Advanced Hindi Reader by Ved Prakash VatukReview by: Ernest BenderJournal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 89, No. 4 (Oct. - Dec., 1969), p. 817Published by: American Oriental SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/596977 .

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Brief Reviews of Books 817

The importance of this reprint is two-fold: (1) it makes available, once again, an important mile-stone in the study of Indian iconography, a source-book far too long beyond the reach of student and scholar; (2) It pro- vides an ever-refreshing example of an approach to Indian art "with both feet on the ground." Images are described graphically, drawing for elucidation on tra- ditional texts, rather than resorting to the prop of a personal, impressionistic, albeit at times brilliant, per- formance. In his article, "Micro-dottiness" which ap- peared in "The Guardian Weekly" of June 5, 1969, Norton Lynton, commenting on another subject of artistic endeavor, wrote of ". . . critics, skilled in intel- lectuallizing, can go on about this at length." (I admit to using, in the past, phrases such as "The Rorschach Test Approach" or "The Emperor's New Clothes Syn- drome," the latter directed to the particular views and analyses grandly expounded and meekly accepted with- out question. [Is art a universal language? If so, trans- lations of the dialogues between artists-human and simian-engaged in "non-representational painting" could engender a forest of research projects from the branches of which would hang many a tale.])

Steep though the price may seem-still a few pennies over $16.00 per volume is not over-much for books de- voted to the study of art-, this set belongs in the library of each student of Indian art or comparative iconog- raphy; and, to be sure, of the scholar engaged in the exploration of Indian civilization.

The Paragon Reprint Corporation has performed a valuable service in making this edition available.

ERNEST BENDER UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

A Comparative Study of a Bengal Folktale. Underworld beliefs and underworld helpers: An analysis of the Bengal folktale type: The pursuit of blowing cotton -AT480. By RALPH TROGER. Foreword by HEINZ MODE. Pp. 96. (Indian Publications Folklore Series, No. 8) Calcutta: INDIAN PUBLICATIONS, 1966. Rs. 14.00, $5.00.

A study in depth of the Bengal folktale, "The Pursuit of the Blowing Cotton," originally published in Folklore, Vol. VII, No's 1-7, 1966, with a detailed comparison of European tales having similar motifs. This was originally intended for the first volume of Bengali Folktales to be published in Leipzig. The length of the completed text exceeded the limits set for the volume and Professor Mode, Dr. Troger's teacher, suggested that it be pub- lished separately and took upon himself its translation from the German. In the Introduction Professor Mode deplores the neglect of earlier folklore studies in German, due he thinks, perhaps, to ignorance of the German language and notes that old books and journals are being reprinted rapidly to the point where a majority of the publications will be available in most libraries. He

voices concern that the oral tales of India, if not quickly and scientifically recorded, will be lost. "How much of world opinion and world attention has been directed towards the sculptures of Abu Simbel in Egypt, when they were faced with destruction, drowned in the stored waters of the Nile! What about the ancient folk tradi- tions threatened to be destroyed forever and being un- traceable for future generations, if salvation work is not done at once and with devotion and greatest material supports." (p. 11).

A description of Dr. Troger's methodology would have added to the value of the study. Did he collect his stories directly from Bengali sources or from translations of intermediaries? I pose the question because the Ap- pendix provides an English translation of the Bengali folktale, the title of which is "Sukhu Ar Dukhu," sub- titled "The Two Step-Sisters." The name of the heroine is "Dukhu" and that of her wicked step-sister "Sukhu." Doesn't dukhu translate "misfortune" or "unhappiness" and sukhu "(good) fortune" or "happiness"? If so, we have an intriguing example of transposition of implied personal characteristics that should have been difficult to avoid pursuing.

ERNEST BENDER UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Advanced Hindi Reader. By VED PRAKASH VATUK. Pp. 375. Hayward: CALIFORNIA COLLEGE AT HAYWARD. 1968

The title on the caption page is "Advance[d] Hindi Reader in the Social Sciences." The purpose of the selec- tions is directed to students requiring practice and competence in Hindi to carry out research in India in the social sciences. Many courses in Advanced Hindi concentrate on the literary aspects and too few on the use of the language as a tool to gather data for research, etc., in other disciplines. This book is a beginning to- wards meeting the gap in available teaching materials. Under a contract with the United States Office of Edu- cation, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Professor Vatuk was able to have 250 copies of the book reproduced. It is hoped that a larger printing will appear in the near future.

ERNEST BENDER UNIVER8ITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Urdu: Readings in Literary Urdu Prose. By G. C. NARANG. Pp. X + 381. Madison: THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN PRESS, 1968. $6.50. (Paper-back)

A reprint of the author's reader prepared with the support of the United States Office of Education, De- partment of Health, Education and Welfare, and issued in a limited printing in 1967 by the Department of Indian Studies of the University of Wisconsin under the title "Readings in Literary Urdu Prose." Teachers and

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