Pearl fishery on
Tamil coast
K.R.A. Narasiah
THAMIZHAGA KADALORATHIL MUTHU KULITHAL VARALAARU: S. Jayaraj; Pavai Publications, 142, J.J. Khan Road, Royapettah, Chennai-600014. Rs. 100.
THIS IS a translation of S. Arunachalam's The History of Pearl fishery in Tamil Coast , which traces pearl fishery from ancient times to the 19th century.
The book has nine chapters, besides an introduction and two appendices. The first two chapters deal with the industry in general and cover the time span from the ancient period to 400 BC, with special reference to the southern region. The chapters that follow look at the scenario under the Cholas, the Pandyas, and the British.
Drawing support from the Periplus of the Erythraen Sea and Sangam literature, the author speaks of the halcyon days of the pearl industry, referring particularly to the sale of pearls in Nelcynda and in Uraiyur (‘argaru' in the Periplus ). During 1524-1658 the pearl-fishing community sought the assistance of Portuguese to protect itself from the Moors. With Portuguese gaining the upper hand, Christianity came to be propagated intensely, and religious conversion made its beginning.
The chapter on ‘chunk fishery' cites the Manual of the Administration of Madras Presidency to say that the marine department of Madras was in-charge of the chunk and pearl fishery of Tinnevelly (now Tirunelveli). The translation is in lucid Tamil and true to the original. A note on the translator would have been helpful.
KANNADA
Critique of
Dharma-Karma
V. Gopalakrishna
Dr. S.L. BHYRAPPANAVARA KADAMBARIGALODANE DHARMA-KARMA JIJNASE: K.L. Gopalakrishnaiah; Navakarnataka Publications (P) Ltd, Embassy Centre, Crescent Road, Bangalore-560001. Rs. 125.
BY WINNING the Saraswathi Samman award, novelist Bhyrappa brought laurels to Kannada literature and fraternity. Admired particularly by the elitist class of readers, he has his own fans, and thanks to his popularity his novels often go into reprints or get translated.
This book seeks to critically examine how Bhyrappa treats the Hindu doctrine of Dharma-Karma and picks up five of his novels for the study. As the author says in the prelude, the doctrine has varied connotations, depending on the context in which it is used. In everyday life, it is used to mean different things. He has considered all these aspects.
If ‘Dharmashree' has religious conversion and re-conversion as its core, ‘Vamsavriksha' focusses on religious sanctity. ‘Naayi Neralu' speaks about curiosity about rebirth, while the deep-rooted caste system is the theme of ‘Daatu'. Cow worship is glorified in ‘Tabbaliyu Neenaade Magane'.
What is striking about the writings is the novelist's penchant for creating strong characters, each imbued with a clear philosophy of life and a set of values and bold enough to take decisions and, more importantly, to face the consequences of their actions. A remarkably critical study indeed.
MALAYALAM
Life style of Kolkata
Neela Padmanabhan
KAL VAISHAGHI: K. S. Aniyan; DC Books, DC Kizhakkemuri Edam, Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam-686001. Rs. 130.
MALAYALAM READERS, as readers in other Indian languages, are familiar with Bengali novels right from the period of Bankim Chandra's Durgesh Nandini . This novel under review, written in Malayalam with a Bengali title denoting the seasonal rain in summer, brings out the unique aspects of the historical background and life style of modern Kolkata and its suburbs with the fine craftsmanship and spirit of a typical Bengali novelist.
Central to the plot are two characters — Hari, a Kerala-based Malayali, and Hema, born and brought up in Bengal with an old maternal contact in distant Kerala. A company started during the British days runs into liquidation because of mismanagement by a corrupt, villainous head, Ramakrishnan. As a consequence, the lives of many employees, including Hema and Hari, are ruined. Some details of the Naxalite movement are thrown in. The romantic relationship between the Hari and Hema is pictured emotively; the two however do not unite.
There are quite a few relatively minor characters who make an impression: For instance, Ramakrishnan's wife, Ambi; Bengalis Moonduda and Mahuva; Andal, a Tamil woman and Ramakrishnan's live-in partner who stays with him and takes care of him in hospital when he falls critically ill and when everyone else among his kith and kin had deserted him.
