BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY: Stories from Another India

by GUNJAN VEDA & SYEDA SAIYIDAIN HAMEED

HarperCollins Publishers India

Review by  Devaki Jain

Boating into the Sunderbans, with Syeda Hameed and Gunjan Veda , I could not stop.  I just had to go on reading,what next , what new encounters ?  – the kind of experience one has  when reading thrillers or what is called detective stories. You get into it and then you can’t stop reading as it grips your attention. The journey in the Sunderbans then going on to the tea  plantations and other parts of Bengal ,was sufficient initially to reveal  the value of Beautiful Country.

Beautiful Country , Stories from Another India is a  collection of the experiences of Dr  Syeda Hameed,  a scholar , who is also a member of the P C , and her former associate in the Planning Commission , Gunjan Veda , as they travel on work , to the various states of India-I counted 18, but am not sure – to understand how their efforts to serve the people of India are working out , and to learn, to know, India .

While one might expect that narratives coming out  of field visits by a policy maker such as a member of the Planning Commission,would be rounded up by ‘messages’, from development eminence, in Beautiful Country they are from Faiz Ahmed Faiz and other poets who, like the authors, are both exhilarated by India , and also grieving over its failures or frailties

Devaki Jain: The reviewer

Where I would like to take issue with the authors Syeda Hameed and Gunjan Veda is in their sub title namely Stories from Another India. No, No, this is not Another India.  The other India is where the author, and earlier, the co-author sits, – namely the Yojana Bhavan,- to design India’s public policy. This is India.  It is not that there is gross neglect and perhaps not enough change in the far flung areas of India as we see, as we travel along to the North-East and then to the South but what is striking is the accommodation and adaptation of the ‘diverse’ if not different communities, to each other and their surroundings.  Muslim and Hindu and Muslim/Hindu does not seem to matter as we hear of deities whose name changes with nothing more than a boat travel.  [Page 63] when Bon Bibi has other names as they travel.  To quote:

“We were delighted at the mixed use of Bangla-Urdu-Arabic in the poem.  We noticed that the book was written from the right to left as in an Urdu text.  The Bengali verses were, however, written from left to right like in English.  It was the strangest and most eclectic text we had ever seen.  In her photographs, the goddess with a Muslim name looks every bit a Hindu deity; her brother looks like an Arab sultan.  The universal acceptance of her power creates a bond among the people, a bond forged on the basis of a common fear, one that stretches beyond the realm of any single religion. [Pg 64]

Many myths, for example that the South is more advanced than the North are broken.  Many agonies such as their visit to Sonagachi where they found that while the women were terrified of the cops, it was the children for whom they were the most concerned [Pg 230], are recorded with eyes wide open .

I have a particular love affair with the Ganga and identified myself with a sentence on Pg 235 with the author’s view:

As the boatman took us across a peaceful yet busy Ganga, it seemed as if time had stood still.  This eternal, static quality is a distinguishing characteristic of Benaras.

Gunjan Veda, Author

Author, Syeda Hameed

Obviously , whether  in the Sunderbans wetlands or in Barmer’s drylands,  communities had fear, uncertainty and anguish because of uncertainty of the weather.  Fortunately for us the authors do not pontificate, nor try to do an evaluation.  But peering through the lines of 357 pages one cannot help developing the view that all is not well with India’s efforts to look after its citizens.  Simultaneously we realize that India’s citizens have extraordinary capability to survive, to cope, fearless and driven by feelings of solidarity underpinned by an assortment, a huge multi-layered complex of beliefs, not religions.  This is so whether  it is in the heartland of the cities or rural areas,  wet or dry, North or South.

Perhaps, though the authors deny it, there is a message here.  There is need for inclusion of the knowledge, the stresses faced by our people and to capitalize on their strategies for coping and the detailed understanding of their needs and how then they can be met.  In other words meeting the needs of people cannot be done by out outlays and the silo system of delivery.  Meeting the needs of the people requires starting from them through investing in listening, creating the programme from that, listening, letting evaluation and accountability be constructed from them.

Amartya Sen captured exactly this view when he says in the blurb on the book cover :

“….The book may have been generated by Syeda’s frustration with distant planning….”

The imagination soars with the thought of the kind of game shift that could take place in development delivery,  if this book of narratives is made compulsory reading not only for the IAS and related cadres, not only for the policemen and civil society personnel but for Ministers and Members of Parliament , for media news hunters , and the armchair commentators on the India story.

