I have been asked by some of my friends to review the books that I read, so that they can form an opinion on them and then read those. So here is the first of my reviews:
For an Englishman born in Calcutta and having been an 'India' correspondent for BBC for more than two decades, it wouldn't be out of place to describe Mark Tully as three quarters Indian. His writings always reveal an underlying Love for the country that even many Indians cannot manage. Though there is the odd comparision to British or western practices and customs, the book celebrates India in a way that only Mark Tully can describe. Be it the elaborate settings for the Kumbh Mela, or the torrid tales of the Amritsar and Ahmedabad riots, he weaves his writings in such a way that the reader gets a feeling of being there when it happened. What strikes most is his impartial way of putting things, be it by design or by chance. The most interesting that I found were the chapters on the Deorala Sati and the Defeat of a Congressman. In The Defeat of a Congressman, the way he describers the fall of Digvijay Singh, destined for big heights in politics, into an also ran for the Congress party, brings a feeling of helplessness and hatred towards the way politics is run in this country. The chapter on Communism in Calcutta brings the reality of the fall of communism all around the world, and how those in Calcutta are clinging to the last vestiges of power. Even though written in 1991, the book brings a sense of foreboding for the communists, describing the rot that had sent into their government even then. Its only surprising that it has taken almost 20 years for the government to fall even after such suffering of the people. This goes a long way in saying about India's political system. The Chapter on 'return of the Artist' describes the plight on the traditional arts and crafts in the country, with a glimpse into the life of India's tribals.
Whats common to all these articles is that all of them are his own life experiences, and all of them have described bribery and corruption in one form or the other. The ineptitude of the government also stands out in most of them, making one believe that he is government bashing - but anyone who has lived in India for any significant amount of time will vouch for the fact that what has been mentioned is sad, but true. Where he so much succeeds is that he has made the commonplace mingle with the most bizarre, with a small bit of humour and exaggeration that is essential when someone is writing on India.
All in all, it is a book that is as entertaining as it is enlightening, and I would definitely recommend it to all Indophiles and also all people who like good writing.
Rating : 4/5
Book : No full stops in India
Author : Mark Tully
Genre : Non fiction
Author : Mark Tully
Genre : Non fiction
For an Englishman born in Calcutta and having been an 'India' correspondent for BBC for more than two decades, it wouldn't be out of place to describe Mark Tully as three quarters Indian. His writings always reveal an underlying Love for the country that even many Indians cannot manage. Though there is the odd comparision to British or western practices and customs, the book celebrates India in a way that only Mark Tully can describe. Be it the elaborate settings for the Kumbh Mela, or the torrid tales of the Amritsar and Ahmedabad riots, he weaves his writings in such a way that the reader gets a feeling of being there when it happened. What strikes most is his impartial way of putting things, be it by design or by chance. The most interesting that I found were the chapters on the Deorala Sati and the Defeat of a Congressman. In The Defeat of a Congressman, the way he describers the fall of Digvijay Singh, destined for big heights in politics, into an also ran for the Congress party, brings a feeling of helplessness and hatred towards the way politics is run in this country. The chapter on Communism in Calcutta brings the reality of the fall of communism all around the world, and how those in Calcutta are clinging to the last vestiges of power. Even though written in 1991, the book brings a sense of foreboding for the communists, describing the rot that had sent into their government even then. Its only surprising that it has taken almost 20 years for the government to fall even after such suffering of the people. This goes a long way in saying about India's political system. The Chapter on 'return of the Artist' describes the plight on the traditional arts and crafts in the country, with a glimpse into the life of India's tribals.
Whats common to all these articles is that all of them are his own life experiences, and all of them have described bribery and corruption in one form or the other. The ineptitude of the government also stands out in most of them, making one believe that he is government bashing - but anyone who has lived in India for any significant amount of time will vouch for the fact that what has been mentioned is sad, but true. Where he so much succeeds is that he has made the commonplace mingle with the most bizarre, with a small bit of humour and exaggeration that is essential when someone is writing on India.
All in all, it is a book that is as entertaining as it is enlightening, and I would definitely recommend it to all Indophiles and also all people who like good writing.
Rating : 4/5
