By Pragyansharma Polavarapu
(1)
ADMIRATION
FOR CLASSICAL OLD ENGLISH LITERATURE
I write a few
more lines about my very limited reading achievements in the field of old
classical English literature(Shakespeare, Dr Johnson, William Wordsworth etc). I
write about a few English books of
high literary merit which I luckily read and which secured permanent place on library
racks and in readers’ hearts. Some are mentioned below.
(a)The immortal works
of Shakespeare with their old medieval world charm and
majestic movement of words and phrases and
glorious spiritual/philosophic
/poetic meaning sometimes lively and optimistic and sometimes sad.
(b) The immortal works of William
Wordsworth containing great and sublime nature descriptions .
Descriptions of gentle smiling nature fill the poet’s canvas.
( c ) The beautiful novels of Sir
Walter Scott in which pen pictures of knights
and daring heroic warriors riding the horse at wind speed, sometimes kidnapping
a loved woman in a heroic warrior fashion, sometimes rescuing a
kidnapped wrongfully confined woman etc. The warriors are seen (i.e. described ) galloping
on steeds at wind speed going on
reckless rescue missions , passing thick forests, hills
and dales and passing beside fast streams or placid lakes.
(d) The novels of famed Jane Austen
describing beautiful home scenes just as in modern day TV serials .Weaving
stories as none other can, with feminine charm and at the same time criticizing faults of society with a sharp
mind.
(e)Thomas Hardy painting (with his
pen) most beautiful old rural scenes ,building
plots like an expert mason and weaving tragic stories as expertly and poetically as the
ancient Greek dramatists
(f)John
Galsworthy in his simple easy modern racy English
language demonstrating beauty of modern English, and writing with a
kind and cultured mind and feeling heart . He creates modern day scenes of urban family life with all its multitudinous difficult
problems and happy scenes. He keeps us fully and firmly in
modern urban world (which we are now seeing on a vast scale everywhere in India and Asia) and pulls us completely out of medieval sceneries. Just
read the stylish,simple,voluminous “Foresyte saga”.
I can not also forget Robin Hood ,
Treasure Island , Prisoner of Zenda, Prince and Pauper and Robinson Crusoe. I
read the first two novels decades back
,clearly 50 years back, and in
unabridged form.
There was a great “District Central Library” quite near to our house within walking
distance. It was like a silent university
functioning in three or four halls. The racks and almirahs
contained a few thousand books which
were mines of knowledge. I read the first two novels(Robin Hood and Treasure
Island) in abridged editions at least two times each . I can proudly say
I read fully the unabridged wonderful novel Robinson
Crusoe-- Everyman’s library cloth-bound edition . It is such a wonderful
philosophical novel of a brave lonely shipwrecked soldier living in
a cave in a forest for a
long period . I saw the full length celluloid versions of Treasure Island and
Prisoner of Zenda on internet.
The wonderful thing I note in English
novels is long nature descriptions of indescribable beauty almost in every old
classical novel –whether Thomas Hardy, RL Stevenson, Sir Walter Sscott or
Daniel Defoe or even Sir Arthur Connon Doyle. It perhaps indirectly indicates
that Britain has a mild weather and is a
land of vast greenery and frequent rain. The bulky novel Sir Nigel though fully filled with medieval
world environment is very readable.
The stories of all the classic novels without
exception have cultured environment. Though there is fighting and violence ,the scenes are not ludicrous as in modern TV and cinema products . A few lifetimes may
perhaps be required to completely read the unabridged editions of
classical novels (cloth bound editions of Everyman’s library etc )
Discussing about old English
books gives me great personal pleasure and joy and
leads me to reminisce about my old
reading habit — reading the children’s novels about sea adventures and pirates like “ Treasure Island” by R.L.S tevenson.I
read it several times with great enjoyment .
Let me submit to my readers, most
respectfully, my undiminished interest in old English
lore. My main interest in life is science and technology as I am a graduate
of physics. But I joined a job unrelated
to science and this gave a sharp turn to
my thinking. Now onwards ,in spite of my job being unrelated to science , I started
and continued reading for years “popular science- type” books on subjects such as nuclear physics, space
technology, gravity physics and computer science . Joining a job
unrelated to science depressed me for years but I partly overcame it by reading popular science books, reading
science in online encyclopedias ,science journals etc. Here I may add a small
story. Having missed the engineering college I missed becoming an engineer or
scientist and instead joined a commercial department, the posts and telegraphs
department. I joined with an idea of resigning after an year but continuedfor
30 years in it . I developed wonderful
life-long friendships there and enjoyed a life of great intellectual freedom compared to my prison-like bookish
environment. During that period 30 years ago,in one tenure of four full years, I
worked as post master of the big post
office situated in the campus of a reputed
institute of technology(a high grade engineering institute). I got acquainted
with many lecturers and junior professors
who were amused about my deep interest
in physics and chemistry . I could even see some laboratories and engineering
workshops --of course in their presence and when no classes were being held.
