Soliloquies In Solitude - Solomon's Verse in His Nineties Depicting Cultural, Natural, Existential, Philosophical And Christian Themes

Soliloquies in Solitude is an analytical commentary on the P. Solomon Raj's verse in his Nineties. A globally reputed artist and theologian, propounding incarnation of the Gospel in Indian culture, Solomon's poetry as a nonagenarian continues to be a sharp tool of expression of Christian Faith and Living vis-a-vis his present poetry pregnant with Indigenous Philosophizing. Having done extensive research on the art and poetry of Solomon Raj, it is commendable that B. S. Moses Kumar presents this commentary, appending the corpus of Solomon's writings, which are otherwise unavailable to the reading public. The book is a delight for readers as it pointedly depicts Cultural, Natural, Existential, Philosophical and Christian Themes among others.

Dr. B. S. Moses Kumar is an accomplished author and a historian. A triple Graduate with studies in Arts, Divinity and Education, he also holds double Masters in Arts and Theology. Having served in various ecclesiastical responsibilities for four decades, he is involved in Curriculum Development, Training and Writing. He has visited many countries like U.K., Israel, Italy, U.S.A., Canada, Australia, U.A.E., Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Turkey and Egypt, and participated in many conferences and learning experiences. After his earlier work 'Setting Stones' (LSR Publications, Franklin Springs, Georgia in 2006), his Doctoral Research on 'The Religious Poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins: A Theological Perspective' was published by ISPCK, Delhi, in 2009. Currently he is working on 'Incarnation of the Gospel in Indian Culture With Reference to the Art and Poetry of Pulidindi Solomon Raj' for his Ph.D. in Theology with SHUATS, Allahabad.

At the 2003 Ecumenical Kirchentag in Berlin, I first became acquainted with some of the multi-faceted creativity of Dr. P. Solomon Raj. A large building at that event allowed artists from around the world to present their very diverse cultural expressions. It was, however, the colorful batik art of Solomon Raj that fascinated me most of all. Following up on a discussion held with his representative in Berlin, I made an email contact with the Vijayawada artist. That contact encouraged my wife and me to visit Solomon and Mary Raj in India, and to follow that visit with fifteen years representing his art at exhibitions from Washington D.C to London to Bethlehem. Only gradually did I discover that the Rev. Dr. P. Solomon Raj was truly a Renaissance man.

Much of the art work that was subsequently shared at exhibitions around the world depicted biblical stories using Indonesian batik imagery and both German and Japanese style woodblock prints. Both a Lutheran pastor and theologian, Solomon Raj was clearly fascinated with techniques that could proclaim the Gospel in visual form. Additionally, he had a deep appreciation for the way in which the Gospel could address the Dalit mentality in India. God's love as expressed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus has a message for all who through sin have lost their ties with authentic living. Many already know themselves to be alienated, dysfunctional or disenfranchised because of sin. Yet Dr. Raj's creative renderings of women, refugees and impoverished people cause a viewer to ask, "Who is this God and why is he interested in me?"

With time I came to learn more about Dr. Raj and his need to share the Good News with everyone. He had experimented not only with batiks and woodcuts, but with wood, copper and bronze sculpture. He made etchings and worked with oil and watercolor. Upon occasion, he produced purely secular pieces but, for the most part, Pulidindi Solomon Raj was a preacher. He wanted people to know that God loved them and that Jesus was both their Savior and friend.

Life is a gift of God. We exist because of the breath of life the Creator God has breathed into us. He sustains and equips us until our last breath on earth so that His purpose for our lives is fulfilled and that we accomplish our God-ordained destinies. What we do with our lives is intended not only to be self-fulfilling but also to be beneficial to fellow humans. In the process, we bring glory to God as He delights in us and in what we do with what He has given. Conversely, people are gifts from God for the community we live in, and all the redeemed are gifts to the church and beyond. With mutual gifts and ministries given, we edify one another and contribute to the health of the body'. Dr. Solomon Raj is one of such unique gifts to the global body of Christ.

We see in Solomon's works an urge to tell - tell the gospel - in faithful response to the revelation he received and conceived. These poetic pieces came out from his heart and his pen in his Nineties, which he shared with one of his greatest friends, Prof. David Zersen. And, Solomon seems to have enjoyed the ensuing interaction pretty well from time to time. I had the privilege and double advantage of receiving them all to my file, as copies were marked to me, as well as frequent interaction on the phone on various pieces of his work. Some 127 such pieces were salvaged from my mailbox, which are hereby presented for the benefit of the reader. These poetic lines of Solomon's wisdom would never have seen the light of the day, but for the urge in my heart to collect them, ponder over them, and preserve them for posterity, for all their worth. These are now put together in some chronological order and thematic design. Literally, no one can perceive the length and breadth of this great and uninterrupted flow of imagination and thought - as he walked from his house to the adjacent with feeble steps during his sunset years.