Author: Adi Sathe

  • Khdiki || a Hindi poem | खिड़की || हिन्दी कविता |

    Khdiki || a Hindi poem | खिड़की || हिन्दी कविता |

    One evening in September 2021, my artist friend Snehal Ekbote and I found ourselves deep in conversation about our respective art forms. She had been working on a mesmerizing series of acrylic paintings on canvas, crafted with intricate dots and dashes. One particular piece struck a chord within me. Inspired by her artwork, I penned a poem—our very first artistic collaboration.

    What began as a spontaneous exchange of creativity soon evolved into something more. On a whim, we decided to merge our artistic expressions into a desk calendar for 2022. And just like that, रेखांकित शब्दांकित २०२२ was born. What started as a single project soon became an annual tradition. Now, in 2025, we proudly celebrate our fourth consecutive year of collaboration. Each year, we explored new themes. Snehal experimented with colors and forms. I delved into diverse subjects and poetic structures, from free verse to Haiku and चारोळी (four-liners)

    This particular creation holds a special place in my heart. One of her paintings was so evocative that I couldn’t resist capturing its essence in a free verse poem. I am sharing it today as part of a blogging challenge hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla. Originally written in Marathi, I have translated it into Hindi to reach a wider audience.

    मराठी कविता

    हो, सवयच लागलीये आम्हाला
    सारं सारं काही त्या एका खिडकीतून पहायची.
    दिवसभराचं कामाचं ओझं मानेवरून उतरवून,
    जेव्हा आम्ही आमच्या चार भिंतींमध्ये स्वतःला बंद करून घेतो.
    तेव्हा आमच्यासमोर संपूर्ण विश्व उभं असतं या खिडकीमध्ये.

    अगदी छोट्या ५-६ इंची झरोक्यापासून ते भिंतभर पसरलेली मोठ्ठी फ्रेंच विंडो!
    हे सारे पर्याय आम्ही खिशाला खार लावून घेतले आहेतच.
    दिवसभराचा शिणवटा घालवण्यासाठी चहा कॉफी,
    सोबतीला दोन चार बिस्किट्स…
    आणि हो, जर हिचा मूड चांगला असेल,
    तर पोहे उपमा किंवा तत्सम काहीतरी…
    या साऱ्याची जमवाजमव होऊन खिडकीपाशी जोडीनं बैठक पडते,
    पण, बऱ्याचदा एकट्यानेच…

    खिडकीतून दिसणारी भकास सिमेंट काँक्रीट ची जंगल बघण्यात तिला रस नसतो, आणि तिचं बहारदार जग मला रुचत नसतं……
    ~~~
    आदित्य साठे
    ३०/०८/२०२१

    हिन्दी अनुवाद

    हा, हमे अब आदत सी हो गई है,
    सब कुछ उसी एक खिड़की से देखने की।
    दिन भर के कामों का बोझा पीठ से उतार के,
    जब हम अपने आप को, बंद कर लेते है उन चार दीवारों में।
    तो उसी खिड़की में हमारे लिए खुला तैयार होता है सारा जहां।

    बेहद छोटे ५ बाय ६ के झरोखें से लेकर एक पूरी दीवार बने इतनी बड़ी फ्रेंच विंडो तक!
    सारे विकल्प हमने अपनी खुद की जेबें काट कर खरीदे है।
    दिनभर की थकान मिटाने के लिए, चाय कॉफ़ी और साथ ने दो चार बिस्कुट,
    और हा, अगर श्रीमती जी का मूड बढ़िया हो, तो कुछ समोसे कचौरी भी…
    ये सारी सामग्री जमा कर जोड़े से बैठ जाते है हम खिड़की में।
    पर, ज़्यादातर अकेले ही…

    खिड़की से देखने वाला उदास कॉन्क्रीट का जंगल देखने में उसे कोई दिलचस्पी नहीं है,
    और उसकी खिलखिलाती दुनिया मुझे रास नहीं आती…
    ~~~
    आदित्य साठे
    १७/०२/२०२५

    This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.

    Read more of my poems here.

  • Intriguing Espionage Story of a Double Agent

    Intriguing Espionage Story of a Double Agent

    The Indian freedom struggle is a vast and complex tapestry, woven with the efforts of countless individuals following different ideologies, all striving toward a common goal. With so many undercurrents shaping this movement, there was never a dull moment throughout that century. As one leader faded into history, another emerged to carry the torch forward.

    Looking back at this period, I see immense potential for stories and novels set against this backdrop. The sheer expanse of our country, combined with its cultural diversity and the multitude of groups involved in the struggle, offers a vast canvas for storytelling. And yet, we don’t come across many books set in this era—especially not espionage thrillers, which are even rarer.

