Books published by Mehta Publishing House

WE THINK THAT THE TRUE LITERATURE IS RELATED ONLY WITH THE URBAN LIFE AND CULTURE. THIS IS NOT TRUE. THIS THOUGHT PREVAILS BECAUSE OF ONE REASON WORD WORD IS THE MEDIUM OF LITERATURE SO, EDUCATION IS CONSIDERED VERY CLOSE TO SAVOURY. BUT MANY A TIMES, EDUCATION PRODUCES WISEFOOLS. THESE FOOLS TAKE PRIDE IN CRITICIZING AND ANALYSING THE TECHNIQUE, THE SCIENCE AND MANY SUCH THINGS. THEY ENJOY IT, THEY GET HABITUATED TO IT. BUT THE TRUE SAVIOURS DO NOT INDULGE THEMSELVES IN THOSE USELESS ASPECTS. THEY ARE ATTENTIVE ONLY TOWARDS THE SOUL OF LITERATURE. STUDENTS POSSESS GREAT ABILITY TO ENJOY LITERATURE. THEY ARE BOONED IN A WAY AND ARE EASILY BLENDED WITH THE LITERATURE. THEY HAVE IMMENSELY IMAGINATIVE MIND. THEY TAKE A PRIDE IN FLYING FREELY IN THE SKY WITHOUT ANY STRINGS ATTACHED. V. S. KHANDEKAR HAS CAREFULLY CHOSEN 15 STORIES FROM HIS VAST COLLECTION OF ALMOST 200 STORIES AND HAS NAMED IT "PETALS` PAKLYA.

I am telling you this truth today, however feeble one might be, every one possesses the strength to take one step forward at a time. Everyone might not be able to conquer the Himalayas, everyone might not walk for miles together, but everyone possesses the strength to take one step forward at a time. If we gather a bit of wit then we will be able to take a step forward for sure. There is one more thing that I would like to bring to your notice. The one, who can move by one step, definitely will conquer Himalayas, the one who can move by one step, definitely will cover thousands of miles. Because, in this world, no one has ever walked more than one step. Only, one foot leaves the ground to walk, one foot is enough to walk. As a matter of fact, no one can lift both the feet from the ground to walk. What remains for you and me is to gather our courage to take one step forward, and the one who is alive will surely possess this strength.

THE CREEPER IN THIS PICTURE IS IN FULL BLOSSOM, THE MANY COLOURFULL FLOWERS ARE ITS PROOF. LOVE IS ALSO LIKE THIS CREEPER. LOVE IS NOT JUST THE LUST OR DESIRE INEVITABLE AT THE YOUNG AGE. I DO NOT CONSIDER DESIRE AS VALUELESS, ACTUALLY IT SUPPORTS THE LIVING ALL OVER. WHEN THIS VERY DESIRE IS COMBINED WITH FEELINGS FROM THE BASE OF YOUR HEART THEN IT TAKES THE FORM OF LOVE AND IT BECOMES DIVINE AND RESEMBLES THE NECTAR. THE CREEPER THEN DELIVERS COMPASSION, BLOSSOMS INTO FRIENDSHIP. TO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF LOVE WE WILL HAVE TO BECOME ONE WITH THE WORLD OUTSIDE. WE WILL HAVE TO BREAK THE TOUGH SELFISHNESS. WE WILL HAVE TO OVERCOME THE "ME`. TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD OUTSIDE WE WILL NEED ABSOLUTE INVOLVEMENT WITH IT, THEN WE WILL UNDERSTAND THE DIVERSITY IT HAS. THE WORLD IS A COMBINATION OF PLEASANT AND DREADFUL NATURE, GOOD AND BAD PEOPLE, ARTS FROM LITERATURE TO MUSIC AND PLACES OF PILGRIMAGES LIKE THE SCIENTIFIC INVENTIONS TO NURSING THE PATIENTS SUFFERING WITH LEPROCY. BUT IF THIS LOVE IS SELFCENTERED THEN...? IF IT STARTS WORSHIPPING ONLY THE SOUL WITHIN IT THEN...? SUCH PERSON BECOMES THE ENEMY OF OTHERS AND OF HIMSELF. THE VINE THEN BEARS POISONOUS FLOWERS.

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.

THIS NOVEL WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE YEAR 1938. THE FIRST THREEFOUR DECADES OF THE 20TH CENTURY WERE SEEING A NEW ERA. INDIAN CULTURE WAS TRANSFORMING DRAMATICALLY. COMMUNISM, SOCIALISM, GANDHISM WERE THE PHILOSOPHIES RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AWAKENING. THESE PHILOSOPHIES ALSO OPENED THE DOORS TO EDUCATION FOR WOMEN. OVERALL, THE SOCIETY WAS UNDERGOING A SLOW BUT STEADY CHANGE. THIS ERA GAVE ACCESS TO WOMEN IN EACH AND EVERY AREA. THE RESTRICTIONS ON LIVING WERE LOOSENED. THE TRADITIONS AND MORAL PHILOSOPHIES WERE BEGINNING TO SHATTER. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN RICH AND POOR WIDENED IMMENSLY. EVERYONE COULD NOT ACCEPT THESE DRASTIC CHANGES. SOME ACCEPTED GRACEFULLY AND WILLINGLY, SOME ACCEPTED THE CHANGES IN BITS AND PIECES AND SOME REMAINED ALOOF NOT ACCEPTING A SINGLE NEW IDEA, PRAISING THEIR OLD VIRTUES AND VALUES. THIS NOVEL PICTURES ALL THESE CHANGES. MUKUND AND SULBHA ARE THE REPRESENTATIVES OF NEW GENERATION. MUKUND IS FULL OF REVOLUTIONARY THOUGHTS, SULABHA IS INCITED ONLY WITH HER AIM. TATYASAHEB SYMBOLIZES THE OLD GENERATION WHO BELIEVES IN OLD IS GOLD. VIJAY IS THE ODD MAN OUT DISPLAYING THOSE WHO CANNOT ACCEPT THE NEW CONCEPTS WHOLLY AND CANNOT REJECT THE OLD CONCEPTS TOTALLY.

