Books published by Mehta Publishing House

WHAT IS HUMAN LIFE? IT IS A UNION OF THREE BEAUTIFUL FEELINGS. THE FIRST IS OUR OWN HAPPINESS AND PROGRESS. THE SECOND FELLING IS TOWARDS OUR FAMILY, THE OBLIGATIONS, THE INDEBTNESS. ONE HAS TO TRY TO REPAY IT TO THE BEST OF HIS/HER ABILITY. THE THIRD IS THE UNSEEN FLOW, TO HELP THE SOCIETY PROGRESS, THE SOCIETY OF WHICH WE ARE MEMBERS. ONES LIFE CAN BE SAID FULFILLED ONLY WHEN THE INDEBTEDNESS OF OURSELVES, THAT OF THE FAMILY AND OF THE SOCIETY IS SATISFIED AT THE SAME TIME. IF THERE IS NO CONFLICT BETWEEN THESE THREE THEN WE CAN SAY THAT THE PERSON IS SUCCESSFUL IN HIS LIFE. V. S. KHANDEKAR`S BOOK REVEALS THESE SECRETS OF HUMAN LIFE IN HIS NOVEL. THERE ARE MANY CHARACTERS IN THIS NOVEL OF THEM, ANAND BELIEVES ONLY IN SACRIFICE, THE TRADITIONAL BELIEF; APPA AND BHAYYA ARE THOSE INCOMPETENT PEOPLE WHO SHADE OFF THEIR RESPONSIBLITIES AND JUSTIFY THEMSELVES BY MAKING A SINGLE PERSON SHOULDER IT. MANIK IS HOPELESS, LITERATE GIRL BUT HAS ALWAYS FAILED IN RECOGNISING A GOOD MIND, USHA IS YET ANOTHER CHARACTER WHO HAS BEEN ALOOF, NEVER EXPRESSING FEELINGS, GOOD OR BAD. WHAT ARE THESE CHARACTERS EILLING US? THEY TELL US THAT FOLLOWING THE CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS BLINDLESSLY IS HARMFUL NOT ONLY TO THE PERSON FOLLOWING THEM BUT ALSO TO THE SOCIETY AT LARGE. IT WAS IN 1939 THAT THE AUTHOR STATED HIS VIEWS AS FOLLOWS, "WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE VALUES IN A MAN`S LIFE THEN SACRIFICE IS ALWAY HIGHLY REGARDED THAN ENDURING. BUT THE SACRIFICE SHOULD ALWAYS BE FOR A NOBLE CAUSE.` DO NOT YOU THINK THAT THIS VIEW IS TRUE EVEN TODAY?

V.S.KHANDEKAR, THE WELL KNOWN MARATHI LITTERATEUR HAS EDITED A FEW OF THE STORIES WRITTEN BY EMINENT WRITERS IN THE EARLY CENTURY. THIS INCLUDES STORIES BY HARI NARAYAN APTE, DIWAKAR KRISHNA, V. S. SUKHTANKAR, Y. G. JOSHI, LAKSHMANRAO SARDESIA AND WAMAN CHORGHADE. TRANSLATION OF 'SHRIMATI' BY RAVINDRANATH TAGORE IS INCLUDED HEREIN. WHILE DESCRIBING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A STORY, AMERICAN CRITIQUE CLAYTON HAMILTON HAD SAID THAT, 'FOR A STORY TO BE IMPRESSIVE AN AUTHOR SHOULD TAKE CARE THAT THE PLACES, INCIDENCES, CHARACTERS, TIME AND EXPLANATION SHOULD NOT BE LENGTHY. WRITING SHOULD BE SHORT AND PRECISE. IN A SHORT STORY, THE SUBJECT OR THE INCIDENCE DO NOT HELD MUCH IMPORTANCE. RATHER LIFE WITH ITS VERSATILITY IS IMPORTANT AND THE PERSONALITY OF THE AUTHOR WHO CONSIDERS THIS LIFE IN A POETIC YET TRUTHFUL MANNER BECOMES IMPORTANT. AFTER READING THIS COLLECTION BY THE EMINENT WRITERS, THE READER WILL SURELY RECOGNISE THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROGRESS OF MARATHI SHORT STORIES.

FREEDOM FIGHTER SHIVRAM MAHADEV PARANJPE WAS A TRUE BY HEART NATIONALIST. HIS ESSAYS POINTED OUT THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF PATRIOTISM. THESE ESSAYS ARE COLLECTED & EDITED BY RENOWN MARATHI AUTHOR V.S.KHANDEKAR.

