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"BY WHAT NAME SHOULD I CALL YOU? `PARTNER`; ACTUALLY WE HAVE NO NAME; THE NAME WHICH WE DISPLAY AS OUR OWN IS GIVEN TO THE BODY, NOT TO THE SOUL. A YOUNG LADY IS LIKE A COOL BREEZE; WHICH LINGERS AROUND US, TOUCHES US, GIVES US PLEASURE BUT WHICH CANNOT BE HOLD. WHAT IS HELL? IT IS THE COMPANY OF A THIRD PERSON WHEN MOST UNDESIRED. JUST REMEMBER FRIEND, BECAUSE YOU NEED ME, I TOO NEED YOU. AS YOU WRITE MORE AND MORE PERSONAL, IT BECOMES MORE AND MORE UNIVERSAL. "

DEAR FRIENDS, DO YOU REALLY WANT TO READ AND UNDERSTAND VAPURZA, THEN OPEN IT TO ANY PAGE, START READING. DO NOT EVER CONSIDER TO FINISH READING IT IN ONE SITTING, FROM START TO END. NEVER. HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED THE BOTTLES OF PERFUME LINED UP ON SOME DRESSING TABLES, IN SOME ENTHUSIASTIC HOUSES? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE BEHIND HAVING SO MANY BOTTLES LINED UP TOGETHER? WE USE ONLY ONE AT A TIME. THE PURPOSE IS TO USE THE FRAGRANCE THAT THE MIND DESIRES AT A PARTICULAR MOMENT. THIS BOOK IS ALSO LIKE THE LINED UP PERFUME BOTTLES. OPEN IT TO THE PAGE THAT YOUR MIND DESIRES. GET ENVELOPED IN THE FRAGRANCE, ENJOY IT THOROUGHLY. THERE IS NO BINDING OF FINISHING READING THAT HAS BEEN STARTED. ENJOY IT AS AND WHEN AND HOW MUCH YOU WISH, WITHOUT ANY BOTHERATION OR ANXIETY OF `WHAT NEXT?`_X000D_ IF YOUR MIND IS TAKEN AWAY BY A PARTICULAR PERFUME, THEN DO NOT HESITATE, FEEL IT AGAIN. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU CAN COME ACROSS WHILE TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING ANEW. KEEPING ALL THESE THINGS IN MIND, THERE IS NO SEQUENCE, NO INDEX AND NO REFERENCES GIVEN IN THIS BOOK, WITH THE SOLE INTENTION OF ALLOWING YOU A FREE MIND FOR ALL THE IDEAS, CONCEPTS AND FEELINGS._X000D_ AND NOW A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE BOOK BY VA PU HIMSELF._X000D_ "DEAR FRIENDS, THE GLASS WHICH IS SHOWN ON THE COVER PAGE IS EMPTY, YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING WHY? THE REASON IS IT IS READY TO GRASP EVERY SINGLE WORD COMING FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE SKY. THE GLASS WILL ALWAYS REMAIN EMPTY FOR NEW IDEAS IF YOU TRY AND KEEP IT CLEAN FROM ALL THE UNDER ESTIMATION ABOUT OTHERS AND THE OVERRATING ABOUT YOURSELF. THEN THE GLASS WILL BE EMPTY TO CAPTURE THE SKIES. I KNOW THAT YOUR MINDS WERE FREE FROM ALL SUCH EVIL THINGS; THEY WERE FREE FOR THOSE MANY MANIFESTATIONS, I AM INDEED LUCKY TO HAVE SOME PLACE IN YOUR MIND. DEAR FRIENDS, BLESS ME TODAY THAT MY GLASS WILL REMAIN EMPTY THROUGHOUT, OF ALL THE BAD AND EVIL WISHES, LET IT BE FREE FROM ALL THE MISCONCEPTIONS, EGOS AND ILL WILLS. LET IT BE READY FOREVER TO ACCEPT THE BLESSINGS OF THE SKIES, ALWAYS...

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED TO SOLVE PUZZLES. NOT THOSE WHICH WE GET IN THE MARKET, BUT THOSE WHICH WERE IN THE FORM OF PEOPLE OR FAMILIES. I ALWAYS TRIED TO SOLVE THEM. SOME TOOK FORM OF STORIES, BUT THE MAIN PUZZLE REMAINED AS IT IS. MY SLATE WAS ALWAYS BLANK. THE WORDS WERE WIPED OFF BUT SCRATCHES REMAINED AS IT IS. I KNOW THAT ONE SUCH DAY WILL COME INTO MY LIFE, IT WILL MARK MY LIFE WITH A BIG SCRATCH AND I WILL HAVE TO BID GOODBYE FOREVER TO ALL; I AM NOT SCARED OF IT BUT I WILL REGRET GOING AWAY FROM THIS WORLD VA PU.

THE` BARRE` TRIBE HAD TRADITIONALLY LIVED IN THICK AND BEAUTIFUL JUNGLES. THEY RESORTED TO DACOIT AND THEFT IN NEARBY LOCALITIES FOR THEIR LIVING. THEY HARDLY EVER DREAMT OF STABLE LIFE. THE SOCIO-POLITICAL CHANGES AROUND AND FALLING OF FORESTS SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED THEIR LIFE STYLE AND INTRODUCED THEM TO NEW WAYS AND VALUES. `BARE' RECOUNTS ALL THIS IN FORM OF A NOVEL. THE PICTURESQUE ENVIRONS, THE RUGGED LIFE-STYLE, THE PETTY FEUDS AND PLEASURES, THE NEW CHANGES ETC. HAVE BEEN POWERFULLY AND REALISTICALLY PRESENTED WITHOUT ANY ATTEMPT TO PASS ANY VALUE JUDGMENTS.

