Kirjahaku

Escapades of self-serving do-gooders, national leaders, babus, and other frauds, Indian and International. Endorsements Dr. Y.V.Reddy, writer, economist, and former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India: This book is a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read. It is full of refreshing humour but with deep and subtle messages on the interface between Government and Civil Society. I am delighted to recommend to one and all to buy, or at least to borrow, and read this book. Ms Sherise Hobbs, Fiction Editor, Headline, UK: I thought it was charming - intelligent, witty and wry. Prof. Shyamala A. Narayan, Jamia Millia University, New Delhi, and Reviewer, Journal of Commonwealth Literature: Vithal Rajan's forte is creating characters like Vedavyas Sharma. His novel, Sharmaji, Padmashree is structured as a collection of short stories centred on 'Shri Vedavyas Sharma, M.A.(London)', the director of an NGO he founded. The book has enjoyable satire directed against self-serving social workers and corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. Dr. Suman Sahai, Convenor, Gene Campaign, New Delhi: I scream with laughter every time I take up the book It is written so beautifully...a great pleasure to read. I can almost identify Sharmaji ...but there must be lots like him. Ms Gita Ram, Executive Chairperson, Crafts Council of India: I thoroughly enjoyed reading Sharmaji Padmashree The portrayal of the protagonist is brilliant Prof. Sachidananda Mohanty, Dept of English, University of Hyderabad: Vithal Rajan is widely known for his Civil Society initiatives. His literary works mirror his love of life, his cosmopolitan background and empathy for the human condition

Sunbeams and monsoon clouds are like the light and the dark sides of literary humour, perhaps, best seen side by side like grecian theatre masks, in short stories, a literary form no longer much in use. From the days of Johnathan Swift to those of PG Wodehouse, humour held a preeminent place in literature. Its short form was perfected by geniuses like Maupassant and Saki, Leacock, and Thurber. Unfortunately, our present times have relegated humour to witless merriment, especially on the screen, while only the literary novel is left to produce contemplation, or a search for meaning.My little attempt is to revive the earlier tradition of the humorous short story, many times not so funny, for its dark side shows through. A short story is sparing in words, and its wit must be delivered with just enough delicacy to make you smile but not to guffaw. And that smile, hopefully, should provoke contemplation about the vicissitudes of life.