For me personally, having travelled on similar missions to the deepest villages in all the states of, India , in the 1970’s , it was both gripping , exhilarating to visit my India again, from the arm chair where age is keeping me,  anguishing that we had left them where they were , after nearly 50 years, – but inspiring to see the rooted- ness, the grit as well as enthusiasm of our people. I love a statement that is attributed to one of the great FORTUNE formula drivers, “India is a country of happy people” , he is supposed to have said, in answer to questions on his reaction to the hair raising drive to Jaipur !

This volume, which I call a development travelogue needs to travel through corridors as well as streets and halls , and class rooms of India .

(Devaki Jain is a renowned feminist economist. She was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2006 for her contribution to social justice and empowerment.)

Buy/Rent Beautiful Country: Stories from Another India from INDIAreads Online Library & Bookstore.

How many books do you think are published every year? Go on, take a guess. A whopping 1 million! Yes, that’s right, according to statistics on Google, two books are published every minute. Yet, not all of them tickle your imagination. So how do you sort the good ones from the lemons? It’s a problem of asymmetric information. No, I don’t mean to get all technical, but, the problem is, that we live in the world of packaging and books are no different. So often the author withholds information about the book which you wouldn’t know unless you’ve bought the book and read it.

How do you ascertain, the book isn’t going to be a waste of money? How do you make sure that you’ll enjoy the book?

I have a five step mechanism to choose a book, and, hey, it’s worked for me. I call it ‘The Litmus Test for Books.’ Maybe, it’ll work for you too?

1. The Cover.

Don’t go all – ‘haven’t you heard, Don’t judge a book by its cover’ – on me. I have, but it’s practically impossible for me not to. How can you not notice the cover and just be restricted to noticing the content? The cover is absolutely the first thing about a book that strikes me.I cannot be drawn to a book, which looks like a Manual. The Cover is something that conveys the idea of the book in a single page.

As a child, I was fascinated by books that were colorful, had glitter on them. That’s what made me pick my first books – ‘Noddy’ and ‘Winnie the Pooh’. Then, it was the girly phase – of tiaras, princesses, fairytale romances. Now, I like my cover to be interesting. It needs to intrigue me, to force me to open the book and want to read it.

Check out Anthony Burgess’s – “A Clockwork Orange.”It’s been voted the best cover! And, for good reason. The cover itself beckons a person to open the book.

2. The Title.

Same goes for the title. It needs to grab my attention. If I’m looking for a particular book, or if I follow an author, it isn’t important. But, for the newer writers, it’s extremely important for the title to catch my eye, to pull me towards the book. Isn’t ‘Bombay Duck is a Fish’,an interesting title?That’s why the book’s on my reading shelf!

What are the titles that have caught your attention?

So we are two steps down but really, sometimes, good titles and covers can be misleading. That’s why, we need step 3.

3. The Blurb and the Opening Line.

The blurb provides a glimpse into the book and must be something that must make me want to read on. I can never forget a blurb at the back of one of the Harry Potter books, which goes like this:

“Dumbledore lowered his hands and surveyed Harry through his half-moon glasses. “It is time,” he said, “for me to tell you what I should have told you five years ago, Harry. Please sit down. I am going to tell you everything. I ask only a little patience.”

I accept I was already a fan, but its things like this which stick in my head. I read this book of 766 pages in a single day in my excitement.

And, the opening line -it has to make me think. Either please me, or repulse me, but hey getting a reaction is important. An opening line that always stays with me, and probably with you too is, from Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice‘

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

Sometimes, review quotes are also helpful, but then not all books have them.

4. The first few, and the last few pages.

This one’s out of habit. Where did it come from? I have no idea! But, ever since I was a child, every time I went to a store, I would flip through the first few pages, the last few pages, and, sometimes if I found the book interesting, a few random pages  in between.I don’t like to start reading a book, and then be disappointed in the end.  Of course, in the process I’ve spoilt many a climax, but, then I enjoyed reading how the characters got there.

Have you read ‘The Kite Runner‘ by Khaled Hosseini? The book starts off with a child being raped, it’s revolting, but, it’s intriguing. And that’s why I read the book, and, what an amazing read it was!

Btw, if you are a mystery lover, perhaps you should give the last few pages a miss, but for all other books, it’s helpful. Trust me!!!

5. The First Two Chapters.

After my 15 year old cousin, who mind you, has actually read Salman Rushdie, recommended “Midnight’s Children” to me, I was all for it. It had an interesting cover, a riveting blurb, an appealing title, and some remarkable reviews. But, I tried and I tried and I failed. It just wasn’t the book for me. And that’s why this fifth test is essential.

If the first few chapters don’t keep me so glued to the book, they it isn’t the one for me. So, if you have an opportunity to skim through the beginning of the book before buying it, be sure to do it. You don’t want to spend money on a book, that will forever lie, gathering dust on your bookshelf now, do you?

