Gora

          By Rabindranath Tagore

          I had wanted to read this novel whenever I saw it in the library or in bookshops.  But somehow I could not muster enough interest to actually reading it. Finally, I purchased a second hand book.  That it was a copy presented to a school girl for winning a competition energized me for the reason that would I not read a serious novel read (presumably) by a school girl. 

          Reading the novel was like travelling in a river boat, slow, steady, and meandering, within cultural bounds and never off its course.  There are some instances or circumstances in the novel where characters could have acted aggressive or the scenes could have been violent, not excluding physical violence.  But the style is smooth, narrative mature and controlled. When there is a scene in which anger is bound to increase to explosive levels, the characters reconcile to the differences and accept the fact that they have different views.  After sometime, they try to understand the other side of the argument. But there are one or two exceptions too.  Not for nothing that Tagore is considered one of the giants of Indian literature. 

          The story is set in 18^th century when Britain controlled most parts of India. Their culture was visible spreading.  Christianity was one of the major influences.  I have read somewhere that empires were accompanied by religions and softened the blows of the imperial powers on the local cultures.  It appears from the novel  that Brahmo Samaj was a product of cultural influences of Christianity and Hinduism.  I presume that it had had a modernizing effect on Bengali society and for that reason it was opposed by traditional establishment.

          This novel examines the differing concepts of God, Religion, duty of the individual in a society and the process of modernity flowering in India from the perspective of both Brahmo Samaj and Hinduism, as practiced in Bengal.  But being a novel and not a treatise on religion, it has lively characters who argue, fight and try to convince, win over and change each other into their own ways of thinking. The materialist desires overlap religious ambitions.  Personal wishes are constrained by religious codes.  While the setting is the conflict between concepts of Brahmo Samaj and Hinduism, this novel is not dated.  Its arguments and logic resonate the present society in India.  Herein lies the novel’s enduring legacy.  There are very effective dramatic moments which could have become explosive at the end.  But the characters being not only educated but also cultured, adjust their position in accordance with the truth and reality of the circumstances. 

          The story is enacted through a very emotional relationship between Gaurmohan, the Gora and Binoy, his friend, and their relations with others.  All of them have seemingly rigid, but actually nuanced positions in their religious beliefs. They are aware of it or are made aware through the course of the novel.  The Brahmo family also acknowledges some aspects of truth in Hinduism and vice versa.

          The novel proceeds dialectically between both the sects. But the differences are resolved more by understanding, love and humanism than by arguments and faith. The greatness of Tagore lies in the fact that he creates incidents and circumstances for such spaces in the novel.  These appear organically and in the context of the reality of the period.  These are not artificial or imposed by the great creator i.e. novelist.  In fact, I had expected that Gora, on coming to know that that he is not a Brahmin as he had till then presumed, would have reacted very violently.  This is what I expected. For all that vigour, passion and reason Gora had invested so far in his belief, collapsed at that point.  But he regains his composture.  His religion was till then a constraint in his behavior with his lady love and on the eventual marriage.  A conflict was raging in his mind about this. He seizes the opportunity like a true human being with reasoning ability and love.  Yes, everything is decided by love and love for truth and not by illogic, bigotry or self righteousness. 

          The characters are treated with respect.  This novel has the noises arguments, voices of reasoning and winds of love.  This wind at times blows like a storm and at times touches like a exhilarating breeze.

          One of the excellent novels I have read. 

Unbearable Lightness of Being

     Milen Kundera

          I have already read a novel by Milen Kundra.  He has changed the spelling of his name to Milen Kundera, which sounds like a Punjabi name.  The novel was written in 1984 or before.  

          IT is a story of an individual going through relationships, women , Nation, Nazi occupation then, Russian invasion into Czechoslovakia.  The title says it all.  An individual has to reconcile to the fact of his being weightless in the ocean of historical experiences. 

          At a personal level, his desires, love, his wife, son etc causes him to think that in fact he is not in full control of his life or incidents in his life.  His idiosyncrasies affect others as their own peculiarities affect him endlessly.  Oppression by the State is another unbearable reality. 