MANY MARATHI AUTHORS WRITE SHORT STORIES, LONG STORIES BUT RANJIT DESAI HAS ADOPTED A VERY UNIQUE STYLE. HIS STORY BLENDS HARMONIOUSLY WITH THE MAGNIFICENT BACKGROUND. IT IS ALWAYS COLOURED IN BEAUTIFUL SHADES OF BLUE, GIVING EVERYTHING A DREAMY TOUCH.

ZOMBEE LITERALLY MEANS WRESTLING. THIS IS AN ACCOUNT OF A YOUTH FROM INTERIOR MAHARASHTRA. HE FIGHTS HIS WAY THROUGH JUST TO COMPLETE HIS SECONDARY EDUCATION. HIS LANDLESS FATHER TILLING LANDS FOR OTHERS, THINKS HIS SON`S EDUCATION NOT ONLY UNAFFORDABLE BUT UNWISE ALSO, HE HELPLESSLY WATCHES HIS MOTHR PERMANENTLY FATED TO THANKLESS LABOUR, CONTINEOUSLY WORKING FOR AN EVERGROWING FAMILY DEEP IN THE CLUTHES OF CUSTOMS AND SUPERSTITIONS. HE HAD TO WRESTLE WITH HARDSHIPS AND HUNGER TO COMPLETE HIS SCHOOL EDUCATION. THIS AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOVEL IS AN AUTHENTIC TALE AS MUCH OF THE AUTHOR AND HIS FAMILY AS OF ANY OF THE HUNDREDS OF LANDLESS FAMILIES FROM RURAL INTERIORS.

T OF THE PEOPLE LEAD VERY SIMPLE LIFE WITHOUT MUCH UPS AND DOWNS. THEY ARE COMMON MEN. THE NEWSPAPER IS LEAST INTERESTED IN DESCRIBING SUCH COMMON MEN. THE CREATIVE LITERATURE HARDLY TAKES NOTICE OF THESE COMMON MEN. THE MOST WRITTEN ABOUT TOPICS OF SUCH LITERATURE ARE USUALLY WARS, EARTHQUAKES, STORMS... SOME OR OTHER SORT OF NATURAL OR MANMADE CALAMITIES. THIS IS THE HYPOTHESIS OF ROBERT LIND. THOUGH IT HAS EXCEPTIONS, THE LOVE THAT IS DESCRIBED IN LITERATURE FOLLOWS IT. IN TRUE LIFE, WE WISH TO HAVE SMOOTH LIVING WITH UNBINDING LOVE EVERWHERE. LOVE WITH ITS FLOWERY TOUCH, FEATHERY APPEARANCE. BUT IN NOVELS, LOVE ALWAYS SUFFERS. IT IS MORE HURTING THAN HEALING AND WE AS READERS GO FOR IT. IN REALITY, THERE ARE NEITHER THORNS, NOR FLOWERS LAID IN THE PATH. THERE ARE ONLY STONES ON THE PATH OF LOVE. THESE STONES PRICK OUR FEET, HURT THEM, MAKE THEM BLEED. THEY GIVE US PAIN THEY MAKE US CRY. AT THE VERY MOMENT, FROM SOMEWHERE COMES A BREEZE COOLING US, HEALING US, SOOTHING US. THE FUNNIEST PART IS WITHOUT NOTICING ITS EFFECTS THE BREEZE MOVES FORWARD COOL AND TO HEAL SOMEONE ELSE.

THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO, THERE LIVED A TRIBE BY THE NAME BOWL, WE SHOULD NOT ACTUALLY USE THE WORD TRIBE AS THEY WERE A GROUP OF PEOPLE. THE WORD BOWL WAS DERIVED FROM THE ORIGINAL SANSKRIT WORD "VAATUL` MEANING HURRICANE OR GALE OR WHIRLWIND. THE BASE OF THIS GROUP WAS LOVE, LOVE AND ONLY LOVE. THEY KNEW NO OTHER FEELINGS LIKE EGO, SELFISHNESS, HATRED, COMPETITION OR ENVY. THEIR MIND WITH ITS VITALITY WAS THE GOD FOR THEM SETTLED IN THE TEMPLE FORMED BY THE BOUNDARIES OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL BODIES. NATURALLY, THEY NEVER NEEDED ANY ABODE OUTSIDE, THEY DID NOT FIND IT ESSENTIAL TO SEARCH AND WORSHIP THE GOD ANYWHERE ELSE. THE NATURE ALONG WITH THE TREES, STREAMS AND RIVERS WERE THEIR GOD. THEY HAD NO FOE. SOMETIMES THEY USED CRY A LOT, ALL OF A SUDDEN. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE REASON, THEY USED TO ANSWER THAT `THIS LIMITLESS SKY, THE VAST OCEAN, THE RANGES OF MOUNTAINS EVERYTHING IS CREATED BY THE SUPREME POWER. WE WERE BORN LATER; THE SUPREME POWER CONFERRED UPON US THE GIFT OF ALL THE SENSORY ORGANS TO ENJOY THESE CREATIONS. SOMETIMES, WE ARE UNABLE TO TOLERATE THE GOODNESS OF THE SUPREME POWER AND THEN WE CRY.` TODAY, THE WORLD NOT ONLY WALKS BUT RUNS ON ALL THE SIX EVIL SPIRITS IN OUR LIFE EXCEPT LOVE. THIS BOOK HAS THE BASE OF `BELOVED` BY OSHO, WITH JUST ONE FEELING IN MY MIND. I WANTED TO MAKE THE READERS AWARE OF THOSE THOUGHTS WHICH HAVE CAPTURED MY MIND, WHICH HAVE HYPNOTIZED ME IN A WAY.

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.

