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PATIL`S WRITING HAS TWO BANKS, ONE HAVING THE HAPPY SIDE AND ONE HAVING THE SAD SIDE. ONE AWAKENS THE SORROW AND ONE BRINGS CHEERFULNESS. PATIL NEVER WROTE FOR THE SAKE OF HUMOUR, BUT HIS STORIES HAVE MANY UNSEEN SOWN SEEDS OF LAUGHTER. THEY ARE FULL OF THE CONTRAST IN LIFE, THE CONTRAST IS THE CENTRAL THEME OF HIS STORIES. PATIL MUST GET THE CREDIT FOR ADDING THIS CARICATURE TYPE STORIES TO MARATHI LITERATURE. THE HUMORISTS ARE THE WISE MEN OF THE WORLD BECAUSE THE MOST FORCIBLE WAY TO IMPART TRUTH IS THROUGH LAUGH. YES, PATIL PROVES TO THIS TEST. HE IS A VERY CLEVER, ASTUTE, INGENIOUS, NAUGHTY AND MISCHIEVOUS WRITER. THIS BOOK IS A PROOF OF HIS QUALITIES.

THIS IS A STORY BOOK WRITTEN BY SUDHA MURTI ESPECIALLY FOR THE CHILDREN. THIS BOOK IS A COMBINATION OF SOME INDIAN AND SOME FOREIGN STORIES AND YET SOME STORIES ARE A RESULT OF SUDHA MURTI`S OWN IMAGINATION. HERE THE CUNNING FOX MEETS US IN THE FORM OF A BENEVOLENT ROLE. YOU WILL ALSO MEET THE COW, MONKEY AND THE SCARECROW WHO WERE ALL FAVOURED BY THE GRANDFATHER AND WHO STILL ARE STILL GRATEFUL FOR THAT. WE WILL ALSO COME ACROSS MANY WOMEN WHO ARE NOT SCARED OF ANY CALAMITIES. ON THE CONTRARY, WE WILL FIND THEM COOL AND MAINTAINING THEIR CALMNESS THROUGH IT. YOU WILL MEET THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE GAINING LOTS OF MONEY BUT ARE USING THAT TO HELP THE NEEDY AND WHO THEMSELVES ARE STILL RELYING ON THEIR HARD WORK. THESE STORIES WILL SURELY TAKE YOU TO A DIFFERENT WORLD.

IT IS THROUGH DIFFERENT STORIES THAT ALL SORT OF PEOPLE COME TO MEET US, PEOPLE WHOM WE WON`T BE MEETING OTHERWISE IN OUR LIFE. THESE ARE RIGHT FROM THE KINGS AND QUEENS, PRINCES AND PRINCESSES, THEIR PALACES, THE MISERS, THE POOREST OF ALL, THE WISEST OF ALL, THE WITTIEST OF ALL, THE STUPIDEST OF ALL, MYSTERIOUS PEOPLE TO THE MAJESTIC EXPERIENCES. IN ONE STORY WE MEET A VERY INTELLIGENT PRINCESS WHO WANTS A MORE INTELLIGENT HUSBAND, SO SHE ALLOWS THE EAGER WOULD BE HUSBANDS TO ASK HER 9 QUESTIONS EACH, AT THE END SHE MEETS SOMEONE WHO IS DASHING AND MORE INTELLIGENT THAN HER. IN ANOTHER STORY, AN ORPHAN CHILD PUNISHES HIS WICKED UNCLE; IN ONE STORY A DRUM HELPS THE OLD COUPLE TO COME OUT OF A DISASTER. SOME OF THESE STORIES WERE TOLD TO SUDHA MURTHY, BY HER GRANDPARENTS WHEN SHE HERSELF WAS A KID, SOME OF THE STORIES WERE HEARD DURING HER VOYAGES AROUND THE WORLD AND SOME OF THE STORIES ARE THE RESULT OF HER INNOVATIVE MIND. FOR AGES, ALL THESE STORIES WERE LINGERING IN HER MIND. SHE HAD BEEN TELLING THEM TO ALL THE YOUNG MINDS WHO HAD COME IN HER LIFE. THIS IS FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT SHE HAS PENNED THEM DOWN AND MADE THEM AVAILABLE TO ALL.

