કૃષ્ણનું Modern Management by તિર્થક રાણા

કૃષ્ણનું મોર્ડન મેનેજમેન્ટ એક નાનું પણ પ્રેરણાદાયી અને રસપ્રદ પુસ્તક છે. મારી વાત કરું તો મારે ઘરે આવેલા કાકી જે પંદર-વીસ મિનિટ બેઠા તેઓ પણ કહી ગયા કે તારું વંચાય જાય તો મને આપજે. મને આ પુસ્તકમાં રસ પડ્યો છે. આમ પણ અનુભવે હું એટલું જરૂર કહી શકું કે જે પુસ્તક શરૂની  દસ મિનિટમાં રસ ન જગાવી શકે એ પુસ્તક પછી આગળ વાંચો તો પણ કંટાળો જ પ્રદાન કરે છે.

કૃષ્ણને સમજવા આજની પેઢીને એમની ભાષામાં સમજાવવા પડે છે, જે કામ તિર્થક રાણાએ સુપેરે કર્યું છે.  રોજિંદી વાતોને, ઘટનાઓને જીવન સાથે જોડી જો ઉદાહરણ આપવામાં આવે તો વાત ઘીથી લચપચતા શીરાની જેમ ગળે ઉતારાવી શકાય. આ પુસ્તક બસ એ રોજિંદી ઘટનાઓ, વાતો, નિર્ણયોને કૃષ્ણનાં ત્રાજવે તોળી આ આધુનિક સમયમાં કૃષ્ણ હોત તો એ શું કરત કે આ સંદર્ભમાં કૃષ્ણનો શો અભિગમ કે ઉપદેશ હોત એ વિષે વાત કરે છે. તિર્થક રાણાનું પુસ્તક પણ આ જ સમજાવવાની અને તેમના ઉપદેશો આજના જીવનમાં કેટલા અને કેમ પ્રસ્તુત બની શકે એ માટેનો પ્રયત્ન કરે છે.

આજના કળિયુગમાં બધાં દેવોને સમજવા કે પૂજવા અઘરાં લાગે છે. પણ કૃષ્ણને તમે સારી સમજી શકો એટલે જ તેને પૂજવા સરળ થઇ જાય છે. એ કોઈ ચાલુ ચીલે ચાલ્યા જ નથી. એ  અંતરથી બળવાખોર છે અને એટલે જ કદાચ આપણને સૌને એ અત્યંત પ્રિય છે.  

દરેક લેખના અંતે મૂકાયેલ ‘ખળભળાટ’ એ ઉત્તમ વન લાઈનરનો સમૂહ છે. વન લાઈનર એ જમ્યા પછીનો મુખવાસ છે જે ચગળવાનો ગમે છે. રાણા સાહેબના આ વન લાઈનર ખરેખર ખૂબ સરસ છે.  આ ઉપરાંત, મને વ્યક્તિગત રીતે ગમેલી ટિટોડીનાં બચ્ચાનાં સંદર્ભમાં લખાયેલી વાત કે બધી વિષમતાઓ વચ્ચે ‘એ’ જેને બચાવવા ચાહે તેને બચાવે જ છે અને એ જેનો વિનાશ નિશ્ચિત કરે તેનો વિલય નક્કી જ છે. આ ‘આ’ એટલે ભગવાન નહીં પણ તમારાં અંદર રહેલો તમારો અંતરાત્મા. લેખકનાં શબ્દોમાં, “જીવમાત્રનાં અંતરમાં રહેલો આત્મવિશ્વાસ.”

કર્મ વિષેની વાત લેખકે એક યા બીજી રીતે દરેક લેખમાં કરી છે. કર્મયજ્ઞ પેટાવવો એ જ આજના સમયનો તકાદો છે. અને લેખકના શબ્દોમાં જ કહીએ તો “ભગવાન પાસે દયાની ભીખ માંગવા કરવા અથાક કર્મોની બંદગી તેને વધુ પસંદ છે.”  

Gujarati Book Review - Paralysis - Chandrakant Bakshi

After a long time we are back with review in two languages. Today we would like to share review of master piece of Chandrakand Bakshi - "Paralysis"

Click here to check review in English

The introduction of the book, Paralysis, "Precious Gem: Chandrakant Bakshi of Gujarati Literature" is absolutely correct. In my opinion, the novel is a match with the self. If the readers see themselves reflected in the novel characters, they can understand the novel with justice. Paralysis is a story of a common man like you and me.