`DOST` INCLUDES STORIES OF PEOPLE OF VARIOUS KINDS. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO PRESERVE THEIR PRIDE AND THAT OF THEIR FAMILIES, WHO ARE NARROW MINDED, STUBBORN AND PREFER TO LIVE WITHIN THEIR OWN LIMITS, WHO TRIUMPH OVER THE SITUATION AND ALSO SURRENDER TO IT; THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO EVEN REBEL AGAINST THEIR ROUTINE LIVES. PEOPLE OF THIS NATURE, WITH THEIR TYPICAL JOYS AND SORROWS, THEIR PROBLEMS AND DREAMS CAN BE FOUND ALL AROUND US. WE FIND THEM CLOSE TO US AS WE HAVE EITHER GONE THROUGH THE INCIDENTS TAKING PLACE IN THEIR LIVES OR WE HAVE SEEN A REFLECTION OF THEM IN OTHER LIVES. VA PU`S ABILITY AND MASTERY OF TRANSFORMING A TINY SEEDLING INTO A TOUCHING NARRATIVE, HIS SKILL OF FINDING PHILOSOPHY IN A SIMPLE DIALOGUE AND HIS OPTIMISTIC VIEW OF LIFE GIVES US A DIFFERENT ENERGY AND POWER. THE STORY, FROM WHICH THE TITLE IS DERIVED, IS THE PEAK OF ALL HIS MENTIONED PROFICIENCIES

IN MARATHI, IT IS SAID THAT "KA RE BHULALASI VARALIYA RANGA`, IT MEANS THAT OFTEN A HUMAN MIND GIVES IMPORTANCE TO THE EXTERNAL APPEARANCE AND TENDS TO FORGET THE INTERNAL BEAUTY. THROUGH THIS COLLECTION, VA PU HAS FOLLOWED THE PATTERN TO REVEAL THE TRUE COLOURS OF A HUMAN MIND. THROUGHOUT OUR LIFE, WE WEAR MASKS OVER OUR FACES CONCEALING THE ORIGINAL "ME` BENEATH IT SUCCESSFULLY. WE CHANGE THE MASK COORDINATING WITH THE INCIDENCES HAPPENING AROUND US. EVERY HUMAN BEING TRIES TO HIDE HIS TRUE SELF, HIS MOMENTS OF HAPPINESS OR SORROW, LOVE, CHEATING, COWARDICE, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, REVENGE, EVERYTHING, BEHIND THE MASK. IT IS TRUE THAT MOST OF THE TIMES, WE HAVE TO PUT THE MASKS AROUND, BUT AT THE SAME TIMES, THE MASKS WHICH ARE WORN WITH THE SOLE PURPOSE OF TREACHERY STAND APART. EVERYONE HAS A DISTINGUISHED VISION WHILE JUDGING THE WORLD. EACH ONE OF US TRY TO COLOUR THE WORLD, IN OUR COLOURS, WITH OUR OWN IMAGINATION. BUT WHILE DOING SO, WE TEND TO FORGET THAT EACH ONE HAS AN INDIVIDUAL MIND SET. WE TRY TO IMPOSE OUR IDEAS ON OTHERS; IS THIS NOT A MASK TOO. AS VA PU HIMSELF SAYS, WE HAVE LOST ALL THE TRUE COLOURS THAT OF LIFE, NATURE AND HUMAN BEING WHILE LEADING LIFE OF MASKS, WE HAVE FORGOTTEN THE TRUE NATURE, LIFE AND HUMAN BEING.

A PERFECT GRAPH OF THE ADDITIONS AND SUBTRACTIONS OF THE YOUNG MINDS. YOUTH; THE PERIOD OF EXTREME EXUBERANCE. THE PERIOD TO LOVE, TO LOSE IN LOVE, TO DO ANYTHING IN LOVE. THE PERIOD TO ADMIT OUR SILLY MISTAKES, OUR FIASCO, TO WITNESS OTHER`S LOVE FROM A DISTANCE. BUT SOMETIMES, WE GET HURT AT THE CORE OF OUR HEART. THEN IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO FORGET AND MORE DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT OUR FAULTS. SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO SHOW COURAGE AND FACE THE FACTS OF LIFE, THEN WE HIDE OUR EMBARRASSMENTS IN SOME SECRET CORNER OF LIFE AND START LEADING TO CREATE A PICTURE OF NORMAL LIFE BUT SOMETIMES WE JUST CANNOT COME OUT OF IT. SOME HAVE THE ABILITY TO CARRY ON AS IF NOTHING HAS HAPPENED, SOME GO ALONG WITH THE TIDE AND ACCEPT LIFE AS IT IS, MAKING IT MORE HAPPY FOR THEMSELVES AND EVERYBODY, BUT SOME FOLLOW THE WRONG PATHS TO GAIN HAPPINESS, DECEIVING THEMSELVES. THE STORIES HERE HAVE MANY SHADES OF LOVE. SOME HAVE VIGOR AND VITALITY, SOME ARE FULL OF PAIN AND AGONY; SOME ARE BASED ON FACTS AND SOME ON FAILURE; SOME RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO ADJUST AND COMPROMISE; SOME HAVE THE POTENTIALS OF TENDERNESS AND AFFECTION; SOME ARE HASTY, SOME ARE NASTY. THEY SOMETIMES WILL MAKE US SMILE, AND SOMETIMES WILL WET OUR EYES; SOMETIMES THEY WILL REVEAL ONLY THE TRUTH AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL PUT OUR MINDS IN CONFUSION.

