Book Review: Walking with the Comrades by Arundhati Roy

This work by Arundhati Roy draws serious attention on the ongoing rebel movement in India. Maoist guerillas are waging war against the brutal and suppressive Indian government which is adamant on furthering the interests of multi-million dollar corporations.

Roy writes about the time she spent with the guerillas on the frontline fighting the government soldiers. She writes briefly about the history of the Naxalites, different personalities of the movement, her life in the forests with the rebels, role of women, makeshift schools for children, and about poverty and malnutrition among the guerillas. Roy believes that the government wants more minerals, clearing of forest lands to pave the way for mining companies, dams and large corporations. She leaves the reader with an important question: whether global capitalism would also engulf this part of the world?

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Book Review: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Into the wild is based on Christopher Johnson McCandless’s real story. After completing his university degree he decided to live in the wild. He gave $25,000 of his savings to a charity. In April 1992 he hitchhiked to Alaska and moved north of Mt. Kinley. During this journey he had to abandon his car, burn his wallet cash and experience a new way of living. He chose this life.

Many writers/commentators believe McCandless to be mentally unstable whereas others consider his strange behavior to be nonconformist in many ways. As the maverick grew up he came to know about his father’s earlier marriage which disturbed him to a great degree. Moving on to hostel life he became more detached from home. He did not write letters that often. He seemed disenchanted. But he always remained close to his sister and cared for her.

Moreover McCandless did not want his family to know about his whereabouts. That was the reason he changed his named. During the trip Chris read Tolstoy, Jack London and Henry David Thoreau. He did part time jobs to gather funds for his last Alaskan expedition. McCandless ended up in in an abandoned bus. He hunted with his rifle but game was short in number. He ate roots of different plants. Some of these roots are believed to have caused his death as they turned out to be toxic.

Four months after his death, his decomposed body was found by a moose hunter. His sad demise caused great sorrow for his family. Later his parents visited the bus where he had died. The writer of this book initially wrote an article on his death and later developed a book which we now know as Into the Wild.

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Book Review: Imperial Gazetteer Provincial Series Kashmir and Jammu by Sir Walter Lawrence

The articles in this volume are written by Sir Walter Lawrence, Bart., G.C.I.E. Physical environment, history, archaeology, population, agriculture, forests, minerals, arts, commerce, political relations, administration, education and means of communication are discussed in great detail with relevant statistical data.

Back then covering long distances was a troublesome task for any traveller. The distance from Gilgit to Srinagar was 228 miles, Srinagar to Leh was 243 miles, and from Leh to Yarkand was 482 miles.

In this book languages, population and castes of Kashmir and Jammu have been briefly discussed. Dogras, Gujars, Gaddis,Pathans, Galwan and Dum presence is mentioned.  Dogra is defined as a territorial name. In the Hunza -Nagar campaign of 1891 these Dogra Rajputs rendered their services for the Kashmir government.

In Kashmir cherry is known as gilas. Other produce includes buck wheat, rice and tobacco. The minerals found are gypsum, limestone and gold. Kashmiri arts and embroidery are also appreciated and its export to the west is encouraged. Srinagar which means “Godess of God” has been described in significant detail.

In addition to that topics relating to women of Ladakh, history of Baltistan, end of polyandry among Baltis, importance of cow in Astore and mountain passes in Kashmir territory have also been taken into account.

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Book Review: A Short History of Myth by Karen Armstrong

A Short History of Myth starts with an introductory chapter on addressing the question of what is a myth. The Paleolithic period, Neolithic period, the early civilizations, the axial age, post-axial age and the period of great western transformation are included in the book. According to the author myth is about the unknown. Myth is true only because it is effective, not because it provides factual information.

In history there were various myths regarding trees, stones and sky. These objects were revered because they were supposed to be the manifestations of a concealed force. In the author’s view mythology springs from great anxiety about essentially practical problems, which cannot be satisfied by purely rational arguments.

Moreover the author believes that when the last prophet of Islam flies from Makkah to Jerusalem, he breaks through a new level of spiritual attainment. Besides that the concept of Shaman is discussed in great detail. Shamans the masters of trance and ecstasy operated in hunting societies. In these societies animals played an important role in spirituality. Eskimos is Greenland is a relevant example of belief in Shamans. About 10,000 years ago, during the Neolithic period human beings invented agriculture. This invention caused changes in mythology. The female goddess gained importance during this time period.

Further in the book the Armstrong compares logos and myth. The ideas of Confucius and Plato are discussed in the second half of the book. The debate of Greek logos versus myth has been narrated. Unless a historical event is mythological it cannot become a source of religious inspiration. She stresses that Jews, Christians and Muslims continued to use mythology to explain their insights or to respond to a crises. Some Greek Christians were of the view that using reason to discuss the sacred was about as pointless as trying to eat soup with a fork. Theology was only valid if followed with prayer and liturgy.

Armstrong views the status of myth as remaining the same until 16^th century. After that the great transformation in human history which made it very difficult to think mythically originated from Western Europe. This was western modernity, the child of logos. Lastly the author stresses that our lives may have become more sophisticated materially, but the nineteenth century misconception of declaring myth as false should not accepted, as myth teaches us to see the world differently, by forming a perspective which goes beyond our own self-interest.

