial condition of our farmers,says Mr. Prabhu.

He explains Government cannot be expected to help the farmersin distress. They think their work is over after they announce thefreebies and subsidies. But till date no government ever botheredto monitor whether these concessions ever reached the needyfarmer.

Try to practice

To them these announcements become achievements onlyduring election time. Our farmers should realise that they areresponsible for themselves and even if not totally, should at leasttry to practice natural cropping methods at least in a corner oftheir farm, he says


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Harry Barnsley suspects he's on the wrong side of a career inbreaking news but suddenly a scoop comes his way. Tracking thetale, he goes off to Muskoka in Canada where he meets SerenaBracebridge-Rhode, an Anglo-Indian, the figure at the centre ofwhat Harry thinks could well be the story of his entire career.

And Serena tells Harry her tale, moving them to Marsdengunj,your typical railway colony near Kolkata, back in the times of theRaj. David McMahon has the eye of a pointillist and the details arebeautifully etched in; within a few paragraphs, it seems as if thereader is in Marsdengunj, a keen spectator to the little town'sseething politics. Like a stone thrown in a still pond comes alongStamford Beaudeville with an agenda, to upgrade Marsdengunj toan important rail link. The Anglo-Indians who make up the colonyview the Beaudevilles with much mistrust and open hostility. Itdoesn't help that Stamford and Erika are themselves locked in aloveless and tense marriage, struggling to find answers.

Serena, the pretty daughter of Charleston Bracebridge-Rhode, anengine driver with a weakness for the bottle, gets caught up in


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the maelstrom that breaks inexorably over the town and itsinhabitants. The story then shifts to London where the Allies,after the Dunkirk evacuation, are re-thinking strategy. Serena isnow a nurse in St. Stephen's Hospital and more interestingly, is

recruited as a British spy. It's a one-off assignment and Serenadoes it to the best of her capability; the eventual cataclysmicresults send shock reverberations all the way to the present-dayVatican.

McMahon is no Alistair Maclean; his is a gentle tale that isn't quitesure whether it's a love story, a war mystery or both. It moves ata brisk pace but towards the end, becomes an act of tying uploose ends. His opening device at the start of the story is more

than a tad contrived but it works for all that. What doesn't quitework is the title the Muskoka Maharani label hangs loose on theheroine without fitting well.

Writer's forte

It is clear that subtlety is the writer's forte; by and large, thatsubtlety moves the richly-layered tale well. Where the writerreally scores is in the wealth of detail that runs like a mother lodethroughout the story. There is a paragraph about the movements

of a man's hand that is simply masterly; there is someone who iswatching the movements of the bony hand and suddenly, thehand's owner's (sinister) motives are clearly revealed, to both theobserver and the reader. We read of dhobis at work on theriverbank; how the white man or woman pays a native withouttouching him; gobar pani and the making thereof; how to playtops; even a mouthwatering description of the sandwiches servedat the Chevron Club for enlisted men in Kolkata and how womenguests rarely ordered the same because very wide mouths were

called for to consume said sandwiches!

A word about the lovely sepia-toned cover picture: it is clearly ofa log cabin in some Western (Canadian?) town overlooking ariver. There's a gun that serves as a line under the title. Thereader is a little hard-put to make the connect with the story.


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When you plan to attempt IELTS or TOEFL, a little practice will goa long way in getting you a good score. While practising theessay part of the test one can follow a few points in order tomake the writing part easier. Take a sample test paper andrandomly choose any topic and then lay out a rough plan of howyou would write the essay.

Write down ideas you might like to introduce in stages in theessay and once you have a sizable number, group them to form aparagraph. When a plan is ready, it becomes easier to knowexactly what you are going to write and when you are to write it.Break each point up into 150 200-word chunks, so the wholething seems less daunting. In case you are stuck at theintroduction, don't linger on it; instead move on to the point youwould introduce after it. Stop after every point to review it.Through practice you will come to know your shortcomings in thearea.

Check the grammar, don't use an excess of adjectives, and try tointroduce one idea that is original which will help you scorebrownie points with the examiner.

Follow certain guidelines when writing an essay. There should bean introduction, a body and conclusion.

The introduction restates the question using different vocabularyand sentence structure. The introduction also includes your thesisstatement. The body of your essay is also the heart of your


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essay. It will include your main ideas, details and examples tosupport those ideas. Each new idea should be a new paragraph.The conclusion will summarise your main points and it mayinclude your opinion.

One can use two basic types of layouts for essays 3773 and35553.

The 3773 is a four-paragraph essay with three sentences forintroduction, seven sentences for the paragraphs and threesentences again for the conclusion. The 35553 is a five-paragraphessay with three sentences for introduction, five sentences for theparagraphs and three sentences again for the conclusion.

Proper planning will help prospective examinees acquire a goodscore in the tests.

KOTA SAUMYA

Gone are the days when candidates with an agricultural sciencesbackground were being looked down upon in the job market

which then used to lay the red carpet to only those with atechnical background, especially IT. Things have been changingrapidly for the better for job-seekers from agricultural sciences inthe last three to four years. The demand for farm sciencegraduates and postgraduates has been growing steadily sincethen.

The fact that companies are now going to the Universities ofAgricultural Sciences to undertake campus recruitments is an

indication of the growing demand for agricultural sciences'manpower as well as its relevance in the job market. The demandin the job market this year is said to be the highest so far withthe University of Agricultural Sciences-Bangalore set to record thehighest number of campus recruitments.


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Nearly 300 fresh graduates and postgraduates from theuniversity are set to get placement through campus recruitmentsthis year as against the last year's position when 150 werechosen by employers. Already 160 students from UAS-B have got

placements in prestigious companies through campusrecruitments in the last one-and-a-half months.

The process of recruiting another 150 to 160 students is underway and is expected to be completed by July-end. This is inaddition to those who have got jobs in public sector companies,government establishments and private firms, which have notparticipated in the campus recruitment.

What is significant in these recruitments, according to UAS-Bvice-chancellor K. Narayana Gowda, is that the placements willcover almost all fresh graduates and postgraduates from theUniversity. In other words, none of the student from theagricultural sciences stream would remain unemployed, he notes.Every year, 400 graduates and 200 postgraduates come out ofUAS-B.

But the number of job-seekers will be only around 320 as 200 willtake up the masters' degree course and 80 of the postgraduates

will opt for doctoral research. Of these 320 job-seekers, about300 will get placements through campus recruitments alone thisyear.