So, that’s my secret formula for picking out the perfect novel. What’s yours?

The Wandering Falcon by Jamil Ahmad

This  debut novel by a 79 year old retired civil servant from Pakistan is perhaps Penguin’s most interesting release slotted for the year. The Wandering Falcon traces the story of a Tor Baz, a young boy who journeys between tribes. The book is his story and the story of the many people he encounters – men and women who live in a society where honour is the foremost religion.

This collection of interlinked stories is set in the strife torn tribal areas where the borders of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran meet.  It chronicles life before the advent of the Taliban. Stark and compelling, the book creates an intimate picture of the tribes- capturing both the hardship and desolation of their homeland and the paradoxes that govern their lives. It takes the reader to world of custom and cruelty, of love and gentleness, of hardship and survival;a fragile, unforgiving world that is changing as modern forces make themselves known. For long this region has been known only for the “terrorism” and “terrorism related” conflicts. For the first time, Jamil, who has served in these areas and travelled extensively through them, acquaints us with the inner dynamics of a society which has incited such fierce emotions the world over.

An excerpt from the book – the story of a Baluch couple who had defied the norms of the tribal society and were being pursued-was read out by Suhel Seth at the Spring Fest in New Delhi last month and the audience was riveted. Suhel, of course, is a greater orator and the perfect person for a book reading, but it was not his rendition alone that enthralled the audience. The excerpt revealed a well written book which was descriptive and yet not overly so; the pace was moderate – not racy like a thriller that gives the reader little opportunity to get acquainted with the characters and the settings and yet, it did not drag.

Definitely a book to look out for this month.

And just in case you are curious about the author: Jamil was born in Jalandhar in 1931 and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law and Master’s degree in History, both from the University of the Punjab. As a member of the Civil Service of Pakistan beginning in 1954, he served mainly in the Frontier Province and in Baluchistan. He was posted as Minister in Pakistan’s Embassy in Kabul at a critical time before and during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. In an interview he admitted that when thought of writing, poetry had been his first choice. It was however, his wife who suggested that he focus on his association with the tribal areas instead. “It was she who  typed the first draft of the handwritten manuscript of The Wandering Falcon on an old typewriter with a German keyboard,” said Jamil.

CHANAKYA’S CHANT by ASHWIN SANGHI

Sometimes you pick up a book that just compels you to write a review; that agitates your mind so much that you know that you need to share the various thoughts and sentiments that it kindles in order to be at peace. This is what happened when I picked up Ashwin Sanghi’s latest offering, Chankaya’s Chant.

Why did I pick up the book from the horde of new releases that pass my table every day? Not sure really apart from the fact that the synopsis on the back cover seemed interesting and different. Also as one of our regulars on the blog pointed out, I do seem to have a soft spot for historical fiction. But Chankya’s Chant is different from the other books in the genre. It is both historical as well as contemporary. For there run through the book, two parallel stories – one that is based in current times and another that dates back 2300 years. Taken individually both these stories are complete and do full justice to their own genres. And that is one of the strengths of the book. None of the narratives leave the reader feeling short changed. Both are fact paced, compact and use the language of the era they are situated in. In Chankya’s Chant they come together as two equals, their union sanctified by the (un)holy quest for power that consumes the main protagonists. The reader is left with the distinction impression that when it comes to politics and power play, not much has changed in the last two millenia.

So 2300 years ago when a young boy is forced to flee after his father is insulted and beheaded for protesting against the excesses of a philandering king he pledges revenge. He distances himself from every emotion and relationship and embarks on a single minded quest for power. He chooses a young, eager and promising boy – Chandragupta -to instrumentalize his revenge and to save Bharat from the clutches of the Macedonian conqueror Alexander. And as “ends justify the means” he uses any and every trick conceivable – and mostly inconceivable – to get to his goal. No price is too large, no sacrifice too big and no relationship sacrosanct.There is only one rule in his game- winning. So he willingly sends off the only woman he loves in to the arms of men he detests; forces his protegee to seduce a Macedonian princess; poisons a well used by common people and cattle with white arsenic; plans political assassinations; encourages kingdoms to fight one another, creates religious differences that lead to the murder of many innocents – all in the name of the greater good. Of course, having followed his actions through the book one can’t help wondering if his purported goal of unifying Bharat is simply a guise to hide his all consuming need for revenge and power; to keep his force of “righteous and wronged” would be emperors on his side.

