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Shedding the
stereotypes
Reviewed by Bhupinder Brar
Hasan Suroor, India’s Muslim Spring: Why is Nobody Talking about It?
Rainlight/Rupa, New Delhi, 2014. Pages xv+200.
Rs 395
This
is a tiny little book. But if the book is small, the author
offers in it an extremely inviting thesis. It is so inviting indeed
that even if one were to find it unconvincing, one would still wish it
gets thoroughly debated rather than dismissed out of hand.
The
last decade of Nehru’s life
Reviewed by M Rajivlochan
Jawaharlal Nehru: A biography. Vol three. 1956-1964
by Sarvepalli Gopal. Oxford University Press, New Delhi.
Pages 336. Rs 2,250 for all 3 volumes
The
third and final volume of Gopal’s grand biography of Nehru
deals with the last decade of his life. By this time the euphoria of
Independence had begun to wear off. The economic spurt, a consequence
of being rid of the British yoke, had started levelling off. Indians
had begun to get a feel of what it means to be on their own without
being subdued by a garrison state. The results did not seem pleasing,
especially since the State in India now came to be hijacked by local
interest groups that showed none of the altruistic traits that had
marked the freedom struggle generation. Nehru, Gopal says, was warned
of this kind of hijacking by his son-in-law, Feroze Gandhi. The Prime
Minister preferred to protect the wrong-doers. When Feroze blew up the
financial scandals in Parliament and forced the Finance Minister to
resign Nehru did not know how to react. He persisted in protecting
those on whom he had reposed his faith.
Survey
of Sikh viewpoint
Reviewed by Dharmendra Goel
Sikhism: Continuity of Indian Culture
by Nirbhai Singh.
Kalpaz Publications. Pages 320. Rs 950
The
book desires to interpret the Guru Granth Sahib as it
has put together hymns of Guru Nanak, Kabir and several other bhagats
and saints. The study wishes to review its religious, spiritual
and ethical opinions.
Rowling’s
new ageing Potter
JK
Rowling has written a
new story on her Pottermore fan website, revealing what Harry,
Hermione and Ron look like in their thirties. Set
during the Quidditch World Cup final, the story takes the form of a
newspaper gossip column written by Daily Prophet reporter Rita Skeeter.
Unearthing
facts on the Manu Smriti
Reviewed by Kuldip Singh Dhir
Ancient History of India: Manusmriti Revisited
by Dr Charles J.Naegele
D.K. Printworld. Pages 220, Rs 550
Most
of the people know Manusmriti for all that is bad in the
Indian caste system. Dr Charles J. Naegele has closely examined it as
a historical document. He re-dates its composition, elucidates its
contents and establishes its space-time connections in the cultural
history of India. He points out its theoretical position vis-a-vis Rig
Veda, conjectures about its wide ranging influence on the ancient
legal codes of the world, thus, providing new and thought-provoking
insights into ancient Indian history.
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