Nine Lives by William Dalrymple: A Book Review

Nine Lives by William Dalrymple: A Book Review

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What’s common between the bards by the river Ajoy in Bengal and the bards by the river Indus? The former congregate at Kenduli near Shantiniketan on the feast of Makar Sankranti while the latter at Shehwan Sarif in southern Pakistan on Urs. And they sing and dance their way to attain union with God.

The 4000-line courtly poem Epic of Pabuji sung in Rajasthan has something greatly in common to the epics of Europe or to the epics of the long dead Balkan heroes: all were originally oral poems. Some still preserved in their oral form while others confined to the libraries for academics and literature classes. The yearning of the Lal Peri and the Tibetan monk to see one’s homeland just one last time before death is so common for so many displaced souls.

To the diligent reader there are so many parallels to draw in this book and so many other poignant moments in the tales that Dalrymple scouts and collects in this traveller’s diary. 

Rani Bai, a Devdasi, who believes herself to be one of the daughters of Yellamma exuberates hope. And the least that one could do for her is to pen her story for eternity. Dalrymple just does that. The dilemma and hopelessness of Srikanda Stpathy, the idol maker of Swamimalai, to the world opening up with opportunities is not unknown. The direct descendant of the idol makers of the Chola Empire is distraught that 700 years old tradition of idol making may be lost as his son chooses to become a computer engineer in Bangalore rather than make idols at Swamimalai.

Dalrymple makes no attempt to draw conclusions about the prevailing practices and beliefs. That’s what makes this book a great read. One is left to oneself to take the lessons home, if any. For instance, for Hari Das, the theyyam dancer of Kannur, theyyam is a way to bring social parity while for Srikanda Stpathy of Swamimalai there must be something in the blood that all the Brahmin boys do well in maths and computer exams.

Whether you choose to be inspired by Prassannamati Mataji who decided to renounce worldly life at a tender age of 14 or question the decision of Tapan Sadhu to desert his wife and son in his pursuit of the Lord it’s completely up to you. The author however does draw some contrast and interpretations. While sexuality is considered as an essential and legitimate part of the Hindu aesthetic system it is the Judaeo-Christian religious tradition which tends to emphasize on its dangers to the point of making it a sin. The perils of codification of religions and rituals and the disappearance of the local Gods and practices to the more popular mainstream is well brought out.

A thoughtful read! A great index to read further on!