Book Review #108: Grasta By Karanam Pavan Prasad

Title: Grasta

Author: Karanam Pavan Prasad

Publishers: Concave Media & Publishers

Genre: Metaphysics/Philosophy/General Fiction

Pages: 143 (Paperback)

Source: Personal Copy

Hindu philosophy also known as “Darshanikas” in Sanskrit reveals us a great deal of information on life, birth, death, love, sex, family, personalities, etc… and, there is Quantum Physics that explores the vast and bounds of universe with relevant experiments and theories. A book that combines the ideas of these two in a story is an attempt that requires a great study in those subjects. At least enough homework should be done before even attempting such a feat.  

Karanam Pavan Prasad, a promising and talented young writer bridges that gap by writing some marvelous stories that even the young generation are much in awe of his talents. Grasta, this is his 3^rd novel. He has surpassed his reader’s expectation by writing an extraordinary novel. This book combines the ideas of Metaphysics, Philosophy, Darshanikas, Quantum Physics, and Electricity etc… But, we definitely cannot term this as a science novel; neither can we term this as a philosophical novel too. This book stands in between. The thin line of separation from Science and Philosophy is what makes this book as a class apart.

The book is gripping from the very first page of the novel. The gamut of emotions expressed by each and every character is a treat to read from the book. The book takes us in a journey of two generations. The main protagonist of the novel is Avinash, an Electronic scholar, more than that a truth seeker. He is a common man by his birth, individual by his attitude and scholar in his own accord. He is engrossed in social, scientific, philosophical and personal aspects of his life. He is kind of a person who doesn’t get excited by the happiness and doesn’t feel a sense of remorse when something bad happens.

This book shows us the life in reality. Life, as in reality is not what we have seen in movies or read in some romantic novels. Life is full of struggles, yet we love the way we live and make the best out of our abilities. The protagonist in this novel expresses his concern, his ambitions, his future plan and how it became the otherwise. Avinash didn’t hail from an affluent family. His family background is one of the hearts wrenching stuff you read from this novel. Growing up in a family where death seems to be easier option that to survive. His parents didn’t had the best life because of the inter caste marriage.

As we read further into the book, we will get to read the tale of Avinash who rose from the ashes. He has built himself an identity by the help of good people that didn’t let him go astray. Now that he has a steady career but to enjoy his success, his parents are not alive. That’s kind of another struggle. Throughout the book we will realize, life is not what we aspired to be, instead life is what happens when you’re busy in making plans for it.

Rekha is another protagonist or I can say antagonist to some extent, enters the life of Avinash in the most unexpected way. This particular event makes Avinash question the life in many perspective, the reason being, should be read from the novel, and I am not going to include it in the review. Cheated by her boyfriend and her impotent husband drew Rekha towards Avinash. But her dubious plans remain intact till the end. Once we will realize what kind of woman is Rekha, we will sure feel pity for Avinash. He has done no fault, but still he agrees to the demand of Rekha and starts to live with her. Their relationship is one of a kind. He became her husband without marrying her. Became father to her child without even realizing. That’s where the novel hits like a storm. What is life? What are relationships? What are life goals? Is family is just a social agreement? Does every faults of a person become zero when living under a family? What is birth? What is death? What is the reason for man’s survival? These are the questions that haunts even after finishing the novel.

Though Avinash had a successful career as an Electronic Scholar, a PhD to his name, and big fat bank balance, he missed something deeply even any kind of relationship wouldn’t fulfill. He longed for the answers beyond the realm of life and death. He tried to find those things in his electronic experiments. He longed to build a system that provides electricity to the instruments without being wired. This is somewhat related to the Nikola Tesla’s futuristic ideas. But deep within, Avinash wasn’t satisfied with his life. He was cheated by his own people. The one person whom he respected throughout his life, at last, cheated him and brought him to a family circle which he legitimately didn’t belong to. All these events made Avinash become more and more introvert and in the end he just stopped looking for answers and took life as it came to him with open hands.

Overall, I feel these kinds of novel needs more traction from the audience. A serious readers like me, would definitely like to see such author reaching new heights. The author has every capability to make a mark in the literature world. His research and the stronghold on the subject have made this novel as an epic read. I would highly recommend this novel to be read by each and every one. The caption of the book put me in a thinking mode, “Birth is not important; the result of the birth is”.