After stirring the soda bottle, it bubbles up and the bubbles sit in a few minutes. If in the next few minutes, if you open the bottle of soda then the foam flowing liquid flows from the bottle. It is the same with human suffering. Often, humans have a godly power to endure the sufferings of the mountain. Leaving some exceptions, there is no shortage of motivation for men who have lost everything. The pain that has come is in some corner of the heart, it is only human beings who want to become normal again. But sometimes it does not remain unaffected without coming out. Such a person who always ran away from the evil of his pain, distress, and disobedience, Aram Shah. The overflow of his sorrows brought him an attack of Paralysis.

After an attack of paralysis, a single-headed professor was brought to a small hospital in Hill station. A hospital where the doctor also did not want to settle down. But there was a matron, Ashika, who wanted to serve in that dull hospital, on her own will. This matron took care of Profession and bring back professor from the lifeless state.

At one stage, the professor could be seen flirting with matron from his dialogue even with her. Forty-five-year-old professor and a decade younger matron, the age where most Indian men and women have stable. But the professor was alone, and especially because of his relationship, the loneliness in his life had dull him. The relationship between loneliness and the relationship between Patient and Matron is tied.

Since the professor's profession, Aram Shah was also a well-thought-out person. So, looking at his methods of questioning, talking and contemplating - Matron said, "Uneducated patients do not ask good questions, they do not ask a lot of questions. Nerves may have little effect and the patient will get better soon." Because of his habit of overthinking, he often went into the past and started thinking about his wife and his daughter 'Marisha'. In the story, when Marisha and Ashika sometimes get together in one another, for a reader it is tough to decide what the professor expected in Metron? Mother, lover or daughter?

As the story progresses, it became clear that the professor wanted a relationship, but he didn't have a fixed name set in the social circle, the relationship where he can talk, where he can get a new acquaintance, where he can take the self.

Paralysis is the story of a person trying to break into his new life. This is a masterpiece written by Chandrakant Bakshi, whose translations are also available in Marathi, Hindi, and English.

ગુજરાતીમાં રીવ્યુ જોવા અહિયાં ક્લિક કરો

પેરેલિસિસ પુસ્તકની પ્રસ્તાવનાઓનાં પાનાં ઉપર જ ‘ગુજરાતી સાહિત્યનું અણમોલ રત્ન : ચંદ્રકાંત બક્ષી’ લખ્યું છે તે એકદમ યથાર્થ છે. મારાં મતે નવલકથા એ સ્વ સાથેનો મેળાપ છે. નવલકથાનાં પાત્રોમાં જો વાંચકો પોતાને જ પ્રતિબિંબિત થતાં જોઈ શકે તો તેઓ નવલકથા ન્યાય સાથે સમજી શકે, આત્મસાત્ કરી શકે... પેરેલિસિસ એક તમારાં, મારાં જેવાં સામાન્ય માણસની કથા છે, જે મારાં- તમારાંથી જરા પણ જુદો નથી.

