My Books-6: "THE WRECK" by Rabindranath Tagore

I am slowly convalescing after a month-long illness.  During the illness, appetite was lost and I could eat only a little.  For a diabetic, loss of appetite could be a real problem.  Even normally, the energy conversion rate is very much less and the various systems of the body get only a lesser share of energy and naturally, their functions are impaired.  Add to it, loss of appetite.  You eat less and as a result even lesser energy.  So the natural inclination is lie down all the time.  As a corollary, you become easily depressed.  I realized that if I had to get out of depression, I should do something I passionately loved.  So I decided to take up some books and reads.  One of the books was "The Wreck" by Rabindranath Tagore.  I had read it when I was in school in abridged version.  It was crisp and thoroughly enjoyable. Probably my concentration was on the story and I did not pay much attention to other nuances like style, description etc.  Now though I have been possessing this unabridged version for a long time, I did not find time to take it up for reading. It occurred to me now I can read it for style, description and other elements.

Incidentally, this was one of Tagore's very popular novels.  It has been made into successful film into many Indian languages including Tamil and Hindi.  I had seen the Tamil version; the story was slightly modified to suit Tamilnadu.  The Hindi version went by the name, "Ghoongat".

I was not taken.  The book provided thoroughly enjoyable reading.  I loved the description of the Bengal's waterways from Kolkata to Benares.  I thought if somebody had made a mega-serial of the novel, I should love to see it, as I can see the many interesting the places the steamer by which the hero and heroine travel, which stops at some village or the other every night.  I tried to visualize these places.

But what I did not like was the climax, which is full of twists and turns and beats some of the notorious Tamil mega-serials I have seen and it tested my patience to a great extent.  In spite of it, I should consider it a great work of literature.

I decided to record my feelings and impressions without waiting for anything.  Probably with time I may ruminate over the novel, and come up with more comments.    

Biography of Rabindranath Tagore from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabindranath_Tagore

Grateful thanks to Wikipedia, the free encyclomedia.

Memorable Passages-22: from THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV (4)

Strive to love your neighbor actively and indefatigably. In as far as you advance in love you will grow surer of the reality of God and of the immortality of your soul. If you attain to perfect self-forgetfulness in the love of your neighbor, then you will believe without doubt, and no doubt can possibly enter your soul. This has been tried. This is certain - THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky - translated by Constance Garnett

Memorable Passages-21: from THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV (3)

“Are you speaking the truth? Well, now, after such a confession, I believe that you are sincere and good at heart. If you do not attain happiness, always remember that you are on the right road, and try not to leave it. Above all, avoid falsehood, every kind of falsehood, especially falseness to yourself. Watch over your own deceitfulness and look into it every hour, every minute. Avoid being scornful, both to others and to yourself. What seems to you bad within you will grow purer from the very fact of your observing it in yourself. Avoid fear, too, though fear is only the consequence of every sort of falsehood. Never be frightened at your own faint-heartedness in attaining love. Don't be frightened overmuch even at your evil actions - THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky - translated by Constance Garnett

Memorable Passages-20: from THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV (2)

“It's just the same story as a doctor once told me,” observed the elder. “He was a man getting on in years, and undoubtedly clever. He spoke as frankly as you, though in jest, in bitter jest. ‘I love humanity,’ he said, ‘but I wonder at myself. The more I love humanity in general, the less I love man in particular. In my dreams,’ he said, ‘I have often come to making enthusiastic schemes for the service of humanity, and perhaps I might actually have faced crucifixion if it had been suddenly necessary; and yet I am incapable of living in the same room with any one for two days together, as I know by experience. As soon as any one is near me, his personality disturbs my self-complacency and restricts my freedom. In twenty-four hours I begin to hate the best of men: one because he's too long over his dinner; another because he has a cold and keeps on blowing his nose. I become hostile to people the moment they come close to me. But it has always happened that the more I detest men individually the more ardent becomes my love for humanity” - THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky - translated by Constance Garnett

Memorable Passages-19: from THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV

Fear nothing and never be afraid; and don't fret. If only your penitence fail not, God will forgive all. There is no sin, and there [pg 051] can be no sin on all the earth, which the Lord will not forgive to the truly repentant! Man cannot commit a sin so great as to exhaust the infinite love of God. Can there be a sin which could exceed the love of God? Think only of repentance, continual repentance, but dismiss fear altogether. Believe that God loves you as you cannot conceive; that He loves you with your sin, in your sin. It has been said of old that over one repentant sinner there is more joy in heaven than over ten righteous men. Go, and fear not. Be not bitter against men. Be not angry if you are wronged. Forgive the dead man in your heart what wrong he did you. Be reconciled with him in truth. If you are penitent, you love. And if you love you are of God. All things are atoned for, all things are saved by love. If I, a sinner, even as you are, am tender with you and have pity on you, how much more will God. Love is such a priceless treasure that you can redeem the whole world by it, and expiate not only your own sins but the sins of others - THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky - translated by Constance Garnett.

My Books-5: "The Christ We Adore" by Swami Ranganathananda

This is actually a booklet, a great one.  The swamiji, who was a President of the Ramakrishna Maths and Mission and who lived up to almost 100 years, was a world-renowned scholar.  He provides some deep sights into the words of the Bible. For example, 'Love thy neighbour as thyself';  because at the core of being, you and your neighbour are not different and when you hurt your neighbour you are hurting yourself.  So when you love your neighbour, you are loving yourself.  It is also a good book teaching Religious Tolerance and Universal Love. 

My Books-4: "Gandhi: His Life and Message for the World" by Louis Fischer

Gandhiji is a great hero and role model for me.  After reading his Experiment with Truth, I picked up six sets of maxims to follow. They are:

Truthfulness in Thought, Word and Deed

Non-Violence in Thought, Word and Deed

Universal Love

Simple Living and High Thinking

Non-covetousness and Non-possessiveness

Selfless Life and Selfless Service

It has not been easy for me and I have not progressed much, still I keep these maxims are guiding lights of my life and my brother, Nellaiappan, has also taken up these for his life guidance.

Now, in this book on Gandhiji, by Louis Fisher, you can a lot of insights into the life of Gandhiji.  In the coming days, I shall record some of these.

Quotes on Books-4:

From your parents you learn love and laughter and how to put one foot before the other. But when books are opened you discover that you have wings - Helen Hayes

Videos to Watch-7: The Lost Books Of The Bible

Grateful thanks to YAHsLioness3 and YouTube.

Videos to Watch-6: TOP 100 Books Best-Sellers for 2009

Grateful thanks to bookatalog and YouTube.