My Rating:

5/5

Book Review #107: Brihat Karnataka: Bhaashika, Samskrutika By Dr. M. Chidananda Murthy

Title: Birhat Karnataka: Bhashika, Samskrutika (Greater Karnataka: Linguistic, Cultural)

Author: Dr. M. Chidananda Murty

Publishers: Sapna Book House

Genre: Linguistic Research/Non-Fiction

Pages: 344+ (Paperback)

Source: Personal Copy

This is the book that should be read by every Kannadiga out there. The book makes each Kannada speaking person proud of their culture, language and their history. The amount of research that went into this book is inexplicable. Dr. M. Chidananda Murthy, a great human being and a research scholar has painstakingly compiled this book after doing years of research and arranging it in a chronological order. I have always admired the author for his stands on the various issues apart from his writings. He is one of the highly respected personalities in Karnataka and in India.

Coming to the book, it is definitely not an easy read. Reading a research book requires great deal of patience and an open mind to accept the ideas put forth in the book. It is definitely not a fantasy tale. The book mainly captures the greater Karnataka that existed before the Independence of India and before the partition. As we go through the book, we will realize that what a great culture that we belong to. It is also imperative that none of the so called research scholars in present day have the zest to do this kind of research on their language and culture.

Greater Karnataka, as we speak of today, is not the Karnataka that we see in today’s map. It includes the whole part of Maharashtra, parts of Andhra Pradesh (including the Telangana) and parts of Tamil Nadu, Goa, and few parts from the Madhya Pradesh and to some extent Gujarat. Author has presented his research facts point by point. Thereby, giving us a clear picture of the boundaries of the greater Karnataka since 7^th Century CE. We will come across many examples ranging from the languages that we use in present day Karnataka and the language that became an influence for the Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Goa etc… during yester years.

Quoting several language examples and the common words that belongs to Kannada and how it became the inspiration for the other languages to adopt Kannada and developed their own dialect and language is a fascinating read. The main examples from the Telugu, Konkani, Tamil and Marathi languages and how their origin of the language is greatly dependent on Kannada is a must read from the book. Not only were the languages, even the cultural beliefs and practices adopted from the Kannada speaking people in other states is a true testimonial of how dominant was Kannada during those times. It is quite clear from the book that, the southern parts of the India were greatly influenced by Kannada language, cultural practices and beliefs.

The first part of the book mainly concentrates on the research that author has done on the Maharashtra and the languages like Marathi and Konkani and how these are originated. His research includes many myth shattering events that present day Maharashtra or Goa people will not be able to digest. The book also explores the caste influences on major communities like Mahar, Danagar, etc… also the chief deities of Maharashtra like Tulaja Bhavani, Khandoba, Kollapura Lakhsmi, Pandarapura Vithoba and how these gods have the roots originating in Karnataka. The greatest personalities like Gnaneshwar, Nannideva of Marathi origin have spoken extensively on the importance of Karnataka and Kannada in their writings. Author also mentions the present day tussles of Maharashtra and Karnataka on the border dispute. He also mentions about the Mahajan Report that studied and settled the border dispute and village sharing between Karnataka and Maharashtra. Currently, this was challenged by the government of Maharashtra in Supreme Court and the case is pending. These things can be read in greater details in the book.

The 2^nd part of the book speaks about the epitaphs (Veeragallu and Masthigallu) of the Karnataka and the excavations found in the depths of Maharashtra and other states. The story behind these stones engravings is a treat to read from the book. Veeragallu is a stone engraved in the memory of a male person that has sacrificed his life to his King in the battles, in averting robbery and protecting their village or town. The stones speak about the bravery of these persons. Whereas, Masthigallu stone engravings belongs to the brave women that has sacrificed their lives for their husbands or to their villages. Masthi is a condensed form of “Mahasathi” in Sanskrit. Those days, following the Sathi system was not a compulsion, rather it is a self declared practice. Women folks would enter the pit fire of their dead husbands and self immolate them in order to prove their loyalty, chastity and love towards their husbands.

