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Ballad of Bapu
"Santosh Bakaya is the first of Gandhi's innumerable biographers to envision his life as a poetic saga. In the Ballad of Bapu, she has produced a tour de force that spans his life, including many little- known episodes. Her exuberant language brings Gandhi's spirit vividly to life like never before, and explores the varied potential of Indian English beautifully. We get the full flavour of how the ordinary human being, Gandhi, with his extraordinary nonviolent ways, helped to create a great India; a shining example for the world to follow."
364 pages, Paperback
First published April 17, 2015
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February 17, 2016
Ballad Of Bapu
Published: August 08, 2015
DR A.V. KOSHY
Ballad of Bapu
ON 14th July a man was seen going into the Bangalore Cantonment railway station, carrying a bag, after bidding his wife goodbye.
What did he carry in it?
A bird, a plane or a superman costume?
Wrong on all counts.
Something far more explosive.
He carried in it two books by Dr. Santosh Bakaya, both inscribed in her own hand.
At the platform, he sat down on a bench, waiting for the train.
He took out the book. The time was 5 p.m. or so. The train came and he found his seat and sat down. Till 10.30 in the night he was knocked out, loaded, reading the book from cover to page 155. The book held his attention so much that he got up again at 3.30 in the morning and read till 5.30 to complete all 325 odd pages of it.
He then held an interview with Gandhiji in his head.
“Gandhiji, do you know who should write your biography as a poem?”
“I wrote mine partially as an autobiography”, G said, a bit coldly.
“I know, I read it, and truth to tell, it was boring in parts. Prose is. Fischer's is too.”
He looked at me interested.
“No one said that to me before”, he said. “Then maybe I should....”
“Santosh Bakaya is the one you want”, I told him.
“How can I make her do it? ”, he asked.” I met Clinton, Hilary in a séance. Can I do the same with her?”
“No need to”, I told him triumphantly.” She is my friend and she already dunit. And boy, are you lucky?”
“Boy, am I?”
“Yes, boy, you are!”
“What's so special about it?”
“She writes it in rhymes, each stanza five lines each but slips NOT into doggerel.”
I had him hooked now.
“Then?”
“She has a fabulous introduction and foreword and even a poem in it by your great grandson, Tushar Gandhi, and if you read the contents page and the excerpts at the back after reading the whole book, it makes terrific sense.”
He was getting more and more interested.
“Tell me more,” he said.
“On the cover it says it is a book everyone in India should read, this according to Tushar Gandhi, but , I think , he is dead wrong.”
“What?!!!”
I hastened to explain.
“It is a book EVERYONE should read!”
“Where can I get one?”
“Try amazon.in “I said. “I have one, but won't give it to you as she autographed it for me and as I value her book more than Vikram Seth's Golden Gate any day. It has richer content and neither she nor I, would find it difficult to write a novel in sonnets but her poetic saga of your life story is a national treasure like she says, you are.”
Gandhi had stopped listening to me.
He had logged into amazon.in and was trying to get hold of his copy of the Ballad of Bapu.
After eight hours he got back to me.
You were right, he said, and vanished into thin air.
In a more serious vein:
When I read Ballad of BAPU three things astounded me.
1. One - conceiving the idea of writing Gandhi's life in quintains and actually having the genius and ability to carry out such an audacious plan. Breathtaking!
2. Two - the introduction (in prose!)
3. A section in the introduction that talks of violence, that though it imitates Dickens, matches him and rivals both him and SAMUEL BECKETT who has similar brilliant passages in his ear-lier novels like Murphy and Watt.
Santosh is from Kashmir and this helps her to understand the experience of the in- betweener which in its turn, helps her portray Gandhi's inner self accurately, his almost frenetic attempt to bring peace among groups of people who do not necessarily want peace to be there among them.
This portrayal of Gandhi's anguished inner self that seeps through the humour of her narrative is finally what will make the book unforgettable as it is partly her own reaction at the often senseless violence in the world we live in now.
“Amidst the crossfire of hate and oppression
Rampant bloodshed and chaotic confusion
Stood a figure
In clothes meager
Spreading love and banishing hate, tough his mission.”
It is where she most enters the mind of this Gandhi and lets us have glimpses of it too, that the book finally becomes an abiding classic.
Dr A.V. Koshy, Is A Pushcart Nominee, Poet, Critic, Essayist , Co-Editor Of THE SIGNIFICANT ANTHOLOGY And Writer Of The Bestseller, Art Of Poetry.
