Happier than God by Neal Donald Walsch Jaico. Pages: 260. Price: Rs. 250/-
Inspirational literature sells like, well, hot coffee in winter; and for a good reason too. No matter what one’s circumstance is doubt and dissatisfaction keep nagging the mind. We are always in search of perfect happiness – which can neither be defined nor identified but presumably exists. Enter the new era guru with his skein of silver tongued verbiage and he prods you towards the conviction that you are indeed unhappy and that you need help for attaining happiness. And this can be done only if you follow the path mapped out by the guru. But Walsch does not want you to be merely happy. He wants you to be happier than God! So the benchmark of expectations has been raised. But does his path lead to this new goal? You may like to read this book for the answer, or indulge in conjecture.
Beyond the blue by Sukanya Datta Rupa & Co. Pages: 201. Price: Rs. 195/-
The very term “science fiction” conjures up images of mind-zonking action involving inter-galactic conflicts, futuristic gizmos, and super-intelligent aliens with Achilles’ heels which our impossibly smart heroes/heroines are able to exploit in order to ward off impending perils. Actually, this ‘action-fiction’ belongs to sci-fi’s cyberpunk stream popularized by William Gibson. Writers in this genre like HG Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Aldous Huxley et al have become enduring household names. Right from Lucian of Samosata’s True History (approx 160 AD, that narrated a trip to the moon) the genre has spawned a corpus of variegated tales, viz., Thomas More’s Utopia, Jonathan Swift’s satirical Gulliver’s Travels, and in the post-industrial revolution scenario Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) explored the potential of science for good or evil. One detects shades of the last mentioned in Datta’s collection of fourteen short stories. For example, in the Completely Catswoman, an actress goes for designer genes to become physically more attractive, with tragic results. Then there’s the amusing A Good Breed wherein two boys try to make easy money by smuggling opium made from genetically modified poppy plants. The mystery thriller Beautiful and Armed revolves around the death of a wheeler-dealer that turns Lucky Shome into Sherlock Holmes.
However, that Datta is more a scientist than a fiction writer becomes evident from the rather copious scientific verbiage. Moreover, some of the tales, like Déjà Vu that has space journey as its plot, fail to conclude on a definitive and satisfying note. Nonetheless, this collection is bound to trigger off your imagination.
When a TV show changes its format the results can be unpredictable. To illustrate this point let us cite some. Punjab Speaks had begun as a studio-based talk show that dealt with issues ranging from developmental, to political to cultural – all within Punjab. But suddenly it shed its desi content, tone and tenor and went firang with a vengeance. Presently the show is covering Punjabi diaspora in the United Kingdom. Apart from focusing on individual success stories there the show investigates such societal issues as gender equality, dowry and inter-caste marriage among the Punjabis settled there. Surprisingly, the near unanimous view was that the attitudes were more liberal/progressive “back home” than among “UK Punjabis”! Sorry for the digression, but the point is that the makeover has turned Punjab Speaks into an absorbing show. Even Good Morning Punjab has tinkered with its format with happy results. The interviews with invited celebrities are not anymore interrupted with health or film/music related productions. Now, each is presented in a distinct and compact slot, thus enhancing the viewing experience. Readers may recall that some time back this column had made exactly this suggestion, pointing out how irritating interruptions and overlaps were proving to be. Looks like someone there has been reading this column with interest.
On the other hand the attractiveness of Lok Bani has plummeted ever since it changed its role from being a platform for airing the aam aadmi’s governance related angst and grievance to becoming a rather politician friendly PR set-up. Surely, politicians have plenty of avenues and resources to blow their own trumpets; where’s the need for media to become facilitators in this respect? No politician deserves to be treated with kid gloves. Lok Bani must revert to its original trenchant tone and tenor and resume its former people-friendly format in order to redeem its image.
Sports and media have a thriving symbiotic relationship. But some sports do not get the needed media attention. Of these, hockey and kabaddi in particular have been at the receiving end of this apathy. PTC Punjabi has stepped in to rectify the situation to an appreciable extent. Some time back it had telecast live the finals of Surjit Memorial hockey tournament and now it has followed up with live telecast of the Indo-Pak kabaddi series that concluded on 14 November. Particularly pleased among viewers were the old timers who appreciated the holding of Punjabi style kabaddi in vintage mela type ambience, accompanied with colourful commentary which was laced with rustic humour. Onstage renderings by such renowned singers as Barkat Sidhu and others added to the show’s appeal.
Talking of singers, Punjab is blessed with some of the best in the country. On 12 November PTC News paid tributes to the legendary KL Sehgal. Other legendary singers like Surinder Kaur and Asa Singh Mastana have left behind an impressive corpus of memorable songs – both folk and light classical. And sublime poetry by Bulle Shah, Ghulam Farid and Waris Shah et al only make us Punjabis feel twice blessed. Sa Re Ga Ma has done well to bring out an album titled Nine gems from Punjab comprising nine songs rendered by Mastana and Surinder Kaur – two of which are duets. Lyrics are by Shah Hussein, Waris, Bulle, Farid and others. Best time to listen: evenings, just when birds are returning to their nests on trees chirping in chorus. With the sublime comes the earthy. Fast, high-decibel music coalesces with catchy love lyrics to produce a foot-tapping album Rhythm Shakers. Elders might frown but youngsters are going to love this one.
