D M Mirasdar

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 COMPILATION OF STORIES; TRANSLATED AS WELL AS SOME OF HIS OWN. THE WRITER ONCE AGAIN SUCCEEDS IN MAKING US LAUGH OVER THE PURE HUMOUR. HIS STORY 'SHIVAJI MAHARAJANCHI PATRAKARANSHI BATCHIT'- MEANING THE CONVERSATION THAT SHIVAJI MAHARAJ HAD WITH THE JOURNALISTS POINTS AT THE DISCREPANCIES THAT ARE SO PROMINENTLY SEEN IN POLITICS THESE DAYS. ANOTHER GOOD ONE IS THE STORY 'TAGEWADE FESTIVAL'; THIS ELABORATES HOW ANY FESTIVAL HAS BECOME A FAD IN THE TOWN/VILLAGE OF TAGEWADI. THE STORY 'MANTRYANWAR ODHAWLELA PRASANG' PINPOINTS AT THE HOPELESS SITUATION OF LAW AND ORDER AND ALSO THE ELIGIBILITY OF OUR MINISTERS. HIS STORY 'EKA SHOKSABHECHA VRUTTANT- A REPORT ON A CONDOLENCE MEETING' PORTRAYS MANY PEOPLE AROUND US PERFECTLY WELL. ALL HIS STORIES TALK ABOUT THE VARIOUS CARICATURES WE SEE AROUND. THEY MAKE US LAUGH, AT THE SAME TIME, THEY ALSO MAKE US THINK ABOUT THE SOCIETY, THE TRENDS, OUR ROLE, ETC. HIS STORIES AIM AT PEOPLE FROM POLITICS, SOCIAL WORK, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT ETC. A WONDERFUL COLLECTION OF STORIES HELPING YOU TO LAUGH AT YOUR HEART'S CONTENT WHILE HAVING THE POTENTIAL OF MAKING YOU THINK. 'फुकट'हा द.मा. मिरासदारांच्या रूपांतरित आणि स्वतंत्र कथांचा संग्रह. अर्थातच त्यांच्या स्वतंत्र विनोदी कथा वाचकाचं लक्ष वेधून घेतात. 'शिवाजी महाराजांची पत्रकारांशी बातचीत'या कथेतून मिरासदार आजच्या राजकीय विसंगतींवर बोट ठेवतात. तर 'टगेवाडी फेस्टिव्हल'मधून फेस्टिव्हलच्या फॅडवर त्यांनी भाष्य केलं आहे. आजची ढिसाळ कायदा-सुव्यवस्था आणि मंत्र्यांची 'योग्यता'याचं मार्मिक चित्रण 'मंत्र्यांवर ओढवलेला प्रसंग'या कथेतून केलं आहे. तर 'एका शोकसभेचा वृत्तांत'या कथेतून त्यांनी माणसांचे विविध नमुने टिपले आहेत. या चारही विनोदी कथा श्रोत्यांना मनमुराद हसवतात आणि अंतर्मुखही करतात. राजकारण, समाजकारण, शिक्षण खातं, पोलिस खातं या क्षेत्रांतील व्यक्तींचं अत्यंत खुमासदार पद्धतीने केलेलं प्रातिनिधिक चित्रण त्या त्या खात्यातील विसंगतीवर बोट ठेवतंच; पण वाचकांना खळखळून हसायला लावतं. तेव्हा वाचकांना खळखळून हसवणारा हा कथासंग्रह सगळ्यांनी अवश्य वाचला पाहिजे, असा आहे.

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

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 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 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.

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...............?

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.