Published: August 08, 2015
DR A.V. KOSHY
Ballad of Bapu
ON 14th July a man was seen going into the Bangalore Cantonment railway station, carrying a bag, after bidding his wife goodbye.
What did he carry in it?
A bird, a plane or a superman costume?
Wrong on all counts.
Something far more explosive.
He carried in it two books by Dr. Santosh Bakaya, both inscribed in her own hand.
At the platform, he sat down on a bench, waiting for the train.
He took out the book. The time was 5 p.m. or so. The train came and he found his seat and sat down. Till 10.30 in the night he was knocked out, loaded, reading the book from cover to page 155. The book held his attention so much that he got up again at 3.30 in the morning and read till 5.30 to complete all 325 odd pages of it.
He then held an interview with Gandhiji in his head.
“Gandhiji, do you know who should write your biography as a poem?”
“I wrote mine partially as an autobiography”, G said, a bit coldly.
“I know, I read it, and truth to tell, it was boring in parts. Prose is. Fischer's is too.”
He looked at me interested.
“No one said that to me before”, he said. “Then maybe I should....”
“Santosh Bakaya is the one you want”, I told him.
“How can I make her do it? ”, he asked.” I met Clinton, Hilary in a séance. Can I do the same with her?”
“No need to”, I told him triumphantly.” She is my friend and she already dunit. And boy, are you lucky?”
“Boy, am I?”
“Yes, boy, you are!”
“What's so special about it?”
“She writes it in rhymes, each stanza five lines each but slips NOT into doggerel.”
I had him hooked now.
“Then?”
“She has a fabulous introduction and foreword and even a poem in it by your great grandson, Tushar Gandhi, and if you read the contents page and the excerpts at the back after reading the whole book, it makes terrific sense.”
He was getting more and more interested.
“Tell me more,” he said.
“On the cover it says it is a book everyone in India should read, this according to Tushar Gandhi, but , I think , he is dead wrong.”
“What?!!!”
I hastened to explain.
“It is a book EVERYONE should read!”
“Where can I get one?”
“Try amazon.in “I said. “I have one, but won't give it to you as she autographed it for me and as I value her book more than Vikram Seth's Golden Gate any day. It has richer content and neither she nor I, would find it difficult to write a novel in sonnets but her poetic saga of your life story is a national treasure like she says, you are.”
Gandhi had stopped listening to me.
He had logged into amazon.in and was trying to get hold of his copy of the Ballad of Bapu.
After eight hours he got back to me.
You were right, he said, and vanished into thin air.
In a more serious vein:
When I read Ballad of BAPU three things astounded me.
1. One - conceiving the idea of writing Gandhi's life in quintains and actually having the genius and ability to carry out such an audacious plan. Breathtaking!
2. Two - the introduction (in prose!)
3. A section in the introduction that talks of violence, that though it imitates Dickens, matches him and rivals both him and SAMUEL BECKETT who has similar brilliant passages in his ear-lier novels like Murphy and Watt.
Santosh is from Kashmir and this helps her to understand the experience of the in- betweener which in its turn, helps her portray Gandhi's inner self accurately, his almost frenetic attempt to bring peace among groups of people who do not necessarily want peace to be there among them.
This portrayal of Gandhi's anguished inner self that seeps through the humour of her narrative is finally what will make the book unforgettable as it is partly her own reaction at the often senseless violence in the world we live in now.
“Amidst the crossfire of hate and oppression
Rampant bloodshed and chaotic confusion
Stood a figure
In clothes meager
Spreading love and banishing hate, tough his mission.”
It is where she most enters the mind of this Gandhi and lets us have glimpses of it too, that the book finally becomes an abiding classic.
Dr A.V. Koshy, Is A Pushcart Nominee, Poet, Critic, Essayist , Co-Editor Of THE SIGNIFICANT ANTHOLOGY And Writer Of The Bestseller, Art Of Poetry.
June 14, 2015
"Generations to come, it may well be, will scarce believe that such a man as this one ever in flesh and blood walked upon this Earth.”
But where lays the magical charm of the old man- referred as half naked fakir by a proud imperialist leader. Why he had become synonymous with the voice against tyranny?
What is the secret behind the charisma?
Louis Fisher once remarked that Indian can see the reflection of them on Mahatma Gandhi. When he passes through the palace gate of the governor general-every Indian can identify himself in him.