THE BEANS IN A FARM. SHANKAR PATIL`S STORIES ARE A TREASURE OF MARATHI LITERATURE. HE HAS A VERY UNCOUTH MIND. HE DOES NOT INTEND TO EXPOSE THE RURAL LIFE TO GAIN POPULARITY. HE DOES NOT WRITE JUST WITH THE URBAN READERS IN HIS MIND. HE WRITES TO FIND HIMSELF IN THE WORDS, IN THE INCIDENCES, IN THE STORIES. HE HAS RECOGNIZED THE VALUE OF STORY WRITING, HE UNDERSTANDS THAT WRITING IS A MEAN TO FIND THE TRUE SOUL. HE STARTED HIS JOURNEY AS A STORY WRITER IN 1950. THE RURAL MIND AND SOUL LIVES IN A SOCIETY, YET THE SOCIETY FAILS TO INCULCATE THE VALUES LIKE FREEDOM, EQUALITY; THIS IS WHAT HE ALWAYS REGRETS. PATIL HAS MORE FAITH ON TRANSMOGRIFICATION THAN TRADITIONS. HE REALIZES THE PROBLEMS OF RURALITES, HE DOES NOT AIM AT ENTERTAINING, BUT WRITES OUT OF HIS SOCIAL AWARENESS. WHAT FACES HIM IS THE SOCIETY BASED ON THE ABODE OF VALUES AND CULTURE. HE EXPOSES THE SHOWY BUT USELESS TRANSFORMATION IN HIS UNIQUE STYLE, SARCASTIC YET WITH A TOUCH OF HUMOUR. DOES ANYONE FIND EXPERIENCES? NO, THEY COME TO US AUTOMATICALLY; WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP ALL OUR SENSES OPEN TO THEM. PATIL MUST HAVE REALIZED AND PRACTICED THIS. STILL, A LOT HAPPENS BETWEEN HIS FEELING OF THE EXPERIENCES AND REPRODUCTION OF THEM. IT IS A VERY INTRICATE PHENOMENON. HIS STORIES TAKE BIRTH FROM THE DEPTH OF HIS CONTEMPLATION. THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY GOING ON FOR OVER A PERIOD OF 25 TO 30 YEARS NOW. HIS STORIES HAVE ENRICHED MARATHI LITERATURE WORDLESSLY, CAN WE REFUSE THIS?

SHANKAR PATIL PORTRAYS THE RURAL LIFE AND THE RURALITES AND WE FIND THAT EACH ONE OF THEM HAS BEEN BESTOWED UPON WITH SOME SPECIAL RELIGION. THE AUTHOR POSSESSES THE IMMENSE WORD POWER TO GIVE JUSTICE TO EACH OF THE SPECIAL RELIGION. HE VERY CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS THE TEMPERAMENT OF EACH EXPERIENCE AND COMPLETES THE "HERCULEAN TASK` OF DISCLOSING IT PROPERLY. THROUGH HIS STORIES, THE MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES OF THESE RURALITES ARE REPRODUCED GENUINELY, ACHIEVING UNIQUENESS. AT THE END, IT SUCCEEDS IN GIVING A SPECIAL FRAGRANCE TO THEIR UNIVERSE, FULL OF HAPPINESS AND SADNESS.

'SASHACHE SINHAVALOKAN' IS A OVERVIEW OF A MARATHI LITERARY LEGEND V.S.KHANDKAR'S LIFE. KHANDEKAR HAS DESCRIBED HIS LIFE STORY IN THE BOOK 'EKA PANACHI KAHANI' WHICH CONTAINS HIS LIFE SPAN FROM 1818 TO 1929 . AFTER THAT AUTHOR SUNILKUMAR LAWATE BROUGHT COLLECTION OF HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL STORIES NAMED AS 'PAHILI PAVALE' & THIS IS THE THIRD PART OF KHANDEKAR'S AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAYS.

WHICH COLOURS ARE REVEALED THROUGH VA PU`S STORIES? THE ANSWER IS `ALL`! THE MAIN COLOUR IS THAT OF PAIN AND ANGUISH. IT ENGULFS THE READERS COMPLETELY. THE CHARACTERS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF THIS PAIN AND ANGUISH LINGER IN OUR MINDS MAKING US ASK OURSELVES A FEW QUESTIONS, JUDGING OURSELVES. HE DOES NOT WRITE SOMETHING OUT OF THE BLUE. HIS CHARACTERS, HIS INCIDENTS, HIS WRITING EVERY THING IS BASED ON THE HAPPENINGS IN HIS SURROUNDINGS, IN YOUR SURROUNDINGS, IN MY SURROUNDINGS. YET, IT IS THE SENSITIVITY OF HIS MIND THAT CAPTURES THIS HAPPENING AND PRESENTS THEM INTO THOSE MAGNIFICENT WAYS. THESE EVENTS ARE THE SAME THAT HAPPEN IN OUR LIVES TOO, YET WE FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THE GRANDEUR BEHIND THEM. WE FIND ALL THESE CHARACTERS CLOSE TO US AS WE OFTEN WITNESS THE REFLECTION OF THESE INCIDENTS IN OUR CLOSE VICINITY. VERY FEW PEOPLE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATE THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF WORDS TENDERLY AND EFFECTIVELY. VA PU IS ONE OF THOSE FEW LUCKY PEOPLE. HIS MIND DETECTS THE GERMINATING POWERS OF A MINUTE SEED AND THEN WITH IMMENSE CAPACITY AND PATIENCE HE GROWS A WONDERFUL STORY FROM THE SEED. HE HAS EXCELLENT COMMAND OVER PHILOSOPHY BUT DOES NOT IRRITATE US WITH ITS HIGH DOSES. ON THE CONTRARY, HE PRESENTS IT SO ARTISTICALLY THAT WE WELCOME IT INSTEAD OF RUNNING AWAY FROM IT; FOR A MOMENT OUR MIND PAUSES, PONDERS OVER HIS DOCTRINES OF HAPPY LIFE AND GIVES US A VERY POSITIVE ATTITUDE TO LEAD THIS OTHERWISE BORING AND MONOTONOUS LIFE OF A COMMON MAN.