THESE GHOSTS CAN BE FOUND ABSOLUTELY ANYWHERE. NOBODY CAN SWEAR AND SAY THAT THEY ARE NOT FOUND IN SUCHANDSUCH PLACE. THEY ARE CERTAIN TO BE FOUND HAUNTING THE RUINS OF OLD WADAS, WELLS, AND CEMETERIES. THE HADAL LIVES IN WELLS, AND SHE MOVES ABOUT IN THE GUISE OF A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN. THE MUNJA IS SURE TO BE FOUND ON A PEEPUL TREE. AND OF COURSE THE PIMPARNI, BANYAN, AND NEEM TREES ATTRACT LARGE GROUPS OF GHOSTS, JUST LIKE MONKEYS. THEY ARE QUIESCENT DURING DAYTIME, AND THEIR DAY BEGINS AFTER DARK. THEN ONE CAN ENCOUNTER THEM ANYWHERE AND IN ANY GUISE. IT IS SAID THAT THEIR FEET FACE BACKWARDS; BUT THIS IS NOT ALWAYS TRUE. ON NOMOON NIGHTS THEY DEFINITELY PROWL ABOUT. TO BE SEEN BY THEM, OR EVEN TALKING ABOUT THEM ON SUCH OCCASIONS IS MOST DANGEROUS

GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT SADOBA'S IDEA WAS, ABOUT RUNNING A BUSINESS ONE HAS TO CONSTANTLY COME UP WITH NEW IDEAS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS, MAKE DIFFERENT PLANS, HAVE AN ATTRACTIVE DÉCOR IN THE SHOP; BUT THESE THOUGHTS NEVER OCCURRED TO HIM. OF COURSE THIS WAS NOT THROUGH ANY FAULT OF HIS. THE VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT WAS LIKE THAT. ALL SHOPKEEPERS WERE IDENTICAL - IDOLS CAST FROM THE SAME MOULD. THEY FOLLOWED THE SAME PATTERN - SET UP SHOP, WAIT FOR CUSTOMERS, AND STRIKE A DEAL WITH THEM IF THEY ENTER; AND IF NO ONE TURNS UP, JUST LAZE ABOUT. THE TREND WAS TO DO NOTHING ACTIVELY. IN THOSE DAYS THE VILLAGE WAS COMPLETELY UNTOUCHED BY MODERN SALES SKILLS. THE RESULT WAS INEVITABLE. AFTER A FEW YEARS THE TIDE OF GOOD BUSINESS AND PLENTY, RECEDED. THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS WENT ON FALLING. HE FELL ON REALLY DIFFICULT TIMES... FINALLY SADOBA NEVASKAR DIED A HUNGRY PAUPER

AS THIS TITLE SUGGESTS, THE STORIES INCLUDED HERE ARE SMALL TALKS WITH THE READER. THESE INCLUDE MEMORIES FROM CHILDHOOD AND ALSO SOME RECENT INCIDENCES. THESE STORIES GIVE A FEEL OF A GET TOGETHER AFTER A LONG TIME, FRIENDS FROM COLLEGE MEETING ONCE AGAIN, CHATTING, SHARING AND CARING FOR EACH OTHER. THESE STORIES WERE PUBLISHED IN KESARI NEWSPAPER FROM MAY 1983 TO APRIL 1984. THE CONCEPT WAS TO OFFER THE READER SOMETHING LIGHT TO READ, PURELY ON ENTERTAINMENT BASIS. THERE WAS NO INITIATIVE OF MAKING ONE THOUGHTFUL AND INTROSPECT HIMSELF OR HERSELF. THERE IS NO SINGLE THEME ON WHICH THESE ARTICLES ARE BASED. DM HAS PENNED DOWN WHAT AND WHEN HE FELT LIKE WRITING CASUALLY, YET TOUCHING OUR MINDS, RELAXING US. THAT WAS WHAT HE INTENDED TO DO. ALL THESE ARTICLES ARE BASED ON HIS EXPERIENCES. A FEW TO NAME ARE: THE LAW OF GRAVITATIONAL FORCE MAKES A PERSON COME DOWN FROM THE HEIGHT, BUT IN MOVIES EXACTLY OPPOSITE ACTION TAKES PLACE, THE PERSON ON GROUND IS SUDDENLY SEEN ON HEIGHTS. IT IS JUST ONE PERSON WHO HAS THE CAPACITY TO SEND GAGABHATT INTO THE SPACE......... A MINISTER. EVEN IF THERE IS NO ONE TO LISTEN, TOTAL ABSENCE OF AUDIENCE THERE IS ONE MEETING WHICH GOES ON......... THAT FOR AN ELECTION........ CHILDHOOD, THE MOST WONDERFUL PHASE OF LIFE, IT ALLOWS US TO GLANCE AT THE MAGNIFICENT AND MAGICAL WORLD, CAPTIVATING US.......... THAT OF THE GHOSTS EACH ONE OF US HAS TO PRAY AND WORSHIP THE GODDESS, THE GRACEFUL LADY FOUND IN OLD NOVELS............ SLEEP............. IT IS SAID THAT THE WISE SHOULD NEVER ENTER........... A COURT....... BRIBE.......A SCIENCE, AN ART........ HAVING SEPARATE RULES AND REGULATIONS......... AND MANY MORE.......................

