Archives: Press Reviews

Using Indian cricket as the spine, Amrish Kumar tells a coming-of-age story in his book  Gods of Willow. The tale draws an arc from Hyderabad to Mumbai with the protagonist Kabir Menon going through a series of life-alterations. Through him, we observe India of the 1990s and early 2000s.The sweeping gaze takes in all, be it politics, cricket, media, communalism and then juxtaposes it with personal

‘Vinay Lal’s wonderful history reminds us forcefully how much the political ideas and ideals of nationalism were conveyed by images rather than words— by the visceral persuasion of visuality. This book offers a comprehensive analysis of the visions of destitution, oppression, defiance, sacrifice and freedom out of which the vast emotions of Indian nationalism were forged.’

‘Vinay Lal is a rare historian who imagines and creates an archive of his own. Insurgency and the Artist exemplifies this. It is a document of immense beauty that draws one to think of freedom in and through images.’

‘In this learned and fascinating study, Professor Lal brings to life India’s struggle for freedom from British rule by subtly knitting together, through images, in its different forms, and graphic word, India’s passage to independence … From it we learn progressively that it is not only the militant agitator who becomes an agent of social and political change, but the militant artist as well.’

‘He loved to quote Don Bradman, who when asked in a television interview late in life about what he would like to remembered for had replied: integrity. That is something Bishan will always be remembered for too – integrity.’

‘Besides being a gentlemanly cricketer, Bedi was a terrific competitor. A forthright man, he was not diplomatic, he could be choleric.’

‘Bishan Singh always had a cricketing point to drive home, it was wonderful to have had so many conversations about the game with him.’

‘Bishan was courageous as a cricketer whether taking on the best batsmen of the day or facing up to some of the many menacing fast bowlers of his era. He continues to be courageous off the field as he speaks up for the things in which he believes or against that with which he disagrees.’

‘Bishan Bedi with the ball, and Sunil Gavaskar with the bat, were the two most perfect cricketers of modern times. One could not watch them play without wishing every moment was being filmed for posterity.’

‘Until Wasim Akram came on the scene, Bishan Singh Bedi was the best left-hand bowler I had seen. Guess one can now say Bedi is the best left-arm spinner and Wasim Akram the best left-arm pacer we have seen.’