Nine Lives

Title: Nine Lives – In Search of the Sacred in Modern India
Editor: William Dalrymple
Publisher: Bloomsbury 2009 (First)
ISBN: 978-1-4088-0061-4
Pages: 260

A disappointing work from Dalrymple, especially after ‘The Last Mughal’ and ‘The White Mughals’ which were splendidly researched works. This book is a collection of nine stories or essays detailing the lives of people who have dedicated themselves in the practise of their beliefs, often grotesque. The stories are about a Jain nun, a government servant who moonlights as a Theyyam dancer, a senior devadasi and a devotee of Yellamma, a singer of epics in Rajastan, a woman who resides in a sufi dargah in Pakistan, a Buddhist monk from Tibet who joined the Indian army to fight the Chinese invasion, an idol maker from Tamil Nadu, a woman ascetic from Tarapith near Kolkata where black magic is practiced and about a blind Baul singer from Bengal. Dalrymple claims that the seeds for these stories germinated in his mind during his incessant travels in India. A good understanding of Indian culture, religion, customs and people are clearly evident in the masterful representation of contemporary prose. He likes the syncretic nature of all things Indian and sadly notices the gradual creeping in of hardline elements bent upon destroying this age old fabric which clothes and unites India.

The stories are good catalogues of the sad lives of the protagonists. One can also discern the grinding poverty transcending the boundaries of states in India and becoming a common factor in almost all stories. The excessive faith of the people make them do impossible feats of self mortification so that the title may also be given as ‘Nine lives devastated by faith’. However, in some stories there are references to customs and practices which have long gone extinct and we wonder whether Dalrymple accepted parallel inputs rather than his first hand experience. Some references to Kerala in the chapter on Theyyam dancer force us to think likewise. Even excepting such hyperbolic remarks, the book is a page turner and a delight to read.

A good work and recommended.

Rating: 3 Star