`CHEERS!` THE GLASSES CLINK ON EACH OTHER. OF COURSE, THAT IS NOT THE ONLY TIME FOR `CHEERS`. VAPU`S `CHEERS` TOUCHES EVERY SOUL AND PRODUCES THE RHYTHMIC CLINKING, RESULTING INTO CHEERING UP OF THE HEARTS TOGETHER, SPREADING HAPPINESS. VAPU, A PATRON OF HAPPINESS, A COLLECTOR OF HUMAN BEINGS, A FAN OF UNIQUE CHARACTERS; HELPING US TO MEET ALL THESE EXCLUSIVE AND EXQUISITE PEOPLE THROUGH HIS WORD-PORTRAITS, IN `CHEERS!` ANNA ADVISES VAPU, `DON`T EVER DISCARD THE OLD. WHILE PRACTISING IT, YOU WILL COME ACROSS NEW. THE FIRST LETTER THAT WE WRITE IS AT THE AGE OF THREE. THEREAFTER, WE KEEP ON WRITING TILL OUR LAST BREATH.` SOMEWHERE SOME NOBLE BHAUSAHEB IMPLANTS THE SEED OF CONFIDENCE, DEEP DOWN. WE COME ACROSS MANY SUCH `GLASSES`, TRANSPARENT IN THEIR ATTITUDE AND CLEAR IN THEIR MIND. THEY REMAIN FULL FOREVER. THEY REFRESH OUR MINDS WHILE CHEERING US UP. INTRODUCTION OF PERSONALITIES SHOULD ALWAYS CHEER UP PEOPLE. SOME GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THE COMPANY OF SUCH NOBLE PEOPLE. VAPU HAD BEEN ONE OF THEM. HIS GREATNESS LIES IN HIS READING SKILLS WHICH HE FURTHER PEN-PORTRAYED FOR HIS READERS. THAT IS HOW WE READERS ARE TOUCHED WITH HIS `CHEERS!` IT IS INTOXICATING BUT NOT INTIMIDATING; IT IS ALCOHOLIC BUT NOT SEDUCING. THERE ARE GLASSES, BUT THEY ARE NOT EMPTY. THERE ARE COLOURS, BUT THEY DO NOT SPOIL THE BEAUTY. CHEERS!

WITHIN HALF A SECOND THE NEWS REACHED PATOLE`S CONDOMINIUM AND THE WHOLE FOURSTOREYED INFRASTRUCTURE WAS SHAKEN AS IF FROM AN EARTHQUAKE. THERE WERE 65 BLOCKS ON EACH FLOOR, SO IN ALL THE FOUR FLOORS HAD 260 BLOCKS, ALL THE MEMBERS FROM EACH AND EVERY BLOCK STARTED RUNNING TOWARDS RAMAKANT LAGHATE`S RESIDENCE. SINCE MANY YEARS, NOTHING SO EXCITING HAD HAPPENED IN THE BUILDING AND THERE WAS NO POSSIBILITY OF ANYTHING EXCITING HAPPENING IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THIS IS A PECULIARITY OF VA PU`S STORIES; THEY START WITH A SHOCK AND GIVE US ANOTHER ONE AT THE END, THE STORY IT SELF AT ITS HEIGHT THROUGHOUT THE BOOK. EVERY COMMON MAN FEELS THAT SOMETHING EXCITING SHOULD HAPPEN IN HIS OR HER LIFE. WITH THIS AS A CLUE, VA PU HAS CLEVERLY WOVEN THE STORIES. EACH AND EVERY STORY HAS A VERY SPECIAL PLOT, WHICH FURTHER HEIGHTENS THE SUSPENSE MAKING IT EXCITING AS WELL AND GIVES A SHOCK AT THE END. WHY DO WE GET SO ENGULFED IN ALL THOSE STORIES? ANSWER IS SIMPLE. IT IS VA PU`S NATURAL, HEARTTOHEART, AND YET NAUGHTY STYLE AND THE FRESHNESS OF THE TOPICS.

WHEN THE HORIZONS ARE DARKENED TOTALLY THEN ONLY A PERSON`S FAITH ON HIS PLANS AND HIS WORKING SYSTEMS IS TESTED, SAYS MAHATMA GANDHI. DR. 106~ HAS VERY FREQUENTLY FACED SITUATIONS WHERE EVERYTHING WAS UNUSUALLY DARK, BUT EVERY TIME SHE HAS COME OUT OF THE DARKNESS SUCCESSFULLY. THIS BOOK IS IN A WAY HER AUTOBIOGRAPHY, IN THIS SHE HAS WRITTEN ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES SHE FACED WHILE TRUDGING ALONG THE PATH. SHE WAS FELICITATED WITH THE `SOCIAL SCULPTOR` AWARD ON 22ND OCTOBER 1997. THIS AWARD IS GIVEN IN THE MEMORY OF THE SCULPTOR JOSEPH BOEJ, WHICH IS FOR 14 THOUSAND DOLLARS. PERSONS LIKE DR. BEDI WHO HAVE MAINTAINED THEIR COMPOSURE PROPERLY, WHO HAVE A HEALTHY AND ARTISTIC MIND ARE THE IDOLS FOR TODAY`S SOCIETY. DR. 106~ SET UP HER VISION ON THE TIHAR JAIL. SHE IMPLEMENTED JOSEPH BOEJ`S VIEWS. SHE BROUGHT THEM INTO REALITY. SHE MOULDED THE TRADITIONS TO MAKE THE PRISONERS PROGRESS. BEFORE THAT, THE PRISONER`S MINDS WERE FULL OF NEGATIVE THOUGHTS, HELPLESSNESS, HOPELESSNESS, APATHY AND MELANCHOLY. SHE IGNITED THEIR MINDS WITH GOOD THOUGHTS AND CREATIVITY. HER EXPERIENCES WHICH SHE HAS SHARED WITH US WILL REMIND THE READERS ABOUT HER OTHER BOOKS, `I DARE` AND `IT`S ALWAYS POSSIBLE`.

