Kirjahaku

SOME OF THE RAGA SOME KEYNOTES ARE STRICTLY NOT EXCLUDED, NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SUITABLE; ON THE CONTRARY THEY ARE& EXCLUDED TO MAKE THE RAGA MORE BEAUTIFUL, THEY ARE; EXCLUDED WILLINGLY TO GIVE A PECULIARITY AND WHILE DOING SO THEIR EXISTENCE IS NOT FORGOTTEN AT ALL, ONLY IT IS AVOIDED. THAT IS THE REASON WHY MY HUSBAND CANNOT FIT INTO YOUR LIFE AND MEMORIES AND WHY WE BOTH CANNOT FIT INTO EACH OTHER S LIVES." VA PU HAS A VERY PECULIAR AND UNIQUE STYLE TO HANDLE DIFFICULT THINGS IN THE MOST SIMPLE MANNER, REVEALING THE HARSH AND HARD CORES OF TRUTHS IN A VERY EASY STYLE, UNTANGLING THE KNOTS SMOOTHLY YET FIRMLY AND SUCCESSFULLY. THE SUCCESS OF HIS STORIES LIES IN THE SELECTION OF THE MOMENTS. THESE SAME MOMENTS ARE WITNESSED BY MANY BUT IT TAKES A VERY SENSITIVE MIND TO PUT THEM INTO WORDS, NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT ONLY VA PU HAS THE CAPACITY, HE GIVES SUCH STRENGTH AND DIMENSIONS TO THESE MOMENTS THAT THEY GLOW IN THEMSELVES, THEY MAKE US THINK, INSPECT OURSELVES, CONTEMPLATE OVER THEM. IT IS HIS STYLE AND FRESHNESS WITH WHICH HE SEES LIFE, HIS HOPEFUL AND MAGNANIMOUSNESS WHICH MAKES EACH STORY A UNIQUE PIECE OF LIFE DAWDLING IN OUR MINDS HOURS LATER.

MY DEAR VA PU; WHENEVER WE READ YOUR STORIES WE FEEL THAT WE ARE NOT READING THEM, YOU ARE TELLING THEM AND WE ARE LISTENING TO THEM. ALL YOUR STORIES REVEAL THE JOURNEY OF MARATHI LITERATURE; THEY SHOW THE UPS AND DOWNS, THE WAVES, THE TURNS THROUGHOUT THE JOURNEY. YOUR STORY TAKES A SHORT BREAK AT EVERY MILESTONE, LOOKS BACK AND THEN CONTINUES ITS JOURNEY ONCE AGAIN, WITH A NEW VITALITY. DEAR VA PU; YOUR NARRATIVES ARE THE MOST SENILE YET THE LATEST. THEY DO NOT ABANDON THE TRADITIONS NOR DO THEY EXCLUDE THE NEWEST TRENDS. YOUR STORYLINES DO NOT HAVE THE FORCE OF THE WATERFALL, NOR DO THEY RESEMBLE THE FATHOMLESS SEA, NEITHER DO THEY RESEMBLE THE RIVERS MAKING THEIR BANKS FERTILE. THEY FLOW LIKE A STREAM, GENTLY, RHYTHMICALLY, CAPTURING THE MINDS, HYPNOTIZING THEM.

