By Harish Trivedi
Mumbai Fables by Gyan Prakash reviewed by Anita Vachharajani, DNA Sunday, Oct 17, 2010, 2:02 IST
Review of a Review:
I have read with interest Ms.Anita Vachharajani’s review that appeared in DNA, October 17, 2010. The review is quite informative and interesting. But in the interest of history and accuracy I am presenting some facts and perspective that is missing in that review.
Commenting about the land reclamation the reviewer states, ‘Started in 1784, reclamations had, by 1872, added four million square yards to Bombay. Girangaon (the ‘Village of Mills’), which had sprouted to meet the international demand for cotton. Unhygienic conditions and a particularly heavy monsoon led to the bubonic plague epidemic of 1896-97.
I have not read Mumbai Fables by Gyan Prakash so I do not know if Mr. Gyan Prakash or the reviewer has come up with the etymology of the word Girgaon or Girgaum but the name has nothing to do with cotton or cotton mills as the reviewer states. Girgaum derives its name from the Sanskrit words Giri [Mountain] and Grama [Village]. The late Salim Ali the great ornithologist and naturalist.. has noted that tigers roamed the hill side of Malbar Hills and one such tiger was spotted at the base of the hills near the Girgaum area in early part of the 20th century.
The business in opium was lucrative and popular at that time in history. Even Warren Hastings had indulged in that past-time. But to say that Wadias dabbled in Opium business without any reference to the contributions of the Wadia clan to the city of Mumbai as we know it, is a gross injustice to these revered family name.
The docks at Bombay are a monument of the industry, enterprise and integrity of the Wadia family. The Wadias moved in from Surat to Mumbai at the invitation of the British.
In 1870 the Bombay Port Trust was formed. In 1872, Jamshedji Wadia, a master ship-builder constructed the "Cornwalis", a frigate of 50 guns, for the East India Company, a success which led to several orders from the British Navy. In all the Wadias, between 1735-1863 built 170 war vessels for the Company, 34 man-of-war for the British Navy, 87 merchant vessels for private firms, and three vessels for the Queen of Muscat at Bombay docks.
Miss Vachharjanai states, ‘He (Prof.Gyan Prakash) describes the various blunders around the Backbay reclamation project Khurshed Framji Nariman…’
The reviewer further says, ‘…Nariman took up cause against the mosquito-breeding ‘grand mess’ that the project had become, was sued by the British government, and went on to completely trounce them…’
This is a misrepresentation or mis-reading or only a partial reading of history either by Prof. Gyan Prakash or by Ms. Vaccharajani.
Mr. Nariman came into the public eye in 1926 as an independent and courageous politician for the sensational libel case against him by the British engineer involved in the Backbay Reclamation scandal.
Mr. Nariman first made charges of corruption and mismanagement of the reclamation project in the Bombay Legislative Council (1926). There upon Mr. Thomas Harvey, the engineer in-charge of the project challenged Mr. Nariman to make those libelous statements in public (as statements made in the chambers of the legislature cannot be challenged in the court of law). Mr. Nariman complied by making the same charges in public. Mr. Harvey filed a libel suite against Mr. K. F. Nariman.
Mr Nariman successfully faught the case and WON (July 20, 1926)and also exposed the scandalous financial arrangements in this scheme. He was called Veer or Courageous Nariman. The end of the Marine Drive causeway road was named Nariman Point because of this event.
In 1935 he was elected the Mayor of the Bombay Corporation. As a Mayor he started the Bombay city Citizens Association and was also its first President to take keen interest in slum clearance.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
How do you pronounce Mario Vargas Llosa?
Nobel Prize In Literature - Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa wins 2010 Nobel Prize in literature.
Commenting on the news our friend wrote -
‘Thanks! What an honor!’
‘But I must say this: they keep referring to him as LLosa, which is pronounced Jossa, but that is not his paternal family name, but his maternal family name,
His last name is Vargas Llosa. You could call him just Mario Vargas, but there are SO many Mario Vargas out there that adding the mother's family name helps to differentiate him…’
’Something similar happened to Pablo Ruiz. Do you (know) who he is? Would anyone know him? There are SO many Pablo Ruiz out there!’
’But if you add the mother's family name: Picasso, Then you end up with Pablo Ruiz Picasso. When he moved to Paris, the Parisians found it easiest to refer to him as just Picasso, since that name is very uncommon and it had "artistic flair" -- so now you know "the rest of the story" . . .’
’My full name in Spanish is Enrique Romaguera Martínez Díaz Jiménez - first name -- paternal father’s family name/ maternal father’s family name/ paternal mother’s family name / maternal mother's family name. This way of naming makes it easy to follow family genesis’.
But the web gives this explanation about pronunciation -
Mario Vargas Llosa:
Pronunciation: [mär´yO vär´gäs yO´sä].
And you (our friend) states that Llosa should be pronounced Jossa.
Is there a different pronunciation tradition in the Latin countries and other countries?
And our friend replies -
‘Yes. Different Spanish countries use different pronunciations for the LL. In S panish the double L is considered a seeeparate letter from the simple L.’
’So in a Spanish dictionary you go through all the words with a simple and then you start another dictionary section with words that start with a double LL.’
’The same thing happens in n mid word. You exhaust all the words with simple L and then you start with those with the double LL’.
’In Spain the LL is pronounced like a palatalized L, the simple L is pronounced as a non- palatalized L’.
’In Mexico it is pronounced like a Y, or a Yond’.
’In Argentina It is pronounced as a ZH. Or a palatalized SH
In many Latin American countries, like in Puerto Rico, and Peru, it is pronounced like an English J.’
’Now you have it from the horse's mouth’.
Yes indeed a lesson in various pronunciation traditions
is learned and we won’t look this gift horse in the mouth!
Next question…
Commenting on the news our friend wrote -
‘Thanks! What an honor!’
‘But I must say this: they keep referring to him as LLosa, which is pronounced Jossa, but that is not his paternal family name, but his maternal family name,
His last name is Vargas Llosa. You could call him just Mario Vargas, but there are SO many Mario Vargas out there that adding the mother's family name helps to differentiate him…’
’Something similar happened to Pablo Ruiz. Do you (know) who he is? Would anyone know him? There are SO many Pablo Ruiz out there!’
’But if you add the mother's family name: Picasso, Then you end up with Pablo Ruiz Picasso. When he moved to Paris, the Parisians found it easiest to refer to him as just Picasso, since that name is very uncommon and it had "artistic flair" -- so now you know "the rest of the story" . . .’
’My full name in Spanish is Enrique Romaguera Martínez Díaz Jiménez - first name -- paternal father’s family name/ maternal father’s family name/ paternal mother’s family name / maternal mother's family name. This way of naming makes it easy to follow family genesis’.
But the web gives this explanation about pronunciation -
Mario Vargas Llosa:
Pronunciation: [mär´yO vär´gäs yO´sä].
And you (our friend) states that Llosa should be pronounced Jossa.
Is there a different pronunciation tradition in the Latin countries and other countries?
And our friend replies -
‘Yes. Different Spanish countries use different pronunciations for the LL. In S panish the double L is considered a seeeparate letter from the simple L.’
’So in a Spanish dictionary you go through all the words with a simple and then you start another dictionary section with words that start with a double LL.’
’The same thing happens in n mid word. You exhaust all the words with simple L and then you start with those with the double LL’.
’In Spain the LL is pronounced like a palatalized L, the simple L is pronounced as a non- palatalized L’.
’In Mexico it is pronounced like a Y, or a Yond’.
’In Argentina It is pronounced as a ZH. Or a palatalized SH
In many Latin American countries, like in Puerto Rico, and Peru, it is pronounced like an English J.’
’Now you have it from the horse's mouth’.
Yes indeed a lesson in various pronunciation traditions
is learned and we won’t look this gift horse in the mouth!
Next question…
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
... a red velvet doughnut ice cream sandwich is served at the Peter Pan doughnut shop in Brooklyn, N.Y. - A news item in SALON, September 15, 2010.
By Harish Trivedi
Wouldn't this be great with Bill's Doughnut (Centerville) or any of your favorite doughnut shops?
Sure looks like our own little 'Stairway to heaven...'
Now sing with me...to the tune of 'Stairway to heaven...' (and if possible imagine yourself in a smoke-filled bar dancing a slow dance with a woman you do not know...you sense that she is not wearing a bra and is clutching YOU ever so closely.....making something stir.... everything is just so guru-vee... (Okay, never mind that last part...)
Oh Led Zeppeling where are you?
so here it is, with apologies to Led Zeppelin....Let's sing
There's a lady whose sure all that glitters is gold
And she's buying a doughnut ice cream sandwich to heaven.
When she gets there, she knows if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for.
Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a doughnut ice cream sandwich to heaven.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it makes me wonder.
Theres a feeling I get when I look to the west,
And my spirit is crying for leaving.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, really makes me wonder.
And it's whispered that soon if we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason.
And a new day will dawn for those who stand long
And the world will echo with laughter.
Don't be alarmed now...
And it makes me wonder.
Oooooohâe, hooo...!
* * * * *
And in the mood that has nothing to do with doughnut ice cream sandwich ... I am just in THAT nostalgic mood... So here it goes -
' Hey Billy Joel, my Piano Man, where are you when I need you? Com'on sing a song for this old man, you know, that one called the Piano Man (a part of lyrics is printed to help you sing...)
It’s nine o’clock on a saturdayThe regular crowd shuffles inThere’s an old man sitting next to meMakin’ love to his tonic and ginHe says, son, can you play me a memory? I’m not really sure how it goesBut it’s sad and it’s sweet and I knew it completeWhen I wore a younger man’s clothesLa la la, de de daLa la, de de da da daChorus:Sing us a song, you’re the piano manSing us a song tonightWell, we’re all in the mood for a melodyAnd you’ve got us feelin’ alrightNow ...
* * * * *
And finally one story about a some what drunk patron who enters a bar with his pet goat. He orders a drink for himself and leaving the goat unattended goes to restroom.
When he returns he finds the goat missing. He asks patrons at the bar about the goat but no one seems to know anything about the goat. So in utter desperation he goes to the lead singer of the band that was playing that night and asks, 'Do you know where my goat is....?" The lead singer thinks for a while and says, 'I don't know, but if you hum, I can make up the lyrics...."
Black out and the obligatory drum roll Purrr, pum ...
Wouldn't this be great with Bill's Doughnut (Centerville) or any of your favorite doughnut shops?
Sure looks like our own little 'Stairway to heaven...'
Now sing with me...to the tune of 'Stairway to heaven...' (and if possible imagine yourself in a smoke-filled bar dancing a slow dance with a woman you do not know...you sense that she is not wearing a bra and is clutching YOU ever so closely.....making something stir.... everything is just so guru-vee... (Okay, never mind that last part...)
Oh Led Zeppeling where are you?
so here it is, with apologies to Led Zeppelin....Let's sing
There's a lady whose sure all that glitters is gold
And she's buying a doughnut ice cream sandwich to heaven.
When she gets there, she knows if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for.
Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a doughnut ice cream sandwich to heaven.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it makes me wonder.
Theres a feeling I get when I look to the west,
And my spirit is crying for leaving.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, really makes me wonder.
And it's whispered that soon if we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason.
And a new day will dawn for those who stand long
And the world will echo with laughter.
Don't be alarmed now...
And it makes me wonder.
Oooooohâe, hooo...!
* * * * *
And in the mood that has nothing to do with doughnut ice cream sandwich ... I am just in THAT nostalgic mood... So here it goes -
' Hey Billy Joel, my Piano Man, where are you when I need you? Com'on sing a song for this old man, you know, that one called the Piano Man (a part of lyrics is printed to help you sing...)
It’s nine o’clock on a saturdayThe regular crowd shuffles inThere’s an old man sitting next to meMakin’ love to his tonic and ginHe says, son, can you play me a memory? I’m not really sure how it goesBut it’s sad and it’s sweet and I knew it completeWhen I wore a younger man’s clothesLa la la, de de daLa la, de de da da daChorus:Sing us a song, you’re the piano manSing us a song tonightWell, we’re all in the mood for a melodyAnd you’ve got us feelin’ alrightNow ...
* * * * *
And finally one story about a some what drunk patron who enters a bar with his pet goat. He orders a drink for himself and leaving the goat unattended goes to restroom.
When he returns he finds the goat missing. He asks patrons at the bar about the goat but no one seems to know anything about the goat. So in utter desperation he goes to the lead singer of the band that was playing that night and asks, 'Do you know where my goat is....?" The lead singer thinks for a while and says, 'I don't know, but if you hum, I can make up the lyrics...."
Black out and the obligatory drum roll Purrr, pum ...
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Tragedy - the Media Porn
By Harish Trivedi
© 2010
All media exist to invest our lives with artificial perceptions and arbitrary values. - Marshall McLuhan
Media has become the biggest exploiter of tragedy. Media manipulates viewers' emotions while making a quick buck in the process...
One could say, paraphrasing Marshall McLean that the Media has become a very powerful aggressor against our cumulative consciousness. We all yield to its demand and surrender our private consciousness to its manipulations.
‘One of the effects of living with electric information is that we live habitually in a state of information overload. There's always more than you can cope with’.
