LUMBINIYILE RAJAHAMSAM: K. P. Ramesh; DC Books, DC Kizhakemuri Edam, Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam-686001. Rs. 75.

THIS COLLECTION of travel articles, presented in three parts, gives an overview of some interesting elements of India's cultural and religious ethos, apart from giving a glimpse of the historical evolution of certain places held high in public esteem for their spiritual significance. The first part covers visits to places linked to Gautama Buddha, including Kushi Nagar that houses a museum. The essays provide a fairly good description in a lucid language, although one finds clichd expressions for instance, travelling in the chariot of time and the feeling of awakening from the night of one country to the morning of another country occurring rather frequently. Places of historical and religious importance such as Rishikesh, Badrinath, and Delhi figure in the second part. An interaction with a group of Sikhs takes the author's memory to the assassination of Indira Gandhi (1984) and the dreadful anti-Sikh riots that followed it. Sadly, the time at which this interface happened is not mentioned. . The third part features, among others, Puducherry and the Silent Valley in Kerala. There seems to be a lack of continuity in the arrangement of articles. Also, his reflections while on a visit to Puducherry do not offer anything new for the reader to cherish. Again, the issues he has highlighted while speaking about his visit to the Silent Valley have been the subject of passionate debates in public forums across the country and fierce agitations over the years.

A person suffering from some ailment chooses the type of treatment he desires whether to choose allopathy, siddha, unani or ayurveda treatment. Similarly farmers are at liberty to choose the type of inputs they need for their crops, instead of listening to others, says farmer Mr. G. Ranga Prabhu, from Theni, Madurai. Mr. Prabhu earned about Rs. 3,00,000 from banana (G-9 variety) from cultivation in three acres in 9-10 months using only natural manures.A lawyer turned organic farmer, he claims that natural inputs work best and can result in a good yield. Open invite I invite people to visit my field in Theni, to see for themselves the healthy growth of my banana crops. I use only waste from

my piggery unit and some other natural inputs such as effective micro-organisms for my crop, he explains. Presently there are two views regarding crop cultivation according to him. One group professes its faith in chemical based agriculture and the other, in using natural methods. It is best for the farmer to study the pros and cons of both and then decide on his own as to what methods will suit him, he cautions. But isn't sourcing inputs such as dung pose a problem for farmers desirous of taking up natural farming? True, more than the practitioners, those manufacturing and selling organic inputs today make a good profit. Cows and many animals are practically disappearing from many villages (often sold to the butchers). Those desirous of taking up organic cultivation must first start rearing a few farm animals as a means of getting the raw materials for making the inputs, says his wife Gayatri. Both agree that dwindling land resources and farmers selling their lands will pose practical problems for rearing animals. Holistic approach Though today organic food is fast becoming a fad among the city dwellers, some 50-60 years ago, our grandfathers' grew crops only through organic methods. A holistic approach to the village ecosystem farm, animals, birds, insects was undertaken and everything played a role in different stages of a plant growth, explains Mr. Prabhu. But in the name of development and scientific methods of cultivation the learned scientific fraternity ridiculed these effective practices and advocated the need for using artificial inputs.

Now, the very same elite people realize the dangers of these chemicals filtering into the food we eat, and are suddenly preaching the advantages of going organic and eco-sensitive, adds Mrs Gayatri. Proven fact According to Mr. Prabhu, it is a proven fact that cost of cultivation comes down to nearly 70 per cent if natural inputs are used. It is also a myth that the yield in organic cultivation is low. The agro-chemical industry's claims of increased yield usually lasts for only the first few years. After that, farmers report a significant drop and sometimes complete degradation of the soil, whereas organic farmers in the same area are able to sustain good harvests at almost the same levels. According to a report published in the Confederation of the Indian Farmers Associations (Cifa), the average monthly income of farmers ranges between Rs 1,578 and Rs 8,321, while the lowest paid government employee gets Rs 10,000, every month. The report clearly proves the poor financial condition of our farmers, says Mr. Prabhu. He explains Government cannot be expected to help the farmers in distress. They think their work is over after they announce the freebies and subsidies. But till date no government ever bothered to monitor whether these concessions ever reached the needy farmer. Try to practice To them these announcements become achievements only during election time. Our farmers should realise that they are responsible for themselves and even if not totally, should at least try to practice natural cropping methods at least in a corner of their farm, he says

Harry Barnsley suspects he's on the wrong side of a career in breaking news but suddenly a scoop comes his way. Tracking the tale, he goes off to Muskoka in Canada where he meets Serena Bracebridge-Rhode, an Anglo-Indian, the figure at the centre of what Harry thinks could well be the story of his entire career. And Serena tells Harry her tale, moving them to Marsdengunj, your typical railway colony near Kolkata, back in the times of the Raj. David McMahon has the eye of a pointillist and the details are beautifully etched in; within a few paragraphs, it seems as if the reader is in Marsdengunj, a keen spectator to the little town's seething politics. Like a stone thrown in a still pond comes along Stamford Beaudeville with an agenda, to upgrade Marsdengunj to an important rail link. The Anglo-Indians who make up the colony view the Beaudevilles with much mistrust and open hostility. It doesn't help that Stamford and Erika are themselves locked in a loveless and tense marriage, struggling to find answers. Serena, the pretty daughter of Charleston Bracebridge-Rhode, an engine driver with a weakness for the bottle, gets caught up in

the maelstrom that breaks inexorably over the town and its inhabitants. The story then shifts to London where the Allies, after the Dunkirk evacuation, are re-thinking strategy. Serena is now a nurse in St. Stephen's Hospital and more interestingly, is recruited as a British spy. It's a one-off assignment and Serena does it to the best of her capability; the eventual cataclysmic results send shock reverberations all the way to the present-day Vatican. McMahon is no Alistair Maclean; his is a gentle tale that isn't quite sure whether it's a love story, a war mystery or both. It moves at a brisk pace but towards the end, becomes an act of tying up loose ends. His opening device at the start of the story is more than a tad contrived but it works for all that. What doesn't quite work is the title the Muskoka Maharani label hangs loose on the heroine without fitting well. Writer's forte It is clear that subtlety is the writer's forte; by and large, that subtlety moves the richly-layered tale well. Where the writer really scores is in the wealth of detail that runs like a mother lode throughout the story. There is a paragraph about the movements of a man's hand that is simply masterly; there is someone who is watching the movements of the bony hand and suddenly, the hand's owner's (sinister) motives are clearly revealed, to both the observer and the reader. We read of dhobis at work on the riverbank; how the white man or woman pays a native without touching him; gobar pani and the making thereof; how to play tops; even a mouthwatering description of the sandwiches served at the Chevron Club for enlisted men in Kolkata and how women guests rarely ordered the same because very wide mouths were called for to consume said sandwiches! A word about the lovely sepia-toned cover picture: it is clearly of a log cabin in some Western (Canadian?) town overlooking a river. There's a gun that serves as a line under the title. The reader is a little hard-put to make the connect with the story.