OT;GAUTAM BUDDHA, LAOTSE AND CONFUCIUS WERE SITTING TOGETHER IN THE HEAVEN. THE TIMEFAIRY CAME OVER THERE WITH THREE GLASSE. ALL THE THREE GLASSES WERE FULL UP TO BRIM. SHE OFFERED THEM TO THE TRIO. GAUTAM BUDDHA REFUSED THE GLASS SAYING THAT LIFE IS FULL OF SADNESS. LAOTSE ACCEPTED THE GLASS SAYING THAT "NOW THE GLASS IS ALREADY BEEN OFFERED, LET ME TASTE IT". CONFUCIUS JUST ACCEPTED THE GLASS."IF "ASHTAVAKR" REACHES THE HEAVEN THEN WHAT WOULD BE HIS REACTION?", ONE DISCIPLE ASKED OSHO. OSHO ANSWERED, HE WILL ACCEPT THE DRINK AND THEN FINISH OFF THE TIMEFAIRY TOO AS SHE HERSELF IS TIME, "SAMAY". THE JUICE IN THE GLASS IS LIFE ITSELF. THE FULLNESS OF THE GLASS INDICATES THAT LIFE IS FULL OF JUICES OR THE JUICE IS FILLED IN THE GLASS OF LIFE. TO ENJOY THE JUICE MEANS TO ENJOY LIFE, TO CONQUER OVER TIME. EVERY MOMENT OF OUR LIVING IS FULL OF VIGOUR AND VITALITY, TO ENJOY IT MEANS TO WIN OVER LIFE. IF YOU MISS EVEN A SINGLE SECOND THEN YOU MISS THE HAPPINESS IN IT TOTALLY, FOREVER. J. KRISHNMURTI CALLS THIS AS AWARENESS. IF WE ARE AWARE THEN WE CAN KEEP OUR EYES OPEN TO EACH AND EVERY MOMENT OF PRESENT. THAT SINGLE MOMENT WILL TEACH US TO INVEST AND SPEND PROPERLY. THOSE PEOPLE WHO COME ACROSS SUCH AWARENESS NEVER REPENT IN LIFE FOR ANYTHING. I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE VERY LUCKY AS I GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SUCH A PERSON IN MY LIFE; FIRST IT WAS MY FATHER AND LATER ON IT WAS DR. SURESHCHANDRA NADKARNI WHO ACTUALLY FINISHED THE TIMEFAIRY. I NEVER CAME ACROSS THE TIMEFAIRY, BUT MY FATHER HAD DRANK TO THE LAST DROP OF LIFEJUICE FROM THE GLASS OF LIFE, HAD ENJOYED IT, HAD STRIVED FOR IT; AND ME? I HAD WITNESSED IT. IT WAS DR. NADKARNI WHO WAS DITTO LIKE MY FATHER; THIS BOOK WHICH IS WRITTEN IN THE MEMORIES OF MY FATHER IS DEDICATED TO HIM." VA PU. "VASANTA; ANNA KALE"S LUCKY SON. ANNA HIMSELF WAS A VERY LUCKY PERSON. HE HAD A BEAUTIFUL COMMAND OVER BRUSH AND THE PEN. VASANTA WAS ALWAYS MORE CLOSE TO THE PEN. BUT BOTH FATHER AND SON HAD SAME ADDICTION; DRAMA AND THE PEOPLE RELATED TO IT. I AM NOT SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THE THIRD GENERATION HAS CONTINUED WITH THE TREND. ANNA"S GRANDSON SUHAS IS ACQUIRING NAME AND FAME AS AN ACTOR AT THE VERY YOUNG AGE AND ALSO HAS A SMOOTH HAND OVER THE BRUSH. SUHAS MIGHT BECOME A SINGER IF PURSUED PROPERLY. ANNA WILL BE 87 YEARS OLD NOW AND WE WISH THAT VERY SOON WE GET A CHANCE TO CELEBRATE THE CENTURY. THOUGH HE IS VASANTA"S FATHER, FOR ALL OF US DRAMATIST HE IS NO LESS THAN OUR FATHER.HE MAINLY WORKED AS A DRAPER AND MANY OF US HAD HAD IT AS THE BACKGROUND. OVER THE YEAR, ANNA AND HIS DRAPERY BOTH HAVE STOOD FIRMLY BEHIND US. HE ALWAYS PASSESSED EVER FRESH ATTITUDE. VASANTA IS LUCKY TO HAVE A FATHER WHO GAVE HIM NOT ONLY GUIDANCE, SUPPORT, BUT A WHOLE LOT OF FRIENDSHIP. HE WAS THE BEST FRIEND OF HIS SON. HE WAS HIS SON"S ROOM PARTNER IN ALL SENSE. HE TRAVELLED BETWEEN PUNE AND MUMBAI THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE. WITH DUE RESPECT, HIS DAUGHTER AND DAUGHTERINLAW ALSO ENJOY TEASING HIM, CAN BE FRIENDS WITH HIM. HE IS SO SWEET BY NATURE THAT HIS KIDS HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT HE CAN SCOLD TOO. EVEN TODAY, MANY A FAMILIES WONDER WHAT IT IS LIKE FOR THE "PA" TO BE FRIENDLY WITH THEM. HIS APPEARANCE IS VERY SIMPLE; THE ART STUDENTS DRESS UP MORE COLOURFULLY THAN HIS PAINTINGS. HE DRESSES ACCORDING TO THE OLD TRENDS BUT COLOURS BEYOND THE SET NORMS. DRAPERY COLOURING IS TIRING MENTALLY AS WELL AS PHYSICALLY; BUT AT THE AGE OF 80, ANNA COLOURED THE DRAPERY FOR THE JUNGLE, PALACE ETC. FOR BALGANDHARVA NATYA MANDIR AT PUNE, IN HIS OWN STYLE. ART ITSELF HAS A FLOW, CREATIVITY, AN INNOVATIVE TREND. ANNA FOLLOWS THE STYLE OF ANANDRAOJI PAINTER. THE STAGE RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF TRENDS IN DRAMA AND IN DRAPERY TOO. ANNA IS A MASTER OF IT. I AM VERY MUCH FOND OF ANNA"S DRAPERY AND WRITING. HIS HAND MOVES SWIFTLY AND DELICATELY OVER THE CANVAS AND THE PAPER BUT EQUALLY OVER HIS FRIENDS" BACKS"". "PU. LA. DESHPANDE". &N

