Reading corner Oct_Dec 2016
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This document provides a biography of renowned Bengali author Mahasweta Devi. It discusses her upbringing in a family of talented artists and intellectuals. It describes her education including time spent at Tagore's Santiniketan school. It highlights two important events in her writing career - researching the life of Rani Lakshmibai which influenced her choice of subjects and meticulous research methods, and visiting areas like Palamu district where she advocated for bonded labourers and wrote exposing their oppression. The document discusses her focus on writing about socially marginalized groups and key works that brought attention to the struggles of tribals, women and other oppressed communities in India.
Reading corner Oct_Dec 2016
- 1. HISTORY LITERATURE ART CULTURE HERITAGE BIOGRAPHY TRAVEL WILDLIFE RELIGION SELF-HELP FICTION TRANSLATION RNI NO. DELENG/2008/26953 Price: ` 2Volume 8, Issue 4, October-December 2016 B orn in her maternal grandfather’s house in Dhaka, Mahasweta was brought up in Calcutta in the rich milieu of Bengali high culture, as hers was a family studded with talented jewels in various creative activities. Her father Manish Ghatak (pen-name Jubanaswa) was a renowned poet and fictionist; her paternal uncle Ritwik Ghatak, an internationally acclaimed filmmaker and her maternal uncle, Sankho Chowdhury, a reputed sculptor who rose to be the Chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi. She studied at Medinipur Missionary Girls’ School, attended middle school in Tagore’s Santiniketan and finished high school at Beltola Girls’ School in Kolkata. It was Santiniketan that left a deep impression on the young Mahasweta. She attended Intermediate classes at the Asutosh College of Calcutta University (1943–44) and then returned to Santiniketan to earn a Bachelor’s degree in 1946. It was in the same year that she married Bijon Bhattacharya, a reputed playright, whose play Nabanna (New Harvest) was a landmark in the history of Indian theatre. A member of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and a founder member of the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA), Bijon introduced Mahasweta to the close circle of IPTA and CPI. She lived their dreams for a better world, shared their camaraderie and work, which expanded the horizon of her mind. Not many people know that till the age of 80, she could sing in a sonorous voice, especially the gana-sangeet inspired by the IPTA movement. There are two landmark events in Mahasweta Devi’s writing career. First, her visit to Bundelkhand area in 1956 to research the life of Rani Lakshmibai, her childhood heroine, for writing the biography Jhansir Rani. Both in terms of the choice of the subject and the meticulous research that went into the writing of the book, drawing not only from all possible conventional archival sources but also from the oral traditions of the people of the area, transmitted through generations of lores and legends— MAHASWETA DEVI The Author and the Activist (1926–2016) Revisiting Gandhi Nirmal Kanti Bhattacharjee Mahatma Gandhi’s theories of chakra, self-sufficiency of villages and virtues of self-suffering often detract youngsters from his greatness. His essential goodness seems to be little known to an entire generation that has grown up on a monochromatic image of Bapu. Confined in time and space, some of his philosophies may have become obsolete today, but he was basically the first person to address the issue of untouchability. The denouncement of Varnashram, equality for the Muslims and emancipation of women were just a few concerns he had tried to address single-handedly. It is, therefore, important that we try to understand and interpret his teachings in the present context. Re-understanding Gandhi would be incomplete without the several books written by Professor Rajmohan Gandhi, wherein he examines in detail Gandhi’s views on God, truth and ahimsa, his attitude towards oppression and casteism, his unsuccessful bid to keep India united and his selection of heirs for the newly-born nation. Trisha De Niyogi Let us look beyond Gandhi the icon and make a genuine attempt to assimilate the thoughts of an individual who has inspired so many lives. Arguably the most significant figure in the field of socially committed literature in post-Independence India, Mahasweta Devi passed away on 28 July 2016, at the ripe age of ninety. With her passing, the role of the author as a public intellectual has also lost much of its force and vitality in the Indian scenario. West Bengal where she took up the cause of the denotified tribes called Kheria Shabar. Their extreme poverty moved Mahasweta to stand by their side. From this time on, the focal point of her creative writing remained mainly the socially marginalised, the poor, the tribals and their struggles. The Naxalite Movement of the late 1960s deeply stirred Mahasweta’s imagination. Her only son Nabarun, a poet, novelist and activist, was involved with the movement. A deepening social awareness and a literary maturity converged when Mahasweta came out with her watershed novel of 1974, called Hazar Churasir Ma (Mother of 1,084). It charts the emotional struggle of a mother as she tries to understand her son’s involvement in the Naxalite Movement. The journey of discovery carries her to an understanding of her son’s death as well as her own alienation, as a woman and a wife, from the complacent and hypocritical bourgeois society her son has rebelled against. Mahasweta has also written both creatively and journalistically on the profound subordination of women in Indian society in Bioscoper Bakso (1964), about the condition of women in tradition-bound, middle-class society; Swaha (1977), on dowry death; Daulati (1984), on the Palamu bonded