Page 65 - 31JAN2018E

theStack THE TECHNICOLOUR OF

THE SOUTHERN INDIA
Blue eclipse and Other stOries The stories in Muthuswamy’s Bullocks from the West
By Rishi Kakanadan; HarperCollins are representative of an invaluable pause for people
living in urban India
Blue Eclipse is a collection of 14 stories by one of the flag-bearers
of modernist Malayalam literature, George Varghese Kakanadan In the vIllage of PunjaI, the ordinary is magi-
(1935-2011). It has been translated from Malayalam cal. A boy can’t wait until the two bullocks are
by journalist Rishi Kakanadan. If Blue Eclipse is an broken in before he rides them. There is a widow
untrammelled exploration of surreal ideas, “Time- who emerges like a ghost from the village pond
worn” is a simple tale of nostalgia that takes shape every day. And a delusional old man relives the
on a retired school teacher’s last day of life. Through Chola age, like it were just yesterday, sitting at the
an artist torn between his search for enlighten- tea stall. There is the devadasi Panchali, too, who
ment and the magic of his model’s physical beauty, volunteers to play Draupadi in a ritual disrob-
“Sreechakram” reflects on the Hindu philosophies ing at the temple. In Na Muthuswamy’s telling,
of dualism and non-duality, while “Madness” and the mundane shines with meaning and mystery.
“Sunshine” talk about sex and the power of women The book is brought to a powerful close with his
in completely different circumstances. The book also iconic play England, which examines the nature
features an interview with the iconic novelist, which was published of our struggle against colonial rule. It mocks the
in Mathrubhumi weekly in March 2009. inequality that followed Independence; freedom
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- came but not to all.
“Panchali” is a commen-
duryOdhanizatiOn tary as well as an evocative
By Nishant Uppal; Penguin tale of a village devdasi -- a
woman offered to a temple
Claiming that Duryodhana was a man of strong and often driven to “so-
character and integrity, Shakuni was a simple cially sanctioned” prostitu-
man who loved his subjects unconditionally and tion — who plays the role
Dhana Nanda, Aurangzeb and Hitler possessed of Panchali as part of a
admirable leadership traits, “Duryodhanization” popular village ritual.
asks the readers: Are villains born, made or made The story examines the
up? It refers to the birth and processes of develop- now-outlawed devdasi
ment of a villainous character — whether in works custom, which was a com-
of history or mythology. In this book, Uppal ekes mon practice in Southern
out the dark side of management and leadership states, in the context of a
by studying fascinating characters from the Ma- temple procession which
habharata. He probes what it really means to be a goes out of control. Factual
villain, and if villainous traits are inherent or cultivated. Touching nuggets — like how the date for the ritual where
upon personality traits like Machiavellianism, narcissism, psy- the devdasi is expected to perform was fixed after
chopathy, neuroticism and sadism, the book draws from history, ascertaining when she was due for her monthly
mythology and literature, and unpacks the process of villainisa- periods — makes for fascinating reading as well
tion through the character of the legendary villain, Duryodhana as underlines the quality of observation and
------------------------------------------------------------------------- research conducted by the writer. The menstrual
period is significant because Panchali was un-
chanakya in the classrOOm: life lessOns fOr students dergoing this when she was ordered to present
By Radhakrishnan Pillai; Speaking Tiger herself to the gambling arena where the Panda-
vas had already “lost” her to Duryodhana.
Written by the bestselling author of the Chanakya Series, which Muthuswamy’s writing draws on the ancient
includes the Corporate Chanakya, Chanakya In the Classroom seeks folk performative texts of Therukkoothu as well
to present some of the principles and suggestions given by “the as the idiom of contemporary theatre from
most revered teacher and observer of human nature” across the world. His lyrical prose, distinctive
that work best for students. Culled from one of the gaze, layered narrative, memorable characters,
sharpest minds in Indian philosophy and economy, the overlapping of dream and reality, and the
the nuggets offer to make Chanakya’s teachings intense atmospherics of his storytelling make Mu-
accessible to everyone. The book systematically ad- thuswamy’s body of work perhaps the best that
dresses the most common issues faced by students, contemporary Tamil fiction has to offer. Master-
and seeks to help in concentration, purpose, learning, fully translated by David Shulman — one of the
discipline, awareness, devotion, duty and responsi- foremost experts on Indian languages, and author
bilities. Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai is a certified manage- of Tamil: A Biography — and S. Ramakrishnan,
ment consultant from the International Institute of Bullocks from the West is a fine introduction to
Management Consultants. one of India’s most powerful writers today.

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