When you plan to attempt IELTS or TOEFL, a little practice will go a long way in getting you a good score. While practising the essay part of the test one can follow a few points in order to make the writing part easier. Take a sample test paper and randomly choose any topic and then lay out a rough plan of how you would write the essay. Write down ideas you might like to introduce in stages in the essay and once you have a sizable number, group them to form a paragraph. When a plan is ready, it becomes easier to know exactly what you are going to write and when you are to write it. Break each point up into 150 200-word chunks, so the whole thing seems less daunting. In case you are stuck at the introduction, don't linger on it; instead move on to the point you would introduce after it. Stop after every point to review it. Through practice you will come to know your shortcomings in the area. Check the grammar, don't use an excess of adjectives, and try to introduce one idea that is original which will help you score brownie points with the examiner. Follow certain guidelines when writing an essay. There should be an introduction, a body and conclusion. The introduction restates the question using different vocabulary and sentence structure. The introduction also includes your thesis statement. The body of your essay is also the heart of your

essay. It will include your main ideas, details and examples to support those ideas. Each new idea should be a new paragraph. The conclusion will summarise your main points and it may include your opinion. One can use two basic types of layouts for essays 3773 and 35553. The 3773 is a four-paragraph essay with three sentences for introduction, seven sentences for the paragraphs and three sentences again for the conclusion. The 35553 is a five-paragraph essay with three sentences for introduction, five sentences for the paragraphs and three sentences again for the conclusion. Proper planning will help prospective examinees acquire a good score in the tests. KOTA SAUMYA

Gone are the days when candidates with an agricultural sciences background were being looked down upon in the job market which then used to lay the red carpet to only those with a technical background, especially IT. Things have been changing rapidly for the better for job-seekers from agricultural sciences in the last three to four years. The demand for farm science graduates and postgraduates has been growing steadily since then. The fact that companies are now going to the Universities of Agricultural Sciences to undertake campus recruitments is an indication of the growing demand for agricultural sciences' manpower as well as its relevance in the job market. The demand in the job market this year is said to be the highest so far with the University of Agricultural Sciences-Bangalore set to record the highest number of campus recruitments.

Nearly 300 fresh graduates and postgraduates from the university are set to get placement through campus recruitments this year as against the last year's position when 150 were chosen by employers. Already 160 students from UAS-B have got placements in prestigious companies through campus recruitments in the last one-and-a-half months. The process of recruiting another 150 to 160 students is under way and is expected to be completed by July-end. This is in addition to those who have got jobs in public sector companies, government establishments and private firms, which have not participated in the campus recruitment. What is significant in these recruitments, according to UAS-B vice-chancellor K. Narayana Gowda, is that the placements will cover almost all fresh graduates and postgraduates from the University. In other words, none of the student from the agricultural sciences stream would remain unemployed, he notes. Every year, 400 graduates and 200 postgraduates come out of UAS-B. But the number of job-seekers will be only around 320 as 200 will take up the masters' degree course and 80 of the postgraduates will opt for doctoral research. Of these 320 job-seekers, about 300 will get placements through campus recruitments alone this year. This is expected to take care of the job requirements of all as some students will become agri-entrepreneurs and there are others who have got jobs on a regular basis without going through the campus recruitment route. This year's recruiters include Canara Bank (63 posts), Vijaya Bank (35), Bank of India (10), IFFCO (6) and ITC (3). Similarly, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab National Bank and Syndicate Bank have completed the process of selection and results are awaited. The CTC (cost to company) offered to the selected candidates ranges from Rs. 2.8 lakh to Rs. 5.8 lakh with an average of Rs. 4

lakh a year. Interestingly, a majority of the placements this year have been in banks. In fact, Canara Bank itself has appointed a massive number of 63 candidates in one go from UAS-B. A. Mohan Rao, Coordinator of the UAS-B's Placement Cell, attributes this to two factors. One is that the agricultural sciences students would have studied economics and accountancy as part of their courses. The second is the thrust being given in the country's Five-Year Plan to development of the agricultural sector. This has resulted in the formulation of more number of agricultural schemes involving lending by banks. Banks find agricultural sciences candidates useful in executing this task, especially taking technology from the lab to farmers' lands, which is part of agricultural development schemes. The other areas where there is huge demand for agricultural sciences candidates is from agri-input companies such as those dealing with seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. While the undergraduates are mostly preferred for product promotion jobs by these companies, the postgraduates are absorbed in research and development works, says Dr. Rao. Those with Ph.D. get highprofile jobs in areas suiting their fields. Well, it appears that the job market is shining for agricultural sciences. The country cannot aspire for more if such a trend helps in attracting bright and talented minds to this field and contributes to the development of the agriculture sector and improves the living standards of farmers who, despite being the key persons in taking care of the country's food security, are in dire straits as they are yet to get the due returns for their work.

THRISSUR: In a world peopled by fake intellectuals, writer Madambu Kunjukuttan stands tall with his towering intellect, nononsense manner, incredible versatility and breadth of vision, Additional Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar has said. He was addressing a meeting held at the Kerala Sahitya Akademi on Sunday as part of the 70th birthday celebrations of Mr. Kunjukuttan. We often come across intellectuals who refuse to utter the truth as it would rub the rich, powerful and the influential the wrong way. Mr. Kunjukuttan is not so. He hates hypocrisy. He courageously preaches and practices what he believes is right. The courage stems from his wisdom. His writings reflect his intimate knowledge of life, Mr. Jayakumar added. He observed that Mr. Kunjukuttan's life and art constituted a harmony of contradictions. Writer C. Radhakrishnan stated that the dominant sentiment (Rasa) of Mr. Kunjukuttan's oeuvre was Shantham' or peace. Usually, humour never goes well with peace. But in Mr. Kunjukuttan's works they do. He is concerned not just about the welfare of his own family and relatives. He wishes for the good health and happiness of the entire world, he noted. Writer Asha Menon observed that sensibility in Malayalam literature was facing worldly and materialistic obstacles. Mr. Kunjukuttan's writings have surmounted these obstacles, he said. Writer Alangode Leelakrishnan said that some of the ideals of social reformer V. T. Bhattathiripad could be seen in Mr. Kunjukuttan. Like V.T., Mr. Kunjukuttan too believes that social renaissance is impossible without emancipation of women. In his novel, Bhrashtu', Mr. Kunjukuttan portrays Thathrikutty, who has been ostracised by Namboodiri elders, as a representative of empowered women, he said.

Kerala Sahitya Akademi former president P. Valsala presided. Film director K. R. Mohanan delivered the keynote address at a seminar on Madambu's contribution to cinema.