labour movement; ‘Draupadi’, the fiery woman who epitomises resistance against state exploitation; ‘Shikar’ with Mary Oraon as the protagonist. Concomitant with the issue of gender, she had a particular interest in the idea of motherhood. From Jashoda in ‘Stanadayini’ (The Breast Giver), to the unnamed mother in ‘Jamunabatir Ma’ to ‘Saanjh Sakaler Ma’ (Mother from Dawn to Dusk) to ‘Giribala’ to ‘Sindhubala’, her fiction offers an array of maternal figures, as well as diverse figurative constructions of the maternal idea. These works demonstrate how the traditional deification of motherhood can often conceal a collective attempt to circumcise women within socially prescribed roles while denying them the right to articulate their individual needs and desires. A deepening social awareness and a literary maturity converged when Mahasweta came out with her watershed novel of 1974, called Hazar Churasir Ma (Mother of 1084). Mahasweta charted a distinct path for herself. The second was her visit to Palamu district of the tribal state of Jharkhand (then a part of Bihar) in 1965. She was moved to see the miserable plight of the bonded labourers there. Not only did she start sending fiery journalistic dispatches to Calcutta, but also wrote stories exposing this feudal oppressive machine. She founded the Palamu District Bonded Labour Liberation Organisation and thus began her lifelong battle to assert the right of the tribals for liberty and dignity. It is in this period that she wrote her masterpieces—Aranyer Adhikar (Right to the Forest, 1977) and Chotti Munda O Tar Teer (Chotti Munda and his Arrow, 1979). In the early 1980s, Mahasweta shifted base to the Purulia District of In Faith and Freedom, renowned historian Mushirul Hasan retains his admiration for the man, without overlooking the limitations and prejudices of Gandhi. He remembers Gandhi’s political, religious and moral struggle and reasons for doing so. Another angle to understanding the values of Gandhi would be by exploring his pre-Mahatma experiences. For example, The Girmitiya Saga, by Giriraj Kishore, enumerates the struggles he endured, the battles he fought, leading to his transformation in South Africa, before returning to India. As Nelson Mandela very tersely said, ‘You gave us Mohandas; we returned him to you as Mahatma Gandhi.’ I urge you to read these books and get to know more about this great man who shaped Indian history to such a large extent. Let us look beyond Gandhi the icon and make a genuine attempt to assimilate the thoughts of an individual who has inspired so many lives. QTell us something about your first encounter with a Kathakali performance and how it affected you. AMy very first encounter with Kathakali was when I was hardly in a two-digit age, must be around 1970. My father woke me up around 2 am and took me to the nearby temple to watch the performance. This was as a result of my doubts on Ottanthullal performances that I used to see during the afternoon hours of the nearby temple festival of those days. The play was Kalyanasougandhikam. At the venue, I realised how different Kathakali was from Ottanthullal. Here two actors in different costumes performed on the stage, supported by two singers and two drummers behind them. The bare stage, the austere art that transported the audience to another world, that, too, by showcasing a well-known story—that night sowed in me an abiding interest in classical theatre. I was awestruck. The actors were the then Kathakali stars of northern Kerala, the late Kana Kannan Nair as Bheema and today’s octogenarian Parassini Kunhiraman Nair as Hanuman. I hardly thought that both of them were going to be very close to me after several years. QWhat preparations did you undertake before writing a book this exhaustive and detailed? ASeveral years of watching innumerable performances at various venues across the state and outside, travelling and interacting with masters, earlier readings and so on, with little intention of writing a book of this sort later, were my foundation. Had I done these with the intention of writing a book on a subject such as Kathakali, I am sure it would have been a disaster like the view of a cow tied to a pole. However, it was a task but never tough, except the chart on lineages right from the origin of the art. I know the subject and the core contents were already shaped in my mind by the time I decided to write it. Other than my frequent travel schedules and official commitments, a few challenges that I faced were translation/transliteration of some of the significant technical terms and usages into English, cross-checking the information, collecting historical photographs and lack of proper documentation of the art by earlier art administrators. Basically, I wanted to make it a good reference book as well as a record of some of the significant anecdotes; I think I have succeeded in my attempt. After reading the book one of the readers wrote to me: ‘Like all great classical art forms, of performance or otherwise, Kathakali, too, will help a person find one’s own dark and well-illuminated areas of personal subconscious. This happens on and on. It will continue to live there like rocky imprints. The more you experience them, the more you stay with it. This is true for all classical art forms, whether the tragedies of Sophocles, works of William Shakespeare or the works of Michelangelo or Leonardo Da Vinci down the line. Another book on this subject, of this refinement, quality, proportion and status may take a long time to come out.’ K.K. Gopalakrishnan FOCUS To read the full interview, please visit Ink & Papyrus, the Niyogi Books’ blog. Writer-photographer and a connoisseur specialising in Kerala’s performing arts traditions. In the past 25 years he has written mostly for The Hindu supplements such as Sunday Magazine and Literary Review.
