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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
4.5 Stars
India has a very rich oral tradition. Every region is bestowed with its own set of folktales that parents and grandparents pass down to their next generation. Before the invasion of digital media, this story time was something that kids eagerly waited for. My childhood was no different. Every day, during my dinner and just before my bed time, my grandfather sat me down to tell me stories. Some of stories were from our epics, Panchatantra etc but few were folktales that were unique to our region (unfortunately, I only remember a hand full of them). Reading ‘Timeless Tales from Marwar’ took me back to these times. The imaginary Vijaydan Detha resembled my grandfather. He sat me down on the window sill, with pleasant breeze from our garden gently caressing my cheeks and my mouth full of delicious “maa ka haath ka khaana” to tell me stories… this time folktales that are unique to his land… Rajasthan.
‘Timeless Tales from Marwar’ is a collection of 17 short stories selected from Vijaydan Detha's renowned 14 volume work 'Batan Ki Phulwari', written in Rajasthani. Vijaydan Detha's, fondly called Bijji, was enamoured with the oral retelling of Rajasthani folklore and spent his life listening to people (mostly women as he believed them to be the best story-tellers) telling him the stories they grew up on. Once you read this book, you will understand why Bijji was so captivated with these folktales. It is nearly impossible to be not charmed by these tales that are unique to Rajasthan and seeped in its traditions and culture. The use of lines like “Climb climb re, sandal tree” or “Kiska jheentiya, kiska tam? Chal meri matki, dhamaak-a-dham!” don’t just keep the Rajasthani flavour in the stories but also the orality of these tales alive, which I think makes this translation from Vishes Kothari an impressive one.
From the evil witches to selfless kings, from talking animals to intelligent lice, from smart boys to girls with magical hair, this book has a plethora of vivid characters and stories that leave you enchanted. Just like most of the stories we are told when we are kids, these stories too have a simple narrative but once you dig deeper you see the deeper wisdom and wit in them. For example, the story ‘Eternal Hope’ is a story of two kids whose hope and faith keeps them alive without a morsel of food or a drop of water. Other tale ‘The Winds of Time’ shows the corruption of human nature with changing times. Other tales such as ‘Jheentiya’ and ‘The Gulgula Tree’ are about smart boys out-witting their enemies.
While most of the stories in the collection were memorable, my favourites are ‘The Winds of Time’, ‘Sonal Bai’, ‘The Kelu Tree’, ‘Naagan, May Your Line Prosper’, ‘Eternal Hope’, ‘The Gulgula Tree’, ‘The Leaf and the Pebble’ and ‘Jaraav Masi’s Tales’. These are the tales I will be passing down to my grandchildren someday.
All in all, this is a collection of folktales I highly recommend to everyone of all ages.
India has a very rich oral tradition. Every region is bestowed with its own set of folktales that parents and grandparents pass down to their next generation. Before the invasion of digital media, this story time was something that kids eagerly waited for. My childhood was no different. Every day, during my dinner and just before my bed time, my grandfather sat me down to tell me stories. Some of stories were from our epics, Panchatantra etc but few were folktales that were unique to our region (unfortunately, I only remember a hand full of them). Reading ‘Timeless Tales from Marwar’ took me back to these times. The imaginary Vijaydan Detha resembled my grandfather. He sat me down on the window sill, with pleasant breeze from our garden gently caressing my cheeks and my mouth full of delicious “maa ka haath ka khaana” to tell me stories… this time folktales that are unique to his land… Rajasthan.
‘Timeless Tales from Marwar’ is a collection of 17 short stories selected from Vijaydan Detha's renowned 14 volume work 'Batan Ki Phulwari', written in Rajasthani. Vijaydan Detha's, fondly called Bijji, was enamoured with the oral retelling of Rajasthani folklore and spent his life listening to people (mostly women as he believed them to be the best story-tellers) telling him the stories they grew up on. Once you read this book, you will understand why Bijji was so captivated with these folktales. It is nearly impossible to be not charmed by these tales that are unique to Rajasthan and seeped in its traditions and culture. The use of lines like “Climb climb re, sandal tree” or “Kiska jheentiya, kiska tam? Chal meri matki, dhamaak-a-dham!” don’t just keep the Rajasthani flavour in the stories but also the orality of these tales alive, which I think makes this translation from Vishes Kothari an impressive one.
From the evil witches to selfless kings, from talking animals to intelligent lice, from smart boys to girls with magical hair, this book has a plethora of vivid characters and stories that leave you enchanted. Just like most of the stories we are told when we are kids, these stories too have a simple narrative but once you dig deeper you see the deeper wisdom and wit in them. For example, the story ‘Eternal Hope’ is a story of two kids whose hope and faith keeps them alive without a morsel of food or a drop of water. Other tale ‘The Winds of Time’ shows the corruption of human nature with changing times. Other tales such as ‘Jheentiya’ and ‘The Gulgula Tree’ are about smart boys out-witting their enemies.