Enjoy best of both worlds through home based work Today, thanks to rapid strides made in communication technology, home-based work is gaining steady popularity. Especially for women, the Internet has come as a real boon. It has opened up a plethora of new career choices that are homebased, for those who had to leave lucrative careers to take care of family responsibilities. If family demands have forced you to bid adieu to your job, you can still have a career of your own, sitting in the comfort of your home. You can be your own boss, choose as much or as little work as you please and most importantly choose working hours to suit your convenience. Isn't it a great way to enjoy the best of both worlds? Based on your educational background, interests and aptitude, you can have your pick from a host of rewarding home-based career options. What's more, you can take up these activities with little or no training at all. Online tutorials: If you have a flair for teaching and are comfortable using the Internet, online teaching would be the right choice for you. You can teach students across the globe in the virtual format through online correspondence. With e-learning becoming immensely popular these days, the demand for online teachers is quite high. You can choose the subject and the class/ student group based on your level of proficiency. Why not explore this attractive career option and earn a decent remuneration sitting at home? Online trading: With the advent of the Internet, trading in stocks has become much easier. Now, anyone with a computer at home

can learn to invest in the stock market and start trading online. You need not be a business school graduate to understand the intricacies of online trading. You can easily pick up the necessary skills with some initial guidance from a person who is already in the field. Look for a friend or relative who is good at online trading and seek his/her help to learn the basics. Remember this is a highly speculative field. Make a cautious beginning and invest only a small amount to get started. Who knows, if lady luck is on your side, you may find the proverbial pot of gold pretty soon! Freelance writing: If you are a creative person and have good writing skills, this field offers plenty of opportunities. You can get into academic writing such as preparation of study materials or workbooks. Or you can take up translation if you have excellent command over any regional or foreign language. Copy writing and content writing are good choices too. Enrol yourself for some short courses to build your competence in any of these fields. It becomes easier to find your niche and get the job you want. Web designing: This is a field that offers plenty of promise. A lot of institutes offer short-term courses on web designing and if you complete one, you can easily become a freelance web designer. In this Internet age, the demand for competent web designers will always be on the rise. So, this is your best chance to get into a lucrative career that offers not just good income but creative satisfaction as well! Home-based jobs certainly give you the best opportunity to rake in some good money without having to compromise on family time. But just as in a full time career, here too, effective time management is the key to success. Quite often your family members may not think home-based work as real work. They may feel you are always available since you are at home. However, if you want to have a successful career you must effectively manage the time at your disposal.

You must keep regular working hours and also insist that others respect them. Protect yourself from interruptions caused by friendly visitors and phone calls. Have separate phones for office and home purposes. When you are working, allow the answering machine to pick up calls to your home phone or personal mobile. Flexibility is after all one of the most important benefits of homebased work, so enjoy it but work hard when you do. With a flourishing home-based career in hand, you can happily say goodbye to a regular job or boredom at home. A good boss always gives critical feedback Each one of us would like to work for a boss who is good-natured, cooperative and uses just the right amount of push to get the job done. We hate bosses who manage with intimidation and fear. A boss ready to blame others for mistakes, unwilling to hear bad news and easily irritated with the small details is definitely not the ideal boss. But there are no clear black and white demarcations when assessing your manager because most of them fall in the grey category. So it is through observations, assessing your boss through certain parameters and watching his speech and behaviour that will help you to understand the kind of manager you work for. You can assess your boss based on his reaction to certain situations. For instance, if you have finished a certain section of a project and want your boss to run through it, you can gauge his attitude by his reaction. A good boss will sit with you and review the work you have done so far and give you critical feedback and clarify if there are any deviations from the project goals. On the other hand a poor boss will brush off your request and wait till the last minute to review your work and if there are any mistakes he will ask you to sit late and make the necessary changes just before the deadline.

Another way to assess your boss is to observe his reaction when you present potential problems in a project or assignment to him, which he may have to answer his bosses for in the future. Good bosses will appreciate your foresight even if the problem did not occur or was slightly different. Such a boss will acknowledge that you care about the work of the team and also forewarned him of potential issues with his bosses. A bad boss, on the other hand will ignore your warnings, term you as difficult and with a negative attitude, and even give you the cold shoulder but when a problem occurs he can readily shift the blame on to you. Good managers also like to hear about problems and answers to them from their subordinates. They appreciate it if you can give a comparative analysis of the different solutions. Such bosses prefer to arrive at solutions after brainstorming rather than take individual decisions and also the sole credit for them. A bad boss, on the other hand when offered solutions could accuse you of giving him no room to think. Consequently his team will think twice before presenting ideas or solutions to him. A good boss is more than somebody whose personality matches with yours. He is honest in his interactions, communicates his expectations from the team and appreciates and recognises their efforts. He also gives regular feedback to help his team improve. He appreciates the inputs he receives from his team while at the same time helps them with problems. He stands up for his team especially when interacting with senior management. He keeps his cool and is friendly and approachable and shares every credit with his team. A good boss is inclusive in his attitude, does not discriminate among team members and endeavours to maintain harmony in his team. He tries to make work fun by bringing in new and exciting ideas These are some of the parameters to help you judge how good your boss is. You can use your performance review meeting to

discuss his qualities that help you do well in your work and also his drawbacks, which limits your growth. If your boss is good, he will react positively to such constructive criticism and change his management style to help his employees. A good boss is someone who provides adequate support and at the same time challenges you to develop new talents. Consider yourself lucky if you work for such a boss and use the opportunity to learn from him. HEMA GOPALAKRISHNAN faqs@cnkonline.com Printer friendly page Send this article to Friends by E-Mail PLASTIC HRIDAYAM Short Stories: M. K. Chand Raj; Pub. by the author and distributed by Current Books, Round West Thrissur. Rs. 40. ORU IRUNDA SAYAMAYI CHUTTIPPINANHU Short Stories: Thomas Joseph; Mathrubhumi Books, MM Press, Cherooty Road, Kozhikode-1. Rs. 35. THE DYNAMISM in the genre of short fiction has resulted in much experimentation in craft, style, and techniques. The two collections reviewed represent such emerging trends and contemporary themes. In the nine stories Chand Raj attempts novel and aesthetic efforts in creativity. They are stories challenging social norms and deprecate the modern social values resultant from globalisation and liberalisation. Topical issues like the Iraq War, the struggle against Coca Cola in Plachimada and the tragedies of the insecticide endosulfan are of strong concern. The limitations of elections in a democratic system are also referred to in "Janayatham, Oru Patabhedam".