- 2. 2 SPOTLIGHT Looking South A river, a craft, a culture ... Niyogi Books has a variety of titles that cover this region This book records the art of Kathakali comprehensively, right from the scenario that paved the way for the origin and development of this dance form to its present history. Kathakali Dance-Theatre chronicles its various facets—the acting, music and costumes, crucial contributions of the masters, momentous incidences, evolution of styles, riveting anecdotes, and related socio-political issues affecting Kerala. The first-hand personal rendition of the author’s experience and the detailed glossary make it immensely readable. Full of photographs depicting the masters of the art, green room activities and the vibrant theatre of Kathakali, this book is a treasure trove of information for uninitiated readers, arts scholars, theatre buffs, potential researchers and students keen about the art and its future. This field guide is the outcome of the author’s intense study of the flora of the Southern Western Ghats as well as those of Palni hills. More than 200 species of trees, herbs and shrubs, which can be found in the region, are listed in this book. Not only is the distribution of the species in various parts of the world explained, but the author also gives a physical description of the species, including its leaves, flowers, and fruits. Medicinal as well as general uses of the plant are explained. This is an extremely useful field guide for the general readers and nature lovers, as well as for students, teachers and researchers of botany. Why did a Chola king dive into the chasm into which Kaveri vanished? How did Kaveri set the Kodagu style of draping a sari? How did a spider become a king? In this carefully researched book, the reader is taken from the Kaveri river’s origin in Talakaveri to the site of the ancient port of Poompuhar, engaged all the while with stories from mythology and history and anecdotes from the lives of great people who have shaped the regions along her banks. For 802 kilometres, the Kaveri river winds her way through hills, valleys and plains, seeking to fulfil her destiny, her union with the Lord of the Sea. Vijayanagara, once one of the mightiest Hindu empires, has now been reduced to a mere village. Through extensive research and restoration efforts, dedicated conservationists and the ASI have made every possible attempt to restore its lost brilliance. The splendid rocks and large boulders, together with the awe-inspiring royal architecture, confer on Hampi the rare accolade of being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its natural beauty as well. Raghu Rai, through his passionate response to the site, takes the reader on a visual experience akin to being transported into the world the way it must have existed centuries ago. Though the grandeur evaporated some 400 years ago, the photographs and Usha Rai’s words breathe life into the silent stones of history. K.K. Gopalakrishnan Writer-photographer specialising in the performing arts traditions of Kerala. Pippa Mukherjee A founder member of the Palni Hills Conservation Council, she was on the committee of the Bombay Natural History Society during 1980–84. Padma Malini Sundararaghavan A freelance editor, writer and teacher. Padma Seshadri A heritage enthusiast and writer of several books for children. Raghu Rai A Magnum photographer, he was nominated to the world’s most prestigious photographers’ cooperative by Henri Cartier-Bresson. QWhat inspired you to write a novel set in Kashmir? AEmpathy. I lived in Kashmir in 2009 and have seen a 12-year-old Kashmiri Muslim boy sit beside a 20-year-old Indian Army soldier, sipping cups of kahwa together. Also, a close friend of mine, who was also my roommate in college, was a Kashmiri Pandit. I have heard stories from all of them, and I have seen that each of them is right in their own way, yet their viewpoints may be very different. I just wanted to tell their stories as honestly as I could. QThe novel depicts the coming of age of three young children and how the turbulent situation in Kashmir impacts their lives. What made you begin the book from the viewpoint of the children? AChildren do not have a prejudice for right and wrong. They do not live amid the barriers of caste, religion or borders that we have created for ourselves. In spite of the world asking them to choose sides and make judgments, our children in the book know only how to love each other. You can say I have been inspired by Scout and Jem from To Kill a Mockingbird. What children learn and do in their childhood is innocent, driven not by worldly hate but compassion for everyone around them. QDo you think fiction still has a place in a world where news and factual information dominate the headlines? AFiction is the only way to tell the truth. It tells the truth in such a way that we want to know more about what we do not acknowledge in our ordinary lives. As Hemingway once said: ‘That is what we are supposed to do when we are at our best—make it all up—but make it up so truly that later it will happen that way.’ QThis is your first novel. What motivates you to write and what are you working on next? AI do not think just motivation is enough for a writer. It needs to be desperation, for the story to burst out of you and bleed on paper. I am working on two projects. One is on a quarter-life crisis in a man’s constant struggle between passion and profession, while the other is a tale of magical realism in a fictional town. QWhat advice would you give to a young writer in India today? ABe true, be honest to your view of the world and have the courage to stand for it. Do it because the fire inside you will not let you live unless you do. That is the only good fight there is. FOCUS Sanchit Gupta A brand management professional with a wide range of brand building and communication development experience, his works explore his fascination for global cultures. Long-listed for the Sundance Screenwriters’ Lab 2017- International. Indian movies which have won acclaim at the festival in previous years include Geetu Mohan Das’ Insha-Allah and Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur.
