All of us
carry a lot of stories within us. Quite
many people just bury them and get on with life which is an exacting dictator. They get used to the endless agonies and the
intermittent ecstasies. Some offer the
stories to their gods and derive the much needed solace. A few with irresistible egos choose to write
them.
I belong to
that tribe of egotists who think that their stories have some relevance for
others too. That’s why I chose to publish a collection of my short stories, The Nomad Learns Morality. The book had some good reviews from fellow
bloggers. Let me take the liberty to
quote a few of them.
“... every
story hits your mind hard and impels you to replay it all over again in your
mind to join the dots of deeper meaning held within,” says Namrata Kumari, author of Change Your Beliefs to Change Your Reality.
An old friend
(“old” merely because I hardly have contacts with people now) who works with a
national newspaper once told me that I was a perverted genius. I took it as a compliment because I never
achieved anything great in life.
Compliments mean much to such people who dream big and perform
little. Namrata’s assessment of my
stories as hitting hard reminded me of my own perversion.
But she was
not alone. Maniparna Sengupta Majumder said, “The author
has probed deeper and, asks the questions which might have stirred every
logical mind. The stories not only make you mull over harder on a few
things…” She goes on, “Matheikal has
raised questions showing the chutzpah of asking even those considered as
controversial. Most of the times there exists a lacuna between logical thinking
and imagination when it comes to stories integrating mythology and history. He
has fulfilled the gap, in very few words, he has pointed out where we fall
short.”
There
is a didactic undercurrent on which every writer worth his words is buoyed
up. Yet my conscious intention as a
writer is never to preach any morality nor to teach anything to anyone. Writing is a therapeutic exercise. A painkiller not much different from a
prayer. But even a prayer can be an act
of rebellion.
Sunanina Sharma wrote that my book “fires
your thoughts, kindles your imagination, and intensifies your narratives with
an integrity that is rebelliously coordinated.”
Amit Agarwal’s verdict is not much
different either: “I’d rather have the conservatives read the book too to
broaden up their horizons, and to at least have a different taste of the
otherwise dull and routine.”
Let me give
the final word for now to Sarabjeet Singh: “...in every story,
author has (in)directly raised a question about morality or righteousness.”
Most reviews
seem to agree on that one thing: the ‘perversion’ (dreams?) in my thinking, my
worldview. That very perversion now
prompts me to promote the book this way. (And that's the writer's nightmare.) Welcome to the book.
PS. I'm indebted to these and other reviewers for their views and reviews.
For the various purchase options, here's the link:
It is definitely not a perversion to promote the book. I wish it reaches more and more people. Not only am I prompted to buy this book, let me see if I can promote it through my forums.
ReplyDeletePeople who dream big and perform little - touched by this. :)
ReplyDeleteI wish it reaches the masses.. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations for publishing your thoughts in the form of a book. It is not easy to be appreciated by people. May be many more to come.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea about this Mr. Matheikal. My best wishes for the book. Gotta grab a copy soon.
ReplyDeleteJust bought the ebook sir. Congratulations and thank you for writing it. Excited to read it. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad I managed to get one reader ☺
DeleteGlad I managed to get one reader ☺
Delete