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Awakened by a Gong. All About H. Hatterr is one of those genuine literary rarities, the lost-and-found masterpiece. Originally published in Britain in 1948, it was a first novel for Govind V. Desani, a shy, eclectic philosopher by trade who was born in Nairobi of Indian parents. The book received an initial phalanx of favorable reviews. But sales were poor, and soon afterward both novel and author dropped out of sight. Desani went to India, where Prime Minister Nehru commissioned him to create a new literary academy. One night, he recalls, "I was awakened by a gong and I had the feeling that I had forgotten something very important. So I wandered away in search of it and lost myself in the jungles and monasteries of Asia."
Desani's somewhat Hatterrian quest included a brief masquerade as a member of Tibet's Tantra sect, whose religious practices include ritual sex in the temple. In 1960, still deeply involved in meditation, yoga and Buddhism, he returned to writing as a contributor to the Illustrated Weekly of India. For the past two years he has taught philosophy at the University of Texas. At 61, he plans to wander no farther.
Like Hatterr, Desani has roots in both East and West, and he considers the book "a criticism of both corrupt cultures." It seems to be something of a last word. Although pleased to see it reissued, Desani has no other novels in his trunk and no intention of writing any more fiction. "Hatterr was a kind of insanity. I'm glad to have it out of my system," he says. Disappointing news for readers, perhaps; but, as Hatterr might say, damme, this is contrast for you.