Divine painter Sobha Singh by Dr. Kulwant Singh Khokkar
S. Sobha Singh Art Gallery, Andretta. Pages: 104. Price: Rs. 195/-
Sobha Singh, the region’s iconic painter, was born on 29 November, 1901 in Sri Hargobindpur of Punjab’s Gurdaspur district. His father retired as a risaldar in the British Indian Army. He was four years old when his mother died of tuberculosis. He was not allowed to go near her for fear of infection. He was brought up by his elder step-sister. A sensitive soul, he could not concentrate on studies due to his circumstances. Instead, he took to sketching faces of his classmates. Later on he joined the army as draftsman. After India’s independence he made Andretta his home. Sobha Singh is known for his paintings of the Sikh Gurus although he has painted various historical, religious and political figures including Krishna, Sohni-Mahiwal, Noorjahan and Mumtaz Mahal. He also carved and sculpted statues.
Analytic and linguistic philosophy came to the fore as a distinct discipline during the 20th-century. It aims to elucidate language and analyze the concepts expressed in it. This, arguably, helps settle philosophical disputes and problems, which, it is contended, originate in linguistic confusion.Some analytic and linguistic philosophers are primarily concerned with clarifying the meaning of specific words or phrases as an essential step in making philosophical assertions clear and unambiguous. Others are more concerned with establishing a criterion that will distinguish between meaningful and nonsensical sentences. Still others are interested in creating formal, symbolic languages that are mathematical in nature. Many philosophers associated with this stream of philosophy also focus on the analysis of ordinary, or natural, language as the key to resolving philosophical conundrums.
Sen takes a look at recent trends in analytic philosophy that indicate a shift from questions of language to questions of mind, leading to the argumentation that “a mentalist turn has emanated from what has been called the linguistic turn”. This slim volume, comprising three chapters, explores the nature of de re thoughts and its impact on the debates centering on externalist versus internalist accounts of the mind. Taking cognizance of the intrinsic relationship between questions of language and questions of mind it “tries to develop a notion of de re thoughts from the different accounts of reference”. Sen argues that de re thoughts are constitutively tied with their objects and are essentially individuated in terms of their objects. She attempts to displace the internalist understanding of the mind in favor of an externalist notion of it where the mind can be seen in continuation with the world and as having no context-free essence. A welcome addition to the analytic philosophy corpus.
This festive season has been unique because along with the traditional Diwali and Bandi Chhor Diwas Punjabis celebrated the third centenary of Guruta Gaddi Diwas (establishment of Granth Sanib as the ultimate Guru). Different channels have been highlighting different aspects of the occasion. While DD Jalandhar and Zee Punjabi came up with dedicated slots and news bulletins PTC News telecast an interesting series titled 300 saal Guru de naal. One of Its episodes highlighted the transformation of the complex at Sachkhand Huzoor Sahib, Nanded, into an ultramodern mini township, enjoying uninterrupted supply of water and electricity, an airport etc. And the imposing main building gives the place an out-of-the-world ambience.
However, the focus wasn’t on the razzmatazz alone. It also telecast the somber and sobering Deeve thalle hanera that highlighted the inhuman conditions in which poor families manufacture crackers. Their poverty forces them to take risks that make one shudder – small children, women and even infirm elders handle highly toxic and explosive chemicals unprotected. In return they earn a pittance while lion’s share goes to businessmen. Then there’s the specter of synthetic khoya and adulterated sweets that can destroy one’s health. Although quintals of such poisonous sweets get confiscated regularly their supply seems to be perennial.
Drug menace has assumed humongous proportions in the region. While the fight against it is not as focused as it should be there are some heartening success stories. Mukti da nava raah highlights the success of anti-drug addiction campaign in Punjab’s Behman Divana village. Initiated by DIG Jatinder Jain the campaign involves self-help groups, social workers and local officials. Eschewing the easier path of prosecuting drug addicts the more demanding but enduring moral suasion and systematic de-addiction techniques have been adopted. The results are splendid. The Behman Divana experiment can become a template for the entire region.
Election time spawns events and issues that reek of vote-bank politics. In Punjab the HSGPC controversy is threatening to become an issue during the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. On the sets of Gurdwara Prabandh di siyasat Tarlochan Singh (MP) and Harjit Singh Grewal (in-charge of Haryana BJP) raised some interesting points: why should Congress rake up the issue of a separate HSGPC? A political party should keep away from community issues, they declared. But when it was pointed out that Akali Dal too was a political party, the duo changed tack. Ah, but who says that politics is a straightforward affair?