He was the face of India.
Controversy might there be with him-but there is no denying the fact that his utter simplicity and truthfulness is an inspiration that had ignited many minds and will continue to ignite many more in the years to come.
His living and faith on God coupled with a firm faith on the oneness of human race is the plinth of his crusade against injustice. Be it in South Africa or be in India-everywhere he was a worshiper of God or humanity or truth-whatever name you may like to call it.
This review has been made courtesy to goodread's first read initiative.
See the full review at
https://jayasreesown.wordpress.com/20...
But where lays the magical charm of the old man- referred as half naked fakir by a proud imperialist leader. Why he had become synonymous with the voice against tyranny?
What is the secret behind the charisma?
Louis Fisher once remarked that Indian can see the reflection of them on Mahatma Gandhi. When he passes through the palace gate of the governor general-every Indian can identify himself in him.
He was the face of India.
Controversy might there be with him-but there is no denying the fact that his utter simplicity and truthfulness is an inspiration that had ignited many minds and will continue to ignite many more in the years to come.
His living and faith on God coupled with a firm faith on the oneness of human race is the plinth of his crusade against injustice. Be it in South Africa or be in India-everywhere he was a worshiper of God or humanity or truth-whatever name you may like to call it.
This review has been made courtesy to goodread's first read initiative.
See the full review at
https://jayasreesown.wordpress.com/20...
December 21, 2019
“When I despair, I remember that through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end they always fall—think of it—always.”
---Gandhi
Author Santosh Bakaya writes,
Gandhi was not a man with an impressive musculature, or stunning looks, only deceptively weak-looking human being with an exemplary moral strength, who could flex his moral muscles, bringing about an incredible metamorphosis in many a man bursting at the seams with belligerence—a strength which he acquired by self-introspection, self discipline, self-analysis and a rigid self-mastery.
Heartiest congratulations to Santosh Bakaya whose sheer zeal and hard work made a unique contribution to the oeuvre of Gandhian studies. Its poetic edge and exuberance gives it a special resonance and power to move the readers. The message is invariably of truth and nonviolence, age-old weapons of resistance and reaffirmation.
It’s a poetic biography on our father of Nation, Gandhi popularly admired by million hearts as their loved “Bapu” who inspired masses around the world through his exemplar life and words, who said “we need to be the change we wished to see in the world” or “an eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.”
There are forty eight ballads. Each ballad highlights one of the core incidents in Gandhi’s life. The book begins its journey from ‘A Star is Born’ and ends with ‘Journey of The Ashes’. In between it brilliantly captures all the major events (‘To Protean Lands’, The World Beckons’, ‘Tolstoy Farm’,’ Gandhi in India January 1915 , ‘Shantiniketan’, ‘Satyagraha 1918’, ‘Rowlatt Bill’, “Jallianwala Bagh’, ‘ Non-cooperation’, ‘Dandi March’, ‘ Quit India Movement’, ‘ Cabinet Mission 1946’, ‘Direct Action Day’, ‘ At Hydari House, Calcutta’, ’73-Hour Fast’, ‘ The Conspiracy’, ‘The Last Day’, to name a few, in the life of our revered nation builder.
I personally feel that the book, if it would have been written in free verse, could not have been less aesthetically enjoyable, if not better. In order to maintain exactitude of rhythm of its particular stanza structure she has to painstakingly find suitable words, of course she, as a versatile genius, has been successful in her effort.
However, Ballad of Bapu (2015) wins my heart for its sheer grasp of detailed knowledge about Gandhi and his unflinching influence in India and abroad. And by writing it she makes him and his legacy of truth and nonviolence relevant in our violent, digital, dark, odd, market driven, artificial intelligent and consumer-crazy times. Emotion is key to poetry and here in its intellectual application she can easily challenge any writer. Moreover there are rare pictures of Gandhi, Gandhi’s family, and Gandhi in action. It adds added aura to this book of almost 350 pages. The cover of the book designed by Vitasta is aesthetically attractive. The book is worth to treasure.
I don’t know if Gandhi has swept the streets with a broom. But I am quite sure he has swept million hearts and made them clean not from physical dirt and dust, but from inner dirt and dust. Here lies the difference. In fact the book upholds the eternal values of Gandhi’s life and it is a serious indictment to our present muscle-flexing, unethical, immoral, unscrupulous, leaders of humbug generality.