ERNST TOLLER WAS A GERMAN LEFT-WING PLAYWRIGHT, BEST KNOWN FOR HIS EXPRESSIONIST PLAYS. HE SERVED IN 1919 FOR SIX DAYS AS PRESIDENT OF THE SHORT-LIVED BAVARIAN SOVIET REPUBLIC, AND WAS IMPRISONED FOR FIVE YEARS FOR HIS ACTIONS. DURING HIS DAYS IN THE PRISON TOLLER WROTE LETTERS TO HIS FRIENDS WHICH ARE EXCLUSIVE LITERARY PIECE . THESE LETTERS FROM TOLLER ARE TRANSLATED BY V.S.KHANDEKAR .

A COMPILATION OF SELECTED STORIES BY DATT RAGHUNATH KAVATHEKAR BY V. S. KHANDEKAR. KAVATHEKAR IS ONE OF THE PIONEERS IN MARATHI LITERATURE. HE WROTE EXTENSIVELY ABOUT INDIAN WOMEN. HIS WRITING MAINLY HAD THE SHADE OF COMPASSION. HE HAS ALWAYS SUCCEEDED IN SHOWING THE BRIGHT AND VIRTUOUS SIDE AS WELL. THIS BOOK CONSISTS OF SEVEN STORIES FROM FOUR OF HIS BOOKS. HIS WRITING IS SIMPLE AND LUCID. IT RESEMBLES THE MILD, SPONTANEOUS AND REFRESHING RAINS. THERE IS NO THUNDERING OF CLOUDS, NO LIGHTENING IN THE SKIES, NO HARSH WINDS AND NO HEAVY RAINFALL. YET, SHRAVANA IS ONE OF THE BEST SEASONS WITH THE PLAY OF RAIN AND LIGHT.

THIS IS A SHORT EASSY COLLECTION OF RENOWN AUTHOR ANANT KANEKAR EDITED BY V.S.KHANDEKAR. THESE ARE ESSAYS WHERE AUTHOR HAS PRECISELY POINTED OUT VARIOUS ASPECTS OF PERSONALITIES. THESE ARE INTELLECTUAL THOUGH HUMOUROUS ESSAYS.

THIS BOOK CONTAINS SPEECHES BY V.S.KHANDEKAR WHICH HE HAS DELIVERED ON THE PLATFORM OF VARIOUS LITERARY FESTIVALS. IT COVERS SPEECHES DELIVERED AT MARATHI SAHITYA SAMMELAN , BADODA, GOMANTAK SAHITYA SAMMELAN, MADGAO, SHARDOPASAK SAMMELAN, MUMBAI MARATHI SAHITYA SAMMELAN & SOLAPUR JILHA SAHITYA SAMMELAN. IN THESE SPEECHES V.S.KHANDEKAR PUTS LIGHT ON VARIOUS FLOWS IN MARATHI LITERATURE .

"IT IS THE UNMENTIONED RULE THAT PROBLEMS THAT ANY HUMAN HAS WOULD NEVER END FOREVER. EVEN THOUGH WE FEEL THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS TODAY, WE HARDLY REALISE THAT THEY END UP IN TO ANOTHER PROBLEMS." "HUMAN LIFE IS BASICALLY NOTHING BUT A CONSTANT DUEL. I CANNOT AVOID THE BITTER TRUTH THAT EVERY MOMENT OUR EMOTIONS BATTLE WITH LUST, CONSCIENCE WITH THOUGHTS AND ETERNAL WITH TEMPORARY. I ALSO AGREE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO TEACH A FEW THINGS RELATED TO DAILY CHAOS OF LIVING TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO BE FOREVER LOST IN PRAISING THE GOD AND THE POWER OF SELF. AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS TRUE THAT A HUMAN LIFE CANNOT BE FULFILLED WITH ONLY VIRTUES OR FOR THAT MATTER ONLY BY EATING FOOD OR SATISFYING THE OTHER NEEDS. THE HUMAN BODY IS IN ITSELF A COMBINATION OF MATERIALISM AND SPIRITUALITY. IF AT ALL WE TRY TO REDUCE ONE PART IN AN ATTEMPT TO EXTEND THE OTHER THEN WE AS HUMANS WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO REDUCE OUR SORROWS AND GAIN ETERNAL BLISS. MAINTAINING A BALANCE BETWEEN BODY AND SOUL, POETRY AND PHILOSOPHY, GREED AND RELIGIOUS GOOD, MATERIALISM AND SPIRITUALITY IS THE BASIC AND MOST IMPORTANT NEED OF A HUMAN MIND AND OUR LIVING AS WELL.