- 3. 3 In this fascinating study, in words and images, the cultural history of Thanjavur is revealed—starting from its early days of grandeur during the Chola Empire when the Chola ruler Raja Raja I built the Rajarajeswaram Temple. SPOTLIGHT Garden-city, Silicon Valley of India, Bangalore, Bengaluru—one knows it by many names. From a simple mud fort built by Kempe Gowda, Bangalore (now known as Bengaluru) has grown to become a bustling cosmopolitan hub. Through painstaking research and by sourcing rare photographs, the author has left no stone unturned to revisit history, myths and memories. The reader is awed by the grandeur of the palaces, the beauty of its parks, the vivid hues of its markets and much more. Quaint history blends with insightful observations as the author explores the city’s monuments, those that have survived the test of time, and introduces us to its people, the diverse communities that breathe life into the city. It is not merely a nostalgic account of times past but also about what lies ahead. An interesting selection of legends and anecdotes relating to Hyderabad which, despite their traditional spice and flavour, are rooted in facts. The first major book on a vibrant theatre tradition that has existed in India from the times of the Natya Sastra. It traces the history and evolution of Kutiyattam through different ages, its aesthetics and theatre grammar as well as the challenges in its transmission to a new generation of artists and viewers. Ainmanes of Kodagu describes ainmanes (ancestral homes) in Kodagu, which represent the culture of this district of Karnataka in South India. Ainmanes are architectural symbols and expressions of the heritage and culture of the people living here. They bear testimony to the strength and vitality of the okkas (patrilineal clans) of Kodagu and its culture. The focus of this book is on the traditional ainmanes of Kodagu that are functional. A ‘functional’ ainmane is where all the members of the okka gather to celebrate important ceremonies. This book, covering all aspects of the heritage of Kodaikanal, is the result of the research and hard work of volunteers who love Kodaikanal, both residents and non-residents. It has been structured in a way that allows the reader to discover Kodaikanal and its environs by going on walks that cover the built-up and natural heritage of the town. Captured in this book are delightful sketches and a commentary that navigates your walk around the old town of Kochi. Based on an exhibition catalogue (in German) that was produced by Eberhard Fischer, in collaboration with Jyotindra Jain. A unique record enhanced by photographs that portray all aspects of life within the Guruvayur Temple and its intangible divinity. A heart-warming story of the prestigious Kollegal family belonging to the picturesque village of Puthupady in Northern Kerala. Island of Lost Shadows, a translation of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award-winning Malayalam novel Andhakaaranazhi on the political intrigues of Kerala during the seventies. Pradeep Chakravarthy A series of articles on the Sarasvati Mahal Library was the beginning of his tryst with Thanjavur. Vikram Sathyanathan Nature and wildlife conservation are his chief interests. Maya Jayapal A teacher, writer, columnist and counsellor residing in Bangalore. Narendra Luther Regarded as an eminent authority on the subject, he has written extensively on the history and culture of Hyderabad. Chinnappa Boverianda and Nanjamma Chinnappa and his wife Nanjamma have dedicated themselves to the preservation of the language, architecture and culture of the native communities of Kodagu. Sudha Gopalakrishnan Studied India’s traditional art forms for three decades. She is one of the founders of Sahapedia, an online resource on India’s art, culture and heritage.
- 4. 4 The lives of three children are shattered during an insurgent night in war-torn Kashmir. Twenty years later, when their paths cross again, an innocent civilian is fighting for justice, an exiled Pandit longs for belonging, while a ruthless rebel aches for redemption. Inspired by true events, this narrative traces the lives of three childhood friends who grow up in an atmosphere of peace and amity in Srinagar, until the night of 20 January 1990 changes it all. An interesting book that explores the myriad shades of love and traces the ups-and-downs of unrequited love through realistically delineated characters. The story of Mehr, a young girl from a village in what is at that time East Pakistan. This book narrates her journey from dependence to self-reliance both emotionally and physically. Parallel to her story, is the narrative of a land that is struggling to assert its identity, and moving towards a hard-won Independence in a crucible of blood and tears. Aspontaneous foray through one of India’s premier universities—Rabindranath Tagore’s Visva-Bharati. A collection of essays written during the first few years of the author’s tenure as its Vice Chancellor, the book showcases the exclusive merits of this university, which is based on Rabindranath Tagore’s idea of what an ideal, holistic education should constitute. NEW RELEASES T his book contains some fascinating anecdotes and a wonderful collection of photographs spanning several decades. The story of Abhishek, the only son of Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, is captured in great depth and detail in this special biography. It brings to life the many facets of the actor, highlighting the different roles he plays. Rugged, masculine looks, style and charm are part of the persona of a star, an actor, a celebrity. Yes, Abhishek is a man of many milestones, in areas as diverse as movies, sports and business. Individually, each Bachchan is different. They are all stalwarts in their own space but, when together as a family, they are committed to ‘Being a Bachchan’. For Abhishek, ‘Going back to a happy, healthy family at the end of the day is more important than being successful.’ They are known to be a Pradeep Chandra An eminent photographer, he is known for his versatility. Niyogi Books has published his earlier biographies on M.F. Husain and Aamir Khan. Sushanta Dattagupta An internationally renowned physicist, he has also published a book in Bengali, Je Path Diye, on his experiences in Visva-Bharati. Sanchit Gupta A brand management professional, his works explore his fascination for global cultures. Ramapada Chowdhury Author of many novels and short stories, he is the recipient of many prestigious awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award. Dr Birendra Kumar Bhattacharyya Jnanpith Award winner and one of Assam’s foremost writers. close-knit family, despite having different personalities and habits. Abhishek says: ‘I am more like my mother than my father; in fact, I even act like her. I am a people’s person like her. I am very outgoing. My dad is a loner. He likes to have us around. He would call us in his study and we used to sit there for hours without saying a word. We were never brought up like star kids. We were any other normal family.’ Swapna Dutta She has more than 50 titles to her credit, including translations and has received several awards. Mitra Phukan Writer, translator, columnist and classical vocalist. FICTION FICTION/TRANSLATION ESSAY/EDUCATION FICTION/TRANSLATION