The narrative style at times slips into pedagogy, where fiction gives way to sermons. The 12 storie s of Thomas Joseph also attempt transposition of themes and techniques. Stories transcend simple narration to the metaphysical and to elements of fantasy. Adam is a typical example of one such weird story. Some stories surpass factors of logic and are proximal to Kafkaean images: a girl becomes a spider in a story titled Ettukaali Penkuttiyum Ezhu Policukaarum. Whether such blatant experimentation will stand the test of time as literary pieces of value is a matter of concern. Such heavy doses of illogic in form affects the readability and fabric of the story per se. Printer friendly page

THE TRUTH ABOUT TRADE The Real Impact of Liberalization: Clive George; Books for Change, 139, Richmond Road, Bangalore-560025. Rs. 325. The Doha development round of WTO negotiations is stuck in a deadlock. Except for WTO Chief Pascal Lamy and India's Commerce Minister, nobody seems to have any hope of its resumption. Even the United States, which was bludgeoning other countries into compliance, seems to have lost faith in free trade. Economists such as Arvind Subramanian and reputed journalists like Paul Blustein have already written epitaphs for it. Until the last decade, openness to trade and investment flows were not viewed simply as components of a country's development policies. But, as Dani Rodrik explained, they were mutated as the most potent catalysts for economic growth known to men. ( Foreign Policy, March/April 2001) Experts from

the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, the WTO, the European Union and many other agencies repeated the message of openness as the highway to nirvana, i.e. growth and poverty reduction. How sustainable or true were those claims? As Clive George describes in this book, it was at the battle in Seattle that the juggernaut ran aground. The meeting at Seattle was publicised as the most historical event of the Clinton era to push global trade forward. Unfortunately, the tide had turned. A disaster Campaigners at the gates of the conference fought for justice and feared that further liberalisation of trade would not end poverty but would increase it. Environmentalists were worried about ecological damage by way of loss of biodiversity, pollution, deforestation, climate change, etc. Unemployed labourers and displaced tribals were there in large numbers demanding their right to live with honour. For the WTO, Seattle was a disaster and, since then, negotiations under the WTO have not recovered. George describes at length how this came about. He has the right academic credentials and experience. He served as principal adviser to the World Bank and as consultant to the OECD and the NEP, besides others. He was at the centre of the EU's 10-year research programme on the impact of trade liberalisation, known as the sustainability impact assessment (SIA). The SIA programme was drawn up in response to the Seattle battle. The European Commission spent around 10 million on it. The book draws heavily on the research results of the programme. However, it is unclear what the real intention of the SIA was. As the author himself says, the SIA failed in its objective in educating the public about the benefits of open trade and in allaying their concerns over adverse environmental consequences; In terms of heading off the Seattle confrontation it achieved nothing. Senior negotiators of the EU like Peter Mandelson seem to have dismissed the SIA cynically. What is

shocking is that, with so much of the research findings questioning the benefits flowing from trade opening, the EU negotiators could engage in double talk and twist the arms of weaker negotiators from developing countries to make deeper concessions. In Part II of the book, the author offers an analysis of the impact of trade opening on various sectors: manufacturing, agriculture, and services. It reads more like a whistle-blower's deposition, though rather late in the day. Uneven gains On all counts, the gains from opening are insignificant and uneven. Developed countries which had climbed the ladder were shielded behind protectionist walls for a century or more. And they were attempting to remove them when developing countries need them badly. Historical evidence, especially the recent East Asian growth, does not lend to credence to any sudden opening. Even the meagre gains from opening, when discounted for other impacts, suggest a negative picture. In agriculture, the overall impact of agricultural liberalisation on sustainable development is decidedly negative. In services, the claims are overstated. They do not reckon with the instability or volatility as has happened since 2008. Dealing with other areas of negotiation such as TRIPS, and Singapore Issues, he takes the balanced view that these are not trade related; they are trade distorting. What surprises, even shocks, an analyst is that, with so much of research evidence stored in their files on the real impact of trade-opening, how the EU could pontificate to emerging economies and take tough stands on various issues being negotiated in the WTO. Considering that the developing countries are better informed, it is no wonder that the Doha round remains deeply stuck. The solutions offered by the author seem unrealistic and they will amount to reopening the negotiations de novo.

KUNJUNJU KATHAKAL Alpam Karynagalum: P.T. Chacko; DC Books, DC Kizhakemuri Edam, Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam686001. Rs. 60. IN ANYONE'S life, there will be occasions for laughter. Where the person happens to be a politician, and a popular and dynamic one at that like Oommen Chandy such occasions are likely to be innumerable. Chandy, known as Kunjunju' in circles close to him, started off as the president of the Kerala Students' Union and came to occupy several positions of authority in public life including Member of the State Assembly, Minister, and Chief Minister. In this book, Chandy's Press Secretary narrates as many as 49 episodes that bring out the lighter side of Kunjunju, and most of them are indeed funny. It is clear that a lot of care has gone into the selection process, the underlying objective being to boost his public image and the chemistry of his mass appeal. To mention just two revealing pieces of information: he does not find time to visit a hair-dresser since he is always surrounded by people (his wife does the job!); and he has only two pairs of dresses. Chandy's passion for simplicity and transparency; his astuteness as a politician and student leader; and the organisational farce enacted in the name of mass campaigns come across clearly. If the fact that his room in the legislative hostel was an open house' demonstrated his hospitable nature, the incident about the embarrassment he met with when, in the Assembly, he could not make a speech, the copy of which had already been distributed to the press makes amusing reading. Printer friendly page

ASYMMETRIC WARFARE IN SOUTH ASIA - The Causes and Consequences of the Kargil Conflict: Edited by Peter R. Lavoy;

Cambridge University Press, 4381/4, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi-110002. Rs. 895. In the Cold War era, nuclear deterrence stabilised around the belief that fighting a nuclear war was not a viable option, since it would result in the devastation of both the adversaries. All this changed after India and Pakistan conducted the nuclear tests in 1998. Western strategic analysts began re-visiting the theories of nuclear deterrence to see how deterrence stability would operate in the India-Pakistan context. The Kargil conflict, initiated by Pakistan within a year of the nuclear tests, provided a testing ground for these deterrence theories. One of the better known axioms of nuclear deterrence was termed the stability-instability paradox,' wherein nuclear weapons contributed to stability by acting as an effective restraint on a full-scale war, but encouraged conflicts or wars at lower levels. There were enough examples of this during the Cold War era. The Kargil conflict was an excellent model that unfolded the possibilities of dangerous escalation to a larger war if India had embarked on operations across the Line of Control and of crisis management so as to avert nuclear exchange. Deterrence optimists as well as pessimists have used the conflict to justify their opinions. Factual account This book, edited by Peter Lavoy, is not the first to examine the way deterrence theories played out during the Kargil conflict. It is, however, the first to provide a factual account of the unfolding of the conflict in the light of evidence available on both sides. Bringing together the views and position statements by military officers, diplomats, and scholars from India, Pakistan and the United States, it offers a fascinating portrayal of a crisis that was unique in the post-Cold War era. Kargil witnessed vigorous military operations in a highly charged atmosphere of nationalist sentiments by two nuclear-armed adversaries, even as major powers were exerting their utmost to see that the catastrophe of