With his infallible power of speech, unfailing voice and peculiar thoughts, Osho has captivated the highly intellectual people. This book is the collection of 22 of his selected lectures. Actually, calling them lecture is an injustice to them, they are a blend of lectures and legends, they blend together all the qualities of these two forms. Once we start reading this book, we will not be able to notice the time that is passing, we will be lost in it. The title itself is a symbol that Osho considers everything from a different angle. In this book, he intersected the word `religion`. He admits to being religious though. For him true religiousness lies in being good, and having a perfect conduct. Have we understood it earlier? Religion has affected the public opinion tremendously. It has influenced the society with views like god, sin and virtue, heaven and hell, resolution of mind, sacrifice, etc. Naturally, such a person will find Osho`s thoughts rebellious. It is impossible to come up with such thoughts unless one has studied pervasively, contemplated in depth and has immense intelligence. The peculiar features of Osho"s lectures are his sweet language with continuous flow, humour, and the jokes that he tells in between. Reading the book is like having a conversation with him in real. Even after completing the book we hear his dialogues in our mind. We keep on floating in the same environment for a long time.

HOW CHARMING WAS THE IDOL! ALL THE DEVOTEES WERE WORRIED ABOUT WHERE TO KEEP THE IDOL. THE IDOL ANSWERED, "THE PURE HEART OF DEVOTEES IS MY HEAVEN.` BUT THEN HOW CAN ONE SEE THE IDOL INSTALLED IN THE HEART WITH NAKED EYES? ALL THE DEVOTEES DECIDED TO BUILD A BEAUTIFUL SHRINE FOR THE IDOL. SOME BROUGHT SANDALWOOD, SOME CARVED IT EXQUISITELY, DAY BY DAY; THE HEAVENLY ALLURE WAS APPEARING IN THE SHRINE STEP BY STEP. EVERYDAY THEY STARTED WORSHIPPING IT. SOME STARTED BRINGING LOVELY FRESH FLOWERS FOR IT. EACH DEVOTEE WANTED TO PROVE HIS DEVOTION. THEY ALL STARTED COMPETING EACH OTHER WHILE COLLECTING THINGS REQUIRED FOR WORSHIPPING. THE DDAY ARRIVED. THE IDOL WAS COVERED WITH FLOWERS. THE SHRINE WAS COVERED IN FLOWERS. THERE WAS FRAGRANCE EVERYWHERE. THE HIGHLY LIGHTED SHRINE WAS NOW COMPETING THE STARS IN THE SKY. THE DEVOTEES PERFORMED POOJA WITH A CONTENT MIND AND TURNED TO GO BACK. EACH ONE STUMBLED UPON SOMETHING. EACH ONE BENT TO SEE WHAT IT WAS. BUT NO ONE COULD MAKE OUT WHAT IT WAS. EVERY ONE STAMPED OVER IT AND LEFT. ALAS! IT WAS THE SAME IDOL. SOMEONE, SOMETIME HAD TROWN IT OUTSIDE. WHO? GOD KNOWS....

EACH NATION HAS HISTORICAL FIGURES TO WORSHIP. APART FROM THIS, MANY A TIMES EACH STATE OF EACH NATION HAS ROLE MODELS FROM THE PAST BUT NOT FORGOTTEN HISTORY. MAHARASHTRA HAS ITS OWN IDOLS. THE GREATEST AND MOST LOVED OF THEM ALL IS SHIVAJI MAHARAJ.

REVISED & ENLARGED EDITION WITH UNPUBLISHED MATERIAL AND BEHINDTHESCENES DETAILS OF ‘THE CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION: CHANGING PEOPLE’S DESITINY’ THE SAGA OF INDIA’S FIRST AND THE HIGHEST RANKED WOMAN OFFICER IN THE INDIAN POLICE SERVICE WHO PIONEERED A HUMANE METHOD OF POLICING MARKED BY WILLPOWER, DEVOTION TO DUTY, INNOVATION, COMPASSION AND, ABOVE ALL, A NEVERSAYDIE ATTITUDE THE EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT FORTHRIGHT AND UNSPARING IN THIS FULLY REVISED AND UPDATED EDITION PROVIDES A WELLDOCUMENTED EXPOSÉ OF THE SABOTAGE OF POLICE REFORMS (TO BE IMPLEMENTED AS PER A VERDICT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA) BY CERTAIN BUREAUCRATS AND BY SOME MEMBERS OF 106~’S OWN SERVICE. THESE PERSONS ALSO BLOCKED HER APPOINTMENT AS POLICE COMMISSIONER. THIS KIND OF SABOTAGE WAS THE PROVERBIAL LAST STRAW THAT COMPELLED HER TO ‘SHAKE OFF THE SHACKLES’. AFTER A LONG AND REWARDING INNINGS (35 YEARS IN ALL), 106~ DECIDED TO MOVE ON. SHE BELIEVED THAT SHE COULD NO LONGER WORK WITH PERSONS WHO WERE KEEPING THE SYSTEM ENSLAVED. SHE WAS CLEAR IN HER MIND THAT SHE WAS NOT GOING TO BE SUBORDINATED BY THIS TEAM OF SABOTEURS. WHAT DIRECTION AND LEADERSHIP WOULD SUCH PERSONS PROVIDE EXCEPT TO CREATE PYGMIES AND STIFLE INITIATIVE AND CRUSH MORALE? SHE DID NOT WANT TO BE A PART OF SUCH DUBIOUS ‘HISTORY’. AS SHE ASSERTS: ‘MY SELFRESPECT, MY INNATE SENSE OF JUSTICE AND MY BELIEFS AND VALUES IN LIFE PROPELLED ME TO THROW OFF THE “YOKES” THAT WERE ALREADY OBSTRUCTING MY GROWTH AND I NOW MADE UP MY MIND TO SET MYSELF FREE AND BE A MASTER OF MY OWN TIME.’ THIS IS A NOHOLDSBARRED NARRATIVE PACKED WITH PUNCH, SPIRIT AND VITALITY.