RANGPANCHAMI, FESTIVAL OF COLOURS, IT IS CELEBRATED WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM, A VARIETY OF COLOUR ARE USED TO PLAY THIS FESTIVAL. THROUGHOUT OUR LIFE, WE COME ACROSS PEOPLE, NO ONE RESEMBLES OTHER, EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT, EVERYONE IS SPECIAL, EVERYONE IS THE ONE AND ONLY. PEOPLE MEET US AT EVERY MODE AND CORNER OF LIFE. THEY BRIGHTEN OUR LIFE, THEY ADD COLOURS TO OUR LIFE, THEY HELP OUR LIFE TO BLOSSOM, EACH BRINGING IN A DIFFERENT SHADE OF COLOUR, EVERY SHADE DIFFERENT YET BEAUTIFUL. THE SHADES HAVE A GREAT VARIETY, THEY REVEAL ALL THE FEELINGS A HUMAN MIND POSSESSES; SORROW, HAPPINESS, DEPRESSION, ENTHUSIASM, WISDOM AND FOOLISHNESS TOO. VA PU`S LIFE WAS FULL OF THESE COLOURS LIKE ANY OTHER COMMON MAN, BUT HE HAD A VERY SENSITIVE MIND, HE WAS ABLE TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE SHADES, TO PUT THEM INTO WORDS, TO USE THEM TO ENLIGHTEN SOME DARK AND GLOOMY MOMENTS, TO MAKE THEM LAST FOREVER. WHEN WE SEE THE COLOURS IN THE LIGHT THAT HE HAS PRESENTED THEM WITH, WE FEEL THAT "YES, THIS HAS HAPPENED IN MY LIFE TOO,` THEN WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THEM? IT IS VA PU`S MIDAS TOUCH THAT HAS MADE EVERY MOMENT SO MEMORABLE, AT THE SAME TIME, MAKING US THINK OVER LIFE. AND WHAT DOES THIS GREAT AUTHOR THINK ABOUT "RANGPANCHAMI`? LET US READ IT IN HIS OWN WORDS. "THIS WRITING IS BY A COMMON MAN, JUST LIKE YOU, BUT THE ONE WHO HAS ALWAYS LOVED OTHER HUMAN BEINGS FOR WHAT THEY ARE. THIS COMMON MAN CAME ACROSS WITH MANY OTHERS; SOME LOVED HIM IMMENSELY, SHOWERING HIM WITH THEIR AFFECTION, WIDENING THE HORIZONS OF HIS UNDERSTANDING. I WAS BLESSED WITH MANY THINGS, I RECEIVED A LOT, BUT HAVE GIVEN SO LESS IN RETURN. ONCE YOU SET FOR A JOURNEY CAN YOU COUNT THE NUMBER OF TREES ON YOUR WAY? YOU ALL MUST HAVE SEEN THE COMMON MAN PRESENTED BY R. K. LAXMAN, I AM JUST LIKE HIM. I LIVED A LIFE OF A COMMON MAN, AND PENNED DOWN WHAT I CAME ACROSS THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY. ACTUALLY, I HAVE NOT REACHED ANYWHERE OR ACHIEVED ANYTHING TODAY, THE CREDIT GOES TO THOSE WHO HAVE READ ME THROUGHOUT THESE YEARS AND HAVE MADE ME WHAT I AM TODAY. ACTUALLY, I HAVE ADOPTED A LOT FROM ALL AND HAVE SIMPLY PRESENTED IT TO YOU AS MINE. DO YOU REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE STAND IN THE GREAT RIVER GANGA, WE FILL OUR HANDS WITH ITS SACRED WATER AND OFFER IT BACK TO HER, I HAVE FOLLOWED THE SAME PATTERN. I HAVE ENJOYED EACH MOMENT OF LIFE THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY. I HAVE BEEN COLOURED IN SO MANY COLOURS OF LIFE THAT NOW IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND OUT MY ORIGINAL COLOUR. THIS BOOK IS THE SAMPLE OF SOME OF THOSE COLOURS, WHICH I HAVE ENJOYED SO MUCH, SO FAR.

THIS IS A COLLECTION OF 18 OF DESAI`S SHORT STORIES. THE STORIES WERE PUBLISHED EARLIER. BUT MEHTA CATEGORISED THE STORIES SUBJECTWISE AND PUBLISHED THEM UNDER THE HEADING OF ASHADH IN JAN. 1989. THESE STORIES HAVE A RURAL BACKGROUND. THE LANGUAGE IS USED VERY APPROPRIATELY. IT TAKES US TO THE VILLAGE LIFE IMMEDIATELY. EACH STORY HAS A DIFFERENT STORY TO TELL. THEY ALL REVEAL DIFFERENT MOODS, DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF HUMAN MIND. THIS HUMAN MIND IS SOMETIMES VERY SOFT, SOMETIMES DIFFICULT, YET SOMETIMES IT HANDLES THINGS DELICATELY. THE MORE YOU READ THE MORE DIFFICULT IT BECOMES TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF VILLAGE PEOPLE. WHEN YOU FEEL THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT EACH OTHER THEY STOOD TO BE DIFFERENT, WHEN YOU FEEL THAT THEY HARDLY BOTHER ABOUT ANYONE ELSE, THEY REVEAL THE SOFTEST CORNER OF THEIR MIND. THEY REVEAL THE SIMPLICITY, THEY UNMASK DIPLOMACY OF UNIMAGINED TURNS, THEY BETRAY US, THEY CONFIDE IN US.