THIS IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT VARIATION OF VA PU`S WRITINGS. THOUGH THE BASE OR THE FOUNDATION OF HIS THOUGHTS AND WRITING CULTURE HAS BEEN IMPRINTED ON THE PAGES INSIDE, THE ROUTE THAT HE HAS FOLLOWED THIS TIME IS UNEXPECTEDLY GRAND. WE START READING THE BOOK WITH THE BACKGROUND OF ALL HIS OTHER BOOKS, BUT THEN WE END UP GETTING A PLEASANT SURPRISE. SOMETIMES, HE HAS CRITICIZED HIS OWN WRITINGS, SOMETIMES HE HAS REVEALED THE SECRETS BEHIND HIS WRITINGS AND IDEAS. IF WE START READING JUST FOR THE SAKE OF ENTERTAINMENT, THEN IT WOULD BE NOT WORTH IT. ON THE CONTRARY, IT IS WORTH A LOT MORE. HIS THOUGHTS PROVOKE US TO THINK ABOUT THE THINGS NOT THOUGHT BEFORE. HIS WORDS HAVE THE POWER TO WAKE UP A SLEEPING MIND, TO THE DAWN OF THOUGHTS, FRESH AND NEW. THIS BOOK ALSO INCLUDES THE TESTIMONIAL WHICH HE HAS WRITTEN IN THE HONOUR OF THE GREAT INDIAN SINGER, LATA DIDI. IT IS EXCLUSIVE IN ITS STYLE, PRESENTATION AND WORDS, NOT TO MENTION THE THAT EVERY INDIAN IS PROUD OF HER. THE OTHER MOST EXCLUSIVE FEATURE OF THE BOOK IS THE VISUAL MEMORIES OF HIS SWEET HEART I.E. HIS DAUGHTER THAT HE HAS SHARED WITH US. ALONG WITH THOSE PHOTOS` RIGHT FROM HER TENDEREST AGE TO THE IMPORTANT MILESTONEMARRIAGE; HE HAS SHARED HIS VERY PERSONAL THOUGHTS FOR HER; WITH US. THE VERY SET UP BRINGS US CLOSER TO VA PU AS A PERSON; NOT LIMITING TO THE AUTHOR ITSELF. WHILE REVEALING HIS THOUGHTS, HE ALSO TEACHES US THE PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE BY SAYING THAT THE INTELLIGENCE OF A GIFTED ARTIST IS INCOMPLETE UNTIL RECOGNIZED BY EQUALLY GIFTED AND PROFICIENT APPRECIATOR. IN THE CONCLUSION IT IS BEST TO SAY THAT FROM THE VERY FIRST PAGE TO THE LAST, THIS BOOK IS JUST EXCELLENT, ADDING ANOTHER FEATHER TO THE ALREADY FEATHERY CAP.

Suspicion is believing that `I know the truth.` My experience is very small, truth is way too big. My backyard is too small, it is not the whole sky. The window of my house is also very small, but the frame in which it is built does not frame the sky in it. I can see out of the window, yet I must understand that window is not the sky, this understanding is faith. Very few are as crazy as Kabir. He is terribly crazy and his craziness has such powers that if you are lucky to get even one drop of his craziness then you should consider yourself to be the most lucky person of all. If his craziness touches you even a bit, then you will remain healthy, calm and quiet throughout your life. If you adopt a bit of his craziness then you will start dancing and singing like him. It will give you ultimate pleasure. Osho has presented his thoughts extensively on all the world famous and valuable litterateur. He not only excoriates them but he creates a perfect harmony. He has given fragrance to gold. Osho resembles Kabir the most. This huge labyrinth has been built by Kabir and Osho together.

I CARE MORE FOR THE SHADOW A TREE CASTS ON US. IT IS TRUE THAT IF WE CUT THE TREE, WE WILL GAIN A LOT OF MONEY BY SELLING THE WOOD, BUT WE WILL BE BENEFITTED MORE BY ITS SHADOWS FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. IT IS MANY TIMES VALUABLE THAN THE MONEY WE MIGHT GET FROM ONE TIME SELL OF THE WOOD.` "VAPURVAI` THIS TITLE IS BASED ON THE MARATHI WORD APURVAI, WHICH MEANS NOVEL, OR SOMETHING UNPRECEDENTED. VA PU PROVES TRUE TO IT. ALL HIS STORIES ATTRACT THE READERS WITH THEIR SIMPLICITY; THERE IS NOT JUST ONE QUALITY OF HIS WRITING WHICH CAPTIVATES A MIND. IT IS A COMBINATION OF MANY GOOD THINGS UNDER ONE ROOF, OR ON ONE PAGE. HE CAPTURES THE BEAUTY OF ALL THE INCIDENTS IN HIS SUPERB STYLE. HE REVEALS THE SECRETS OF THE ROUTINES. HE FINDS THE VERY UNIQUENESS IN EVERY CHARACTER, UNDER EVERY OR ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. LIFE IS FULL OF DIFFERENT PHASES; THOSE OF SORROW, HAPPINESS, STRUGGLE, BROODING, AND MANY MORE. VA PU HANDLES THEM ALL WITH EQUAL CAPACITY REVEALING THE BEAUTY FOR US, AND CONQUERING OUR MINDS ONCE AGAIN; AS ALWAYS.

