Page 63 - English Tehelka Issue 6 - March 31, 2018

Book review

question my teachers on their teaching, Mythology made easy: ries by presenting present locations
on course planning, on the direction in where the particular incidents might
which the industry was headed. And, Getting to know Brahma, have taken place. For example, Shiva
more often than not they found what dropped the fifth head of Brahma in
I said quite insightful and honest. I Varanasi (thus founding the city) af-
think my days as a student inspire me Shiva and Vishnu ter smoting it off in a fight. Also, Kashi
to become a tutor. And I did design and became famous as the place where
teach a course in pattern-cutting for Ganga came pouring out of Shiva’s
menswear for The University of Fash- In her new book, Sudha Murty provides answers to head during the battle of Gajasura.
ion in the autumn after graduation. Indeed, The Man From the Egg has
And, I do plan to return to teach very common questions about Indian mythology and the many gems for readers who are in-
soon.” So here we have a hands-on guy Gods by taking us back to the bedtime stories of our terested in understanding the stories
who wants to prepare the next genera- childhood, BedaSree daS writes behind many places as well as cus-
tion. Truly, Rishabh is a mix of old ideals toms. One of the chapters on Vishnu
and values and new sensibilities. narrates the story of how the tulsi
Once you get to know that, it doesn’t indu mythology is ries. What the book essentially does plant came to be worshiped among
come as a surprise that he is vegetar- known for its fas - is to effortlessly answer some of the Hindus. Another explains why Shiva
ian, a yoga practitioner and fluent cinating narratives most common questions that contin- is worshiped as Ardhanarishvara, a
in Sanskrit. I cant think of any other spun around a multi- ue to intrigue us. So, if you are among half man and half woman form, carv-
designer who is fluent in Sanskrit. “My tude of philosophical the ones who still wonder why Shiva ings of which can still be found in the
study of Sanskrit does not make me any H thoughts. While the has a snake wrapped around his neck Badami caves in Karnataka.
more or less Indian, it just enables me stories mostly follow an inconsistent or are unable to figure why Brahma While the whole of Murty’s book
to broaden my understanding of lin- thread, what binds them is the core has four heads, grabbing a copy of revolves around the trinity, its chap-
guistics. As an advocate of yoga, animal encompassing the trinity — Brahma, this book would be the right choice. ters are divided into three parts —
rights, and vegetarianism in fashion, I Vishnu and Mahesh. Interestingly, What is interesting about the book Omkara Swarupa, Satyam Shivam
feel it is important to substantiate my each account of the trinity offers only is that it draws relevance to the sto- Sundaram and Sambhamami Yuge
ideology, both as a designer and an in- a rough sketch of the characters and Yuge each focusing on Brahma, Shi-
dividual. Sanskrit does that for me from the elements that define their identi- va and Vishnu, respectively. While
all ethos, pathos and logos standpoints. ty. In her book, The Man From The Egg: almost all the stories have an inde-
Its rich vocabulary, immersive litera- Unusual Tales About The Trinity, author The Man froM pendent context, it is advisable to
ture, and time-honoured fables are Sudha Murty, dives directly into these The egg: read them in order to get a better
deeply piercing. I count on Sanskrit as situation, for he added, “As far as de- microscopic characteristics that el- UnUsUal Tales understanding of the flow and the
an incontrovertible strength in my life mographic goes, my designs are quite evate the trinity from mere mortal froM The past characters. The Man from the
as a designer,” he claims. wide-ranging. They attract everyone beings. But do Gods cheat, too? Do TriniTy Egg makes for an interesting read
Going through his resume, I find from drag queens, socialites, auction- they make mistakes and do they fight by Sudha Murty because of its clear and comprehen-
that Rishabh has worked on tailoring eers to dandies”. for power? This book surely answers Puffin books sible language. In fact, it is a good at-
and fitting for celebrities. I ask if he can Dandies! ‘Gandhi Dandy’ was a term these right from the first page. 200 pp; 250 tempt at compressing the tedious
talk about some of that experience, I had seen in his papers. It intrigued me. The Man from the Egg is a light mythological tales into crisp stories,
wondering that while his creations that The craftsmen in “Yes. MK Gandhi was indeed a dandy hearted children’s book, both in especially helpful for those who read
I had seen virtually fitted that demo- although nobody acknowledges him as context and weight. It is a simple on the go. What is interesting is that
graphic well, but were those numbers Kashmir, or the thus. He used the consistency, the so- collection of short stories derived while the author maintains the crux
large enough? “One of my most exciting embroidery masters briety, and the power of his clothing, or from mythological incidents revolv- of the divine characters, she tries to
work projects was to alter garments lack of it as some would argue, to make ing around characters and customs add the human aspect to their ac-
for the likes of Nicki Minaj and J. Lopez. in Madras, are poorly a very powerful statement. As I said, from Hindu folklore like Rakshashas, tions. So, while the Gods might not
It was indeed very unnerving sewing compensated but fashion more often than not has a pen- Asuras, Brahmins, Kings and a lot of necessarily cheat, they do have the
those garments for a multi-million etrative ability to reflect the nature of tapasyas. It would be fair to say that habit of manipulating their blessings,
dollar shoot. I saw the importance of greatly revered. our times. And Gandhi, much like many the award-winning author finds especially for their Asura devotees.
perfection. The need to strive to be the One of fashion’s dandies, used his clothing as a means most of her inspirations from child- After all they have the bigger task
best version I could be in the moment, to curate his socio-political stance,” he hood stories and, hence, makes it of maintaining the right balance on
as people more often than not putting greatest paradoxes said convincingly. Well, that is a differ- a book focused on re-telling ep- Earth, Heaven and even Hell. How do
their best foot forward regardless of is that value is in the ent take on Gandhi if ever there was ics than one fetched from original they do that? Murty’s tales about the
their stature in the industry,” he said. one. Wonder what the Mahatma would ideas. However, while The Man from trinity should help reveal the tricks
It seems that Rishabh takes back from product, not in the say to it! the Egg does not vouch for factual up their sleeves.
every experience the best it has to offer people who make it authenticity, what it does present is a
without losing site of the reality of the letters@tehelka.com refreshing take on the age-old sto- letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 31 march 2018 62 www.Tehelka.com

60-62 Column-Arshiya Sethi.indd 4 14/03/18 5:30 PM 63 Book Review.indd 3 14/03/18 5:30 PM