---Gandhi
Author Santosh Bakaya writes,
Gandhi was not a man with an impressive musculature, or stunning looks, only deceptively weak-looking human being with an exemplary moral strength, who could flex his moral muscles, bringing about an incredible metamorphosis in many a man bursting at the seams with belligerence—a strength which he acquired by self-introspection, self discipline, self-analysis and a rigid self-mastery.
Heartiest congratulations to Santosh Bakaya whose sheer zeal and hard work made a unique contribution to the oeuvre of Gandhian studies. Its poetic edge and exuberance gives it a special resonance and power to move the readers. The message is invariably of truth and nonviolence, age-old weapons of resistance and reaffirmation.
It’s a poetic biography on our father of Nation, Gandhi popularly admired by million hearts as their loved “Bapu” who inspired masses around the world through his exemplar life and words, who said “we need to be the change we wished to see in the world” or “an eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.”
There are forty eight ballads. Each ballad highlights one of the core incidents in Gandhi’s life. The book begins its journey from ‘A Star is Born’ and ends with ‘Journey of The Ashes’. In between it brilliantly captures all the major events (‘To Protean Lands’, The World Beckons’, ‘Tolstoy Farm’,’ Gandhi in India January 1915 , ‘Shantiniketan’, ‘Satyagraha 1918’, ‘Rowlatt Bill’, “Jallianwala Bagh’, ‘ Non-cooperation’, ‘Dandi March’, ‘ Quit India Movement’, ‘ Cabinet Mission 1946’, ‘Direct Action Day’, ‘ At Hydari House, Calcutta’, ’73-Hour Fast’, ‘ The Conspiracy’, ‘The Last Day’, to name a few, in the life of our revered nation builder.
I personally feel that the book, if it would have been written in free verse, could not have been less aesthetically enjoyable, if not better. In order to maintain exactitude of rhythm of its particular stanza structure she has to painstakingly find suitable words, of course she, as a versatile genius, has been successful in her effort.
However, Ballad of Bapu (2015) wins my heart for its sheer grasp of detailed knowledge about Gandhi and his unflinching influence in India and abroad. And by writing it she makes him and his legacy of truth and nonviolence relevant in our violent, digital, dark, odd, market driven, artificial intelligent and consumer-crazy times. Emotion is key to poetry and here in its intellectual application she can easily challenge any writer. Moreover there are rare pictures of Gandhi, Gandhi’s family, and Gandhi in action. It adds added aura to this book of almost 350 pages. The cover of the book designed by Vitasta is aesthetically attractive. The book is worth to treasure.
I don’t know if Gandhi has swept the streets with a broom. But I am quite sure he has swept million hearts and made them clean not from physical dirt and dust, but from inner dirt and dust. Here lies the difference. In fact the book upholds the eternal values of Gandhi’s life and it is a serious indictment to our present muscle-flexing, unethical, immoral, unscrupulous, leaders of humbug generality.
January 30, 2017
Amazing book by the most talented female author of India. By her creative work on the Father of teh Nation she has done an outstanding(Bakaya :)) work. I wish her all the best and eagerly waiting for her next project.
Ballad of Bapu by Santosh Bakaya is worth of winning an international award, popularity and fame which she truly deserves
Nitin Dakshene
Ballad of Bapu by Santosh Bakaya is worth of winning an international award, popularity and fame which she truly deserves
Nitin Dakshene
April 26, 2016
Ballad of Bapu is an intelligently crafted book with the biography of Bapu written in verses. A thing very unique to this work is that it covers the life of Bapu while staying in verses, provides a detailed description of events and also touches the emotional aspects of Bapu's life. It is what can rightly be called as 'great work in few words'. I am not a history fan, 2 paragraphs of a history book and one can find me sleeping. But 'Ballad of Bapu' is such a beautiful poetic work that I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Another noteworthy thing is the use of pictures from Bapu's life. One can easily connect to those times and life that Bapu had lived, what he looked like, how he dressed, who were his family etc.. Altogether It enhances the visual and mental perception of an expressed emotion. And when that happens, one can literally travel back in time and imagine as well as feel the very scenario.
Third remarkable thing about this book is that it is written very intelligently. The author has studied the life of Bapu in detail and presents it from both narrative and analytical point of view. It also presents the emotional and personal ups and downs in Bapu's life and how the people around him had influenced various aspects of his life.
The cover of the book is catchy and a simple yet beautifully designed.
I super loved Balld Of Bapu.
Rating: 5/5
..................................................................................................................................................................