OUT OUR LIFE EACH ONE OF US ENVIES SOME ONE OR THE OTHER IN SOME FORM. EVERY ONE OF US ALWAYS HAVE A FEELING THAT SOMETHING THAT WE DESERVE THE MOST IS BEING GIVEN TO SOMEONE ELSE, WHO IS NOT SO DESERVING. THIS VERY THOUGHT KILLS US. THE FACT THAT THIS SECRET CANNOT BE SHARED WITH ANYONE IS WORSE THAN THE NAGGING FEELING ITSELF FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING THE MOST WITH THE DISEASE OF ENVY, I OPENED A CLUB, `DILASA MANDAL` OR `RELIEF CLUB`; WITH THE ONLY INTENTION OF PROVIDING AN OUTLET FOR THE VENOM SO FILLED UP IN THEIR MIND. THE PEAK PERIOD OF THIS CLUB IS EITHER THAT OF THE `SAHITYA SAMMELAN AND NATYA SAMMELAN` OR THE PERIOD WHEN THE `SAHITYA PURASKARS` ARE AWARDED. BUT THE ONLY CONDITION FOR THE ADMISSION IS PEOPLE SHOULD BE REALLY JEALOUS OF SOMEONE, THOSE WITH NO JEALOUSY GET NO ADMISSION AT ALL. THE MOST SALIENT FEATURE OF VA PU`S WRITING IS THAT HE UNDERSTANDS ALL THE GOOD AND BAD FEELINGS IN EVERYONE`S MIND AND FURTHER TRIES TO PUT THEM INTO SIMPLE YET EFFECTIVE WRITINGS WITH HIS `MIDAS TOUCH`. HE CONSIDERS LIFE WITH EARNEST ZEAL, ENTHUSIASM AND A POSITIVE APPROACH. HE IS ALWAYS HOPEFUL IN THE MOST HOPELESS SITUATIONS. HE NOT ONLY PRESENTS THE VERY GOOD IN LIFE AROUND HIM BUT WITH THE SAME INTENSITY AND INTIMACY PRESENTS THE EVIL OF THOSE OTHERWISE INNOCENT MINDS, WHICH ASTONISHES THE READER EVERY TIME HE READS ONE OF VA PU`S STORIES. `INTIMATE` IS NO EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE.

SHE WAS A VERY BEAUTIFUL LADY, BUT WAS BORN TO A POOR SCHOOL MASTER. HE WAS A VERY HANDSOME DOCTOR, FROM A VERY RICH AND NOBLE FAMILY. HE MARRIED HER AGAINST EVERYONE`S WISH. BUT WITHIN A FEW MONTHS AFTER MARRIAGE SHE GOT WHITE SPOTS ON HER BODY, LEUKODERMA. EVERYONE GOT SCARED OF HER UGLINESS AND THEY THREW HER OUT OF THE HOUSE, THEY SENT HER BACK TO HER PARENT`S HOUSE, AS IF SHE WAS A PIECE OF GARBAGE. SHE BUILT UP HER OWN UNIVERSE, BUT HE WAS CURSING HIMSELF. WHAT IF HE HAD SUFFERED WITH THE SAME DISEASE? WOULD SHE HAVE DISCARDED HIM LIKE A PIECE OF GARBAGE? WHAT CAN BE THE END OF SUCH STORIES? SUDHA MURTHY HAS GIVEN AN INSIGHT TO A SIMPLE WOMAN FROM A TRADITIONAL FAMILY. THE WOMAN IS SHATTERED WITH THE DISEASE BUT YET SHE COMES OUT OF IT. SHE SHAPES HER LIFE WELL. THE NOVEL HAS FOUND SOME DEPTH BECAUSE OF THE AUTHOR`S MATURED THOUGHTS AND HER ATTEMPTS TO CORRELATE WITH THE MODERN LIFE. THIS NOVEL HAS BEEN TRANSLATED IN MANY OF THE INDIAN LANGUAGES. WE ARE SURE THAT THIS MARATHI TRANSLATION WILL BE ABLE TO TOUCH THE HEARTS AND MAKE THEM THINK OVER.

WE ALL HAVE A GIFT OF THINKING AND EXPRESSING, FEW OF US HAVE THE CAPACITY OF PUTTING THOUGHTS INTO WORDS, BUT THE CAPABILITY TO EXPRESS CORRECTLY AND EFFECTIVELY IS POSSESSED RARELY; VA PU IS ONE OF SUCH RARE PEOPLE. HE IS THE MOST FAMOUS, LOVED AND SOUGHTAFTER WRITER IN THE HISTORY OF MARATHI LITERATURE. A WRITER ALWAYS HAS A STORE OF EXPERIENCES WITHIN HIM, EAGER TO COME OUT; AWAITING A VENT. NOT ALL OF THEM ARE PUT INTO WORDS. YET, MANY OF THESE EXPERIENCES MEET US AS STORIES OR DRAMAS OR POETRY OR NOVEL; SOME OR THE OTHER FORM OF LITERATURE. SOMETIMES, SOME EXPERIENCES REFUSE TO APPEAR IN THE RECOGNIZED FORMS; BUT THE URGE TO APPEAR COMPELS THEM TO COME OUT IN SOME AESTHETIC FORM, INNOVATIVE IN PRESENTATION, UNIQUE IN STYLE, EXCLUSIVE IN NATURE. THE WORK INCLUDED UNDER THIS TITLE "NIMITTA` WHICH MEANS STIMULUS COMES UNDER THE ABOVE MENTIONED CRITERIA. THEY ALL BEAR THE SALIENT FEATURES OF VA PU`S WRITINGS. THEY HAVE CERTAINLY ADDED TO THE TREASURE OF MARATHI LITERATURE HIGHLIGHTING HIM AS A PROMINENT AUTHOR.