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.

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE MAGIC; IT IS ALL TRICKERY. BABU OF BHOKARWADI DONS THE MANTLE OF MAGICIAN ('JADUGAAR') TO PROVE THIS POINT BAJABA MAKES A COMPLAINT ABOUT A ROBBERY IN THE HOTEL; BUT THEN ALSO GIVES A WRITTEN SUBMISSION THAT THE THEFT NEVER TOOK PLACE ('CHORI ZALICH NAHI') FED UP WITH THE LOCAL POLITICS ('GAVGUNDI'), THE NEWLYAPPOINTED LADY TEACHER DECIDES TO QUIT HER JOB AND LEAVE THE VILLAGE BABU AND CHENGTYA TOO FACE THE SAME TRAVAILS ('VANVAAS') AS RAMA HAD TO. THE GOVERNMENT ISSUED AN ORDINANCE LEGALIZING CORRUPTION ('BHRASHTAACHAR'); BUT THIS ONLY SERVES TO DOUBLE BALU'S WORKLOAD SINCE HE IS A GOVERNMENT SERVANT BAPU PATIL DID COMPLETE THE ADOPTION FORMALITIES ('DATTAKVIDHI') FOR HIS SON, BUT BABU AND CHENGTA MANAGE TO MESS THINGS UP DAGADU GAWALI ONE CONDUCTS THE CLASS ('TAAS') OTHERWISE TAKEN BY THE STD. IV MATHS TEACHER WHO TOOK PLEASURE IN CANING THE BOYS SIVA JAMDADE, RAMA KHARAT, GANA MASTAR, NANA CHENGAT, AND BABU PAILWAN GO FOR A PICNIC ('COMPANY') FUN...IRONY...ADVICE...SHARP CRITICISM...AND TRAGEDY TOO...SUCH IS THE NATURE OF THIS COLLECTION OF STORIES.

IN 'MAAZAA KAILASVASI VRUTTAPATRA VYAVASAYA' THE PROTAGONIST NARRATES HOW HIS JOURNALISTIC CAREER CAME TO AN END DUE TO HIS INTELLECTUAL NONONSENSE STYLE OF WRITING...'KHEDYATIL EK DIVAS' TAKES A SARCASTIC LOOK AT THE GROSS MISCONCEPTIONS THAT CITY DWELLERS HOLD ABOUT VILLAGE LIFE...BHIKU INGALE DECIDES TO BECOME A TEACHER RATHER THAN A CLERK AND IN 'EKA VARGATIL PATH' HE TELLS HOW HE LEARNT HIS LESSON FOR LIFE MOVED BY THE PLIGHT OF FLOOD VICTIMS IN PUNE, THE FOLK OF BHOKARWADI GO ON A FUNDRAISING DRIVE AND END UP NEEDING HELP THEMSELVES...IN 'GANPAT PATIL' WE MEET THE LARGEHEARTED, BUT CUNNING PROTAGONIST WHO KEEPS FIGHTING THE CASE FOR PRESTIGE THOUGH HE IS SURE TO LOSE; YET IN THE END HE FORGIVES SAKHU...ON THE OTHER HAND, IN 'NIKAAL', GANPAT WAGHMODE SOMEHOW MANAGES TO GET A FAVOURABLE VERDICT FOR HIMSELF... THE COMMON THREAD THAT LINKS THE TALES TOGETHER IN THIS COLLECTION IS THE SOMEWHAT HUMOROUS STREAK UNDERLYING ALL HUMAN NATURE - FULL OF PARADOXES AND CUNNING. THE EASY AND SPONTANEOUS STYLE HAS LENT A CONVERSATIONAL TONE TO THE VOLUME.