TAMIL
Rhythms of Thanjavur
H Ramakrishnan
The Rajarajeswaram (Brihadeeswara) Temple at Thanjavur is not only reputed for its architectural magnificence but also hailed as the quintessential representative of the different facets of Tamil culture — music, dance, painting and so on. Thanjavur was, and continues to be, the nerve centre of the classical dance form, Bharathanatyam.
The book under review, with its focus on the dance form, traces its journey from the times of Cholas through the Nayaks and the Marathas to the present-day. That 81 of the 108 karanas have been depicted in the Big Temple indicates that the dance postures were codified during the Chola period itself.
This highly informative book, which has 10 chapters, gives a detailed account of the inscriptions found in the temple and also makes a comparison of the ways karanas are portrayed in different temples including those in Chidambaram and Kumbakonam. The Tamil equivalents of the karana names (in Sanskrit) are very appropriate. The concluding chapter is dedicated to the 1000{+t}{+h} anniversary of the Big Temple celebrated recently.
The outcome of painstaking research by two distinguished scholars, the book will be cherished by everyone who is interested in fine arts, especially classical dance.
THANJAI THANDHA AADARKALAI: Shanmugha Selvaganapathy, S. Karpagam; Thanjai Periyakoil Vaara Vazhipaattu Manram, 152/2630, Arumuga Achari Lane, South Street, Thanjavur-613009. Rs.100.
KANNADA
Dependable source
H.S. Gopala Rao
Any travelogue, although not considered quite authentic, has its own use as a secondary source for historical studies to the extent that it mirrors the life of a contemporary society.
Pietro Della Velle, an Italian, travelled in India from February 10, 1623 to November, 16, 1624. His travelogue, written in Italian, was translated into English by Edward Grey. The book under review is a translation of the first volume of Grey’s English version. The biographical sketch of Della Velle gives an idea of the adventurism travel involved in those days. The historical account of the rise and fall of Portugese colonial rule sets a clear backdrop to the political situation in India.
This volume covers Della Velle’s visit to Surat, Ahmedabad, Cambay, and Goa. Some of his interesting observations relate to superstitions and rituals in vogue, the despicable practice of Sati (which he condemns) , political unrests, and so on.
The footnotes contain rich information, which will be found very useful by those who are interested in travelogues.
PIETRO DELLA VELLEYA BHARATA PRAVASA KATHANA: The travels of Pietro Della Velle in India ,Translated by V. Gopalakrishna ; Published by National Mission for manuscripts, Keladi Resource Centre, Keladi, Sagar Taluk, Shimoga District, Karnataka. Price Rs.200
MALAYALAM
B.R.P. Bhaskar
A collection of 10 stories, the book opens with a piece on the strange and inexplicable experiences of a man who, rather reluctantly, treks to a remote hill shrine to fulfil his mother’s last wish. She enjoined on him that he should perform religious rites for his father, who had left home when he was just two years old and had not been seen since. At the end of it all, one finds him sitting alone, with no explanation for his puzzling experiences except in terms of divine will.
Sreerekha Panicker is an engaging story-teller. Style and structure mark out her stories. She diligently packs every story with an element of surprise. The characters in this collection are mostly victims of circumstances, leading mechanical lives and, as the writer traces their lives, they often look like (to use one of her own imageries) “helpless children on the shores of a tempestuous sea.”
The harsh realities of contemporary Kerala society are a major concern of the writer. The predicament of women claims special attention but, significantly, she does not put them in the feminist matrix. In fact, one of her characters is a man with memories of neglect during childhood by his parents — a politician father and a feminist mother. She dwells on the decline in ethical values in contemporary social order and the lust for money and power that has spread in society like cancer. In a subtle way, she conveys the message that society needs to recapture the lost values.
THUNGANATHANTE THEERUMANANGAL
By Sreerekha Panicker; Poorna Publications, Kozhikode 673001, Rs. 100.