For me the engineering institute was like a fairy land. Then on I trained
myself as a small popular science writer
for children by reading on line science encyclopedias and intermediate level science books to refresh my
knowledge. My daughter was already using
a computer in the house. Now I have my
own blog on science, history, philosophy and English literature.
In a word I may say that after science
my entire interest exists in English literature. It grew on like an endless
appetite. There is really no time for
reading books when one is in a busy government job from morning to
evening --- checking monetary vouchers on line on computer network and clicking
“enter” to record the transaction in the central computer’s digital brain.
Sometimes we had to minutely examine a
transaction and decide on the legality and accounting aspects with the aid of the fat ruling manuals(now
available on line) . My mornings
on many days in those times of government service decades
ago (when use of computer was in infancy)were spent in
glancing newspapers for international and scientific news, reading one or
two editorial articles, science articles etc.i also followed sports
news and developments on economic and industrial scenes both at national and international level .
(2)
THE INDO-ANGLICAN CONTRIBUTION
In the big district central library
which I mentioned there were great books in English by Indian
authors and Indian philosophers and statesmen like
Rabindranath Tagore, Swamy Vivekananda, Aurobindo Ghosh,
Dr Radhakrishnan ,Jawaharlal Nehru,C.Rajagopala chari and other
most distinguished scholars and intellectuals . There were
great writers like Anand Koomaraswamy ( “Dance of Shiva”), Raja Rao
(“Serpent and the rope”),RK Narayan creator of Malgudi village in his immortal
novels. I only glanced through a few pages of some books. But I read
autobiographies of Mahatma Gandhi (My Experiments with Truth), Rabindranath
Tagore and Jawaharlal Nehru in full. They are internationally famous. There are
many Indo-Anglican writers. Who can forget Mulk Raj Anand’s short story “The
Lost Child”, Dr Rabindranath Tagore’s “Babus of Nayanjore”or “Hungry
Stones” or his complex novel “Gora”. All the above
works were in English and gained fame at international
level.
I should also speak about our Indian language
books.There are (too) numberless books of very high literary quality and beauty
in Indian languages. Most dealt in an extremely beautiful artistic and
sensitive way with the Indian poverty and illiteracy, caste and social
disparities and social exploitation and sometimes painted pen pictures of the
conservative society and some of the high moral principles that guided rural India since2000 years . when college educated
indians started thinking about the state of poverty-ridden indian society ,they
started writing essays and poems in
vernacular newspapers and writing short stories and novels in vernacular
languages. such social problems were first discussed mainly in literature in Indian languages---as in novels of Sarath Chandra chatterji and Munshi
Prem Chand . the books went through
several prints . They were translated
into all major languages of India .
None in india is unfamiliar with Dr Tagore’s Nobel Prize winning Geethanjali ,a
book of poems of extreme beauty with deep philosophic undertones and is justly famous
in world English literature. Dr
Rajagopala Chary’s English Ramayan and Mahabharatha ,famous for their moral and
philosophical depth, were reportedly
used in some American universities
as supplementary readers. Dr Rajagopalachary( the last Governor-General
of India just before India became Republic) has a razor sharp mind and explains the relevance of the stories in
the epics to modern India’s muti-ethnic
situation. These two mythological epics shaped the Hindu mind (in ways of philosophy and art) for 2000
years.
There are scores of great authors and sharp minds in modern Indian languages. One wishes they
also focus their sharp minds on subjects
like economy, science and technology, foreign affairs ,atmospheric pollution, world militarism, nuclear wars, world
trade ,world peace etc instead of composing only love poems and unrealistic fairy stories.
All major Indian languages
have great traditional literature, (mainly based on the
mythologies),developed since more than one thousand years. however the terminology is tough laced with Sanskrit
to a high degree and has to be
modernized . In all Indian languages a standardized and very simple people’s version
of spoken language should be developed. Such a standard version of spoken language
has to be used (a) for university teaching ,(2) in teaching of science and in science
research and thesis writing .But it is also extremely important that there
should be only one set of highly standardized technical/scientific terms for entire
India to keep Indian scholarship and science thinking and science writing
unified.such highly standardized science/technology terms for entire india can
be in simple Sanskrit.Much attention is being focused on this matter by
sharpest minds in india.