સોડાની બોટલને ખૂબ હલાવો પછી તેમાં પરપોટા થાય અને એ પરપોટા થોડીવારમાં બેસી જાય છે. પછીની જો થોડીક મિનિટોમાં તો જો તમે એ સોડાની બોટલ ખોલો તો ફીણ-ફીણ કરતું ઉભરાતું પ્રવાહી એ બોટલમાંથી છલકાઇને ઢોળાઈ જાય છે. મનુષ્યનાં દુઃખોનું પણ એવું જ છે . પહાડ જેવું દુઃખ આવી પડે તે સહન કરવાની ઘણીવાર મનુષ્યોમાં ઈશ્વરીય શક્તિ આવી જાય છે. અમુક અપવાદો બાદ કરીને એવાં બધું જ લૂંટાવી ચુકેલા, ગુમાવી ચુકેલા પુરુષોની આંખોમાં ફરી સર્વ પોતાનું કરી લેવાનો જુસ્સો અછતો નથી રહેતો. આવી પડેલું દુઃખ હૃદયનાં કોઈક ખૂણે દાબી દઈ, ફરી નોર્મલ થવાની કોશિષ મનુષ્યો કરે જ છે. પણ ઘણીવાર એ દુઃખનો ઉભરો પણ બહાર આવ્યા વિના રહેતો નથી. આવો જ પોતાની પીડા, તકલીફ અને અસફળતાનાં અપરાધભાવથી દૂર ભાગતો પુરુષ એટલે અરામ શાહ અને એનાં દુઃખનો ઉભરો એટલે એને થયેલો રોગ એટલે પેરેલિસિસ.... પેરેલિસિસનાં અટેક પછી એકલો-અટૂલો પ્રોફેસર કોઈક હિલસ્ટેશનની નાનકડી હોસ્પિટલમાં લાવવામાં આવે છે. એવી હોસ્પિટલ કે જ્યાં ડૉકટર પણ સ્થાયી થઇ રહેવા ઈચ્છતો નથી. પણ ત્યાં એક મેટ્રન છે, આશિકા. જે આ નીરસ હોસ્પિટલમાં પોતાનું આયખું સેવામાં ગુજારવા ઈચ્છે છે. આ મેટ્રન પોતાની કાળજીભરી શુશ્રુષા દ્વારા પ્રોફેસરનાં નિર્જીવ થઈ ગયેલા શરીરમાં ફરી પ્રાણ ફૂંકે છે.

એક તબક્કે પ્રોફેસર એ મેટ્રન સાથે ફલર્ટ કરતાં પણ એમનાં સંવાદમાંથી અનુભવી શકાય છે. ઓગણપચાસ વર્ષનાં પ્રોફેસર અને એમનાથી એક દાયકો નાની મેટ્રન , એવી ઉંમર જ્યાં મોટાભાગનાં ભારતીય સ્ત્રી-પુરુષોનું જીવન સ્થિર થઇ ગયું હોય છે. પણ પ્રોફેસર એકલા છે અને અને ખાસ કરીને એમનાં સંબંધોને કારણે એમનાં જીવનમાં વ્યાપેલી એકલતા એમને અંદરોઅંદર કોરી ખાઈ છે.એ એકલતાનાં પડ વીંધીને એ પેશન્ટ અને મેટ્રન વચ્ચે દોસ્તી જેવો સંબંધ બંધાઈ છે. આમ પણ એકલાં પડી ગયેલા અને પેરેલિસિસનાં કારણે હલન ચલન પણ ન કરી શકતા અરામ શાહ માટે લેખકનાં જ શબ્દોમાં, “બહારી દુનિયા આંખથી ખુલી ન શકે એટલી દૂર જઈને બિડાઈ ગઈ હતી, દીવાલો વચ્ચેનો ચોરસ ટૂકડો નાનું આકાશ માપીને, કાપીને એને જોવા માટે આપ્યો હોય એટલો મર્યાદિત થઇ ગઈ હતી.”

પ્રોફેસરનો વ્યવસાય હોવાથી અરામ શાહ સ્વાભાવિકપણે ચિંતક પણ છે તેથી તેમની પ્રશ્નો કરવાની, વાત કરવાની અને ચિંતન કરવાની તેજાબી રીત જોઈ- સાંભળી મેટ્રન તેમણે કહે છે, “ભણેલાં દર્દી કરતાં અભણ દર્દી સારો, બહુ સવાલો ન પૂછે. જે કહે તે માની લે એટલે નર્વ્સને ઓછી અસર થાય અને દર્દી જલ્દી સારો થાય.” આ જ ચિંતનની ટેવને કારણે વારંવાર પ્રોફેસર પોતાનાં ભૂતકાળમાં ગર્ત થઇ જાય છે. એ ભૂતકાળ મોટેભાગે તેમની પત્ની અને તેમની પુત્રી ‘મારીશા’ની આસપાસ વણાયેલો છે. કથામાં મારીશા અને આશિકા ક્યારેક એકબીજામાં એકરૂપ થઈ જાય છે ત્યારે સમજાતું નથી કે એ મેટ્રનમાં પ્રોફેસર શું ઝંખે છે? માતા, પ્રેમિકા કે પુત્રી?