What is the true meaning of the word "sadhu`? Kabir explains this in detail in his poetical composition. Osho has further elaborated them with his fluent and sweet language. Every human being is a "sadhu` inside, his life, his body is woven with his feelings like sacrifice, lust. Kabir has commented with the help of many simple symbols. Osho uses it to present his idea about human life. Kabir`s poetic compositions and Osho`s exposition makes us realize their efforts in understanding the human life from all aspects.

ONE IS BOUND TO RETURN TO SOBRIETY SOME TIME OR THE OTHER, AFTER THE INEBRIATING HIGH OF ALCOHOL, POWER, OR MONEY WANES. BUT THE HIGH OF RELIGION IS THE WORST FORM OF ADDICTION. ONE SHOULD NOT TEMPT IT, MR…. WHY IS RELIGION ‘BAD’? WHO SAYS SO? RELIGION IS INNOCENT, IGNORANT. WHEN RELIGION GOES HANDINHAND WITH HUMANITARIAN VALUES, IT IS LIKE HEAVEN ON EARTH. BUT RELIGION DEVOID OF HUMANISM IS THE ROAD TO HELL, NOT HEAVEN. NOT ONLY ONE’S BELONGINGS BUT ALSO ONE’S COMPANIONS ALONG THIS ROAD FIND IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH THEIR DESTINATION UNSCATHED… THIS HIGH DRAMA CAPTURES THE INSEPARABLE BOND BETWEEN TWO FRIENDS, AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE PARTITION.

ANAND YADAV HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE MINDS OF MARATHI READERS. HE HAS NOT ONLY MASTERED THE SHORT STORIES BUT ALSO THE NOVELS. WE HAVE OFTEN COME ACROSS HIS SENSITIVE MIND THROUGH MANY OF HIS STORIES. HIS MIND NOTICES THE SMALLEST OR TINIEST FEELINGS IN THE MINDS AROUND. HE GIVES MEANING TO THE NEGLECTED FEELINGS OF THOSE DOWNTRODDEN PEOPLE. WE ALL KNOW THAT THE PLANTS THRIVE IN THE SOIL. BUT ARE WE ALL AWARE OF THE FACT THAT IT DOES NOT THRIVE BECAUSE OF THE OUTERMOST LAYER VISIBLE TO OUR EYES? ON THE CONTRARY, IT IS THE LAYER OF SOIL BENEATH THE OUTERMOST SOIL WHICH IS NOT ONLY HUMID BUT ALSO WARM, THUS BEARING THE BEST SUITABLE CONDITIONS FOR THE PLANT TO ROOT ITSELF WELL. THE STORIES INCLUDED UNDER THIS TITLE HERE ARE ALL RELATED TO THE LIFE OF VILLAGERS. THROUGHOUT, THE WRITING REFLECTS THE URGE THAT THE WRITER HAS FELT FOR THE WARMTH BENEATH THESE OTHERWISE DRYAPPEARING PEOPLE. IT IS THIS URGE IN HIM THAT MAKES HIM SEE BEYOND THE DAYTODAY LIVING AND BEARING OF THE VILLAGERS. HE REVEALS THE UNKNOWN SHADES OF THESE PURE MINDS WHICH MAY OTHERWISE APPEAR TO BE SELFISH. THE STORIES HELP THE READERS TO FIND THE WARMTH AND MOISTURE DEEP WITHIN WHICH INITIATES THE DAWNING OF SUPER SENSITIVENESS. THE RESULT… THIS BOOK ENHANCES US IN RETURN, IN TERMS OF HUMANITY.