English language, since
times of Dr Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) was simplified, modernized
and standardized . Dr Johnson himself led this standardization process .Many
other outstanding linguists and writers and essayists were inspired and
followed him. Let us hope that such efforts in all major
Indian languages also take place to develop standardized spoken versions. Luckily
the most powerful media of cinema and TV are already playing a leading giant
size part in creating very simple sweet
versions of all major Indian languages. Such modernization of spoken languages is urgently
necessary to speed up progress of modern Indian languages to make
all literature accessible to all sections
of people .I may again add
that we have great poets and thinkers
of unparalleled scholarship ,talent and artistic sensitivity in modern India . While
saint Valmiki , the great incomparable poet Kalidasa and such brains adorned
literature of ancient India, we have
great authors like Rabindranath Tagore
in modern Indian literature . Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi had great admiration for each other . Tagore was also a
guide and philosopher to Jawaharlal Nehru the first Prime Minister of independent
India. One wishes and prays that the modern Indian writers write serious material about necessity of a
new moral world culture and about high morality, equality
and scientific reasoning and not solely love poetry and unreal
dreamy fantasies.
(3)
AGAIN THE GREAT OLD ENGLISH BOOKS
I
recollect again for my spiritual pleasure
some classical English works of literature which
continues to dazzle the world with their beauty. Some books I only
half read and glanced through first
fifty or hundred pages. I read only concize stories of some
novels. I studied literary reviews. Now in these
TV/computer/Internet days, I read and follow dozens of
short reviews of books national and international. Though my first interest continues to be science--(physics,chemistry,space
science,computer science etc)--- English literature mainly old English
literature attracts me greatly.
My reading in English is very
limited . I first mention about my
undiminished attraction for English poetry ---Wordsworth( ex:-The Solitary
Reaper, Lucy Gray), John Keats ( ex:-the wonderful poem “La Belle Dame sans
Merci”),Lord Tennyson ,the poet laureate of his time ( ex:-Lady
Clare ,Lotus Eaters ),
Percy B.Shelley(EX:-“Wild West Wind” and “Skylark”), the famed critic
Mathew Arnold ( :-“The Forsaken Merman) . I also remember well two other poems.
One is the poem full of music “Song for St Cecilia’s Day 1687” . It
was written by the great poet John Dryden (1631-1700),poet
laureate of England of his time. The other is “The Deserted Village “ by Oliver
Goldsmith (1728-1774)—a poem about how village crafts were inundated and destroyed
when the Industrial Revolution descended. We find a very similar situation
in modern India now (as described by Oliver Goldsmith).
While writing of classical English
literature , all our praise goes to the great William
Shakespeare—one of the greatest writers of world. John Milton too is such a
forceful author with a spiritual and moralistic Puritan base . I fully
read end to end some good classical books — Sir Nigel ,Treasure Island,
Robinson Crusoe, Pride and Prejudice, Mayor of Castorbridge, Razor’s Edge, Foresyte Saga. I read
a large part of the voluminous Russian novel “ War and Peace” of Count Leo
Tolstoy (translated into all major languages of the world). The great Russian
writer-philosopher is considered as one of the greatest writers of
world. The book reminds us of the great
ancient Indian epic Mahabharata . The Russian novel too has stories
of both happy and troubled times in lives of princes in an all pervading aristocratic/militarist
environment . First a big
section on princely life, feasts, royal splendor. Then a descent into war resulting in great sadness filling reader’s mind with philosophical musings. The novel shows
how even princely splendor gets
transformed in to sadness and mental emptiness . There are philosophical musings
and suggestions applicable to all human
society.
I read a big bulky book “ Mary,Queen
of Scots” which told of the tragic story of the young
rebellious Scottish queen . In the period when Queen Elizabeth ,the First ruled England in 16th century ,she
was suspected of plotting for throne of
England and was sentenced to
death and was beheaded . It was all a story of royal plots and quick happenings . I read the book five decades ago
and the stories still float in my mind.
I read some parts of sir Winston
Churchil’s “History of Second World War”( in three or four
volumes I remember ). It contains rare declassified
war documents and declassified war photos . The author and compiler was Mr. Churchill himself. To read it is a
great experience. I also read another little book “Military history of World War
Two” published in several parts—full of declassified war photos. It was a most wonderful book of military
history—not forgotten even after five
decades.
I read some science fiction novels
of HG Wells and Jules Verne in full –“Shape of Things to Come”, “The Time Machine”, “A Journey to center of Earth” end to end. They
were read five decades ago .The futuristic ideas in them quite fascinate though they are mostly of
pre-computer era. It is said that it was Jules Verne’s idea to put communication satellites in earth orbit to
broadcas radio signals to earth.
*******
All my reading was possible
because of a magnificent “District Central Library “ near to our house in a
district town near south Indian city of Hyderabad. It was a gold mine of
English books suitable even for university research scholars. It had nice buildings
with three or four big halls, long pillared verandas with dozens cabinets with bulky
tomes and paperbacks,encyclopedias and other reference books. Above all there
were steel racks full of cloth bound
English novels. The sight of them created appetite in me to read all old
English novels . The books were so nicely printed.
There was an equally huge section of
Telugu language works of great excellence. We had national and international
journals. Later an Internet section with a dozen computer terminals was added to introduce students to “surfing”.
