కూడలి / english / Literary

English thulika: What is a Good Story?

malathi — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:03:27 +0000

(Note: English versions of the stories referred to in this article are available on www.thulika.net.) ² This article is about a question I’ve been struggling with for sometime. My website, Thulika, is specifically created to introduce Telugu fiction to the global audience. Nonetheless, I am flattered that my site is reaching out to the young Indians who [...]

Narla V.R.: THE need for SCIENTIFIC SPIRIT

innaiah (noreply@blogger.com) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:26:00 +0000

If the eighteenth century was primarily the Age of Reason and the nineteenth the Age of Science, the twentieth is the Age of Technology. Elaborating the interrelationship between reason, science, and technology would only be stressing the obvious. It is by the freeing of the mind from the chains of traditional thinking, by liberating it from the prison house of superstitious beliefs

Narla V.R.: CHILDREN’S LITERATURE IN TELUGU

innaiah (noreply@blogger.com) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:51:00 +0000

Kandukuri Veeresalingam It was Kandukuri Veeresalingam, the Father of Modern Andhra, who wrote the first book in Telugu for children. Very early in his campaign for social and moral reform, he realized that unless women and children were properly educated, his labours would not succeed to any appreciable extent. Finding that books for this purpose were not available, he proceeded to

Narla V.R.: ANDHRA’S CONTRIBUTION TO CULTURE

innaiah (noreply@blogger.com) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:08:00 +0000

Rich and varied is the contribution of the Telugu language and literature to Indian thought and culture. But how many know about it ? Abroad, barring a few ideologists and other specialists in allied fields, scarcely anyone in aware of even the existence of our language. Though hurtful- it certainly hurt me much – this is the plain, blunt truth. Since most foreigners still

Narla V.R.: INDIAN CULTURE -sublime and ridiculous aspects

innaiah (noreply@blogger.com) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:06:00 +0000

I am not laying special stress on the close association of the origin and growth of our culture with slavery just to disparage what is called our old and traditional culture. I am second to none in praising where praise is due. I join the world in paying my tribute to Sophocles and Euripides, Bhasa and Kalidasa, Shakespeare and Milton, Pushkin and Gogol, who are the cream of

Narla V.R.: ART AND SCIENCE of AJANTA AND ELLORA

innaiah (noreply@blogger.com) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:44:00 +0000

V.R. Narla toured extensively in India and abroad. He studied the sculpture, art , architecture. He is very fond of Buddhist art and literature. He compared the Indian architecture to western and eastern countries. Here is the in depth study of Ajanta and Ellora caves by V R Narla ( Narla Venkateswararao) Before your actual visit to Ajanta and Ellora you might have heard for

Narla V.R.: Enjoy Shakespeare - Avoid emulation

innaiah (noreply@blogger.com) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 07:53:00 +0000

Shakespeare, being “myriad-minded”, means many things to many people. So does he to me. To the same person he means different things at different ages. So is the case with me. In my boyhood I was charmed by him when he was introduced to me by Charles and Mary Lamb. While at college he repelled when he was thrust on me as prescribed reading. Later on in life when I sought him out of my

Narla V.R.: V R Narla on culture

innaiah (noreply@blogger.com) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:24:00 +0000

Late V R Narla was a critic of culture who observed different cultural patterns from cosmopolitan angle. Here is one such critique on culture: TRADITIONAL INDIAN CULTURE What is Culture? Culture is, no doubt, a much used, and we may even say often abused, word; but are we all agreed about its meaning, its scope, and its significance? I have yet to come across two definitions of

sowmyawrites .... » Books - English: Durgesh Nandini - Bankim Chandra Chatterjee

vbsowmya — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 14:33:07 +0000

“Durgesh Nandini” is the first Bengali novel written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. Having heard about it first time during school days, I had a perpetual fascination to it. Over a period of time, I read Bankim’s “Anandmath” first and then, his first novel and the only one in English - “Rajmohan’s wife” next. I kept hearing about Durgesh Nandini through online sources periodically. Finally, got a chance to read it now! Thanks to the friend who lent me this book.