          The second world war, soviet invasion etc define his existence.  Later the state is occupied by Russian forces.  All activities are under the guidance of Soviet Masters.  The protagonist could not predict or understand as to how and why historical events occur. Not only he, but also the state i.e. Czechoslovakia, is powerless to chose its destiny.  Big powers decide the fate of his nation and unforeseen circumstances, passions, individuals and their choices decide the fate of his life.  In front great churning called contemporary events, he is unable to survive with honour.  A medical doctor, he is directed to give in writing an apology for his anti people activities. As he refuses to do this, his licence to practice is cancelled and he works as Glass Window Cleaner in the city under the supervision of the State authorities.  His wife leaves him, his second wife has other priorities.  He has so many priorities.  Nothing matches his desire or expectation.  He floats like a paper boat in a turbulent river. 

          His personal life is ruined.  He changes cities, goes on exile to another country and then returns to his country only to take the job of cleaning the glass windows.  His family life is affected.  His son from an earlier marriage is used to threaten him into submission.  HE refuses to surrender and pays the price.  He has affairs with many women but loves only a very few. Finally none of them comes to his rescue though each of them knew that he is a normal good guy.

Thus this novel which speaks about the past life in a authoritarian state, is a prophecy for the countries which take the path of authoritarian rule for whatever reason.  This affects everybody.  The existential trauma the Doctor experiences also depicts an advanced society where only individual matters and even this freedom does not guarantee happiness to anyone who is sensible.  Those who have aggressive, bullying nature can and will survive.  Others will understand that they are no heavy weights and they live like domesticated animals. That is is the ‘Unbearable Lightness of Being’.  This is what we in India could not even imagine.  How would be the world where individual gets ultimate freedom in personal front but is controlled in all political, social and cultural spheres.  

A tragedy of future where you have the power to suffer alone or join the chorus of total submission to the State.  But this  novel gives us the picture that we would not like to see.  It is so original and individualistic.  We in India still survive on the values of the tribal affinities.  We may not understand the agony Milen Kundera's protagonist now.  It lies in our future. IT is so relevant in India of today which in my opinion fast moving towards this tragedy.

Gandhi

The years that changed the world

Ramachandra Guha

          I had already read the first volume of two volume biography of Gandhi by Ramachandra Guha.  The first volume was called ‘Gandhi Before India’(He had also written history of India since Independence with the title ‘India after Gandhi). First volume covered the period from his birth in 1869 to 1920.  The second volume is from 1920 to his death in 1948.

          Gandhi continues to be relevant today. Great are the people whose thought and action continues to inspire future generations. Gandhi is one of them.

          I came to know of Gandhi in my middle school days, not unlike other students.  But there was something different.  I had the fortune of hearing Gandhi anecdotes firsthand from Shri T.S. Avinashilingam Chettiar. We fondly called him ‘Ayya’.  He had had Gandhi to inaugurate the our school in 1930 in Coimbatore (Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya.  He chosoe to speak to us after the morning prayer at around 6.15 on the days he had the inclination.  There were other occasions that we used to hear him, in meetings, on many occasions along with class students, in small groups and on some occasions I had also interacted with him one to one.  For example, once in the ground in front of Buddha Statue in the School cum Hostel area, I sat in the sand as he was listening to news bulletin in English.  The volume was kept as low as he could hear and I also could hear. On the eve of saraswai puja, I had acted in a play which criticized the rulers indirectly.  The anecdotes he told us were wonderful for the children.  

          Coming back to my familiarity with Gandhi, in school days, few minutes free time available before the arrival of next teacher or during leisure or library periods (yes, there were there in the time-table of the school) one student, standing in front of the class had to read the autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi (Sathiya Sodanai, in Tamil) and others had to listen.  This religiously continued from 6th standard upto 9^th Standard.    I had in my boyhood emotionally connected with Gandhi and his struggles in South Africa, even though I was not aware of the historical importance of the events being narrated.  But his honesty rubbed on my subconscious.  His his truthfulness affected me very deeply and even today his name makes me wonder and brings tears. 

          As for the author, I have also read most of the books written by R. Guha.  So far as I can remember, were many references to Gandhi in the books he authored.  He as a Historian, I think, cannot but mention Gandhi since Gandhi’s thoughts though not directly relevant, can be applied to any process of political or social thinking and action. 