    Fortunately, Enakshi Sengupta’s The Silk Route Spy fills this gap.

    Traitor or Patriot? Intriguing Espionage Story of a Double Agent

    Set against the vast landscapes of India and Southeast Asia between the 1920s and 1940s, the novel tells the gripping story of Nandlal Kapur. Writing about a subject so close to one’s heart and home—one deeply embedded in family memories—can be a challenge, but Enakshi has masterfully navigated these complexities, delivering an engaging and action-packed novel.

    Although Nandlal’s journey primarily takes him to Firozpur, Delhi, and Calcutta, the story effectively conveys the diversity of individuals involved in the freedom struggle. Despite being geographically scattered, these groups were united by their shared determination and unwavering commitment to a common cause.

    Nandlal Kapur’s journey is thrilling and immersive, skillfully blending patriotism with the intrigue of espionage. As the story unfolds along the Silk Route, he ventures into distant lands, from the Malayan Peninsula to Japan and China. However, during these later chapters, the espionage element takes a backseat. I would have loved to see this aspect explored in greater depth, adding to the suspense and intensity of the narrative.

    About the book

    • Name of Book: The Silk Route Spy
    • Author: Enakshi Sengupta
    • Publisher: Harper Collins
    • Publication year: 2024
    • Pages: 216
    • ISBN – 10: 9362130114
    • ISBN – 13: 9789362130112
    • Price: ₹ 299 (Paperback)

    My ratings

    Story: 3.5/5
    Writing Style: 3/5
    Cover Design: 4/5

    Overall Rating: 3.5/5

    Where to Buy

    Should you read it?

    Nevertheless, it’s an engaging read. If you enjoy such stories, you should definitely give it a try at least once.

    If you want more book recommendations, click here.

    This review is powered by the Blogchatter Book Review Program. 

    This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.

  • Tagore’s Unending Love – I tried translating into Marathi

    Tagore’s Unending Love – I tried translating into Marathi

    The name of Tagore has been with me ever since I began learning the alphabet. I owe this to my kindergarten school, Gurudev Rabindranath Vidyalaya in Nashik. My parents chose this one not for its name but for its proximity to our home. As I grew older, however, Rabindranath Tagore became an intriguing figure who captivated my imagination.

    Last year, during the Blogchatter retreat, I had the opportunity to delve deeper into Tagore’s life and times. Kolkata and the timeless figure of the sage from Thakurbari have remained in my thoughts ever since my brief visit to the City of Joy. His poetry evokes a wealth of emotions. A few years ago, I attempted to translate one of his gems, “Chitto Jetha Bhayshunyo,” into Marathi. While many others have translated it into Marathi and various languages, the pull to convey the feelings it stirs within me was irresistible.

    Tagore’s Unending Love

    Another of Tagore’s works that haunts me is অনন্ত প্রেম/Anonto Prem (Unending Love). First published in 1890 as part of the collection Manasi, this poem’s profound emotional depth is breathtaking. Tagore was only 29 when this collection was released. e must have been even younger when he wrote it. Like many of his other poems, it has been translated into numerous languages.

    William Radice, an English poet stayed with Taagore and dedicated decades to understanding him and his literature. He has translated this particular piece into English. With each masterpiece I encounter, the urge to learn Bengali grows stronger. Reading them in translation simply doesn’t do justice to the original beauty. And yet, I’ve used Radice’s English translation as a reference to try capturing the emotions of Anonto Prem in Marathi. I hope I’ve done this beautiful work some measure of justice.

    अनंत प्रेम – आदित्य साठे

    मी प्रेम केलं तुझ्यावर,
    अनंत वेळा आणि अनंत रूपात.
    जीवनभर आणि त्यानंतरही, युगानुयुगे, कायमच.
    पुनःपुन्हा गुंफल्या कवितांच्या माळा,
    माझ्या संमोहित मनाने तुझ्यासाठी,
    ज्या शोभून दिसल्या विविध रूपात,
    जेव्हा माळल्यास त्या तुझ्या गळ्यात.
    जीवनभर आणि त्यानंतरही, युगानुयुगे, कायमच.

    जेव्हाही कानी पडतात प्रेमाच्या परिकथा,
    जाणवतात त्यातील चिरपरिचित जुनी दुःख,
    त्याच युगानुयुगांच्या विराहाच्या कहाण्या.
    एकदा असंच बघत होतो टक लावून,
    भूतकाळाच्या अनंतात,
    अन् सामोरी आलीस तू
    ध्रुवताऱ्याचा प्रकाश ल्यालेली, चिरत काळाचा अंधार,
    तुझी हीच छबी राहणार स्मरणात, कायमच.