I prefer to classify it as a Historical Thriller, if there exists such a genre. It has all the requirements of a thriller novel, full of several twists and turns. Its a tale of the relations and wars between the Mughals, Rajputs and Pathans. Maharaja Mansingh of Amber is assigned the duty of checking the advent of Pathans in to Bengal area by the Mughal emperor Akbar. Pathans already occupied the Orissa area. Jagat Singh, young son of Mansingh is sent on this mission. In this process, he meets Tilottama, the daughter of Virendra Singh, ruler of Ghar Mandaran. Its love at first sight for both of them, though owing to a flash back, its impossible for the marriage to happen, due to a rivalry between Virendra Singh and Man Singh. There are Bimala, the maid of Virendra Singh and Abhiram Swami, his spiritual advisor. In a sudden twist in tale, when Jagat is on a secret meeting with Tilottama in her palace, Pathans attack Virendra singh for not siding with them in the war with Mughals. Jagat is taken captive, despite putting up a valiant fight. Virendra Singh is beheaded by Katlu Khan, the Pathan Ruler. The rest of the story is on how Bimala takes revenge on Katlu Khan. Who is Bimala? Why should a servant maid avenge Virendra Singh’s death? What is the fate of Tilottama? What happens to Jagat - all this form rest of the story.

It appeared to be 200+ pages, but, perhaps the font size was bigger. I read it quicker than expected. The narration style was gripping enough. It was racy and I had the feeling of “what happens next?” all the time, throughout. It had a good dose of History in it too, nevertheless, told in a very interesting way. I don’t know how much of this book is fact and how much of it is fiction, though. One thing that still baffles me is the name - Durgesh Nandini. I don’t know why the book is named so. Further, I expected something else from the novel. Hence, for no mistake of its, I was dissappointed with the novel. But, then, Bankim and “Durgesh Nandini” are enough to drive you in to reading this. The theme and narration will keep you glued to it.

Verdict: Its a very good novel for the first read. Further, it makes you more curious about Bankim and encourages to read more of him.

Book Details:
Name: Durgesh Nandini
Author: Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
English Translation: B.M.Bhalla
Publishers: India Log (www.indialog.co.in)
Cost: 195/-

English thulika: My new book just released

malathi — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:10:40 +0000

I am pleased to announce that an anthology of my short stories in Engish, depicting the people on the lowest rung of the ladder in Andhra Pradesh, India, and their sense of self-worth. Also stories of human nature tracing author’s perceptions of cultural diversity across the world. The book is available on amazon.com and CreateSpace.com. Email to your [...]

sowmyawrites .... » Books - English: Chokher Bali - the book

vbsowmya — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:00:04 +0000

I have been thinking of writing this post for many days now.It needed an idle weekend and computer availability to make this post spring to life, which happened at last! Well, to start it, “Choker Bali” is a novel by Rabindranath Tagore, who needs no introduction to any Indian reader. However, I first knew about Choker Bali as a Rituparno Ghosh movie starring Aishwarya Rai, which was released in 2003. It was only in the movie credits that I came to know that it is a Tagore novel. Since then, I wanted to read the book. Perhaps, I was destined to lay my hands on it only now. Thanks to this wonderful college library, I am able to satiate atleast some of those unfulfilled desires “Chokher Bali” is literally translated as “a grain of sand which causes the eyes to water”. I read this English translation by Sukhendu Ray.

The story primarily revolves around five characters - Mahendra and his wife Asha, Binodini (played by Aishwarya Rai in the movie) and Bihari, Mahendra’s friend and Rajlakshmi, Mahendra’s mother. Mahendra and Bihari both reject to marry Binodini at one point of time. Later, it so happens that Binodini marries and soon is widowed. Then comes Ashalatha. Though initially Bihari was expected to marry her, he sacrifices for Mahendra. All is well…Mahendra is so besotted with Asha that he neglects his studies, though Ashalatha is not so intelligent that she meets Mahendra’s expectations from her intellectually. Now arrives Binodini, on Rajlakshmi’s request. Both of them hail from same place and share some relationship. Binodini and Asha become friends and name their friendship as “Chokher Bali”. They address each other as “Bali”. With the arrival of Binodini, the relationship equations undergo a massive change, owing to the influence of Binodini on Mahendra and Bihari equally. This is the story in brief.

The characterization of Binodini was amazing. I don’t say that she is a good character. But, what fascinated me is the ability with which the character was moulded. It has several complex shades to it. It appeared to me like its impossible to put so many sides of the character, so many deep feelings inside her on to paper. But, then, Tagore did that and did that so smoothly, I did not at any point feel that the language is difficult. The book left me thinking about Binodini and trying to understand her behavior, for the following 2,3 days after reading it. I thought about the respective characters, their behaviors and their reactions to various scenarios again and again in the days that followed. I think this is an important characteristic of a well-written novel.

