When Arundhati Roy’s masterpiece fell in my hands,I expected another flowery and awkward indian english novel.So the first thing which struck me was the delightful use of alliterative prose,which made it nearly as beautiful as poetry.Popeye the sailor man!! It was a delightfully different from my expectations.
Set in kerala,the story depicts a widow, twin orphans,a death by accident,caste system, lover,murder, scandal, ostracism, heartbreak,separation and death. It features a feudal lifestyle decaying with the advent of times.The story is flashback for the most part and ends with incest.
From the description,it may seem to be a salacious tale full of crime. However it is one of the most moving moral stories written by an inspired writer. It depicts the prejudices which exist in society and family and forces the reader to take his stand.The tragic tale of Ammu has an uplifting effect.And the writing style keeps you glued till it ends.
Recommended for all.
I ask myself the meaning of humility.
It is a virtue extolled by all spiritual leaders and religions. As school children we learn this at a very early age in our religion or moral science class. However as we grow, the relentless rat race to get ahead teaches us the practicality of self-promotion. Truth assumes varies hues.We see white lies as a new addition to our dictionary.
Life teaches us at a early age that truth can only get you to some place, while the same truth embellished can take you much further in the material world. The “power of spin” is equated with leadership. Out goes ethical behavior or morality, they being impractical in the world today.
The result is erosion or unlearning of all teaching drilled into us as children.
A humble person is equated with a wimp, or worse a fool.
When I first read Dostoevsky as a 18 year old, I was profoundly influenced by Prince Myshkin “The idiot”. His morality shone through like a shining star in this dark and murky world. Admittedly a creation of the author’s imagination, this character taught me the meaning of humility. It accomplished what the combined efforts of all other forms of learning could not.
It humbled me and made me aware of how pride and ego corrupts the soul.I have since revisited the book and I gain a lot of moral energy from the same.I wish he had attainable qualities. But then it is looking for an ideal which lives in a different world. However even a bit of his quality will help.
Dostoevsky has other great literature too, which have been significant for me. Brothers Karamzov, Crime and Punishment and several short stories vie with each other for mention.
The Prince is however royalty. May he live forever in the thoughts of human beings and touch their lives the way he touched mine.
