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Books

Darkness), which is a work ture. Rhodes, along with
of synthesis. It is aston- his two associates Alfred IF THERE IS A GOD
ishing that Biggar should Beit and Barney Barnato Imayam (Translated from
so confidently endorse had managed to estab- the original Tamil by Prabha
Roy’s “positive conclusion lish a monopoly over the Sridevan)
overall” of British rule diamond mines of Kim- RATAN BOOKS
without having bothered berley by the 1870s. The Rs.499 Pages 224
to acquaint himself with model they perfected was
the writings of any of the subsequently replicated
scholars whose views Roy on a much larger scale in
has critiqued in attempt- the gold mines of Wit- novels, one novella and six This book is a
ing to provide a revisionist watersrand from the late short story collections to collection of ten short
narrative. 1880s onwards. his credit. Imayam is one stories that capture
Among the main items Biggar endeavours to of the few contemporary the lives of ordinary
on the book’s agenda whitewash numerous other Tamil writers whose works people governed by
is reinstatement of the sins of British colonialism, are being translated into the larger structures
reputation of Cecil Rhodes, and there is little point English. The book under of class, caste and
arch imperialist, tool of in multiplying examples review is a collection of ten gender
British colonialism in since there is already a short stories that capture
Africa, diamond and gold rich scholarship which has the lives of ordinary people
mining magnate. Biggar highlighted its destructive governed by the larger are by convention denied
tells us that the ‘Rhodes impact. Societies are still structures of class, caste the space and vocabulary to
Must Fall’ campaign was grappling with problems of and gender. express their sexual needs
one of the reasons which poverty, displacement and The stories in the col- and lead unfulfilled lives
prompted him to write the conflicts created by colo- lection effectively delineate within the institution of
present book. He declares nial rule. The author has a the pervasiveness of caste marriage.
that Rhodes was not racist, strange notion of morality, and gender politics in Caste affinity in its
loved Africans, took over a morality which is utterly Indian society, particularly most detestable forms
territories which became devoid of compassion for in rural areas. Imayam is highlighted in two
part of his personal empire the victims of colonialism. focuses on everyday cas- stories: ‘I Swear on My
of Rhodesia because Afri- AMAR FAROOQUI (The teist and sexist tendencies Thali’ and ‘If There is a
cans were fighting among Book Review) that the common man is God’. The former displays
themselves, and promoted susceptible to, instead of how electoral votes are
democratic values. Rhodes’ Centring the its institutionalised forms. invariably determined
career is too well known The stories are a study on by caste, as voters tend
for those familiar with its the influence and work- to favour candidates
murky details to be taken invisibilised ings of caste and gender at belonging to their own
in by such a favourable varying degrees in various caste. It also shows
appraisal. The issue which I WOULD HAVE BEEN aspects of people’s lives. how representation
the book completely side- a loser in not knowing The first story ‘Over in becomes a farce as even
steps is how Rhodes was ‘Mr. Imayam,’ stated a Moment’ offers a peek in constituencies reserved
instrumental in creating Adoor Gopalakrishnan, the into the life of a middle- for lower caste people and
the framework for supply renowned and critically aged couple. The wife, women, it is the dominant
of cheap labour for the acclaimed Indian film- Kamatchi, feels her life has caste men who wield real
diamond and gold mining maker, at the book release “everything but salt” as she authority.
industry. Biggar has hardly of Imayam’s If there is a has an unsatisfactory sex The book title story
anything to say about this God. Anyone who has read life. All acts of intimacy is a moving account of a
or about apartheid. Imayam either in Tamil between them have always bereaved mother, Vasan-
Apartheid was ultimate- or in translation would been initiated by the tha, who seeks to imprison
ly a structure for keeping agree with the sentiment husband while she is at a the man responsible for her
Blacks as an under-class expressed by Gopalakrish- loss as to how to articulate son’s death. She is asked to
in subjugation, to obtain nan. her own desire. This story drop the charges as the per-
semi-free labour in large Such is the power of the corresponds to the larger petrator is from the same
numbers on a regular basis compelling stories Imayam context of patriarchal caste as her and because
for mines and agricul- weaves. He has seven conditioning where women she lacks the monetary

184 EDUCATIONWORLD OCTOBER 2023