a nuclear exchange was averted. What major strategic and operational lessons does Kargil provide in the realm of nuclear deterrence? Robert Jervis, who coined the term stability-instability paradox', described it thus: To the extent that the military balance is stable at the level of all out nuclear war, it will become less stable at lower levels of violence. After Kargil, Jervis has chosen to rephrase his formulation. He says, Strategic stability permits, if not creates, instability by making lower levels of violence relatively safe because escalation up the nuclear ladder is too dangerous. Catastrophic The book is quite informative on the way Pakistan's small military coterie, led by General Pervez Musharraf, launched what was considered a small operation, which India will not find worth responding to powerfully due to risks as Jervis puts it of escalating up the nuclear ladder. The failure to anticipate the strategic consequences of a limited military adventure proved catastrophic. It not only changed the global perception of a nuclear Pakistan but grievously undermined political stability of Pakistan. Yet, it was in line with the military hierarchy's long-held belief in its infallibility. An interesting question to ask is whether both sides pushed to explore the limits imposed by the possession of nuclear weapons. Pakistan did try, until it found the strategic fallout overwhelming its tactical gains. Bruce Riedel gives a chilling account of the information President Clinton provided to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif about nuclear measures the Pakistani military was undertaking. India, on the other hand, not only took back the territory seized by Pakistan, but also retained strategic high ground by limiting the military response to its side of the LoC, conveying in the process its unwillingness to reach for the nuclear escalation ladder. That meant incurring serious cost in human terms on the high fields of battle. Even as the book was being

compiled, the security context has substantially changed both globally and between India and Pakistan. It is difficult to visualise another misadventure of the Kargil kind by Pakistani military. But it has not stopped playing the same game at another level. Apparently there has been no change in its mindset. This and the real risk to Pakistan's nuclear assets from that country's own and international terrorist elements have changed the nuclear deterrence field in wholly unpredictable ways. Printer friendly page

MALAYALAM Classic novel K. KUNHIKRISHNAN NEELIMAYERIYA KANNUKAL:Translation of Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eyes' by Ajay Sekhar; DC Books, DC Kizhakemuri Edam, Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam-686001. Rs. 95. THE CENTRAL theme of Toni Morrison's novels is the experience of Black American women. Her characters struggle for critical identity, while the power of her vision and poetic style bring out an essential aspect of reality. Her debut novel, The Bluest Eyes(1970), focusses on the negative impactthe white's conception of beauty has on a lonely black girl, who attempts to find a positive sense of individuality in a loveless family. Set in the author's home town of Lorain, Ohio, the novel narrates the tragedy of Pecola Breedlove, a young black girl who, conscious of her ugliness, longs for blue eyes, the White's symbol of beauty. Her obsession with love is compulsive. She becomes insane, thanks to the brutality of having to bear the child of her father's incest.

The ugly face of racism; the loss of innocence and its consequences; and the allusion to a culture defining beauty' and ugliness' all these and more are sharply brought out in the story. If the narrative style and chapter headings are suggestive, the structure of the plot, the images, the characters, and the dialogue combine to make a powerful impact on the reader. As for the translation, one has to say the power of the original is lacking. Liberal use of central Travancore slang has contributed not a little to this shortcoming. TINDERBOX - The Past and Future of Pakistan: M.J. Akbar, HarperCollins, A-53, Sector 57, Noida-201301. Rs. 499. The publication of this book has brought some dignity to the claim that India has some serious academic expertise on Pakistan. Although more than a score of diplomats and journalists are projected by the Indian media as Pakistan experts, hardly any Indian author figures in the list of top 20 books written on Pakistan over the past two decades. This could also be said of Indian scholarship on Middle East, Latin America, and many other regions. But it becomes a bit too embarrassing in respect of Pakistan because it happens to be our most important and, at the same time, highly sensitive neighbour. Why is that so? It has much to do with the way our research institutions are run, and the state of area studies in our universities. India's Pakistan-centred scholarship is seemingly sandwiched between biographical writings on Jinnah and accusatory references to Pakistan's role on Kashmir affairs. This research work seeks to break free from these stereotypes and build a body of knowledge that genuinely falls under the rubric of Pakistan scholarship. Akbar's first book on Pakistan, Tinderbox is, in a sense, the culmination of some of his early research on South Asian history. It is likely to remain one of the major contributions on account of the sheer intensity of reasoning and the depth in analysis that

marked the study of South Asia's convoluted history, its troubled politics, and its impact on nation states and multiculturalism. What emerges clearly from the narrative is that history matters. Akbar himself calls the book a history of an idea as it weaved and bobbed its way through dramatic events with rare resilience, sometimes disappearing from sight, but always resurrected either by the will of proponents or the mistakes of opponents. Exaggerated As the world debates the fate of Pakistan, the author says a few encouraging things about the future of Pakistani state. He asserts that fears of Pakistan disintegration are highly exaggerated and is emphatic that driven by the compulsions of an ideological strand in its DNA, damaged by the inadequacies of those who could have kept the nation loyal to Jinnah's dream of a secular Muslim-majority nation, Pakistan is in danger of turning into a toxic jelly state,' a quivering country that will neither collapse nor stabilise. The term jelly state is a new addition to the vocabulary related to state studies. Used as an ideologically loaded term, it has provoked massive research among major social scientists for generations. Those who are familiar with the works of Max Weber, Theda Skocpol, Charles Tilly, Jurgen Habermas or Anthony Giddens are likely to hesitate to embrace the idea of jelly state. Akbar does not use the word state with the same connotation as political sociologists often do. For him, it represents governmental infrastructure, and hence his argument that it would never disintegrate. It is also the reason why questions about its legitimacy or potential for responding to the developmental requirements are not raised. Instead, the concept recognises its minimal role as a government, with a power to coerce and thus govern or misgovern. Some may note that questions regarding Pakistan's future have arisen prominently in recent years. But such questions are as old as its birth. It was Tariq Ali, who wrote a book titled, Can

Pakistan Survive? (1984), with the similar objective of dealing with questions that Akbar raises. Two chapters in the book stand out as most original in their narratives. One is A Theory of Distance, which analyses the theology and politics of Shah Walliullha, and how his idea of Islamic purity for Indian Muslims was threatened by the Hindu infidel's cultural and military power. The other is God's General in which General Zia's role and contribution is discussed. Party politics Akbar contends that General Zia's decision in 1976 to change the motto of Pakistan army to Jihad fi Sabil Allah, in the belief that Islam alone could confront Hindu India, was a conscious strategic move, not a populist one as often argued. While the competing Islamic ideologies and their implications for Pakistan get adequate attention, one felt the author could, perhaps, have done better justice to the subject by examining party politics. After all, its impact on domestic politics and by extension on the current mess that we see in Pakistan has been quite significant. Overall, it's an outstanding work, which those pursuing Pakistan studies and students of Islamic politics will find very useful. On eminent people K. KUNHIKRISHNAN AADHUNIKA VICHARASILPIKAL: Rev. Dr. K. M. George; DC Books, DC Kizhakemuri Edam, Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam686001. Rs. 60. THE CONTRIBUTIONS of 10 eminent men thinkers, intellectuals, and scientists to modern knowledge and philosophy are presented in this book. Remarkably simple in presentation and style, the essays make even the most complicated theory look easy. The author has coined his own terms and phrases, wherever no easy-to-comprehend equivalents are not readily available.