    आलोत आज आपण इथवर,
    अशा निर्मळ प्रवाहातून वाहत.
    ज्याच्या उगमशी आहे आपले प्रेम,
    काळाच्याही हृदयातून उमलणारे.
    अनुभवला आहे आपण एकच भाव,
    करोडो प्रेमी जीवांसोबतच्या या प्रवासात.
    भेटीतील आरक्त लज्जा, विराहतील तेच कातर अश्रु,
    प्रेम जुनेच, पण नवनव्या रूपात, कायमच.

    आणि आज, आज तेच अनंत प्रेम तुझ्या चरणी लीन आहे,
    शेवटच्या मुक्कामी येऊन.
    प्रेम, पूर्वजांचे आणि येणाऱ्या जीवांचेही.
    वैश्विक सुख, वैश्विक दुःख आणि वैश्विक जीवन.
    विश्वातील सारे प्रेम येऊन मिळते आपल्या प्रेमात.
    आणि उमलते प्रत्येक कवीची कविता, कायमच…

    Unending Love – William Radice

    I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times…
    In life after life, in age after age, forever.
    My spellbound heart has made and remade the necklace of songs,
    That you take as a gift, wear round your neck in your many forms,
    In life after life, in age after age, forever.

    Whenever I hear old chronicles of love, its age-old pain,
    Its ancient tale of being apart or together.
    As I stare on and on into the past, in the end you emerge,
    Clad in the light of a pole-star piercing the darkness of time:
    You become an image of what is remembered forever.

    You and I have floated here on the stream that brings from the fount.
    At the heart of time, love of one for another.
    We have played alongside millions of lovers, shared in the same
    Shy sweetness of meeting, the same distressful tears of farewell-
    Old love but in shapes that renew and renew forever.

    Today it is heaped at your feet, it has found its end in you
    The love of all man’s days both past and forever:
    Universal joy, universal sorrow, universal life.
    The memories of all loves merging with this one love of ours –
    And the songs of every poet past and forever.

    This post is a part of ‘Embrace the Native Blog Hop’ hosted by Manali Desai and Sukaina Majeed under #EveryConversationMatters.

    Along with that, this blog post is also a part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.

  • Richard Osman dropped a new one with a bang, but… We Solve Murders – Review

    Richard Osman dropped a new one with a bang, but… We Solve Murders – Review

    Anyone who knows me and my love for murder mysteries and crime fiction knows that I’m a huge fan of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series. I’ve been talking about it ever since I first read the books. So, when I heard that he was introducing a new set of sleuths in a new series, I was beyond excited. But, as always, I felt a little nervous picking up “We Solve Murders” —what if I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had the earlier ones?

    Richard Osman dropped a new one with a bang, but…

    Given how high Richard Osman set the bar with The Thursday Murder Club, expectations for his new series were naturally elevated. Fortunately, the first book, We Solve Murders, does not disappoint.

    I listened to the audiobook version, produced by Penguin Audio and narrated by Nikola Walker. Walker’s performance brought the characters to life—Amy, Steve Wheeler, Rosie D’Antonio, Trouble the stray cat, and the rest of the gang were all vividly portrayed.

    The story is engaging and captivating, though there were moments when the plot lost a bit of its grip at times, catching you again with the next plot twist. A few characters felt a bit superfluous, and their presence could have been reduced without harming the story.

    About the book

    • Name of Book: We Solve Murders
    • Author: Richard Osman
    • Publisher: Penguin
    • Publication date: September 2024
    • Pages: 438
    • ISBN: 9780241608371

    My ratings

    Story: 3.5/5
    Writing Style: 4/5
    Cover Design: 3/5

    Overall Rating: 3.25/5

    Where to get your copy

    Should you read it?

    Overall, I’m eager to see where the series goes next. The ending leaves us with a cliffhanger—our protagonists receive a call about another murder, leaving us eager to find out if they can solve it.

    As Rosie D’Antonio said, “We Solve Murders is indeed a good title for a book!

    For more about my views on books, click here.

    This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.

  • Hello, 2025! I am sure you will be good.

    Hello, 2025! I am sure you will be good.

    It’s already the 20th day of the first month when I am writing this one. The days are zooming fast with a lot of things happening around and with me. Before we started 2025, in one of the twitter threads during ’24 wrap up, I mentioned a few of my goals in it. Some of them are personal. Some are professional stuff. I think when I start the blogging journey of 2025, it will be good to expand on them a bit here.

    When I look back at 2024, it has been a mixed bag of joy and sadness, achievements and failures. Some things worked out well, some failed miserably. I know this is what life is, and yet, all of us feel those strong emotions of happiness, sorrow and anger when things go either way! This is what #BeingHuman is, I guess!

    Hey 2025, Let’s do this!