A PLEASANT CHANGE IN THE WRITINGS OF DM. HE IS FAMOUS FOR HIS WRITING FULL OF HUMOUR AND SATIRE; GENERALLY BASED ON THE RURAL LIFE. HE IS A LOVER OF MANKIND IN GENERAL. POLITICS HAS NEVER BEEN HIS PIECE OF CAKE. HE NEVER WORKED FOR ANY POLITICAL PARTY AND WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY POLITICS IN HIS DAYTODAY LIFE. HE NEVER FOUND POLITICS INTERESTING. HIS INTERESTS WERE DIFFERENT. HE RESEMBLED THE COMMON MAN, READING THE DAILY NEWSPAPER AND FORMING HIS OPINIONS BASED ON THE ARTICLES IT CONTAINED. BUT IT IS HIS NATURE, CURIOUS AS ALWAYS WHICH MADE HIM SENSE THE HUMOUR AND CONTROVERSY REFLECTED BY THE POLITICAL LEADERS. HE WAS UNKNOWINGLY CAPTIVATED BY THE SPEECHES OF THE POLITICIANS. HIS MIND FOUND THE FLAWS AND HULLABALOO HIDDEN IN THESE SPEECHES. THIS FINALLY GAVE BIRTH TO THE STORIES INCLUDED UNDER THIS TITLE. YET, HE HAS STUCK TO HIS USUAL STYLE. HE HAS NOT COMMENTED ANY PARTICULAR PERSON. HE HAS AVOIDED IT. ALL THE ARTICLES INCLUDED HERE ARE BASED ON THE THEN POLITICAL SITUATIONS AND INCIDENCES. YET, THEY ARE EVERFRESH AND EVEN TODAY DO NOT FAIL TO BRING SMILE ON OUR FACES.

THE AUTHOR HAS SPENT HIS CHILDHOOD IN A TOWN LIKE PANDHARPUR WHICH IS ACTUALLY A MIXTURE OF VILLAGE LIFE AND URBAN LIFE. THE RESIDENTS HERE ARE AN EXCELLENT COMBINATION OF INNOCENCE, SHREWDNESS, STUPIDITY AND SMARTNESS. DA MA, THE AUTHOR FAMOUS FOR HIS ENTERTAINING AND HUMOROUS WRITING HAS SUCCESSFULLY PORTRAYED THESE QUALITIES IN HIS STORIES, ALWAYS. HE HAS ALSO WOVEN THESE QUALITIES TOGETHER AND HAS SHOWN THE CONTROVERSIES IN THE MINDS OF THESE PEOPLE. IN THIS BOOK, THE AUTHOR HAS TAKEN A REVIEW OF VARIOUS INCIDENCES RIGHT FROM HIS YOUNG AGE. IT INCLUDES STORIES BASED ON HIS JOURNEYS THROUGH RAILWAYS AND BUSES; HIS VISIT TO MUMBAI WITH HIS FRIEND WHEN BY MISTAKE THEY NOT ONLY ENTERED ANOTHER’S HOUSE BUT ALSO STAYED THERE AS THEIR OWN. THROUGH A FEW ARTICLES, HE HAS TRIED TO ELABORATE A FEW CONCEPTS IN VARIOUS FIELDS. THROUGHOUT THE WRITING, HE REFLECTS HIS WITTY HUMOUR MAKING THE READER FORGET EVERYTHING FOR A MOMENT. HIS WORDS HAS SUCH STRENGTH THAT THEY CREATE A PERFECT PICTURE ENGULFING US IN ITS SURROUNDINGS

ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE LIVED THREE FRIENDS IN THE CITY OF PUNE. THEY GET BORED UP WITH THEIR ROUTINE LIFE. SO THEY PLAN SOMETHING VERY DASHING. THEY DECIDE TO HIRE A BOAT AND GO ON A VOYAGE. THEY BRING THEIR PLAN IN REALITY. AS THEY START THEIR JOURNEY, WE ALSO JOIN THEM ALONG WITH THE PET DOG, MOTYA. ON THE WAY, WE SEE THE CHANGES IN THE NATURE THROUGH THEIR EYES; THE PHYSIOLOGY OF A REGION, THE VARIOUS SHADES OF THE SURROUNDINGS, THE FLASHING AND DASHING MOMENTS AND SO ON. WE ALSO EXPERIENCE THE VARIED MENTALITY. WE LAUGH AT THEIR FIASCO. WE JOIN IN THEIR ADVENTURE. WE SIGH WITH RELIEF WHEN THEY COME OUT OF THE ADVENTURE. WE CHEER THEM UP AND WE DARE TO CHEER THEM UP AT TIMES. IN THE LONG RUN, WE BECOME ONE OF THEM, A VOYAGER………….