This is expected to take care of the job requirements of all assome students will become agri-entrepreneurs and there areothers who have got jobs on a regular basis without goingthrough the campus recruitment route. This year's recruitersinclude Canara Bank (63 posts), Vijaya Bank (35), Bank of India

(10), IFFCO (6) and ITC (3). Similarly, Indian Overseas Bank,Punjab National Bank and Syndicate Bank have completed theprocess of selection and results are awaited.

The CTC (cost to company) offered to the selected candidatesranges from Rs. 2.8 lakh to Rs. 5.8 lakh with an average of Rs. 4


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lakh a year. Interestingly, a majority of the placements this yearhave been in banks. In fact, Canara Bank itself has appointed amassive number of 63 candidates in one go from UAS-B.

A. Mohan Rao, Coordinator of the UAS-B's Placement Cell,attributes this to two factors. One is that the agricultural sciencesstudents would have studied economics and accountancy as partof their courses. The second is the thrust being given in thecountry's Five-Year Plan to development of the agriculturalsector.

This has resulted in the formulation of more number ofagricultural schemes involving lending by banks. Banks findagricultural sciences candidates useful in executing this task,especially taking technology from the lab to farmers' lands, whichis part of agricultural development schemes.

The other areas where there is huge demand for agriculturalsciences candidates is from agri-input companies such as thosedealing with seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. While theundergraduates are mostly preferred for product promotion jobsby these companies, the postgraduates are absorbed in researchand development works, says Dr. Rao. Those with Ph.D. get high-

profile jobs in areas suiting their fields.

Well, it appears that the job market is shining for agriculturalsciences. The country cannot aspire for more if such a trend helpsin attracting bright and talented minds to this field andcontributes to the development of the agriculture sector andimproves the living standards of farmers who, despite being thekey persons in taking care of the country's food security, are indire straits as they are yet to get the due returns for their work.


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THRISSUR: In a world peopled by fake intellectuals, writerMadambu Kunjukuttan stands tall with his towering intellect, no-nonsense manner, incredible versatility and breadth of vision,Additional Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar has said.

He was addressing a meeting held at the Kerala Sahitya Akademion Sunday as part of the 70th birthday celebrations of Mr.Kunjukuttan. We often come across intellectuals who refuse toutter the truth as it would rub the rich, powerful and theinfluential the wrong way. Mr. Kunjukuttan is not so. He hateshypocrisy. He courageously preaches and practices what hebelieves is right. The courage stems from his wisdom. Hiswritings reflect his intimate knowledge of life, Mr. Jayakumar

added.He observed that Mr. Kunjukuttan's life and art constituted aharmony of contradictions.

Writer C. Radhakrishnan stated that the dominant sentiment(Rasa) of Mr. Kunjukuttan's oeuvre was Shantham' or peace.Usually, humour never goes well with peace. But in Mr.Kunjukuttan's works they do. He is concerned not just about thewelfare of his own family and relatives. He wishes for the good

health and happiness of the entire world, he noted.

Writer Asha Menon observed that sensibility in Malayalamliterature was facing worldly and materialistic obstacles. Mr.Kunjukuttan's writings have surmounted these obstacles, hesaid.

Writer Alangode Leelakrishnan said that some of the ideals ofsocial reformer V. T. Bhattathiripad could be seen in Mr.

Kunjukuttan.

Like V.T., Mr. Kunjukuttan too believes that social renaissance isimpossible without emancipation of women. In his novel,Bhrashtu', Mr. Kunjukuttan portrays Thathrikutty, who has beenostracised by Namboodiri elders, as a representative ofempowered women, he said.


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Kerala Sahitya Akademi former president P. Valsala presided.Film director K. R. Mohanan delivered the keynote address at aseminar on Madambu's contribution to cinema.

Enjoy best of both worlds through home based work

Today, thanks to rapid strides made in communicationtechnology, home-based work is gaining steady popularity.Especially for women, the Internet has come as a real boon. Ithas opened up a plethora of new career choices that are home-based, for those who had to leave lucrative careers to take careof family responsibilities.

If family demands have forced you to bid adieu to your job, youcan still have a career of your own, sitting in the comfort of yourhome. You can be your own boss, choose as much or as littlework as you please and most importantly choose working hoursto suit your convenience. Isn't it a great way to enjoy the best ofboth worlds? Based on your educational background, interestsand aptitude, you can have your pick from a host of rewardinghome-based career options. What's more, you can take up these

activities with little or no training at all.

Online tutorials: If you have a flair for teaching and arecomfortable using the Internet, online teaching would be the rightchoice for you.

You can teach students across the globe in the virtual formatthrough online correspondence. With e-learning becomingimmensely popular these days, the demand for online teachers is

quite high. You can choose the subject and the class/ studentgroup based on your level of proficiency. Why not explore thisattractive career option and earn a decent remuneration sitting athome?

Online trading: With the advent of the Internet, trading in stockshas become much easier. Now, anyone with a computer at home


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can learn to invest in the stock market and start trading online.You need not be a business school graduate to understand theintricacies of online trading. You can easily pick up the necessaryskills with some initial guidance from a person who is already in

the field. Look for a friend or relative who is good at onlinetrading and seek his/her help to learn the basics. Remember thisis a highly speculative field. Make a cautious beginning and investonly a small amount to get started.

Who knows, if lady luck is on your side, you may find theproverbial pot of gold pretty soon!

Freelance writing: If you are a creative person and have goodwriting skills, this field offers plenty of opportunities. You can getinto academic writing such as preparation of study materials orworkbooks. Or you can take up translation if you have excellentcommand over any regional or foreign language. Copy writingand content writing are good choices too. Enrol yourself for someshort courses to build your competence in any of these fields. Itbecomes easier to find your niche and get the job you want.

Web designing: This is a field that offers plenty of promise. A lotof institutes offer short-term courses on web designing and if you

complete one, you can easily become a freelance web designer.In this Internet age, the demand for competent web designerswill always be on the rise. So, this is your best chance to get intoa lucrative career that offers not just good income but creativesatisfaction as well!

Home-based jobs certainly give you the best opportunity to rakein some good money without having to compromise on familytime. But just as in a full time career, here too, effective time

management is the key to success.

Quite often your family members may not think home-basedwork as real work. They may feel you are always available sinceyou are at home. However, if you want to have a successfulcareer you must effectively manage the time at your disposal.


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You must keep regular working hours and also insist that othersrespect them. Protect yourself from interruptions caused byfriendly visitors and phone calls.

Have separate phones for office and home purposes. When youare working, allow the answering machine to pick up calls to yourhome phone or personal mobile.

Flexibility is after all one of the most important benefits of home-based work, so enjoy it but work hard when you do. With aflourishing home-based career in hand, you can happily say good-bye to a regular job or boredom at home.