Among the galaxy of names figuring in this book is Thomas Kuhn who, in his Structure of Scientific Revolutions, coined the telling term paradigm shift, which has since gained wide currency. Edward Said, an influential cultural critic and author, is known best for his book Orientialism (1978). Umberto Eco, philosopher, literary critic, and novelist, combined semiotics in fiction, biblical analysis, medieval studies and literary theory. Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, and social activist. Ivan Illich was an Austrian philosopher and social critic of the institutions of contemporary western culture and their effects on education. E.F. Schumacher an internationally renowned economic thinker, and his book Small is Beautiful is among the 100 most influential books published since World War II. V.S. Ramachandran, a cognitive neuroscientist, best known for his work in behavioural neurology and psychophysics, is credited with discovering several visual effects. Stephen Hawking is known for his contribution in the fields of cosmology and quantum gravity, especially in the context of black holes. A Brief History of Time discusses his theories and cosmology

OLD INDIA Notes on Afanasy Nikitin's Voyage Beyond the Three Seas by Ivan Minayev: Translated by Arun Mohanty, Edited by Eugenia Vanina and Irina Chelysheva; Har-Anand Publications Pvt. Ltd., E-49/3, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase II, New Delhi110020. The well-known Russian Indologist, Ivan Minayev's work on Voyage Beyond the Three Seas, a 15 {+t} {+h} century travelogue by Afanasy Nikitin (a Russian merchant and adventurer), developed the original so beautifully as to reflect

contemporary India in all its diverse, but integrated, economic, social and cultural facets. The book starts with two notes: one by Irina Chelysheva on Minayev's contributions to Indian studies, and the other by Minayev himself, briefly introducing Nikitin's manuscript. Chelysheva's note sharply brings out Minayev's heritage that continues as leavening influence on the Russian Indologists, even after 120 years. The first of the seven chapters in the book is on Nikitin's voyage from Hormuz, a tiny island of Persia, 20-30 miles in perimeter with barren land and inhospitable climate, but with one of the most strategic ports. It is followed by a narration of his trading experience in Cambay, a port from which ships sailed all over the Indian seas. Nikitin had a sojourn in Chaul, a commercial town in the Bhamini kingdom, situated 23 miles to the south-east of Bombay. Bidar, where Nikitin arrived from Junnar via Kulungir and Gulbarga, is discussed extensively. The prominent role Bidar played as a medieval point of exchange and a transactional centre of contemporary politico-cultural life; the Shah and his court; and his campaigns and excursions all these are dealt with in detail. The contextualised note of the editor, given towards the end, helps the reader a great deal in comparing Nikitin's travelogue with contemporary sources. The manuscript The English translation of Nikitin's manuscript, given as an annexure, provides the reader a feel of his long, arduous, and eventful journey from the Volga. The other annexure presents Chelysheva's study of the manuscript and its elucidation undertaken in India in the 19th century on the basis of archival material in Maharashtra. Nikitin's travelogue comes across as a thoroughly unprejudiced account of Indian reality. It is argued that Nikitin's account,

though nave and inadequate sometimes, has immense historical value for the Russian and Indian researchers. If the original is remarkably objective, the fact that it has been contextualised and supplemented by Minayev's historical scholarship makes the book an important source of information on medieval India. It transports the reader from the harbour of Hormuz to the shores of Gujarat and enables him to experience the life and culture of the ruling aristocracy, the splendid courts, the militia and the rank and file, the market place, holy places, food habits, fairs, festivals, rituals, local traditions, and superstitions that prevailed during that period in the kingdom of Bidar. Minayev's commentary By way of commenting on Nikitin's observations, Minayev has traced the genesis and development of the socio-economic, political, and cultural history of India up to the 19th century, comparing the picture emerging from the travelogue with the one that prevailed in British India. In the hands of Minayev, Nikitin's manuscript has acquired an intellectual depth. Minayev differed from his European colleagues on two points. First, he did not share their preferential focus on the classical ancient', which they considered glorious, or their prejudiced neglect of the post-classical' as degenerative, and hence disgraceful. He found it important to study the Indian historical process as a whole. Secondly, unlike theirs, his approach to contemporary Indian civilisation was open and without any reservation. Russia is perhaps the only country to express sympathy for India's struggle for Independence and cast doubts on the progressive mission of British colonialism in India. This perception, left as Minayev's legacy, deserves to be shared with the people of the country he studied insightfully and affectionately. This book does serve that purpose.

KIZHAVAN NATHI Novel: Surendran Chambukkad; Current Books, Thrissur and distributed by Cosmo Books. Rs. 75. GLOBALISATION AND liberalisation are the current subjects and there is no walk of life, which is not affected by the changes brought about by them. A large number of books is available on their economic aspects but fiction is rare. The imminent dangers and the social aspects of globalisation and the neo-economic policies form the core of this novel. The changes occurring in a town called Kudayoor and its people, and environment have been portrayed in a telling manner in the novel. People have to be educated on every aspect of change. Awareness creation among the public becomes a profitable business for some. Efforts to educate the public by some socially-committed, selfless persons on the looming dangers meet with no success and their sincerity is questioned. The novel is a well-written and symbolic pointer to the impending peril of capitalism on the balanced stream of nature. Nature is symbolised by the old river. In this novel the emphasis is on the behavioural changes of individuals as a result of economic transformation and the new social order. Both in terms of craft and theme, the novel displays brilliance and a deep understanding of these changes. Printer friendly page