EVERY UPSET MIND SHOULD PEEP WITHIN. HE OR SHE WILL FIND A RESTLESS AND WRETCHED BEING THERE, JUST MOVING TO AND FRO. A HUMAN LIFE, SUCCESSFUL OR NOT, BIG OR SMALL, WILL ALWAYS HAVE A FEELING OF NOT GETTING OR ACQUIRING SOMETHING WHICH HE WANTS, DESERVES. HE IS ALWAYS FULL OF DISCONTENT AND FEELS THAT HE DESERVES MUCH MORE BETTER IN LIFE WHICH HE IS DEPRIVED OF. THIS FEELING TEASES HIM, SHAKES HIM AND TORTURES HIM. BEHIND EVERY DEPRESSION, BIG OR SMALL, EGO IS THE MAIN CAUSE WHICH PLAYS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE. UNLESS AND UNTIL, WE SHADE OFF THIS EGO, NO AMOUNT OF BLESSINGS WOULD PULL US OUT OF OUR GRUMPY MIND. HOW DO WE COME OUT OF DEPRESSION? HOW WOULD THE BLESSINGS REACH OUR MIND FULL OF EGO? UNLESS AND UNTIL, THE GLASS IS EMPTY HOW CAN WE REFILL IT? POET SHANTARAM CAPTURES THIS FEELING IN PERFECT WORDS, HE SAYS, "THE ONE WHO SMILES, DRINKS NECTAR`; HOW TRUE IS THIS. ONCE YOUR EGO IS EXTINGUISHED THEN WHAT REMAINS WITH YOU? ONLY HAPPINESS AND GOOD HEALTH OF BODY AND MIND TOO. WE ARE THE WORST OBSTACLE FOR THE PEACE OF OUR MIND. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO REMOVE THIS OBSTACLE FROM OUR MIND. IN KABIR`S WORD THIS IS "SAHAJYOG`, SOMETHING ACHIEVED EASILY IN THE SIMPLEST MANNER. THE MOMENT THIS EGO IS BURNT, LIFE ENVELOPES INTO A SERENITY. YOUR OWN HOUSE WILL BECOME AN ABODE, WHEREVER YOU MOVE WILL PROVE TO BE A HOLY PLACE. BUT NOT UNLESS YOUR EGO IS SHADE OFF COMPLETELY, TOTALLY, TILL THEN NO MATTER HOW MANY BLESSINGS YOU ACQUIRE, IT WILL BE IN VAIN.

TOUCH OF THE HORIZON THIS COLLECTION IS THE LATTER HALF OF V. S. KHANDEKAR`S METEORS. THE HARMONIOUS WEAVING OF NATURE AND HUMAN LIFE IS THE CHARACTERISTIC FEATURE OF A METEOR. THESE METEORS WILL OVERPOWER THE READERS WITH THEIR TECHNIQUE AND UNDERSTANDING. THEY WILL ENGULF THE READERS IN THEIR ARTISTIC THOUGHTS. EVERY SINGLE WORD IN THIS METEOR MIRRORS THE UNIVERSAL HOLY GATHERING. THEY ALL HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TOUCH THE HORIZONS OF HUMAN AUSPICIOUSNESS. EACH POSSESSES THOUSAND IMPULSES. EACH IS WILLING TO TOUCH THE HUMAN MORALS. EVERY SINGLE METEOR EVOKES THE ARDOUR TO LIVE, EVERY SINGLE METEOR EXPLAINS THE LIVING OF A HUMAN BEING AND EVERY METEOR IS ITSELF A"MAHAMANTRA` TO MULTIPLY THE ANXIETY FOR LIVING LIFE.

SORROW IS THE GREATEST AND UNAVOIDABLE PART OF LIFE. A TRUE LITERATURE RECOGNISES THIS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME TRUE LITERATURE IS NOT OVERPOWERED BY SORROW, IT IS NOT SUFFOCATED BY SORROW. IT DOESNOT TRY TO HIDE FROM SORROW OR DOES NOT RUN AWAY FROM SORROW. EVERY HUMAN HAS THE INBORN CAPACITY OF OVERCOMING THE UNHOLY THINGS IN HIM AND AROUND HIM, AND A TRUE LITERATURE FINDS PLEASURE IN PICTURING THE SOUL WITH SUCH CAPACITY CONQUERING THE BAD SPIRITS IS NOT VERY EASY, IT GETS HURT MANY TIMES. BUT, IT STILL FIGHT THE BAD SPIRITS, THE BAD OMENS AND WITH ITS EARNEST WILL AND ZEAL IT CONQUERS.

V. S. KHANDEKAR WAS BLESSED WITH THE RARE GIFT, HE WAS BLESSED WITH A SENSITIVE MIND. HE HAD THE ABILITY TO SEE EVERYTHING. HIS SIGHT REACHED THE PLACES WHERE EVEN THE SUN RAYS FAILED TO REACH.THIS BOOK IS THE COLLECTION OF HIS STORIES WHICH WERE NOT PUBLISHED. THESE WERE WRITTEN BETWEEN 19741976. THEY ARE SYMBOLIC, EMOTIONAL, PIOUS AND SUBTLE. THEY ARE FULL OF COMPASSION, SYMPATHY TOWARDS THE MANKIND. WRITER HAS SEEN THEM THROUGH HIS INNER EYES. THEY ARE NOT JUST WORDS PUT TOGETHER, THEY CREATE A CONSCIOUSNESS. THEY BRING THE BRIGHT LIGHT FOR THE LIFE BUT ALSO BRING THE PLEASANT MOONLIGHT. THESE STORIES HAVE AN ABILITY TO KEEP THE MARATHI LITERATURE ALIVE EVEN AFTER THE DEATH OF HUMANITY.

THE PROCESS OF GENERATING LITERATURE: (PUBLISHED IN 1989) THIS NOVEL OF DR. ANAND YADAV UNTANGLES THE PERPLEXING PROCESS OF THE BIRTH OF LITERATURE. I WOULD RATHER SAY THAT IT IS A UNIQUE AND UNRIVALLED PIECE OF LITERATURE WITH A PHILOSOPHICAL BASE. HOW IS THE SEED FOR GENERATION SOWN IN AN ARTISTIC MIND? HOW DOES THE ARTISTIC MIND TRAVEL FROM THE FORMAL EXPERIENCES TO THE ARTISTIC EXPERIENCES? WHY DOES THE ARTIST FIND THE EXPRESSION MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE FORM OF LITERATURE? WHY A RIFT DEVELOPS BETWEEN THE ARTIST`S CONVENTIONS AND THE READER`S EXPERIENCE? THE AUTHOR HAS HONESTLY TRIED TO ANSWER ALL THESE QUESTIONS IN HIS FULLEST CAPACITY. TO GIVE MORE DEPTH TO THIS DESCRIPTION, HE NEUTRALLYCRITICIZES HIS OWN CREATIVE LITERATURE LIKE "NATARANG`, "GOTAVALA`, AND `BHAY.` THIS IS A MASTER PIECE IN THE WORLD OF LITERATURE. IT IS THE FIRST OF ITS TYPE IN THE FIELD OF A NEW FACULTY; "THE WRITER`S SKILLS`.