A good boss always gives critical feedback

Each one of us would like to work for a boss who is good-natured,cooperative and uses just the right amount of push to get the jobdone. We hate bosses who manage with intimidation and fear. Aboss ready to blame others for mistakes, unwilling to hear badnews and easily irritated with the small details is definitely notthe ideal boss. But there are no clear black and whitedemarcations when assessing your manager because most ofthem fall in the grey category. So it is through observations,

assessing your boss through certain parameters and watching hisspeech and behaviour that will help you to understand the kind ofmanager you work for.

You can assess your boss based on his reaction to certainsituations. For instance, if you have finished a certain section of aproject and want your boss to run through it, you can gauge hisattitude by his reaction. A good boss will sit with you and reviewthe work you have done so far and give you critical feedback and

clarify if there are any deviations from the project goals. On theother hand a poor boss will brush off your request and wait tillthe last minute to review your work and if there are any mistakeshe will ask you to sit late and make the necessary changes justbefore the deadline.


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Another way to assess your boss is to observe his reaction whenyou present potential problems in a project or assignment to him,which he may have to answer his bosses for in the future.

Good bosses will appreciate your foresight even if the problem didnot occur or was slightly different. Such a boss will acknowledgethat you care about the work of the team and also forewarnedhim of potential issues with his bosses. A bad boss, on the otherhand will ignore your warnings, term you as difficult and with anegative attitude, and even give you the cold shoulder but whena problem occurs he can readily shift the blame on to you.

Good managers also like to hear about problems and answers tothem from their subordinates. They appreciate it if you can give acomparative analysis of the different solutions. Such bossesprefer to arrive at solutions after brainstorming rather than takeindividual decisions and also the sole credit for them. A bad boss,on the other hand when offered solutions could accuse you ofgiving him no room to think. Consequently his team will thinktwice before presenting ideas or solutions to him.

A good boss is more than somebody whose personality matcheswith yours. He is honest in his interactions, communicates his

expectations from the team and appreciates and recognises theirefforts. He also gives regular feedback to help his team improve.

He appreciates the inputs he receives from his team while at thesame time helps them with problems. He stands up for his teamespecially when interacting with senior management. He keepshis cool and is friendly and approachable and shares every creditwith his team.

A good boss is inclusive in his attitude, does not discriminateamong team members and endeavours to maintain harmony inhis team. He tries to make work fun by bringing in new andexciting ideas

These are some of the parameters to help you judge how goodyour boss is. You can use your performance review meeting to


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discuss his qualities that help you do well in your work and alsohis drawbacks, which limits your growth. If your boss is good, hewill react positively to such constructive criticism and change hismanagement style to help his employees.

A good boss is someone who provides adequate support and atthe same time challenges you to develop new talents. Consideryourself lucky if you work for such a boss and use the opportunityto learn from him.

HEMA [email protected]

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PLASTIC HRIDAYAM Short Stories: M. K. Chand Raj; Pub. bythe author and distributed by Current Books, Round WestThrissur. Rs. 40.

ORU IRUNDA SAYAMAYI CHUTTIPPINANHU Short Stories:Thomas Joseph; Mathrubhumi Books, MM Press, Cherooty Road,Kozhikode-1. Rs. 35.

THE DYNAMISM in the genre of short fiction has resulted in muchexperimentation in craft, style, and techniques. The twocollections reviewed represent such emerging trends andcontemporary themes. In the nine stories Chand Raj attemptsnovel and aesthetic efforts in creativity.

They are stories challenging social norms and deprecate themodern social values resultant from globalisation and

liberalisation. Topical issues like the Iraq War, the struggleagainst Coca Cola in Plachimada and the tragedies of theinsecticide endosulfan are of strong concern. The limitations ofelections in a democratic system are also referred to in"Janayatham, Oru Patabhedam".
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The narrative style at times slips into pedagogy, where fictiongives way to sermons.

The 12 storie s of Thomas Joseph also attempt transposition of

themes and techniques. Stories transcend simple narration to themetaphysical and to elements of fantasy. Adam is a typicalexample of one such weird story. Some stories surpass factors oflogic and are proximal to Kafkaean images: a girl becomes aspider in a story titled Ettukaali Penkuttiyum EzhuPolicukaarum.

Whether such blatant experimentation will stand the test of timeas literary pieces of value is a matter of concern. Such heavydoses of illogic in form affects the readability and fabric of thestory per se.


THE TRUTH ABOUT TRADE The Real Impact of Liberalization:

Clive George; Books for Change, 139, Richmond Road,Bangalore-560025. Rs. 325.

The Doha development round of WTO negotiations is stuck in adeadlock. Except for WTO Chief Pascal Lamy and India'sCommerce Minister, nobody seems to have any hope of itsresumption. Even the United States, which was bludgeoning othercountries into compliance, seems to have lost faith in free trade.Economists such as Arvind Subramanian and reputed journalists

like Paul Blustein have already written epitaphs for it.

Until the last decade, openness to trade and investment flowswere not viewed simply as components of a country'sdevelopment policies. But, as Dani Rodrik explained, they weremutated as the most potent catalysts for economic growthknown to men. ( Foreign Policy, March/April 2001) Experts from
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the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, the WTO, theEuropean Union and many other agencies repeated the messageof openness as the highway to nirvana, i.e. growth and povertyreduction. How sustainable or true were those claims?

As Clive George describes in this book, it was at the battle inSeattle that the juggernaut ran aground. The meeting at Seattlewas publicised as the most historical event of the Clinton era topush global trade forward. Unfortunately, the tide had turned.

A disaster

Campaigners at the gates of the conference fought for justice andfeared that further liberalisation of trade would not end poverty

but would increase it. Environmentalists were worried aboutecological damage by way of loss of biodiversity, pollution,deforestation, climate change, etc. Unemployed labourers anddisplaced tribals were there in large numbers demanding theirright to live with honour. For the WTO, Seattle was a disasterand, since then, negotiations under the WTO have not recovered.

George describes at length how this came about. He has the rightacademic credentials and experience. He served as principal

adviser to the World Bank and as consultant to the OECD and theNEP, besides others. He was at the centre of the EU's 10-yearresearch programme on the impact of trade liberalisation, knownas the sustainability impact assessment (SIA). The SIAprogramme was drawn up in response to the Seattle battle. TheEuropean Commission spent around 10 million on it.

