“Will globalisation destroy cultural diversity? Will it cause, almost unobtrusively, a clash of civilisation in the years ahead or result in cultural homogeneity? These issues and the state of rootlessness of many people are being discussed everywhere today”.

A collection of 50 essays in Hindi from a well-known Hindi writer, ‘Pratidhvani’ deals with various contemporary issues. It centres round people, their perspectives and how some of their ideas could do harm in the long run. It is in this context that the book assumes great significance.

The right book at the right time dealing with serious and sensitive contemporary issues, the author critical of his times, has marshalled impressive evidence and in-depth analysis to prove direct and unassailable correlation between level of respect for time-honoured traditional values and good governance.

The author, Harikrishna Nigam, examines wide-ranging subjects in his collection of essays, each as important as the next as he highlights contemporary issues that need to be re-examined for the betterment of society. He points out time and again how a serious commitment to the country and a true national spirit alone can slowly build the entire edifice of the nation. Sadly, this is found lacking today, the author feels.

Nigam’s writings are characteristic of his inimitable style and where without occupying a high moral posture, he strikes an instant friendship with his readers. Even in his rapier thrusts one can hardly miss the dignity which lingers on.

In his essays Nigam states that what is frequently overlooked in our country today, is a conscious promotion of an outlook that transcends regional and linguistic pressures under the disguise of ideologies. The politics of labelling any section as communal, fascist or neo-Nazi, merely in order to win a political argument, or for narrow political one-upmanship is as degenerating as branding their opponents as anti-national or a rootless lot, states the author.

Covering a wide spectrum of issues relevant to present day realities largely focussing on ever-accelerating and sweeping social and political changes, the author comes up with many emerging contradictions in society. He is also of the view that ongoing changes are so rapid that they hardly wait for any debate to be completed.

Whether on going pace of economic liberalisation can engender a new form of class conflict in the days to come is also an issue debated in the book. Far from an uncritical acceptance of prevalent views on contemporary issues, the book provides a better understanding of such issues. Even as these issues examined in the book have a bearing on today’s harsh realities, the author is cautious, lest the issues be overblown and cause more imbalances and contradictions in society.

About 15 pages have been devoted to the conversion debate, with relatively unknown facts, and an equal number of them on terrorism.

Nigam points out in his essay that even as Salman Rushdie is known to be hated by the entire Islamic community for political reasons, few know him to have also written against Hinduism, prior to his publication of ‘Satanic Verses’.

In 1984, Rushdie wrote that Hindus are the cause of all ills in the Indian sub-continent, denouncing Indian politics.

For irksome language issues to environmental degradation, from an irresistable magic of the new millenium to the issues of globalisation, integration of economies and economic warfare and compulsions of multi-culturalism – all these form part of the collection of essays. The presentation is racy, though often acerbic.

The author repeatedly wonders why so many seemingly intelligent organisations, political and social, are often seen as hell-bent on implanting ideas inimical to the social fabric, in order to win cheap acclaim.

Mulayam Singh Yadav, a noted politician, defended the right to copy in examinations and opposed the Bill.

“Why are we so insensitive today ever ready with insidious polemics? Why is commonsense so remarkably uncommon when it comes to snatching a narrow advantage or just media attention?”, questions the author in his essays.

Nigam can be profane, often insouciant, and vitriolic – yet without losing dignity in his words. He points out that politicians shake your hands before elections and then your confidence afterwards. They turn into acrobats, keeping their balance by saying the opposite of what they do, he writes.

                                                                                 - Freny Patel