"IT IS VERY TRUE THAT ALL THE STORIES BY VA PU ARE BASED COMPLETELY ON THE MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE, YET THESE STORIES ARE NOT ABOUT THE ROUTINE OF THIS CLASS, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT ASPECTS, VARIOUS DIMENSIONS. THEY GIVE WAY TO THE UNCOMMON MOMENTS OF HAPPINESS AND SORROW IN THE COMMON LIFE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE. VA PU HAS THE BLESSINGS TO WRITE THE STORIES WITH A TOUCH OF HUMOUR BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HIS TRAIN NEVER DERAILS ON THE TRACKS OF FRIVOLITY. HIS WRITING REFLECTS PATIENCE, IT IS NO WHERE LOUD. IT BRINGS SMILE ON THE LIPS AND HOPES IN THE HEARTS. IT GIVES IMPORTANCE TO THE ENTERTAINING ASPECT MORE THAN PAINFUL TORTURE. IT NEVER BECOMES CHEAP. THE AUTHOR HIMSELF HAS A VERSATILE PERSONALITY; THIS SAME IS PORTRAYED THROUGH HIS STORIES AVOIDING REPETITION. THE BEST STRENGTH OF HIS STORIES IS EACH STORY TOUCHES THE SOUL SOMEWHERE COMPELING THE READER TO INTROSPECT.`` PROF. SADA KARHADE: (LALITJULY 1976)

OUR DAILY LIFE IS FULL OF RAYS, IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY BIG EVENT OR A SERIOUS STRUGGLE OF ANY TYPE, THAT IS THE ONLY PROBLEM. OTHERWISE, OUR ROUTINE LIFE GOES ON AS IT IS. ACTUALLY, OUR MINDS ARE PREPARED FOR THE TRAUMAS OF LIFE, BUT THEN WE COME ACROSS SOMEONE WHO SEES US THROUGH IT. BUT THIS VERY MIND SET OF OURS IS NOT AT ALL PREPARED FOR THE SMALL TRAUMAS IN DAYTODAY LIFE, WHICH ACTUALLY HAVE THE UTMOST POWER OF DISASTER. THEY ATTACK SEPARATELY WHILE WE ARE ALONE AND TAKE OUT LIVELINESS FROM OUR MIND AND SOUL. WE HAVE TO SUFFER ALONE, THERE IS NO ONE TO COME ALONG WITH US. A HUMAN MIND THUS ATTACKED, GETS TERRIBLY UPSET, HIS COURAGE FAILS HIM, HE THEN PAUSES FOR SOME TIME, RESTS FOR A WHILE AND ONCE AGAIN GATHERS HIS STRENGTH WITH NEW HOPE AND DESIRE. NO ONE NOTICES HIS TIREDNESS, NO ONE DETECTS HIS RECOVERING. HIS JOURNEY CONTINUES. EVERYONE HAS TO CONTINUE HIS OR HER OWN JOURNEY, SOMETIMES FALLING AND THEN GETTING UP, WITH A NEW HOPE EVERY TIME, WITH A GLANCE AT THE PAST OVER AND OVER, THE JOURNEY HAS TO BE CONTINUED. THIS IS A GLIMPSE OF SUCH SUFFERINGS, OF THOSE WALKING AND TRUDGING, BY YOU AND OF COURSE BY ME!!!

We all know Shanta Shelke as a poetess and as a lyricist, but she has very successfully handled the creative writing as well, on the contrary it is one of her favourites. She has been a successful columnist and has written for many newspaper columns. This column writing has further initiated her to handle the creative writing independently. The main impetus to her creative writing has been her curiosity about the world around her, her minute observation of the human beings around her, and her eagerness to include everyone in her experiences. Shantabai herself is a great reader. This has made her vocabulary very rich and has widened her understanding capacities. She has maintained a rhythm in her writing, her love for life is also reflected throughout, all these qualities have given a wonderful dimension to her creative writing making it more readable. This collection adds to her previous well known creative writings such as `Anandache Zaad`, Pavsaadhicha Paus, "Sansmarane`, "Madrangi`, "Ekpani`, etc. A few articles in this collection to name are "Hemala Mulgi Zali`, "Yayaticha Varsa`, "Fasavi Dare`, "Santushta`, "Madam`, etc. Each and every article is unique, entertaining, and enlightening.

THOUGH SHANKAR PATIL HAS TRIED HIS HANDS ON ALL THE FORMS OF LITERATURE INCLUDING STORIES, NOVELS, CREATIVE WRITING HE IS MORE POPULAR AS A RURAL STORY WRITER. THE PRESENT COLLECTION OF STORIES BY SHANKAR PATIL PROVES TRUE TO THESE WORDS. ALL THE STORIES INCLUDED ARE EVERGREEN. THEY PRESENT THE FACTS OF LIFE WITH A SILVER LINE OF HUMOUR. THE STORIES INCLUDED HERE HAVE PICTURED RURAL POLITICS, RURAL LIFE AND SOME UNIQUE CHARACTERS IN THE DAYTODAY LIFE. EACH STORY IS FILLED WITH HUMOUR AND SAVOURY. ALL THE STORIES ARE A RESULT OF SPONTANEITY. THEY TOUCH THE READER`S MIND THOUGH THEY ARE VERY SIMPLE AND NATURAL YET TOUCHY.