YET ANOTHER SET OF STORIES 14 IN ALL, BASED ON THE CHARACTERS LIVING IN BHOKARWADI. A GLIMPSE ON A FEW OF THEM: SHIVA JAMDADE AND HIS TEAM, LOST IN DREAMS OF ESTABLISHING BHOKARWADI HIGH TO EXTRACT KEROSENE FROM THE WELL AND EARN LIKE NEVER BEFORE NANA CHENGAT LOST IN THE LUST OF HIDDEN TREASURES, ROAMING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER BABU WRESTLER DECIDES TO GO ON A LONG LASTING FAST, BUT JUST A DAY BEFORE HIS ANNOUNCED FAST HE CONSUMES A LOT BAPU HAD PROMISED HIS WIFE THAT HE WILL TAKE HER FOR A MOVIE AFTER HE IS ABLE TO SELL THE MAWA, BUT COULD HE KEEP HIS PROMISE? HOW DID THE HEADMASTER ALLOW BAWALE SIR TO CONTINUE WITH HIS BAD HABIT OF CONSUMING NASAL TOBACCO? REALLY, WHAT A LOT IS HAPPENING AT BHOKARWADI! WE ALL MUST VISIT THIS PLACE AND WITNESS THE HAPPENINGS. THE COMEDY IS SOMETHING NOT TO MISS.

MAHARASHTRA, AN EXCLUSIVE STATE OF INDIA, WITH ALL ITS PECULIARITIES AND FEATURES. A GROUP OF VILLAGES AND TOWNS… EACH OF ITS VILLAGE HAS A TEMPLE OF MARUTI, HANUMAN………. A SPECIAL PLACE BUILT AROUND A HUGE TREE……. A STREAM…. SOIL BEARING A TYPICAL FRAGRANCE…….. CROPS REVEALING THE VERY SAME FRAGRANCE……….. AND THE HUMOUR………….. IT FLOWS JUST LIKE THE STREAM……. IT IS A FACT THAT EACH STREAM HAS ITS OWN TASTE…….. THIS IS SO TRUE ABOUT THE HUMOUR……. EACH VILLAGE HAS ITS OWN STYLE OF HUMOUR……….. EVERY DAY, SOMEWHERE IN THE VILLAGE A HUMOUR IS BORN…… IT MIGHT BE THE RESULT OF SOME BLUFFING, OR SIMPLE GESTURES OF THOSE ILLITERATES……. IT MIGHT BE THE OUTCOME OF PRETENTION OR THE MEMORIES OF THOSE PASSED DAYS….. EVEN THE YOUNGSTERS INVITE HUMOUR FROM THEIR CAREFREE ATTITUDES……. HE DOES NOT FAIL TO NOTICE AND PORTRAY IT FOR US………. DM AND HIS WONDERFUL LITERARY WORK ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO LOVE TO READ TODAY AND TOMORROW……….

A SET OF FOUR ONEACT PLAYS EACH BASED ON TOPICS FROM OUR EVERYDAY LIFE.THE FIRST PLAY IS BASED UPON A TEACHER’S ROOM IN A SCHOOL. DA MA DOES NOT FAIL TO PAINT A DETAILED PICTURE OF THE ROOM. HE DESCRIBES NOT JUST THE ROOM BUT ALSO THE MENTALITIES OF EACH PERSON PRESENT THEREIN. THE WAY TEACHERS BEHAVE, THE WAY THEY TREAT EACH OTHER, THE WAY THEY CRAVE FOR A HOLIDAY AND THE WAY THEY DO NOT HESITATE TO CRITICIZE THEIR HEADMASTER. DA MA PICTURES EVERYTHING EXCELLENTLY WELL AND SUCCEEDS IN MAKING A PLACE FOR EVERYONE IN OUR MINDS. WE COME SO CLOSE TO THE SUFFERINGS THAT EACH OF THEM IS PASSING THROUGH THAT AT MOMENTS WE FEEL THAT THIS ALL IS TAKING PLACE IN OUR OWN PREMISES.

IT IS A FACT THAT IN EACH VILLAGE OF MAHARASHTRA THERE IS A TEMPLE OF HANUNMANJI. EACH VILLAGE HAS A ROUND PLATFORM SURROUNDING THE PEEPUL TREE. A SPRING KEEPS ON FLOWING. THE SOIL OF EACH VILLAGE HAS A UNIQUE FRAGRANCE AND A CHARM. AND LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST, IS THE HUMOUR. THE QUALITY OF HUMOUR FOUND IN EACH VILLAGE HAS ITS OWN PECULIAR QUALITY. THE VILLAGERS OFTEN END UP FAKING THINGS. THE ILLITERATE MISCALCULATE AND THE EXTRA CLEVER ONE TAKE PRIDE IN PROVIDING SOLUTIONS, WITHOUT EVEN BEING ASKED ONCE. THE OLD PEOPLE SHARE THEIR LINGERING MEMORIES WITH THE YOUNGSTERS WHILE THE YOUNG PEOPLE SAVOR CHATTING ABOUT THEIR AFFAIRS, NOT SO SERIOUS ONES. EACH DAY BRINGS SUN SHINE AND LOTS OF SMILE. DA MA SUCCEEDS IN CAPTURING THE ESSENCE OF ALL OF THESE IN ‘MAKADMEVA’ AS THE NAME SUGGESTS.