RANJIT DESAI WAS A MULTIDIMENSIONAL WRITER. "VAISHAKH` INCLUDES THE STORIES DURING THE PERIOD OF HIS APPRENTICESHIP. YET EACH STORY HAS THE STRENGTH TO TOUCH THE INNERMOST CORD OF A SENSITIVE HEART. IT IS BASED ON RURAL LIFE. VAISHAKH LITERALLY MEANS SUMMER. THE HEAT IS IMMENSE THEN. IT BURNS YOU. THE STORIES ALSO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BURN YOUR MIND. THESE ARE ALL FORMS OF CREATIVE LITERATURE, EACH GIVING LOT OF THOUGHTS. ONE CANNOT FAIL TO NOTICE THE AUTHORS CALLIBRE FROM THESE STORIES.

ICEBERG, IT IS SAID 9/10TH OF THE ICE IS BENEATH THE WATER, ONLY 1/10TH IS REVEALED ON THE SURFACE. I MAY BE WRONG AS MY MATHS IS NOT VERY STRONG; MATHS NEEDS INTELLIGENCE, WHICH IS WHAT I LACK IN. THAT MUCH PORTION OF MY BRAIN WAS VACANT, NATURALLY; SO THAT PLACE I OFFERED TO MY HEART AS AN EXTRA F.S.I. FOR ME, POETRY ALWAYS IS EXCLUSIVE AND IMPORTANT THAN MATHS, THAT IS WHY I COULD MEET MANY PEOPLE. ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WERE THE VARIOUS FORMS OF HAPPINESS AND VIBRANCY, SO I NEVER COUNTED THE STANZAS OF MY POETRY. AFTER ALL, COUNTING INVOLVES MATHS AND I PREFER TO BE MILES AWAY FROM IT. IF WE DO NOT MEASURE POETRY THEN WE COME ACROSS A "SHRIKANT`, MOVING IN THE WHIRLPOOL, TURNING IT UPSIDE DOWN. SHRIKANT CHANGED THE DIRECTION OF THE ICEBERG. HE TURNED IT UPSIDE DOWN. HE WRAPPED THE 9/10TH OF THE ICEBERG IN HAPPINESS WHICH WAS OTHERWISE FULL OF CALAMITIES AND MENTAL TENSIONS. HIS WIFE WRAPPED THE COLD ICE INTO THE WARMTH OF HER AFFECTION. WHAT ARE HIS WHEREABOUTS? SHRIKANT JOSHI, CHAWDAR TALE, MAHAD; I DEDICATE THIS BOOK `MAANASE` TO THE HUMAN IN HIM.

THE MOST LOVED RELATION WITH A WOMAN IS THAT OF A FRIEND. VA PU MET HER IN VARIOUS SITUATIONS, EVERY NOW AND THEN. VA PU HAS PRESENTED THIS "SAKHI` WITH HER BEING, HER FEELINGS, HER HIGH THINKING, HER SENSITIVITY; EVERY TIME WITH A DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS. THIS SAKHI HAS THE CAPACITY TO TAKE US BEYOND IMAGINATION, GIVING US IMMEASURABLE HAPPINESS. ALL THE NINE STORIES IN THIS COLLECTION GIVE US A NEW DIMENSION FOR LIVING. THEY GIVE US PLEASURE, THEY REVEAL THE SECRETS OF LIVING, THEY SHOW US A NEW ANGLE TO MAKE US HAPPY WHILE LEADING THIS OTHERWISE MONOTONOUS LIFE. THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO MAKE US AWARE OF THE BEAUTY OF EACH MOMENT, THE HAPPINESS THAT EACH MOMENT POSSESSES. THE AUTHOR HIMSELF HAS A VERY CLEAR VISION ABOUT THE RELATIONS, THIS CLEAR VISION IS REFLECTED THROUGH HIS SAKHI, HIS SIMPLE, PLAIN AND TRANSPARENT WRITING MAKES HIS SAKHI OUR SAKHI. BUT HE NEVER COMPLAINS ABOUT IT. HE WANTS IT IN PRECISELY THE SAME WAY. VA PU HIMSELF SAYS IN ONE OF HIS WRITINGS, ` A BIG TREE WHICH IS CAPABLE OF CASTING SHADOW SHOULD NEVER QUESTION A WAYFARER AS TO WHY HAS HE CHOSEN THAT TREE FOR SHADOW INSTEAD OF TAKING REFUGE UNDER SOME OTHER SHADOW?`

Osho elucidates very sweetly Kabir`s meaningful and beautiful `doha` in this book. The importance of love is immense, right from the beginning of the life till obtaining the glimpse of the vibrant Supreme Spirit. Kabir very delicately explains the meaning of love at the same time taking us to the highest steps. Love is god, only thing remains for us to do is to find true love. As love loses its might from our mind we start filling our life with physical pleasures. As love starts ruling our mind, all these materialistic things start to disappear. The `Supreme Spirit` itself descends in front of us. The true meaning of life is transformation of `one`s own`. The art to immerse our ego. Those who are able to shed their ego, will experience the love pouring down on them from all sides. Youth! It is of body, it comes and goes. But youth of a soul is that of the divine power. It is eternal. The moment you realize this, you will experience a coolness, you will possess a foretaste of the unique form of youth, that of the soul. It will never lapse, leave you, never become old or extinct. The moment you achieve this vision of seeing through your soul, then everything around will change. There will be no differences, no walls holding from each other. You will find the presence of only love, the air around you will be full of love. It will be infinite love everywhere, never ending show of love, and from there, finally, you will be able to notice the vastness of the sky.