TACTIC XSAMPATRAO THOUGHT OVER IT AGAIN AND AGAIN, HE FIRMLY DECIDED IN HIS MIND, AS STRONGLY AS CEMENT OR CONCRETE. HE STARTED PULLING HIS HAIR, GOING OVER VARIOUS PLANS. HE WANTED NAME AND FAME, AND WAS WORRIED AS IT WAS NOT FEASIBLE EVEN AFTER SPENDING 15 LAC RUPEES. "WHAT SHOULD I DO? HOW SHOULD I DO IT? YES, I MUST FIND SOME IDEA! SOMETHING NOVEL, SOMETHING THAT WOULD LEAVE EVERYBODY SPELLBOUND. IT SHOULD APPEAR IN ALL NEWSPAPERS. MY NAME SHOULD BE ON EVERYBODY`S MIND. MY NAME SHOULD BE PROCLAIMED! IF I AM NOT GOING TO BE FAMOUS, THEN WHAT IS THE USE OF MONEY, ESTATE, SERVANTS, TWO BUNGALOWS, VAST PROPERTY, HUGE INVESTMENT IN GOLD AND SILVER, ORNAMENTS, KASHMIRI CARPETS, ALL THE BEAUTIFUL PIECES COLLECTED FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD..." "WHAT DO I LACK IN`? I OWN THIS ENORMOUS FORTUNE, BUT WHAT IS THE USE? I AM NOT YET FAMOUS. OVERNIGHT, I SHOULD BECOME FAMOUS, MY NAME SHOULD APPEAR IN ALL NEWSPAPERS, I MUST COME UP WITH SOME IDEA!` AND ONE FINE DAY, SAMPATRAO CAME UP WITH A WONDERFUL IDEA!

DUET "IT`S ME, HAVE YOU RECOGNIZED MY VOICE?` "I HAVE COME WITH AN IDEA.` "YOU TAKE YOUR SCHOOL CHILDREN FOR A TRIP FOR 34 DAYS.` "SHALL WE GO TO GOA THEN?` "YOU BE WITH YOUR SCHOOL CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE DAY, SHOW THEM THE BEACHES AROUND AND AT NIGHT WE WILL STAY AT HOTEL SAMRAT.``

MARATHI LITERARY LEGEND V.S.KHANDEKAR HAD PLANNED TO WRITE HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN THREE PARTS. HE WROTE HIS FIRST AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL STORY FROM BIRTH TILL MARRIAGE IN THE BOOK 'EKA PANACHI KAHANI' WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN 1981. KHANDEKAR COULD ONLY PENNED THREE DECADES OF HIS LIFE. AFTER THAT AUTHOR SUNILKUMAR LAWATE TOOK THE TASK IN HIS HAND. LAWATE EDITED KHANDEKAR'S AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAYS . 'PAHILI PAVALA' IS THE FIRST PART OF THOSE ESSAYS. THIS BOOK DESCRIBES V.S.KHANDEKAR'S EARLY LITERARY LIFE.

"BY GOD, I DID NOT TOUCH WINE, I DID NOT DRINK IT. UNNECESSARILY DO NOT BLAME ME.` AS RAU KHOT TOTALLY REFUSED EVERYONE PRESENT WAS ASTONISHED, THEY ALL STARTED LAUGHING HEARTILY. SEEING THIS RAU KHOT SAID, "DO NOT LAUGH AT ME, I AM TELLING YOU THE TRUTH. I DID NOT DRINK.` RAMBHAU SAID WITH A SMILE, "MY DEAR, YOUR EYES ARE DECEIVING YOU.` "ANNA, WHAT ARE MY EYES SAYING? NOW JUST SHUT UP FOR GOD`S SAKE.` "OH, YOU MEAN TO SAY THAT WE SHOULD KEEP QUIET TILL YOU ARE OFF THE HANGOVER?` "BUT AS I DID NOT DRINK, SO THERE IS NO QUESTION OF A HANGOVER!` "ARE YOU STILL DENYING THAT YOU ARE HAVING A HANGOVER?` "DO NOT MENTION IT AT ALL. I DID NOT EVEN TOUCH IT, FORGET ABOUT HAVING IT.` ONE OF THE SPECTATORS CAME FORWARD AND SAID LOUDLY, "IF YOU DID NOT EVEN TOUCH IT, THEN WHY WERE YOU HIDING?` "OH! NOW LOOK, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WHY DO YOU THINK I WAS HIDING?` "YES, YOU WERE HIDING ON THE LOFT, OTHERWISE, WHY WOULD YOU GO THERE?` "WHAT WAS I DOING ON THE LOFT? WHAT A QUESTION, I WAS FAST ASLEEP ON THE LOFT.` "WHY SO? WAS THERE NO SPACE ON THE GROUND BELOW?` "WHY ARE YOU SO CONCERNED WITH IT? IT IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS. I WILL SLEEP WHEREVER I PLEASE, BE IT THE GROUND OR THE LOFT.` LISTENING TO RAU`S DIALOGUE EVERYONE AGAIN STARTED LAUGHING HEARTILY.