REVIEW BY
Dr. PRERNA SINGLA
Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Hall of Poets
Deputy Secretary to Presidency, World Union of Poets (Italy)
KIBATEK Media Ambassador for India (Turkey)
..................................................................................................................................................................
Another noteworthy thing is the use of pictures from Bapu's life. One can easily connect to those times and life that Bapu had lived, what he looked like, how he dressed, who were his family etc.. Altogether It enhances the visual and mental perception of an expressed emotion. And when that happens, one can literally travel back in time and imagine as well as feel the very scenario.
Third remarkable thing about this book is that it is written very intelligently. The author has studied the life of Bapu in detail and presents it from both narrative and analytical point of view. It also presents the emotional and personal ups and downs in Bapu's life and how the people around him had influenced various aspects of his life.
The cover of the book is catchy and a simple yet beautifully designed.
I super loved Balld Of Bapu.
Rating: 5/5
..................................................................................................................................................................
REVIEW BY
Dr. PRERNA SINGLA
Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Hall of Poets
Deputy Secretary to Presidency, World Union of Poets (Italy)
KIBATEK Media Ambassador for India (Turkey)
..................................................................................................................................................................
December 19, 2016
I received my copy of Ballad of Bapu in September 2015 itself. The author sent me an autographed book- it was a gift, a prize that I had won in a competition. My late father began reading the book immediately. I would often find him immersed in it and he would look up at me, with sheer pleasure written all over his face and exclaim,"What a terrific book! How beautifully she has written it!"
But I took my time. I put it away. It was like a holy book to me - better off worshiped than read, as I revered the contents, the writing and the writer.
I finally began reading it last week. Ofttimes, I would put the book down and wonder at the mind boggling mission the writer has undertaken and the incredible ease with which she has executed it. It must not have been easy at all- to sing about the life of a leader, distanced from us by time and history. What a daunting exercise it must have been and yet the skill of the execution holds me in thrall. Every detail of his life, from childhood, from being an ordinary man to becoming the Mahatma - is well documented in beautiful verse.
Had the book had been written in prose, perhaps, I would not have enjoyed it so much. Poetry makes his journey so much more interesting. The minimal language has maximum impact and I am struck repeatedly by the ease with which the writer conveys her thought.
It is a magnificent book, and I would recommend everyone to read it just to be inspired.
I have always revered the Mahatma but I learnt to love him as a man, through Ballad of Bapu.
But I took my time. I put it away. It was like a holy book to me - better off worshiped than read, as I revered the contents, the writing and the writer.
I finally began reading it last week. Ofttimes, I would put the book down and wonder at the mind boggling mission the writer has undertaken and the incredible ease with which she has executed it. It must not have been easy at all- to sing about the life of a leader, distanced from us by time and history. What a daunting exercise it must have been and yet the skill of the execution holds me in thrall. Every detail of his life, from childhood, from being an ordinary man to becoming the Mahatma - is well documented in beautiful verse.
Had the book had been written in prose, perhaps, I would not have enjoyed it so much. Poetry makes his journey so much more interesting. The minimal language has maximum impact and I am struck repeatedly by the ease with which the writer conveys her thought.
It is a magnificent book, and I would recommend everyone to read it just to be inspired.
I have always revered the Mahatma but I learnt to love him as a man, through Ballad of Bapu.
