الإنجليزية 1444

India is well-known for her cultural and literary traditions, which are normally alien to the West of the twentieth century. Her wide literature is a huge treasure house. So also are her folk tales which showcase her cultural milieu. For generations, the legends of India remained vigorously active by transferring from lip to lip in the absence of any print medium, and this book is an English translation of ninety-three tales selected from a Gujarati volume, “KautukamÀÒÀ” or “Bodhavacana”, which appeared first in 1885. This book is expected to give an insight to the then West into the cultures, customs and traditions of the East through its folk tales. It will promote a larger acquaintance of the West with Indian moorings, resulting in a heartier appreciation of, the native thoughts and native customs, the practical wisdom and ripe experience. It shows considerable skill in shifting and arranging the rude materials collected from many sources and in investigating half-forgotten local chronicles of wit and humour. It also satirizes the faults and extravagances of the then Indian village community to a certain extent. The book should make an interesting and amusing reading for the English-knowing people interested in Indian folklore.