While most of the stories in the collection were memorable, my favourites are ‘The Winds of Time’, ‘Sonal Bai’, ‘The Kelu Tree’, ‘Naagan, May Your Line Prosper’, ‘Eternal Hope’, ‘The Gulgula Tree’, ‘The Leaf and the Pebble’ and ‘Jaraav Masi’s Tales’. These are the tales I will be passing down to my grandchildren someday.
All in all, this is a collection of folktales I highly recommend to everyone of all ages.
‘Treasure trove of folktales’ that's how I can describe this book in just a few words. The cover totally sums up the culture of Rajasthan. It contains 17 stories from Batan ri Phulwari (Garden Of Tales) - a fourteen-volume collection written nearly fifty years ago in Rajasthani by Vijaydan Detha. This book is translated in English by Vishes Kothari. The cover is also aesthetically pleasing.
I'm surely in love with these beautiful tales because they get magical....and.....magical as you read through them. Filled with handsome rajkanwars, evil witches, exploitative thakkars, miserly seths, clever insects, benevolent snakes and more, it will clearly take you to a magical world... far away from reality. It will keep you enthralled till the end. The magic with which these oral tales are preserved in the written form is surely the reason why Vijaydan Detha earned the title ‘Shakespeare of Rajasthan’. I think I've used the word ‘magic’ very often here but what can I do it is the most suitable word which fits the definition of this book.
Let's talk about the translator, many a times, the hard work of a translator, goes unnoticed. But the fact that you're enjoying a translated book is because the translator has done work to preserve the original book and this is why, translators deserve that attention.
If you like reading folktales then, go read this book because you're missing out a really good book.
I can't write a more bigger review than this otherwise, I'll give out spoilers. So, just grab this book and enjoy the magical reading experience!
I'm surely in love with these beautiful tales because they get magical....and.....magical as you read through them. Filled with handsome rajkanwars, evil witches, exploitative thakkars, miserly seths, clever insects, benevolent snakes and more, it will clearly take you to a magical world... far away from reality. It will keep you enthralled till the end. The magic with which these oral tales are preserved in the written form is surely the reason why Vijaydan Detha earned the title ‘Shakespeare of Rajasthan’. I think I've used the word ‘magic’ very often here but what can I do it is the most suitable word which fits the definition of this book.
Let's talk about the translator, many a times, the hard work of a translator, goes unnoticed. But the fact that you're enjoying a translated book is because the translator has done work to preserve the original book and this is why, translators deserve that attention.
If you like reading folktales then, go read this book because you're missing out a really good book.
I can't write a more bigger review than this otherwise, I'll give out spoilers. So, just grab this book and enjoy the magical reading experience!
Vijayadan Detha , popularly known as Bijji , was one of the popular authors in Rajasthan who immortalized oral folktales and stories by writing them. Starting off as an author in Hindi, the pull for his mother-tongue Rajasthani, led him back to his hometown where he would hear tales from everyone and then ink them. Sometimes giving his own twists and perceptions, he talks on how the best tales come from women and why he would sit around and listen to their stories. Also a Nobel prize nominee in 2011 and recipient of numerous awards form Sahitya Akademi to Padma Shri, many of his stories were adapted to movies. One of the recent ones being SRK starrer, Paheli.
'Tales from Marwar' translated from Rajasthani are picked from various volumes of Batan Ri Phulwari (Garden of Tales). Translated by VIshes Kothari , he has tried to maintain the nuances of the languages by keeping intact the local words evoking sounds and of the local fauna.
What is beautiful about the stories is how along with humans he also gives a voice to animals and inanimate things like sun, stars, trees etc. The stories are simple and meaningful , a mix of prose and poetry/couplets here and there. The story starts with that of a king and his wives - 'tell' and 'don't tell'. There are stories of ghosts, of joo i.e lice, of dreams , about the origin of constellations, of selfishness, of cheating, of parent child relationship , of brother - sister relationship and so on. My favourites were ' Naagan, May you line prosper' about a man who has a snake coiled around his neck and 'The Kelu Tree' about a sister who gets killed by her brother but with elements of magic in it.
Each stories begin with some anecdote or introduction about the origin. Though I feel certain elements get lost in translation, the translator has tried to retain the humour and essence of the original stories. Bijji himself was a master storyteller and retold the folktales. A great way to carry forward the age old stories and traditions in the digital age is by preserving them by writing them. Kamakshi who read the original stories, told me how his language was his strength. Luckily for us translations pave way for an insight into different land and cultures. A few of the stories I have also heard in my childhood albeit a little different probably the local influence.
Highly recommend this treasure house of stories and the author Vijayadan Detha. I finished the book in a day and was left feeling warm and fuzzy.