Now surfing is a big international
intellectual activity and has invaded even
children’s schools and the home front. The laptop, the i-pad and the digital
“cell phone” have made surfing so easy. There are now computers in every house . Now “surfing” is
everywhere—in buses,cars, trains and on streets . The police in every city of
world have also identified a new secretive crime route in this surfing .The
police are after the “ big expert surfers” to check whether they are doing any
secretinve harmful activities . The police too have become expert computer
operators to control surfing which is turning in some cases into a dangerous disease.
Our district library was a heaven like reading place . I remember I visted
it almost daily for about 2.5 decades –first as college student and then as
visitor at the end of strenuous office work to unwind and enter ordinary world
in a fully refreshed way.
I “came across” great novelists only
in the library hall --- Tolstoy, John Galsworthy , Thomas
Hardy , Charles Dickens , Sir Walter Scott , Somerset Maugham , Jane
Austen etc . I read some work of Dr Samuel Johnson one of the
builder of modern English language . I read the famous biography of Dr
Johnson by James Boswell . I cannot forget Sir Roger de Coverly --
not any real person but an imaginary eccentric character who
frequented the famed imaginary “Spectator Club”. Addisson and Steele
the great essayists wrote wonderful
essays in sweet and majestic classical
prose and by making the Spectator Club popular in literature, helped
create modern English style. There are other
great modern essayists creating nice modern English
styles like AG Gardner, Robert Lynd etc .I came across their essays in my
college years in the prescribed compilations. I just read one or two
poems of Rupert Brooke (1887-1915) a famed poet of time of first
World War who died very young . He was a very sensitive poetic minded person.
He fought in the war in British army.He was deeply affected by the tragedy of
the colossal world war. His poems
possess flower like sensitivity. I remember reading the most
beautiful poem “Silver” by Walter De La Mare. I read it now in internet and
find the small poem so enchanting. “Silver fruit on silver
tree…” “Silver claws and a silver eye…”
(4)
AMERICAN LITERATURE
Then who can forget the great American
authors-- the Wild West novels and novels dealing with American wars
with Red Indians. I write only from the
literary point of view .We come across many valiant
fearless Red Indians in the novels . I can not forget the travel
diary “Oregon Trail”(1804) the story of a military/scientific
expedition to the old Oregon territory near the west coast of United
States ordered by the then President of
United States. It is a most wonderful travel diary in wild territory and among
red Indian tribes people. It is still a widely enjoyable readable book with
adventurous journeys in wild territory .
I only glanced
through works of great authors like Nathaniel Hawthorne ,Walt Whitman and
Edgar Ellen Poe and I realized their great strengths even from my incomplete
reading of their books. However I am happy to say that I read
“Huckleberry Finn” most completely! It is a most enjoyable story written in a
rather colloquial style by Mark Twain . It describes the beautiful childish
ebullient mentality of a mischievous little village boy! I have only
vague remembrance of the book now after five decades. I read a few pages of
Ralph Waldo Emerson the philosophic writer. I read with great
pleasure “The Walden” by Henry David Thoreau a great
nature lover like William Wordsworth and
mystic philosopher.It was a small book packed with divine beautiful philosophy
of the type of Wordsworth’s and I read it entire. I do not remember whether it
was a book of “non-detailed study” of my college days and whether it was an
abridged book I read. But it was a wonderful book.I read
“Hiawatha’s Song” written by H.W.Longfellow. It is a most
beautiful story of life of a red Indian boy from childhood to
becoming a youthful warrior and his dialogues with wind
gods etc .Recently I got hold of the poetry work of the most famous modern American
poet Robert Frost . he writes about the modern social situations –in
urban, industrial ,rural atmospheres -- in an understanding philosophic way. He also exihibits a beautiful love for
nature just like William Wordsworth of the old world and shows great love for
human morality and simplicity. All his writing is in utterly simple style in
the style of English we speak now.He represents not only modern English or
modern USA but modern 20th/21st century global world
also. His work is intellectual and pacifying and
philosophical. President Kennedy praised him as the most important
representative writer of modern USA. His poem “ The woods are lovely dark and
deep, But I have promices to keep..” is justly famous.
My gathering knowledge decades back
was through “real” paper-made books and “real” newspapers and radio. I ,like
other news hungry persons, used the the transistor
radio which brought crystal- clear newscasts from
Hyderabad and New Delhi (AIR), London( BBC),America (VOA)! One felt the
correspondents sat beside you in sofa. But after the
TV came short wave radio transmissions is destroyed and
decimated (for ordinary folks) .It is now only
through computer, internet, i-pad ,TV to search for new
interesting ideas coming on global front
through English . My present habit is to sit for hours at computer to write
small articles on science, history, computer ,temple travel,other
travel etc.
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