ENIKKUMORU SWAPNAMUNDAYIRUNNU: Varghese Kurien, as told to Gouri Salvi, Translated by Prameela Devi, DC Books, DC Kizhekemuri Edam, Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam-686001. Rs. 120. VARGHESE KURIEN built India's best-known cooperative and created a popular brand name. As a young man he had wanted to be a metallurgist but fate deflected him into dairy engineering

and provided him opportunities, which he used in the best interests of dairy farmers. In the process, he won recognition for himself as the father of India's White Revolution. In Enikkumoru Swapnamundayirunnu (I too had a dream) Kurien narrates the inspiring story of his life with a sense of history. In the preface, which is in the form of a letter, he tells his little grandson that when he reads the book a decade or two hence he will understand the reasons that prompted his grandfather to serve the nation's farmers. He hopes that young people of the 21st century will find his autobiography a reminder of the struggles of the immediate past. Kurien's was a life full of adventure, and his smooth flowing narrative conveys much of the thrill that he had experienced. Accounts of encounters with political leaders, which were mostly pleasant, and with bureaucrats, which were often unpleasant, constitute the best part of the story. Looking back with pride on what he, a Christian from Kerala, was able to achieve in distant Gujarat, he wonders if a Gujarati will be able to reach such heights in Kerala. Controversy dogged Kurien's footsteps, and he uses the book to reply to his detractors. Unfortunately, the manner in which the third person singular has been rendered in Malayalam conveys an impression of incivility at some places. Printer friendly page

Addressing the recent annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank in Hyderabad, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh remarked perceptively that the aspirations of Asian nations for economic

development should be accompanied by a desire to enhance levels of security in the region. Only this would provide an attractive incentive for investors looking first for a climate of political and social stability before deciding to put their money on projects. Dr. Singh was thus expanding the traditionally narrow concept of national security. He was possibly visualising a scenario wherein nations no longer fought among themselves placing individuals and the lives of whole nations at risk, but offered levels of order and sanity conducive to creativity and uninterrupted economic activity. Dr. Singh's observation comes appropriately at a time when almost all countries in our neighbourhood are going through a distressing spell of disorder, a mark of failed governance and an ambience of low security. Interpretation Four years after 9/11, the Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden continue to dominate our thought processes, and we see visible symbols of our fear in those who guard our houses, public offices and airports. We however tend to ignore multitudes all over the globe for whom 9/11 is a mere dot in an unjust world order. They are those who do not know when and from where their next meal would come. For them, the danger from bullets or explosives is not as compelling as that from an empty stomach. Against this background, the term `security' needs a very liberal interpretation. There are then threats to our environment about which policy makers talk eloquently but do precious little. Security from depleting levels of the ozone layer receives scant attention. It is no doubt a matter of debate whether, while talking of security, we can equate the adverse effect of pollution of air and water with the fallout from an insidious terrorist movement. Nevertheless, unquestionably we are threatened as much from the abnormal release of carbon dioxide as we are from the mindless suicide bomber.

Threats from society The author, T. K. Oommen is a respected voice in the area of social science. When he pleads for a very comprehensive definition of `security', he is very much plausible. In his strikingly original work that examines the whole gamut of modern security studies, he convinces us that we should move away from a statecentric approach that dwelt mainly on military and nuclear threats. Rather, we would do well to evaluate the consequences of poverty, hunger and social oppression, all of which could come under one rubric: threats from society. Those like P. Sainath, who write prodigiously and realistically on rural poverty, especially in the context of the tragically mounting numbers of farmer suicides, can write a whole volume on security as is perceived in rural India. Medha Patkar's titanic struggle is an example of a heroic demand for security that not many of us will comprehend if we stick to our traditional notions. Security scenario Oommen also cites the cruel hierarchy of castes that still dominates rural life, which makes life insecure to the core. Mapping the security scenario around us, the author discards the traditional division of the globe into the Third World and the rest. From a security perspective he would be happier with the categories of the New and the Old World, the former dominated by settler-majority regions, where prior to colonisation there were hardly any recognisable political-administrative units. Here, colonisation did bring in substantial security issues. Genocides and, deliberate and tendentious exercises to bring about cultural homogenisation synonymous with `ethnic cleansing' statesponsored or otherwise, also make life insecure for minority groups, and we have seen enough of this both in Europe and Africa. A well-written history of how the concept of security has evolved over centuries can hardly gloss over these happenings. `State-making and the Problematics of Security' is a brilliant chapter that dissects the complexities of South Asia in the form of

secessionist movements and those either seeking rights for the `sons of the soil' or trying to eliminate artificial territorial divisions of composite cultural and linguistic communities. The localised yet strong movements in North-East India and the linguistic affinity of groups such as Bengalis and Tamils living across two or more countries have their own implications for security, although one cannot exaggerate their import for the stability of the massive nation that we are. They cannot be ignored either. Oommen's is a bold attempt to provoke contemporary thinking on a vital subject that will continue to be debated among intellectuals as well as the unlettered. After all, is there not unanimity that we should not go back to the Hobbesian state of anarchy, but live in peace with those who may dress differently from us or speak in a tongue alien to us, if only to share the fruits of modern science and technology? Printer friendly page Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

SAMBHASHANANGAL: K. N. Panikkar, Compiled by P. S. Manojkumar, Mathrubhumi Books, MM Press, Cherooty Road, Kozhikode-673001. Rs. 65. THIS BOOK is a collection of interviews with the historian, K. N. Panikkar, reports of which appeared in different publications. Some have been translated from English. Communalism, a major theme of Panikkar's, figures prominently in the interviews. Problems of Indian history also come up, mainly in the context of official interference in the working of academic bodies. Of particular interest to Malayalam readers are Panikkar's sharp observations on Kerala society. He draws attention to the emergence of conditions conducive to the growth of communalism in the State, and avers that the

middle class is facing a cultural crisis. Even though this class does not support communalism politically, it tends to turn to caste and religion to overcome its crisis. In the circumstances, there is a possibility of its swerving towards communal forces when they gain strength. Proper editing would have enhanced the value of the volume. A prefatory note gives the names of the interviewers and the publications in which the reports first appeared. However, the reader is not told which report appeared where and when. Terms like "the last decade" make no sense when the date of the interview is not known. Printer friendly page

PUNATHILINTE NOVELLAKAL Novellas: Punathil Kunhabdulla; DC Books, Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam686001. Rs. 150. WHEN WRITING is prolific as in the case of this author, who has now ventured into the genre of novellas it is natural that a few are brilliant while in others quantity goes up at the cost of quality, which is the case with this book. A few are demonstrative of the Midas touch while others lack literary merit, in craft and technique or narrative strength and readability. For example, the portrayal of life and characterisation are brilliant, `Meghakkeeru' with its elements of satire, but the disparity is patent in the next `Bhajanam Padiyurakkiya Vigrahangal'. Again satire appears artificial in `Sangham'. The novelist's own oft-repeated theme, is the subject of the another story; fantasy combined with caricature, commendable in his novels, lack in the novellas. `Ghatikaaram' is flat and not evocative. Hospitals are familiar locales to the writer and he excels in `Cancer Ward', portraying the realities of sufferings and

apathy in hospitals and the failures of specialisation and lack of human considerations. The writer is at his best in such stories and the style inimical. Printer friendly page