'Tales from Marwar' translated from Rajasthani are picked from various volumes of Batan Ri Phulwari (Garden of Tales). Translated by VIshes Kothari , he has tried to maintain the nuances of the languages by keeping intact the local words evoking sounds and of the local fauna.
What is beautiful about the stories is how along with humans he also gives a voice to animals and inanimate things like sun, stars, trees etc. The stories are simple and meaningful , a mix of prose and poetry/couplets here and there. The story starts with that of a king and his wives - 'tell' and 'don't tell'. There are stories of ghosts, of joo i.e lice, of dreams , about the origin of constellations, of selfishness, of cheating, of parent child relationship , of brother - sister relationship and so on. My favourites were ' Naagan, May you line prosper' about a man who has a snake coiled around his neck and 'The Kelu Tree' about a sister who gets killed by her brother but with elements of magic in it.
Each stories begin with some anecdote or introduction about the origin. Though I feel certain elements get lost in translation, the translator has tried to retain the humour and essence of the original stories. Bijji himself was a master storyteller and retold the folktales. A great way to carry forward the age old stories and traditions in the digital age is by preserving them by writing them. Kamakshi who read the original stories, told me how his language was his strength. Luckily for us translations pave way for an insight into different land and cultures. A few of the stories I have also heard in my childhood albeit a little different probably the local influence.
Highly recommend this treasure house of stories and the author Vijayadan Detha. I finished the book in a day and was left feeling warm and fuzzy.
• r e v i e w •
.
I grew up listening to my grandfather's animated voice narrating folktales that spanned over cities and borders. When I close my eyes and concentrate, I can still hear his voice in my head; a low hum that brings a smile to my face. Timeless Tales from Marwar is a collection of 17 short stories that lights up one's imagination, instantly making us feel like children. These stories are taken from the iconic Vijaydan Detha's renowned work 'Batan ri Phulwari' written in Rajasthani. Although Vijaydan, fondly known as Bijji graduated in Hindi, his heart was set on the oral retelling of Rajasthani folktales. Translated to English by Vishes Kothari, this book is as vibrant as it's cover.
.
Bijji often enjoyed sitting and spending time with women whom he considered as master storytellers and as one reads this book, it becomes abundantly clear as to why he was of that opinion. While most of the stories were purely entertaining, few pointed out the contrast between castes and human behaviour in general. From evil witches to princes, lice to a smart boy, this book was a real delight to read. Bijji also goes to show how humans were initially selfless, content with their resources, never wanting anything more. But as the next generations came along, there was a considerable shift in their needs and wants. Bijji's style of writing was light and often, humourous. He gave voice to animals of all kinds ranging from jackal to crow to even lice! There's no common ground for these stories and maybe this is why one gets lost in the book easily.
.
Kothari has translated the book delicately, carrying out the flavours that Bijji originally added to the book. Be it the description of food or the use of onomatopoeic words, he has successfully managed to keep the very essence of the folktales alive and kicking. As translators, there's tremendous pressure on their shoulders to not let the originality slip away and Kothari has proven to be not only efficient but also thoughtful and respectful in admiring the State's beauty and culture. I definitely recommend this. A refreshing read that'll transport you back to your gleeful days of childhood.
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Rating : 4.3/5.
.
I grew up listening to my grandfather's animated voice narrating folktales that spanned over cities and borders. When I close my eyes and concentrate, I can still hear his voice in my head; a low hum that brings a smile to my face. Timeless Tales from Marwar is a collection of 17 short stories that lights up one's imagination, instantly making us feel like children. These stories are taken from the iconic Vijaydan Detha's renowned work 'Batan ri Phulwari' written in Rajasthani. Although Vijaydan, fondly known as Bijji graduated in Hindi, his heart was set on the oral retelling of Rajasthani folktales. Translated to English by Vishes Kothari, this book is as vibrant as it's cover.
.
Bijji often enjoyed sitting and spending time with women whom he considered as master storytellers and as one reads this book, it becomes abundantly clear as to why he was of that opinion. While most of the stories were purely entertaining, few pointed out the contrast between castes and human behaviour in general. From evil witches to princes, lice to a smart boy, this book was a real delight to read. Bijji also goes to show how humans were initially selfless, content with their resources, never wanting anything more. But as the next generations came along, there was a considerable shift in their needs and wants. Bijji's style of writing was light and often, humourous. He gave voice to animals of all kinds ranging from jackal to crow to even lice! There's no common ground for these stories and maybe this is why one gets lost in the book easily.
.
Kothari has translated the book delicately, carrying out the flavours that Bijji originally added to the book. Be it the description of food or the use of onomatopoeic words, he has successfully managed to keep the very essence of the folktales alive and kicking. As translators, there's tremendous pressure on their shoulders to not let the originality slip away and Kothari has proven to be not only efficient but also thoughtful and respectful in admiring the State's beauty and culture. I definitely recommend this. A refreshing read that'll transport you back to your gleeful days of childhood.
.
Rating : 4.3/5.