Remember the Columbine High School massacre anniversaries, the Waco and Koresh bombing (1999) and the anniversary, the Oklahoma bombing anniversary, the Jim Jones, Peoples Temple, Jonestown, Guyana (1978) when some 900 temple members willingly died.the anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake that caused the Tsunami and death of over 230,000 people… We all can see these tragedies in our memories rear view mirror. We don’t need any f…. in TV guy spoon feed us and force us live thru it again and again…
I do not know how the media decides when to stop and when to start celebrating anniversaries of grave tragedies...
Public tragedy, it seems is an all-purpose sure bet for generating viewership and readerships for print and electronic media. We only need to look at the Kennedy assassination theories, the books that are cranked out around the Kennedy anniversary, the Marylyn Monroe’s X-number of unpublished (unpalatable would be the proper description) photographs that emerge around her death anniversary and the ever popular and punch line of many jokes – the never dieing Elvis sightings that is always accompanied by one or two totally media strangers coming out with their encounters with Elvis...
The O.J shenanigans are now forgotten or are almost forgotten.
The court case of the century that help propel the carriers of many an obscure lawyers and attorneys and made them TV celebrities.
Has any one wondered as to what happened to Kato Kaelin the cute-guy and one time model who enjoyed his 15-minutes of fame during OJs legal battle... the Judge Lance Ito ... F. Lee Bailey and Johnnie Cochran? - Both now diseased, Robert Shapiro, now hawking his Legal Zoom on the web and on TV commercials, Marcia Clark, the then 40-year old district attorney, Los Angeles County Prosecutor Christopher Darden, who became Marcia Clark's co-consul and rumored to be her one time lover, Barry Scheck - the DNA expert attorney, LAPD detective Mark Fuhrman, the police criminologist Dennis Fung and the celebrated line of Barry Scheck, 'Where is it Mr. Fungi?'
All forgotten for now.
No news about the funds established by Nicole Simpson’s sister and Ron Goldman’s parents…
All seems to be forgotten for now, but wait for the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Nicole Simpson murder trial in 2014 and see how the media wakes up and reminds us all - whether we want to know about it or not … The media will force us to live thru that trial again and again…
And how can we forget the 24/7 video image of oil gushing from the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico in the right-hand corner of our TV screens?
No, it is not forgotten. All these cannot be forgotten. But damn it, we don’t need media to remind us again and again about it.
It would be shown again and again next spring on the occasion of the first anniversary of BP oil-well disaster. It would be shown with the famous clip of BP chief honcho Tony Hayward saying, I want my life back!
There should be a law to punish the Media folks who abuse the public airwaves and inflict pain and suffering on the viewers.
Media – isn’t it the wonderful medium?
Marshall McLuhan must be rolling in his grave. The medium is no longer the message that he once hoped it to be…
The medium is now the messenger of mayhem, fires, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, mass massacres, serial killers, political corruption, human trafficking, drug lords, political demonstrations, and killings of public figures…Media thrives on such news.
Media no longer provides an insight in to an event; it only exacerbates the sad experience.
‘A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding’. - Marshall McLean.
Is any one listening?
© 2010
All media exist to invest our lives with artificial perceptions and arbitrary values. - Marshall McLuhan
Media has become the biggest exploiter of tragedy. Media manipulates viewers' emotions while making a quick buck in the process...
One could say, paraphrasing Marshall McLean that the Media has become a very powerful aggressor against our cumulative consciousness. We all yield to its demand and surrender our private consciousness to its manipulations.
‘One of the effects of living with electric information is that we live habitually in a state of information overload. There's always more than you can cope with’.
Remember the Columbine High School massacre anniversaries, the Waco and Koresh bombing (1999) and the anniversary, the Oklahoma bombing anniversary, the Jim Jones, Peoples Temple, Jonestown, Guyana (1978) when some 900 temple members willingly died.the anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake that caused the Tsunami and death of over 230,000 people… We all can see these tragedies in our memories rear view mirror. We don’t need any f…. in TV guy spoon feed us and force us live thru it again and again…
I do not know how the media decides when to stop and when to start celebrating anniversaries of grave tragedies...
Public tragedy, it seems is an all-purpose sure bet for generating viewership and readerships for print and electronic media. We only need to look at the Kennedy assassination theories, the books that are cranked out around the Kennedy anniversary, the Marylyn Monroe’s X-number of unpublished (unpalatable would be the proper description) photographs that emerge around her death anniversary and the ever popular and punch line of many jokes – the never dieing Elvis sightings that is always accompanied by one or two totally media strangers coming out with their encounters with Elvis...
The O.J shenanigans are now forgotten or are almost forgotten.
The court case of the century that help propel the carriers of many an obscure lawyers and attorneys and made them TV celebrities.
Has any one wondered as to what happened to Kato Kaelin the cute-guy and one time model who enjoyed his 15-minutes of fame during OJs legal battle... the Judge Lance Ito ... F. Lee Bailey and Johnnie Cochran? - Both now diseased, Robert Shapiro, now hawking his Legal Zoom on the web and on TV commercials, Marcia Clark, the then 40-year old district attorney, Los Angeles County Prosecutor Christopher Darden, who became Marcia Clark's co-consul and rumored to be her one time lover, Barry Scheck - the DNA expert attorney, LAPD detective Mark Fuhrman, the police criminologist Dennis Fung and the celebrated line of Barry Scheck, 'Where is it Mr. Fungi?'
All forgotten for now.
No news about the funds established by Nicole Simpson’s sister and Ron Goldman’s parents…
All seems to be forgotten for now, but wait for the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Nicole Simpson murder trial in 2014 and see how the media wakes up and reminds us all - whether we want to know about it or not … The media will force us to live thru that trial again and again…
And how can we forget the 24/7 video image of oil gushing from the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico in the right-hand corner of our TV screens?
No, it is not forgotten. All these cannot be forgotten. But damn it, we don’t need media to remind us again and again about it.
It would be shown again and again next spring on the occasion of the first anniversary of BP oil-well disaster. It would be shown with the famous clip of BP chief honcho Tony Hayward saying, I want my life back!
There should be a law to punish the Media folks who abuse the public airwaves and inflict pain and suffering on the viewers.
Media – isn’t it the wonderful medium?
Marshall McLuhan must be rolling in his grave. The medium is no longer the message that he once hoped it to be…
The medium is now the messenger of mayhem, fires, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, mass massacres, serial killers, political corruption, human trafficking, drug lords, political demonstrations, and killings of public figures…Media thrives on such news.
Media no longer provides an insight in to an event; it only exacerbates the sad experience.
‘A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding’. - Marshall McLean.
Is any one listening?
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Natwar Gandhi on Gujarati Diaspora Writing in U.S.A – a few observations
By Harish Trivedi, Dayton, Ohio.
© 2010
4
The Gujarati Literary Academy of North America
‘Indeed, Gujarati Literary Academy of North America, the preeminent literary association among Gujarati NRIs, has a long established practice of inviting writers and poets from India. It also arranges their coast-to-coast North American tours so that Gujarati community settled across the U.S. and Canada can benefit from their visits.’ This may or may not be true. ‘In addition, the Academy also holds a convention every other year where like minded Gujaratis get together and exchange ideas and share their works. Here again the distinguished writers from India are invited and asked to address the gathering’.
The Gujarati Literary Academy of North America, in my opinion has degenerated in to its own caricature or parody and is now on the verge of becoming a joke. Gujarati writers from Chicago, Los Angelese and few other cities not withstanding, the Academy has very rarely represented any Gujarati group or an organization or a Gujarati writer from any other States of the Union except a few East coast states. While it spends considerable amount of time and money on the travel arrangements of the visiting literati, I wonder if the Academy pays even a nominal honorarium to the few local writers, poets, novelists et all that it keeps inviting again and again for its various readings, panel discussion and poetry readings!
I do not know if any concerted effort has been made to expand the Academy membership beyond the East coast states. I am one of the founder members – Life member of the Academy. In spite of my numerous requests to the leaders of the Academy I do not get any communication from the Academy about its activities… This has made me think that the Academy is not interested in people who live beyond their local boundaries. I have written about this before so let’s move on to the topic at hand.
To be continued...
© 2010
4
The Gujarati Literary Academy of North America
‘Indeed, Gujarati Literary Academy of North America, the preeminent literary association among Gujarati NRIs, has a long established practice of inviting writers and poets from India. It also arranges their coast-to-coast North American tours so that Gujarati community settled across the U.S. and Canada can benefit from their visits.’ This may or may not be true. ‘In addition, the Academy also holds a convention every other year where like minded Gujaratis get together and exchange ideas and share their works. Here again the distinguished writers from India are invited and asked to address the gathering’.
The Gujarati Literary Academy of North America, in my opinion has degenerated in to its own caricature or parody and is now on the verge of becoming a joke. Gujarati writers from Chicago, Los Angelese and few other cities not withstanding, the Academy has very rarely represented any Gujarati group or an organization or a Gujarati writer from any other States of the Union except a few East coast states. While it spends considerable amount of time and money on the travel arrangements of the visiting literati, I wonder if the Academy pays even a nominal honorarium to the few local writers, poets, novelists et all that it keeps inviting again and again for its various readings, panel discussion and poetry readings!
I do not know if any concerted effort has been made to expand the Academy membership beyond the East coast states. I am one of the founder members – Life member of the Academy. In spite of my numerous requests to the leaders of the Academy I do not get any communication from the Academy about its activities… This has made me think that the Academy is not interested in people who live beyond their local boundaries. I have written about this before so let’s move on to the topic at hand.
To be continued...
Natwar Gandhi on Gujarati Diaspora Writing in U.S.A – a few observations
By Harish Trivedi, Dayton, Ohio.
© 2010
9
Natwarbhai challenges Gujarati NRI writers
‘In the 19th century Ralph Waldo Emerson, the great Transcendentalist thinker challenged American writers to be on their own and throwaway the shackles of the home country dependency. He urged them to be independent and not look to England and Europe for approval. He also told them to draw their inspiration from “abounding life of their own country.” He continued: “Our day of independence, our long apprenticeship to the learning of other lands, draws to a close. The millions that around us are rushing into life cannot always be fed on the sere remains of foreign harvests. Events, actions arise, that must be sung, that will sing themselves…there are creative manners, there are creative actions and creative words…that is, indicative of no custom or authority, but springing spontaneous from the mind’s own sense of good and fair.” Emerson further challenged the countrymen of his young country: “Insist on yourself, never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation…”
Further on he adds, ‘…throwaway the shackles of the home country dependency’.
‘Gujarati writers of North America have to come of age and be on their own. They no longer should seek certificates from back home because most of those borrowed certificates are worthless anyway. They should throw away their literary shackles that make them look to India for the approval for their literary activities here. Their own immigrant lives are filled with fascinating stories that need to be written and tales that need to be told. Writers such as Bharati Mukerjee and Jumpa Lahiri made their literary mark doing just that. Why does the Gujarati NRI writer close his eyes to the world that surrounds him and look to a distant land where he is an object of condescension?’
Bharati Mukerjee as spelled in the above paragraph by Natwarbhai is incorrect. The correct spelling is Mukherjee - with KH and Jumpa Lahiri should have been spelled Jhumpa Lahiri - there is JH as in Jhumpa. I am sure this was a mere typographical error.
10
American Literature in late 18th and early 19th century and Emerson’s Advice to young writers
It was in the late eighteenth and early 19th century that the nation’s first novels were published. These fictions were too lengthy to be printed as manuscript or public reading. Publishers took a chance on these works in hopes they would become steady sellers and need to be reprinted. This was a good bet as literacy rates soared in this period among both men and women. The first American novel is William Hill Brown’s ‘’The Power of Sympathy’’ published in 1789. (The Norton Anthology of American Literature)
In the next decadeimportant women writers also published novels. Susanna Rowson is best known for her novel, ‘’Charlotte: A Tale of Truth’’, published in London in 1791.[5] In 1794 the novel was reissued in Philadelphia under the title, ‘’Charlotte Temple.’’ ‘’Charlotte Temple’’ is a seduction tale, written in the third person, which warns against listening to the voice of love and counsels resistance. In addition to this best selling novel, she wrote nine novels, six theatrical works, two collections of poetry, six textbooks, and countless songs.
( Parker, Patricia L. “Charlotte Temple by Susanna Rowson.” ‘’The English Journal.’’ 65.1: (1976) 59-60. ‘’JSTOR.’’ Web. 1 March 2010)In this country – U.S.A - in the late eighteenth and early 19th century that the nation’s first novels were published.. The first American novel is William Hill Brown’s ‘’The Power of Sympathy’’ published in 1789.
Reaching more than a million and a half readers over a century and a half, ‘’Charlotte Temple’’ was the biggest seller of the nineteenth century before Stowe’s ‘’Uncle Tom’s Cabin.’’ Although Rowson was extremely popular in her time and is often acknowledged in accounts of the development of the early American novel, ‘’Charlotte Temple’’ is often criticized as a sentimental novel of seduction. Hannah Webster Foster’s ‘’The Coquette: Or, the History of Eliza Wharton’’ was published in 1797 and was also extremely popular. (Source: Schweitzer, Ivy. ‘’Early American Literature.’’ 23.2: 1988] 221-225. ‘’JSTOR.’’ Web. 1 March 2010).
With the War of 1812 and an increasing desire to produce uniquely American literature and culture, a number of key new literary figures emerged, perhaps most prominently Washington Irving, William Cullen Bryant, James Fenimore Cooper, and Edgar Allan Poe. Irving, often considered arguably the first writer to develop a unique American style. wrote during the early decades of 19th century. Bryant wrote romantic and nature-inspired poetry, which evolved away from their European origins.