THIS IS THE COLLECTION OF 19 STORIES BY V.S.KHANDEKAR. MATERIALISTIC APPROACH IS ON THE RISE AFTER SECOND WORLD WAR & OUR INDEPENDENCE . THIS IS ADVERSELY AFFECTING VALUES & ETHOS OF HUMAN BEING. OUR CURRENT SOCIAL, CULTURAL & POLITICAL LIFE IS THE PROOF OF THIS IMPACT. IN SUCH ADVERSE CONDITION WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR MENTAL WELL BEING . WE NEED TO PRESERVE OUR VALUES . THESE STORIES FULFILLS THIS RESPONSIBILITY TO GUIDE THE SOCIETY AGAINST ALL ODDS OF MATERIALISM .

HUMOURS, LIGHT AND ENTERTAINING STORIES BY V.S. KHANDEKAR.

THIS BOOK HIGHLIGHTS 5 KNOWN FIGURES AND INCLUDES REVIEWS ON 3 TOPICS : 3 PERSONS OF THE 5 MENTIONED ABOVE ARE NOT VERY WELL KNOWN BUT THE QUALITIES THEY POSSESS ARE VERY EXCLUSIVE. THEY CAN BE COMPARED ONLY TO THE MEDICINAL PLANT FOUND IN FORESTS. THESE MEDICINAL PLANTS ARE NEITHER EASILY AVAILABLE NOR MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT THEM IS AT HAND. THEY ARE FOUND MOSTLY BY SHEER COINCIDENCE. BUT THOSE WHO ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND THEM ARE BLESSED BY THEIR QUALITIES. IN THE SAME WAY KHANDEKAR HAS BEEN INDEBTED BY SUCH CHARACTERS IN HIS REAL LIFE. KHANDEKAR SAYS "INDEED I AM VERY LUCKY TO HAVE THESE PERSONS IN MY LIFE. I AM TEMPTED TO SAY SO.` THE OTHER TWO SKETCHES ARE THAT OF WELL KNOWN CONTEMPORARY LITTERATEUR. THE REVIEWS INCLUDE THAT OF DRAMAS BY KOLHOTKAR, USHA PRABHA (STORIES BY SHRI MANJREKAR) AND MARATHI CHITRAKATHA. THESE ARE DETAILED LITERARY REVIEWS. WE ARE SURE THAT KHANDEKARS FAN CLUB WILL ENTHUSIASTICALLY WELCOME THIS COLLECTION.

SET IN THE 1970S, NATARANG IS A VERY RENOWNED NOVEL IN MARATHI LITERATURE, ONE OF ITS OWN TYPE. IT IS ILLUSTRIOUS AS WELL AS GLOOMY. THIS PICTURES ALMOST ALL YADAV`S SKILL AS A WRITER. HE POSSESSES AN IMMENSE QUALITY TO PICTURE THE EVENTS TRULY, MAKING THEM VERY INTERESTING, GIVING THEM A TOUCH OF PSYCHOSCIENTIFIC ASPECT. HE HAS A PERFECT SENSE OF HUMOUR AND COMPASSION, CATCHES IT WITHOUT FAIL AND MAKES THE NOVEL LIVELY. `NATRANG` IS A MOURNFUL NOVEL OF AN INDIAN ARTIST. IT HAS MANY ASPECTS OF EXPERIENCE. IT IS A HOMOGENOUS MIXTURE OF THE INTENSE POVERTY AND ARTISTIC ENERGY, AN ARTIST`S FAMILY AND THE ARTIST`S PERSONALITY. THE AUTHOR HAS PORTRAYED THE LIFESTYLE OF AN ARTIST FROM THE `MATANG` COMMUNITY. HE WANTS TO LEAVE THE SAFE BOUNDARIES, LEAD HIS LIFE IN A DIFFERENT MANNER, AWAY FROM THE TRADITIONS, WANTS TO PRODUCE SOME FINE ARTS, HE IS INSPIRED BY HIS SOUL. HE HAS TO FIGHT WITH THE ARTISTS WHO ARE READY TO SELL THEIR ART FOR THE SAKE OF MONEY. THE AUTHOR PORTRAYS PERFECTLY WELL THE ARTIST WITH HIS PUREST MIND DEDICATED TOWARDS ARTS. DR. CHANDRAKANT BANDIWADEKAR.