December 23, 2017
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POSTED ONDECEMBER 23 2017
BY MOINAKDUTTA
Finding Gandhi
Book : Ballad of Bapu Author: Santosh Bakaya Publisher: Vitasta Publishing Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-93-82711-57-5
My first impression of M.K. Gandhi, is a simple drawing of a drooping figure of a frail man with a stick in hand. It was drawn by one of my cousin brothers, when we were studying in primary school. That drawing then appealed to me as a simple thing to do without much artistic skill. From that pictorial knowledge of Bapu, I graduated to something celluloid, when my father one beautiful spring evening brought home a videotape cassette ( at that time VCP was in rage) titled ‘Gandhi’ I was told that the movie was the first one to get American Motion Pictures Award for India. After watching the flick for many days I thought Ben Kingsley to be the real Gandhi. That got rectified later when I was made to read an interesting article on Gandhi ( this time by my mother). On Gandhi , several research books with razor sharp debates and deliberations can be easily found in our country. Afterall, Bapu had remained one of the most ‘ loved and hated’ man all through his life. But reading ‘ Ballad of Bapu’ is like having a dream of Bapu, colorful, smooth and enchanting, for it is not a mere research work on Gandhi’s life and his doctrines. It is a Ballad, a lyrical one, sustained from page one to the last. Divided into several short chapters and decorated with rare photographs of Bapu’s life, the book is a poetic analysis of Gandhi and his works. I might have said that it is a poetic biography, but if even by mistake should I say that for once about the book, I will be committing a great blunder; I will be completely overlooking the deft touch of analysis of Gandhi’s works as done with meticulous ease by the author-poet. The author is not merely writing a biography. She has mined out several incidents apparently small and insignificant,of Bapu’s life, only to indicate a larger pattern. For any student of history, the book will amply provide details which are astoundingly well researched. But that is probably not the focal point of the book. The author has found how by different actions and deeds, Gandhi laid a foundation of non violence as a principle which is undoubtedly Godly and because it is Godly, it had to face severe challenges, the final challenge being the assassination of Bapu. By sacrificing his life, Bapu had , with finality, proved the Godliness of his principle. Chapter by chapter, events by events, the author has shown how Gandhi became Mahatma. Of all the chapters , the ‘Centrestage’ , ‘ Phoenix farm’ ‘Tolstoy and Gandhi’ ‘Tolstoy farm’ ‘Gandhi in India’ ‘Annie Besant and Gandhi’, ‘Jallianwala Bagh’ , ‘Chauri Chaura’ and ‘Imprisonment’ appeared to be the most engaging for in these chapters we not only find different anecdotes on Bapu’s life but also the valuable authorial commentary on Bapu. For example, if in ‘Phoenix farm’ we get to know about Gandhiji’s reading habit ( ‘At dawn Gandhi read The Gita, the Koran at noon’), in ‘Tolstoy and Gandhi’ we find how voraciously Bapu read Tolstoy while in jail at South Africa. ( ‘In jail, in Tolstoy’s books he found a soulmate/ Greatly inspired by this man born in 1828’). To write history is difficult, to write personal history is more difficult, but to write personal history of a man like Bapu and that too in ballad form maintaining ‘ a a b b a ‘rhyme scheme all through is simply superhuman a work and that Santosh ji how easily has performed, as if she is a musician or a pianist who is just running her practised fingers on words to make them sing. And they sing in tune with Gandhian philosophy, his unwavering faith on non violence and peace. A testimony to the author’s assertion on Gandhian philosophy can be found in the chapters like ‘Jallianwala Bagh’ where she has written : ‘Towards a self disciplined Bardoli his eyes turned/ A policy of senseless gore he had always spurned’ ( page 156). Same assertion comes to the fore in the (in)famous ‘Chauri Chaura’ incident. Bapu with all resilience stood up for non violence and went to prison again, blaming himself for the crime which was not his doing, truely like a father, who can go any distance, to any extreme , for his sons and daughters. ‘No provocation can justify murder, he exclaimed/ For the protestors’ crime, himself he blamed’ ( page 160). The unshakeable faith in non violence, however, never posed any hindrance to Bapu to stand for what is right. While he was imprisoned, he wrote to the British Government why he felt sedition was the creed that he followed. In fact , Bapu was imprisoned more on charges of sedition than any leader of that period, yet how mistakenly oft his non violent acts are interpreted. The author has rightly pointed out : “Sedition was their creed , said the man with integrity/ In his first article ‘Tampering with Loyalty’ “(page 163). Similar vein Santosh ji has carried on in the chapter ‘Imprisonment’ where she explained : ‘On 19 September 1921 Fearlessly wrote this son The government was shocked at his sheer audacity’ But Gandhiji probably had been too much for both the British and those who could not make out proper his philosophy, as the author has pointed out: ‘He started Harijan, a weekly new Which , with his rapier touch he did imbue… … But for the Sanatanists an unpalatable brew’ This outer struggle led eventually to an inner struggle in Bapu. So, even after independence he could not be happy. He had remained restless with agony, hurt by pains. ‘2nd October 1947 did not dawn like any day Though it was the Mahatma’s 78th birthday He was restless The fury relentless Dampened his spirits he could smell decay’ ( page 259) And that decay took him to the point of being challenged which he answered by sacrificing his life. ‘Was he a mad man or a coward? He whipped out a pistol, with no compunction?'( page 308). The author has left that rhetorical question beautifully, almost theatrically poised towards the end of the concluding chapter. If we are to rediscover and relearn Gandhi, if we are to trace the path between Gandhi and Mahatma, we are sure to read this book. Another interesting feature of the book is the bibliography. A poem by P. B Shelley (which was once recited by Bapu at a gathering) titled ‘The Mask of Anarchy’ , provided in the additional reading section serves as proper embellishment to this wonderous book.
