Multiple Facets of My Madurai  (English, Hardcover, Manohar Devadoss)

This portfolio provides the reader an apt representation of the Southern holy temple town of Madurai, through a collection of intricate and meticulous drawings and detailed texts, along with a set of mini-maps and other supplementary pictures.

Summary Of The Book

In Multiple Facets Of My Madurai by Devadoss Manohar, the reader is presented with a collage of elaborate, hand-drawn representations of the Southern city of Madurai. It covers a wide variety of subjects, starting from the city’s monuments and the fine architecture of homes, temples and festivals, the surrounding countryside, traditions and social ethos. As made clear through the myriad descriptions, it can be stated that the book is a reflection of memories over a course of time, remembered nostalgically through the awe-inspiring art in the city. Simplistically, it can also be seen as an expression of an individual’s great fondness for his hometown.

The drawings that set the book apart and render it inestimable were completed between the years 1983 – 2006, along with a set of detailed mini-maps, which tell of the intricate cartography involved. There are 66 drawings in all, 26 of which have been published in his first book. The pictures, however, are not necessarily in chronological order. The writer, having done so, lends a subtle layering of information, both verbal and visual, and it becomes possible for the reader to figuratively walk the streets and have a drink of buttermilk, while at the same time savor the sights and the glorious temples he sees around him. The intent is to capture the living aspects of the city as the writer laments the urbanization of the countryside and disappearances of quaint practices and traditions. The book relays to the reader the artistic and aesthetic journey of the writer as he documents various aspects of Madurai.

About Manohar Devadoss

Manohar Devadoss grew up in Madurai, the ancient temple town of South India. Preserving its rich heritage has always been a goal, as can be seen in his renditions and sketches of various temples and other monuments.

Apart from Multiple Facets Of My Madurai, published in 2007, he has also written Green Well Years, which was published in 1997 by East West Books. His recent publications include two books, A Poem to Courage, which is a biographical novel. It deals with the aftermath of a road accident in 1972, after which his wife, Mahema, was left paralyzed for life. The other, Dreams, Seasons and Promises, is a real story, narrated mainly through various illustrations, covering a decade in his wife's life.

He is involved with science, technology and design professionally. While working as the technical director of a company, taking care of his wife Mahema's numerous and compounded needs, and waging a tacit battle with his failing vision, Manohar has continued to persistently produce exhaustive, stunning, pen-and-ink drawings. He attained a Bachelor’s degree from American College in Madurai between the years 1953-57, and a Master's degree in Chemistry from Oberlin College, USA, in 1972.