"THESE ARE NOTHING BUT DREAMS OF YESTERDAY. UNTIL NOW I HAD THOUGHT THAT I HAD BEEN ABLE TO CAPTIVATE THE DELICATE FEELINGS AND BEAUTIFUL IMAGINATIONS, BUT ALAS! NOW I REALISE THAT THESE ARE NOT WITH ME. THEY HAVE ALREADY FLOWN AWAY INTO DISTANT LAND, FAR AWAY FROM ME. MY WORDS HAVE NO MEANING NOW. I AM COMPLETELY DRAINED. I HAD TRIED TO HOLD THEM AS CAPTIVE IN THE CAGES BUILT BY ME. ALL THAT REMAINS IN THE CAGES ARE A FEW FEATHERS. I MUST SEEK SATISFACTION FROM THOSE. WILL THESE FEATHERS REMAIN WITH ME FOREVER? ONLY TIME WILL TELL!

SUDHA MURTHY, A PROFESSOR, A SOCIAL WORKER AND BEST OF ALL AN AUTHOR WITH THE MOST INNOVATIVE AND SKILLFUL MIND. HER WRITING IS BASED ON TRUTH, AND PRESENTED IN A WONDERFUL MODE, TOUCHING US, GIVING US IMMENSE PLEASURE. WE OFTEN COME ACROSS UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS, SAY FOR EXAMPLE YOUR GRANNY WISHES TO OVERCOME HER ILLITERACY WITH YOUR HELP, OR MAY BE THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA WISH YOUR COMPANY WHILE TRAVELLING, OR YOUR TEACHER ALL OF A SUDDEN DECIDES TO GIVE YOU MORE MARKS THAN YOU DESERVE. WHAT WILL YOU DO IN THESE SITUATIONS? WHILE READING SUDHA TAI`S STORIES YOU WILL COME ACROSS THE SOLUTIONS FOR THESE ASTONISHING SITUATIONS. THIS BOOK IS A COLLECTION OF STORIES. ONE STORY HAS A NAUGHTY STUDENT AND BELIEVE ME, HIS NAUGHTINESS WILL KEEP YOU TOTALLY ABSORBED. THE OTHER STORY TELLS US ABOUT A WIFE WHO SAVES EVERY SINGLE PENNY FROM HER HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES WITH JUST ONE DREAM, HER HUSBAND`S DREAM OF SETTING UP A NEW BUSINESS. FOR THE AUTHOR, THIS BRINGS BACK HER MOTHER`S MEMORIES AND HER ADVICE. THE AUTHOR HAS ALSO WRITTEN ABOUT HER GRANDPA AND THE PROMISE THAT SHE HAD MADE TO HIM FOR DONATING BOOKS TO THE LIBRARY IN HER VILLAGE. ALL THESE STORIES HAVE FRESHNESS, THEY ARE HEALTHY AND THEY MAKE US SMILE. EACH AND EVERY STORY IMPARTS AN IMPORTANT LESSON, HOW TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS WHICH HAVE TOUCHED OUR SOUL, WHICH WE FIND VERY LOGICAL, WHICH ARE BASED ON OUR PRINCIPLES.

A FEW QUESTIONS IN LIFE LIKE, `IS THE KING IN THE GAME OF CHESS A REAL ONE?` `ARE THE FAIRIES IN THE TALES REAL?`, `DO THE CHARACTERS IN A DRAMA REALLY EXIST?` THESE ALL ARE VERY SIMPLE QUESTIONS, YET WE ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT THE MEANING BEHIND THEM OR TO FIND SUITABLE ANSWERS TO THEM. WE NEED TO LEAD OUR LIFE THROUGH MANY EXPERIENCES, GOOD AND BAD; MANY MOMENTS OF HAPPINESS AND SADNESS; WE HAVE TO FACE A LOT, PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS; WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE WRAPPED IN THEIR OWN WORLDS; PEOPLE OF ALL MENTALITIES, GOOD AND BAD, WISE AND UNWISE, PRACTICAL AND IMPRACTICAL, WE HAVE TO KNOW THEM, BE WITH THEM, ANALYSE THEM AND THEN WE ARE ABLE TO JUDGE THEM; THAT TO NOT COMPLETELY. IN THIS WORLD NOBODY CAN JUDGE ANYBODY TOTALLY. THIS BOOK PRESENTS THE STORY OF MANY PRACTICAL AND DREAMY PEOPLE; THEY WILL SURELY CAPTURE YOUR MINDS.

THIS IS A COLLECTION OF STORIES BASED ON FAMOUS HISTORICAL FIGURES. THE NAME INDICATES THAT THIS IS A SET OF STORIES HAVING IT`S OWN FRAGRANCE. IN THE BEGINNING THE AUTHOR ADMITS THAT ‘WORDS HAVE NO FRAGRANCE. THEY HAVE ONLY MEANINGS. BUT A COMBINATION OF MANY WORDS PRESENT A PERSON AND THE ATMOSPHERE MAY BE AFTER READING THESE STORIES READER WILL FEEL THE FRAGRANCE TOO THEN IT WILL GIVE ME IMMENSE SATISFACTION.` THE AUTHOR SHOWS HIS CONFIDENCE AND FAITH IN THE READERS. ALL THE STORIES IN ‘GANDHALI` ARE BASED ON THE LIVES OF FAMOUS PERSONALITIES AND THE INCIDENCES FROM THE PAST. HE HAS SLECTED EACH ONE CAREFULLY. EACH STORY IS A HOMOGENOUS MIXTURE OF VALOUR, COMPASSION AND ROMANCE. EACH ONE REFLECTS THE AUTHOR`S COMMAND OVER LANGUAGE AND TAKES THE READER TO THE HISTORY ITSELF. THE SUCCESS OF ‘GANDHALI` IS INTENSE ON THE BACKGROUND OF NOVELS FROM THE SAME AUTHOR, BASED ON HISTORICAL FIGURES.