THIS COLLECTION INCLUDES V. S. KHANDEKAR`S SHORT STORIES WRITTEN DURING 1971 TO 1973. THEY ARE A PURE MIXTURE OF IMAGINATION, FEELINGS AND THOUGHTS. THE STORIES IN "VIKASAN`` HAVE A PURE YET SACRED STRENGTH OF ENTERTAINMENT. THEY LINGER INTO OUR MINDS FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THEY MAKE US VERY INTROSPECTIVE. THESE STORIES REFLECT NOT ONLY KHANDEKAR`S ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH BUT ALSO REFLECT HIS DEEP PONDERING OVER LIFE. THESE STORIES PICTURE THE CHARACTERS THAT ARE NOW QUITE OLD.THEY HAVE ACCEPTED THE DUALITY OF THEIR PRESENT LIVES UNWILLINGLY, BUT THE MEMORIES OF THEIR SWEET PAST LIVES LINGER IN THEIR MINDS. IN A WAY, THESE STORIES ARE THE LIGHT HOUSE FOR THE FUTURE GENERATION, BURNING WITH THE OIL OF EXPERIENCE AND MEMORIES OF THE OLDER GENERATION. THESE STORIES TRY TO TEACH US THAT `GRIHASTA DHARMA` WHICH IS THE THIRD STAGE OF LIFE IS ACTUALLY REBIRTH.NOBODY EVER REMEMBERS PAST LIFE. BEFORE MARRIAGE, OUR LIVES ARE CAREFREE LIKE THAT OF BUTTERFLIES, MARRIAGE CHANGES US INTO BIRDS, BUILDING NESTLES FOR THE YOUNG ONES, CARING FOR THEM. WE GET INVOLVED INTO THE ADJUSTMENTS WHILE TRYING TO GET THROUGH OUR NEW ROLES, AUTOMATICALLY FORGETTING OUR PAST LIVES. IS NOT MARRIAGE A REBIRTH AS IT MAKES US FORGET OUR PAST LIFE?

THIS IS A COLLECTION OF 11 STORIES WRITTEN IN THE 30TH OF THE 20TH CENTURY. EACH OF THE STORY REFLECTS ONE FEELING OR OTHER. HUMAN LIFE IS MADE OF VARIOUS FEELINGS. JEALOUSY, LOVE, HATRED, FAITH, HUMOUR, HAPPINESS, SORROW, GREED, CONTENT, CONTEMPT... KHANDEKAR HAS DESCRIBED A FEW OF THESE. HIS 1ST STORY "SUWAS`` STARTS WITH FRIENDSHIP, TAKES A TURN ON JEALOUSY AND ENDS WITH FAITH. THE NAME SUGGESTS THIS FAITH, "SUWAS`` IS FRAGRANCE. THE 2ND STORY ONCE AGAIN DEALS WITH RICHNESS OF MIND. IT MAKES US UNDERSTAND THAT THE POWER OF MIND CONQUERS OVER THAT OF MONEY. "TAICHA PHOTO’ REVEALS THE SWEET AND INNOCENT NATURE OF HER BROTHER MAKING HIM REALISE HIS MISTAKES. "RAJKAVI` RELATES THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN GOD, NATURE AND MAN. "KHADKATALA PANI` REVEALS THAT EVEN THE SO CALLED DOWNTRODDEN HAVE A SOFT MIND THAN THAT OF THE SO CALLED SOPHISTICATED ONES. "PAHILI CHUK`` PUNISHES THE HERO FOR HIS MISTAKE IN A VERY DREADFUL WAY. "ARAMKHURCHI`` IS A STORY WHICH UNFURLS THE RUDENESS THAT COMES WITH RICHNESS. MANIFESTS THE FALSENESS OF WORDS, WHERE AS "DON GULAM`` IS A STORY OF A COUPLE WHERE BOTH OF THEM ARE SLAVES TO THEIR HABITS.THE LAST STORY IS "SWAPNE`. HERE THE NEWLY MARRIED COUPLE REALISES THAT EVENTHOUGH THE WORLD IS EVER READY WITH POISON THEY BOTH HAVE AMRIT NECTAR, LOVE FOR EACH OTHER AND THAT IS THE UTMOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE.

'SWAPNA ANI SATYA ' CONTAINS THE STORIES OF MARATHI LITERARY LEGEND V.S.KHANDEKAR . HE HAS WRITTEN THESE STORIES DURING 1930 TO 1970. SO THIS COLLECTION DESCRIBES HOW THE WRITING OF V.S.KHANDEKAR DEVELOPS DURING THESE YEARS. STORIES IN THIS COLLECTION ARE PERFECT COMBINATION OF ATTRACTIVE WRITING STYLE & STRONG FICTION. KHANDEKAR'S WRITING HAS STRONG ROOTS IN SOCIAL ETHOS . HE NICELY PORTRAITS REALITY IN THE VIRTUAL WORLD OF WRITING. SO THIS COLLECTION GIVES GREAT EXPERIENCE OF READING .