Government/public sector organizations, engaged in providing public services, should be more sensitive to the needs of consumers. Given the monopolistic control of electricity generation and supply in Punjab the responsibility of concerned officials becomes all the more particular. However, on DD Punjabi’s Sajjri Saver, there was no evidence of such niceties when Tarsem Singh Thind answered queries of electricity consumers on 25 October. Complaints of undue delays in providing connections, disrepair and poor maintenance of transformers and electricity poles, dangerously hanging live wires and rampant corruption were brushed aside with such glib disdain that even a politician would’ve blushed. Although DD Punjabi’s intentions are above reproach one really can’t cure cussedness of sarkari babus even in this era of corporatization of public utilities. But, perhaps, with the passage of time things may improve. Going by the earnestness with which rural and urban consumers petitioned to Thind on the show one can’t help concluding that hope abides in the heart of the doggedly optimistic aam aadmi. The Kendra should continue telecasting such shows.
On 30th October Sajjri Saver had Hans Raj Hans as guest. One was treated to classic renderings – Sufi kalam, heart-wrenching ballads and Punjabi pop. If only the interviewers had done their homework. But then know how DDJ functions!
The Blue Direction by Aamer Hussein. Penguin, New Delhi. Pages 201. Rs 200. POST-independence literature has spawned a whole range of emotions: anger, pathos, self-pity, revulsion, compassion and nostalgia for the good old pre-partition days. But what happens when a "sensitive" writer throws in adultery, violence and kinky sex to spice up the product? "The Blue Direction" is a collection of 10 short stories wherein Aamer Hussein portrays feelings of alienation from his place of birth — Karachi, as he is labelled a mohajir there. He vainly seeks his roots in India. In his current "home" London he is dubbed an Asian who is more likely to turn a criminal than a law-abiding citizen — at least in the perception of the police. Near isolation goads him to become a compulsive writer and a globe-trotter. He seeks solace in the company of women. From one-night stands to enduring platonic relationships, he explores different facets of man-woman equations. Almost all his "love stories" end in tragedies. In "This other salt" he deals with the fall of love from its high pedestal of sacrifice and suffering to the depths of lust. The story deals with a man’s search for fulfilment through carnal gratification. Unable to understand the rudiments of love, he searches for it in persons who are unable to give it to him. Sameer, a writer (what else could Hussein’s "mirror image" be?), is the main protagonist. A Bangladeshi migrant to England, he falls in love with a much travelled Palestinian woman, Lamia, who paints escapist paintings, is older to him by a decade, married to Michel — a journalist — and is dying of cancer. Sameer has affaires d’amour with other women like Tara — part European, part Indian — the lust for whom makes him love Lamiya more (!). Tara has a lesbian relationship with Kim. Sameer’s on again, off again relationship with Suhayla, another woman, breaks-up, leaving him scarred. While in London, Sameer divides his time among such varied activities as making love to Lamiya, writing stories, attending to Tara and watching her quarrel with the ugly, wild-haired, bisexual, charismatic poet Kim. He lives a life of a restless bachelor in any metropolis. Troubled by the Muse, his inquietude puts on intellectual overtones. He pretends he doesn’t want to leave the cold, grey, lifeless London in winter as he wants to share other people’s pain while he himself is living in a state of longing the year round. Yet, he goes to Indonesia in summer with Lamiya and her husband Michel on a funeral journey. Both men know that she is dying and almost imperceptibly they make preparations for her death while touring the picturesque archipelago. The stay there, however, is not uneventful. They meet Wisnu — a pious Koran-reading, pork-hating Muslim with a Hindu deity’s name who reveres Sri Dewi — the local goddess of rice. Wisnu services the homosexual yearnings of Hobbs, the Australian pimp. These are the relationships — empty, meaningless, time killing. Giving is painful, so taking becomes the easy way out. But what can one take from a person who really has nothing to give? This comes out tellingly when Sameer returns to London after burying Lamiya in Jakarta and goes out with Tara and Kim to a dance party. When he has no more money to spend on them the two women ditch him. While walking back to his room he is mugged. The blood seeps through his bandaged wounds onto the pavement. A pedestrian (literally) end to a bland narrative. In this collection, there are too many abstract passages that would put off the reader. Perhaps, " The lost cantos" is the best of the lot. On the other hand, "The keeper of the shrine", might interest those who are not acquainted with Romeo and Juliet or with Punjabi folklore like Heer-Ranjha or Sasi-Punnu. It deals with the cliched love triangle involving a married woman, her grandfatherly husband and a younger lover. Inevitably the story ends in tragedy. Hussein’s claim that just before the riots began in Delhi the local Hindus had marked Muslim houses with swastika marks appears to be a figment of imagination. Hindus consider this mark as sacred and not as a sign of communal aggression. They use swastika on auspicious occasions and in sanctified places like temples. It would be a sacrilege to use it for evil acts like killing. Perhaps the author has tried to lift this piece of fiction from the Jewish experience in Nazi Germany. The book’s flap describes his writings as a "oblique, subversive portrayal of the preoccupations of our time..." Well, subversive is the word. Interestingly, the male protagonist in these stories invariably falls in love with older women. Shades of the Oedipus complex? Most of the stories have a lot of atmospherics —sounds and sights described in almost pastoral prose. But to what effect? With the exception of a couple of stories, most lack viable plots. Lack of imagination and poor control over the narrative have ruined a potentially excellent book of fiction. This literary "blue baby" may not be able to endure the reader’s scrutiny. Reading should be a pleasure, not a struggle. THE TRIBUNE
