My forthcoming e-book on Corona

A few highlights

1) Name of my forthcoming 'e-book on Corona'

     - Yet to be announced. (to be published on Amazon/or 
        Pusthaka.com

2) How Big? 

     - About 55,000 words, contained in about 250 pages spread over

       14 chapters.

3) Special feature

    - 15 illustrative cartoons by our  Country's well known    

       cartoonist Mr. Raghupathi Sringeri N.S. (Cartoon above is

       his piece of art).

4) When it will be released?

     - Next week!

I request you all to encourage me by reading my book.

An excerpt from my forthcoming book........

A day before the light event, to herald the launch of our Country's fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, our Prime Minister Narendra Modiji quoted a poem of his mentor and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which highlighted the significance of lighting a lamp.  The poem read......

Hindi Version

Aao phir se diya jalayen

Bhari dupheri mein andhiyara

Suraj parchyi se hara

Antartam ka neh nichude

Bujhi hui baati sulgaye

Aao phir se diya jalayen

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Hum padaav ko samjhe manzil

Lakshay hua aanko se ojhal

Vartaman keh mohjaal me

Aane wala kal na bhulaye

Aao phir se diya jalaye

Aahuti baki yagna adhura

Apno ke Vighno ne ghera

Antim jaye ka wajra banane
Nav Dadheechi haddiyan galayen

Aao phir se diya jalayen 

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My English translation

At the time of this darkness during the afternoon

When sun is covered by shadows

Let us take out as oil, the darkness within our mind and body

To re-kindle the flame instead

Let's light the lamp together again

We mistook the milestone for the destination

Our goal has become out of sight

In the mundane trappings of the present

Let's not lose sight of the coming tomorrow

Let's light the lamp together again

The sacrifice is pending, the yajna* is incomplete

Engulfed by the obstacles born from our own men

To make the vajra for the final victory
Let our modern Dadheechis* donate their backbones

Let's light the lamp together again

(*Yajna is a Vedic ritual in Hindu tradition, which is done as sacrifice or offerings, composed of ingredients like ghee, to a sacred fire with the objective of invoking good for the society.  Fight against coronavirus is symbolized here as Yajna).

(*Vajra stands for Vajrayudh, a weapon which God Indra had used to kill a demon).

(*Dadheechi was a saint who donated his backbone to God Indra, to be made as  Vajrayudh).

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'I have not seen or heard Vajpayeeji.  Did he write this poem? when and                 why?’ was young Rohini's (Main lady character of my book.  She is a young lady with a rational mind) reaction.  Now it was time for father Raju (he is the father of Rohini.  He is like any one of us) to take full scope in explaining the relevance of Atalji and his poem to his daughter. 

 'Vajpayeeji was our Prime Minister.  More than a politician, he was a great orator and a poet.  Many during his lifetime, used to say that “Vajpayeeji going to politics, was a great loss to the world of literature.”  In spite of his very active political life, both as an opposition leader and the Prime Minister, he kept time for giving vent to his literary skills too.  The quoted poem was aimed at the youth of our country, symbolized by the afternoon sun, which is covered by the darkness of clouds.  But our young men are energetic and enthusiastic.  Their march on the track should not be disturbed by obstacles of the present day.  In view of a bright tomorrow, they should continue to fight together (Yajna) by lighting the lamp of hope. Our modern youth, like “saint Dadheechi,” should sacrifice their time, intellect, and energy to the ongoing fight for ensuring the welfare of mankind.  Full marks to Modiji, for a timely quotation of the poem and calling upon our people to light the 'lamp heralding our fight against the pandemic,' averred a beaming Raju.  Combative Rohini was now subdued and nodded in appreciation of the great spirit of the poem. 

 
It was 9 pm on Sunday, the 5th of April 2020.  Lights went off and people came out of their houses. Rohini too joined her father in lighting the lamps and candles responding to the call of the Prime Minister.  A few even blew the conch and fired crackers.  It was virtual 'Diwali, the Indian festival of lights' replayed.  Modiji himself was at the forefront of lighting the lamp, wearing a 'mundu' (a rectangular white cloth used to wrap around the waist, also called dhoti) and draped in an Assamese 'gamusa' (a rectangular white cloth with red borders draped around the neck).  The nation-wide lighting of the lamps symbolized the country's resolve in being together for the fight against Covid-19.

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Prayer Vs Pandemic!