જેમ કથા આગળ વધતી જાય છે તેમ સ્પષ્ટ થઇ જાય છે, પ્રોફેસર એક સંબંધ તો ઝંખે છે પણ એને સમાજનાં ચોકઠાંમાં ગોઠવાયેલું સુનિશ્ચિત નામ નથી હોતું, એવો સંબંધ જ્યાં એ વાતો કરી શકે, જ્યાં પોતાનો જ નવેસરથી પરિચય મેળવી શકે, જ્યાં એ સ્વને ચાહી શકે.

આશિકા અને અરામ એકમેક પ્રત્યે ખેચાણ અનુભવે છે કારણ કે બનેની એકલતાનો સહારો એકમેકનો સાથ જ છે. એ સહારો છોડી દઈને નવી જિંદગી તરફ ડગ માંડવાની કોશિષની કથા એટલે પેરેલિસિસ...

અદભુત કથાગૂંથણી અને પાત્રોનાં સર્જન દ્વારા ચંદ્રકાંત બક્ષીની કલમે આલેખાયેલો આ એક માસ્ટરપીસ છે, જેનાં મરાઠી, હિન્દી અને અંગ્રેજીમાં પણ અનુવાદો ઉપલબ્ધ છે.

Talking about ratings

1. Character : 3.5
2. Plot : 4
3. Language: 3.5
4. Overall: 4.5

Book can be found at - Amazon

Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Book Review - Prithvivallabh - a Historical Fiction by KM Munshi

In our syllabus, we had a chapter "Why had Prithivivallabh hesitated?" The chapter was based on the historical fiction of KM Munshi, originally written in the Gujarati language. The book is now considered as classic. I Wanted to read this book ever since I had studied that chapter. Though I have read this book almost 2 years back, I have decided to re-read to share my views & review.

Book Blurb

Prithivivallabh is based on history of Malwa region of India. The novel depicts the rivalry between Munj, the ruler of Dharanagari and Tailap as well as the romance between Munj and Mrinal. Munj had defeated Tailap several times but Tailap captures Munj with help of his feudatory Yadava king Bhillamraj. In captivity, Munj falls in love with Mrinal, Tailap's widow sister. Celibate Mrinal too falls in love with too. The love story of Bhoj, a poet; and Vilas, daughter of Bhillamraj engaged with Satyashraya, son of Tailap; runs in parallel.

Munj is the protagonist of the story. He was called as "Prithivivallabh" by people. He was a fearsome king with high values. Tailap was his arch enemy. He attacked Munj multiple times and got defeated. Everythime Tailap was allowed to go back by Munj. In his last battle, Tailap was able to defeat Munj and he decided to humiliate Munj for his previous defeats.

Munj was taken as war prisoner to Tailap kingdom's capital. He was asked to beg to the citizen of capitals. Tailap was surprised to find out that his citizen started linking Munj. On top of that, the biggest support of Tailap his own sister (Mrinal Devi) who had ruled kingdom (indirectly) was slowly & steadily falling for Munj. Tailap then sentenced Munj under elephants leg. Whole capital was invited to see the death of the nation's enemy, but Tailap found tears in his citizen's eyes.

The book considered as a classic in Gujarati literature & it is translated into many languages so I have very little to add about book's content quality. Every Gujarati reader must read this book at least once. For me, the book comes at the same level as Patan-series by Munshi.

Talking about ratings

1. Cover - 4/5
2. Content - 4/5
3. Character - 5/5 (For Munj)
4. Overall - 4.5/5

Book can be found at Amazon

Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Draupadi by Kajal Oza Vaidya

I wanted to read "Draupadi" by Kajal Oza-Vaidya ever since I heard praise of it from Vimmy. I could have borrowed it but I wanted to have a copy of the same. And finally I got my copy and I read it in 4-5 sittings. I must say it's an implacable read.