PATILS`S LITERATURE IS FULL OF CHARM, BEAUTY, ENERGY AND LIVELINESS. HE VERBALIZES HIS LITERATURE IN VIBRANT WORDS. HIS LITERATURE HAS THE SMELL OF TRUE MARATHI SOIL. THE COLOURS, THE FRAGRANCE AND THE FLOW PRESENT IT VERY SMARTLY. HIS LANGUAGE HAS A TYPICAL MARATHI FLAVOUR, IT FLOWS CONTINUOUSLY IN A NARRATIVE STYLE, IT HAS A RHYTHM, THUS MAKING MARATHI LITERATURE MORE WHOLESOME, COMPETENT AND AFFLUENT. ALL THESE QUALITIES HAVE MADE HIM VERY POPULAR.

BALASAHEB, EVERY HUMAN BEING HAS 2 MINDSETS. ONE IS OF AN ANIMAL, AND THE OTHER IS OF GOD. THE FIRST ENJOYS ONLY COHABITATION AND THE LATTER BELIEVES IN SACRIFICE. THE FORMER THINKS ONLY OF PHYSICAL PLEASURES, THE LATER UNDERSTANDS THE GREATNESS THAT LIES BEYOND ALL THE PLEASURES. NATURE HAS GIVEN STRENGTH TO THE FORMER MIND SET, COMPARATIVELY THE SECOND MIND IS RATHER WEAK. THE SECRET OF SUCCESSFUL LIFE LIES AT THE CENTRE. IF BOTH THESE MINDS ARE EQUAL IN STRENGTH THEN ONE CAN MAKE LIFE HAPPY AND IF THIS HAPPY LIFE IS DEVELOPED PROPERLY THEN THERE LIES THE SUCCESS. EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THIS BUT A FEW PRACTICE IT PROPERLY. THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THESE TWO MINDS IS A NEVER ENDING PROCESS. IF THE SECOND MIND OVERPOWERS THE FIRST THEN A PERSON WITH SUCH MINDSET CAN FACE ANY DANGER. BUT IF A PERSON GETS INTO THE CLUTCHES OF FIRST MINDSET THEN HE BECOMES WEAK, FALLS PREY TO TEMPTATIONS AND LEARNS TO SWINDLE WITH THOSE NEAR AND DEAR AND THEN....

VILLAGERS OFTEN USE"CHANCHI`, A BAG SEWN FROM CLOTH HAVING MANY POCKETS. WHENEVER SOMEONE WANTS TO EAT "VIDA` HE TAKES OUT THE DESIRED MATERIAL FROM THE VARIOUS POCKETS OF THE "CHANCHI` AND HAS HIS "VIDA`. SHANKAR PATIL HAS PRESERVED MANY EXPERIENCES DEEP IN HIS MIND JUST LIKE THE"CHANCHI`. HE USES THEM TO MAKE HIS WRITING SAVOURY. OPENING PATIL`S MODERN "CHANCHI` WITH THE SPECIAL KOLHAPURI LANGUAGE, GUARANTEES AN INTERESTING READING.

A BENCH, A TEMPLE, A VILLAGE, PEOPLE LIKE YOU OR ME AND A BLIND OLD MAN-THESE ARE SOME OF THE SET UPS IN MRS. SUDHA MURTY`S COMPILATION OF SHORT STORIES FROM PEOPLE ACROSS INDIA. THE OLD MAN AND HIS GOD: DISCOVERING THE SPIRIT OF INDIA IS A COLLECTION OF INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS GATHERED BY THE WRITER FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEIR OWN STORIES TO TELL. THE STORIES ARE SUCH THAT THEY ARE VERY SIMPLE TO UNDERSTAND AND WRITTEN IN A SIMPLE WAY. THEY DESCRIBE THE INCIDENTS THAT ARE RECORDED BY MRS. MURTY DURING HER JOURNEY, WHICH SHE SUBSEQUENTLY SUMMARIZED IN HER EASY TO READ BOOK. HER STORIES ARE A PART OF THE VERY SOUL OF HUMAN BEINGS. FOR INSTANCE, THERE IS ONE ABOUT HOW AN OLD BLIND MAN GAVE HER SHELTER IN A STORM WHEN THERE WAS NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. ANOTHER STORY IS ABOUT HOW BROTHERS TURNED AWAY FROM EACH OTHER WHEN SOMEWHERE ELSE TWO PEOPLE, WHO WERE NOT EVEN RELATED BECAME CLOSER THAN BROTHERS. THERE ARE ALSO STORIES OF YOUNG PEOPLE TRYING TO MAKE A CAREER FOR THEMSELVES AND ALSO ABOUT THE OPPRESSION OF WOMEN WHO STRUGGLE FOR THEIR RIGHTS. MANY DIFFERENT LIVES TOUCHED THE HEART OF MRS. SUDHA MURTY AND ENTITLED HER TO WRITE THE OLD MAN AND HIS GOD. MRS. MURTY HAS EXPLORED THE SPIRIT OF INDIA WITH HER SET OF SHORT STORIES. THE SPIRIT OF INDIA IS IN THE PEOPLE, THEIR LIVES AND THEIR STORIES WHICH CAN IMPACT THE WAY OF THE WORLD. THE OLD MAN AND HIS GOD: DISCOVERING THE SPIRIT OF INDIA WAS PUBLISHED BY PENGUIN IN 2006. IT IS AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK EDITIONS.

