tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956626159470439381.post3789849898356921545..comments2024-03-05T15:22:45.423+05:30Comments on The Summing Up: The Legends of PensamSandhya Iyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14447589463166718231noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956626159470439381.post-11675183002321532562007-07-11T13:38:00.000+05:302007-07-11T13:38:00.000+05:30sandy and janaki: excellent set of thoughts here, ...sandy and janaki: excellent set of thoughts here, amkes me want to check out the book. A book on the same terrain that I would highly recommend is Ramachandra Guha's Savaging the Civilized: Verrier Elwin, His Tribals, and India. Despite the unfortunately named title ("his" tribals? give me a break!) this is a worthwhile book indeed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956626159470439381.post-67145057161703468092007-07-11T13:37:00.001+05:302007-07-11T13:37:00.001+05:30Janaki: You've summed it up admirably here. I do a...Janaki: You've summed it up admirably here. I do agree about Mamang's poetic language, it's a delight to read. <BR/><BR/>While I agree with all the points you've brought out, I think the peculiar climate of the region --- soothing at one time, playing havoc on lives at other times, has never been captured so well before.Sandhya Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14447589463166718231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5956626159470439381.post-6728608252929534302007-07-11T13:37:00.000+05:302007-07-11T13:37:00.000+05:30I loved the book for 2 reasons : one is for sheer ...I loved the book for 2 reasons : one is for sheer lyrical beauty of her prose - not one word out of place, not one word superflous - the book has been lovingly written and beautifully crafted and brilliantly edited. Such books are rare.<BR/><BR/>Two : while the topic addressed is the tussle between tribalism and modernity it is not blatant. The pathos, the confusion, the fear - and generally as to what the future will bring ... (which is true of all communities at that relevant point of time, in this case tribal) - all these issues are blended beautifully - These are so subtle but deep in its scope - i think she has done a marvellous job. <BR/><BR/>Also, while the region and its histories are mainly unknown for us mainland Indians, it also gives us a perspective from the other side. While literature from the North East has been primarily folk lore so far, we have not yet had (as far as i know) a very contemporary interpretation of traditional folklore. Mamang Dai thinks like "us" but is one of "them". This book she has written for "us" !!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com