THE VERY FIRST STORY FROM THIS BOOK IS “MAHARAJ”. INDIANS HAVE MANY QUALITIES AND DISQUALIFICATIONS AS WELL. BUT THEY ARE VERY INNOCENT IN CERTAIN ASPECTS. THEY EASILY AGREE TO BELIEVE PEOPLE. ONE MAHARAJ COMES IN TO STAY IN SHIVA’S VILLAGE. SHIVA GETS IMPRESSED BY THE WAY THE MAHARAJ CARRIES HIMSELF. HE INSISTS AND TAKES MAHARAJ TO HIS HOME. VERY SOON MOST OF THE VILLAGERS BEGIN CONSULTING MAHARAJ FOR THEIR PROBLEMS. WITHIN NO TIME, THEY ALL START WORSHIPPING HIM. BUT WHEN THE WRESTLER LOSES THE MATCH, HE REALIZES THAT THE MAHARAJ HAS NO REAL POWER. THIS MAKES OTHERS REALIZE THAT INDEED THE SO CALLED MAHARAJ HAS CHEATED UPON THEM IN MANY WAYS AND HAS ROBBED THEM OF THEIR MONEY. THEY DECIDE TO TAKE BACK WHAT BELONGED TO THEM. ALL IN A GROUP REACH SHIVA’S HOME TO REVEAL THE TRUE COLOURS OF MAHARAJ, MAD WITH A MOB PSYCHOLOGY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND. DO THEY SUCCEED IN REVEALING MAHARAJ’S TRUE COLOURS?

AS THIS TITLE SUGGESTS, THE STORIES INCLUDED HERE ARE SMALL TALKS WITH THE READER. THESE INCLUDE MEMORIES FROM CHILDHOOD AND ALSO SOME RECENT INCIDENCES. THESE STORIES GIVE A FEEL OF A GET TOGETHER AFTER A LONG TIME, FRIENDS FROM COLLEGE MEETING ONCE AGAIN, CHATTING, SHARING AND CARING FOR EACH OTHER. THESE STORIES WERE PUBLISHED IN KESARI NEWSPAPER FROM MAY 1983 TO APRIL 1984. THE CONCEPT WAS TO OFFER THE READER SOMETHING LIGHT TO READ, PURELY ON ENTERTAINMENT BASIS. THERE WAS NO INITIATIVE OF MAKING ONE THOUGHTFUL AND INTROSPECT HIMSELF OR HERSELF. THERE IS NO SINGLE THEME ON WHICH THESE ARTICLES ARE BASED. DM HAS PENNED DOWN WHAT AND WHEN HE FELT LIKE WRITING CASUALLY, YET TOUCHING OUR MINDS, RELAXING US. THAT WAS WHAT HE INTENDED TO DO. ALL THESE ARTICLES ARE BASED ON HIS EXPERIENCES. A FEW TO NAME ARE: THE LAW OF GRAVITATIONAL FORCE MAKES A PERSON COME DOWN FROM THE HEIGHT, BUT IN MOVIES EXACTLY OPPOSITE ACTION TAKES PLACE, THE PERSON ON GROUND IS SUDDENLY SEEN ON HEIGHTS. IT IS JUST ONE PERSON WHO HAS THE CAPACITY TO SEND GAGABHATT INTO THE SPACE……… A MINISTER. EVEN IF THERE IS NO ONE TO LISTEN, TOTAL ABSENCE OF AUDIENCE THERE IS ONE MEETING WHICH GOES ON……… THAT FOR AN ELECTION…….. CHILDHOOD, THE MOST WONDERFUL PHASE OF LIFE, IT ALLOWS US TO GLANCE AT THE MAGNIFICENT AND MAGICAL WORLD, CAPTIVATING US………. THAT OF THE GHOSTS EACH ONE OF US HAS TO PRAY AND WORSHIP THE GODDESS, THE GRACEFUL LADY FOUND IN OLD NOVELS………… SLEEP…………. IT IS SAID THAT THE WISE SHOULD NEVER ENTER……….. A COURT……. BRIBE…….A SCIENCE, AN ART…….. HAVING SEPARATE RULES AND REGULATIONS……… AND MANY MORE…………………..

