Light Reflections

Book Review

Title: Object + If = I

Author: Nilshree Damani Yelulkar

Pages: 133

 

 In an era defined by constant notifications, relentless overload of information much of which may be false, and ever-increasing daily demands, our attention is perpetually pulled outward, leaving little room for quiet contemplation. Simple, easily accessible reflections serve as an essential counterweight to this modern friction, offering immediate micro=doses of clarity without requiring hours of deep study or isolation. This is just what Nilshree Damani Yelulkar’s little book tries to achieve.

By grounding profound life truths in the familiar items around us – a flickering candle or a bicycle – these brief insights meet people where they are, transforming everyday moments into accessible mindfulness practice and restoring a sense of grounded optimism. In our fast-paced world obsessed with the extraordinary or the exotic, this collection of reflective write-ups serves as a gentle invitation to slow down and look closer.

Yelulkar looks at very ordinary objects and unpacks their quiet wisdom. The mundane is transformed into a source of genuine joy and perspective. She looks at water, for example, and invites us to meditate on its adaptive quality which changes it into vapour or solid as required. “The virtue of adapting to every situation helps us sail through it,” she concludes. Bil Keane is brought in to support the contemplation. “Your mind is like water, my friend, when it is agitated it becomes difficult to see. But if you allow it to settle, the answer becomes clear.”

There are 53 topics listed in the book most of which are based on common objects. There are few, however, that are rather curious like Warli, Mandala, and Flamingos. I was struck by certain bits of information like “the flamingos spend 15-20% of the time during the day to groom themselves! And the result is (the) grace and beauty we get to see!” The author extends the meaning of grooming to self-analysis and working on self-improvement.

What this book does is to anchor complex life lessons on resilience, balance, impermanence, etc in familiar items, making the insights instantly relatable. Each chapter, which is byte-sized reading, acts as a brief mental reset, replacing daily friction with some good feeling. This book can be an ideal for morning rituals, bedtime reading, or a quick midday boost.

PS. Right now the Kindle edition of this book is absolutely free for download here.