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

BABI, THE HEROINE OF THE NOVEL PRESENTS THE HARDEST PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE IN SIMPLEST YET THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY. THIS IS A VERY CHERISHABLE EXPERIENCE. THIS NOVEL STARTS AS A LOVE STORY WHERE BOTH THE HERO AND HEROINE CROSS THE LIMITS AND EXPERIENCE ECSTASY BEFORE MARRIAGE. LATER ON EVENTS TAKE PLACE IN SUCH A MANNER THAT SHE GIVES BIRTH TO THEIR CHILD WITHOUT HIS SUPPORT AND FURTHER RAISES THE CHILD, WHEN HE REFUSES TO ACCEPT THE CHILD AND TO MARRY HER SHE PULLS ON ALL BY HERSELF. THIS IS THE STORY OF HER STRUGGLE AND MORE THAN THAT THE TRUTH THAT SHE FACES ALONE, WITH COURAGE, WITHOUT BOTHERING FOR THE SO CALLED RECOGNISED NORMS OF THE SOCIETY. SHE GETS SUPPORT FROM A FEW LIKE HER, WHO RESPECT THE TRUTH MORE THAN ANYTHING. SHE RAISES HER CHILD KEEPING FAITH ONLY ON THE TRUTH, BUT WHAT IS HER FUTURE? WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF HER CHILD? WHAT DOES SHE ACHIEVE AT THE END? THE ANSWERS TO ALL THESE QUESTIONS ARE WOVEN BEAUTIFULLY ALONG WITH THE PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE AND THE NAKEDNESS OF HUMAN MINDS. WE COME ALONE, WE LEAVE ALONE, STILL DURING OUR STAY OVER HERE WE TRY TO CONSOLE OUR MIND WITH SOME COMPANY. ""वपु काळे यांची अगदी पहिली आणि विलक्षण गाजलेली, महाराष्ट्र राज्य पुरस्कार लाभलेली कादंबरी... जीवनविषयक एक कठोर तत्त्वज्ञान परखडपणानं बाबी या नायिकेच्या माध्यमातून मांडणारी ही कादंबरी म्हणजे एक अविस्मरणीय अनुभव आहे... तुम्ही तो घ्यायलाच हवा... ""

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

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.

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.