In 1832, Poe began writing short stories – including "The Masque of the Red Death", "The Pit and the Pendulum", "The Fall of the House of Usher", and "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" – that explore previously hidden levels of human psychology and push the boundaries of fiction toward mystery and fantasy. James Fenimore Cooper's three novels including The Last of the Mohicans) were popular both in the new country and abroad. Herman Mellville’s Moby Dick which was published in 1851, was not very successful in his life time, although it is considered one of the master pieces of Amrican literature. (Source: Norton Anthology of American Literature)
The noted America-born English essayist, critic and author Henry James (1843 – 1916) a pioneer of the realism movement in literature wrote mostly in the mode of British novels, became a British citizen in 1915 and died there in 1916. He did not seem to have paid any attention to Emerson’s advice. Henry James is one of the favorite writers of Natwarbhai whose name he likes to mention at any opportunity he gets to do so.
Barring few exception, early Amrican writing did not sell well (same as our Gujarari writing now. The only difference is, under a century after the American independence in 1776 good and distinctly Amrican literature had emerged.
The story of Gujarati writers in Gujarat and the diaspora writers is bit different. Gujarati NRI writers have not established emotional roots in the country they have adopted and many call their home. Many of them have not immersed themselves in Amrican literature and have not assimilated or acquired knowledge of Amrican history, literature, and society. In this sense, Panna Naik’s poems about home-sickness, while reflecting an immigrant’s emotions about the home country, cannot be called in a very narrow definition an American poem. And I don’t think Panna Naik wrote her poems to create some thing that could be called American and there is nothing wrong about it.
Nobel laureate V. S. Naipaul’s almost all fiction is based on his life in Trinidad and his family history. His non fiction is based on his travels in different parts of the world and his perspective on the people, politics and places of those lands. Reflecting or distilling ones own life experiences in writing does not make that work less important or relevant. It is after all the style of writing, the writer’s own sensibilities and perceptions that are reflected in his writings makes that fiction, non-fiction or poetry – good, bad or aweful.
Salman Rushdie’s first novel is quite autobiographiical. Indian American writer Ved Mehta’s almost entire body of work is based on his personal life. No one admonished these writers for not writing about their British or American experiences.
It is after all what one writes and how one writes that makes good literature. It has nothing to do with what personal experiences the writer distills and filters in his writings.
So long as a writer is able to depict some universally recongizable experinece or an event that could resonante with a readers’ own sensibilities, the writer has nothing to worry about… To paraphrase Roy Peter Clark, people read for pleasure, and to be informed, and to be swept away by storytelling.
Having said that, unless the Gujarati NRI writer or an aspiring writer totally immerses in American society and life style, to expect him/her to write some thing with a distinct American ethos is going to be futile, not withstanding Natwarbhai’s gallant effort from behind the mask of Emerson advising Gujarati NRIs to write about something that reflected their American experience.
Advising Gujarati NRI writers how to write, no matter how high minded and nobel is likely to be construed as elitist. It may sound to some as a dicta, fiat or a fatwa from some foggy ivory tower. This is not a recipie for creating good literature. The decision of what to write and how to write should be left to NRI or native born writers or poets themselves. Writers of any shade or color, listen to the voice of their own inner muse or perhaps in an absence of a muse, they listen to their mistress…
‘Literary associations and academies should make a concerted effort to encourage Gujarati writing here and publish books and journals produced here. Instead of inviting Gujarati writers and poets from home at great expense they should arrange nationwide gatherings of local Gujarati writers and poets whose voices have not been heard. Above all, Gujarati writers and literary associations should focus on the literary writing that is being done here and celebrate it much the way Emerson celebrated American writing two centuries ago.’
It should be noted that some of the Gujarati writing in this country does reflect writers’ unique American experience. Take for example Gujarati NRI writings during the last three-decades or so - Adilbhai Mansuri’s poem about the young woman who was attacked and raped in the Central Park, New York, Panna Mody’s several poems that depicts her home-sickness or how she misses certain kind of Indian flowers that she is unable find in this country etc. Madhu Rye’s novel ‘Kimball Ravenswood’, An anthology of Gujarati poems that was edited by Chandrakant Shah titled ‘Amerikavyo’ and his collection of poems inspired by blue jeans. An earlier and probably the very first anthology of poems by expatriate Indians living in the U.S and Canada titled ‘Poetry-India’ (published by the India Foundation, Dayton and MedFest International 1987) included poems in some thirteen Indian languages, with original Indian script and with an English translation of the same. ‘Poetry-India’ included poems by six Gujarati NRIs; many a poems depicted the poets’ American experience. The critical articles in the pioneering Gujarati digest published and edited by Kishore Desai has published such writings and the list could go on and on…
On the topic of Gujarati writing inspired by American experience (as we are talking about Gujarati NRI writers), one could add the travelogues written by some visiting writers from India, some invited by the Academy and some who visited this country on their own. The problem with such travelogues is the ‘sameness’. Invariably all such travelogues contain un-ending descriptions of the writer’s hosts in various cities and places of interest he/she visited across this country and nothing more. These travelogues read like a personal diary, there is not even a word about the beauty of the location and or historic significance of the places they had visited.
Some visiting Gujarati writers have even tried to be a sociologist and have tried to analyze the life-styles of Gujarati NRIs – generally their hosts in this country. Such efforts have given the readers back home in India nothing but half-baked information and laughable generalizations about life in America. Such travelogues make dubious literature. The only value of such travelogues is only to the fans of the writers who have lovingly and with respect hosted those writers.
Natwarbhai says, ‘Literary associations and academies should make a concerted effort to encourage Gujarati writing here and publish books and journals produced here’. One might add that first one should find ways to finance such publishing efforts, as Natwarbhai is silent on the subject of financing the printing/publishing efforts of Gujarati NRIs in this country. I am sure he is not suggesting that the Gujarati NRI writers personally pay for their work published in this country rather than doing the same in India.
I would like to thank Natwarbhai for giving me this opportunity to enter in this discussion. His article is indeed thought provoking and dealt with a subject that has demanded attention for a long time. Natwarbhai is my very own Pundit of the Potomac!
(Translation, reprinting, electronic transmission or reproduction of this article in any form is prohibited without prior written permission from Harish Trivedi. Contact: indiafound@earthlink.net)
END
© 2010
9
Natwarbhai challenges Gujarati NRI writers
‘In the 19th century Ralph Waldo Emerson, the great Transcendentalist thinker challenged American writers to be on their own and throwaway the shackles of the home country dependency. He urged them to be independent and not look to England and Europe for approval. He also told them to draw their inspiration from “abounding life of their own country.” He continued: “Our day of independence, our long apprenticeship to the learning of other lands, draws to a close. The millions that around us are rushing into life cannot always be fed on the sere remains of foreign harvests. Events, actions arise, that must be sung, that will sing themselves…there are creative manners, there are creative actions and creative words…that is, indicative of no custom or authority, but springing spontaneous from the mind’s own sense of good and fair.” Emerson further challenged the countrymen of his young country: “Insist on yourself, never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation…”
Further on he adds, ‘…throwaway the shackles of the home country dependency’.
‘Gujarati writers of North America have to come of age and be on their own. They no longer should seek certificates from back home because most of those borrowed certificates are worthless anyway. They should throw away their literary shackles that make them look to India for the approval for their literary activities here. Their own immigrant lives are filled with fascinating stories that need to be written and tales that need to be told. Writers such as Bharati Mukerjee and Jumpa Lahiri made their literary mark doing just that. Why does the Gujarati NRI writer close his eyes to the world that surrounds him and look to a distant land where he is an object of condescension?’
Bharati Mukerjee as spelled in the above paragraph by Natwarbhai is incorrect. The correct spelling is Mukherjee - with KH and Jumpa Lahiri should have been spelled Jhumpa Lahiri - there is JH as in Jhumpa. I am sure this was a mere typographical error.
10
American Literature in late 18th and early 19th century and Emerson’s Advice to young writers
It was in the late eighteenth and early 19th century that the nation’s first novels were published. These fictions were too lengthy to be printed as manuscript or public reading. Publishers took a chance on these works in hopes they would become steady sellers and need to be reprinted. This was a good bet as literacy rates soared in this period among both men and women. The first American novel is William Hill Brown’s ‘’The Power of Sympathy’’ published in 1789. (The Norton Anthology of American Literature)
In the next decadeimportant women writers also published novels. Susanna Rowson is best known for her novel, ‘’Charlotte: A Tale of Truth’’, published in London in 1791.[5] In 1794 the novel was reissued in Philadelphia under the title, ‘’Charlotte Temple.’’ ‘’Charlotte Temple’’ is a seduction tale, written in the third person, which warns against listening to the voice of love and counsels resistance. In addition to this best selling novel, she wrote nine novels, six theatrical works, two collections of poetry, six textbooks, and countless songs.
( Parker, Patricia L. “Charlotte Temple by Susanna Rowson.” ‘’The English Journal.’’ 65.1: (1976) 59-60. ‘’JSTOR.’’ Web. 1 March 2010)In this country – U.S.A - in the late eighteenth and early 19th century that the nation’s first novels were published.. The first American novel is William Hill Brown’s ‘’The Power of Sympathy’’ published in 1789.
Reaching more than a million and a half readers over a century and a half, ‘’Charlotte Temple’’ was the biggest seller of the nineteenth century before Stowe’s ‘’Uncle Tom’s Cabin.’’ Although Rowson was extremely popular in her time and is often acknowledged in accounts of the development of the early American novel, ‘’Charlotte Temple’’ is often criticized as a sentimental novel of seduction. Hannah Webster Foster’s ‘’The Coquette: Or, the History of Eliza Wharton’’ was published in 1797 and was also extremely popular. (Source: Schweitzer, Ivy. ‘’Early American Literature.’’ 23.2: 1988] 221-225. ‘’JSTOR.’’ Web. 1 March 2010).
With the War of 1812 and an increasing desire to produce uniquely American literature and culture, a number of key new literary figures emerged, perhaps most prominently Washington Irving, William Cullen Bryant, James Fenimore Cooper, and Edgar Allan Poe. Irving, often considered arguably the first writer to develop a unique American style. wrote during the early decades of 19th century. Bryant wrote romantic and nature-inspired poetry, which evolved away from their European origins.
In 1832, Poe began writing short stories – including "The Masque of the Red Death", "The Pit and the Pendulum", "The Fall of the House of Usher", and "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" – that explore previously hidden levels of human psychology and push the boundaries of fiction toward mystery and fantasy. James Fenimore Cooper's three novels including The Last of the Mohicans) were popular both in the new country and abroad. Herman Mellville’s Moby Dick which was published in 1851, was not very successful in his life time, although it is considered one of the master pieces of Amrican literature. (Source: Norton Anthology of American Literature)
The noted America-born English essayist, critic and author Henry James (1843 – 1916) a pioneer of the realism movement in literature wrote mostly in the mode of British novels, became a British citizen in 1915 and died there in 1916. He did not seem to have paid any attention to Emerson’s advice. Henry James is one of the favorite writers of Natwarbhai whose name he likes to mention at any opportunity he gets to do so.
Barring few exception, early Amrican writing did not sell well (same as our Gujarari writing now. The only difference is, under a century after the American independence in 1776 good and distinctly Amrican literature had emerged.
The story of Gujarati writers in Gujarat and the diaspora writers is bit different. Gujarati NRI writers have not established emotional roots in the country they have adopted and many call their home. Many of them have not immersed themselves in Amrican literature and have not assimilated or acquired knowledge of Amrican history, literature, and society. In this sense, Panna Naik’s poems about home-sickness, while reflecting an immigrant’s emotions about the home country, cannot be called in a very narrow definition an American poem. And I don’t think Panna Naik wrote her poems to create some thing that could be called American and there is nothing wrong about it.
Nobel laureate V. S. Naipaul’s almost all fiction is based on his life in Trinidad and his family history. His non fiction is based on his travels in different parts of the world and his perspective on the people, politics and places of those lands. Reflecting or distilling ones own life experiences in writing does not make that work less important or relevant. It is after all the style of writing, the writer’s own sensibilities and perceptions that are reflected in his writings makes that fiction, non-fiction or poetry – good, bad or aweful.
Salman Rushdie’s first novel is quite autobiographiical. Indian American writer Ved Mehta’s almost entire body of work is based on his personal life. No one admonished these writers for not writing about their British or American experiences.
It is after all what one writes and how one writes that makes good literature. It has nothing to do with what personal experiences the writer distills and filters in his writings.
So long as a writer is able to depict some universally recongizable experinece or an event that could resonante with a readers’ own sensibilities, the writer has nothing to worry about… To paraphrase Roy Peter Clark, people read for pleasure, and to be informed, and to be swept away by storytelling.
Having said that, unless the Gujarati NRI writer or an aspiring writer totally immerses in American society and life style, to expect him/her to write some thing with a distinct American ethos is going to be futile, not withstanding Natwarbhai’s gallant effort from behind the mask of Emerson advising Gujarati NRIs to write about something that reflected their American experience.
