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Review by Charles S.J. White, Nov 02, 2006
"Anoop Chandola integrates a whole world of Hindu mythology, and a good sampling of Sanskrit and Hindi languages, into the unique English narrative of THE DHARMA VIDEOS OF LUST AND BUST. The action of the book takes place mainly in the U.S.A. Perhaps what is most compelling about the novel is the point-of-view of the professor-priest who describes his relationships with the exemplary characters in the novel. For them he had performed rituals of marriage and other ceremonies, according to the ancient Vedic rites that he learned in India as the son of a Himalayan, Hindu, Brahmin priest. The touching, sometimes comical, or even tragic impressions of these relationships and their contexts have been captured on individual videotapes (a device of the plot) which the professor reviews at his leisure, while offering trenchant commentaries. The Hindu priestly, scholarly and human experience of such an individual has never previously been recorded in literature. Rarely, has anyone penetrated to the heart of his own cultural heritage--particularly as experienced in exile--the way Professor Chandola has done in this novel. Yet, his skill as a writer creates in the reader a sense of being carried easily along the pathway of his wonderful storytelling." -- Charles S.J. White, Professor Emeritus and former Chair, Department of Philosophy and Religion, American University.
Review of Anoop Chandola's The Dharma Videos of Lust and Bust: A novel of religious Mysteries Jun 19, 2006
Although the work is subtitled "A novel of religious Mysteries," it reads more like a series of discrete vignettes, each revealing another facet of traditional belief or practice juxtaposed with the realities of modern life. While the author illustrates how rituals serve as the glue of family relationships and social values, he also narrates several messy collisions of religious tradition with contemporary lifestyles. The expansive scope of the work is impressive, covering a wide range of human relationships and life stages. His compass includes life from birth to death, commitment and infidelity, feminism and patriarchy, humor and sorrow. But even more remarkable is how he is able to use these situations to shed light on an equally broad range of Indian religious beliefs and practices, from Vedic cosmology to classical aesthetic theory. While the work stands well on its own, I can imagine that it would also make fine reading in an introductory course on Indian religions.
David C. Swain, Ph.D., South Asian Languages and Civilizations
Book Review from Hindustan Times, March 27, 2006 May 30, 2006
Book Review from Hindustan Times, March 27, 2006
Reviewer: Arup Chakraborty (Lucknow, India)
An authentic tang of religious mysteries
Dharma Videos of Lust and Bust is a novel that offers an authentic tang of religious mysteries. Written by Anoop Chandola and published by BookSurge, an Amazon.com Company USA, it is a piece of writing as dense as the jungle and foliage of the Himalayas and packed with action, learned allusions and philosophies. The plume of Chandola, a noted scholar, touches the rims of Hinduism, Sikhism, yoga, rationalism, religion and 9/11 and pierces through his readers' mind with alacrity, lucidity and vivacity. In fact, when a reader picks up this book and begins to plug away at it, he cannot but stop only at the last page. Every word, every leaf and every chapter of this novel springs into life and forces a reader to finish it at one go. He proves with adequate reason that rationalism is nothing but the child of faith.
Thus in chapter 2 (Illusion of Sacred Sex), he writes: "In this video, the Vedic marriage known as Prajapatya, the most common among the traditional eight types, reveals fascinating mantras and rituals. They are performed in front of God Agni, which comes the same root as the Latin word Ignis (fire).
Why Agni? Scholars of the Rig Veda, the oldest living scripture in the world, created around 1500 years before Christ, have figured out a lot about ancient Vedic beliefs and practices." This and many such references emerge from this marvelous novel as if from a dream. Like a scholar-adventurer, he wanders from one place to another and establishes a fine cord with the universe and gives the message of oneness to the world.
On page 107, he writes: "So what did Hindus call their religion?"
"Several names. The most common is Dharma. But the westerners liked to use the word Hindu or Hinduism... Remember, Hindu and Hinduism are not Indian in origin."
"You mean these are foreign names forced upon you?"
"Yes. But when Muslim rule came to India, many Hindus gladly adopted Arabic, Persian, and Turkish names. You know the first Prime Minister of India, Nehru? His name is Arabic based." In this way, Anoop Chandola weaves together personal lives and public events. This novel is ambitious, poignant and remarkable. He evokes things Indian with an inwardness that is lit with wit and humour. To top it all, it is intelligence, manifested in a brilliant handling of language that leaves a permanent impression on our mind.
my highest recommendation Jan 27, 2006
Where does our mythology, religion, and belief system end and where does culture, social custom and individualism begin? Is there any distinction really? In the novel "The Dharma Videos of Lust and Bust" author Anoop Chandola, PhD, explores this notion and allows readers to take what they will from the wisdom he shares.
A Sociolinguistic professor and Hindu priest, Dr. Chaube, upon retirement as a professor in America, is given a package of video tapes from the people he has assisted over the years in various ceremonies. Each tape shows the ceremony and evokes the professor's memory of the personal interaction. His help goes beyond performing the specific ceremony and includes helping the participants to fully understand the meaning of it and what it represents in life. The narrative memory then becomes a lesson in mythology and religious belief instruction, complete with tales of old. It is a rich lesson, and each video, each chapter of the book, becomes an interesting contemplation of how our beliefs, customs, and social interactions shape who we are, as well as how they affect the characters in the book.
At times the professor encourages the people he is helping to turn away from certain beliefs and customs, inspiring them to think for themselves with the benefit of knowing the background of tradition, thus reinventing it. It is an honor to the old ways with respect to conventional thought. There are discussions of recent and current politics, attitudes towards women, human rights and much more. All are presented in such an enlightening way that the book could really be used in social study aspects. The professor also gives continuing lessons in linguistics, which is very interesting indeed.
I found the book refreshing in its exploration of Indian mythology and tradition and also in the social influence these things have on us. The political message in the last part of the book, that "no war is holy," is one that I agree with and feel must be highlighted as one of the greatest wisdoms in the novel. There is so much more to say about this book but I feel that giving it my highest recommendation will have to be sufficient.
Review by Heather Froeschl.
Kirkus Discoveries Review Jan 21, 2006
A Himalayan Brahmin priest reflects on his life in this dense novel.
Professor Chaube has led a dual existence?one as a Ph.D. in socio-linguistics and the other as a priest performing marriages and sacred ceremonies and offering advice. At a surprise party thrown in his honor, he receives a box of videos containing the footage of the various rituals and rites over which he has presided. The ensuing trip down memory lane is a cathartic process full of stories of happy couples, painful breakups and sordid scandals. In order to better interpret the experiences of those he has helped, the professor expresses his views on a broad variety of topics, including the origins of certain religious rituals and Ayurvedic practices and the rich folkloric history of Hinduism. He also examines the importance of the cooperation between different faiths, adding a unique cultural perspective to his study. While his insights are often fascinating and informative, they cast a heavy academic shadow over the narrative, and the religious anecdotes and linguistic histories often drown out the character development. Still, "The Dharma Videos of Lust and Bust is an engaging, educational read, particularly worthwhile for its extensive discussions of the Hindu faith.
More a combination of memoir and textbook than fiction, but enjoyable nonetheless.?
--Kirkus Discoveries
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