TAMIL
BOUDHAMUM THAMIZHUM: Mylai Seeni Venkatasami; Sri Shenbaga Pathippagam, Post Box No.8836, Pondi Bazar, T. Nagar, Chennai-600017. Rs. 105.
This is an interesting account of the history of Buddhism in Tamil Nadu and its impact on Tamil by Mylai Seeni Venkatasami, one of the most respected writers who has authored a number of similar research works relating to Jainism and Christianity.
The book, which has 13 chapters, starts off with a brief account of Buddha's life and goes on to discuss the sacred work, T iripitaka , the Buddhist philosophy, the growth of Buddhism in Tamil Nadu, and the sacred places where the religion had great influence before the 12th century AD.
A treasure-house of valuable information, the work highlights the fact that the Buddhist scholars wrote books in Tamil as well as Pali, and that the type of Tamil they used was rather different from what was in vogue. Pali words found in Tamil are also mentioned.
The five appendices contain a wealth of information that will be useful for researchers. The bibliographies and the pictures serve to enhance its value. First published in 1940, the book has been brought out again and the publishers deserve compliments for their effort.
TELUGU
Short stories
KLV KATHALU: K. L. V. Prasad; Visaalandhra Book House, 4-1435, Bank Street, Hyderabad-500001. Rs. 120.
Some of the pieces in this anthology of short stories are very informative and even critical in their approach to the core theme. A doctor by profession and a writer by disposition, Prasad discusses some socio-medical issues, placing them in proper perspective. Remarkably, he handles them with utmost sensitivity, scrupulously avoiding the preachy tone in the narrative. While most of the stories are absorbing, inspiring and thought-provoking, a few are very tame with a predictable end.
“Anthaa inthe' tells the heart-rending story of a childless woman, who steals a newborn and ultimately gets trapped in the police net when her carefully crafted plan goes awry. “Putravaatsalyam” gives a poignant account of the agony and hardship parents go through when their children fly off to the West in search of greener pastures. “Jwalitha” is about the pangs of a mother, who, bereft of love and affection from her son, writes a very touching letter, the contents of which make the story. That true love recognises no superficial feature like the colour of the skin is the message that emerges from ‘Nirnayam'. Overall, Prasad strikes the right chord by his non-melodramatic, direct style of writing.
MALAYALAM
All about elephants
AANAKKADHAYUDE PORULTHEDI: M. Yunuskunju; Prabath Book House, Thiruvananthapuram-695001. Rs. 160.
Kerala, hailed as a fully literate State, is ironically notorious for the ill-treatment of elephants in captivity. A public parade of caparisoned elephants is a significant feature of festivities especially in central Kerala. In the process, government-ordained rules relating to the management and maintenance of captive elephants are flouted routinely and with impunity.
Owning an elephant is considered prestigious and, quite often, the pachyderm is leased out for several months, ill-treated, and made to work mercilessly, often under incompetent mahouts.
A cumulative outcome is seen in the growing number of incidents of elephants running amok and killing people. The number of people killed by elephants in Kerala rose from 26 in 2007-08 to 29 in 2008-09 and 33 in 2009-10. As many as 79 elephants died and about 320 incidents of misbehaviour by elephants were reported during 2009-10.
G.A. Bradshaw says in Elephants on the Edge, elephants have the same range of emotions as humans and the trauma of separation from family during childhood can develop an enduring right-brain dysfunction, similar to humans, creating PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and a predisposition to violence in adulthood.
Against this backdrop, the book that highlights all issues connected with elephants is welcome and should serve as an eye-opener for the socially concerned. Sadly, it leaves much to be desired in terms of quality. Among the negative factors are the casual approach to writing and the repetition of quotes from Press reports sans any reference to source.