The book draws heavily on the research results of theprogramme. However, it is unclear what the real intention of the

SIA was. As the author himself says, the SIA failed in its objectivein educating the public about the benefits of open trade and inallaying their concerns over adverse environmentalconsequences; In terms of heading off the Seattle confrontationit achieved nothing. Senior negotiators of the EU like PeterMandelson seem to have dismissed the SIA cynically. What is


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shocking is that, with so much of the research findingsquestioning the benefits flowing from trade opening, the EUnegotiators could engage in double talk and twist the arms ofweaker negotiators from developing countries to make deeper

concessions.

In Part II of the book, the author offers an analysis of the impactof trade opening on various sectors: manufacturing, agriculture,and services. It reads more like a whistle-blower's deposition,though rather late in the day.

Uneven gains

On all counts, the gains from opening are insignificant and

uneven. Developed countries which had climbed the ladder wereshielded behind protectionist walls for a century or more. Andthey were attempting to remove them when developing countriesneed them badly.

Historical evidence, especially the recent East Asian growth, doesnot lend to credence to any sudden opening. Even the meagregains from opening, when discounted for other impacts, suggesta negative picture. In agriculture, the overall impact of

agricultural liberalisation on sustainable development is decidedlynegative. In services, the claims are overstated. They do notreckon with the instability or volatility as has happened since2008. Dealing with other areas of negotiation such as TRIPS, andSingapore Issues, he takes the balanced view that these are nottrade related; they are trade distorting. What surprises, evenshocks, an analyst is that, with so much of research evidencestored in their files on the real impact of trade-opening, how theEU could pontificate to emerging economies and take tough

stands on various issues being negotiated in the WTO.

Considering that the developing countries are better informed, itis no wonder that the Doha round remains deeply stuck. Thesolutions offered by the author seem unrealistic and they willamount to reopening the negotiations de novo.


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KUNJUNJU KATHAKAL Alpam Karynagalum: P.T. Chacko; DCBooks, DC Kizhakemuri Edam, Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam-

686001. Rs. 60.

IN ANYONE'S life, there will be occasions for laughter. Where theperson happens to be a politician, and a popular and dynamic oneat that like Oommen Chandy such occasions are likely to beinnumerable. Chandy, known as Kunjunju' in circles close to him,

started off as the president of the Kerala Students' Union andcame to occupy several positions of authority in public lifeincluding Member of the State Assembly, Minister, and Chief

Minister.In this book, Chandy's Press Secretary narrates as many as 49episodes that bring out the lighter side of Kunjunju, and most ofthem are indeed funny. It is clear that a lot of care has gone intothe selection process, the underlying objective being to boost hispublic image and the chemistry of his mass appeal. To mention

just two revealing pieces of information: he does not find time tovisit a hair-dresser since he is always surrounded by people (hiswife does the job!); and he has only two pairs of dresses.

Chandy's passion for simplicity and transparency; his astutenessas a politician and student leader; and the organisational farceenacted in the name of mass campaigns come across clearly. Ifthe fact that his room in the legislative hostel was an openhouse' demonstrated his hospitable nature, the incident about theembarrassment he met with when, in the Assembly, he could notmake a speech, the copy of which had already been distributed tothe press makes amusing reading.


ASYMMETRIC WARFARE IN SOUTH ASIA - The Causes andConsequences of the Kargil Conflict: Edited by Peter R. Lavoy;


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Cambridge University Press, 4381/4, Ansari Road, Daryaganj,New Delhi-110002. Rs. 895.

In the Cold War era, nuclear deterrence stabilised around the

belief that fighting a nuclear war was not a viable option, since itwould result in the devastation of both the adversaries. All thischanged after India and Pakistan conducted the nuclear tests in1998. Western strategic analysts began re-visiting the theories ofnuclear deterrence to see how deterrence stability would operatein the India-Pakistan context. The Kargil conflict, initiated byPakistan within a year of the nuclear tests, provided a testingground for these deterrence theories. One of the better knownaxioms of nuclear deterrence was termed the stability-instability

paradox,' wherein nuclear weapons contributed to stability byacting as an effective restraint on a full-scale war, butencouraged conflicts or wars at lower levels. There were enoughexamples of this during the Cold War era.

The Kargil conflict was an excellent model that unfolded thepossibilities of dangerous escalation to a larger war if India hadembarked on operations across the Line of Control and of crisismanagement so as to avert nuclear exchange. Deterrenceoptimists as well as pessimists have used the conflict to justifytheir opinions.

Factual account

This book, edited by Peter Lavoy, is not the first to examine theway deterrence theories played out during the Kargil conflict. Itis, however, the first to provide a factual account of the unfoldingof the conflict in the light of evidence available on both sides.Bringing together the views and position statements by military

officers, diplomats, and scholars from India, Pakistan and theUnited States, it offers a fascinating portrayal of a crisis that wasunique in the post-Cold War era. Kargil witnessed vigorousmilitary operations in a highly charged atmosphere of nationalistsentiments by two nuclear-armed adversaries, even as majorpowers were exerting their utmost to see that the catastrophe of


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a nuclear exchange was averted. What major strategic andoperational lessons does Kargil provide in the realm of nucleardeterrence?

Robert Jervis, who coined the term stability-instability paradox',described it thus: To the extent that the military balance isstable at the level of all out nuclear war, it will become less stableat lower levels of violence. After Kargil, Jervis has chosen torephrase his formulation. He says, Strategic stability permits, ifnot creates, instability by making lower levels of violencerelatively safe because escalation up the nuclear ladder is toodangerous.

Catastrophic

The book is quite informative on the way Pakistan's small militarycoterie, led by General Pervez Musharraf, launched what wasconsidered a small operation, which India will not find worthresponding to powerfully due to risks as Jervis puts it ofescalating up the nuclear ladder. The failure to anticipate thestrategic consequences of a limited military adventure provedcatastrophic. It not only changed the global perception of anuclear Pakistan but grievously undermined political stability of

Pakistan. Yet, it was in line with the military hierarchy's long-heldbelief in its infallibility.

An interesting question to ask is whether both sides pushed toexplore the limits imposed by the possession of nuclear weapons.Pakistan did try, until it found the strategic fallout overwhelmingits tactical gains. Bruce Riedel gives a chilling account of theinformation President Clinton provided to Prime Minister NawazSharif about nuclear measures the Pakistani military was

undertaking. India, on the other hand, not only took back theterritory seized by Pakistan, but also retained strategic highground by limiting the military response to its side of the LoC,conveying in the process its unwillingness to reach for the nuclearescalation ladder. That meant incurring serious cost in humanterms on the high fields of battle. Even as the book was being


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compiled, the security context has substantially changed bothglobally and between India and Pakistan. It is difficult to visualiseanother misadventure of the Kargil kind by Pakistani military. Butit has not stopped playing the same game at another level.