Advising Gujarati NRI writers how to write, no matter how high minded and nobel is likely to be construed as elitist. It may sound to some as a dicta, fiat or a fatwa from some foggy ivory tower. This is not a recipie for creating good literature. The decision of what to write and how to write should be left to NRI or native born writers or poets themselves. Writers of any shade or color, listen to the voice of their own inner muse or perhaps in an absence of a muse, they listen to their mistress…
‘Literary associations and academies should make a concerted effort to encourage Gujarati writing here and publish books and journals produced here. Instead of inviting Gujarati writers and poets from home at great expense they should arrange nationwide gatherings of local Gujarati writers and poets whose voices have not been heard. Above all, Gujarati writers and literary associations should focus on the literary writing that is being done here and celebrate it much the way Emerson celebrated American writing two centuries ago.’
It should be noted that some of the Gujarati writing in this country does reflect writers’ unique American experience. Take for example Gujarati NRI writings during the last three-decades or so - Adilbhai Mansuri’s poem about the young woman who was attacked and raped in the Central Park, New York, Panna Mody’s several poems that depicts her home-sickness or how she misses certain kind of Indian flowers that she is unable find in this country etc. Madhu Rye’s novel ‘Kimball Ravenswood’, An anthology of Gujarati poems that was edited by Chandrakant Shah titled ‘Amerikavyo’ and his collection of poems inspired by blue jeans. An earlier and probably the very first anthology of poems by expatriate Indians living in the U.S and Canada titled ‘Poetry-India’ (published by the India Foundation, Dayton and MedFest International 1987) included poems in some thirteen Indian languages, with original Indian script and with an English translation of the same. ‘Poetry-India’ included poems by six Gujarati NRIs; many a poems depicted the poets’ American experience. The critical articles in the pioneering Gujarati digest published and edited by Kishore Desai has published such writings and the list could go on and on…
On the topic of Gujarati writing inspired by American experience (as we are talking about Gujarati NRI writers), one could add the travelogues written by some visiting writers from India, some invited by the Academy and some who visited this country on their own. The problem with such travelogues is the ‘sameness’. Invariably all such travelogues contain un-ending descriptions of the writer’s hosts in various cities and places of interest he/she visited across this country and nothing more. These travelogues read like a personal diary, there is not even a word about the beauty of the location and or historic significance of the places they had visited.
Some visiting Gujarati writers have even tried to be a sociologist and have tried to analyze the life-styles of Gujarati NRIs – generally their hosts in this country. Such efforts have given the readers back home in India nothing but half-baked information and laughable generalizations about life in America. Such travelogues make dubious literature. The only value of such travelogues is only to the fans of the writers who have lovingly and with respect hosted those writers.
Natwarbhai says, ‘Literary associations and academies should make a concerted effort to encourage Gujarati writing here and publish books and journals produced here’. One might add that first one should find ways to finance such publishing efforts, as Natwarbhai is silent on the subject of financing the printing/publishing efforts of Gujarati NRIs in this country. I am sure he is not suggesting that the Gujarati NRI writers personally pay for their work published in this country rather than doing the same in India.
I would like to thank Natwarbhai for giving me this opportunity to enter in this discussion. His article is indeed thought provoking and dealt with a subject that has demanded attention for a long time. Natwarbhai is my very own Pundit of the Potomac!
(Translation, reprinting, electronic transmission or reproduction of this article in any form is prohibited without prior written permission from Harish Trivedi. Contact: indiafound@earthlink.net)
END
Natwar Gandhi on Gujarati Diaspora Writing in U.S.A – a few observations
By Harish Trivedi, Dayton, Ohio.
© 2010
8
American Literature
‘In the nineteenth century, as American letters were coming of age the American writers were also looking to the mother country for approval. They read what was published in England. They strived to publish in British journals and periodicals. Those who can afford it took annual pilgrimages to Europe, particularly to England to rejuvenate their literary heritage. They sent their children to the best English and European boarding schools.’ Well, they still do. During the 20th century and in this first decade of 21st century some people have been sending their kids to boarding schools in England, Switzerland, France.
In the early 20th century writers did go and settled in England, France or Italy. Take Ezra Pound for example, Natwarbhai has referred to him in his article. Pound was born in Idaho, and grew up in suburban Philadelphia. He was trained in classical literature at the University of Pennsylvania and Hamilton College. In 1908 (early 20th century) he moved to London where he lived until 1921, then relocated to Paris, France. He moved to Italy, in 1924, where he lived for much of the rest of his life. He married Dorothy Shakespeare in 1914, and they had a son in 1926. For most of his married life, he was romantically involved with the classical violinist Olga Rudge, with whom he had a daughter in 1925. Pound died in Italy, in November 1972.
(An incidental foot-note: Pound’s life-style was not unlike some of our own contemporary Gujarati writers/poets/critics, journalists… who also indulge in similar extra-marital activities described above and sometimes they even proudly brag about it. Generally no one cares about such ‘friends with benefits’ affairs but this ‘bragging’ is really uncalled for. It is juvenile, cheap and it also demeans one of the partners involved in such relationships).
Paris has been a destination of choice for many American writers, including Natwarbhai's favorite (Ralph Waldo) Emerson and Henry James and also of Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, E. E. Cummings, Cole Porter, Henry Miller, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Theodore Dreiser, Edith Wharton, and John Dos Passos. Henry James called Paris 'the most brilliant city in the world'.
Whether they were escaping, becoming an exile, or just enjoying the mystery and romance of Paris...is of little consequence. The most important and relevant fact is that all these writers chose to live wherever they wanted to live...
‘Some even decided literally to migrate to England to make their name in English literature. As late as early twentieth century, the distinguished poet and critic Ezra Pound advised his literary pupil T. S. Eliot to live in London to make his name in English literature. Eliot did just that and eventually became a British citizen. For Eliot, only Europe can provide the cultural authority that he was looking for. Henry James, the distinguished novelist also chose England and Europe over America. Both Eliot and James established great reputations and became giants of English literature. By mid-Twentieth Century, Eliot was already a Nobel laureate and by wide agreement most literary critics believed that Henry James should also have been awarded the Nobel Prize in literature.’ (Page 5)
The above and similar comments about American writers living abroad are not really relevant to the question of Gujarati NRI writers and their writing. The Gujarati NRI writers live in various countries because of necessity – education, jobs or family connections. Gujarati writers in various countries are there by default. As far as I know no Gujarati NRI writer or for that matter even a Gujarati writer in India could afford to move abroad to soak in or to absorb the culture of a particular country and WRITE.
To be continued....
© 2010
8
American Literature
‘In the nineteenth century, as American letters were coming of age the American writers were also looking to the mother country for approval. They read what was published in England. They strived to publish in British journals and periodicals. Those who can afford it took annual pilgrimages to Europe, particularly to England to rejuvenate their literary heritage. They sent their children to the best English and European boarding schools.’ Well, they still do. During the 20th century and in this first decade of 21st century some people have been sending their kids to boarding schools in England, Switzerland, France.
In the early 20th century writers did go and settled in England, France or Italy. Take Ezra Pound for example, Natwarbhai has referred to him in his article. Pound was born in Idaho, and grew up in suburban Philadelphia. He was trained in classical literature at the University of Pennsylvania and Hamilton College. In 1908 (early 20th century) he moved to London where he lived until 1921, then relocated to Paris, France. He moved to Italy, in 1924, where he lived for much of the rest of his life. He married Dorothy Shakespeare in 1914, and they had a son in 1926. For most of his married life, he was romantically involved with the classical violinist Olga Rudge, with whom he had a daughter in 1925. Pound died in Italy, in November 1972.
(An incidental foot-note: Pound’s life-style was not unlike some of our own contemporary Gujarati writers/poets/critics, journalists… who also indulge in similar extra-marital activities described above and sometimes they even proudly brag about it. Generally no one cares about such ‘friends with benefits’ affairs but this ‘bragging’ is really uncalled for. It is juvenile, cheap and it also demeans one of the partners involved in such relationships).
Paris has been a destination of choice for many American writers, including Natwarbhai's favorite (Ralph Waldo) Emerson and Henry James and also of Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, E. E. Cummings, Cole Porter, Henry Miller, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Theodore Dreiser, Edith Wharton, and John Dos Passos. Henry James called Paris 'the most brilliant city in the world'.
Whether they were escaping, becoming an exile, or just enjoying the mystery and romance of Paris...is of little consequence. The most important and relevant fact is that all these writers chose to live wherever they wanted to live...
‘Some even decided literally to migrate to England to make their name in English literature. As late as early twentieth century, the distinguished poet and critic Ezra Pound advised his literary pupil T. S. Eliot to live in London to make his name in English literature. Eliot did just that and eventually became a British citizen. For Eliot, only Europe can provide the cultural authority that he was looking for. Henry James, the distinguished novelist also chose England and Europe over America. Both Eliot and James established great reputations and became giants of English literature. By mid-Twentieth Century, Eliot was already a Nobel laureate and by wide agreement most literary critics believed that Henry James should also have been awarded the Nobel Prize in literature.’ (Page 5)
The above and similar comments about American writers living abroad are not really relevant to the question of Gujarati NRI writers and their writing. The Gujarati NRI writers live in various countries because of necessity – education, jobs or family connections. Gujarati writers in various countries are there by default. As far as I know no Gujarati NRI writer or for that matter even a Gujarati writer in India could afford to move abroad to soak in or to absorb the culture of a particular country and WRITE.
To be continued....
Natwar Gandhi on Gujarati Diaspora Writing in U.S.A – a few observations
By Harish Trivedi, Dayton, Ohio.
© 2010
7
State of Gujarati Literature and Literary Criticism
‘With the passing of that generation of distinguished critics and editors, field of Gujarati literature is wide open for anyone to come and play. There has been a progressive debasement of literary standards at home where the prevailing motto is: anything goes! (Page 4) While I agree with Natwarbhai about ‘… debasement of literary standards’ but then why this vilification of Gujarati NRIs? And why are the Gujarati NRI writers as Natwarbhai has claimed seeking a Good Housekeeping stamp of approval from the same folks who are responsible for the debasement of literary standards…?
‘There is not any major book reviewing effort presently in Gujarati literature to act as a door-keeper’. Doorkeeper for what, for shrinking sells of a book? His suggestion has no relevance as even a decade or more after a publication of a book, thousand copies of those books remain unsold. One can include in this category novels or short stories written by these ‘critics’. Barring a few exceptions, there in not much there that could command a review.
‘Even with a burgeoning publishing business, all we have is one obscure journal devoted to book reviews.’ Could it be because there are not many books worth reviewing? ‘Formerly, major dailies used to carry a regular weekly book section’. Yes, indeed. That was a time when the giants of Gujarati literature were WRITING. ‘There used to be distinguished journals like Prashtan, (I think Natwarbhai meant Prasthan) Kaumudi, Sankriti, and Kshitij, that carried a book review section. They are all gone. Even the publishers do not see the advertising value of a book review magazine to subsidize one.’ (Page 5). Why should the publishers advertise in such publications? Look at the circulation of these so called ‘book review magazines’. The publishers are in the business of making money, they are not going to waste their money on some advertisement in a journal that very few people read, much less buy. Some times these same publishers, instead of payment of royalty to the writer give only complementary copies of a book to the writer. How can one overlook this reprehensible state of affairs?
In the U.S. for over a decade now many a daily newspapers have stopped publishing book reviews and many have done away with what was once called 'the book-pages'.
© 2010
7
State of Gujarati Literature and Literary Criticism
‘With the passing of that generation of distinguished critics and editors, field of Gujarati literature is wide open for anyone to come and play. There has been a progressive debasement of literary standards at home where the prevailing motto is: anything goes! (Page 4) While I agree with Natwarbhai about ‘… debasement of literary standards’ but then why this vilification of Gujarati NRIs? And why are the Gujarati NRI writers as Natwarbhai has claimed seeking a Good Housekeeping stamp of approval from the same folks who are responsible for the debasement of literary standards…?
‘There is not any major book reviewing effort presently in Gujarati literature to act as a door-keeper’. Doorkeeper for what, for shrinking sells of a book? His suggestion has no relevance as even a decade or more after a publication of a book, thousand copies of those books remain unsold. One can include in this category novels or short stories written by these ‘critics’. Barring a few exceptions, there in not much there that could command a review.
‘Even with a burgeoning publishing business, all we have is one obscure journal devoted to book reviews.’ Could it be because there are not many books worth reviewing? ‘Formerly, major dailies used to carry a regular weekly book section’. Yes, indeed. That was a time when the giants of Gujarati literature were WRITING. ‘There used to be distinguished journals like Prashtan, (I think Natwarbhai meant Prasthan) Kaumudi, Sankriti, and Kshitij, that carried a book review section. They are all gone. Even the publishers do not see the advertising value of a book review magazine to subsidize one.’ (Page 5). Why should the publishers advertise in such publications? Look at the circulation of these so called ‘book review magazines’. The publishers are in the business of making money, they are not going to waste their money on some advertisement in a journal that very few people read, much less buy. Some times these same publishers, instead of payment of royalty to the writer give only complementary copies of a book to the writer. How can one overlook this reprehensible state of affairs?
In the U.S. for over a decade now many a daily newspapers have stopped publishing book reviews and many have done away with what was once called 'the book-pages'.
Natwar Gandhi on Gujarati Diaspora Writing in U.S.A – a few observations
By Harish Trivedi, Dayton, Ohio.
