Books: Your Best Friends

Lokmanya Tilak had once famously said, ‘I will welcome books even in hell, for they can turn any hell into heavens’ Against the backdrop of book fares and literary seminars being held at various places, Kanti Bhatt chooses to discuss some memorable books in this cover story. Kolkata has already become a heaven for bibliophiles with its famous Book Fare drawing lacks of books lovers. In Chandrapur, Maharastra a Marathi Literary Seminar has been thrown open. In this book-centric month, nothing could be better than a seasoned and erudite book lover deliberating on some precious books.

Daniel Webster, founder of famous Webster Dictionary had once said, ‘If you do not read, don’t lead...’ How true it is. In other words, if you don’t read, please do not be audacious enough to be a politician, or a social leader or a trade leader. At the very outset the author makes his intentions very clear that he wants to dwell on the importance of reading and discuss some books. stressing the importance of reading, the says that famous writers and journalists like R K Narayan, Khushawant Singh, Kuldeep Nayyar have been voracious readers and have their houses overflowing with books. He then cites the example of R K Narayan who was once asked: how to be a writer. And he promptly said: you sit down to write and you are a writer. He further added that writing may lead one to divinity.

The cover story then emphasizes that if an established writer like R K Narayan gives you guarantee that writing can make you divine, what better reason you may need to read? One should, he says, set aside some budget for books, adding that he himself spends a whopping amount on books. Pandit Kedarnath had written in his Vivek and Saadhana that if you are resolute about achieving something, God strengthens your determination and helps you achieve it. Colman McCarthy, renowned columnist had said that books are our inner companions.

Explaining how the genesis of the cover story was born, the writer says that he was asked by the editor of Chitralekha as to what books he had read in 2011. Against this background, the cover story talks about the books the writer read last year. The first among his favourite books is a small book penned by Chanakya some 3000 years ago. It is amazing to see how relevant the book is even in present context, be it business or any other field.

For the 21st century man, Chanakya hits the nail when he says there is no need for all this huff and puff, as you will get only what is written in your destiny. There is no need to fret over it. As for women, Chanakya is quite forthright and often bluntly outspoken. It is only Chanakya who can say that beautiful woman can only have the courage of talking to one man, casting glances at another and secretly loving third one. As for less beautiful women, Chanakya advises wise people that they should not hesitate marrying them, as they would do everything to protect their homes and chastity.

The writer then talks about his next favourtie books like A Point in Time by David Horowitz, Erotica by sexologist Dr Prakash Kothari and so on and so forth. The story also carries a boxed item where Gunavant Shah talks about his favourite book.

This is a rare story written on the importance of reading and how it can change our life. It also emphasizes that absence of reading robs life of all its substance. Reading this story may motivate you to revive the habit of reading if you have temporarily suspended it for paucity of time. In case you are already a good reader, this story will reinforce your faith in reading and may enthuse you to read more.

A great read.


Fake Encounters: who’s next? 

It seems the Gujarat government has not been able to lay the ghosts of so called fake encounters to rest, or so it appears as the Supreme Court has recently asked a retired judge to probe the 21 fake encounters, alleged to have been executed by Gujarat Police between 2002 and 2006.

The matter came to light in response to a writ petition filed by journalist B G Vergese and leading lyricist Javed Akhtar whose contention is that the victims of these fake encounters belong to the minority community. They believe that these hapless souls have been executed even though they were innocents. They want the case to be thoroughly investigated and families of victims be compensated. 

So now who in the police department will be next one to go behind bars?      

Mahesh Shah gives an in-depth report of the case that has shaken the Gujarat police department.


Vanaraj Bhatia: Maverick Musician

Not many Gujaratis are aware of the fact that this extremely talented musician who has been awarded Padmashree this year is a Gujarati himself. The story therefore deserves a special mention as it brings out the fact least known among the community members. Ketan Mistry introduces us to this genius musician who has done wonders in his illustrious career and done us all proud.

Having done English Hons from a Mumbai college in 1949, Vanaraj Bhai who inherited his music genes from his grandfather joined Royal Academy of Music, London and from there he learnt Western Classical music in France. He then starts his musical journey in India where he joins Delhi University as a reader of Musicology. Later he created close to 7000 jingles for the advertising world, some of which have had direct or indirect influence on Bollywood music.

Later he also made music for directors like Shyam Benegal and Govind Nehlani and his work was appreciated. But that branded him as an art film music film director. But this maverick musician who is wedded to music has no regrets. He says he has lived life to the fullest, so what if he has earned less, he asks?

There are two more stories in the issue, both concerning the Patel community but in different context. The first story (by Jignesh Kotecha) deals with child marriage between two young cousins that has outraged the Patel community in Chamaradi village in Amereli district whereas the second story (Parthiv Vora) is about industrialist Naresh Patel who has taken up the cause of his community with single-track devotion and of course the right dose of spirituality.

Besides the above, the issue has regular Political & Humour Columns, Zalak, Cardiogram, Priyadarshini Section, new chapter of novel, Health Helpline, Jalsaghar and Mukhwas.


Ishita’s Elchi

When you are buying a book, you are not buying a kilo or half kilo paper,
You are buying a whole new life..!!