Concerns of a sensitive mind B. R. P. BHASKAR U.P.JAYARAJINTE KATHAKAL SAMPOORNAM: U. P. Jayaraj; DC Books, DC Kizhekumeri Edam, Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam686001. Rs. 110. U. P. JAYARAJ (1950-1999) was one of the most talented short story writers of his time. He did not write much possibly because the humdrum life of an ordnance factory electrician is not the best setting for intense literary activity. But everything he wrote bore the impress of a master craftsman. This book puts together in a single volume his entire literary output. Jayaraj's first story appeared when he was 18. The Naxalite movement, which was raging in Kerala at the time, casts its shadow in one form or another in his early stories. Those marginalised by globalisation are at the centre of some of his later stories. He raises issues unobtrusively but makes no secret of his disillusionment with what he sees around him. He does not offer any readymade solutions but manages to exude hope. The key to his success as a story-teller lies in his effective use of the language. The stories voice the concerns of a sensitive mind. It is easy to detect an autobiographical element in his story of a writer who

expresses his dilemma in these words: "I cannot write, and yet I cannot help writing."

ORA PRO NOBIS Malayalam novel: Ponjikkara Raphi; D.C. Books, DCB Complex, Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam-686001. Rs. 65. THIS IS a historical novel carefully woven on the background of Kochi in the 16th and 17th Centuries A.D. when the Portuguese dominated the western shore of India. The title is in Latin meaning, "Kindly pray for us", which is a repetition of a line of the prayer by the chorus (luthinia) addressed to Holy Mother Mary, sung by the Latin Catholics. In 1663 A.D., the Dutch defeated the Portuguese who succeeded to a certain extent in implementing their "divide and rule" policy among the local rulers in the northern part of Kerala during their reign for one and a half centuries. Though the chain of events narrated in this novel happened in 1750 A.D., the social and political scenarios of the preceding 115 years are also artistically amalgamated with minute anthropological details. The incidents after the mass migration of the Portuguese from Kochi to Goa and Portugal are pictured through the distracted mental reflections and conversations of Chinna Ambrose a fifth generation old man whose ancestors had been brought to Kochi by Captain Achakko and his wife Isabella, successors of the Portuguese barons Aswerasu in 1635 A.D. for looking after their horses. The life stories of these Latin Catholic generations starting from the couple Michel-Monica and their children Jocki, Paaval and Ambrose are recorded in the family history by the third generation man Chinna Ambrose in Malayam-Tamil a mixture of Malayalam and Tamil languages.

Their dialect throughout the novel is also in this mixed style, which gives a special individual flavour and effect to this work. Not only are the trials and tribulations of these family members living and dead but also the misdeeds like looting of the stockyards and temples by the Portuguese for want of money, by which they earned the hatred and enmity of the people, the inefficiency and surrendering mentality of the Kochi kingdom in that period and the social condition of the people in other religious classes like the Jews, Ezhavas, Nairs and the Konkanis are well depicted in the novel. The interesting and pathetic incident narrated is the offering of the bloody sacrifice of the first generation Ambrose on January 13, 1663 A.D. at the age of 33 like the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in his 33rd year, with his full consent by the Portuguese for protecting their valuable treasure earned in this land that was buried secretly, just before their mass exodus from Kochi. It is the firm belief of Chinna Ambrose who is the grandson of Ambrose (first) that he and his grandson the present young Vella Ambrose and others who will follow after them should not disclose the place of the hidden treasure up to the period of the seventh generation when the real owners of the treasure, the Portuguese, will come again to claim it according to a record of the family history. The novel ends with the demise of Chinna Ambrose while praying with the family members, but with a broken heart as his elder son Michel attempted to kill him a few hours ago since he did not disclose to him the place where the treasure was hidden. NEELA PADMANABHAN ANNAMMA Memoirs: K. M. Mathew; Malayala Manorama Publication Division, Kottayam-686001. Rs. 90. THIS IS the work of the author in memory of his wife who authored 25 books. There is a woman behind every successful

man and so is the case with the man at the helm for the success of the most widely circulated newspaper chain in India. The book is an endearing memoir of the 61 years of married life. It vividly portrays their life, having come from two walks of life and from two sects. Belonging to different poles, with one full of arts and music and social life, and the other an astute businessman and editor, they lived a life, "without any major quakes." It is magnanimous to admit that while the couple travelled, the wife got more public attention. Annamma Mathew was the longest surviving editor of a women's magazine. She made it her mission to contribute to culinary variety and it makes interesting reading while the husband admits, rather obliquely, that his tastes were set aside for the tastes of the reading public. Annamma grew up in Tamil Nadu and she had an innate talent for music and was very fond of jasmine flowers. Now the husband poignantly adorns flowers on her photo and starts the day. The couple met for the first time in the church and then they lived in an estate in Coorg. It was in Mumbai that life blossomed for the woman who was reluctant to move to Kottayam. But once she was there, she established an empire for herself and would not move out even if she "were killed." Such was her dedication to whatever she did. The author has been very economical with his words and the blue pencil has been effectively applied. There is not a single extra word in the highly readable book. K. KUNHIKRISHNAN

Fiction in travelogue form PROFESSOR IN AMERICA: K. L. Mohanavarma; D.C. Books, D. C. B. Complex, Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam686001. Rs. 50.

THIS NOVEL provides a running account of a professor, who just back from a tour of the U.S. is eager to write a travelogue as his personal contribution to the betterment of society. After all, he has a duty to give his countrymen the benefit of his intellectual attainments. If in the process he qualifies for the Nobel Prize he will not, of course, refuse it. He seeks out an old student of his, who has already made his mark as a writer, to help him write the magnum opus. The professor visited the U.S. shortly after 9/11. As a part of the preparation for the visit he went to a parlour and got his beard trimmed. However, he removed the beard before boarding the plane lest overzealous security personnel should mistake him for an Al-Qaeda terrorist. There was plenty of adventure from the word "go". The woman at the check-in counter at Sahar airport impressed him with her smart appearance and English pronunciation. He thought she was Dutch but she turned out to be an Indian, either Punjabi or Sindhi. This experience convinced him of the need for an agency like the National Council for Educational Research and Training to address the problem of unifying the pronunciation of English, which is spoken in 15 different ways in India. His U.S. recollections cover a wide range of subjects from sex to ISKCON, not to mention the Non-Resident Keralites of America. Mohanavarma's smooth-flowing narrative is marked by a keen sense of humour. Several of his previous novels bear thematic titles such as "Cricket" and "Ohari" (Share). By the same token, this work could have been called "Conceit" since its essential theme is the smugness and arrogance of the Malayali intellectual. Announcement