I was recently introduced to this novel - "Life of Pi". This book has made a lot of waves since its publication in 2001 and it is said that previous attempts to make movie on this book have been failed but in 2012 it will be released as a movie casting Irfan Khan and Tabu.
Book is written by a Spain born Canadian author Yann Martel. I think its more like a mystical tale than a philosophical tale. Even the name of its central character Pi carries the mystical meaning. Pi is a one infinite constant numerical of a circle. It signifies that we are mortal immortal! As Ghalib said: Hota hai nihaN gird maiN sehra mere hote
Plot of the story revolves around a 16 year old south Indian boy Pi Patel. He is a son of a zookeeper and due to financial hardship his family decides to migrate to Canada. They make deal with various zoos in North America to sell their animals and are carrying with them in a Japanese vessel. Ship meets an accident and sinks in Pacific ocean leaving Pi Patel, a Zebra, a Hyena, a Bengal Tiger (named Richard Parker) and an orangutan in a lifeboat. While animals kill each other - Pi Patel is left with Richard Parker. Bulk of the book describes the interaction and survival of Pi Patel and Richard Parker.
This is to note that tiger has been named Richard Parker due to historical reason of names of victims who have been cannibalized during previous ships' castaway accounts.
Finally, they get rescued at one of Mexico's shore. Climax of the novel comes when Pi Patel tells another parallel story to Japanese officials who are investigating the reasons of ship wreck. It is the place where reader get completely taken over with surprise about the theme of book and reader realizes that he may have to read the whole book again.
The theme of the book is that - irrespective of any religion we all have our outer selves and our inner selves (which reminded me of Allama Iqbal's concept of Khudi). It is an art to survive with our wild wild carnivorous inner (tiger) and to live with it in a symbiotic relationship without killing each other till we find rescue from this ocean of life. Not only it is necessary to survive and live with our inner self but to learn the art to master this 450 pound Bengal tiger.
Other details provided in novel (juziaat) about survival and animals' instincts are worth reading. I am sure, you will like this book.
2 comments:
i know people loved this book but i didnt.the writer has written the book in a very interesting way but the reason i didnt like it because its just too LONG.there is no change in scenario,both of them are traveling in the boat and it just goes on and on.and that bored me.
To be honest - I agree with you. There were moments where I put this book away for hours. But I guess the whole point is to emphasis that - live revolve around only these 2 characters! There must be a reson they all failed to make movie out of this!!!
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