Book Blurb

આ પુસ્ર્તકમાં દ્રૌપદી વિશે કહેવામાં આવ્યું છે કે વિશ્વની કોઈ પણ સફળ, સુંદર અને બુદ્ધિશાળી સ્ત્રીએ પોતાના વ્યક્તિત્વને અકબંધ રાખવા સંધર્ષ કરવો જ પડે છે. પ્રશ્ન પૂછવાનો અધિકાર એ કાળમાં પણ સ્ત્રી પાસે નહોતો અને આજે પણ પ્રશ્નનો પ્રતિઉત્તર મેળવવા માગતી સ્ત્રીએ સમાજ સાથે સંધર્ષમાં ઊતરવું જ પડે છે. એક સ્ત્રીનાં લોહીમાં વહેતી,એના મનમાં ઊગેલી,એના હ્રદયમાં ધબકતી અને મસ્તિષ્કમાં રહીને સતત એના અસ્ત્તિત્ત્વને તહસનહસ કરતી એક સર્વાગ સંપૂર્ણ, સંવેદનશીલ નારીની આ કથા છે.

Dhrupadi by Kajal Oza Vaidh is a Gujarati novel based on Mahabharat 's character Dhrupadi. This book is written in Draupadi's perspective of Mahabharat. What must have gone through her mind at that time and what was her opinion on Mahabharat's battle.

The book is written wonderfully. Though the book is written on an ancient character, still a modern day woman could also relate to it. Draupadi's friendship with Shree Krishna is also written impressively.

All I want to say is that in my opinion, every woman should read this book at least once. It is always an experience to read Kajal Oza's book.

Ratings

1. Cover : - 4/5
2. Content : - 4.5/5
3. Character : - 4.5/5
4. Concept : - 4/5
5. Overall : - 4.5/5

Book can be found at Flipkart & Amazon 

Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Krushnavatar - કૃષ્ણાવતાર - Historical Fiction By Kanhaiyalal Munshi

We are presenting our first multi-lingual review.

Click Here to Check Review in English

Gujarati literature has seen very less number of author like Kanhaiyalal Munshi. Munshi was one of the most contemplative & thoughtful author of Gujarati literature. And in addition to that he was an active politician which made him combine his political philosophy with writing.

"Krushnavatar" was published in three volumes and each volumes has its own sub volumes totaling seven parts. Munshi has created story of Krishna which is considered as God in India. Krishna was very well known personality / character and it is very difficult to find a person who is not aware of his stories. His childhood was covered and presented to us in various detailed forms. His Geeta-Gyaan was also presented to us. But we are not much aware of his other audacious acts. The compilation of all these audacious acts is "Krushnavatar". 

Many people consider story about and around Krishna were age old and outdated. But Munshi has presented his work in a form of a novel (not as poems or philosophical work) which will force you to reconsider it as just mythological work. It will surly make to read all books in a go.

Unfortunately Munshi was not able to finish series of Krishna's life and we were left with seven sub volumes (7th as somewhat incomplete). That doesn't mean any part of book is less interesting. Munshi was able to write each volume such a way that reader can take any part individually and read it.

ગુજરાતીમાં Review જોવા અહીં ક્લિક કરો 

કનૈયાલાલ મુનશી જેવું ન કોઈ ગુજરાતી સાહિત્યમાં થયું છે, ના કોઈ થશે. ગુજરાતી સાહિત્યના એક અનન્ય ચિંતનશીલ અને વિચારશીલ લેખક એટલે મુનશી. મુનશી પાછા રાજકારણી પણ હતાં એટલે રાજકારણ સાથે લેખન એવું અલભ્ય સંયોજન.

"કૃષ્ણાવતાર" ત્રણ ભાગમાં પ્રકાશિત થયેલી મુનશીના મતે ભગવાન કહેવાતા એક દીર્ઘદ્રશ્ય માનવની વાત છે. કૃષ્ણની બાલલીલાઓને કોણે માણી નથી? ભારતમાં રહેતો એક પણ ભારતીય કૃષ્ણનાં મોહથી અંજાયા વિનાનો નથી, અને એ મોહ ધર્મથી બાંધાયેલો નથી. પણ આપણા કમનસીબે કૃષ્ણની બાળલીલા અને ગીતાજ્ઞાન સિવાયનાં કૃષ્ણનાં અન્ય પરાક્રમભર્યા સાહસોથી લોકો હજુ અજાણ છે. કૃષ્ણ ના આ સાહસોની  સવિસ્તાર  કથા એટલે કૃષ્ણાવતાર.