- 5. 5 Androgyny is an engaging subject of discussion and research in the present times. This volume makes an effort to understand concepts of androgyny and ‘nari bhav’or sensibility of the feminine beyond the anatomy-directed definitions circumscribed within the dubious realm of the ‘third sex’, or ‘third gender’. When Job Charnock landed at Sutanati in 1690 the place was no more than an ordinary Bengal village on the banks of the Hooghly. Yet, by the middle of the nineteenth century, it was being described as the second city of the British Empire.With the help of archival records, this volume plots the various stages of the journey on the part of the three villages of Sutanati, Kalikata and Gobindapur which collectively came to be called Calcutta (renamed Kolkata). NEW RELEASES The ultimate cheat guide for all those unwilling to give up on those amazingly delicious, drool-worthy favourites, the very mention of which makes your mouth water. With more than 75 cheat recipes of sinful delicacies such as the blue cheese burger, spicy hotdog, classic American cheesecake or the Oreo milkshake, you will never have to think twice before you indulge. Written by a teenager for youngsters who are ready to experiment and try their hand at cooking, this book, with its easy language and simple recipes, is the perfect start. A self-confessed passionate foodie, Vedant presents his favourite combos, which, according to him, are super healthy and super easy. A special section titled ‘Inspire: Reflect! Motivate! Energise!’ features filmstars, sportspersons and chefs who share their food habits, fitness regime, some health tips and their favourite recipes exclusively for this book. Born and brought up in Delhi, seventeen-year-old foodie and fitness freak Vedant Bahri’s life so far has weaved around his n for food…and a lot of time spent kitchen. On the verge of finishing Vedant hopes to pursue a in Culinary Entrepreneurship. been blogging since he was n, sharing his recipes, rant reviews, and has become opular amongst his friends and as the “Ultimate Food Guru”, g them on the restaurants they visit and the food they should re. ides his passion for food, on, acting, reading, cycling, he ieves in community service, eering for his mother’s NGO for artists. ant hopes someday he can make am a reality to be the biggest ” ever. “Concentrating on a healthy diet and a good exercise routine and good rest is good enough to lose weight. Fat burners are no good.” —John Abraham (Model & Actor) “Eat junk food just to taste them once in a while but remember they are not as healthy as they taste. Health is everything.” —Mary Kom (Boxer) “It’s really a problem trying to stay away from not eating everything that is cooked in my restaurant. But I think that training your mind is very important.” —Vikas Khanna (Michelin Star Chef) ISBN: 978-93-85285-42-4 w w w . n i y o g i b o o k s i n d i a . c o m `795 / £12.99 / $20 Vedant Bahri Eighteen-year-old self-proclaimed foodie and fitness freak. Ranabir Ray Choudhury A veteran journalist interested in the past of Kolkata, this is his fifth book. Chandra K. Bhatt Lives in Kathmandu after migrating there from a remote district a long time ago. He is an avid reader. Tutun Mukherjee Professor of Comparative Literature, University of Hyderabad. A. Sethumadhavan Written stories and novels in Malayalam for over five decades. 5 The environs of Fort William Agreat novel for anyone interested in real-life political conspiracies! The story of the civil war is paralleled by chapters focusing on the disruption and corruption it brought to Nepalese society. That story is personified in Nawin and his family and friends. He leaves his family responsibilities of looking after his stepmother and disabled half-brother, to find a job in Kathmandu. Nawin and the colourful people he meets illustrate traditional Nepalese culture along with the intrusion of outside elements. The stories are dramatic, spanning decades. Prema Jayakumar A columnist and a veteran translator. Niladri R. Chatterjee Professor, Department of English, University of Kalyani, West Bengal. The story of mankind can be narrated in terms of great exoduses and migrations. A never-ending search for greener pastures; a journey to find new places to feed oneself; a journey to save one’s life. As these journeys take place, centuries and millennia pass. While some things wear away, others open up … Translated from the Malayalam Marupiravi, this book is a rare poetic narrative of Kerala in a planetary world. FICTION/TRANSLATION ESSAY/THEATRE HISTORY FICTION COOKERY
- 6. 6 FESTIVITIES Gift a Book This festive season let’s say it with a book! They make great gifts, both corporate and personal. To spread the cheer further, there are some special discounts for you The Mahabharat confirms that Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita to Arjun at the Battle of Kurukshetra in 3137 BC. According to specific astrological references in the Vedic scriptures, 3102 BC is the beginning of Kali Yuga. Local kitchens in Ladakh prepare tea by churning together green tea, yak butter and salt. The preparation emits a rumbling sound when it is mixed, and that is why it is called ‘gurgur cha’. Rabindranath Tagore began writing poetry when he was just eight years old. He released his first collection of poems under the name ‘Bhanusimha’, or Sun Lion, at the age of 16. MF Husain carried a painting brush the size of a riding crop, which he used to wave like a baton or use as a walking stick. The origin of flags lies in ancient history where they may have been simply decorative streamers or ceremonial images. The study of flags is known as vexillology, from the Latin word vexillum, meaning flag or banner. A good book makes a great present and a brighter future Anonymous
