Category: From My Bookshelf

There are lots of books stacked on my bookshelf. When I pick one of them, I dive into the amazing world created by an author as soon as I open the cover. However, there is always “the end” written on the last page of the book. Have you ever felt that you are in the same world with those characters? Witnessing those scenes written on pages in your hand, hearing voices of characters speaking dialogues scripted for them? There are a few books which have taken me in their world. And I must say, they are magnificent. Valentia created by Rajamayyoor Sharma is on top of my head as far as Indian fiction is concerned while James Clavel has taken me to mediaeval Japan. I have roamed around London with Sherlock and Poirot.

And yet, the journey in those realms, started from the cover page, has its end marked. The author takes the characters by hand and takes them to their destination by the end of the book. They fulfil their destiny. If a writer chooses to give happy moments at the end, we enjoy them. If it’s a tragedy, characters at least get closure at the end. Many times, I wish to ask the author if he or she has forgotten to write something for me? What about my destiny at the end? What about my share of the closure? Haven’t you thought about me as an uninvited traveller on this journey when you wrote a book?

Here you will find my reflections on my readings. Hope you will also enjoy these stories as much as I did.

  • Raavi Paar

    Raavi Paar

    Stories are most close to everyone in this world; whether he is in America or India, Rich or poor. Stories don’t divide people. Since childhood stories keep walking with you. The way they are told that you feel yourself at center of it. Till the end of story you are so involved that you smiles when character smiles, cry with him/her. You struggle with him. These story tellers have the blessings from god to keep you with him till their last word. Fortunately India is blessed with such eminent story teller; whose command over language cannot be challenged. His Urdu is so fascinating as if he is the creator of language. Who travels in all the forms of literature yet he is famous for his shairee and stories. Yes, you got him correctly. The one and only – Gulzar Sahib.
    Raavi Paar and Other stories is just perfect blend of stories which takes you on journey in the past, across the India. Sometimes even in Europe. It comes with sorrows and fear in mind of people fleeing from Pakistan on partition, on the other page it tells the story of mother remembering her youth when she thinks about her daughter. Lekha jokha tells about missjudging the peson’s view about career of his would be daughter in law and on the other hand ‘lekin?’ touches the misterious flavour. Once Gulzar tells story about michel angelo’s face hunt for Judas which concludes with bitter truth of changed man along time.
    Seriously we get so engrossed with his stories that time get forgotten and pages kept turning till we reach the end of book. Even after finishing book, Dalia, Seema, Bimal Da, Iqbal Singh, T.K. keep coming in mind.

    Name of Book: Gulzar’s Raavi Paar and Other Stories
    Author: Gulzar
    Translation: Various
    Publisher: Rupa
    Pages: 196
    ISBN: 978-81-291-1013-8
    Price: ₹ 195