ઘણાં એવું વિચારે છે કૃષ્ણલીલા તો ચવાઈ ગયેલી, જોયેલી, જાણેલી, માણેલી કથા છે પણ કૃષ્ણજીવનનાં અમુક વણસ્પર્શ્યા પ્રસંગો ભાવોને એવાં સુંદર રીતે રજુ કરવામાં આવ્યા છે કે એક થ્રિલર નવલકથાને તમે બાજુએ ન મૂકી શકો અને એક બેઠકે વાંચવાનો પ્રયાસ કરો એવી જ આ કૃષ્ણાવતારની કથા છે.

આપણા કમનસીબે 'કૃષ્ણાવતાર' કૃષ્ણજીવનની સંપૂર્ણ કથા કનૈયાલાલ મુનશી પૂર્ણ ન કરી શક્યા અને એમનું  નિધન થયું છતાં પણ આ અધૂરી કથા એ પણ એમના ઉત્કૃષ્ટ સર્જનનું પ્રતીક છે.

Gujarati Edition can be found on Dhoomkharidi

• Volume - 1
• Volume - 2
• Volume - 3

English Edition can be found on Amazon

• The Magic Flute - Sub volume - 1
• The Wrath of an Empire - Sub volume - 2
• The Five Brothers - Sub volume - 3
• The Book of Bhima - Sub volume - 4
• The Book of Satyabhama - Sub volume - 5
• The Book of Vedvyaasa, The Master - Sub volume - 6
• The Book of Yudhisthira - Sub volume - 7

Saat Pagla Aakash Ma by Kundanika Kapadia

Saat Pagla Aakash Ma is an inspirational book about women. Its ever-read on women equality and empowerment. Author Kundanika Kapadia did detailed field work and research about women and their situations, she has mentioned it in book's introduction page. There is rebel in her voice against age old misconception about women.

In our society women's mind is always filled with various questions, story characters like Vasudha, Aena, Jayaben, Mitra are the answer to those questions. These women have power and dedication to change the society's mindset about women. Definition of liberation is not about having a MNC job, wearing jeans or skirt, having maids. Women liberation comes when people change their mindset and consider women with equality. Women also have to change their mindset about themselves.

This amazing book boost up positive thoughts in your mind. Talking about ratings:

1. Cover - 4 / 5 (Though hardcover but looks boring)
2. Concept - 4.5 / 5
3. Content - 4.5 / 5
4. Language - 4.5 / 5
5. Story Line - 4.5 / 5
6. Characters - 4.5 / 5
7. Overall - 4 / 5

Book can be found at DhoomKharidi

Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Aakhet - MustRead Thriller of Gujarati Literature

When I have written review of Aakhet-1, I didn't know that I was making big mistake of dividing review of story. Aakhet should be seen as single story, divided into three parts just because of its content length and commercial limitation. Written in three parts with more than 1450 pages, Aakhet is like an epitome of Gujarati thriller stories. I haven't read more interesting story than Aakhet even in English. I am again stating this book should be translated into other languages to spread its amazing story to other parts of world.

Author, Ashwini Bhatt had portrayed a wonderful tale of Vasant Gaonkar, main protagonist of the story. Three different phases of Gaonkar's life is described in each part. Apart from Gaonkar, major characters are his daughter Urja, Urja's lover Shemal Paswan, Shemal's maternal uncle Gulshan Rai, Jagjitsingh Hara a freedom fighter, Hemant Oak, Malti Krishnan to name a few. Each character has it's own role in overall story. Apart from major characters, each part has it's own set of supporting characters and antagonist as well.

The first part described darkest history of Vasant Gaonkar a.k.a. Shavant Shirke. Story started in late 1960 when Portuguese were about to leave Goa, Diu & Daman. Vasant Gaonkar and his friend had planned something dangerous. But things became complex when Gaonkar got a call from a blackmailer. Blackmailer claimed to know his dark history of being Shavant Shirke instead of Gaonkar. Even the cue of this fact brought Gaonkar into his long forgotten past. In past around 1930's where an orphan Gaonkar became a servant of a wealthy land lord. Author has nicely described how Gaonkar with his sheer luck survive in his plan to kill and loot his landlord. He ran from there and met Gulshan Rai, a police sub inspector. Gaonkar ran from police and met Jagjitsingh. Jagjit helped him to change his identity and sent him Saudi. Apart from his past, story went ahead in his current time (1960's) where Shemal in-spite of knowing facts about Gaonkar, fell in love for Urja. Urja had similar feelings for Shemal but they didn't expressed their feelings yet.

