Kirjahaku

A SET OF 12 STORIES WOVEN TOGETHER TO OFFER US SOME KIND OF RELAXATION FROM THE DAILY HUBBUB AND CHAOS. DA MA, WITH HIS SENSITIVE MIND AND CLEAR VISION SUCCEEDS IN REVEALING THE SMALL BOUTS OF HAPPINESS AND CONTENT WRAPPED IN THE TINIEST MOMENTS WHICH WE OTHERWISE FAIL TO NOTICE. IT IS A FACT THAT EACH ONE HAS SUFFERS FROM SOME PROBLEM OR THE OTHER IN HIS OR HER LIFE. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO JUST CANNOT COME OUT OF THE SOLACE CREATED BY THEMSELVES. ON THE OTHER HAND, A FEW HAVE SUCH ZEAL THAT THEY INDULGE THEMSELVES IN THE WONDERS OF LIFE INSTEAD OF NITPICKING. THOUGH A FEW, THEY HELP TO RELEASE THE TENSIONS IN THE SURROUNDINGS. TATYA, BHIKU, VITHOBA, MADHU AND MANY SUCH OTHER PEOPLE ARE SUCH FINE EXAMPLES HELPING US TO UNDERSTAND THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF LIFE THAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING, MOSTLY AS A RESULT OF THEIR WAY TO LOOK AT LIFE. AFTER READING THIS ONE IS SURELY COMPELLED TO PONDER OVER LIFE AND JUDGE ONESELF AS TO HOW HE OR SHE WANTS TO LEAD HIS OR HER LIFE, WITH SMILES OR WITH COMPLAINTS.......?

THIS SON-IN-LAW IS VERY CHARMING AND HANDSOME. BUT THAT WAS NOT SO ABOUT HIS WIT. AT TIMES, HE BEHAVED AS IF HE HAD NO SENSE OR COMMON KNOWLEDGE AT ALL. FINALLY, AFTER A LONG LONG WAIT, HE GETS MARRIED. HE GETS AN INVITATION FROM HIS IN-LAWS PLACE ESPECIALLY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF DIWALI. HIS FATHER WARNED HIM BEFORE LEAVING THAT HE HAD TO BEHAVE PROPERLY AT HIS IN-LAWS HOUSE AS HE IS NO MORE JUST ANYBODY. ON THE CONTRARY, HE IS NOW THEIR SON-IN-LAW. SO HE MUST SHOW ATTITUDE WHILE BEING AT THEIR PLACE.WHAT HAPPENS THEN...............?

FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END, THIS COLLECTION IS FULL OF ENTERTAINMENT. THE WORDS HAVE SUCH POWER THAT THEY MAKE YOU LAUGH AND THINK AT THE SAME TIME, THEY REVEAL THE HUMOUR BUT ALSO THE SECRETS OF LIFE HIDDEN DEEP DOWN. EACH HUMAN MIND CRAVES FOR AUTHORITY AND YET TRIES TO SHUN AWAY FROM RESPONSIBILITY. NANA'S CHARACTER IS BASED ON SUCH CONTROVERSIAL FEELINGS. HE WANTS TO BE FAMOUS YET, HE IS ALWAYS SCARED OF PEOPLE AROUND HIM. HIS MIND CRAVES FOR IMPORTANCE STILL, HE FEARS EVERYONE. DESTINY OPENS UP SOME NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIM, BUT HIS POOR LUCK SNATCHES AWAY EVERYTHING FROM HIM. WHENEVER HE TRIES TO TELL HIS VILLAGERS SOMETHING OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE, THEY EITHER IGNORE HIM OR BEAT HIM. DOES HE GET NAME AND FAME AT THE END.......? TO GET THE ANSWERS, YOU MUST READ GUDGULYA AND EXPERIENCE TICKLING THROUGHOUT.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

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..........

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.

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

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.