© 2010
6
‘Books on Demand. Need a book publisher in a hurry? Publish within 48 hours…’
A random sampling of few self-publishing houses in the U.S.: OutskirtsPress.com, Xlibris.com, iuniverse.com, 48HrBooks.com,
One such publisher has even tries to attract new writer with an enticing offer - Keep 100% Royalties and 100% Rights to Your Book…
This makes everything easy, you don’t need to worry about any thing, not even money, use your credit card and go broke in the process but get published… Now you are a writer… Most importantly there are NO Natwar Gandhis who would criticize these publishers or the writers who get published through such outfits. Not any different then legalized brothels. And like brothels, such publishing has become a necessary evil. We know we have such literary pimps or dalals- brokers. For the right price, they would take good care of you. Then you can call yourself a WRITER.
In Gujarat, while computers and word processors are used to typeset and printing of the books. And there are failed novelists and journalists in Gujarat who have made a business of ‘guiding’ an NRI through the self-publishing process, even a gullible editor of a respectable magazine is conned in to writing a glowing preface. So call this what you want – legalized book publishing brothel or a back-room delivery, err printing of a questionable book and if needed even a back-room abortion – when printing is aborted because the Gujarati NRI developed cold feet and did not want to go through the process…and I have learned that in one recent incident the writer refused to pay mega bucks that the vanity publisher had demanded.
Book on demand phenomena has yet to emerge in Gujarat. But that is only a matter of time. May be there already is one in service as I write this, who knows?
So if a publisher in India or for that matter in any country, chooses to print some thing written by a Gujarati NRI writer, whose fault it is, the writer's or the publisher’s? No ones, regardless of screams and moans of wise man in the U.S. The law of supply and demand always plays an important role in such ventures and the Gujarati publishing is not immune from it.
‘Gujarati NRI writers look homeward for approval particularly for what they write. They strive to get good reviews and they get them easily in India. A North American return address on the envelope or a call from North America works wonders in India. As long as you are willing to pay, Indian publishers are willing to print and publish any rubbish any one pretending to be a writer comes up with.’ See above.
‘What is worse now is that with the advent of World Wide Web and blogosphere, who needs even a publisher? Any idiot can start a blog and put whatever he writes on his log and reach thousands of people who surf web daily. Many do. There are hundreds of Gujarati blogs originating from far and near. They are filled with a vast variety of poetry, essays, short stories and all sort of personal ruminations that the blogger feels appropriate. It is a sort of euphoria of abundance. (This also is an answer to all those who were lamenting the impending demise of Gujarati language. Hundreds of people are writing it regularly and tens of thousands are reading it regularly around the globe.)’
On the one hand Natwarbhai complains about NRIs who write 'rubbish' on the World Wide Web but then he condones it by stating, ‘This also is an answer to all those who were lamenting the impending demise of Gujarati language.’ Does this mean that even if one writes 'rubbish' he/she saves Gujarati language by such an effort? I do not believe that this is what Natwarbhai wanted to convey…
Let’s just wait till Gujarati books on line flood the web. I am sure we won’t have to wait for that very long. Even now one can download from the web a very popular novel by one of our leading novelist (available only in English language version) for a price.
Suffice it to say that the subject of the volatile mix of literature and commerce is not worth wasting time about.
‘If the critics in India really cared for the NRI writer, they should be advising him to study the masters of Gujarati literature as well as other literary masters.’(Page 3) Obviously, Natwarbhai is assuming that the critics in India really pay any attention to Gujarati NRI writers and their writings or vice a versa. Or for that matter he assumes that the Gujarati NRI writers in this country want or need any guidance from critics in India. May be Natwarbhai knows something that I do not, just like his informing us all that there were hundreds of thousands of people in District of Columbia who not only read Gujarati but specifically read Divya Bhaskar and Madhu Rye's columns. Oh, well!
‘Question is does it make literature?’ Well, that depends upon what one calls 'Literature'. Natwarbhai has avoided giving us his definition of literature. And in the next sentence (see below) he forgets the question he had just raised and asks ‘What is the literary value of blogs as well as international Gujarati literary exchanges?’ Natwarbhai may venture to suggest anything he pleases and write anything he pleases... But he should at least give us some examples or proof to validate his assertion when he writes, ‘I venture to suggest that visits of Indian writers here as well as NRI writers back home are not only not useful, but actually harmful to Gujarati Diaspora literature…’
Earlier Natwarbhai wrote, ‘Indeed, Gujarati Literary Academy of North America, the preeminent literary association among Gujarati NRIs, has a long established practice of inviting writers and poets from India. It also arranges their coast-to-coast North American tours so that Gujarati community settled across the U.S. and Canada can benefit from their visits.’
So what is it? Are such visits good or are they harmful? And who cares?
© 2010
6
‘Books on Demand. Need a book publisher in a hurry? Publish within 48 hours…’
A random sampling of few self-publishing houses in the U.S.: OutskirtsPress.com, Xlibris.com, iuniverse.com, 48HrBooks.com,
One such publisher has even tries to attract new writer with an enticing offer - Keep 100% Royalties and 100% Rights to Your Book…
This makes everything easy, you don’t need to worry about any thing, not even money, use your credit card and go broke in the process but get published… Now you are a writer… Most importantly there are NO Natwar Gandhis who would criticize these publishers or the writers who get published through such outfits. Not any different then legalized brothels. And like brothels, such publishing has become a necessary evil. We know we have such literary pimps or dalals- brokers. For the right price, they would take good care of you. Then you can call yourself a WRITER.
In Gujarat, while computers and word processors are used to typeset and printing of the books. And there are failed novelists and journalists in Gujarat who have made a business of ‘guiding’ an NRI through the self-publishing process, even a gullible editor of a respectable magazine is conned in to writing a glowing preface. So call this what you want – legalized book publishing brothel or a back-room delivery, err printing of a questionable book and if needed even a back-room abortion – when printing is aborted because the Gujarati NRI developed cold feet and did not want to go through the process…and I have learned that in one recent incident the writer refused to pay mega bucks that the vanity publisher had demanded.
Book on demand phenomena has yet to emerge in Gujarat. But that is only a matter of time. May be there already is one in service as I write this, who knows?
So if a publisher in India or for that matter in any country, chooses to print some thing written by a Gujarati NRI writer, whose fault it is, the writer's or the publisher’s? No ones, regardless of screams and moans of wise man in the U.S. The law of supply and demand always plays an important role in such ventures and the Gujarati publishing is not immune from it.
‘Gujarati NRI writers look homeward for approval particularly for what they write. They strive to get good reviews and they get them easily in India. A North American return address on the envelope or a call from North America works wonders in India. As long as you are willing to pay, Indian publishers are willing to print and publish any rubbish any one pretending to be a writer comes up with.’ See above.
‘What is worse now is that with the advent of World Wide Web and blogosphere, who needs even a publisher? Any idiot can start a blog and put whatever he writes on his log and reach thousands of people who surf web daily. Many do. There are hundreds of Gujarati blogs originating from far and near. They are filled with a vast variety of poetry, essays, short stories and all sort of personal ruminations that the blogger feels appropriate. It is a sort of euphoria of abundance. (This also is an answer to all those who were lamenting the impending demise of Gujarati language. Hundreds of people are writing it regularly and tens of thousands are reading it regularly around the globe.)’
On the one hand Natwarbhai complains about NRIs who write 'rubbish' on the World Wide Web but then he condones it by stating, ‘This also is an answer to all those who were lamenting the impending demise of Gujarati language.’ Does this mean that even if one writes 'rubbish' he/she saves Gujarati language by such an effort? I do not believe that this is what Natwarbhai wanted to convey…
Let’s just wait till Gujarati books on line flood the web. I am sure we won’t have to wait for that very long. Even now one can download from the web a very popular novel by one of our leading novelist (available only in English language version) for a price.
Suffice it to say that the subject of the volatile mix of literature and commerce is not worth wasting time about.
‘If the critics in India really cared for the NRI writer, they should be advising him to study the masters of Gujarati literature as well as other literary masters.’(Page 3) Obviously, Natwarbhai is assuming that the critics in India really pay any attention to Gujarati NRI writers and their writings or vice a versa. Or for that matter he assumes that the Gujarati NRI writers in this country want or need any guidance from critics in India. May be Natwarbhai knows something that I do not, just like his informing us all that there were hundreds of thousands of people in District of Columbia who not only read Gujarati but specifically read Divya Bhaskar and Madhu Rye's columns. Oh, well!
‘Question is does it make literature?’ Well, that depends upon what one calls 'Literature'. Natwarbhai has avoided giving us his definition of literature. And in the next sentence (see below) he forgets the question he had just raised and asks ‘What is the literary value of blogs as well as international Gujarati literary exchanges?’ Natwarbhai may venture to suggest anything he pleases and write anything he pleases... But he should at least give us some examples or proof to validate his assertion when he writes, ‘I venture to suggest that visits of Indian writers here as well as NRI writers back home are not only not useful, but actually harmful to Gujarati Diaspora literature…’
Earlier Natwarbhai wrote, ‘Indeed, Gujarati Literary Academy of North America, the preeminent literary association among Gujarati NRIs, has a long established practice of inviting writers and poets from India. It also arranges their coast-to-coast North American tours so that Gujarati community settled across the U.S. and Canada can benefit from their visits.’
So what is it? Are such visits good or are they harmful? And who cares?
Natwar Gandhi on Gujarati Diaspora Writing in U.S.A – a few observations
By Harish Trivedi, Dayton, Ohio.
© 2010
5
The Gujarati NRI Writer
We look to India to get a Good Housekeeping stamp of approval. (Page 1 last paragraph) I think here Natwarbhai is speaking for himself. He is definitely not speaking for me and perhaps not for all the Gujarati NRIs look for approval from critics in India. I have a hunch that Natwarbhai is using the plural WE instead of singular I when referring to himself the same way a President or a King does when referring to himself personally or their regime or administration.
I hope that Natwarbhai is not seeking approval from India for his writings and nor does Babubhai Suthar or Madhubhai (Madhu Rye). I am sure there are a number of other good Gujarati writers who do not seek approval and they do not write for getting approved by critics in India. Generally people write or create something because they want to do so. Writing and generally all creative effort is a result of some unsupressable inner urge for expression be it painting, photography, sculpting or writing… William Wordsworth (1770 – 1850) has aptly described good poetry as the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.
Having said this, let me add that every writer, poet, novelist, painter...creates some thing, first for his own pleasure but then he/she also wants to share the work with some people –readers, viewers, literary or arts experts and so on. There is no play without an audience…
What we do not have in Gujarat and do not have in any other country is enough number of people who enjoy READING. Compared to over all population of Gujarati-speaking people, relatively a very small number of people BUY books for reading. Comparatively there are not enough Gujarati speaking people who like to read, who go out and buy a new novel or a collection of poems. (Of course many a friends have made a practice of ‘borrowing’ and never returning the books they borrow, but that is a subject for some other time and place.) Under these circumstances even a learned critic (if there are any left…) with rave review of a self-published book can guarantee a big sell of the book. It merely satisfies the ego of its creator.
Many of us know how this game of publishing and reviewing is played. The vanity press folks in India, some even with their own column in the weekend edition of a newspaper are able to sell a total package for one flat price. The gullible NRI empties his/her pockets for a short-lived fame, experience instant gratification and this makes both the parties happy. Even an editor of a respectable publication has no guts to write that the book under review is a vanity publication (paid for and published by the writer) or portions of it are plagiarized. In spite of knowing that some of the poems in a particular collection are not original and have been claimed as original by the so-called poet and that too without any acknowledgement as to the source of the material… One magazine editor has devoted precious space to make a note of such publication. (I state this from a personal experience) So why worry about Gujarati NRI writers wanting to have approval from India or for that matter in this country? Who really cares?
The established writers with a number of awards and honors in their pocket really do not care for approval. They really do not NEED any approval. We have in this country at least half- a- dozen of writers who fit that category, the same folks who get invited again and again at each seminar, symposium or convention to do their own dog and pony show. The literary event becomes a place for joyous merriment and for some a bacchanalia, an all expense paid ritual and a source of entertainment for all the attendees. There is no phala shruti after such event. Only mutual backslapping and preparation for the next year’s event.
It is not as if the vanity press phenomena is unknown in this country. It has flourished and will keep flourishing. But the folks in the know, the academia, the editors at national publications and the editors at respected book review journals know this game and try to stay away from such publications.
But in this electronic age the vanity press has dressed itself up in the form of respectable sounding euphemism – the self-publishing service. These outfits would help one with editorial service, jacket design for the book and marketing assistance – all, of course for a price. The writer gets a small percentage of the sale and if the book is good enough and commands a respectable share of the publishing market, may end up making a small profit may be over a period of a decade or so… These self-publishing companies do advertise and some the books published by these publishers do get sold. But there is one minor but very important detail. The publishers print the books on demand. So there is no worry about unsold copies in the attic that are generally palmed off to unsuspecting guests year after year… I have happily received first edition of such books even after some ten years since its initial publication. I state this only to illustrate my earlier point.
To be continued....
© 2010
5
The Gujarati NRI Writer
We look to India to get a Good Housekeeping stamp of approval. (Page 1 last paragraph) I think here Natwarbhai is speaking for himself. He is definitely not speaking for me and perhaps not for all the Gujarati NRIs look for approval from critics in India. I have a hunch that Natwarbhai is using the plural WE instead of singular I when referring to himself the same way a President or a King does when referring to himself personally or their regime or administration.
