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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