The Sufi Way in Malerkotla

First Proof: The Penguin Book of New Writing from India 3, Penguin India, p.224
First Proof 3 offers us some rare, exhilarating experiences.

First Proof: The Penguin Book of New Writing from India 3, Penguin India, p.224
First Proof 3 offers us some rare, exhilarating experiences.
Caught between open scepticism and impossibly high expectations, debutant writers sharing space in an anthology often find themselves in a heads-I-win-tails-you-lose kind of situation.
That it fails to stifle their creative urge is surely something o f a miracle. It’s a greater wonder still that despite its uncertain commercial prospects, certain publishers remain resolute in their quest to discover and nurture new writing, driven, possibly, by the conviction that in the sea of unheard voices, there are several worth listening to and taking a chance on.
The appearance of First Proof: The Penguin Book of New Writing from India 3 clearly indicates that the faith of its publishers in the idea of giving expression to such voices has remained steadfast since they first took the plunge in 2005.
In the latest version, the format remains largely unchanged, with separate sections devoted, as usual, to fiction (including poetry) and non-fiction pieces. Apart from Kriti Sharma, however, all the contributors have either appeared in print before or have works in progress with major publishing houses. Several of them have even won awards.
Strictly speaking, therefore, First Proof 3 does not venture into virgin territory. But it does offer us, insofar as the non-fiction pieces are concerned, some rare, exhilarating experiences: like trailing, in the unforgettable “Chasing Nyima”, its author Sankar Sridhar and his newfound nomad friends into the “vast nothingness” of Ladakh which transforms the city-dweller’s perspective and leads to an understanding of how the most rigorous of living conditions can reinforce man’s resilience and dignity;
Peeking into the “dodgy Indian restaurant” in Scotland, where the irrepressible Shankar Sharma once served as a waiter and picked up some priceless lessons of life (“My Lovely Restaurant”);
Visiting Malerkotla in the Malwa region with Nirupama Dutt, whose self-deprecatory wit in “The Sufi Way in Malerkotla” contributes as much to our perception of the place as its Sufi traditions that have honed its unique reputation as “an oasis of calm in conflict-torn Punjab”;
Or examining — tongue firmly in cheek — with Aman Sethi, author of “Khullam Khulla”, the quirky intricacies of municipal law in India.
By Mita Ghose – The Hindu – Chennai, India
Sunday, February 3, 2008