I hope that Natwarbhai is not seeking approval from India for his writings and nor does Babubhai Suthar or Madhubhai (Madhu Rye). I am sure there are a number of other good Gujarati writers who do not seek approval and they do not write for getting approved by critics in India. Generally people write or create something because they want to do so. Writing and generally all creative effort is a result of some unsupressable inner urge for expression be it painting, photography, sculpting or writing… William Wordsworth (1770 – 1850) has aptly described good poetry as the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.
Having said this, let me add that every writer, poet, novelist, painter...creates some thing, first for his own pleasure but then he/she also wants to share the work with some people –readers, viewers, literary or arts experts and so on. There is no play without an audience…
What we do not have in Gujarat and do not have in any other country is enough number of people who enjoy READING. Compared to over all population of Gujarati-speaking people, relatively a very small number of people BUY books for reading. Comparatively there are not enough Gujarati speaking people who like to read, who go out and buy a new novel or a collection of poems. (Of course many a friends have made a practice of ‘borrowing’ and never returning the books they borrow, but that is a subject for some other time and place.) Under these circumstances even a learned critic (if there are any left…) with rave review of a self-published book can guarantee a big sell of the book. It merely satisfies the ego of its creator.
Many of us know how this game of publishing and reviewing is played. The vanity press folks in India, some even with their own column in the weekend edition of a newspaper are able to sell a total package for one flat price. The gullible NRI empties his/her pockets for a short-lived fame, experience instant gratification and this makes both the parties happy. Even an editor of a respectable publication has no guts to write that the book under review is a vanity publication (paid for and published by the writer) or portions of it are plagiarized. In spite of knowing that some of the poems in a particular collection are not original and have been claimed as original by the so-called poet and that too without any acknowledgement as to the source of the material… One magazine editor has devoted precious space to make a note of such publication. (I state this from a personal experience) So why worry about Gujarati NRI writers wanting to have approval from India or for that matter in this country? Who really cares?
The established writers with a number of awards and honors in their pocket really do not care for approval. They really do not NEED any approval. We have in this country at least half- a- dozen of writers who fit that category, the same folks who get invited again and again at each seminar, symposium or convention to do their own dog and pony show. The literary event becomes a place for joyous merriment and for some a bacchanalia, an all expense paid ritual and a source of entertainment for all the attendees. There is no phala shruti after such event. Only mutual backslapping and preparation for the next year’s event.
It is not as if the vanity press phenomena is unknown in this country. It has flourished and will keep flourishing. But the folks in the know, the academia, the editors at national publications and the editors at respected book review journals know this game and try to stay away from such publications.
But in this electronic age the vanity press has dressed itself up in the form of respectable sounding euphemism – the self-publishing service. These outfits would help one with editorial service, jacket design for the book and marketing assistance – all, of course for a price. The writer gets a small percentage of the sale and if the book is good enough and commands a respectable share of the publishing market, may end up making a small profit may be over a period of a decade or so… These self-publishing companies do advertise and some the books published by these publishers do get sold. But there is one minor but very important detail. The publishers print the books on demand. So there is no worry about unsold copies in the attic that are generally palmed off to unsuspecting guests year after year… I have happily received first edition of such books even after some ten years since its initial publication. I state this only to illustrate my earlier point.
To be continued....
Natwar Gandhi on Gujarati Diaspora Writing in U.S.A – a few observations
By Harish Trivedi, Dayton, Ohio.
© 2010
3
NATION and STATE
A language or culture of a nation survives not because of the folks who moved to another country tried to preserve it. So let's not go in that direction. What we describe as Indian Culture or the various Indian languages have survived some five thousand years of attacks, invasions and occupation by foreign nations... And during that period the Indian culture kept on evolving by assimilating certain cultural traits in to their own lives…The various Indian languages also went through transformative process and went on taking different structure and form. One can easily see the influence of Arabic, Persian, Portuguese, French and English words in our own native languages. The culinary traits of invading forces have influenced the Indian cuisine. People who think that it is a responsibility of NRIs to preserve the language and culture of their home country is a sheer folly, a delusion. Culture and language will keep on evolving, keep on growing, whether one likes it or not.
For example, Jews were a NATION without a State or a COUNTRY prior to the formation of Israel. It was on the basis of this theory of Political Science that Mohammad Ali Jinnah had demanded formation of Pakistan for the Muslims living in India – with the famous or notorious Two Nation theory. This is a fact of history.
‘We form community associations to get together with people who look and talk like us, temples to pray the same gods, and Indian professional associations to exchange stories and check notes. Indian immigrants with literary interest also have formed associations that hold regular literary meetings. They read to each other their works and poets recite at Mushaira. Many publish their works with regularity. Some have become prolific novelists while others have several collections of poetry and travelogues to their credit. They also invite eminent literary figures from India just the way others invite swamis and sadhus.’ Earlier Natwarbhai had described these visitors as migratory birds, then a few paragraphs and pages later he changed his mind and admits that some people do invite these sadhus, writers and quacks.
To be continued....
© 2010
3
NATION and STATE
A language or culture of a nation survives not because of the folks who moved to another country tried to preserve it. So let's not go in that direction. What we describe as Indian Culture or the various Indian languages have survived some five thousand years of attacks, invasions and occupation by foreign nations... And during that period the Indian culture kept on evolving by assimilating certain cultural traits in to their own lives…The various Indian languages also went through transformative process and went on taking different structure and form. One can easily see the influence of Arabic, Persian, Portuguese, French and English words in our own native languages. The culinary traits of invading forces have influenced the Indian cuisine. People who think that it is a responsibility of NRIs to preserve the language and culture of their home country is a sheer folly, a delusion. Culture and language will keep on evolving, keep on growing, whether one likes it or not.
For example, Jews were a NATION without a State or a COUNTRY prior to the formation of Israel. It was on the basis of this theory of Political Science that Mohammad Ali Jinnah had demanded formation of Pakistan for the Muslims living in India – with the famous or notorious Two Nation theory. This is a fact of history.
‘We form community associations to get together with people who look and talk like us, temples to pray the same gods, and Indian professional associations to exchange stories and check notes. Indian immigrants with literary interest also have formed associations that hold regular literary meetings. They read to each other their works and poets recite at Mushaira. Many publish their works with regularity. Some have become prolific novelists while others have several collections of poetry and travelogues to their credit. They also invite eminent literary figures from India just the way others invite swamis and sadhus.’ Earlier Natwarbhai had described these visitors as migratory birds, then a few paragraphs and pages later he changed his mind and admits that some people do invite these sadhus, writers and quacks.
To be continued....
Natwar Gandhi on Gujarati Diaspora Writing in U.S.A – a few observations
By Harish Trivedi, Dayton, Ohio.
© 2010
2
CULTURE
Culture is a one of the specific characteristics of a nation. It has nothing to do with environment or weather. People belonging to a particular nation or nationality carry their culture wherever they go. For example diaspora Jews have carried their own culture with them wherever they moved and have successfully preserved it.
>>‘Once on American soil, our culture is no longer in the environment’ . ‘…We have to make a special effort to recreate it’. Well, one cannot 'recreate' culture. Culture is not a piece of clay that one can mold and remold in various shapes and size. Culture is not static. It is in a constant state of evolution.
If culture were in the environment as Natwarbhai has stated, then every non-Indian who visits India would immediately be infected with a dose of Indian culture like a virus. But we all know this does not happen. Yes, if one chooses to absorb a particular element of a cultural tradition one can do so, but by doing so he/she does not become an Indian or a Jew or an Arab. Not every one who visits India, Israel or Saudi Arabia becomes an Indian or a Jew or an Arab. Absorption of a cultural trait or a rejection of a particular culture is a matter of choice and not an accident of travel to a foreign land or residency in a foreign country.
Culture and cultural traditions change over a time and thereby evolve in to a new and at times more vibrant culture. What we call Indian culture is not the same culture as it was say at the time when the Aryans came to India or say during the period of King Ashoka.
The 19th century Indian culture was much different than the 20th century and with globalization the 21st century Indian culture would evolve in to a different culture than the one in earlier centuries. This is particularly true when we discuss Gujarati language and literature. Just look at the state of Gujarati language from the last quarter of 20th century onwards. See how many English words have crept-in the Gujarati vocabulary and also in print during the last five-decades or so. The Gujarati language has surely undergone a sea change during the last thousand years or so and it would keep on changing. No amount of breast-beating would stop this process of evolution and assimilation.
The first generation Asian-Indians, people of Indian origin who came to USA in say early 60s and 70s and who raised their families in this country will have to accept the fact that a new Indo-American culture is evolving, perhaps with assimilation of the best cultural traits from both the countries (India and the U.S.A.)
Some of these first generation Asian Indians keep fighting a loosing battle against historical forces at work here. It has happened before and it would keep on happening in future. We already have some evidence - just look all around us (in the U.S.A). We are living in the midst of the descendants of Italian, French, German, English, Irish... immigrants who came before us. They have all assimilated and have preserved their own language and traditions the best way they can and in the process evolved in to what we now call the American culture. They are all Americans. NRIs have a long way to go in this direction and sooner they do, the better it would be for the coming generations of Indian-Americans.
To be continued....
© 2010
2
CULTURE
Culture is a one of the specific characteristics of a nation. It has nothing to do with environment or weather. People belonging to a particular nation or nationality carry their culture wherever they go. For example diaspora Jews have carried their own culture with them wherever they moved and have successfully preserved it.
If culture were in the environment as Natwarbhai has stated, then every non-Indian who visits India would immediately be infected with a dose of Indian culture like a virus. But we all know this does not happen. Yes, if one chooses to absorb a particular element of a cultural tradition one can do so, but by doing so he/she does not become an Indian or a Jew or an Arab. Not every one who visits India, Israel or Saudi Arabia becomes an Indian or a Jew or an Arab. Absorption of a cultural trait or a rejection of a particular culture is a matter of choice and not an accident of travel to a foreign land or residency in a foreign country.
Culture and cultural traditions change over a time and thereby evolve in to a new and at times more vibrant culture. What we call Indian culture is not the same culture as it was say at the time when the Aryans came to India or say during the period of King Ashoka.
The 19th century Indian culture was much different than the 20th century and with globalization the 21st century Indian culture would evolve in to a different culture than the one in earlier centuries. This is particularly true when we discuss Gujarati language and literature. Just look at the state of Gujarati language from the last quarter of 20th century onwards. See how many English words have crept-in the Gujarati vocabulary and also in print during the last five-decades or so. The Gujarati language has surely undergone a sea change during the last thousand years or so and it would keep on changing. No amount of breast-beating would stop this process of evolution and assimilation.
The first generation Asian-Indians, people of Indian origin who came to USA in say early 60s and 70s and who raised their families in this country will have to accept the fact that a new Indo-American culture is evolving, perhaps with assimilation of the best cultural traits from both the countries (India and the U.S.A.)
Some of these first generation Asian Indians keep fighting a loosing battle against historical forces at work here. It has happened before and it would keep on happening in future. We already have some evidence - just look all around us (in the U.S.A). We are living in the midst of the descendants of Italian, French, German, English, Irish... immigrants who came before us. They have all assimilated and have preserved their own language and traditions the best way they can and in the process evolved in to what we now call the American culture. They are all Americans. NRIs have a long way to go in this direction and sooner they do, the better it would be for the coming generations of Indian-Americans.
To be continued....
Natwar Gandhi on Gujarati Diaspora Writing in U.S.A – a few observations
Natwar Gandhi on Gujarati Diaspora Writing in U.S.A – a few observations
By Harish Trivedi, Dayton, Ohio.
© 2010
1
(Note: Quotations from Mr. Natwar Gandhi’s article appear in italics)
Natwarbhai Gandhi has offered a thoughtful take on the state of Gujarati NRI (Non Resident Indian) writing, writers and the Gujararti Literary Academy of North America in his article that was published in a periodical published in this country. I received a copy of it from a friend. It was a typed copy and did not carry the name and the issue date of the periodical.
What is apparent from this article that Natwarbhai thinks all the NRI writers crave for attention and approval from critics in India. He also provides some suggestions to the Gujarati NRI writers. And calls upon them to write something based upon their American experience.
If nothing comes out of Natwarbhai’s thoughtful analysis, I hope it foments some much needed debate and discussion on the state of Gujarati NRI writers and writing as well as current trends in Gujarati writing, be it a fiction, poetry, criticism or a play.
I have met Natwarbhai and had also the privilege to sit with him on a panel discussion. Since then I have from a distance admired his professional accomplishments and happily read about it in various publications.
In the article under review, Natwarbhai Gandhi has, with one hurtful punch tried to KO every NRI writer or wannabe writer regardless of him (Natwarbhai) having any specific knowledge of the writers' literary aspirations or expectations. He does not name any names in his analysis of NRI Gujarati writing and writers, although it is easy to guess the identity of writers commented upon by Natwarbhai. In the process he may have settled some scores with NRI writers whom he does not like.
It is not the purpose of this article to speculate on the motives of Natwarbhai in writing this particular article so please allow me to discuss few points he has raised in his article titled Gujarati Diaspora Writing--A Call for Independence.
Natwarbhai has, with one broad sweep managed to offend, probably unintentionally every NRI writer who writes in Gujarati. He has also assumed that each of the NRI writer is anxious to get an approval from the critics back home in India and thus seeking what he calls ‘Good Housekeeping stamp’ of approval from them.