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Book Review: Danny The Champion of the World By Roald Dahl

A small boy named Danny lives with his father. His mother had died early and he has been brought up only by his father. Danny’s father is a mechanic and also owns a filling station. One night Danny discovers the absence of his father from bed. He gets curious and worried. This worrisome situation leads Danny to hunt for his father. In this search he drives his father’s car to the woods, after narrowly escaping the police. There he learns that his father is inside a deep pit and has a broken leg too. He rescues his father. Later Danny’s father tells him the reason behind the injury. This revelation is about a secret. Danny promises not to disclose it. His father has been secretly poaching pheasants. Danny gets very interested in knowing about this art. Moreover his father tells him various methods for poaching. When Danny rescues his father, Dr. Spencer is called for the treatment. One night Danny’s father tells him his plan of embarrassing Victor Hazell. Hazell is a well-known man who organizes pheasant shooting. Danny’s father holds a grudge against him for his disrespectful behavior. After knowing his father’s plan, one night Danny shares his own idea with him. Filling raisins with sleeping powder is Danny’s proposal. With great excitement his father accepts his plan. Danny takes a day off school and works with his father to fill the raisins with sleeping pill powder. One day as they had planned, they slip into the woods with their raisins and feed the pheasants covertly. When the keepers go away for supper Danny along with his father collect the dozed off pheasants. A taxi arrives to transport the pheasants to a safe location. The next morning Mrs Clipstone comes to deliver the pheasants in a pram with a baby on the top. Mrs Clipstone starts running towards Danny. Danny is accompanied by his father and Dr. Spencer. They all get worried. Unexpectedly the birds in the pram start flying in all directions. A sleeping pill doesn’t last forever is Doctor Spencer’s response.  In some moments Mr Hazell arrives and seems restless. Hazell is petrified to see pheasants swarming all over the filling station. Sergeant Samways is instructed by Hazell to help him remove the birds from the filling station. Danny and his father also join them. In a few minutes Hazell’s car is festooned with the birds. Hazell got very cross over this. Victor Hazell gets into his car and suddenly all the pheasants rise like a cloud from his car. It seems that all the pheasants had gone away until the doctor reveals that six pheasants were still there. These were those greedy ones that ate up more than one raisin. Then these pheasants are divided among the fellows. Danny tells his father that he was happy to be part of the pheasant poaching adventure. Adding on to that, he states that it would have been much better if all the pheasants had not run away. In reply his father believes that there is always room for improvement and they would learn from their experience. Now after the poaching adventure Danny and his father are making new plans for fishing rainbow trout. Danny is of the view that his father is the most exciting father anybody could ever have.

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Book Review: The Village by the Sea by Anita Desai

This story of Anita Desai revolves around a family which lives on the western coast of India where industrialization is yet to set in motion. The setting is of a village named Thul and the story is entirely based on fact. In the story Hari is a young boy whose father is a drunkard and his mother is extremely ill. The family has deplorable living conditions and they do not have a proper source of income. Hari catches fish with his small net unlike many of the villagers who own fishing boats. Other than that the family does not have sufficient cultivable land. Every year a family from Bombay visits Thul for vacations. Hari and his siblings do their menial work and get some cash in return.  With an ailing mother and a drunkard father life for Hari is worrisome. One day Hari hears about the construction of a factory in the near future at Thul which would provide jobs to the local population. Hari seems confused; he wants a job desperately but also craves for a typical village life. Hari wants no adulteration in the natural environment of his village. One day he leaves for Bombay with the people of his village. They want to present their petition to the Chief Minister showing their disapproval in written form regarding the construction of factories. There in Bombay at the rally confusion arises when Hari realizes that none of his friends from his were present there. This leaves Hari pondering. In fact Hari only joined the rally in order to get a job in Bombay. Hari located the address written on a piece of paper by the De Silvas. He was promised a job by them when they last visited Thul. But on reaching their house he was informed that the De Silvas were not home. Hari was distressed. In Bombay Hari had a tough time, as he worked at a small restaurant and after some days he joined a watch mending shop.  Heavy rainfall in Bombay exposed the strange living conditions to Hari. He now missed the natural environment of his village. Everything in Bombay was flooded with rain water. Now Hari wanted to return to Thul. His mentor at the watch mending shop advised Hari to return to Thul and with that also gave him business ideas. With the money earned at Bombay and his fears Hari returned to Thul. There he met his siblings. Lila told his brother Hari about their lives and how they depended on the De Silvas; and later on their friend Sayyid Ali for their survival, in Hari’s absence. A day before Diwali Hari went to the hospital to bring back home his mother who had been admitted to the hospital by the De Silvas. He was happy to see his father who quit drinking. All the family members celebrated Diwali jubilantly at Thul and it seemed to be the merriest day of their lives. Later Hari meets Sayyid Ali the person from the city who was studying birds. He told him about his apprehensions regarding the construction of factories in Thul. Sayyid Ali the bird watcher was the first customer of Hari as he gave him his watch for repair. Hari got confidence from conversing with this gentleman. Life goes on is what Hari learned. For survival human adaptability is important.  Hari could now see his mother joining the other womenfolk for the rituals on the beach. Now he felt contented with his life in Thul.