WEIR. "WHO IS THERE IN YOUR HOUSE?" "DO YOU POSSESS ANY LAND?" "DO YOU BELIEVE IN GOD?" "LOOK AT THESE CLOTHES FOR THE BABY, THESE FROCKS, THESE CAPS. THE BABY WAS BORN AFTER A LONG TIME, NATURALLY, WE MUST MAKE THIS OCCASION SPECIAL." "HAVE SOME LADDU. MOTHER HAS ESPECIALLY MADE THEM FOR HER DAUGHTERINLAW." "WAIT A MOMENT. LET ME SHOW YOU A NOVEL ITEM, WORTH SEEING!" HE TOOK OUT A BIG MERRY GO ROUND. IT HAD PLASTIC ELEPHANTS, HORSES. WHILE ROTATING IT BROUGHT IMMENSE AFFECTION IN THE EYES OF THE OWNER. SEEING THIS, THE FELLOW TRAVELLER`S EYES ALSO BECAME WET. HE TOOK OUT HIS HANKY FROM HIS POCKET, WIPED HIS EYES AND SAID, "YOU ARE SO ENTHUSIASTIC!" THROUGHOUT THE JOURNEY FOR 23 HOURS, THE FELLOW TRAVELLER WATCHED THIS ASTONISHINGLY. BUT NOW TRAVELLER STOPPED TALKING, HE LOST ALL HIS STRENGTH, HE WAS NOT ABLE TO UTTER A SINGLE WORD, AS IF HIS TONGUE WAS TIED UP. HIS LUGGAGE BECAME UNBEARABLY HEAVY FOR HIM NOW. WHO DIED? HOW WAS HE RELATED? WHOM WAS HE RELATED TO? HE FELT THE PAIN. HE WAS CHOKED WITH EMOTIONS. HE STARTED SOBBING UNCONTROLLABLY. HE STOOD THERE FOR SOME TIME. HE THOUGHT THROUGH HIS SOBS AND THEN WITH A HEAVY MIND STARTED WALKING FORWARD. HAD A WEIR BURST?

THE NAME SUGGESTS THE FOUNDATION OF THE STORIES. THIS IS AN EXCLUSIVE COLLECTION OF ONLY 8 STORIES BASED ON SOME WHIMSICAL CHARACTERS. EVERY MAIN CHARACTER IN ALL THESE STORIES HAS ONE THING IN COMMON. IN A TRUE SENSE, THEY ARE NOT WHIMSICAL; ACTUALLY THEY HAVE SET THEIR OWN DOCTRINES AND HAVE STUCK TO THEM, NO MATTER WHATEVER HAPPENS. IN ONE OF THE STORIES, THE HERO DIES JUST BECAUSE OF HIS DOCTRINES. THE OTHER STORY IS BASED ON THE MENTALITY OF BEING LAME; IT PROVES THAT MANY A TIMES THOSE WHO ARE PHYSICALLY DISABLED ARE MORE FIRM THAN THOSE WHO ARE PHYSICALLY CAPABLE OF DOING EVERYTHING BUT HAVE A LAME AND LIMP MIND. ONE STORY IS BASED ON THE INSECURITY; HERE THE HEROINE WHO HAD REFUSED SOMEONE WHOM SHE LOVED SO MUCH COMES INTO CONTACT WITH HIM AGAIN. SHE FEELS THAT HE WILL BLACKMAIL HER BUT FAILS TO UNDERSTAND HIM, AT THE END, THOUGH VERY BEAUTIFUL, HER INSECURE MIND SHOWS ITS UGLINESS. EACH AND EVERY STORY HAS SOME SPLENDID FELLING OR OTHER TO SHARE WITH US, TO REVEAL THE VASTNESS AND THE INSULARITY OF THE MIND.

THIS 20TH CENTURY HAS PRESENTED THE WORLD WITH MANY THINGS GOOD AS WELL AS BAD, BUT THE BEST OF ALL IS THE IMPORTANCE GIVEN TO THE COMMON MAN, MAKING HIM UNCOMMON. WHAT IS LIFE? IT IS A COMBINATION OF HUMAN BEINGS COMMON AS WELL AS UNCOMMON 99% ARE COMMON, ONLY ONE PERCENT OF THEM ARE UNCOMMON. TILL TODAY WE HEARD ONLY FROM THESE ONE PERCENT PEOPLE, THEY WERE KINGS, SAINTS, PHILOSOPHERS, POETS, SCIENTIST, HEROES... THEY PRESENTED THEIR SUGARCOATED TALKS AND CHEATED THE COMMON MEN. THEY KILLED THE INITIATIVES OF EVERY COMMON MAN. STILL, THE COMMON MAN WAS STRIVING WITH ALL HIS STRENGTH TO SAFE GUARD THE CULTURAL VALUES, THE ONLY SUPPORT FOR HUMANITY. THE HERO OF THIS NOVEL IS A COMMON MAN. HE DOES NOT HAVE ANY EXCLUSIVE QUALITIES, HE DOES NOT SUCCEED IN DOING SOMETHING EXCLUSIVELY GOOD BUT HE HESITATES TO DO ANYTHING BAD. THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING NOVEL BY KHANDEKAR EXPRESSING THE PAINS IN THE LIFE OF A COMMON MAN.