I have quoted relevant paragraphs from Natwarbhai's article and have taken liberty to offer my two-cents worth on the same.
The said article is full of generalizations, repetitions and contradictions.
I shall try to point out these and other issues that he has raised in this article as we go along. Quotes from his article appear in italics.
‘Every spring and summer a group of special Indian visitors descend upon North American soil with the regularity of migratory birds. These are sadhus, swamis, teachers, writers, poets and quacks of all sorts. They come with a balm to soothe us of our immigrant anxiety. One of our continuing fears is that we are losing our unique Indian culture, particularly the religion and language. It is not that we particularly cared for it while we were in India, but once on a foreign soil we miss it. Culture was in environment back home. It was like the air that we breathed. We took it for granted. No special effort was made.’
He is assuming that all these ‘quacks of all sorts’ are descending on this blessed land uninvited. But that is not true. In my opinion, after each visit by these writers, swamis etc the invitees probably gets a booster shot that could help rectify the deficiencies of some cultural element that they, the invitees crave for in the area of literature, religion, language etc.
to be continued...
By Harish Trivedi, Dayton, Ohio.
© 2010
1
(Note: Quotations from Mr. Natwar Gandhi’s article appear in italics)
Natwarbhai Gandhi has offered a thoughtful take on the state of Gujarati NRI (Non Resident Indian) writing, writers and the Gujararti Literary Academy of North America in his article that was published in a periodical published in this country. I received a copy of it from a friend. It was a typed copy and did not carry the name and the issue date of the periodical.
What is apparent from this article that Natwarbhai thinks all the NRI writers crave for attention and approval from critics in India. He also provides some suggestions to the Gujarati NRI writers. And calls upon them to write something based upon their American experience.
If nothing comes out of Natwarbhai’s thoughtful analysis, I hope it foments some much needed debate and discussion on the state of Gujarati NRI writers and writing as well as current trends in Gujarati writing, be it a fiction, poetry, criticism or a play.
I have met Natwarbhai and had also the privilege to sit with him on a panel discussion. Since then I have from a distance admired his professional accomplishments and happily read about it in various publications.
In the article under review, Natwarbhai Gandhi has, with one hurtful punch tried to KO every NRI writer or wannabe writer regardless of him (Natwarbhai) having any specific knowledge of the writers' literary aspirations or expectations. He does not name any names in his analysis of NRI Gujarati writing and writers, although it is easy to guess the identity of writers commented upon by Natwarbhai. In the process he may have settled some scores with NRI writers whom he does not like.
It is not the purpose of this article to speculate on the motives of Natwarbhai in writing this particular article so please allow me to discuss few points he has raised in his article titled Gujarati Diaspora Writing--A Call for Independence.
Natwarbhai has, with one broad sweep managed to offend, probably unintentionally every NRI writer who writes in Gujarati. He has also assumed that each of the NRI writer is anxious to get an approval from the critics back home in India and thus seeking what he calls ‘Good Housekeeping stamp’ of approval from them.
I have quoted relevant paragraphs from Natwarbhai's article and have taken liberty to offer my two-cents worth on the same.
The said article is full of generalizations, repetitions and contradictions.
I shall try to point out these and other issues that he has raised in this article as we go along. Quotes from his article appear in italics.
‘Every spring and summer a group of special Indian visitors descend upon North American soil with the regularity of migratory birds. These are sadhus, swamis, teachers, writers, poets and quacks of all sorts. They come with a balm to soothe us of our immigrant anxiety. One of our continuing fears is that we are losing our unique Indian culture, particularly the religion and language. It is not that we particularly cared for it while we were in India, but once on a foreign soil we miss it. Culture was in environment back home. It was like the air that we breathed. We took it for granted. No special effort was made.’
He is assuming that all these ‘quacks of all sorts’ are descending on this blessed land uninvited. But that is not true. In my opinion, after each visit by these writers, swamis etc the invitees probably gets a booster shot that could help rectify the deficiencies of some cultural element that they, the invitees crave for in the area of literature, religion, language etc.
to be continued...
Sunday, August 8, 2010
In Dayton, Ohio - Can area sustain four arts venues of 1,000-plus seats? (Dayton Daily News, August 7, 2010)
The county officials and the State funding authorities when they approved tons of money for the Schuster Center and committed to long-term grants for the same should have asked this question.
Millions of dollars from the County goes to the Schuster Center, the State provides additional funding that it has approved, the Culture Works thru its annual fund raising drive collects millions and a major portion from that again goes to the Schuster center, and it still needs funding. Some condos were sold at fire-sale prices and others in the building are still empty... Does the Schuster Center pay any real estate taxes?
This year the County and the City should have been planning for the centennial of the Memorial Hall rather than worrying about the impact the upgraded Memorial Hall would have on the ill advised building of the Schuster Center.
The ticket rates are so prohibitive that minority groups can hardly afford to buy the tickets. The rental of this property is equally high for non-profit groups in the Montgomery County.
The State should reconsider the financial commitment it has made to the Schuster folks. Vacancy rate for business property in the County is all time high... The County should be considering making all the boosters and promoters answerable for this folly - the white elephant right in the midst of downtown Dayton. Where are the folks who were acting as cheerleaders for the Schuster Project? All the Schuster boosters, including the media should have considered impact of the Schuster Center on the Memorial Hall when they all were hyping the importance of this folly and the benefits it would it would bring to the local economy. Oh the dream of businesses lining up from all across the country to see the second-hand Broadway shows that the center would bring!
Millions of dollars from the County goes to the Schuster Center, the State provides additional funding that it has approved, the Culture Works thru its annual fund raising drive collects millions and a major portion from that again goes to the Schuster center, and it still needs funding. Some condos were sold at fire-sale prices and others in the building are still empty... Does the Schuster Center pay any real estate taxes?
This year the County and the City should have been planning for the centennial of the Memorial Hall rather than worrying about the impact the upgraded Memorial Hall would have on the ill advised building of the Schuster Center.
The ticket rates are so prohibitive that minority groups can hardly afford to buy the tickets. The rental of this property is equally high for non-profit groups in the Montgomery County.
The State should reconsider the financial commitment it has made to the Schuster folks. Vacancy rate for business property in the County is all time high... The County should be considering making all the boosters and promoters answerable for this folly - the white elephant right in the midst of downtown Dayton. Where are the folks who were acting as cheerleaders for the Schuster Project? All the Schuster boosters, including the media should have considered impact of the Schuster Center on the Memorial Hall when they all were hyping the importance of this folly and the benefits it would it would bring to the local economy. Oh the dream of businesses lining up from all across the country to see the second-hand Broadway shows that the center would bring!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Over Four-decades in Dayton, Ohio ...
Over Four-decades in Dayton, Ohio: Few Personal Reflections
By Harish Trivedi
© 2010
Having been resident of our community for over four-decades I have had opportunity to watch the birth of the India Club of Dayton, Umang Gujarati Samaj, Hindu Community Organization, the activities of the Swaminarayan Group, the Jain Samaj - an organization dedicated to the followers of Jainism and the building of Jain, Hindu, and Swaminarayan temples. And last but not the least the creation of the India Foundation.
In addition to all these community organizations - and I am sure I have missed some other ones that are also active in our community, there are also trade and professional organizations such as Asian Indian American Business Group, the Physicians of Indian Origin group and so on…
From around early 60s when there was a small community consisting mainly students and few employed individuals or entrepreneurs, the Asian Indian community has grown and keeps growing.
1960s was a time when there was not a single Indian restaurant, a very few Chinese restaurants and Japanese or Korean restaurants were non-existent. There was only one Mexican restaurant – the famous and locally owned Elsa’s on Linden Avenue and there was not even one Indian grocery store in sight.
While every one from India knew every one else from India in our community, the India Club or an organization for Indian community members was still only a dream of a few community minded individuals or it just seemed that way.
Nationally known Patel Bros, Raj Bhog, Eros and Neha Entertainment, India Plaza, Shrimati’s and all assorted nationally known businesses that cater to the Indian Diaspora where still in the imagination of gutsy businessmen or students who turned in to businessmen. Canned and or frozen Indian food or some thing resembling it had yet to appear on the market. Commercially available films on Video were not imagined yet and availability of Indian movies on video was not even contemplated.
At that time, many of the relatives, friends and family members of those living in and around Dayton area did not have phones at their homes India. In some instances it was always a visit to a neighbor’s house next door where one could receive a phone call or make one to Dayton. Direct dialing to India was not available and every one seemed to be happy calling the ‘over-seas’ operator of AT & T. There was only one phone company!
Those were the days my friend…to borrow and paraphrase some famous lines from a song by Mary Hopkins – (mid to late 60s?)
Once upon a time, there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours,
Think of all the great things we would do
Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we'd choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way
…Then, the busy years went rushing by us
We lost our starry notions on the way
If, by chance, we’d see each other,
We'd smile and we'd say
Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
…Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days
…Just tonight, I stood before the tavern
Nothing seemed the way it used to be
In the glass, I saw a strange reflection
Was that lonely man really me?
…Oh, my friend, we're older but no wiser
For in our hearts, the dreams are still the same
…Those were the days, my friend
(and) We thought they'd never end…
* * *
Raghu Bharadwaj, the first president of the India Club who left Dayton in mid-70s and Atamjit Sigh, became Raghu’s successor as a president of the India Club. He could still be seen around minding his own business and showing up at an event or two to surprise some old-timers. His successor to the India Club’s Presidency was Dr. K. S. Nagaraja… and the list has grown and keeps growing. The past history of the Indian community and its memories are disappearing fast or are forgotten. And sadly nobody seems to care about it!
Dr. Nagaraja was affectionately called the original settler or Adi Wasi. Among those original settlers one could count Krishan Joshi, Atamjit Singh, Dahyabhai Patel, Yud Vir Rajput, Parma Sinha, Ramesh Mehan, late Dr. Shib Chattoraj (who arrived in mid-50s) and Naren Patel – all have been in and around Dayton for nearly five-decades.
Along this long and memorable journey we have lost many friends and familiar faces.
Dr. Nagaraja, (former President of the India Club and a member of the first Board of Trustees of the India Foundation) is no more with us, the tragic death of Dr. Sukhdev Singla, the tragedy of accidental death of Mohan Joshi in an auto accident on a wintry night not too long ago and later one of the members of his family too died succumbing to injuries suffered in an auto accident… Yes, the auto accidents have taken many lives, lives of many of our friends from this community of ours. How can we or who can forget the passing away of Shardaben Chauhan, Govindbhai Patel and the tragedy suffered by the Kumbhani family? The passing away of Ike Beediwala and Satish Jandial (a past President of the India Club, a member of the first Board of Trustees of the India Foundation), Vasant Kamdar and many more – all real good old-timers, good friends and valued community members. All gone! Mourned and mostly forgotten by the community.
90s brought a new generation of immigrants from India to our community in Dayton. Some arrived from other cities and states in this country and some started to arrive as a result of the globalization process. Some of our close friends also moved away to various cities and states for greener pastures or in search of greener pastures!
Then we crossed the dreadful end of the 20th century, the fear of Y2K and suddenly we are in the 21st century!
Now as the first decade of the 21st century is approaching, the community can proudly look at three magnificent buildings that bear the name of Raj Soin and the Soin Family. The Raj Soin College of Business and Administration on the campus of the Wright State University, the Soin Emergency Care and Trauma Center at the Children’s Medical Center and soon to open Raj and Indu Soin Hospital in Beavercreek, Ohio. The Soin family’s munificent donation of land for the golf club in Beavercreek, their support to World A’Fair – the major multi-cultural ethnic fair in Dayton and the list can go on and on…
And who can forget the Krishan and Vicky Joshi Research Center on the campus of the Wright State University?
Then there are Parma and Chaitali Sinha, Ramesh and Rene Mehan and Naren and Pushpa Patel families (and perhaps many more) who in one way or other have made indelible impression on the community life in Dayton.
These individuals have done a lot for the community in India as well as for the people of Dayton and Miami Valley. There is nothing to compare with these individuals’ business acumen, sagacity, foresightedness, their self-sacrifice and their desire to succeed, their generosity of spirit and their dedication to the community… They and people like them inspire us and make us all proud. May their tribe multiply!
And so it goes. Life moves on and so does the cycles of births and deaths. New people arrive and some old ones move on or pass away and the Asian Indian community keeps growing, though long on ambition but sadly short on memory the community flourishes, new generation is growing up fast and the roots laid down by the first arrivals from India get deeper and stronger!
So here’s a personal salute to all the pioneer residents of Dayton, many of you are gone but not forgotten – at least not by this writer…
By Harish Trivedi
© 2010
Having been resident of our community for over four-decades I have had opportunity to watch the birth of the India Club of Dayton, Umang Gujarati Samaj, Hindu Community Organization, the activities of the Swaminarayan Group, the Jain Samaj - an organization dedicated to the followers of Jainism and the building of Jain, Hindu, and Swaminarayan temples. And last but not the least the creation of the India Foundation.
In addition to all these community organizations - and I am sure I have missed some other ones that are also active in our community, there are also trade and professional organizations such as Asian Indian American Business Group, the Physicians of Indian Origin group and so on…
From around early 60s when there was a small community consisting mainly students and few employed individuals or entrepreneurs, the Asian Indian community has grown and keeps growing.