The second part is had two timelines. One in Saudi where Gaonkar started his empire with pearl hunting company and second where Urja and Shemal relationship started deepening. Second part narrates how Gaonkar had played role of pirate and looted ship to give financial support to Jagjit. After settling down as respected businessman in Saudi, Gaonkar by accident met Urja's mother. Story of how Gaonkar got her wife was also breathtaking. In India, Jagjit cover was exposed and he was forced to leave country. He later joined Azand Hind Fauj under Subhash Chandra Bose. Second timeline was again in current time (1960's) where Shemal & Urja expressed each others' feeling and emotion. Urja tried to convince Gaonkar to accept Shemal; on other hand Shemal asked Gulshan Rai to stop blackmailing Gaonkar and told him about his love. Things became interesting as Hemant Oak and Malti Krishnan, Gaonkar helper & secretary started solving blackmailing mystery.

The last part is written in 1960's time just before Diu's freedom from Portuguese. 2/3 rd of the story is written as climax, which makes it impossible to put down the book. Third part started with everyone's movement towards Una / Diu. One by one each major and minor characters end up in either Dui or Una. In this part, Gulshan Rai did damage control. He made sure that Gaonkar will accept Shemal as his son-in-law. Whole team fight against, Portuguese and put Portuguese in great uproar.

I took my own pace and completed trilogy in 4-5 months, with multiple parallel reads. But I am sure fan of Aakhet will call me idiot. There is not a single page in 1450+ pages which will make you put down book. All characters, locations & incidents were described in detailed. You can visualise it while reading it. Must read for every Gujarati. 

Talking about ratings:

1. Cover - 3 / 5 (Though hardcover but looks boring)
2. Concept - 5 / 5
3. Content - 5 / 5
4. Language - 5 / 5
5. Story Line - 5 / 5
6. Characters - 5 / 5
7. Overall - 5 / 5

Book can be found at Amazon Part1, Part2, Part3

Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads - Part1, Part2, Part3

Mansai ni Thapan - The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk By Sudha Murthy

I fell in love for the title the moment I saw the cover of "Mansai Ni Thapan" - (English translation would be "Capital of Humanity"). It is a Gujarati translation by Jelam Hardik of book "The Day I Stopped Drinking" by Sudha Murthy.

Blurb written about books goes like this : It is collection of heartwarming stories about my and your life. Many incidents and stories mentioned in book which can touch your memories. This is a collection of such short-stories which make you feel that it has happened with you as well. Such occasions are penned down wonderfully by Sudha Murthy.

Title which gives you food for though, whether we talk about English title of Gujarati. Same way book also force you to change your view towards life. Each short-story is bundled with bigger meaning. 

Talking about ratings:

1. Cover Page - 2.5 / 5 (Specially for Gujarati Edition)
2. Content - 4.5 / 5
3. Language - 4 / 5
4. Story - 5 / 5
5. Overall - 4.5 / 5

Gujarati version of book can be found at - Amazon & Flipkart

English version of book can be found at - Amazon & Flipkart

Review from other readers can be found at - GoodReads

Aashka Mandal by Ashwini Bhatt

A book of Ashwini Bhatt is always a gem. Beauty, danger, courage, suspense, love story, sacrifice all aspects in one book. His books always make in my 'must-read' list. Aashka Mandal is one the wonderful creations of Ashwini Bhatt.

Aashka Mandal story starts from Hamirgadh Rajasthan goes to Chambal region and comes again in Rajasthan. Main protagonist Sigval Singh found out a skeleton and tried to find out whose skeleton it was. He found out murder at his place along with some important papers missing. He ended up in deadly treasure hunt when he tried to solve the murder mystery. During his treasure hunt he met with a beautiful and brave heart girl Aashka. Treasure hunt was infamous for 0 % success rate in past, but people join the quest for various reason with very low hope of finding treasure.

