Travel writing is one of the most delicate forms of writing in the sense that one has to consider the reader at all times. The would-be traveler is relying on the account for accurate and complete information, which is expected to be interesting and gripping as well.
One of the hallmarks of good travel writing is that whatever page you turn to, your attention is grabbed. It is here that Zuber Shaikh succeeds admirably. He ensures the reader is always part of the writer’s train of thought. “Sojourn of Europe” (a title which surely should be “Sojourn in Europe” or even “Sojourn to Europe”) is a personal account of Shaikh’s 20-day visit to Europe. The travelogue is the reflection of Shaikh’s well-conceived and insightful relations of his European tour.
He is an excellent travel writer — although he is modest when he confesses in his Prologue, “I am not a writer.” Not being a professional writer is actually a blessing in disguise in his case. Professional writers tend to relate their travel accounts with pomp and arrogance. Many sit in judgment on readers and decide what they should and should not be told. Shaikh gives the picture as is. He doesn’t hold his reader back in any way. He lets you in on all the interesting stuff.
Reading his book is like being his travel companion. Making a reader feel part of the scenario is the toughest of all challenges for travel writers, and Shaikh lives up to it and celebrates the challenge. His accounts of European cities are refreshing. The continent of Europe, as he rightly points out, is a land of surprises and wonders. “Just when you think that you have seen the best of everything, there is always something more beautiful to capture and hold your attention.”
The India-based author is an architect by profession and a well-known one at that. According to the book’s publisher, his popularity is unmatched as an architect. “He is a pioneer of many architectural trends and does not merely design the projects; he literally lives and breathes them.” Well, there is no reason to doubt Shaikh’s genius as an architect. But for those who are far removed from India, it is this book that will carry his stamp of authority and his artistic genius.
Some of the interesting bits in the book include information about Sir Christopher Wren and his knowledge of Islamic architecture. Quoting from Mathew Bishop’s 1750 book, entitled “Parentilia” or “Memoirs of the Family of the Wrens,” the author mentions that Sir Christopher thoroughly researched and studied the architecture of Ottoman and Moorish mosques. “He became a great appreciator of the beauty of this architecture. He investigated various structural and decorative elements of Muslim and Gothic art and became convinced of the Muslim roots of Gothic architecture, establishing the Sarcenic Theory.”
Since Shaikh is an architect, he naturally gives us the architectural background of the historic monuments that dot the European landscape. So when in the Netherlands, he writes: “The Dutch have a fine taste in architecture, and the buildings of various sizes that had been built on both sides of the river appeared to us as flawless and proportionate, built with perfect symmetry.” In Italy while visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa, he writes how the scientist Galileo, who was the native of Pisa, used the tower to conduct his experiments on the velocities of the falling bodies. “It was here that the famous laws of gravitation were framed by this world renowned scientist.”
It is these interesting nuggets that make Shaikh’s travel jottings readable and interesting.
Even while he is appreciating the beauty of that famous tower, being an Indian he can’t help thinking of the Taj Mahal. “Yes, the Leaning Tower of Pisa should truly deserve the world’s attention... However, it cannot be compared to the splendid majesty, the grandeur and the beauty of the Taj Mahal at Agra where all the fine graces of art and beauty join hands.”
Architects combine aesthetics with form and purpose to come up with buildings that will be both useful and enduring. Shaikh has done much the same in his lavishly illustrated book and readers should delight in the book’s design and appreciate its utility. Whether packing for a trip to Europe or just looking for a little armchair travel, it is a must-read.