Nine Lives - William Dalrymple
'Nine Lives' is the first book by Dalrymple that I have read. I had never been motivated to pick his works before, as they were mostly historic works, which I am not very fond of. I also think I was just a little biased against the author, despite (or perhaps due to) all the acclaim.
This book chronicles the stories of nine lesser known religious and spiritual faiths - most of which we would perhaps never ever come across. While some of these may be familiar depending on which region we have lived in, it is unlikely for many of us to have an insight to the depths that Dalrymple has explored. These beliefs are as diverse as the cultural heritage can be in India, and perhaps nowhere else in the world. These are stories covering a range of practices from the austerity of Jainism to extremism of Tantra; covering the length and breadth of the country from Dharamsala to Tamilnadu, from Rajasthan to Bengal.
I also loved the way Dalrymple has told these stories. Stories and experiences are related in the words of a follower of each belief or practice, a person who truly believes in his or her chosen path as the purpose of his/her live, as the way to attain enlightenment and to be one with God. Interspersed with these stories are the descriptions of the landscapes, beautifully written - almost painted in the words by the author. As are some history and facts behind and around these practices.
While he might have drawn some inferences on the history of some of these traditions, he has very subtly refrained from putting forth his own impressions on the practices or how they impacted himself emotionally or spiritually. He is curious and sensitive, and has presented the stories with wonderful compassion. He thus informs and impresses the readers, and enables them to learn and open their minds and hearts, leaving them free of any prejudices initiated by his own views.
The stories are poignant, fascinating and enriching, though tinged with an underlying sadness. They just do not open your eyes and mind to the diverse ways people can express and practice their faith, but also warm the heart to know of real, simple people whose devotion and dedication remain unwavering in the face of suffering and rejection. And they do it all without the least of pride, with humility and total submission.
Sadly, many of these rich traditions are in the imminent danger of being lost - facing threats from religious extremists on one hand, and on the other, from the changes that we call as "development". The compassionate Sufi tradition that bridges the gap between Islam and Hinduism and celebrates God as joy is targeted by Wahhabi extremists, Tantra has always been feared and looked down upon by orthodox/traditional Hindus, while the oral traditions - which have carried epic poems comprising of thousands of lines through centuries are endangered by literacy!
I'll have to admit that for a suspense thriller fan like me, it was a slow
read, really so - I only could read it on half hour commute to and from
my office. But, it is, without any doubt, beautifully written, and something
to be savored at a slow pace.