- 7. 7FESTIVITIES The first post- Independence postage stamp of India was issued on 21 November 1947; the date ‘15 Aug 1947’ inscribed on the stamp is a misnomer. Where else can you meet animals with an identity crisis, and a donkey who will never lend its owner an ear again?Though the erotic sculptures of Khajuraho overwhelm visitors, they actually account for just two per cent of the temple carvings. Who was the Englishman who carved out his own kingdom in the Himalayas? What gourmet dish was created by a ruler to feed his famished subjects? What is the epic tale of the white shrine where the weapons of a martial saint are revered? HarryPotter’sHogwartsisamagicalplace.Butit’sanunrealone: it does not exist. Hugh and Colleen Gantzer have discovered magical places in India that are real and accessible. What is the origin of the fear that a monster lies beneath the surface of the high, blue, lake of Pangong Tso? Who was the Englishman who carved out his own kingdom in the Himalayas? What gourmet dish was created by a ruler to feed his famished subjects? What is the epic tale of the white shrine where the weapons of a martial saint are revered? This is not a travelogue, or a guide book, or even a retelling of ancient folklore. It is, however, a little bit of all three. It is a conversation with two well informed people who have travelled, and questioned, and analysed. They are convinced that every legend, every custom has grown out of a hard core of fact, a historical event whose impact was so great that it was branded into the racial memory of the community. It then became encased in multiple layers of myth. In The Alluring North, while describing their experiences in their gently evocative style, Hugh and Colleen Gantzer also uncover many fascinating gems of other, enduring, realities that glitter within our ‘intriguing India’. w w w . n i y o g i b o o k s . c o m ISBN: 978-81-920912-7-3 `595 cover-bc1_nopl.indd 1 5/2/15 3:04:00 PM Western India is Big. It’s Bollywood and Big Business, and Gujarat and its Big Achievements, Goa and its Big Beaches, Madhya Pradesh and its Big Heart. But is that all it is: Big Billboards and Big Hype? Hugh and Colleen Gantzer took a Big Breath and stepped behind the glare and the glitter and the razzmatazz. They discovered an intriguing world: a crater lake dug by a Thing from Outer Space; a cool, green, hill-station where no cars are allowed; deep wells that are beautifully sculpted water pavilions; the only wilderness in the world where the rare Asian Lion still roams free; a walled town in the desert with curiously painted houses; a sacred city where Time is worshipped. This is not a collection of fantasy stories, but it could be. It is not a travel guide, though the Gantzers are known for their travelogues. This is an informal conversation with two people who like discovering new places, having new experiences in old places, asking questions, and giving their own, often provocative, answers. And they tell you why they believe that behind even the most far-fetched legend there is an intriguing truth. Since they’ve been there, done that, all the places they’ve described and the experiences they’ve had, can be yours in The Vibrant West. w w w . n i y o g i b o o k s . c o m ISBN: 978-93-81523-10-0`595 / £14.99 / $19.99 cover-bc1WEST_nopl.indd 1 5/2/15 4:56:27 PM The East is defined by the great Bay of Bengal and the mighty Brahmaputra that pours into it, creating the Andaman Islands. Or so a geologist assured Hugh and Colleen Gantzer. But they found more than dense forests there. In Ross Island they had an eldritch encounter in the ruins of an abandoned church. In this, the fourth book in their Intriguing India series, the Gantzers describe the other experiences they’ve had in the Eastern States. In Puri they saw a million people, of all faiths, held in disciplined awe as the enormous chariots of three forest deities rolled by. Cruising on the mighty Brahmaputra they came across a powerful Sino-Burmese dynasty: the Ahoms had ruled Assam for longer than the combined dominance of the Mughals and British; and then they had vanished without a trace. On a visit to the largest riverine island in the world the Gantzers found a fascinating faith in which some monks dance and others make masks as a religious duty. At the sacred shrine of the Mother Goddess Kamakhya they saw evidence of an ancient celestial catastrophe. They unearthed evidence in Nagaland pointing to the overseas origin of these very special people.Assessing the mounting threat to Tawang from across the border, they ask, “Why are the Chinese so eager to capture the Golden Monastery, repository of ancient Tibetan scholarship? Does its esoteric library and museum hold an awesome transcendental secret which can be turned against us?” The Gantzers, once again, bring their gentle curiosity to bear on questions that orthodox science does not want to ask. And they give their own intriguing answers. w w w . n i y o g i b o o k s . c o m ISBN: 978-93-81523-55-1 `595 / £14.99 / $19.99 Intriguing india cover-E ast_2nd_nopl.indd 1 5/2/15 5:00:22 PM w w w . n i y o g i b o o k s . c o m ISBN: 978-93-81523-41-4 `595 / £14.99 / $19.99 Steve Jobs discovered his genius in India. He found that creativity lies beyond weighing, measuring and deducing. He learnt the way of our savants, tapped intuition, married calligraphy to technology and triggered an IT revolution. In their travels around southern India, Hugh and Colleen Gantzer look beyond history. What is the link between Daroji in tropical Karnataka and the mysterious beast that prowls the snowy wastes of the High Himalayas? Why were boulders carved as temples of varied architectural styles in an ancient port? Did an extreme rural sport in Tamil Nadu originate thousands of years ago in the Mediterranean lands? Did supermen walk the earth in the sixth century BC and has the image of one been captured in stone?Thisisnotabookabouthistoryorarchaeologyoranthropology or any of the other very specialised sciences concerned with delving into the past, weighing and measuring it all, and presenting it as the mind of the historian sees it. History is, too often, his-story: the view of a specialist conforming to the rigours of his profession. That was not the intuitively unorthodox Steve Jobs way.The Gantzers ask you to join them as they let their intuitions roam freely to unravel the mysteries of Intriguing India. cover-bc1_South nopl.indd 1 5/2/15 4:58:17 PM The Daniells were in India when the Third Mysore War was in progress; they rightly suspected that a market existed among the British for oil paintings and drawings of the areas in which the conflict was taking place.