1960s was a time when there was not a single Indian restaurant, a very few Chinese restaurants and Japanese or Korean restaurants were non-existent. There was only one Mexican restaurant – the famous and locally owned Elsa’s on Linden Avenue and there was not even one Indian grocery store in sight.
While every one from India knew every one else from India in our community, the India Club or an organization for Indian community members was still only a dream of a few community minded individuals or it just seemed that way.
Nationally known Patel Bros, Raj Bhog, Eros and Neha Entertainment, India Plaza, Shrimati’s and all assorted nationally known businesses that cater to the Indian Diaspora where still in the imagination of gutsy businessmen or students who turned in to businessmen. Canned and or frozen Indian food or some thing resembling it had yet to appear on the market. Commercially available films on Video were not imagined yet and availability of Indian movies on video was not even contemplated.
At that time, many of the relatives, friends and family members of those living in and around Dayton area did not have phones at their homes India. In some instances it was always a visit to a neighbor’s house next door where one could receive a phone call or make one to Dayton. Direct dialing to India was not available and every one seemed to be happy calling the ‘over-seas’ operator of AT & T. There was only one phone company!
Those were the days my friend…to borrow and paraphrase some famous lines from a song by Mary Hopkins – (mid to late 60s?)
Once upon a time, there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours,
Think of all the great things we would do
Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we'd choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way
…Then, the busy years went rushing by us
We lost our starry notions on the way
If, by chance, we’d see each other,
We'd smile and we'd say
Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
…Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days
…Just tonight, I stood before the tavern
Nothing seemed the way it used to be
In the glass, I saw a strange reflection
Was that lonely man really me?
…Oh, my friend, we're older but no wiser
For in our hearts, the dreams are still the same
…Those were the days, my friend
(and) We thought they'd never end…
* * *
Raghu Bharadwaj, the first president of the India Club who left Dayton in mid-70s and Atamjit Sigh, became Raghu’s successor as a president of the India Club. He could still be seen around minding his own business and showing up at an event or two to surprise some old-timers. His successor to the India Club’s Presidency was Dr. K. S. Nagaraja… and the list has grown and keeps growing. The past history of the Indian community and its memories are disappearing fast or are forgotten. And sadly nobody seems to care about it!
Dr. Nagaraja was affectionately called the original settler or Adi Wasi. Among those original settlers one could count Krishan Joshi, Atamjit Singh, Dahyabhai Patel, Yud Vir Rajput, Parma Sinha, Ramesh Mehan, late Dr. Shib Chattoraj (who arrived in mid-50s) and Naren Patel – all have been in and around Dayton for nearly five-decades.
Along this long and memorable journey we have lost many friends and familiar faces.
Dr. Nagaraja, (former President of the India Club and a member of the first Board of Trustees of the India Foundation) is no more with us, the tragic death of Dr. Sukhdev Singla, the tragedy of accidental death of Mohan Joshi in an auto accident on a wintry night not too long ago and later one of the members of his family too died succumbing to injuries suffered in an auto accident… Yes, the auto accidents have taken many lives, lives of many of our friends from this community of ours. How can we or who can forget the passing away of Shardaben Chauhan, Govindbhai Patel and the tragedy suffered by the Kumbhani family? The passing away of Ike Beediwala and Satish Jandial (a past President of the India Club, a member of the first Board of Trustees of the India Foundation), Vasant Kamdar and many more – all real good old-timers, good friends and valued community members. All gone! Mourned and mostly forgotten by the community.
90s brought a new generation of immigrants from India to our community in Dayton. Some arrived from other cities and states in this country and some started to arrive as a result of the globalization process. Some of our close friends also moved away to various cities and states for greener pastures or in search of greener pastures!
Then we crossed the dreadful end of the 20th century, the fear of Y2K and suddenly we are in the 21st century!
Now as the first decade of the 21st century is approaching, the community can proudly look at three magnificent buildings that bear the name of Raj Soin and the Soin Family. The Raj Soin College of Business and Administration on the campus of the Wright State University, the Soin Emergency Care and Trauma Center at the Children’s Medical Center and soon to open Raj and Indu Soin Hospital in Beavercreek, Ohio. The Soin family’s munificent donation of land for the golf club in Beavercreek, their support to World A’Fair – the major multi-cultural ethnic fair in Dayton and the list can go on and on…
And who can forget the Krishan and Vicky Joshi Research Center on the campus of the Wright State University?
Then there are Parma and Chaitali Sinha, Ramesh and Rene Mehan and Naren and Pushpa Patel families (and perhaps many more) who in one way or other have made indelible impression on the community life in Dayton.
These individuals have done a lot for the community in India as well as for the people of Dayton and Miami Valley. There is nothing to compare with these individuals’ business acumen, sagacity, foresightedness, their self-sacrifice and their desire to succeed, their generosity of spirit and their dedication to the community… They and people like them inspire us and make us all proud. May their tribe multiply!
And so it goes. Life moves on and so does the cycles of births and deaths. New people arrive and some old ones move on or pass away and the Asian Indian community keeps growing, though long on ambition but sadly short on memory the community flourishes, new generation is growing up fast and the roots laid down by the first arrivals from India get deeper and stronger!
So here’s a personal salute to all the pioneer residents of Dayton, many of you are gone but not forgotten – at least not by this writer…
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Gopal
He Clips Hair, Not Conversation
By VINCENT M. MALLOZZI, New York Times, Feb. 16, 2010
Anthony Mancinelli, 98, gives haircuts, shaves and opinions at Antonio & Pasquale Barber Shop in Vails Gate, N.Y.
* * * * *
Gopal
This article about Anthony Mancinelli reminded me of 'my' or 'our' childhood barber Gopal who always looked as if he was in his 90s. I can still 'see' his rugged and well wrinkled face, in his black coat, dhotar and a worn out or beaten up leather satchel - a sort of regulation barber bag that held all that he needed to give one a haircut or a shave or both. His satchel contained a small aluminum bowl - (used for water to apply shaving-soap), a shaving brush, a well-used container of shaving soap where we can see the bottom of the container in its center, an oblong brush, a razor, a pair of scissors, two kind of hair trimmers and a broken mirror with a handle. The mirror also had some blotches where the mercury from its back had disappeared or faded and the image one could see was a faint resemblance of your true self. The bag also included a small wooden patlee that was oh eight inches by six inches and about three inches high. The patlee was for him to sit or balance his frail body when cutting hair or shaving. The client sat on the floor in the gallery - as we used to call it of our chalee.
Gopal did not start out as 'my' or 'our' barber though... We were introduced or my grandmother was introduced to Gopal by our neighbor whom we called Nana. Nana's two sons called him Nana and then we all called him Nana too. Nana’s full name was Narayan Kashinath Acharya. We later learned that Gopal used to cut Nana's hair when Nana and his family lived at some place else, before they became our neighbors.
Nana was a big man. About say 200 pounds. Very fair skin and a hairy body. He obviously could not sit on floor for a hair cut. He had one rickety chair that always remained in the gallery. Nana majestically sat on this chair, he had his own towel that Gopal draped around him and gave him, what to my mind was a royal haircut.
As soon as Gopal came to our fourth floor apartment to work on Nana my grand mother would get hold of him and tell him that we two (my brother and I) needed hair cut. We may be about five and seven years old or just there about... Our fantasy haircut at that time was going to what used to be called Haircutting Salon. But my grandmother thought that we were too young to be going to salons and the price for a hair cut there was about ten-annas- about three quarter of a rupee - considered 'too high’ for small kids' haircut.
And so we sat for Gopal as soon as he was 'done' for Nana. Gopal would ask my grandmother how short he should cut our hair and my grandmother would always say some thing like make sure the hair does not cover the boys' eyes. Well, our hair was never that long. What we got thru Gopal's artistry was some thing resembling a crew cut, our hair so closely cropped that we could barely part our hair. The back of our head below our ears was flat and clean like there was not hair there...The result of Gopal 'doing' his work with his almost blunt razor or so it seemed to us. The back our head and part behind our ears burned like crazy. While Gopal treated Nana with respect and awe, we it seemed were always at the mercy of Gopal. He would hold our head in a certain position what seemed like eternity. Our necks would hurt. Some times he would push our head in his lap while he 'worked' on the back of our heads. We could smell the shaving soap in his wet and socked dhoti. Some times to see the end result of his craft, we would ask Gopal for a mirror he used to carry in his bag and his answer was always, 'What for? You don't need a mirror, ask your Aajee (grandmother).
This ordeal of a hair cut lasted may be three or four years before we graduated to the luxury of a haircutting salon. But Gopal continued to serve Nana. He had the same outfit every time he came to visit Nana - which was every two or three weeks. Nana worked for an insurance company and he always looked very impressive in his Maharashtrian style dhotar, long-sleeved shirt with French cuffs, coat and a topee.
We continued to see Gopal on his usual rounds till Nana passed away some time in early '60s. We lost Nana and with him we lost Gopal.
Gopal was our 'old' nahvee (barber in Marathi). Whenever I passed by Old Navy or see an Old Navy commercial, instinctively I think of Gopal - my first 'old' nahvee'.
I can still 'see' Gopal in his black coat, dhotar, a beat- up black topee and worn-out leather satchel...
Now with my fast thinning hair while I still 'see' Gopal I know it's only the fading memories of Gopal and my childhood days in Mumbai!
Gopal probably is still cutting Nana's hair wherever they are...May God bless them both!
By VINCENT M. MALLOZZI, New York Times, Feb. 16, 2010
Anthony Mancinelli, 98, gives haircuts, shaves and opinions at Antonio & Pasquale Barber Shop in Vails Gate, N.Y.
* * * * *
Gopal
This article about Anthony Mancinelli reminded me of 'my' or 'our' childhood barber Gopal who always looked as if he was in his 90s. I can still 'see' his rugged and well wrinkled face, in his black coat, dhotar and a worn out or beaten up leather satchel - a sort of regulation barber bag that held all that he needed to give one a haircut or a shave or both. His satchel contained a small aluminum bowl - (used for water to apply shaving-soap), a shaving brush, a well-used container of shaving soap where we can see the bottom of the container in its center, an oblong brush, a razor, a pair of scissors, two kind of hair trimmers and a broken mirror with a handle. The mirror also had some blotches where the mercury from its back had disappeared or faded and the image one could see was a faint resemblance of your true self. The bag also included a small wooden patlee that was oh eight inches by six inches and about three inches high. The patlee was for him to sit or balance his frail body when cutting hair or shaving. The client sat on the floor in the gallery - as we used to call it of our chalee.
Gopal did not start out as 'my' or 'our' barber though... We were introduced or my grandmother was introduced to Gopal by our neighbor whom we called Nana. Nana's two sons called him Nana and then we all called him Nana too. Nana’s full name was Narayan Kashinath Acharya. We later learned that Gopal used to cut Nana's hair when Nana and his family lived at some place else, before they became our neighbors.
Nana was a big man. About say 200 pounds. Very fair skin and a hairy body. He obviously could not sit on floor for a hair cut. He had one rickety chair that always remained in the gallery. Nana majestically sat on this chair, he had his own towel that Gopal draped around him and gave him, what to my mind was a royal haircut.
As soon as Gopal came to our fourth floor apartment to work on Nana my grand mother would get hold of him and tell him that we two (my brother and I) needed hair cut. We may be about five and seven years old or just there about... Our fantasy haircut at that time was going to what used to be called Haircutting Salon. But my grandmother thought that we were too young to be going to salons and the price for a hair cut there was about ten-annas- about three quarter of a rupee - considered 'too high’ for small kids' haircut.
And so we sat for Gopal as soon as he was 'done' for Nana. Gopal would ask my grandmother how short he should cut our hair and my grandmother would always say some thing like make sure the hair does not cover the boys' eyes. Well, our hair was never that long. What we got thru Gopal's artistry was some thing resembling a crew cut, our hair so closely cropped that we could barely part our hair. The back of our head below our ears was flat and clean like there was not hair there...The result of Gopal 'doing' his work with his almost blunt razor or so it seemed to us. The back our head and part behind our ears burned like crazy. While Gopal treated Nana with respect and awe, we it seemed were always at the mercy of Gopal. He would hold our head in a certain position what seemed like eternity. Our necks would hurt. Some times he would push our head in his lap while he 'worked' on the back of our heads. We could smell the shaving soap in his wet and socked dhoti. Some times to see the end result of his craft, we would ask Gopal for a mirror he used to carry in his bag and his answer was always, 'What for? You don't need a mirror, ask your Aajee (grandmother).
This ordeal of a hair cut lasted may be three or four years before we graduated to the luxury of a haircutting salon. But Gopal continued to serve Nana. He had the same outfit every time he came to visit Nana - which was every two or three weeks. Nana worked for an insurance company and he always looked very impressive in his Maharashtrian style dhotar, long-sleeved shirt with French cuffs, coat and a topee.
We continued to see Gopal on his usual rounds till Nana passed away some time in early '60s. We lost Nana and with him we lost Gopal.
Gopal was our 'old' nahvee (barber in Marathi). Whenever I passed by Old Navy or see an Old Navy commercial, instinctively I think of Gopal - my first 'old' nahvee'.
I can still 'see' Gopal in his black coat, dhotar, a beat- up black topee and worn-out leather satchel...
Now with my fast thinning hair while I still 'see' Gopal I know it's only the fading memories of Gopal and my childhood days in Mumbai!
Gopal probably is still cutting Nana's hair wherever they are...May God bless them both!
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