THE WILES OF KISAN THE BARBER, WHO HAD A KNACK OF MAKING CAPITAL OUT OF JUICY BITS OF NEWS… NARAYAN , THE CONSTABLE WHO TOOK PRACTICAL LESSONS IN HOW TO MANIPULATE A PANCHNAMA… THE SPECIAL ‘SIGHTS’ SEEN BY PATIL ON HIS WAY TO DELHI FOR AN EXHIBITION… THE ‘HEIR’ THAT DIGUNANA HAD FOR PERFORMING HIS LAST RITES, ONLY BECAUSE OF MONEY… NEWBIE TEACHERS WHO KEPT ASIDE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF NEWER TEACHING TECHNIQUES, AND WENT BACK TO THE OLD WAYS OF ‘SPARE THE ROD AND SPOIL THE CHILD’… THE GROOM WHO GOT CAUGHT UP IN ‘KHURD’ OR ‘BUDRUK’ RATHER THAN BRIDEHUNTING… AND THE THIEF WHO MADE AWAY WITH HIS BOOTY RIGHT UNDER THE NOSES OF THE MARRIAGE GATHERING… …MEET THESE RASCALLY CHARACTERS SKETCHED BY D. M. MIRASDAR IN HIS INIMITABLE RUSTIC STYLE!

YET ANOTHER SET OF SHORT STORIES, 13 IN ALL, BASED ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS, HAVING HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND ENTERTAINING IN A MARVELOUS WAY. EACH REFLECTING A HUMAN NATURE, UNIQUE IN ITS OWN WAY. NONE FAILS TO SHARE A SECRET OF HUMAN NATURE. THE FIRST STORY IS WOVEN AROUND THE FAMOUS HISTORICAL PERSONALITY SHIVAJI MAHARAJ. THE MAIN CHARACTER IS A SMALL SCHOOL BOY STUDYING IN CLASS FOUR. THE TOPIC HERE IS THE DISCUSSION BETWEEN HIS FATHER AND HIS TEACHER AS TO WHETHER MAHARAJ WAS LITERATE OR NOT? BEING VERY YOUNG LITTLE MORESHWAR UNINTENTIONALLY CHANGES A FEW WORDS SPOKEN TO HIM BY EITHER HIS TEACHER OR HIS FATHER WHILE PASSING THEIR MESSAGES TO EACH OTHER. POOR MORESHWAR GETS BEATEN EVERY TIME WORKING AS A MESSENGER. DA MA HAS A RARE QUALITY OF BRINGING HUMOUR IN ACTIVITIES OF OUR DAY TO DAY LIFE.

CHAKRAMADITYA, THE KING OF THANTHANPUR. IN HIS KINGDOM ARRIVES GANSEN, A SINGER. THE KING GETS CAPTIVATED WITH HIS VOCAL SKILLS TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT HE MAKES IT COMPULSORY FOR THE PEOPLE OF HIS KINGDOM TO SPEAK ONLY IN A MELODIOUS WAY. IT CREATES HAVOC.

A WONDERFUL GIFT OF 14 STORIES WRAPPED TOGETHER, HELPING US TO GET RELAXED AND UNDERSTAND THE MINUTE QUALITIES OF A HUMAN MIND AS WELL. THE STORIES AS PRESENTED HERE ARE SIMPLE; MOST OF THEM ARE VERY COMMON TOO. THEY HAVE THE TYPICAL QUALITIES OF DA MA’S MAGICAL TOUCH. THAT IS WHY THEY STAND OUT AS SO VERY SPECIAL. AS WE READ EACH STORY, WE RECOGNIZE THE STRENGTH OF HIS WORDS. WE APPRECIATE HIS STYLE OF WRITING. HE HELPS US TO COMPREHEND THE HUMOUR HIDDEN UNDERNEATH. IT IS A FACT THAT PEOPLE BEHAVE IN THE WAY THEY FIND MOST SUITABLE OR CONVENIENT AS PER THEIR UNDERSTANDING. IN A WAY, IT IS NOT WRONG TOO. EVERYONE IS RIGHT AND PERFECT AT HIS OR HER PLACE, IT IS THE WAY OTHERS INTROSPECT THEM THAT MAKES LIFE SO MISERABLE. DA MA SUCCEEDS IN UNVEILING THIS SECRET IN A MISCHIEVOUS WAY.

A drama with an exclusive type written in the 60s. This is a short and sweet story woven in a drama form. It is based on the couple Maina and Sokaji serving the royal couple. They both are spendthrift and have already spent whatever they had. They both enjoy a lavish living and do not feel that it is wrong to cheat. They are under debts of almost everyone in their town. To come out of this, they decide to cheat the king and queen with a most novel idea. They take turns to die. As one imitates dying the other is benefitted by the king and queen alternatively. At last, both the king and the queen decide to find out the truth as to who has died in reality. It is then that they reveal the secret that both Maina and Sokaji are alive and it was a small drama cum joke played on their part. This drama sheds a light on the human nature where it is assumed that basically a man is fond of another woman and vice versa.