Rating: 
Summary: A book that bridges continents
Review: "In Light of India" is a book-length, multi-part essay in which Mexican poet Octavio Paz discusses the complex political, religious, and artistic worlds of India. Paz, who had served as his nation's ambassador to India, writes with insight and obvious affection for his subject.Paz is a masterful prose writer. His style is smooth and clear, and full of sage-like statements. Consider this observation: "Dialogue between a poet and a saint is difficult because a poet, before speaking, must hear others--that is to say, the language, which belongs to everyone and to no one. A saint speaks with God or with himself, two forms of silence" (p. 118). Paz covers many topics: India's ancient history, the conflict between Hindus and Muslims, the caste system, classical Sanskrit poetry, and more. But, as he notes, the book is not meant to be an exhaustive scholarly treatise. Rather, it is a very personal view of India: "this book. . . is the child not of knowledge but of love" (33). And as such, the book is rich in interesting anecdotes and fascinating insights, from Paz' account of his meeting with the guru Mother Ananda Mai to his reflection on the influence of Rabindranath Tagore upon Pablo Neruda. "In Light of India" is a marvelous companion volume to Salman Rushdie's "The Jaguar Smile": in that volume of essays, a writer from the Indian subcontinent reflects upon a Latin American country (the reverse of Paz' project). But on its own, Paz' book is a wonderful volume both for fans of Latin American literature and for those interested in India.
Rating:
Summary: A book that bridges continents
Review: "In Light of India" is a book-length, multi-part essay in which Mexican poet Octavio Paz discusses the complex political, religious, and artistic worlds of India. Paz, who had served as his nation's ambassador to India, writes with insight and obvious affection for his subject. Paz is a masterful prose writer. His style is smooth and clear, and full of sage-like statements. Consider this observation: "Dialogue between a poet and a saint is difficult because a poet, before speaking, must hear others--that is to say, the language, which belongs to everyone and to no one. A saint speaks with God or with himself, two forms of silence" (p. 118). Paz covers many topics: India's ancient history, the conflict between Hindus and Muslims, the caste system, classical Sanskrit poetry, and more. But, as he notes, the book is not meant to be an exhaustive scholarly treatise. Rather, it is a very personal view of India: "this book. . . is the child not of knowledge but of love" (33). And as such, the book is rich in interesting anecdotes and fascinating insights, from Paz' account of his meeting with the guru Mother Ananda Mai to his reflection on the influence of Rabindranath Tagore upon Pablo Neruda. "In Light of India" is a marvelous companion volume to Salman Rushdie's "The Jaguar Smile": in that volume of essays, a writer from the Indian subcontinent reflects upon a Latin American country (the reverse of Paz' project). But on its own, Paz' book is a wonderful volume both for fans of Latin American literature and for those interested in India.
Rating:
Summary: Just brilliant.
Review: A welcome change to see things through a great poet's eye. Brilliant comparisons of the cultures of two great countries Mexico and India, a culture that died and a culture that still lives and is thriving.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant work-a bit Eruo-centric nonetheless.
