The Courtesan, the Mahatma & the Italian Brahmin by Manu S. Pillai.- Review

 

The Courtesan, the Mahatma & the Italian Brahmin

by Manu S. Pillai.

 

After listening to Manu S. Pillai in a podcast hosted by Amit Verma, ‘The Seen and Unseen’, I bought two books of him. One was the Ivory Throne and the other was ‘The Courtesan, the Mahatma & the Italian Brahmin’.

Divided in three parts, it chronicles India as we know today broadly defined by its geographical boundaries. The first two parts bring in the unique diverse country which we are. He has done a good job through selection of a multitude of ‘colourful’ characters, chosen and previewed by the author for our benefit but from his perspective. He is liberal in echoing his views in the third part titled ‘what is good for India going forward’. This is the narrative through the book, which is summarised in the third part, ‘An Essay for our times’.

I have no major disagreement with the narrative and the conclusion. What it has done to me is kindle an interest to develop a deeper understanding of some of the characters as well as explore the ones missed out. Certain concepts line Matrilineal concepts, the antecedents for the basis of Hindi becoming an option for national language instead of Sanskrit and the emergence of traditional Carnatic music as we know today in the period when the Marathas dynasty ruled Cauvery delta area and much more.

For any avid reader of Indian history this is a great book to refer as it is well researched and vetted.

Since most of the essays, each essay exploring one character and the associate times, is structured originally for the weekend edition of Mint Lounge, the narrative is crisp and goes easy on readers like me who are more used to the topic being summarised in less than 700 words; nothing more and less.

But there is too much to unpack in each of these phenomenal personalities chosen to represent a distinct and unique characteristic of our diversified culture and their times. The right-wing vs left wing contrast which is the characteristic of most of the modern-day English writers does irritate.

If you can gloss over that, then you have a treasure trove of the times of our immediate ancestors. The cultural transformation which our forefathers have seen and managed is coming through clearly. It is a must read for those wanting to get a glimpse of the periods negotiated by our immediate forefathers and the struggle they must have gone through to help us see today.

I have read the ‘Incarnations – A History of India of India in 50 lives by Sunil Khilnani. Manu S. Pillai has assisted him in that book. The words chosen sometimes challenges you as I had to refer dictionaries often. I guess when you work for an exponent like Sashi Tharoor some of his characteristics rub off on you.

I recommend the book.