- 8. 8 CLIPPINGS MAPS OF DELHI Pilar Maria Guerrieri This book attempts to bring a sense of order, chronology, and direction to the multitude of diverse maps of Delhi. The collection, with 44 large and 23 detail maps, showcases the development of the city’s RATHA YATRA Subas Pani Ratha Yatra, the ancient annual festival of a chariot journey by Jagannatha, the presiding deity of the Srimandira temple at Puri, is one of the grandest spectacles on earth. Jagannatha along with siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra ride three colourful chariots in HIGHLIGHTS The Kangra Valley Train Cheat It All Awards Raimundo Panikkar: A Pilgrim Across Worlds Ratha Yatra, the ancient annual festival of chariot journey by Jagannatha, the presiding deity of the great temple Srimandira at Puri, Left to Right: Ram Rahman, Vinoo Mathur, Sir Mark Tully and Premola Ghose at the book launch, Seminar Rooms II and III, Kamaladevi Complex, India International Centre, New Delhi. Ishi Khosla with author Vedant Bahri at the launch of Cheat It All, which was held at Fitness First, Select Citywalk, New Delhi. Printed & published by Bikash D. Niyogi on behalf of Niyogi Books, D-78, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase I, New Delhi 110 020, India, and printed at Niyogi Offset Pvt. Ltd., D-78, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase I, New Delhi 110 020, India. Editor: Bikash D. Niyogi. Ph: +(91)-(11)-26816301/49327000, Fax: +(91)-(11)-26810483/26813830, Email: niyogibooks@gmail.com, Website: www.niyogibooksindia.com | Design© Write Media, writemed@gmail.com OUR OVERSEAS PARTNERS 6 West 18th St., Suite 4B, NYC, NY 10011, Tel: 212 645 1111, Email: sales@accdistribution.com USA and Canada UK, Ireland, Continental Europe and Africa Volume 8, Issue 4, October-December 2016 TRAVELOGUE `750/£15/$25 PB NEW TITLE SEPTEMBER 2015 ISBN: 978-93-85285-02-8 Published by D-78, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-I, New Delhi-110 020, INDIA Tel: 91-11-26816301, 49327000; Fax: 91-11-26810483, 26813830 email: niyogibooks@gmail.com; website: www.niyogibooksindia.com Fine publishing within reach TexTile `3800/£45/$75 HB NeW TiTle DeCeMBeR 2015 iSBN: 978-93-85285-03-5 Published by D-78, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-I, New Delhi-110 020, INDIA Tel: 91-11-26816301, 49327000; Fax: 91-11-26810483, 26813830 email: niyogibooks@gmail.com; website: www.niyogibooksindia.com Fine publishing within reach History / PHotogrAPHy `1500 / £25 / $40 HB NEW titLE JANUAry 2016 isBN: 978-93-83098-90-3 Published by D-78, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-I, New Delhi-110 020, INDIA Tel: 91-11-26816301, 49327000; Fax: 91-11-26810483, 26813830 email: niyogibooks@gmail.com; website: www.niyogibooksindia.com Fine publishing within reach Architecture `2995 / £45 / $75 HB NeW titLe APriL 2016 iSBN: 978-93-85285-30-1 Published by D-78, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-I, New Delhi-110 020, INDIA Tel: 91-11-26816301, 49327000; Fax: 91-11-26810483, 26813830 email: niyogibooks@gmail.com; website: www.niyogibooksindia.com Fine publishing within reach FORTHCOMING TITLES Team Niyogi Books with eminent film director Goutam Ghose at our office on 5 September 2016. He shared his experiences in an informal gathering and it was delightful to have him with us that day. The Federation of Indian Publishers Awards for Excellence in Book Production, 2016 COSMIC DANCE IN STONE COSMICDANCEINSTONE ramu katakam ramukatakam Foreword by Arthur Duff photography by joginder singh & clare arni www.niyogibooksindia.com ISBN: xxxxxxxxxxx `xxx / £xx / $xx Ratha Yatra Chariot Festival of Jagannatha in Puri subas pani RathaYatrasubaspani ratha yatra, the ancient annual festival of chariot journey by Jagannatha, the presiding deity of the great temple Srimandira at Puri, is one of the grandest spectacles on earth. Jagannatha along with siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra ride three colourful chariots in their annual sojourn to their garden house and birthplace Gundicha Temple where they stay for seven days before returning back. Full of drama, and panoply of rituals and ceremonies, Ratha Yatra is rooted in ancient traditions, myths and legends and embodies the most colourful elements of the classical and folk cultures of the Indian subcontinent and the Odisha region. It is the most succinct manifestation of the intangible heritage of India, alive and vibrant today at the great pilgrim town of Puri on the east coast of India, one of four most sacred cities of the country. This illustrated book is a comprehensive account of Ratha Yatra, the great socio- cultural and religious event and phenomenon unique in the entire world. It provides the background on the syncretic faith represented by Jagannatha, his origin and strong links with the heritage of aborigine tribes and an account of the Naba Kalebara ceremonies, celebrating the periodic renewal of the bodies of the presiding deities, most recently held in 2015. Rich in detail, the book covers a wide span including the sacred geography of Puri, legends surrounding the temple, the unique architectural style of the temple complex, the elaborate preparatory summer festivals leading up to the main festival and the process of making the chariots with its associated special ceremonies. It brings alive every stage of the intricate rituals and ceremonies lasting almost two months, giving a complete portrayal