Apparently there has been no change in its mindset. This and thereal risk to Pakistan's nuclear assets from that country's own andinternational terrorist elements have changed the nucleardeterrence field in wholly unpredictable ways.


MALAYALAM

Classic novel

K. KUNHIKRISHNAN

NEELIMAYERIYA KANNUKAL:Translation of Toni Morrison's TheBluest Eyes' by Ajay Sekhar; DC Books, DC Kizhakemuri Edam,

Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam-686001. Rs. 95.THE CENTRAL theme of Toni Morrison's novels is the experienceof Black American women. Her characters struggle for criticalidentity, while the power of her vision and poetic style bring outan essential aspect of reality. Her debut novel, The BluestEyes(1970), focusses on the negative impactthe white'sconception of beauty has on a lonely black girl, who attempts tofind a positive sense of individuality in a loveless family. Set inthe author's home town of Lorain, Ohio, the novel narrates thetragedy of Pecola Breedlove, a young black girl who, conscious ofher ugliness, longs for blue eyes, the White's symbol of beauty.Her obsession with love is compulsive. She becomes insane,thanks to the brutality of having to bear the child of her father'sincest.


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The ugly face of racism; the loss of innocence and itsconsequences; and the allusion to a culture defining beauty' and ugliness' all these and more are sharply brought out in thestory. If the narrative style and chapter headings are suggestive,

the structure of the plot, the images, the characters, and thedialogue combine to make a powerful impact on the reader.

As for the translation, one has to say the power of the original islacking. Liberal use of central Travancore slang has contributednot a little to this shortcoming.

TINDERBOX - The Past and Future of Pakistan: M.J. Akbar,HarperCollins, A-53, Sector 57, Noida-201301. Rs. 499.

The publication of this book has brought some dignity to theclaim that India has some serious academic expertise onPakistan. Although more than a score of diplomats and journalistsare projected by the Indian media as Pakistan experts, hardly anyIndian author figures in the list of top 20 books written onPakistan over the past two decades. This could also be said ofIndian scholarship on Middle East, Latin America, and many otherregions. But it becomes a bit too embarrassing in respect ofPakistan because it happens to be our most important and, at the

same time, highly sensitive neighbour.

Why is that so? It has much to do with the way our researchinstitutions are run, and the state of area studies in ouruniversities. India's Pakistan-centred scholarship is seeminglysandwiched between biographical writings on Jinnah andaccusatory references to Pakistan's role on Kashmir affairs. Thisresearch work seeks to break free from these stereotypes andbuild a body of knowledge that genuinely falls under the rubric of

Pakistan scholarship.

Akbar's first book on Pakistan, Tinderbox is, in a sense, theculmination of some of his early research on South Asian history.It is likely to remain one of the major contributions on account ofthe sheer intensity of reasoning and the depth in analysis that


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marked the study of South Asia's convoluted history, its troubledpolitics, and its impact on nation states and multiculturalism.What emerges clearly from the narrative is that history matters.Akbar himself calls the book a history of an idea as it weaved

and bobbed its way through dramatic events with rare resilience,sometimes disappearing from sight, but always resurrected eitherby the will of proponents or the mistakes of opponents.

Exaggerated

As the world debates the fate of Pakistan, the author says a fewencouraging things about the future of Pakistani state. He assertsthat fears of Pakistan disintegration are highly exaggeratedand is emphatic that driven by the compulsions of an ideologicalstrand in its DNA, damaged by the inadequacies of those whocould have kept the nation loyal to Jinnah's dream of a secularMuslim-majority nation, Pakistan is in danger of turning into atoxic jelly state,' a quivering country that will neither collapse norstabilise. The term jelly state is a new addition to thevocabulary related to state studies. Used as an ideologicallyloaded term, it has provoked massive research among majorsocial scientists for generations.

Those who are familiar with the works of Max Weber, ThedaSkocpol, Charles Tilly, Jurgen Habermas or Anthony Giddens arelikely to hesitate to embrace the idea of jelly state. Akbar doesnot use the word state with the same connotation as politicalsociologists often do. For him, it represents governmentalinfrastructure, and hence his argument that it would neverdisintegrate. It is also the reason why questions about itslegitimacy or potential for responding to the developmentalrequirements are not raised. Instead, the concept recognises its

minimal role as a government, with a power to coerce and thusgovern or misgovern.

Some may note that questions regarding Pakistan's future havearisen prominently in recent years. But such questions are as oldas its birth. It was Tariq Ali, who wrote a book titled, Can


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Pakistan Survive? (1984), with the similar objective of dealingwith questions that Akbar raises. Two chapters in the book standout as most original in their narratives. One is A Theory ofDistance, which analyses the theology and politics of Shah

Walliullha, and how his idea of Islamic purity for Indian Muslimswas threatened by the Hindu infidel's cultural and military power.The other is God's General in which General Zia's role andcontribution is discussed.

Party politics

Akbar contends that General Zia's decision in 1976 to change themotto of Pakistan army to Jihad fi Sabil Allah, in the belief thatIslam alone could confront Hindu India, was a conscious strategicmove, not a populist one as often argued. While the competingIslamic ideologies and their implications for Pakistan get adequateattention, one felt the author could, perhaps, have done better

justice to the subject by examining party politics. After all, itsimpact on domestic politics and by extension on the currentmess that we see in Pakistan has been quite significant.Overall, it's an outstanding work, which those pursuing Pakistanstudies and students of Islamic politics will find very useful.

On eminent people

K. KUNHIKRISHNAN

AADHUNIKA VICHARASILPIKAL: Rev. Dr. K. M. George; DCBooks, DC Kizhakemuri Edam, Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam-686001. Rs. 60.

THE CONTRIBUTIONS of 10 eminent men thinkers,

intellectuals, and scientists to modern knowledge andphilosophy are presented in this book. Remarkably simple inpresentation and style, the essays make even the mostcomplicated theory look easy. The author has coined his ownterms and phrases, wherever no easy-to-comprehend equivalentsare not readily available.


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Among the galaxy of names figuring in this book is Thomas Kuhnwho, in his Structure of Scientific Revolutions, coined the tellingterm paradigm shift, which has since gained wide currency.Edward Said, an influential cultural critic and author, is known

best for his book Orientialism (1978).

Umberto Eco, philosopher, literary critic, and novelist, combinedsemiotics in fiction, biblical analysis, medieval studies and literarytheory. Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher,cognitive scientist, and social activist.

Ivan Illich was an Austrian philosopher and social critic of theinstitutions of contemporary western culture and their effects oneducation.