    Coming back to 2025, and what I want to get done in this year. I guess now I have moved on from the resolution phase. Resolutions put too much pressure on me. I feel goals are more accessible, achievable and manageable. You can take a review of your progress, alter your course, and reach the goal. However, in resolution, if it breaks, there’s no turning back.

    So, there are some goals I set for 2025.

    Top post on Blogchatter

    Personally, I want…

    1. Thankfully 2024 didn’t throw any tantrums regarding health issues neither physical nor mental. I expect the same from ’25. In this year, I would like to be more mindful about my health, both mental and physical. So, I will try to build healthy habits.

    2025 year of self care

    2. All of you who have been supporting and showering me with your love support for this blog are aware about my love for the books. I am a bibliophile through and through. Books are one thing which gives me a lot of joy and peace. I read or listened to 50 books in 2024.

    For this year, I am making one book per week. So, 52 for the ’25.

    3. Blogchatter retreats were highlights for the past couple of years. Varanasi and Kolkata have given me a lot in terms of creativity. I would like to travel more in the coming year. I would like to have some more short trips to get more vitamin sea other than the upcoming #BlogchatterRetreat!

    Seeing more sea in 2025

    Professionally, I want…

    1. I am a professional mapmaker. So when I think about my professional goals, in 2025, I would like to be more creative when I make those maps. I want to make them easier to understand, attractive and interactive using new technologies.

    learning new mapping tech in 2025

    2. 2020 was also the youtube year for many creators including me. I could gain more than 100 followers by uploading videos consistently for 4 months and then momentum just crashed. I wish to take it up again in 2025, with renewed light and may be renewed content.

    Maybe, I will bring in some bookish content to Adi’s Journal YT.

    3. I have been writing poetry for more than a decade. I have my first poetry collection published in 2021. Now, I want to put my first paperback book out for the world to read. Not sure if it’s going to be published by a publisher or by myself. But I want it to take shape this year!

    First paperback?

    Have you guys set any such goals for you? Share them in the comments. Let’s keep motivating each other.

    To read more of my writing, feel free to browse other pages of Adi’s Journal.

  • Sorrow – One Very Powerful Emotion

    Sorrow – One Very Powerful Emotion

    दुःख, भावना तशी अतिशय प्रभावशाली.
    कधी स्वतः अनुभवलेली, कधी सभोवताली बघितलेली.
    क्वचित पूर्ण गुरफटून टाकणारी, तर केव्हा अगदी नमुन्याला गोळा केलेली.
    अनेक दुःखे हाताशी घेऊन आम्ही कवी,
    गुंफतो कधी शब्द काही.
    ते कागदावर उतरतात तेव्हा लेखणीतून उतरत नाही शाई,
    उतरतात ते अश्रू, ओढून दुःखाची चादर काळी.
    आजही, कढ अगदी दाटून आलाय,
    बहुदा दुःख उतू जाणार थोडी.
    कदाचित, आज कविता घडेल थोडी…
    —
    आदित्य साठे

    No, not all poets are sad

    I have a very very strong objection when poets are labeled as “दुखी आत्मा”. No, not all poets are sad, at least not always when poetry happens. Sorrow is a strong emotion which impacts our mind. There’s no doubt about it. However, poetry is written, it’s not always from personal experience.

    Poets have a gift of living someone else’s life through empathy, shared emotions and understanding, which are not limited to sorrow. We also feel the happiness of other people with equal connection. We can feel what others are going through. I wrote this piece when almost everyone in a group was saying good poetry can never happen without being heartbroken or being sad.

    Hindi Translation

    दुख, वैसे तो बहोत प्रभावशाली भावना।
    कभी खुद का अनुभव, तो फिर कभी कही देखा हुवा।
    शायद पूरी तरह से गिरफ्त में लेती हुई, या कई बार, बस छू कर जाने वाली।
    वैसे हम कवि लोग, अनगिनत दुख अपने बस्ते में लेके घूमते है,
    कही किसी दिन लिख देते है कुछ शब्द।
    जब वो कागज पे उतरते है तो स्याही नही,
    आसू उतरते है, दुख की काली चादर लपेटे हुए।
    आज भी, कूछ ज्यादा ही गहरा हो गया है,
    शायद दुख उबल कर बह जाएगा।
    शायद, आज थोड़ी कविता होगी…

    —
    आदित्य साठे

    This is as good as accusing every poet of being in multiple relationships at same time, being famous for leaving a long trail of broken hearts behind him/her. Being heartbroken might trigger something and lead to the creation of a poem, but you have to be a poet to keep writing poems. Heartbreak and sorrow can’t keep your creative juices flowing. One has to keep empathetically observing. 

    So, how do you keep your creative juices flowing?

    This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
    hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla 
    in collaboration with Dr. Preeti Chauhan.

    To read more of my writing, feel free to browse other pages of Adi’s Journal.