of different phases of the festival. The book is based on extensive research and documentation of over a decade and a ringside view of the festival for over twenty-five years by the author. subas pani is an author, translator, composer and creative director. A retired civil servant with a PhD on Jayadeva’s Geetagovinda, he has given running commentary on the Ratha Yatra for the national and international channels of Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster of India, for more than two decades. His publications include Orissa: Her Monuments and Their Tales, Palm Leaf Paintings of Orissa: A Selection from the Orissa State Museum, Jagannatha Consciousness (ed.), Balasore, its Historical & Cultural Heritage (ed.) and Blue Hill: Hymns to Jagannatha (English verse translations from Sanskrit and Odia). His travel articles have appeared in Swagat and Namaskar. He has authored two seminal works in Odia—Sampoorna Geetagovinda and Daru Brahma: Sri Jagannatha Bhajana Sudhasindhu and composed music for two major compilations of the same name in sets of five and two CDs as well as a single CD titled Jagannathah Swami. www.niyogibooksindia.com ISBN: xxxxxxxxxxx `xxx / £xx / $xx www.niyogibooksindia.com ISBN: xxxxxxxxxxx `xxx / £xx / $xx MAPS of DELHI PILAR MARIA GUERRIERI Foreword by A.G. Krishna Menon PILAR MARIA GUERRIERI holds a PhD in Architectural Design,Architectural Composition, Criticism andTheory from Politecnico di Milano,in collaboration with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage,Delhi, andWestminster University,London.She has conducted extensive research on European and Indian cultures,the development of megacities,and the effects of cultural exchanges, with primary focus on Delhi,pre- and post- Independence,and is currently developing a research project on European legacies in Delhi from 1991 until present day.Pilar is currently Associate Professor of History of Architecture at the Politecnico di Milano branch of a renowned Indian university and is also the Commissioning Editor,India,for the International art publishing house Skira.She has published in numerous international journals and participated in various national and international conferences.This is her first book. A.G. KRISHNA MENON is an architect,urban planner,and conservation consultant practising in Delhi for over 40 years.He is actively engaged in research and has also been involved in urban conservation,and,in 2004,drafted the INTACH Charter for the Conservation of Unprotected Architectural Heritage and Sites in India.He is currently the Convener of the Delhi chapter of INTACH. This groundbreaking publication presents an exquisite study of the maps of Delhi, from the onset of the 19th century till the master plan of 2021. It is the first organised collection of the maps of the city, a breathtakingly illustrated cartographic history of the capital. Dr Guerrieri has described each map individually, elaborating on its idiosyncrasies, aesthetic details, and rich historical information.The book includes a chronology of magnificent ancient and modern hand-drawings as also digital maps of the city. The evolution of planning and architecture, which elegantly unfolds through the maps, mirrors the political, social, and historical progression of the capital. Maps of Delhi is both beautiful and stimulating, while also offering deeply insightful commentary for the most discerning of scholars, and is an indisputable milestone for those wanting to research the capital.The book reveals, as A.G. Krishna Menon notes in the foreword, the charm of printed maps and the many pleasures and insights they offer when they are physically handled. It brings to light how Delhi is, truly,‘a city of cities’. MAPSofDELHIPILARMARIAGUERRIERI Dr Karan Singh and Kapila Vatsyayan releasing the book at the Conference Room, India International Centre, New Delhi. CARTOGRAPHY RELIGION ARCHITECTURE planning, the diversity of its cartography, and the impact that foreign powers have had upon it. The author, Pilar Maria Guerrieri, holds a PhD in Architectural Design, Architectural Composition, Criticism and Theory from Politecnico di Milano. She has published in numerous international journals and participated in various national and international conferences. This is her first book. their sojourn to their birthplace, the Gundicha Temple, where they stay for seven days before returning. Full of drama, and a panoply of rituals and ceremonies, the festival is rooted in ancient traditions, myths and legends, and embodies the most colourful elements of the classical and folk cultures of the Indian subcontinent and the Odisha region. This illustrated book is a comprehensive account of the yatra. Rich in detail, it also discusses the sacred geography of Puri, legends surrounding the temple, the unique architectural style of the temple complex, the elaborate preparatory summer festivals leading up to the main festival and the process of making the chariots with its associated special ceremonies. The book is based on extensive research and documentation of over a decade by the author. COSMIC DANCE IN STONE Ramu Katakam This book is largely a collection of photographs and illustrations that shows how wonderful landscapes of stone have been devised to transcend space and time. It is an attempt to discover how the designers of the past envisaged structures that could link us to the stars and help us realise the nature of our existence.