The second story revolves around a history professor from Kanpur who uses the exact same tactics that Kautilya employed 2300 years ago to wrest power in today’s world. From being a mere professor Pandit Gangasagar Mishra goes on to become the most powerful man in the country. How? The answer is quite simple – by doing whatever it takes. He firmly stands by what Chanakya told his beloved students: “In the world of politics you can ill afford luxuries such as a clear conscience.”

Reading Gangaprasad’s story is like watching the politics of today. From deals with corporations and scams that topple governments to fake and real assassination bids; from liaisoning with mafia dons to bribing the judiciary everything is part of the script. At times you can almost draw parallels with contemporary events and people. The characters, settings, maneuvers are all very real and this is what makes Chankya’s Chant a very compelling read. It is much akin to reading a blow by blow account of Indian politics today. Of course as Chanakya’s story so aptly shows, it is not very different from Indian politics 2500 years ago either. So really the scams, scandals, corruption, collateral damage, war mongering, innocent deaths, communal riots – all the ills that we accuse the modern day politicians of -are nothing new. Nor is their use for gaining power a particular characteristic of our “depraved” leaders. Power has always come at a price and the price as Chanakya points out is not just one’s emotions but one’s conscience as well. This is the message that flows out of Chanakya’s Chant. Every page of the book builds towards this message and carries many interesting pointers calmly stated by the astute Vishnugupta aka Chanakya and the wily Gangaprasad. To cite a few:

“Politics is war without bloodshed and war is simply politics with bloodshed.”

“Everything is always all right in the end. If it isnt all right, then it isnt the end.”

“Worry is like a rocking chair; it keeps you in motion but gets you nowhere.”

“Chanakya loved anger. It was a wonderfully productive emotion that could be used very productively if channeled in the right direction.”

“It’s foolish men who die for their country. The intelligent ones make others die for their country instead.”

“War is all about deception. Direct force is a poor solution to any problem. That’s why it is used only by little children.”

“You can only stab someone in the back if you are standing behind him.”

Do some of these sound familiar? Don’t worry towards the end of the book Sanghi not only acknowledges that many of these pithy sayings are inspired or taken from others, he even cites sources. Nonetheless these “strategy pills” administered at frequent intervals in adequate doses – the author does not over do it- keep the reader engaged and engrossed.

With well etched characters, tight writing and an intriguing storyline that is bound to appeal to a generation disillusioned by the 2G and other scams, Chanakya’s Chant is definitely a recommended reading. It touches upon many contemporary issues – from communal riots to guerrilla warfare. In fact in one scene Chanakya patiently explains to his student what guerrilla warfare is and why it is a good strategy (and not an unhonourable one). It even has some very interesting and innovative suggestions for managing contemporary problems – like use of enunchs for debt recovery and handing over salaries to the wives of bus drivers to prevent accidents due to drunk driving. Are these solutions practical? Will they work or will they simply reinforce stereotypes about heterosexuals and lead to an increase in domestic violence? I do not know but they are definitely worth mulling over. Yet for all its strengths I found Chanakya’s Chant to be oddly depressing. Perhaps it was the tone of inevitability in the book. The suggestion that the scams, the killings, the power plays that continue to make headlines in our world are here to stay. That everything in this world is about give and take – there are no free lunches. That those who are honest can not be a part of the system -they are either converted or bumped off. That success can only be attained by carefully studying people, identifying their weaknesses and then playing them; by backstabbing and lying. That even the “good” deeds carried out by politicians are really just means to an end- the end being power. Perhaps I am too much of a romantic. Perhaps I still believe in the innate goodness of human beings – in their ability to not just hurt but to heal. Perhaps my discomfort is born of the fact that the book very effectively- and at times, almost cruelly -destroys all illusions. I do not know.

Before I end the review however, there is one more thing that needs to be acknowledged – the sheer strength of Sanghi’s main protagonists (at the expense of other characters like Chandragupta Maurya, for instance). The two characters are so real that even as one loathes their actions one can’t loathe them. Yes they are ambitious, yes they are ruthless, yes they are wily. And perhaps a little strangely they are always successful. Yet they are human. So even the seemingly heartless professor who did not hesitate to get his own protegee shot twice or to get one of his dearest friends arrested could not help exclaiming, ” As God’s my witness, I loved the rogue.” Perhaps therein lies the hope.

All in all a must read. Buy/rent Chanakya’s Chant by Ashwin Sanghi from INDIAreads Online Library cum Bookstore.

An enduring classic in children’s literature, the stories of Dr.Dolittle and his animal friends have lived on through the ages in books and movies.