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Book Review: The Luminous Life of Dalai Lama Edited by Shyam Dua

 This illustrated biography of Dalai Lama is a small book of less than a hundred pages. Dalai Lama born in Tibet in 1935 and was enthroned at the age five. He started his education at a monastery in Tibet. In this book the list of awards and honorary degrees conferred on him has been enlisted. Dalai Lama believes that Tibet is still under the Chinese oppression. He is of the view that there is an imminent threat to Tibetan religion, culture and environment. The key themes in his various published books are also shortly discussed in this book. Dalai Lama’s lecture on the occasion of receiving the Nobel Peace Prize is also mentioned. Dalai Lama is of the view that people in Tibet are being turned into an insignificant minority by the influx of Chinese immigrants. Prostitution and gambling have been introduced intentionally in the Tibetan society to marginalize the indigenous population. Furthermore he stresses on the need for moral awakening in the world. Both spiritual and material world should go side by side. In addition to that Dalai Lama champions for human rights, democracy and wants Tibet to become a free peaceful zone where Tibet enjoys genuine autonomy within the framework of the People’s Republic of China.

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Book Review: Nepal's Biodiversity and Protected Areas

The 1997 protected areas management workshop -Department of national parks and wildlife conservation with assistance of the UNDP

This book consisting of 73 pages is an outcome of workshop held in 1997 for the betterment in management of protected areas in Nepal. Accounts of various national parks in Nepal have been mentioned. 

Endangered mammals, reptiles, birds and their respective habitats have also been included in this book. The threats to these species in case of each national park have been brought to notice. Use of alternate energy solutions in these protected areas has been focused upon. The problems such as poaching of wild life are common to most of the areas. 

Furthermore solutions in ensuring overall management of parks has been stressed upon which would surely help in sustainable management of the protected sanctuaries. Especially the role of communities in implementing these nature protection programs will play a critical role in the coming future.

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Book Review: State of the World 1993 by Lester Rubdown

This volume of state of the world reflects upon the critical relationship between environment and business around the world. Various themes have been gone through in this book, such as scarcity of water, energy in developing countries, gender gap in development, trade and environment and the indigenous people.

Every theme has been elaborated with examples of various regions, ranging from Americas to Asia. Problems such as air pollution, soil erosion and floods caused by deforestation, have been indicated as the threats to the sustainable economy .

Environmental audit and management have been considered as the key towards creating a balance between trade and environment. Towards the concluding pages of the book, government’s role in forming public policy and including the component of environment in it has been stressed upon.The role of various stake holders including governmental and non- governmental organizations should be encouraged and supported. Throughout the book there has been an effort by the author to stress emphasis on the need for sustainable development all over the world, especially in the third world where much of the industrialization is still to be done.

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Book Review: Changing Perspectives on Forest Policy by Javed Ahmed,Fawad Mahmood

This book gives an overview of the state of forestry and forest policies in Pakistan. At relevant places examples of successful completion of projects are mentioned. It gives a view of the government and other stakeholders involved in the forestry activities in Pakistan. Stress has been given on the involvement of mafia and other elements that influence forest policies and activities. Environmental, social and economic benefits could be taken from the forests. It mentions the need for sustainable forest management plan, in order to avoid environmental degradation. Key figures and alarming indicators have been stated for the identification of gaps between the policy makers and the community involved in the process.

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Book Review: World Wide Fund - Environmental Guide Book

While going through this 64 page handbook, I noticed that it is a very basic guide book, featuring environment related topics. The reader may be any one, starting from a school going child to a grown up of any age. 

Basically the book has been divided into 5 themes. Environmental problems have been highlighted and explained with examples, with special focus to Pakistan. 

The repercussion of these environmental problems on our surroundings is an eye opener for the common man. The “I can do it” attitude has been greatly appreciated in this regard. 

The importance of our environment has been stressed upon, meaning that a threat to our environment means a threat to the human race.

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Book Review: Ancient Futures by Helena Norberg-Hodge

The author Helena Norbeg-Hodge, a foreigner spent many of her years in Ladakh studying the ladakhi people, their culture, religion and their activities. She points out the difficulties which Ladakh is facing due to the increase in developmental activities. 

Furthermore she compares the past and the present conditions, mentioning the change in attitude, clothing and lifestyle of the youth. In addition to that she is very apprehensive about the ladakhi youth and stresses on the need to not forget one’s traditional customs especially in this particular case of Ladakh.

Importance has been placed on the family value system and the sense of togetherness in these remote communities of Ladakh. Environment related activities are highlighted and the use of alternate renewable energy resources is focused upon. For instance, the author shares her experiment of solar technology in the villages of Ladakh. Various rituals and customs are mentioned, which take place all year round. At last she stresses on the need to prevent the adulteration of Ladakhi culture, which shall be prevented in any case as it has its own uniqueness.

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