Storyline is very smooth. There are few writer in Gujarati literature of this genre who writes with such amazing skills that bring readers back to his books again and again. Reader wishes his books never end. No one can describe person or location better than Ashwini Bhatt. His detail description can help reader to visualize each and every incident in their mind just like watching a movie. 

Must read in Gujarati literature. Talking about rating:

1. Cover - 4 / 5 (Better than Aakhet)
2. Concept - 5 / 5
3. Language - 4.5 / 5 (Easy read)
4. Story Line - 5 / 5 (Sure-shot page turner)
5. Characters - 5 / 5 
6. Overall - 5 / 5

Book can be found at - Amazon & Flipkart
Review from other readers can be found at - GoodReads

Bhadrambhadra by Ramanbhai Neelkanth - Sarcasm Till Last Word

If we name top 10 best book available in Gujarati literature, I think Bhadrambhadra (ભદ્રંભદ્ર) by Ramanbhai Neelkanth will make it in the list for sure. And if we talk about one of the best book in humor / black humor / sarcasm genre, I don't think anyone can beat Bhadrambhadra.

The book was first published in 1900. I still remember we had a small chapter of book in our curriculum years back in our schooldays, I always wanted to read this book. It was one of my first Gujarati book-buy. I read it twice in last three years, and I will always try to re-read it once in 2 years.

Story was written about 1890 era of India, where Britishers & few social activist were trying to remove some centuries old orthodox traditions. Author had created a wonderful character 'Bhadrambhadra', who considered himself as self-proclaimed savior of society against activist. Bhadrambhadra had a follower named Ambaram, who trust Bhadrambhara and his logic unquestionably. 

Bhadrambhadra along with Ambaram started his journey from Ahmedabad. They went all the way to Mumbai to attend public gathering against social activist. Incident and people they met during their journey to Mumbai make segment very comic. Their experience in Mumbai, starting from station to 'Chawl' as their initial stay to gathering, lecture in gathering, meeting with same thug who cheated them in train and got fooled again, meeting with Prasannmansankar and helping them to complete his book/literature. Each and every character and incident give enough laughter and interest to make book a sure-shot-page-turner.

Using laughter as medium, author had wonderfully tried to throw lights on issues like caste system, touchable-untouchable, use of mixed language, resistance against change in social traditions, etc. Book seems humors in current days when many of them became talk of past, but writing something in age where these issue can make or break you, it would require hell lot of courage to publish such work.

A must read for all Gujarati. Rating :

1. Cover - 4.5 / 5
2. Concept - 5 / 5 
3. Language - 5 / 5 (Very very pure, at times Gujarati mixed with Sanskrit, need 2-3 reading at some point to understand crux)
4. Story Line - 4.5 / 5 
5. Characters - 4.75 / 5 
6. Overall - 5 / 5

Book can be found at - Amazon & Flipkart
Review from other readers can be found at - GoodReads

આખેટ - 1 (Aakhet) by Ashwini Bhatt

If I am asked to translate one book from Gujarati literature to English, I will recommend Aakhet - આખેટ by Ashwini Bhatt for sure.

It took me more than a year to start this book after my wife recommended it to me. I was reluctant to start this book due to font format. Small size font and less than 1:1 line spacing makes this book longer than what is looks like. 452 pages of book will be more than 800 if it is reprinted using normal book standard. Well I didn't regret after starting this book. Each and every page was worth reading.

If I talk about writing style, Ashwini Bhatt has detailed almost each and every major, minor and side character of the story. He had even detailed most of the locations which can help reader visualize it to last point. 

Coming to story, author has narrated 3-4 interrelated stories in this volume. Each story is full of thrill and twist-turns. Starting from background of Vasant Gaonkar and his dark background; to his rebirth and adventure as pirate and businessman; to Jagjitsingh Hara's freedom fights, to Gulshan Rai's struggle in police department to blackmailer; to love story shaping between Shemal and Urja; each story was sure-shot page turner.

If I talk about rating

1. Cover - 2.5 / 5 (Though hardcover but looks boring)
2. Concept - 5 / 5
3. Content - 5 / 5
4. Language - 4.5 / 5
5. Story Line - 5 / 5
6. Characters - 5 / 5
7. Overall - 5 / 5

Book can be found at Amazon & Flipkart
Review from other readers can be found at - GoodReads