BOOK REVIEW “Hak Aabhalachi”
Author: Shri. Na. Pendase
Language: Marathi
Genre: Biographical Novel
Pages: 241
Cost: 200/-
Publisher: Parchure Prakashan
First Published in India: 19 March, 2007
“Hak Aabhalachi” is a biographical novel on ‘Lokmanya Tilak’. Lokmanya Tilak has been my idol from my childhood days. He is one of the top most respected, talented, larger than life, and God like personalities of Maharashtra. He is in the league of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharj for me. We still regret that there are still not enough books on Chatrapti Shivaji Maharaj. Same thing also applies for Lokmanya Tilak. There are hardly any books which elaborates the story of this Maharashtra’s Hero. Only way today’s youth is learning about him is through school books. And that is surely not enough. So when I came across this book I was overjoyed. And other reason to pick this book is that the book is penned by Shri. Na. Pendase, who is one of my favorite authors. So I had huge expectation from this book.
But book does not fulfill any of my expectation. I did not come across any new thing about Lokmanya Tilak’s life which I wasn’t already familiar of. Book is irritatingly repetitive. You will find same story repeated in every chapter. Book is not at all in the form on novel it looks like grouping of essays written on Lokmanya Tilak. As I mention earlier Shri. Na. Pendase is my favorite author. But I did find his class and quality lacking badly in this book. It may be because while writing this book he was really old as he mentioned in prologue. As a fan of his work I really feel sad to say that this is worst book written by him. And saddest thing is that it happened with the book which was based on my idol ‘Lokmanya Tilak’.
Although it is not up to the mark of best novels, youth of Maharashtra and India should read this book. And try to know the great man who served Maharashtra immensely. I hope someone will do more research on him and put light on the life of Tilak. Or after 2-3 decades Lokmanya Tilak will remain as a statue in some junction or name for any train any station any road for next generation. He will fade away from history.
If I have to rate this book I will give it 3 out of 10.
Book Review: “KALANDAR” (Marathi)
Author: Shri. Na. Pendase
Language: Marathi
Genre: Novel
Publisher: Majestic Prakashan
Pages: 403
First Published: August 1983
I read two other books ‘Lavhali’ and ‘Rathchakra’ by Shri. Na. Pendase and after reading those I am Fan of his work. Shri. Na. Pendase is now one of my favorite authors. I have decided to read all the books written by him. So when I had my eyes on this book which was written by Shri. Na. Pendase, there was no second thought while picking up this book.
When I read first few pages of the book, I felt little disappointed that book will not be as good as I anticipated. As from the start only author keep on bombarding and explaining the place and time in which the novel is based. For sometime it is hard to understand what he wants to say and where is he taking this novel. But few pages after everything gets settle down and you come to know what gem of a book this is. You can read this as periodic novel. Because it is based in the period of 1930 to 1940 about the period of World War II. And it is based in Mumbai. The book was more interesting for me as book describes the Mumbai of 1930. Today Mumbai has widened its boundaries, Mumbai is spread over from Churchgate to Virar and from CST to Vashi then there is also Navi Mumbai. But when we read the book we realize that during that period Mumbai was considered only up to Churchgate to Dadar. Even the suburb like Andheri was considered as out of city. So not only people transform, cities, villages, nations also transformed themselves over the years or decades so much so that it is hard to recognize.
The book is story of ordinary people. They are not by any measures special. They are people among us and around us. It is a story of a boy who follows his heart, and while doing so he has to face opposition from not only by society but by his own family and his love ones. So much so that he always have to run away from them. It is a story of people who live their life cripplers without any self esteem. There life is so much ruined as they allow other People to dominate them and their life. So to come out of misery they are always on a look out for help from others. The protagonist of the novel is a person to whom these cripplers want to hold on to. And the protagonist is more than happy to help these people but while helping these people his life goes through huge mess.
I really enjoyed the novel; all the characters are so well developed. You can not find any flaws in any of the character. All the books I read of Shri. Na. Pendase is based on middle class people living Mumbai Chawls but all of them are different from each other. There are many similarities in it but he has new story to tell in every book. If I have to rate this book I will give 8 out of 10.