Verdict : I will not hesitate to read this novel again, if I get a chance.

Well, destiny has it that I am reading all well-written novels these days. Hence, readers can be sure that I did not lose my nitpicking ability yet. Or perhaps, I am not as demanding a reader that I was a few weeks back or perhaps, I fell in to the Bengali trap

Book Details:
Name: Chokher Bali
Author: Tagore
English Translation: Sukhendu Ray
Publishers: Rupa & Co
Price: around 200/-

sowmyawrites .... » Books - English: Chowringhee - Sankar

vbsowmya — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:39:55 +0000

“Chowringhee” is the English translation of a Bengali novel with the same name. The Bengali version was released way back in 1962, though it took more than 40 years for the English translation to actually happen. The story of how this English translation finally got released as a book is in itself a good story, which made me even more curious about the book. Bengali writers hardly dissappoint me and “Sankar”, the author of Chowringhee is no exception. I liked the simplicity of the novel and narration. I want to read more of Mani Sankar Mukherjee alias Sankar now

“Chowringhee” is the story of life at “Hotel Shahjahan”, a famous hotel in Kolkata. Sankar is a new recruit in to this hotel. The story is about various people in the life of Sankar, life at Shahjahan, relationships and has a bit of history too. Everyone has several stories to say. Everybody is a world in themselves. These several worlds exist in co-relation with one another, bound by the threads of relationships. In the same way, every place has some history associated with it and will be having several stories to say. However, lifeless as it is, it remains a mute witness to everything that happens around it. It speaks through those people who have long standing association with it. I would prefer to call that kind of people historians too. Indeed, they are the only sources of unwritten history, insignificant and inconsequential in a more worldly sense.

Narration was very gripping. Sata Bose, Karabi Guha, Sujatha, Marco, Byron, Rosie, Connie, Lambretta, Anindo, Mrs Prakarshi etc - all these characters came in to life in front of me as I progressed through the novel. I am still able to visualize some scenes, as I think of any one of the characters. All the characters were so full of life to me that, I was affected when Karabi died, when fate played diabolically with Sata Bose, when I “saw” Connie and Lambretta’s story-every significant event in the plot had some effect on me. I think I need not say more words in its praise. If its giving the reader a visual-feel to this extent, I don’t think anymore more needs to be expected from a well-written novel.
Its simple to the core and its about normal lives. Thats the best pat of it. Yeah, surely you can get enough insights in to the lives of Hotel staff too. You can get an idea of what lives of hotel staff will be like. Translation was good and pleasing to read. Arunava Sinha did a great job in translating the feelings not just in to English…but to the non-Bengali readers too

Purchase Details:
Chowringhee
Author: Sankar
Translator: Arunava Sinha
Publishers: Penguin
Published in : 2007
Pages: 420
Cost: Rs 295/-
Penguin India page for the book here.

Narla V.R.: Man and his world

innaiah (noreply@blogger.com) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:56:00 +0000

Great sayings of V R Narla (Narla Venkateswararao emerged as great thinker and writer as he grew in age and mind.He reflected on global aspects and reflected under the title Man and his World.He would have changed the title as humans and world , which includes both men and women) MAN AND HIS WORLD THE WORLD The world is real, very much real, a thousand times more real than the philosophers

Narla V.R.: Thoughts of Narla V.R.

innaiah (noreply@blogger.com) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:07:00 +0000

GODS, GOBLINS AND MEN THOUGHTS OF NARLA V.R. (Narla Venkateswara rao expressed his thoughts on various subjects. Some of them are aphoristic and powerful. Here are some such ideas) POWER OF THOUGHT The thought of man is all-powerful and all-pervasive. How else could it have conceived an all-powerful and all-pervasive God? WHAT IS MYSTERIOUS Is what is yet to be probed by the human mind.

Narla V.R.: V.R.Narla as Parliament member( Rajya Sabha)

innaiah (noreply@blogger.com) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:25:00 +0000

Role of V. R. NARLA in RAJYA SABHA Shri Narla was the Member of the Rajya Sabha for two terms from 1958 to 1970. Shri Narla used to travel to Delhi and back after his election as Member of Rajya Sabha. He participated in the discussions on subjects of interest. They are limited. Some of them may be cited as examples. On 16th December 1960, he spoke on the proposal for appointment of