THE STORIES INCLUDED IN THIS BOOK WERE WRITTEN EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE TEENAGERS, BY V. S. KHANDEKAR. MAN SOMETIMES KILLS HUMANITY, CONSCIOUSNESS, RELATIONS, AFFECTION, AND SOUL IN THE GREED OF POWER, MONEY, NAME AND FAME. HINDU CULTURE HAS A WAY TO SATISFY OURSELF, WE LEAVE THE BONES OF THE DECEASED IN A RIVER AND TELL US THAT YES, THE SOUL IS FREE NOW! BUT WHERE ARE WE GOING TO TAKE THE BONES OF THE DECEASED HUMANITY? VERY DELICATELY AND TENDERLY, V. S. KHANDEKAR MAKES US THINK ABOUT THIS, THROUGH HIS STORIES. THEY HAVE THE SPIRIT TO AWAKEN OUR CONSCIOUS. THEY IMPRINT THE IMPORTANCE OF HIGH MORAL VALUES.

GHARATE IS A COLLECTION OF STORIES ESPECIALLY WRITTEN FOR ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG BOYS BY ONE OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN OF MARATHI NOVELISTS THE LATE V. S. KHANDEKAR. BOYS OF THIS TENDER AGE ARE VERY SENSITIVE. THEY HAVE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS NOT ONLY WITH THEIR FRIENDS, PARENTS AND SIBLINGS, THEIR SCHOOL, THEIR TEACHERS, BUT ALSO WITH THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND THEM THE TREES, THE FLOWERS, RIVERS, MOUNTAINS, BIRDS, THE SKY, AND THE STARS. THESE RELATIONSHIPS, THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND THE HAPPENINGS AROUND THEM MAKE AN IMPACT ON THEIR IMPRESSIONABLE MINDS. THESE SHAPE THEIR SENSIBILITIES, AND ALSO LEAD TO THE FORMATION OF THEIR BELIEF-SYSTEMS AS WELL AS RAISE INNUMERABLE QUESTIONS IN THEIR MINDS.IN THESE STORIES KHANDEKAR EXPLORES THE DELICATE WORLD OF THE CHILDS MIND AND PAINTS SUBTLE PICTURES IN HIS SIMPLE, UNSOPHISTICATED STYLE. HIS PEN IS EXTREMELY SENSITIVE AS IT UNRAVELS THE EMOTIONAL REALM OF CHILDREN, AND INSTILLS LASTING VALUES AND IDEALS. THIS COLLECTION ALSO DEVELOPS THE SENSIBILITIES NECESSARY TO SUCCESSFULLY STEER THE SMALL BOAT OF GOODNESS THROUGH THE VAST, CHOPPY WATERS OF THE WORLD.

THIS EXCLUSIVE COLLECTION OF STORIES COMPLETE BOTH THE TEENAGERS AND GROWNUPS TO INTROSPECT THEMSELVES. MANY PEOPLE HAVE SACRIFICED THEMSELVES FOR THE NOBLE CAUSE OF INDEPENDENCE. THEY SACRIFICED EVERYTHING, THEIR PERSONAL LIVES, THEIR AMBITIONS, THEIR HOPES IN THE OBLATION LIGHTED BY THE LEADERS LIKE GANDHI, NEHRU, SARDAR PATEL, LALA LAJPATRAY, TILAK ETC. THEY A DREAMT OF IDEAL SOCIELY. BUT DO THE NEXT GENERATION KNOW THIS, DO THEY REALISE THE VALUE OF SACRIFICE BY THE EARLIER GENERATION? IF THE GENERATION OF INDEPENDENT INDIA DECIDE TO HAVE THEIR OWN WAY THEN? IF THEY GIVE IMPORTANCE ONLY TO THEIR PERSONAL PROSPERITY AND SELFISHNESS... THEN? WILL THIS OBLATION GET EXTINGUISHED? OR WILL THE MORAL VALUES SHINE AS EVER? V. S. KHANDEKAR PRESENTS THESE QUESTIONS THROUGH HIS STORIES, GIVING US MODERATE DOSES OF HIGH MORAL VALUES ESSENTIAL FOR SMOOTH RUNNING OF THE SOCIETY.

PEOPLE WHO DO NOT WRITE OFTEN ASK US, HOW DO YOU WRITE? FROM WHERE DO YOU GET THE IDEAS FOR WRITING? ARE THESE IDEAS TAKEN FROM ALL ABOUT YOU OR DO YOU CREATE THEM? IF YOU FIND THEM ALL AROUND YOU, THEN HOW COME WE DO NOT NOTICE THEM? I WOULD SAY THAT THE IDEAS ARE ALL AROUND US. EACH IDEA HAS THE IMMENSE POTENTIALITY OF EXPRESSIONS. BUT ALL OF THEM ARE NOT CONVERTED INTO ANY FORM OF LITERATURE. WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN? I AS AN AUTHOR FEEL THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF THE LIMITATION AN AUTHOR HAS. NOT EVERY AUTHOR HAS THE CAPACITY TO METAMORPHASE EACH AND EVERY IDEA INTO A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY. SOMETIMES, SOME IDEA INVOKES SOME INNER STRENGTH AND AUTOMATICALLY THE MIND FILLS IN WITH WORDS, PHRASES, SENTENCES. SOME OF IT TAKES A FORM OF LITERATURE, SOME OF IT JUST DOES NOT. I HAVE BEEN A WRITER SINCE LAST 50 YEARS. FOR HALFACENTURY I HAVE BEEN SHARING MY IDEAS WITH YOU. I AM REALISING THAT MY ENERGY IS DRAWING BACK THESE DAYS, ONE SHOULD NOT ACCEPT THE BOON OF YOUTH FOREVER. THIS COLLECTION CONTAINS A FEW OF MY EXPERIENCES. THEY GIVE ME UTMOST PLEASURE. THEY WILL GIVE A ME A FEELING OF FULFILMENT IF YOU DERIVE PLEASURE, HAPPINESS, MORAL SUPPORT, RELIEF OR ENTERTAINMENT.