Ashram Maharaj latest publication - Green Card Doolahin Saturday, May 7 2011
TRINIDAD NEWSDAY - By SEETA PERSAD - Green Card Doolahin written by Ashram Maharaj is a collection of 29 stories that takes a comical look at life. The stories deal with topical matters such as religion, politics, social and cultural issues as well as historical fiction.
Maharaj who authored several other books for the Caribbean market, has taken a bold step in compiling stories of yesteryear and today that contains popular slangs in Hindi and Bhojpuri languages. These expressions give a vivid portrayal of the east Indian and the way they live. Green Card Doolahin is laced with humour but still manages to contain morals which we can all grasp.
Some of the titles of stories in this collection include, The Exorcism, Blessings, Politically Wrong, A Drink of Rum, Kala Paani, Money Talks, Pressure and A Grave Mistake. In the story, Kala Paani a historical fiction, Maharaj weaves a story which in reality is an overview of the Indian indentureship system and the inherent evils. It is the longest story in the collection and provides the reader with an informative background of how the Indian indentureship system functioned.
In the story, One Night Stand, he examines the chutney music phenomena and its effects on society. His previous work include Indo-Trinidadian Folk Tales, The Pandits in Trinidad, Kahani Village and The
Indian Struggle for Justice and Equality against Black Racism. His writings have appeared in several local and international newspapers, journals and books. During the four years he spent in India (1997-2001), his stories were read on All India Radio and in history and literature classrooms.
Among the many reviews carried on both covers of the book are several prominent local and international writers and academics. Al Ramsawack, well-known folklorist said, “Ashram’s didactic approach to narration combined with the seemingly reality of situations, brings animation and drama to his stories, the constant dialogues create heightened colour and interest to his characters while leading to the often underlying morality in the events.”
Dr Jerome Teelucksingh from the Department of History at UWI commented, “Ashram must be commended for producing this collection of lively and entertaining short stories. These stories capture aspects of the Indo-Caribbean experience. This is a book which proves that the short story tradition still has a respectable place in the field of Caribbean literature.”
There is the element of drama in these stories which means that they can be performed and can be a good companion for students of social studies and community workers to engage in interactive sessions.
The characters are familiar; they share a sense of belonging and make us an interesting people who enjoy a good laugh and an even better appreciation of ole talk. His unique style of narration holds the readers interest providing a better understanding of who we are and how we think and behave. The 176 pages with illustrations by Vishal Choonie add to a rich collection of Indo-West Indian literature.
A graduate of UWI and the University of Hyderabad, India (MA in History), Ashram has been researching and writing on the Indian diaspora for over 25 years. He said that short story writing was an art mastered over the years by observing people. “If we could see ourselves and find the humour in the way we behave, life would be less stressful. I am a firm believer in laughter being the best medicine and I want to make people think as well as laugh,” he said.
He chooses the plot well and has a unique style of narration that makes his stories captivating. Pubished by the Indian Review Press of Chaguanas, the book is written in a fast paced format with little narrative, using dialogues which carry the stories and make the salient points.
His forthcoming publications include, “From Gujarat to Penal” – a study of an Indentured Family, ‘‘Chutney Music in Trinidad” and “An Anthology of Indo-Guyanese Folk Tales”.
Green Card Doolahin is available at bookstores and puja shops nationwide.
