Kamat's Potpourri

Amma's Column: A rare volume in Kamat Home library

Sun, 5 Oct 2008 00:00:00 CST

Last week while rearranging old and unread books on the rack in the corner, I stumbled on rare volume indeed!

Baba, my late beloved father bequeathed these old, older and oldest books to me, with the hope that the spring of ancient knowledge hidden in these moth-eaten books will make his historian daughter wiser when she opens the book. But being afraid of the �disease� these books could spread to their younger generation, I kept them away, occasionally dusting and putting back with naphthalene balls in the rack.

I was pleasantly surprised, that the first pages of the book, I picked up, were not that brittle, though sticky. The book is 1st volume of "Indian Caste" by John Wilson and is dated 1877. It was published at the Times of India Office Bombay for William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London. This book is 131 year old and bears a slip number:

N. 10 of
Rao Bahadur Mahadeo Govind Ranade
M.A. L.L.B.
Barrister at Law and Judge of the Small Causes Court, Poona.

Below that is written by father's name in his beautiful handwriting:

G.V. Burde � Dharwar - 7.10.1973.

Obviously, Baba who was a voracious reader, and who could not affort new and expensive books of his liking, had purchased it from the street-vendor of old volumes.

In addition to the difficult and delicate job of turning the sticky and brittle pages, I have the onerous task of writing briefly about two stalwarts, one who wrote the book, and the other who possessed it, before it found its way to Dharwad street.

John Wilson D.D. F.R.S. (1804-1875) was born in Scotland and came as a Missionary of the Free Church of Scotland to India in 1829. He spent his life in India only. He could be considered as an archaeologist, epigraphist and antiquarian. He was president of Bombay Branch of Royal Asiatic Society and was Vice-Chancellor of Bombay University. He wrote books on Karla caves, and other cave temple. The volume on "Indian Caste" bears witness to his deep insight, vast reading and more than twenty years of hard work. He saw only the, 1st volume in print, and died while the 2nd volume was still in press.

He belongs to the first line of Orientalists who introduced India in all her complicated maze of caste system customs, rituals, beliefs, religious norms etc, to the western world.

Mahadeo Govind Ranade (1842-1901) was a great social reformer, distinguished judge, economist, historian and a writer. A brilliant student, he was a topper in B.A., M.A and Law examinations. He was High court judge and is known for many epoch-making judgments. A front line social reformer, he advocated widow remarriage, fought against child marriage, caste and gender discrimination and untouchability. He was the first Indian economist of note. He educated and molded wife Ramabai (married at 11 years) into a great social reformer.

Together they founded branch of Prarthana Samaj of Keshub Chandra Sen in Mumbai and a school for girls. Arya Mahila Samaj came and foundation laid for Seva Sadan, which became a pioneer institution in rehabilitating and educating destitute women in self-supporting.

Thus, the book "Indian Caste" (1st Volume) made a historic journey from that eminent and beloved couple�s home to my humble home-library, courtesy my father, Ganesh Burde.

AnthoBLOGy: Indian Crow, Cricket Match, Sarah Palin, Mayawati

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 CST

In an Indian school, the English teacher gave a hint about a forthcoming test. "I might ask you to write an essay about an animal or a bird", she said. So this student Raju, prepared to write about the Indian Crow, collected material for the essay, practiced it for retention, was ready for the test. It went something like this:

The Indian Crow

The Indian Crow (Corvus splendens), also known as the House Crow is a common bird found in India. It is between the Jackdaw and the Carrion Crow in size (40 cm in length) but is relatively slimmer than either. The forehead, crown, throat and upper breast are a richly glossed black, whilst the neck and breast are a lighter grey-brown in color. The wings, tail and legs are black. There are regional variations in the thickness of the bill and the depth of color in areas of the plumage.

Unfortunately, during the test, the teacher changed the topic of the essay -- the students were asked to write about a "Cricket Match".

Raju wrote.

The Cricket Match

There was a Cricket Macth going on. There was a tree nearby, on which was sitting an Indian Crow. The Indian Crow (Corvus splendens), also known as the House Crow is a common bird found in India. It is between the Jackdaw and the Carrion Crow in size (40 cm in length) but is relatively slimmer than either. The forehead, crown, throat and upper breast are a richly glossed black, whilst the neck and breast are a lighter grey-brown in color. The wings, tail and legs are black. There are regional variations in the thickness of the bill and the depth of color in areas of the plumage.

That's the feeling I get listening to Sarah Palin. No matter what she is asked, she gives the same convoluted answer about freedom and government and not blinking, that makes poor sense.

Salon: Sentences of Sarah Palin

The problem with Sarah Palin is not that she is a woman. The problem is that she is too ordinary, incapable of comprehending or articulating complex ideas. Of course, that is my opinion based on what I have seen and read -- I feel the same way about Mayawati. Since when being ordinary is a leadership skill?

As much as the media is complaining about unavailability of Palin, they are also not covering the Joe Biden well. What do we know of him?

Aperture Photo Blog: Garuda in Indian Art

Fri, 30 May 2008 21:40:37 CST

Garuda is the name of a mighty bird depicted in Indian folklore as the vehicle of Lord Vishnu.

Garuda is a species of Indian Eagle.

The flying abilities of Garuda have prompted an airline to be named after the bird (Garuda Indonesia Airlines).

Indian artists over the centuries have imagined great many forms of Garuda and they are available today in paintings, sculptures, and temple artifacts. The following is a collection of pictures depicting Garuda in Indian Art.

(c) K.L.Kamat

Lord Krishna Rides the Bird Garuda
Garuda is usually shown as Vishnu's carrier; here the artist seems to indicate that Vishnu and Krishna are one the same.

Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade: (Born 1842; Death January 16, 1901)

Sun, 5 Oct 2008 00:00:00 CST

Picture
Drawings of V.N. O'key

Hemlin Kids

Sat, 4 Oct 2008 00:00:00 CST

Picture
Kamat in America
Pasadena, California, 1964

The Hemlin Family

Sat, 4 Oct 2008 00:00:00 CST

Picture
Kamat in America
Left to right: Helen Hamlin, her mother, Richard's mother, and Richard Hamlin, 1964

Bhimsen Joshi (on left) with India Gandhi

Wed, 1 Oct 2008 00:00:00 CST

Picture
Bhimsen Joshi and Indira Gandhi
Bombay, Circa 1960

Gandhi Stamp

Wed, 1 Oct 2008 00:00:00 CST

Picture
Gandhi Postage Stamps

Gandhi in "Gandhi Cap"

Wed, 1 Oct 2008 00:00:00 CST

Picture
Gandhi in Gandhi Cap
A rare photograph shows Gandhi in a type of hat named after him

Salt Satyagraga

Wed, 1 Oct 2008 00:00:00 CST

Picture
Gandhi Makes Salt
Detail from a stamp honoring Gandhi's contributions to India

Gandhi at Sevagram Ashram

Wed, 1 Oct 2008 00:00:00 CST

Picture
Mahatma Gandhi

Decorated Bull

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 CST

Picture
Leather Puppets
Painted Leather Puppet, Karnataka

Bhalachandra B. Burde of Kumta

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:00:00 CST

Picture
A Database of Indian People
Town of Kumta, circa 1980

Mysore Traditional Art

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:00:00 CST

Picture
Mysore Schools of Art
Detail from a gesso painting