          I read this second volume with eagerness.  Most of the major events in his life after 1920 are familiar. But, every new biography may throw a new light.  As years pass by, new perspectives may become necessary and authors may venture into uncharted areas boldly without immediate adverse reactions from the society.  It is a work on a grand scale and scope and the author has done justice to the subject.  He treats Gandhi as a human being.  Information on each incident is complied from various sources particularly those from his critics and adversaries.  Archival materials unused heretofore has been brought out and throws a better light on the thinking of the Raj and it brings out real Gandhi.

          One of the controversial events during independence, the contest for the post of President of the congress between Subhash Chandra Bose and Pattabhi Sitaramaiah is covered very well.  SC Bose’s candidature was backed by whole of Bengali politicians and even Tagore had written to Gandhi in support of SC Bose. I was surprised that Tagore could do this.   It comes out that Gandhi kept away from the contest.  It was Sardar Patel and his supporters who fought for Pattabhi.  A personal dispute had also added fuel to the fire.  Vitalbhai Patel, Vallabhai Patel’s brother had bequeathed a portion of his properties to subhash Chandra bose.  This was not liked by Sardar Patel. This could be the reason for their personal dispute.  But there were other political and social reasons for the contest.  This dispute was ultimately settled in court in favour of Patel family. 

          The roll of Gandhi’s friends and well wishers and followers has been very effectively told.  Without them Gandhi would not have been what he was.  Another controversial issue is the relationship between Gandhi and Sarala Devi.  It was a delicate subject and the author has neither exaggerated nor diminished the facts.  Most of this ‘story’ is told by the letters written by Gandhi or Sarala Devi or Rajaji and others.  The trips to Punjab that Gandhi made, the period of his stay in places are all supported by historical records.  Guha has also brought out that it was a spiritual love, unconsummated at best.  Rajaji had played a crucial role, in saving the reputation of Gandhi and the history of the struggle for independence which might have gone a different way (though second marriage was not unusual in those days, it would have distracted the struggle for independence to some extent at least). Further, even in love, Gandhi has not abandoned his vow of celibacy and the marriage, if it had materialized would have been spiritual and for the service of the country.  Gandhi is not an ordinary mortal.   

          The most important aspect of Gandhi’s struggle was his connectedness.   He was guided by Gokhale that he should first tour the country and know the people and he did that in the early period of his political life.  But his tours all over what is now India, Pakistan and Bangladesh were extensive.  (All the great men of India, from Adi Shankara to Swami Vivekananda had toured India extensively). He involved common people in the movement for freedom.  HE involved women in it.  Though at the beginning he was conservative in his views, during the course of his interaction with all kinds of people he had understood their problems and sympathized with their causes and slowly his views changed.  His continuous conversations with the downtrodden also enabled him to change the social outlook of many millions of Indians.

          This books also brings out the complementary nature of the views and struggles and views of those who had differed on many issues.  Ambedkar’s differences with Gandhi were famous.  Though Ambedkar attacked Gandhi mercilessly, Gandhi had always said that ‘if he had gone through the same experiences as Ambedkar, he would have also done what Ambedkar had done’ or to this effect.  Gandhi knew the society.  He initially considered caste as a necessary but then changed his views.  Though Gandhi knew social evil his focus was freedom.  He could continue his fight for other issues.  His contributions for temple entry in 1930s and banning of untouchability later, was unique.

             He was carrying forward the legacy of Gokhale, in steadfastly fighting for emotionally, socially and politically integrating Muslims and Hindus in the concept of a Nation.  Since only Nehru had understood this, Gandhi chose him as the next leader to shoulder the responsibility.  HE also knew that their versions of modernity differed. 

          The personal pains and experiences Gandhi had to undergo because of his chosen path of Ahimsa and the path of public service is unparalled.  HE had sacrificed so much and still he considered it not as a sacrifice but ony as duty. 

R. Guha has pointed out there there are people who project Gandhi and Ambedkar, Gandhi and Sardar, Nehru and Sardar etc as opposites of each other.  In the struggle for independence their roles were, in the final view complementary. 

The books is bulky and it is not easy to understand fully one of the greatest man of humanity.  We have to try hard.  There is no other way if we want to create a better future. This book could be an excellent beginning.