Review: Here are some of the comments that Paz made in the book 'In Light of India' that I strongly and vehemently disagree with.I would have taken it up with him were he alive today. 1) PAZ:"The foundation of Hindu civilization is Indo-European" (page 92,PAZ once again cites Georges Dumezil to support this notion-According Dumezil (and Paz) Indo-European peoples comprise of Celts,Iranians,Germans,Romans and Greek) Mohan:Huh????Pure unadulterated bull shit,Max Mueller might have liked it but not me. 2)Speaking of various religions and in reference to Hinduism... PAZ:"Hinduism is a conglomeration of beliefs and rituals; although it lacks missionaries its power of assimilation is immense.It does not know conversion in the Christian or Muslim sense,but it practices, with great success,appropriation. Like an enormous metaphysical boa, Hinduism slowly and relentlessly digests foreign cultures,gods,languages and beliefs." (page 55) Mohan:I don't know what he is talking about does anyone? Paz conveniently avoided giving any examples of this phenomenon.I wonder whether he might be talking about relative extinction of Bhuddism in India? It couldn't possibly be as this happend not in a foreign land for one thing. He also speak of separatist tendencies of various states including Punjab,Assam etc but includes Tamil Nadu in the list. As far as I know there was no such instance unless he was mistakenly thinking about the Tamil separatist movement in Sri Lanka.Now this couldn't be either considering Paz's indepth knowlege with history of the region. Having said all this I love this guy,the language is quite impressive and his knowledge of India and things Indian was quite enormous,though his understanding of the country,its culture and history might be a bit shaded by academics and his point of views mostly that of an 'Indologist' (study of India based on European point of view) peppered with a great deal of personal experience and love for the country. What made me like Paz even more than anything else is summed up in the following passage,particularly the last two sentences:- Paz:"To return to the lacunae in this book: they are enormous, and they range from poetry, philosophy, and history to architecture, sculpture, and painting. The subject, due to its immensity and variety, rebels against synthesis. Moreover, it is beyond my knowledge as well as my intentions. These are merely glimpses of India: signs seen indistinctly, realities perceived between light and shadow. This book is not for the expert. It is the child not of knowledge but of love." (page 33) Mohan Marette (mohanmarette@earthlink.net)
Rating:
Summary: Great Introduction to Indian Poetry and Art
Review: His understanding of the people and culture is best and it is conveyed in an unadulterated form.
Rating:
Summary: Part Toquvillian and Part Marco Polian
Review: I find Paz's observation's of India to be delightfully accurate. His role as an Ambassador was not to be critical but to recount his observations at a level of serindipity. That he does superbly. Perhaps this may be the reason why President Bill Clinton who on March 1, 1999 bought this book while vacationing in Utah and while examining his soul after the Lewinsky crisis.
Rating:
Summary: Part Toquvillian and Part Marco Polian
Review: I find Paz's observation's of India to be delightfully accurate. His role as an Ambassador was not to be critical but to recount his observations at a level of serindipity. That he does superbly. Perhaps this may be the reason why President Bill Clinton who on March 1, 1999 bought this book while vacationing in Utah and while examining his soul after the Lewinsky crisis.
Rating:
Summary: A place to start in understanding India
Review: In reading foreigners write about India, too often you see them get caught on the horns of the complexities and contradictions of India. Invariably their real subject is not India, but how foreigners perceive India. What makes Paz's book special is that he is really writing about the Indian mind, and like an Indian he is able to wrap his mind around the contradictions without attempting to resolve them. This book is now my top recommendation for anyone trying to get past castes, dust, and buses falling over cliffs to begin to understand India.
Rating:
Summary: Engaging yet Uncertain
Review: Kudos to Paz for discoursing on India's nationhood, religion and caste. Uncertainty is the underlying theme in this book. Unlike Mexico, India proves to be a bigger (and alien) challenge to Paz's analytical and intellectual ability and at the start of the book the reader wonders - will this be the Indian Labyrinth of Solitude? Paz's love for India and his desire to find answers to (paradoxical?)questions engages him in a duel that is serendipitous for him and cahallenging yet enjoyable to the reader. His bafflement is typical in a land where 'one man's ceiling is another man's floor'. You can contest every assertion he makes - but wait! A few paragraphs later he himself is left questioning his earlier assertions. What starts out as an exercise in 'jnana yoga' (comprehension through knowledge) in the end turns out to be a discourse without conclusions. But as Paz mulls and ponders, his vexations and observances transform itself into a wonderful literary offering of bhakti- an expression of love and admiration for India and its richness and complexity - an offering of devotion that supersedes comprehension.
Rating:
Summary: A poetic Journey
Review: Octavio Paz has recorded his experience in India in a great way. I simply call it poetic. Because of the great distance between Mexcio and India, there has been very little interaction between these countries. The linguistic difference has not helped either. Therfore a book by Paz on India from his eyes as a Mexcican, is welcomme addition to the literature. It is definitley a book to have and cherish.
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