Alleged to be a Soviet spy of the 1920s and considered the 'brain' behind founding of the Communist Party in Britain, the story of Salme Dutt, along-with her sister Hella Wuolijoki written by Finland's Foreign Minister, showcases an intriguing Indian connection.
A historical biography titled A Delicate Shade of Pink revolves around the life and times of the sisters - Hella Wuolijoki, an author and playwright who was considered to be a ‘spy’ of the Soviet Union along with her sister Salme, who came to Britain as a representative of the Communist International Party.
Salme married Rajani Palme Dutt, a very affluent, Oxford educated, writer and thinker and member of the Communist Party of Britain. Dutt, whose father was an Indian had founded in 1921 a monthly magazine Labour Monthly, a publication which he edited until his death. He frequently used to write about India and issues related to India.
The book by Erkki Tuomioja was first published in Finnish even though it was originally written in English.
‘I am genuinely delighted to have the opportunity to release the book by the minister who has already authored 19 books already... A significant figure in the European and international affairs, he has honoured us with a very special intriguing Indian connection in this book,’ said Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor after releasing the English version of book here.
The English rights of the book, which was first published in Finnish in the 2006, have been bought by Delhi-based publisher Wisdom Tree, which is beginning a new imprint Wisdom Tree Bridging Roots, focused on inter-cultural literature.
The book, has been based on real accounts from the archives of British Secret Service that Tuomioja says has been accessed by former British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook and Soviet accounts through Former Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.
‘It gives an interesting exploration of European History through the two World Wars, with an intriguing Indian connection,’ said Tharoor.
‘Hella Wuolijoki is incidentally the grandmother of the author but nonetheless, the story of the sisters is compelling.
Rajani Palme Dutt is better known in India than he deserves to be. He was perhaps the most well known of those who write about India,’ said Tharoor.
‘Despite all these it was seen that his wife Salme was believed to be the secret controlling power and was calling the shots in the party and the marriage,’ said Tharoor quoting from the book.
Commending the Finnish minister for his efforts, Tharoor said, ‘My only complaint about this book is the absence of the photos of young Salme, who was a remarkable beauty. She seemed to have lovers among a whole range of communist and pre commuinist leaders... before settling down with Rajani Palme Dutt.’
He added that it is just not the Indian connection that makes the book interesting both Hella and Salme were illustrious characters to read about.
Speaking at the release, Erkki Tuomioja said, ‘The book's title is based on a comment by the then foreign officials of Britain, who refused a visa to Hella, suspecting her of being a Soviet spy, and termed not as a Red Revolutionary but a Delicate Shade of Pink which I tried to explore.’
Hella, who is the maternal grandmother of Errki, was a dramatist and director of the Finnish Broadcasting Company.
She, along with her sister Salme, was deeply involved in trying to expand the influence of Communism in Europe.
‘I have penned down the personal lives of the two women and how the world changed around them in the inter-war period’ said Toumioja.
He added that he did not get an access to the Soviet secret archives, ‘If I do so I will definitely write a second book on that,’ he said.
‘I did not know it turned out into much more fascinating work and in asking for help from some of my colleagues and also the British archives national where I found the personal files collected on Salme and on Rajani Palme Dutt. I almost immediately recognized Rajani Palme Dutt, he worked extensively on India and colonial issues. Generations of people in India have read his books,’ said the minister.
Shobit Arya, founder, Wisdom Tree said, ‘This evening is really special and this very evocative book marks a new imprint for us.’ The new imprint is titled Wisdom Tree Bridging Roots, inspired from the living root bridges of Meghalaya, which form a natural link across a river.
A historical biography titled A Delicate Shade of Pink revolves around the life and times of the sisters - Hella Wuolijoki, an author and playwright who was considered to be a ‘spy’ of the Soviet Union along with her sister Salme, who came to Britain as a representative of the Communist International Party.
Salme married Rajani Palme Dutt, a very affluent, Oxford educated, writer and thinker and member of the Communist Party of Britain. Dutt, whose father was an Indian had founded in 1921 a monthly magazine Labour Monthly, a publication which he edited until his death. He frequently used to write about India and issues related to India.
The book by Erkki Tuomioja was first published in Finnish even though it was originally written in English.
‘I am genuinely delighted to have the opportunity to release the book by the minister who has already authored 19 books already... A significant figure in the European and international affairs, he has honoured us with a very special intriguing Indian connection in this book,’ said Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor after releasing the English version of book here.
The English rights of the book, which was first published in Finnish in the 2006, have been bought by Delhi-based publisher Wisdom Tree, which is beginning a new imprint Wisdom Tree Bridging Roots, focused on inter-cultural literature.
The book, has been based on real accounts from the archives of British Secret Service that Tuomioja says has been accessed by former British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook and Soviet accounts through Former Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.
‘It gives an interesting exploration of European History through the two World Wars, with an intriguing Indian connection,’ said Tharoor.
‘Hella Wuolijoki is incidentally the grandmother of the author but nonetheless, the story of the sisters is compelling.
Rajani Palme Dutt is better known in India than he deserves to be. He was perhaps the most well known of those who write about India,’ said Tharoor.
‘Despite all these it was seen that his wife Salme was believed to be the secret controlling power and was calling the shots in the party and the marriage,’ said Tharoor quoting from the book.
Commending the Finnish minister for his efforts, Tharoor said, ‘My only complaint about this book is the absence of the photos of young Salme, who was a remarkable beauty. She seemed to have lovers among a whole range of communist and pre commuinist leaders... before settling down with Rajani Palme Dutt.’
He added that it is just not the Indian connection that makes the book interesting both Hella and Salme were illustrious characters to read about.
Speaking at the release, Erkki Tuomioja said, ‘The book's title is based on a comment by the then foreign officials of Britain, who refused a visa to Hella, suspecting her of being a Soviet spy, and termed not as a Red Revolutionary but a Delicate Shade of Pink which I tried to explore.’
Hella, who is the maternal grandmother of Errki, was a dramatist and director of the Finnish Broadcasting Company.
She, along with her sister Salme, was deeply involved in trying to expand the influence of Communism in Europe.
‘I have penned down the personal lives of the two women and how the world changed around them in the inter-war period’ said Toumioja.
He added that he did not get an access to the Soviet secret archives, ‘If I do so I will definitely write a second book on that,’ he said.
‘I did not know it turned out into much more fascinating work and in asking for help from some of my colleagues and also the British archives national where I found the personal files collected on Salme and on Rajani Palme Dutt. I almost immediately recognized Rajani Palme Dutt, he worked extensively on India and colonial issues. Generations of people in India have read his books,’ said the minister.
Shobit Arya, founder, Wisdom Tree said, ‘This evening is really special and this very evocative book marks a new imprint for us.’ The new imprint is titled Wisdom Tree Bridging Roots, inspired from the living root bridges of Meghalaya, which form a natural link across a river.