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.
