The Book of Shikar StoriesEdited by Ruskin BondRupa & CoRs 295 Celebrating shikar stories may seem terribly politically incorrect these days. But, as Ruskin Bond reminds us, it is not just the thrill of the hunt that makes us yearn for more. There is also the humanity of the committed hunter. Writes Bond: “What is clear from the writings of these shikari-sportsmen is that many of them grew to love the jungle — camp life, the great outdoors, the richness of flora and fauna. From hunters, a few became naturalists. And once the jungle wove its spell, these men would return to it again and again. Nor for gain, but for the feeling of freedom that only the jungle could give them.” That little point established, it is interesting that this collection is something of a hunt in itself. Barring one, all the stories have never appeared in book form before. Bond says they have all been compiled from his collection of Indian State Railways Magazines from the 1920s and 1930s. Many of the heroes have a Survey of India background. Augustus Somerville writes of his adventures in Chhotanagpur, while ‘Surfield’ dwells on escapades in Burma. And of course, there are stories aplenty from the Himalayan foothills. CULTURAL RHYTHMS: INDIA AND CENTRAL ASIABy Radha RainaPublished by Ministry of External AffairsPrice not mentioned Radha Raina takes a journey back in time, a journey spanning Central Asia, Persia, China and India. What she discovers is a colourful array of rich cultures spread across these nations, which when put together form a harmonious whole. The book makes a modest attempt to trace the cultural strand that runs from the banks of the Ganges in India to the Tarim Basin in Central Asia. With the spread of Buddhism and a lucrative trade along the Silk Road, art, architecture and literature crossed boundaries, leading to the assimilation of a rich cultural and religious heritage handed down over the years. To a lay reader, the book would read like chapters out of a history textbook; nonetheless, it is well-researched and the author has succeeded in providing a detailed and vivid account of how cultures interacted through the centuries.
