Ghosts of Vasu Master

by Githa Hariharan

Using fantasy, fable and a host of wonderfully imagined characters - and the gentle, humane and philosophic voice of Vastu Master - the author creates a richly textured and complex work that eloquently explores the human condition and the underlying principles of all human action.

Paperback

Published January 1, 1998

About the author

Hariharan was born in Coimbatore and grew up in Bombay and Manila. She obtained a BA (in English) from Bombay University and a MA (in Communications) from Fairfield University (U.S.A.).

Hariharan first worked in the Public Broadcasting System in New York and then with a publishing firm as an editor in India. She currently works as a freelance editor.

In her personal life, she, along with her husband, won the right to have the children named after her (instead of carrying the father's name); in this famous case argued by Indira Jaising, the Supreme Court agreed that the mother was also a "natural guardian" of the child.Template:AIR 1999, 2. SCC 228

Reviews

[Shantanu · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the title of the novel very interesting and thought of giving it a shot. The book feels less like a story and more like a rambling of a very old teacher. There are fables and there is a lot of symbolism. A little bit too much maybe. Don't read this book if you like books that excite you, where you feel an urge to turn the pages. I almost gave up on this book after 30 pages(I think). Towards the end, the book does speed up a bit and makes for better reading but the end again disappoints. Probably I expected too much from this one. Go ahead and give this book a try and let me know how you feel. I'll probably buy another book from this author and see if it turns out to be as humdrum. If you need a copy of this book and you are in India, let me know. I have a dog-eared copy, mind you.

[Lostcurrently · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was all over the place, not a clear structure hence I found it hard to read. A little to boring for me as I didn't see any excitement to know more.

[Marcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is so amazing and beautifully composed. It was lovely to read about the retirement of a teacher as I started teaching again. The protagonist's reflections about his teaching life were thought provoking. But I really love the elements of the story about the ghosts from his past, especially his grandmother and father whose preoccupations with Vasu Master's stomach ailments are quite intriguing. I also like the parallels of the English teacher's Shakespeare bible compared to his father's Ayurvedic bible, each treating Vasu Master in different ways. So beautifully written and especially given that it is clearly written for an Indian, as opposed to a Western, audience. For outsiders like myself one needs some assistance with a few Tamil words or concepts, but that is also one of the joys of reading this novel.

[Ira Merchant · Rating 1 out of 5]

gave up mid way