DEAR GOD! WE DID NOT COME INTO THE WORLD FOR NOTHING; NEITHER HAS LEFT IT FOR NOTHING. DEAR GOD! WE HAVE AFTER ALL OFFERED SOMETHING TO THIS WORLD, WHICH IS YOUR CREATION. WE HAVE CONTRIBUTED BY OFFERING OUR `SHAYARI` TO THIS WORLD THE SHAYARI, WHICH WAS THE SOUL OF MY LIVING; DEAR GOD! YOU MAY BE FORGOTTEN ONE DAY, BUT MY SHAYARI WILL NEVER MAKE ME A THING OF PAST. V.V.PATANKAR.

YOU WAIT IN THE QUEUE PATIENTLY FOR HOURS TOGETHER. BE IT THE QUEUE FOR MILK OR RATION OR SUGAR, OR TICKETS AT A CINEMA HALL OR BUS & YET NEVER LOSE YOUR PATIENCE. YOU END UP CATCHING A MOVING TRAIN, YOU RISK YOUR LIFE TO AVOID THE LATE MARK, YOU LISTEN TO THE TORTURE AND UNAVOIDABLE CRITICISM FROM YOUR BOSS, YOU DRINK THE TASTELESS CANTEEN TEA, YOU FACE MANY TROUBLES AT YOUR HOME FRONT, YOU TOLERATE EVERYTHING, YOU STAND FIRMLY AGAINST THE MANY HOLLOW THINGS IN YOUR LIFE, YOU TOLERATE THE WALK-OUTS, THE CURFEW, THE HUNGER STRIKE ...EVERYTHING. STILL YOU LAUGH, YOU MAKE OTHERS SMILE, YOU PLAY CARDS IN THE TRAIN WHILE STANDING, YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS EARNESTLY, YOU TRY TO CHEAT OTHERS INNOCENTLY JUST FOR THE SAKE OF THE PLEASURE, YOU ENJOY THE BAIT FOR THE TASTELESS CUP OF TEA. YOU ARE SIMPLY GREAT ...YOU ARE A TRUE `KARMACHARI`- AN EMPLOYEE. IN NO WAY THIS IS A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES. PRECISELY SPEAKING, IT IS A MIRROR IN WHICH EVERYBODY PEEPS, BE IT THE PEON OR THE HEAD-CLERK, BE IT THE FIRST DAY OF SOMEONE`S JOB OR THE LAST DAY OF SOMEONE`S CAREER, IT TEACHES EVERYBODY TO LOVE ALL, TO SHARE ALL YOUR GOOD THINGS WITH OTHERS.

THIS IS AN HONEST COLLECTION OF THE TRUE EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE WHO CARRY WITH THEM THE LOAD OF THEIR MISTAKES DONE IN THEIR PAST LIVES. THESE EXPERIENCES UNFOLD THE WORST BITTER TRUTHS INSIDE OUT. WE AS COMMON PEOPLE HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH A LIFE, SUCH EXPERIENCES, WE CANNOT EVEN THINK ABOUT THEM. THEY ARE NOT JUST TOUCHING, THEY SHATTER OUR LIVES. SOME PEOPLE HAVE STARTED WORKING TO AVOID SUCH TERRIBLE MISTAKES IN LIFE OUT OF THE CONCERN TOWARDS HUMANITY. IN A WAY, THIS BOOK IS A DOCUMENT HAVING THE CAPACITY TO BRING FORWARD MANY SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

PROMETHEUS IS THE CELESTIAL BEING FROM THE GREEK MYTHOLOGY. HE UNDERWENT IMMENSE PAIN AND AGONY TO DEVELOP THE HUMAN CULTURE. V. S. KHANDEKAR FINDS MAHATMA GANDHI`S LIFE AND PERSONALITY RESEMBLING TO THAT OF PROMETHEUS. HE ALWAYS CONSIDERED GANDHIJI TO BE THE PROMETHEUS OF 20TH CENTURY, THUS MAKING GANDHIJI SECOND PROMETHEUS. THESE ARTICLES WERE WRITTEN TO PRAISE GANDHIJI ON THE OCCASION OF HIS BIRTH CENTENARY. THEY ALL REVEAL GANDHIJI`S YEARNING RESEMBLING PROMETHEUS. WHEN THE WHOLE COUNTRY WAS SINGING IN THE DECLINING VIRTUES, IT WAS GANDHIJI WHO WAS CONTINUOUSLY PLANTING THE SEEDS OF VIRTUE, HE HIMSELF WAS EXECUTING UTMOST VIRTUOUS CONDUCT, BRINGING SMILES ON MANY A FACES. HIS WORDS SPOKEN THROUGH KHANDEKAR`S PEN HAVE THE CAPACITY TO EVOKE THE INTENSE ARDOUR FOR HOPE. THIS COLLECTION TRIES TO REVEAL GANDHIJI`S LIFE AND HIS THOUGHTS IN A NEW WAY, IT IMPLEMENTS THE IMPORTANCE OF FORTUNE AND FATE IN CONTRAST WITH RITES AND OBSERVANCES. IT CREATES AWARENESS IN THE READER`S MIND ABOUT THE SOCIAL PIOUSNESS. IF YOU REALLY WISH TO WIN OVER THE CONCISE FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS LIKE RELIGION, CASTE, COUNTRY, ETC., THEN YOU MUST TRY TO UNDERSTAND THIS `DOOSRA PROMETHEUS`.