Review done by : Moinak Dutta
POSTED ONDECEMBER 23 2017
BY MOINAKDUTTA
Finding Gandhi
Book : Ballad of Bapu Author: Santosh Bakaya Publisher: Vitasta Publishing Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-93-82711-57-5
My first impression of M.K. Gandhi, is a simple drawing of a drooping figure of a frail man with a stick in hand. It was drawn by one of my cousin brothers, when we were studying in primary school. That drawing then appealed to me as a simple thing to do without much artistic skill. From that pictorial knowledge of Bapu, I graduated to something celluloid, when my father one beautiful spring evening brought home a videotape cassette ( at that time VCP was in rage) titled ‘Gandhi’ I was told that the movie was the first one to get American Motion Pictures Award for India. After watching the flick for many days I thought Ben Kingsley to be the real Gandhi. That got rectified later when I was made to read an interesting article on Gandhi ( this time by my mother). On Gandhi , several research books with razor sharp debates and deliberations can be easily found in our country. Afterall, Bapu had remained one of the most ‘ loved and hated’ man all through his life. But reading ‘ Ballad of Bapu’ is like having a dream of Bapu, colorful, smooth and enchanting, for it is not a mere research work on Gandhi’s life and his doctrines. It is a Ballad, a lyrical one, sustained from page one to the last. Divided into several short chapters and decorated with rare photographs of Bapu’s life, the book is a poetic analysis of Gandhi and his works. I might have said that it is a poetic biography, but if even by mistake should I say that for once about the book, I will be committing a great blunder; I will be completely overlooking the deft touch of analysis of Gandhi’s works as done with meticulous ease by the author-poet. The author is not merely writing a biography. She has mined out several incidents apparently small and insignificant,of Bapu’s life, only to indicate a larger pattern. For any student of history, the book will amply provide details which are astoundingly well researched. But that is probably not the focal point of the book. The author has found how by different actions and deeds, Gandhi laid a foundation of non violence as a principle which is undoubtedly Godly and because it is Godly, it had to face severe challenges, the final challenge being the assassination of Bapu. By sacrificing his life, Bapu had , with finality, proved the Godliness of his principle. Chapter by chapter, events by events, the author has shown how Gandhi became Mahatma. Of all the chapters , the ‘Centrestage’ , ‘ Phoenix farm’ ‘Tolstoy and Gandhi’ ‘Tolstoy farm’ ‘Gandhi in India’ ‘Annie Besant and Gandhi’, ‘Jallianwala Bagh’ , ‘Chauri Chaura’ and ‘Imprisonment’ appeared to be the most engaging for in these chapters we not only find different anecdotes on Bapu’s life but also the valuable authorial commentary on Bapu. For example, if in ‘Phoenix farm’ we get to know about Gandhiji’s reading habit ( ‘At dawn Gandhi read The Gita, the Koran at noon’), in ‘Tolstoy and Gandhi’ we find how voraciously Bapu read Tolstoy while in jail at South Africa. ( ‘In jail, in Tolstoy’s books he found a soulmate/ Greatly inspired by this man born in 1828’). To write history is difficult, to write personal history is more difficult, but to write personal history of a man like Bapu and that too in ballad form maintaining ‘ a a b b a ‘rhyme scheme all through is simply superhuman a work and that Santosh ji how easily has performed, as if she is a musician or a pianist who is just running her practised fingers on words to make them sing. And they sing in tune with Gandhian philosophy, his unwavering faith on non violence and peace. A testimony to the author’s assertion on Gandhian philosophy can be found in the chapters like ‘Jallianwala Bagh’ where she has written : ‘Towards a self disciplined Bardoli his eyes turned/ A policy of senseless gore he had always spurned’ ( page 156). Same assertion comes to the fore in the (in)famous ‘Chauri Chaura’ incident. Bapu with all resilience stood up for non violence and went to prison again, blaming himself for the crime which was not his doing, truely like a father, who can go any distance, to any extreme , for his sons and daughters. ‘No provocation can justify murder, he exclaimed/ For the protestors’ crime, himself he blamed’ ( page 160). The unshakeable faith in non violence, however, never posed any hindrance to Bapu to stand for what is right. While he was imprisoned, he wrote to the British Government why he felt sedition was the creed that he followed. In fact , Bapu was imprisoned more on charges of sedition than any leader of that period, yet how