Muktidoot

In Bhopal book fair, past month, I stopped at Bhartiya Gyanpeeth stall to buy books. I decided to buy at least three books, I had no problem in buying two books, Kshama Karna Jiji (Narendra Kohli) and Gunahon Ka Devta (Dharamvir Bharati) but I was finding it hard to choose third one. I went to Rajeev and told the situation, he said in his usual manner, 'Why third one? Two are enough, we already many un-read at home!'. Now the condition was worse, I had to choose a third one even faster! I went back to stall and chose a random book, titled 'Muktidoot'. There was no criteria for choosing it, the only thing I could notice about it was a small note on top right corner of front-cover, saying 'Murtidevi Award Winner'

While reading the prologue, I came to know that the book is a love story of some Pavananjaya and Anjana and the story is about 2,500 years old. Name 'Anjana' and 'Pavananjaya' seemed to be known, listened! Hanuman's parents??? God knows! Anyways, I started to read it...

Despite of reading 50 pages, I couldn't get into the book. The story was written in very good Hindi, very good Hindi indeed! A native-hindi speaker had to understand the meanings! But the story was going smooth.

When I finished the book, I realized, whatever I has just finished reading, was awesome. I was really amazed at the story and the way of telling it. Virendra Kumar Jain must have been a master of Hindi.

Yes, the story is about Hanuman's parents. What a great love story, indeed! The novel was written back in 1947 and was lost until 1973. Now its considered to be a milestone in Hindi literature. I remember the moment, I was going to buy it thinking maybe its going to be a wrong decision. No regrets! Was a wonderful read. The story is great and informative. I didn't know too much about our great Hanuman Ji's parents. :-)

Highly recommend it. 9/10.

book details:
Muktidoot by Virendra Kumar Jain,
248 pages, paperback, Rs.75/-
Bhartiya Jnanpith, New Delhi

Kshama Karna Jiji

I bought this 100-odd-pages-long Jnanpith-Paperback from 2005 Bhopal National Book Fair. I had heard about Dr. Narendra Kohli before and just wanted to read any of his book. I think smaller book is always better to start with, so I just grabbed it.

This novel tells story of a very common, middle-class, Indian family. The central character is 'Nirmala' (also called Guddi). The narrator is Vineet, younger brother of Nirmala. Vineet calls her Jiji(elder sister). Story of the novel is that simple and realistic that any medium-class person can feel it happening around.

'Kshama Karna Jiji' is all about caring, love, respect, responsibilities and commitments for relations, family. We all try to give our cent-percent to our families but still we miss something very important and we don't even realize it until its too late to do anything. Then remains - regret and sorry! In relations, sometimes we take things for granted. This tendency makes things worst.

Mr. Kohli has tried to depict this feeling. Vineet gave his hundred-percent to his jiji, tried to make her happy, whenever she needed it. She was the sister of five brothers, all of them loved her, she too loved all her brothers but Vineet was her most-loved-brother, he too really cared about her, but still he couldn't help her when she desperately needed it. Why Vineet had to say 'Kshama Karna Jiji' is well told.

This is the only book, I have finished in one sitting. Reading this book was as same as reading a story of our street. So real, indeed! I was watching 'Magnolia' last Sunday, while I felt, this is not the story that any Indian can feel. I can't imagine any Indian literally abusing his/her father but I can imagine someone dying to help her sister who is married for 10 years. After finishing this book, I couldn't stop myself to feel like crying.

Overall, the book was a good read. Dr. Narendra Kohli wrote it very well and I am bound to read his other great works.

Complete Book Details:
Kshama Karna Jiji (Hindi Novel)
by Narendra Kohli
ISBN: 81-263-1079-0
Publisher: Bhartiya Jnanpith
Pages: 108
Binding: Paperback
Price: Rs.35/-
Book URL: http://jnanpith.net/book_catalogue/detail.asp?id=1468