In the book, The Story of Doctor Dolittle, he takes on a journey to Africa to cure a monkey epidemic. While aboard the ship and far out at sea, Jip, the faithful dog stands beside him and takes the world in through his nose: 

Then Jip went up to the front of the ship and smelt the wind; and he started muttering to himself,

“Tar; Spanish onions; kerosene oil; wet raincoats; crushed laurel-leaves; rubber burning; lace-curtains being washed–No, mymistake, lace-curtains hanging out to dry; and foxes–hundreds of ‘em–cubs; and–”

“Can you really smell all those different things in this one wind?” asked the Doctor.

“Why, of course!” said Jip.  “And those are only a few of the easy smells–the strong ones. Any mongrel could smell those with a cold in the head.  Wait now, and I’ll tell you some of the harder scents that are coming on this wind–a few of the dainty ones.”

Then the dog shut his eyes tight, poked his nose straight up in the air and sniffed hard with his mouth half-open.

For a long time he said nothing.  He kept as still as a stone.  He hardly seemed to be breathing at all.  When at last he began to speak, it sounded almost as though he were singing, sadly, in a dream.

“Bricks,” he whispered, very low–”old yellow bricks, crumbling with age in a garden-wall; the sweet breath of young cows standing in a mountain-stream; the lead roof of a dove-cote–or perhaps a granary–with the mid-day sun on it; black kid gloves lying in a bureau-drawer of walnut-wood; a dusty road with a horses’ drinking-trough beneath the sycamores; little mushrooms bursting through the rotting leaves; and–and–and–”

“Any parsnips?” asked Gub-Gub.

“No,” said Jip.  “You always think of things to eat.  No parsnips whatever.”

Bookworms are somewhat like Jip. They stick their noses into the wind, trying to figure out what’s out there. A sense of fresh releases and what’s happening in the literary world, comes at them not in a sharp, high-def picture, but a jumble of impressions and images, some of which can be read more clearly than others.

At INDIAreads, there is one thing we can say for sure, the wind on deck offers a bouquet as rich and potent as the breeze in Jip’s nostrils! So be sure to visit our site for the latest releases, reviews and essential news for booklovers everywhere.

Fans of Jeffrey Archer will be able to catch a glimpse of the of international bestselling author on Tuesday at the new flagship Landmark bookstore opening. Along with the opening, fans can also look forward to the India launch of his latest book – Thereby Hangs A Tale, set for release on the same date. According to Landmark COO Himanshu Chakrawarti the India release will be ahead of the global launch and Macmillan will be publishing And Thereby Hangs a Tale in India from Monday 3rd.

Inspired by his favorite short story writers – F Scott Fitzgerald, Maupassant, H H Munro, W Somerset Maugham and O Henry – this will be Archer’s sixth volume of stories. With each of his short stories collection already a bestseller, Archer’s latest offering has already raised a lot of excitement among readers.  What is sure to spark off great interest among readers is that one of the stories is set in Delhi – the story of Nisha and Jamwal.  “I think is going to cause considerable interest on the subcontinent, not least because the true story is an obvious candidate for a Bollywood film,’ Archer writes on his blog.

While fans ponder over what inspired the writer to weave a tale around a young duo who fall in love while waiting at the bus terminal, there are lots more plots and characters which figure in the new book. A German family and their priceless 200 year old oil painting, a young man who ends up in bed with a hotel receptionist and a British woman obsessed with shoes…these are some of the storylines from among the 15 stories gathered by Archer from around the globe during the past five years.

Author of bestsellers like ‘Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less’, ‘Kane and Abel’, ‘As the Crow Flies’ and ‘First Among Equals’, Archer has a natural aptitude for short stories which are stylish, witty and entertaining. His mastery of characterization and suspense, combined with a gift for the unexpected, jaw-dropping plot twist, show him at the height of his powers and demonstrates why he is one of the top few best-selling authors.

Arrack in the afternoon is potent stuff. So when author Mathew Vincent Menacherry launched his debut novel at TGIF, Saket today we expected nothing but the most compelling stuff. Nope, all reference here points towards literary sparkle, if arrack made you thought of an early weekend blast…well, go read a book! And if you ask which one… Mathew’s novel seems like an interesting enough read.

The premise is simple enough but quite interestingly dealt with. When a chronic alcoholic decides he is a failure at everything, he decides to end his miserable life. Ironically, even that turns into a failure. So, when the strange twist of circumstances propels him towards a new life as a reformed godman, he starts off on an unlikely journey that shows us a new and chaotic India where in between the tussle for right and wrong, everyone is desperately trying to get a move ahead.

Anyway, in between the sizzling hors devours and informal chats, we loved being at the venue. Listening to the author answer other Harper Collins writers’ questions, sipping non-arrack, and meeting new faces, we had an afternoon well spent. Ah! New books, always the apple of our I’s