E.F. Schumacher an internationally renowned economic thinker,and his book Small is Beautiful is among the 100 most influentialbooks published since World War II. V.S. Ramachandran, acognitive neuroscientist, best known for his work in behaviouralneurology and psychophysics, is credited with discovering severalvisual effects.

Stephen Hawking is known for his contribution in the fields of

cosmology and quantum gravity, especially in the context of blackholes. A Brief History of Time discusses his theories andcosmology

OLD INDIA Notes on Afanasy Nikitin's Voyage Beyond theThree Seas by Ivan Minayev: Translated by Arun Mohanty, Editedby Eugenia Vanina and Irina Chelysheva; Har-Anand Publications

Pvt. Ltd., E-49/3, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase II, New Delhi-110020.

The well-known Russian Indologist, Ivan Minayev's work onVoyage Beyond the Three Seas, a 15 {+t} {+h} centurytravelogue by Afanasy Nikitin (a Russian merchant andadventurer), developed the original so beautifully as to reflect


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contemporary India in all its diverse, but integrated, economic,social and cultural facets.

The book starts with two notes: one by Irina Chelysheva on

Minayev's contributions to Indian studies, and the other byMinayev himself, briefly introducing Nikitin's manuscript.Chelysheva's note sharply brings out Minayev's heritage thatcontinues as leavening influence on the Russian Indologists, evenafter 120 years.

The first of the seven chapters in the book is on Nikitin's voyagefrom Hormuz, a tiny island of Persia, 20-30 miles in perimeterwith barren land and inhospitable climate, but with one of themost strategic ports. It is followed by a narration of his tradingexperience in Cambay, a port from which ships sailed all over theIndian seas. Nikitin had a sojourn in Chaul, a commercial town inthe Bhamini kingdom, situated 23 miles to the south-east ofBombay.

Bidar, where Nikitin arrived from Junnar via Kulungir andGulbarga, is discussed extensively. The prominent role Bidarplayed as a medieval point of exchange and a transactionalcentre of contemporary politico-cultural life; the Shah and his

court; and his campaigns and excursions all these are dealtwith in detail. The contextualised note of the editor, giventowards the end, helps the reader a great deal in comparingNikitin's travelogue with contemporary sources.

The manuscript

The English translation of Nikitin's manuscript, given as anannexure, provides the reader a feel of his long, arduous, and

eventful journey from the Volga. The other annexure presentsChelysheva's study of the manuscript and its elucidationundertaken in India in the 19th century on the basis of archivalmaterial in Maharashtra.

Nikitin's travelogue comes across as a thoroughly unprejudicedaccount of Indian reality. It is argued that Nikitin's account,


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though nave and inadequate sometimes, has immense historicalvalue for the Russian and Indian researchers.

If the original is remarkably objective, the fact that it has been

contextualised and supplemented by Minayev's historicalscholarship makes the book an important source of informationon medieval India. It transports the reader from the harbour ofHormuz to the shores of Gujarat and enables him to experiencethe life and culture of the ruling aristocracy, the splendid courts,the militia and the rank and file, the market place, holy places,food habits, fairs, festivals, rituals, local traditions, andsuperstitions that prevailed during that period in the kingdom ofBidar.

Minayev's commentary

By way of commenting on Nikitin's observations, Minayev hastraced the genesis and development of the socio-economic,political, and cultural history of India up to the 19th century,comparing the picture emerging from the travelogue with the onethat prevailed in British India. In the hands of Minayev, Nikitin'smanuscript has acquired an intellectual depth.

Minayev differed from his European colleagues on two points.First, he did not share their preferential focus on the classicalancient', which they considered glorious, or their prejudicedneglect of the post-classical' as degenerative, and hencedisgraceful. He found it important to study the Indian historicalprocess as a whole. Secondly, unlike theirs, his approach tocontemporary Indian civilisation was open and without anyreservation.

Russia is perhaps the only country to express sympathy forIndia's struggle for Independence and cast doubts on theprogressive mission of British colonialism in India. Thisperception, left as Minayev's legacy, deserves to be shared withthe people of the country he studied insightfully andaffectionately. This book does serve that purpose.


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KIZHAVAN NATHI Novel: Surendran Chambukkad; CurrentBooks, Thrissur and distributed by Cosmo Books. Rs. 75.

GLOBALISATION AND liberalisation are the current subjects andthere is no walk of life, which is not affected by the changesbrought about by them. A large number of books is available ontheir economic aspects but fiction is rare. The imminent dangersand the social aspects of globalisation and the neo-economicpolicies form the core of this novel. The changes occurring in atown called Kudayoor and its people, and environment have beenportrayed in a telling manner in the novel. People have to beeducated on every aspect of change. Awareness creation amongthe public becomes a profitable business for some. Efforts toeducate the public by some socially-committed, selfless personson the looming dangers meet with no success and their sincerityis questioned. The novel is a well-written and symbolic pointer tothe impending peril of capitalism on the balanced stream ofnature. Nature is symbolised by the old river. In this novel theemphasis is on the behavioural changes of individuals as a resultof economic transformation and the new social order. Both interms of craft and theme, the novel displays brilliance and a deepunderstanding of these changes.


ENIKKUMORU SWAPNAMUNDAYIRUNNU: Varghese Kurien,

as told to Gouri Salvi, Translated by Prameela Devi, DC Books,DC Kizhekemuri Edam, Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam-686001.Rs. 120.

VARGHESE KURIEN built India's best-known cooperative andcreated a popular brand name. As a young man he had wanted tobe a metallurgist but fate deflected him into dairy engineering


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and provided him opportunities, which he used in the bestinterests of dairy farmers. In the process, he won recognition forhimself as the father of India's White Revolution.

In Enikkumoru Swapnamundayirunnu (I too had a dream) Kuriennarrates the inspiring story of his life with a sense of history. Inthe preface, which is in the form of a letter, he tells his littlegrandson that when he reads the book a decade or two hence hewill understand the reasons that prompted his grandfather toserve the nation's farmers.

He hopes that young people of the 21st century will find hisautobiography a reminder of the struggles of the immediate past.

Kurien's was a life full of adventure, and his smooth flowingnarrative conveys much of the thrill that he had experienced.

Accounts of encounters with political leaders, which were mostlypleasant, and with bureaucrats, which were often unpleasant,constitute the best part of the story.

Looking back with pride on what he, a Christian from Kerala, wasable to achieve in distant Gujarat, he wonders if a Gujarati will be

able to reach such heights in Kerala.

Controversy dogged Kurien's footsteps, and he uses the book toreply to his detractors. Unfortunately, the manner in which thethird person singular has been rendered in Malayalam conveys animpression of incivility at some places.