The final part of the book is an important research work that describes the influence of Kannada and Karnataka outside India. The book speaks extensively on Nepal and how Nepal was ruled and preserved by the Kings that has their roots in Karnataka. Author gives us an example of the dynasties like “Jangam” and other such families that originated in Karnataka and ruled Nepal for several centuries. As a mark of this, Author has given us ample amount of stone engravings from different temples in Nepal that has Kannada inscriptions on them. The chief priest of the Pashupatinath Temple of Nepal is a southern Indian Brahmin that belongs to the Shankara math of Southern India. This practice of appointing the chief priest from Southern India has been running since the temple was built. The legend says that, a Brahman from South India who conducted the proceedings of worshiping the Shiva during one of the Kings tenure in Nepal and that’s the practice ever since.

Words are short to explain how important this book is. There are many such research records that prove the influence of Karnataka and Kannada pan India and outside India like Nepal. It is quite difficult to include everything in this review. I would highly recommend every Kannadiga to read this book at least once in their lifetime to feel proud of their language and culture. Author’s anguish is evident in few pages, where he expresses his concern regarding the non availability of the research scholars that can take up this work and give a logical end, since, Kannada influence is literally unlimited in India and rest of the world. I hope his wishes come true in future.

My Rating:

5/5 

Book Review #106: The Perfect Murder Collected and Compiled By Ruskin Bond

Title: The Perfect Murder

Collected & Authored by: Ruskin Bond

Publishers: Rupa Publications India

Genre: Thriller/Murder Mystery

Pages: 132 (Paperback)

Source: Advanced review copy from the publishers

Ruskin Bond, the name is enough to go and grab the book. The stories that he chooses or writes are pleasant always. Since my childhood, I’ve always been a big fan of Ruskin Bond. Being a thriller fan, I adore each and every story told by Ruskin Bond. It is always a special feeling to read his books.

The Perfect Murder is a short story in the book also the title of the book. The book also contains several short stories from various acclaimed authors like Arthur Conan Doyle, Wilkie Collins, Edgar Allen Poe and WW Jacobs. There is also a story written by Ruskin Bond. The book consists of eight different stories.

The very first story is the Perfect Murder, where two brothers Paul and Henry would wait for an opportunity to kill their aunt, so that they can inherit the property left by their uncle, but only on the condition that, the property would reach these brothers only after their aunt has passed away. Given the financial condition of the Paul and Henry, they were not in a position to wait that longer. Henry, a married man with four children, wasn’t able to meet the demands of his family, and he often finds himself borrowing money from his brother and his close friends. Whereas, Paul, unmarried, and wasted himself by drinking and roaming around. One fine day, Paul decides to meet his aunt and pretends to fall sick in her home. A generous, well behaved aunt takes Paul in and provides him the necessary food and medicines time to time. This hasn’t gone well with Henry and he decides to meet his brother Paul and take matters in to his hand. Paul agrees to his brother’s demands and asks him to get fine grained glass powder so that he can poison his aged fragile aunt. Henry does the needful and waits anxiously for the following day. But what followed is a shell shock experience for Henry, as he learns that, instead of his aunt, his brother Paul was found dead in his aunt’s house by consuming the glass mixed food. This story will surely keep the readers hooked to the book till it gets completed.

The other story which I liked and enjoyed is the Red Headed League by Arthur Conan Doyle. This particular story involves an investigation by the famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his doctor friend Watson. The story is epic in its own accord. The sharp observational skills of Sherlock Holmes and how he helped a distressed pawn broker who was cheated by his employer. The quick wit displayed by Holmes is a well known phenomenon of Arthur Conan Doyle. For sure, this is the story where you will be reading again and again to appreciate the intelligence of Sherlock Holmes.

One more story written by Ruskin Bond himself was about his uncle that murdered a person by poisoning. This story captures the ill motives of his uncle even after he got released from Jail. His uncle tried to poison Ruskin when he visited him. This story was repeated in Ruskin Bond’s other collected stories in other books. But, quite a good story to read.

This book is a nice collection of the light thriller genre stories. The book is an easy read and you can finish reading this in a few hours or a day to the most. You will certainly appreciate the taste of Ruskin Bond that made this collection of some of the interesting stories in this book. Though it is not a recommending read, but to re-live your childhood by reading some epic stories collected and penned by Ruskin Bond.

My Rating:

4/5

Note: I received this book from the Publishers in exchange for an unbiased review.