Aditi Joglekar was a teen aged girl.  She was an ardent student of Hindustani classical music.  28th February, was the birthday of her first musical guru and her grandmother late Sulabha Joglekar. It was time for Aditi to recall the fond memories of her grandma.

Mercurial Sulabha Joglekar was passionate about many things.  Besides, classical music she was very much interested in handicrafts, painting and fashion designing too.  She was very much fond of black rabbits.  A few years before her death she had brought a black rabbit which was very cute.  She used to call it by the name 'Shalu.'  Towards the days of her waning health, 'Shalu' had become her only companion. There was a century old story behind 'Shalu,' the black cat remembered Aditi!  

Sulabha Joglekar, was born in the year 1909.  Her father Dinanath was working in a saree weaving factory, in a village near Bombay.  When she was seven years old, Sulabha's mother, had brought her a black rabbit.  Sulabha had named her 'Shalu.'  Sulabha grew happily with Shalu for two years.  But Sulabha's father Dinanath hated pets.  Just because of the love of his daughter, Dinanath was tolerating Shalu's disturbances.  Moreover Dinanath believed that black rabbits were ominous and they bring bad luck to the family. Therefore one day Dinanath took away Shalu, the black rabbit and left it in a nearby forest.  Sulabha was very much upset and was missing Shalu very much.

It was the month of August during 1918.  Now, Sulabha was nine years old.  One day, when Sulabha was coming back from the school along with her 3 elder sisters, there was heavy rain.  All the four sisters were soaked in rain.  Sulabha's mother had to wipe the heads of all his daughters with a thick cloth.  When the daughters woke up the next morning, all the three elder sisters of Sulabha were running fever.  Disturbed Dinanath checked up with the neighbouring panditiji (village doctor who practices with herbal medicine).  Panditiji gave some medicine, but warned Dinanath to be careful because there was a peculiar fever around, which was not subsiding easily.  There were rumours that a strange disease was spreading through soldiers, who were returning from              "world war I," through ships reaching Bombay. Therefore people had started calling it 'Bombay fever.' Government had warned people to be cautious about a disease called the 'Spanish Flu,' which was highly contagious and deadly.

Sulabha's sisters' fever never subsided.  Within two days, they all started bleeding in the nose.  They used to gasp for breath.  During the same week, Dinanath was also down with  the similar disease. Several cases of similar ailments were reported all across Dinanath's village. The village pandithji was going around giving medicines to all the sick people.  Pandithji was advising people to inhale steam every three hours during day time, take boiled milk with turmeric and drink plenty of hot water.  Those who could, were advised to  stand in sunlight everyday, for about 20 minutes. He had also warned people to maintain distance between individuals, as the chances of the spread of the unknown disease were very high.

Pandithiji advised people not to lose hope and keep praying God. He was of the opinion that faith and hope are two great immunizers and healers too! Pandithiji used to tell people that faith leads to prayer, prayer leads to confidence and confidence was the most essential factor, in ensuring early cure. All villagers had great faith in pandithji, and they were religiously sticking to his preachings.

But not much improvements were seen. Reports of large number of deaths were heard from the neighbouring villages. Sulabha's mother was caught up with the fear of losing her husband and daughters. Innocent Sulabha had said to her mother then, 'sending away Shalu, my rabbit has brought bad luck to our family.'  Sulabha's mother had no answer.  Mood of the entire village had become gloomy.

One day Sulabha and her mother had gone to the forest to bring some fire wood.  When Sulabha was looking around, she was thrilled to find Shalu, her black rabbit.  Shalu came running to Sulabha.  Sulabha was extremely happy to take Shalu back to her home.  The very next day Dinanath was relieved from fever.  Within a couple of days all the  three sisters of Sulabha too were relieved from illness.  Happy days were back for the family.  Sulabha said to her father that good luck has come to them with the return of Shalu, the black rabbit. Dinanath had to nod in approval.  

Barring three cases of death, 27 people had recovered in the village.  Pandithji of the village received a special award from the local King for saving lives. 

More than 100 years ago, when the world's worst pandemic 'Spanish Flu-1918 broke, India was also severely affected.  In an era, when modern treatments were unheard, a village pandithiji, could save people with his humble medicine.  Pandithiji boosted villagers confidence with the super medicine called the 'prayer!' In this modern era of negative news from all media sources 24x7, has this story a message for us? Can avoiding listening to depressing news and retaining our confidence, help us in boldly facing the present pandemic?  I appeal for reactions from my readers.

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(I have written this short story, to be included in my forthcoming book 'India fights Corona.')