Addressing the recent annual meeting of the Asian DevelopmentBank in Hyderabad, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh remarkedperceptively that the aspirations of Asian nations for economic


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development should be accompanied by a desire to enhancelevels of security in the region. Only this would provide anattractive incentive for investors looking first for a climate ofpolitical and social stability before deciding to put their money on

projects. Dr. Singh was thus expanding the traditionally narrowconcept of national security.

He was possibly visualising a scenario wherein nations no longerfought among themselves placing individuals and the lives ofwhole nations at risk, but offered levels of order and sanityconducive to creativity and uninterrupted economic activity. Dr.Singh's observation comes appropriately at a time when almostall countries in our neighbourhood are going through a distressing

spell of disorder, a mark of failed governance and an ambience oflow security.

Interpretation

Four years after 9/11, the Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Ladencontinue to dominate our thought processes, and we see visiblesymbols of our fear in those who guard our houses, public officesand airports. We however tend to ignore multitudes all over theglobe for whom 9/11 is a mere dot in an unjust world order. They

are those who do not know when and from where their next mealwould come. For them, the danger from bullets or explosives isnot as compelling as that from an empty stomach. Against thisbackground, the term `security' needs a very liberalinterpretation.

There are then threats to our environment about which policymakers talk eloquently but do precious little. Security fromdepleting levels of the ozone layer receives scant attention. It is

no doubt a matter of debate whether, while talking of security,we can equate the adverse effect of pollution of air and waterwith the fallout from an insidious terrorist movement.Nevertheless, unquestionably we are threatened as much fromthe abnormal release of carbon dioxide as we are from themindless suicide bomber.


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Threats from society

The author, T. K. Oommen is a respected voice in the area ofsocial science. When he pleads for a very comprehensive

definition of `security', he is very much plausible. In his strikinglyoriginal work that examines the whole gamut of modern securitystudies, he convinces us that we should move away from a state-centric approach that dwelt mainly on military and nuclearthreats. Rather, we would do well to evaluate the consequencesof poverty, hunger and social oppression, all of which could comeunder one rubric: threats from society.

Those like P. Sainath, who write prodigiously and realistically onrural poverty, especially in the context of the tragically mountingnumbers of farmer suicides, can write a whole volume on securityas is perceived in rural India. Medha Patkar's titanic struggle is anexample of a heroic demand for security that not many of us willcomprehend if we stick to our traditional notions.

Security scenario

Oommen also cites the cruel hierarchy of castes that stilldominates rural life, which makes life insecure to the core.

Mapping the security scenario around us, the author discards thetraditional division of the globe into the Third World and the rest.From a security perspective he would be happier with thecategories of the New and the Old World, the former dominatedby settler-majority regions, where prior to colonisation there werehardly any recognisable political-administrative units. Here,colonisation did bring in substantial security issues. Genocidesand, deliberate and tendentious exercises to bring about culturalhomogenisation synonymous with `ethnic cleansing' state-

sponsored or otherwise, also make life insecure for minoritygroups, and we have seen enough of this both in Europe andAfrica. A well-written history of how the concept of security hasevolved over centuries can hardly gloss over these happenings.

`State-making and the Problematics of Security' is a brilliantchapter that dissects the complexities of South Asia in the form of


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secessionist movements and those either seeking rights for the`sons of the soil' or trying to eliminate artificial territorialdivisions of composite cultural and linguistic communities. Thelocalised yet strong movements in North-East India and the

linguistic affinity of groups such as Bengalis and Tamils livingacross two or more countries have their own implications forsecurity, although one cannot exaggerate their import for thestability of the massive nation that we are. They cannot beignored either.

Oommen's is a bold attempt to provoke contemporary thinking ona vital subject that will continue to be debated amongintellectuals as well as the unlettered. After all, is there not

unanimity that we should not go back to the Hobbesian state ofanarchy, but live in peace with those who may dress differentlyfrom us or speak in a tongue alien to us, if only to share the fruitsof modern science and technology?

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SAMBHASHANANGAL: K. N. Panikkar, Compiled by P. S.Manojkumar, Mathrubhumi Books, MM Press, Cherooty Road,Kozhikode-673001. Rs. 65.

THIS BOOK is a collection of interviews with the historian, K. N.Panikkar, reports of which appeared in different publications.Some have been translated from English. Communalism, a majortheme of Panikkar's, figures prominently in the interviews.Problems of Indian history also come up, mainly in the context of

official interference in the working of academic bodies.

Of particular interest to Malayalam readers are Panikkar's sharpobservations on Kerala society.

He draws attention to the emergence of conditions conducive tothe growth of communalism in the State, and avers that the
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middle class is facing a cultural crisis. Even though this class doesnot support communalism politically, it tends to turn to caste andreligion to overcome its crisis.

In the circumstances, there is a possibility of its swerving towardscommunal forces when they gain strength. Proper editing wouldhave enhanced the value of the volume.

A prefatory note gives the names of the interviewers and thepublications in which the reports first appeared. However, thereader is not told which report appeared where and when. Termslike "the last decade" make no sense when the date of theinterview is not known.


PUNATHILINTE NOVELLAKAL Novellas: PunathilKunhabdulla; DC Books, Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam-686001. Rs. 150.

WHEN WRITING is prolific as in the case of this author, who has

now ventured into the genre of novellas it is natural that a feware brilliant while in others quantity goes up at the cost of quality,which is the case with this book. A few are demonstrative of theMidas touch while others lack literary merit, in craft andtechnique or narrative strength and readability.

For example, the portrayal of life and characterisation arebrilliant, `Meghakkeeru' with its elements of satire, but thedisparity is patent in the next `Bhajanam Padiyurakkiya

Vigrahangal'. Again satire appears artificial in `Sangham'.

The novelist's own oft-repeated theme, is the subject of theanother story; fantasy combined with caricature, commendable inhis novels, lack in the novellas. `Ghatikaaram' is flat and notevocative. Hospitals are familiar locales to the writer and heexcels in `Cancer Ward', portraying the realities of sufferings and


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apathy in hospitals and the failures of specialisation and lack ofhuman considerations. The writer is at his best in such storiesand the style inimical.


Concerns of a sensitive mind

B. R. P. BHASKAR

U.P.JAYARAJINTE KATHAKAL SAMPOORNAM: U. P. Jayaraj; DCBooks, DC Kizhekumeri Edam, Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam-686001. Rs. 110.

U. P. JAYARAJ (1950-1999) was one of the most talented shortstory writers of his time. He did not write much possibly becausethe humdrum life of an ordnance factory electrician is not thebest setting for intense literary activity. But everything he wrotebore the impress of a master craftsman.

