Window Seat | Weekly 'slice of life' column in English | 16.7.23

 

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 16.7.23 

Milan Kundera

Milan Kundera, the cerebral and celebrated author died on 13 July at the age of 94 in Paris, where he had settled decades ago. Kundera was not just an acclaimed author but also a profound thinker and a master of storytelling. His passing leaves an indelible void in the realm of literature, but his contributions will forever resonate in the hearts and minds of readers around the globe.

Milan Kundera

Born on April 1, 1929, in Brno, Czechoslovakia, Milan Kundera embarked on a remarkable journey that would shape the landscape of contemporary literature. After completing his studies at Charles University in Prague, Kundera initially delved into writing poetry and short stories. However, it was his later works that would define his legacy.

He joined the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia in 1947 and was expelled in 1950 for ‘anti-party’ activities. In his first novel The Joke (1967), he satirized the totalitarianism of the Communist era. His criticism of the Soviet invasion in 1968 led to banning of his books. "Life Is Elsewhere" (1969), "The Book of Laughter and Forgetting" (1979) followed and established Kundera as one of the most influential writers of his time. 

In 1985, he became an honorary citizen of France, his chosen home after fleeing Czechoslovakia during the political unrest of the late 1960s. 

One of his most celebrated works, "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" (1984), captured the hearts of readers worldwide, delving into themes of love, politics, and personal freedom against the backdrop of the turbulent Czechoslovakian history. "Immortality" (1990) followed.

Kundera's works were not limited to fiction alone. He also explored the essay form, where he tackled various subjects, including literature, music, art, and the role of the intellectual in society. His insightful and thought-provoking essays, collected in books such as "The Art of the Novel" (1986) and "Testaments Betrayed" (1993), showcased his keen intellect and ability to dissect complex ideas. 

His works have been translated into over two dozen languages and have captivated readers across cultural boundaries. Kundera's impact on literature cannot be overstated, as his distinctive voice challenged conventional narratives and offered fresh perspectives on the human experience.

Through the broken glass

T. N. Seshan's autobiography 'Through the Broken Glass' got published last month- after three and half years after his death.

Seshan as an able administrator has done many good things in his long and illustrious career. But he is more remembered as the no-nonsense Chief Election Commissioner, who tried and to a large extent became successful in improving the image of the Election Commission. .

In his autobiography he brings to light his years of struggles to usher in a new era of electoral reforms in India. Written by a person who never cowered to the high and mighty, the book gives a no-holds- barred account of the man who revolutionized the electoral process.

As 2024 general election is round the corner, read this book to know what a CEC can and ought to do.

Flood Fury in God’s Land

Uttarakhand is called Deva Bhoomi or the abode of the God. So is Himachal Pradesh. Both the states and many others in the entire North India are experiencing the worst flood of the decade. The Himalayan states are experiencing landslides at an unprecedented scale.

In a way, flood is natural to Himalayan rivers as it get flooded due to the huge precipitation they get consistently and furthermore as a result of the melting of the snow on the mountains which makes them flood and cause floods. It is also necessary for irrigation of a larger part of the Indo-Gangetic plains. The diara (flood plains) areas in eastern Uttar Pradesh and across the state of Bihar, which emerge after the flood waters recede, are covered with fresh top soil rich for purposes of cultivation. Similarly in Uttarakhand, monsoon rains are necessary to recharge the natural water bodies like the springs and the lakes, which provide drinking and irrigation water to the state the year round. The absence of rains can also disturb the snowfall cycle, which is so necessary to keep the glaciers and glacial rivers in good health. In Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, poor snowfall in winters affects the apple crop. A poor apple harvest spells doom for the local economy in these states.

However, the floods and landslides are increasing both in scale and ferocity. The Himalayan landscape is susceptible to landslides and earthquakes. Formed due to the collision of Indian and Eurasian plates, the northward movement of the former puts continuous stress on the rocks, rendering them weak and prone to landslides and earthquakes.

Rampant and unscientific construction is interfering with the natural ecosystem of the Himalayas. We have come in the way of the natural path of the rivers and encroached upon the river systems. This brings us into conflict with nature every now and then and we have to face the Nature’s fury.  

 

Tailpiece: Unconditional belief

Every day early morning a little girl would come to the temple and stand before the idol, close her eyes and with folded hands, murmur something for a couple of minutes. Then open her eyes, bow down, smile and go out running. This was a daily affair. 

The temple Poojari was observing her and was curious about what she was doing. He thought, she is too small to know the deeper meanings of religion, she would hardly know any prayers. But then what was she doing every morning in the temple?

One morning, the Poojari reached there before the girl and was waiting for her to complete her ritual. He placed his hand on her head and said, “My child, I have seen since the last fifteen days that you come here regularly. What do you do?”

-      “I pray,” she said spontaneously.

-      “Do you know any prayers?” asked the Poojari with some suspicion in his voice.

-      “No” replied the girl.

-       "Then what are you doing closing your eyes, every day?” he smiled.

Very innocently the girl said, “I do not know any prayer, but I know a,b,c,d….up to z.  I recite it five times and tell God that, "I don’t know your prayer, but it cannot be outside of these alphabets." Please arrange the alphabets as you wish and that is my prayer.”

And she ran, jumping on her way out.

 The Poojari stood there dumbstruck, staring at her for a long time as she slowly disappeared running away.

 

This is the unconditional belief in the almighty.

(Courtesy: Social Media)

++