THIS COUNTRY IS WEIRD. IT IS A HUGE AND COLOURFUL COBWEB. THERE ARE JOBS HERE, MACHINES HERE, MECHANISMS HERE, HAPPINESS, TREASURES, DOLLARS, YOU WILL FIND EVERYTHING HERE. OUR PEOPLE FALL PREY TO THE LUXURY. BUT ONCE THEY REACH HERE, THEY ARE UNABLE TO TURN BACK. OUR COUNTRY ALSO HAS NOTHING TO CALL THEM BACK. OUR COUNTRY HAS THOUSANDS OF WINDOWS TO GO OUT, BUT NOT SINGLE DOOR TO CALL THEM BACK THROUGH, TO TAKE THEM IN. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO IMAGINE THE LIFE THERE. ARE THOSE PEOPLE HAPPY WHO END UP BUYING ONLY IN SALES AND WHO KEEP ON MULTIPLYING THE DOLLAR WITH THE CURRENT RATE OF RUPEE? THERE THEY EARN THOUSAND DOLLARS AND WORK IN VERY ORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT THEY PRETEND TO EARN 40 THOUSANDS AND TRY TO PROTECT THEIR VANITY. WE GO OVER THERE TO EARN DOLLARS, FOR THAT WE LEAVE EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE A PART OF, OUR PEOPLE, OUR RELATIVES, OUR ORIGIN, WE FACE THE HARSH WEATHER THERE BUT WE NEVER BECOME A PART OF THEIR LIFE. NONE OF THE INDIANS UNDERSTAND HOW COSTLY THIS DOLLAR IS FOR US. WE ARE CAUGHT UP IN THE MARSHY BUSINESS OF DOLLARS. THERE WE GET A MUCH BETTER JOB THAN WE DESERVE. THERE IS NO POLITICS OF LANGUAGE, CASTE ETC. WE CAN WORK IN A HAPPY ENVIRONMENT WITH A CONTENTED MIND. IF I LEAVE EVERYTHING AND COME BACK THEN I WILL BE VERY DEPRESSED.

RANJIT DESAI`S SHORT STORIES ARE DIFFERENT THAN OTHER SHORT STORIES. THEY ALWAYS TAKE PLACE IN WONDROUS SITUATIONS, ALMOST HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT AS IF IN A FAIRY TALE. THEY ARE NOT RESTRAINED TO MAHARASHTRA. THEY HAVE A VAST BACKGROUND, THAT OF WHOLE INDIA. THIS AUTHOR LITERALLY LIVES THE LINE, "INDIA IS MY COUNTRY`. THE STORIES ARE MORE HISTORICAL THAN REALISTIC. MUSIC AND ROMANCE ARE THE INEVITABLE FACTORS OF THE STORIES. THE CHARACTERS ARE ROMANTIC AND LOVE TO BE IN THEIR OWN WORLD, ALWAYS LOST IN THE DREAMY ENVIRONMENT. FOR THEM, NOTHING VALUES MORE THAN LOVE AND ART, NOT EVEN THEIR LIFE. THE FEMALE CHARACTERS WHICH MEET US THROUGH HIS STORIES ARE ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL, PETITE, FRAGILE, WILLING TO SACRIFICE FOR LOVE WITHOUT ANY HESITATION IN THEIR MINDS. HE HAS ALWAYS PENNED THEM DOWN VERY DELICATELY, WHATEER THEIR OCCUPATION IS, BE IT A SINGER, A DANCER, A PROSTITUTE OR A HOUSEWIFE. HE HAS ALWAYS BEING CONSIDERATE OF THE DELICATE FEMALE MIND. HIS STORIES TAKE US TO PLACES FAR AWAY, MAKE US FORGET THE REAL WORLD. THE BACKGROUND IS EQUALLY COLOURFUL WITH ALL THE DETAILS PENNED DOWN MINUTELY. THIS SHOWS HIS OBSERVATION SKILLS. THOUGH HIS STORIES TEND TO BE MORE ON THE WONDEROUS SIDE, THE CHARACTERS ARE TYPICAL HUMAN BEINGS. HE HAS SKETCHED THEM VERY REALISTICALLY SO MUCH THAT WE AUTOMATICALLY AND UNKNOWINGLY GET INVOLVED, LAUGHING WITH THEIR HAPPINESS AND CRYING WITH THEIR SORROWS.PRALHAD KESHAV ATRE

GERMINATE LIKE THE SEED AND GROW INTO A TREE. MERGE LIKE A DROP OR A WAVE AND BECOME LIKE THE OCEAN. DROWN! MERGE! CEASE TO EXIST! SURRENDER YOURSELF COMPLETELY INTO THE SELF; LOSE YOUR DUALITY; THEN YOU WILL BECOME THE OCEAN! BECOME VAST! THERE WILL BE NO MORE BOUNDARIES, NO SORROW, AND NO PAIN. YOU WILL BE NEITHER POOR NOR MEEK. YOU WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED, WEALTHY, AND LIKE A KING. ALL DIVINE INCARNATIONS ARE YOUR REFLECTIONS. YOU ARE NO LONGER ‘YOU’; YOU ARE GOD!