This book puts together in a single volume his entire literaryoutput. Jayaraj's first story appeared when he was 18.

The Naxalite movement, which was raging in Kerala at the time,casts its shadow in one form or another in his early stories. Thosemarginalised by globalisation are at the centre of some of hislater stories.

He raises issues unobtrusively but makes no secret of his

disillusionment with what he sees around him. He does not offerany readymade solutions but manages to exude hope. The key tohis success as a story-teller lies in his effective use of thelanguage.

The stories voice the concerns of a sensitive mind. It is easy todetect an autobiographical element in his story of a writer who


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expresses his dilemma in these words: "I cannot write, and yet Icannot help writing."

ORA PRO NOBIS Malayalam novel: Ponjikkara Raphi;

D.C. Books, DCB Complex, Good Shepherd Street,

Kottayam-686001. Rs. 65.

THIS IS a historical novel carefully woven on the background ofKochi in the 16th and 17th Centuries A.D. when the Portuguesedominated the western shore of India. The title is in Latinmeaning, "Kindly pray for us", which is a repetition of a line ofthe prayer by the chorus (luthinia) addressed to Holy MotherMary, sung by the Latin Catholics.

In 1663 A.D., the Dutch defeated the Portuguese who succeededto a certain extent in implementing their "divide and rule" policyamong the local rulers in the northern part of Kerala during theirreign for one and a half centuries.

Though the chain of events narrated in this novel happened in1750 A.D., the social and political scenarios of the preceding 115

years are also artistically amalgamated with minuteanthropological details.

The incidents after the mass migration of the Portuguese fromKochi to Goa and Portugal are pictured through the distractedmental reflections and conversations of Chinna Ambrose a fifthgeneration old man whose ancestors had been brought to Kochiby Captain Achakko and his wife Isabella, successors of thePortuguese barons Aswerasu in 1635 A.D. for looking after their

horses.

The life stories of these Latin Catholic generations starting fromthe couple Michel-Monica and their children Jocki, Paaval andAmbrose are recorded in the family history by the thirdgeneration man Chinna Ambrose in Malayam-Tamil a mixtureof Malayalam and Tamil languages.


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Their dialect throughout the novel is also in this mixed style,which gives a special individual flavour and effect to this work.Not only are the trials and tribulations of these family membersliving and dead but also the misdeeds like looting of the

stockyards and temples by the Portuguese for want of money, bywhich they earned the hatred and enmity of the people, theinefficiency and surrendering mentality of the Kochi kingdom inthat period and the social condition of the people in otherreligious classes like the Jews, Ezhavas, Nairs and the Konkanisare well depicted in the novel.

The interesting and pathetic incident narrated is the offering ofthe bloody sacrifice of the first generation Ambrose on January

13, 1663 A.D. at the age of 33 like the crucifixion of Jesus Christin his 33rd year, with his full consent by the Portuguese forprotecting their valuable treasure earned in this land that wasburied secretly, just before their mass exodus from Kochi.

It is the firm belief of Chinna Ambrose who is the grandson ofAmbrose (first) that he and his grandson the present youngVella Ambrose and others who will follow after them should notdisclose the place of the hidden treasure up to the period of theseventh generation when the real owners of the treasure, thePortuguese, will come again to claim it according to a record ofthe family history.

The novel ends with the demise of Chinna Ambrose while prayingwith the family members, but with a broken heart as his elder sonMichel attempted to kill him a few hours ago since he did notdisclose to him the place where the treasure was hidden.

NEELA PADMANABHAN

ANNAMMA Memoirs: K. M. Mathew; Malayala Manorama

Publication Division, Kottayam-686001. Rs. 90.

THIS IS the work of the author in memory of his wife whoauthored 25 books. There is a woman behind every successful


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man and so is the case with the man at the helm for the successof the most widely circulated newspaper chain in India.

The book is an endearing memoir of the 61 years of married life.

It vividly portrays their life, having come from two walks of lifeand from two sects. Belonging to different poles, with one full ofarts and music and social life, and the other an astutebusinessman and editor, they lived a life, "without any majorquakes." It is magnanimous to admit that while the coupletravelled, the wife got more public attention. Annamma Mathewwas the longest surviving editor of a women's magazine. Shemade it her mission to contribute to culinary variety and it makesinteresting reading while the husband admits, rather obliquely,

that his tastes were set aside for the tastes of the reading public.Annamma grew up in Tamil Nadu and she had an innate talent formusic and was very fond of jasmine flowers. Now the husbandpoignantly adorns flowers on her photo and starts the day.

The couple met for the first time in the church and then they livedin an estate in Coorg. It was in Mumbai that life blossomed forthe woman who was reluctant to move to Kottayam. But once shewas there, she established an empire for herself and would not

move out even if she "were killed." Such was her dedication towhatever she did.

The author has been very economical with his words and the bluepencil has been effectively applied. There is not a single extraword in the highly readable book.

K. KUNHIKRISHNAN

Fiction in travelogue form

PROFESSOR IN AMERICA: K. L. Mohanavarma; D.C. Books,

D. C. B. Complex, Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam-

686001. Rs. 50.


40/40

THIS NOVEL provides a running account of a professor, who justback from a tour of the U.S. is eager to write a travelogue as hispersonal contribution to the betterment of society. After all, hehas a duty to give his countrymen the benefit of his intellectual

attainments.

If in the process he qualifies for the Nobel Prize he will not, ofcourse, refuse it. He seeks out an old student of his, who hasalready made his mark as a writer, to help him write the magnumopus.

The professor visited the U.S. shortly after 9/11. As a part of thepreparation for the visit he went to a parlour and got his beardtrimmed. However, he removed the beard before boarding theplane lest overzealous security personnel should mistake him foran Al-Qaeda terrorist.

There was plenty of adventure from the word "go". The woman atthe check-in counter at Sahar airport impressed him with hersmart appearance and English pronunciation. He thought she wasDutch but she turned out to be an Indian, either Punjabi orSindhi.

This experience convinced him of the need for an agency like theNational Council for Educational Research and Training to addressthe problem of unifying the pronunciation of English, which isspoken in 15 different ways in India. His U.S. recollections covera wide range of subjects from sex to ISKCON, not to mention theNon-Resident Keralites of America.

Mohanavarma's smooth-flowing narrative is marked by a keensense of humour. Several of his previous novels bear thematic

titles such as "Cricket" and "Ohari" (Share). By the same token,this work could have been called "Conceit" since its essentialtheme is the smugness and arrogance of the Malayali intellectual.

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