‘It is believed that the standards of justice and fairness in the past were not like those which we find in the present times’ (p.110). Sir Prabhashankar Pattani effortlessly moves between the past and the present across his stories, simultaneously narrating his story set in the past and providing a commentary on the present society. Titled ‘Tales That Enlighten’, an English translation of a book originally written by Sir Prabhashankar Pattani in Gujarati, contains twenty-three short stories. The narratives of these stories are predominantly constructed around themes like administration, internal governance and alike, which makes one wonder why title the book ‘Tales That Enlighten’? Even though initially, the tales come off as dealing with issues of governance, the book has broader implications. 

For instance, in his tale ‘Jahangir’s Justice’, Sir Pattani writes ‘A person in authority cannot tolerate disrespect to an order issued by him. We do not know why and how this has become a fundamental part of the exercise of authority’ (p.106). This is not a novel observation; nevertheless, it seems intentional on the author’s end. It allows one to easily lift it from its context and relate it to power structures operating in politics, family, society and so on across decades making the book timeless. 

Sir Pattani’s stories have a richness to them as he draws characters for his stories from personal experiences and histories and mythologies worldwide. This ascribes a transnational character, ensuring that even though it is a translated work, its context remains largely easy to understand. In his tale ‘The Role That The Satan Plays’, he demonstrates power-sharing dynamics between the king and the minister. For the same, he draws the example of Bismarck and Emperor Wilhelm II, making it easier for the readers to understand his ideas. However, despite the diverse characters, the book comes off as embodying a single voice since the characters often become vehicles to carry the ideological positions of Sir Pattani. The voices of the characters tend to merge together by the end of every tale. 

‘Tales That Enlighten’ is a quick read due to its simple and succinct language. Sir Pattani’s observations cleverly weaved into his narratives leave the reader with some food for thought.