Saturday, January 9, 2010

A must read for everyone... Tiya, Parrot's journey home...

Author of the book - Samarpan
Comments on the book- Dhruv

This book is a wonderful account of experiences that one face during the course of life. Tiya, protagonist parrot listens to the voice of his invisible guide, Hans. Motivated by this he leaves the cosy comforts of his life at banyan and moves into the unexplored lands. Through his journey he encounters myriad types of people and creatures. Each encounter is a challenge of life, and it just keeps getting tougher as Tiya moves ahead in his journey.

Character of Tiya is an illustration of how an individual moves up from one stage to the other in life. Each stage is different and offers unique perspectives on the psyche and learning of an individual at that particular stage. This is described beautifully in an event where Tiya initially shows exuberance for being a teacher to all, soon discovers that it is impossible to teach anyone anything. In addition to this, one also sees that the progression from an insolent young parrot to a poised parrot was not an overnight transition; Tiya had undergone a lot in order to achieve that transition.

Another thing that the book very subtly describes was the importance of all the people that Tiya met in his journey for the attainment of his ultimate stage. This underscored the importance of all the experiences in one’s life.

Another thing which is worth thinking is perhaps, that there is no clear definition of what all we could achieve, what all we could be, the limit to the function of life is dependent totally on us. However one thing is sure, however and wherever you may take it, it will have to have some essentials like humility, simplicity and truthfulness in order for it to be called a true attainment.

This book will have to be re-read after some time to see which stage of journey am I now at?

I hope to return home soon, and successful.

Sweet accidents on the memory street!!!

Long down on the lane of memory, there appears to be an image not as clear as to be identified as one particular person. This image is so unclear, hazy clumsy that every onlooker is confused about its identity.

This is not an uncommon occurrence. When we look carefully on our lane we will discover so many unidentifiable faces that we will get confused, however if we keep ourselves indulged in the world of photo albums we will miss the chance to be astonished by the sheer hugeness of our memory lane. Because in photographs, we tend to focus more only on those whom we know, to whom we relate greatly, this at times prevents us from being overwhelmed by memory and warmth of many such friends whose names we have forgotten.

I had changed couple of schools in my childhood. (no reflection on my ability as a student, a mere chance event each time) there have been times when I have met some people in bus, in theatres halls, in a restaurant who are a bit different. Difference in this meeting is that I know them, as a classmate and relate them with some important event but cannot recollect their names.

And to my surprise, I find that most of these people also do not recollect my name. Yet the friendliness and warmth towards each other is unaffected by the fact that we do not even know each other’s names!!!! Some people may like to call it a formality, but to me all these sweet accidental meetings, that gushing joy in heart, is the sign of goodness of life and relationships.

To you,

“We all have a realm where dwell deathless memories of people who have brought divine light into our experience of life. You live as one such immortal in the paradise of my heart and mind.”

– Rabindranath Tagore.