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Looking at it aesthetically
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Alka Pande's "Indian Erotica" is a celebration of womanhood. The author, who was in Chennai recently, discusses the book.
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BOOK PUBLISHERS know what sells. And perennial among these are the "Kama Sutra" and related subjects. But a genuine scholar and art historian can put even such subjects in an aesthetic perspective, and this is what Alka Pande has done. On a breezy visit to Chennai, Alka spoke to friends at the Sundar Mahal about her second book, "Indian Erotica". Her first book is a tome on Punjabi folk arts.
"Indian Erotica'' is attractive and beautifully illustrated. Apart from the ancient sculptures, which one would expect to see in such books, one comes across contemporary paintings that illustrate concepts and ideas. Alka emphasises that she has taken a `feminine' view of erotica and not a feminist one. The fact that Indian women have always been revered and worshipped in spite of patriarchal impositions has made Alka focus on erotica as a celebration of womanhood. The aesthetic of eroticism has commanded literature and art in the country for ages. Alka examines erotica with the Rasa Raj — Shringara — Love. "From Shringara rasa came many things — vilas, kama, bhakthi, spirituality... ,'' says Alka. Rathi Kreeda, the play of love can be many things ... sexual desire, love, spirituality, the Advaitic philosophy of the Athma and Paramathma... it is up to the individual to have his or her own perspective.
To update the modern reader on the essentials of erotica, Alka has opened many a door in her book.
The word `erotica' as many know, comes from Eros, the Greek god whom the Romans worshipped as Cupid.... the counterpart of our Manmatha. In the 19th century, illustrated books on erotica were popular in the West. But in India, there has been a vast tradition of sastras relating to love-play. The best known, of course, is the "Kama Sutra". And Alka points out, that it is not merely a text on sexuality, as we perceive it in the modern context. One other point, which Alka makes, is about the obvious dichotomy between the sastras and the erotic sculptures one sees in temples.
These, she says, are more to do with tantric practices. The highly complex modes, represented in sculptures, are metaphors for freeing the mind to attain moksha.
Commenting on the poetic aspects of the erotic in our classical literature, Alka speaks of Kalidasa's description of the mother goddess, Parvathi, and her intense sensuality.
Indian eroticism, according to her, has a range so vast that it can cover everything from `creation' to `recreation'. She quotes from our literature, which draws extensively from the traditions of the courtesan, where the tools of Shringara are exotic, aphrodisiac and sensuous... be it perfumes like sandal, or flowers like jasmine and rose.
Not resting on her laurels, Alka Pande is off in search of scholars and texts that will give her insights into the Ardhanareeswara concept for her next book.
LAKSHMI VISWANATHAN
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