V.S.KHANDEKAR'S STORIES ARE NOT ONLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF SWEET LANGUAGE, BUT IT CONTAINS THE BROAD UNDERSTANDING OF THE LIFE. HUGE CANVAS OF MIND BLOWING FICTION MAKES HIS WRITING ALIVE. HE GIVES NEW PERSPECTIVES OF LIVING THROUGH HIS SPONTANEOUS , IMMENSE EXPRESSION . KHANDEKAR HAS BROKEN OLD STEREOTYPES FORMATS OF STORIES & CREATED NEW STYLE FOR THESE STORIES .

THE STORIES INCLUDED IN THIS COLLECTION TAKES YADAV`S STYLE ON A SPECIFIC STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT. THE STORIES ARE A FULL PROOF OF HIS AWAKENING AS AN INCISIVE WRITER. HE CONSIDERS THE REAL RURAL LIFE, ITS MENTALITY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE URBAN LIFE VERY MINUTELY. THE AUTHOR SUCCEEDS IN SHOWING THE GOOD AND BAD EFFECTS OF THE REFORMATION OF THE VILLAGE LIFE THROUGH EDUCATION, INDUSTRIALIZATION, DEVELOPMENTAL PROJECTS, WATER PROJECTS, PANCHAYAT PARISHAD, AND DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE VERY ARTISTICALLY. IT IS A PITY THAT ALL THESE PROJECTS WHICH WERE STARTED WITH THE GOOD INTENTION OF PROGRESS OF THE VILLAGES ARE ACTUALLY SPOILING THE VILLAGE LIFE. THE EFFECT IS NOT SOOTHING, IT`S DEVASTATING. THE DOWN TRODDEN ARE ON THE VERGE OF EXTINCT. THE AUTHOR HAS ALSO STUDIED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT CASTES AND CLASSES OF THE MARATHI COMMUNITY. HE HAS ALSO CAST A LIGHT ON THE CO-RELATION BETWEEN THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS AND THE CULTURAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HIGHLY INTELLECTUAL MIDDLE CLASS. TOGETHER, THIS COLLECTION TAKES HIM TO A CERTAIN HEIGHT. ALL THESE STORIES ARE REPRESENTING THE PRESENT MARATHI VILLAGE CULTURE AND THE OVERALL MARATHI COMMUNITY. DR. DATTATRAYA PUNDE.

THIS IS THE LAST COLLECTION OF KHANDEKAR`S SHORT ESSAYS. ALL THESE ESSAYS WERE WRITTEN DURING 19741976, BUT WERE NOT COMPOSED AND PUBLISHED TILL THE YEAR 2004. THESE ESSAYS HAVE CULTIVATED THE MARATHI MINDS WITH DELIBERATE THOUGHTFULNESS, HAVE SOWN THE SEEDS OF HUMAN VALUES ALONG WITH BOUNDLESS EARNESTNESS. THEY HELPED IN SETTLING DOWN THE WAR IN A HUMAN MIND, IN BRINGING DOWN PEACE TO A HUMAN MIND WHICH WAS BADLY AFFECTED BY THE CONFLICT OF DREAMS AND REALITY; SPIRITUALITY AND SCIENCE; SACRIFICE AND ENJOYMENT. KHANDEKAR HAS ALWAYS STRIVED TO FIND THE ETERNAL TRUTH AND TO BRING LIGHT OF HUMANITY IN THE TEMPLE OF LITERATURE. HE HAS TRIED TO REVEAL THE ENIGMA THAT HE HAD FOUND ON THE UNSEEN SCREEN OF LIFE. THESE ESSAYS ARE WRITTEN WITH AN INCLINATION TO AWAKEN THE ATTITUDE; THEY ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE WRITTEN EARLIER. ONE MUST READ THEM LEISURELY.

THIS IS THE TWENTY FIFTH BOOK OF STORIES BY VA PU. IT IS UNIQUE IN ITS SETTING, IT IS BASED ON THE CONCEPT OF ARABIAN NIGHTS, EACH STORY ENDS IN THE BEGINNING OF YET ANOTHER STORY. VA PU HAS HANDLED NOVELS AND DRAMAS; HE ALSO HAS HANDLED THE BIOGRAPHY AND AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL FORMS, YET HIS BASE IS THAT OF A STORY WRITER AND TO BE PRECISE THAT OF A STORYTELLER. HIS WRITING REACHES ITS PEAK, IS IN FULL BLOOM, IS IN THIS FORM. HIS STORIES ARE ALWAYS MEANINGFUL AND SENSITIVE. BUT WHEN HE PRESENTS THEM HIMSELF, THEN THESE STORIES APPEAR TO BE FULL OF FEELINGS, FRESHNESS, ENERGY AND VIBRANCY. HIS UNIQUE PRESENTATION GIVES CERTAIN DEPTHS TO MANY A WORDS SAID, MANY A SENTENCE PRESENTED; SOMETIMES SHOWING COMPASSION, SOMETIMES STYLE, SOMETIMES AFFECTIONS AND SOMETIMES MELODRAMA. NONE OF THE CHARACTERS ARE SPECIAL OR UNIQUE; THEY ALL ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF COMMON MEN AND WOMEN; YET IT IS HIS PRESENTATION THAT REVEALS THE GREATNESS OF SMALL PEOPLE AND MEANNESS OF GREAT PEOPLE. HIS WRITING HAS BEAUTY, SIMPLICITY, FLOW AND A PRANCE.