mistakenly oft his non violent acts are interpreted. The author has rightly pointed out : “Sedition was their creed , said the man with integrity/ In his first article ‘Tampering with Loyalty’ “(page 163). Similar vein Santosh ji has carried on in the chapter ‘Imprisonment’ where she explained : ‘On 19 September 1921 Fearlessly wrote this son The government was shocked at his sheer audacity’ But Gandhiji probably had been too much for both the British and those who could not make out proper his philosophy, as the author has pointed out: ‘He started Harijan, a weekly new Which , with his rapier touch he did imbue… … But for the Sanatanists an unpalatable brew’ This outer struggle led eventually to an inner struggle in Bapu. So, even after independence he could not be happy. He had remained restless with agony, hurt by pains. ‘2nd October 1947 did not dawn like any day Though it was the Mahatma’s 78th birthday He was restless The fury relentless Dampened his spirits he could smell decay’ ( page 259) And that decay took him to the point of being challenged which he answered by sacrificing his life. ‘Was he a mad man or a coward? He whipped out a pistol, with no compunction?'( page 308). The author has left that rhetorical question beautifully, almost theatrically poised towards the end of the concluding chapter. If we are to rediscover and relearn Gandhi, if we are to trace the path between Gandhi and Mahatma, we are sure to read this book. Another interesting feature of the book is the bibliography. A poem by P. B Shelley (which was once recited by Bapu at a gathering) titled ‘The Mask of Anarchy’ , provided in the additional reading section serves as proper embellishment to this wonderous book.
Review done by : Moinak Dutta
June 11, 2020
A poetic ode to ‘Ballad of Bapu’
Shall I write about the poetic elegance
Or the exuberant feisty language,
A verse spread over three hundred pages
Fascinating the readers grandly for ages?
Shall I write about the rhyming throughout
or the history encapsulated in toto absolute,
the sheer beauty, or the spirit explicit
that gives the readers a feel exquisite?.
Shall I write about our Mahatma’s values
Satyagraha, non-cooperation or non-violence
Santosh dealt with all with full justice, evocative
Even a novice can read and perceive?
Shall I write about the images black and white
Bapu’s life in moments they greatly depict
Extensive research gone into this book, profound
Or the efforts compiling this epic beyond bounds?
Allow me to say this is an unparalleled work of toil
Born out of passion, talent, grit and vision, total
Bakaya is a strong icon in literature by now
Let her scale much more heights she is richly due.
Shall I write about the poetic elegance
Or the exuberant feisty language,
A verse spread over three hundred pages
Fascinating the readers grandly for ages?
Shall I write about the rhyming throughout
or the history encapsulated in toto absolute,
the sheer beauty, or the spirit explicit
that gives the readers a feel exquisite?.
Shall I write about our Mahatma’s values
Satyagraha, non-cooperation or non-violence
Santosh dealt with all with full justice, evocative
Even a novice can read and perceive?
Shall I write about the images black and white
Bapu’s life in moments they greatly depict
Extensive research gone into this book, profound
Or the efforts compiling this epic beyond bounds?
Allow me to say this is an unparalleled work of toil
Born out of passion, talent, grit and vision, total
Bakaya is a strong icon in literature by now
Let her scale much more heights she is richly due.
May 19, 2025
'Ballad of Bapu' by Santosh Bakaya
A mind captivating book on history in limerick. A unique approach in the field of literature. The book has unfolded many unknown stories of Gandhi's life and made it more interesting to read. It is a wonderful work of patience and dedication. Wish her all the Growth Glory and Grace. Every one must read the book. It is not only a biography or history book but a literary treasure and should be in the school syllabus.
A mind captivating book on history in limerick. A unique approach in the field of literature. The book has unfolded many unknown stories of Gandhi's life and made it more interesting to read. It is a wonderful work of patience and dedication. Wish her all the Growth Glory and Grace. Every one must read the book. It is not only a biography or history book but a literary treasure and should be in the school syllabus.
September 4, 2017
A lyrical delight as it takes you on the journey of the great man. I am not fond of the rhyme pattern "aabba" but it lingers with you even after completing the book. Great effort in writing, a literary feat and excellent read.
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