THE TWO WORLD WARS THAT TOOK PLACE IN THIS CENTURY ARE TWO HISTORICAL MAJOR EVENTS. THROUGHOUT THE WORLD THEY REVOKED REFORMATION; SOCIAL AS WELL AS CULTURAL. INDIA IS NOT AN EXCEPTION TO THIS, AS MAHARASHTRA IS A PART OF INDIA SO IT IS NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT MAHARASHTRA IS ALSO UNDERGOING DRASTIC REFORMATION. AT THE TIME OF SECOND WORLD WAR, THERE WAS YOUNG GENERATION WORKING AROUND. THEY WERE INSPIRED WITH AN AIM. THEY WERE BORN AT THE TIME OF FIRST WORLD WAR, THEY WERE IMPRESSED BY TILAK`S IDEALS INITIALLY AND LATER ON THOSE OF GANDHIS. THEY WERE MARCHING STEADILY TOWARDS THEIR AIMS. THEY DIDN`T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THEIR DOMESTIC OR FINANCIAL GRUDGES. THEY WANTED INDEPENDENCE. ABHAY IS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS YOUNG GENERATION. HE IS STIMULATED HE IS ALL SET FOR REVOLUTION WHEN HIS SENSITIVE MIND NOTICES THE STRUGGLE FOR REMAINING ALIVE, WHEN HE WITNESSES THE CONDITION OF MANY WHOSE LIFE RESEMBLES THAT OF AN UNCLAIMED CHILD IN A GARBAGE PIT. WHEN HE SEES THEM WALLOWING IN POVERTY HE MAKES UP HIS MIND TO WALK TOWARDS REVOLUTION. MAHARASHTRA IN DISTINCTLY DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS; ONE IS OF THOSE UPPER MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE LOSING THEIR MORALS, THEIR AIMS, AND THE OTHER IS OF THOSE LOWER MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE WHO ARE INTELLIGENT AND HAVE NOT LOST THEIR SENTIMENTS. ABHAY REPRESENTS THE INTELLIGENT AND SENSITIVE CLASS. MANY OF THE READERS WILL FIND ABHAY ONE OF THEM.

A few years ago, Shantabai was running a column `kavita smaranatlya` through the magazine `Antarnaad`. In this, she was presenting the poems which were her favourite, which she had liked very much, which she had remembered very well. While doing so, the original poem was given with Shantabai`s review about it. There were 25 such reviews by her in the magazine. This book presents them all together for the convenience of the readers. We all are aware of the poetess Shantabai. Her study and research of all the poems, new or old, her love for poetry, her choice everything itself is exclusive. She reads other`s poem with an open mind. She grasps the beauty without any prejudice. Her reviews about the poems she liked the best thus become master pieces. This book will satisfy the hunger of the readers as well as the students studying the poetry format in detail.

'EKA PANACHI KAHANI' IS AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MARATHI LITERARY LEGEND V.S.KHANDEKAR. EVERY TRUTH HAS MANY ASPECTS AND MANY A TIMES THEY ARE VERY MUCH IN CONTRAST WITH EACH OTHER. BUT KHANDEKAR HONESTLY DESCRIBES HIS LIFE FROM BIRTH TILL MARRIAGE.

`I feel contented with the thought of death, of which all are scared.`_ Kabir. Those who are ignorant are scared of death. Those who understand death, have conquered life. Death is the supreme beauty of this world. If you want to destroy your shadow, you just have to stand still at a place, this kills your shadow. The same thing applies to death. The more you try to run away from death, the more it will follow you. But stand still, give it a fearless glance and you will find elixir in it. Stop and face the death. Learn to recognize death. You will come across the god. Osho tries to reveal new meaning from Kabir`s `doha`. Osho`s simple language might help you to come across the true meaning of life.

Kabir says, `gurudev bina jev ke kalpana na mite` The first step towards search is lack of knowledge. The ignorant lives his imaginations. Imagination is the formula for ignorance and truth is the formula for knowledge. Teacher holds you by your hand and walks you toward truth. Teacher frees you from imagination. If you walk on your own then there are 100% chances of losing your way. He already has found what you have started to search now. The distance between you and your teacher is clear, you are at the starting point and he is at the ending point. Very rarely, we come across nutty people like Kabir. But whosoever reads his `doha` actually reads his thoughts, sees his devotion, and becomes one like him, crazy, nutty. Osho was one of such crazy people. He gave a new dimension to Kabir`s `doha`. He illustrated those meanings through his sermons. This is an exclusive invention by two novel crazies, Kabir and Osho.