Q. Raja. Love teaches even asses to dance. Publishers: Busy Bee Books, D-88, Poincare St., Olandai-Keerapalayam, Pondicherry – 605004, Oct 2006, Pages 210, Price: Rs.250/- Euro 15/-. ISBN 81-87619-12-0
Love Teaches Even Asses to Dance is a collection of fifty-two essays by P. Raja, a poet-critic, whose mastery of words, or of sound and meaning, convinces me that, like poetry, prose it also needs to be written (and read). carefully and considerably considered for continued rewards in experience and understanding. The essays are readable and memorable because the writer, like Walter Benjamin, knows that “good prose work has three steps: a musical setting when it is composed, an architectural one when it is built, and a textile one when it is woven. “
P. Raja evidences these characteristics in his short, simple and unaffected pieces that have poetic happiness and intellectual intensity. Whether he is communicating information or talking about the ordinary affairs of life, he seeks to build meaning and perception of life, broadening and sharpening our contacts with existence. Whatever your concern in a literary, academic, social, cultural, anecdotal, historical, personal, or spiritual context, P. Raja writes with expertise. He is motivated by the inner need to live more deeply, fully, and with greater awareness in order to learn about the experience of others and to improve his own experience. He shares his observations and evaluations with readers and thereby creates new, well-formed and focused experiences for them, imparting a better understanding of our world. For example:
“The notion that ‘poets are born’ is dead and gone. Inspiration, creativity and talent have become misnomers when it comes to poetry. The saying now is ‘poets are made.’ Yes. Poets are made, not by intensive study of the masters of that art, but by the almighty Lord MONEY.”
(‘If you have the money they will make you a poet’)
“It is said that the wise read books but only fools buy them. Beware! There are many wise around.”
(‘Book Thieves’)
“I will show you fear in a handful of dust,” wrote TS Eliot. But what the Christian poet could show in a handful, the Hindus could do with just a pinch of ash. All one has to do is go to a temple and stretch out the palm of the hand before the poojari.”
(‘Fear freezes the heart of life’)
“While conditions for women are changing around the world, nothing dramatic has happened to Indian women. Blame our culture.”
(‘Women’s Liberation and the Indian Psyche’)
“I have seen my father yell at my mother whenever he found long hair in her food that did not belong to her property. It took days for my mother to calm down. I also yelled at my wife for the same reason and kindly came back when she the hair was small. It matters little what we say to others, while what really matters is how we say it. This is applicable to all those who care about human relationships and want to establish a pleasant way of relating with others” .
(‘Little things matter’)
Female mosquitoes are true vampires. None can escape her wrathful little needle like a sucker. Many of these winged vampires die while we are awake. And when we are asleep they administer slow poison to us. Without our knowledge we trade a few cc’s of our precious blood for the myriad of diseases they hawk. And that happens almost every night. The only consolation scientists offer (let’s have faith in them) is that mosquitoes don’t have AIDS for sale. Praised by Allah, Jesus and the Hindu Trinity.”
(‘Mosquitoes are thankless creatures’)
As is obvious from these random examples, P. Raja uses his literary skills (sarcasm, irony, wit, humor) as a gear to heighten the intensity and increase the range of everyday experience, analyzing, synthesizing, and clarifying it. His success lies in letting us share his personal experiences and points of view rooted in humanity.
Q. Raja appeals to me as one of the few excellent essayists in India today. It is unpretentious, direct, neat and convincing, whatever the topic chosen for reflection: man, woman, mother, god, animal, trees, nature, history, religion, mind, anger, desire, fear, smile, sincerity, patience, love, women’s liberation, kolam, folklores, epitaphs, reading books, storytelling or using English in the public domain, etc. He writes with feeling, commitment and maturity, without wasting words or becoming vulgar, hackneyed, pedantic, periphrastic or pleonastic.
Reading P. Raja’s essays, personal and serious, with touches from the Bible, Upanishads, Puranas, Mahabharata, Panchatantra, Thirukural, Indian and European history and literary tomes is an enlightening experience. One encounters wit and wisdom intended to promote human values and dharma-based moral behavior.
With its quality paper, flawless printing, attractive appearance and moderate price, Love Teaches Even Asses to Dance rivals the best of any multinational printing house in India or abroad. Readers will find the book attractive for its balanced content. P. Raja deserves congratulations for his excellence in a genre in which very few recent English Indian writers have made their presence felt.
-Professor R.K. SINGH
