'Not A Cancer Survivor' - Ketan Bondre

 

 'Not A Cancer Survivor' is gripping story tale of a fighter- Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe points in his forward for the book.

 'Not A Cancer Survivor' a book by dear friend Ketan Bondre teaches about how to be positive in life despite all odds. It is a 120 pages small book, which has Vinayji’s forward and hence once again I would like to remind that this is my perspective of the book, I am in no ways eligible to review this book.

The book talks about how spiritual and mental freedom can be found despite the physical pain. It is a brilliant example of what is called an unattached involvement

 Anyone who reads this book, whether they are facing a disease or life's challenges, will discover ways they can transform their lives for the better. Ketan, who worte this book after battling colon cancer, has given actionable summary at the end of each chapter.

There are people who are diagnosed with cancer or they are facing some kind of traumatic incidences in life, and they have no idea what to do or how to handle it. You do not know where to turn for help or support. This book is for all such people and their family members!

The book will give you the tools and strategies you need to get through this challenging time in your life without losing your mind, getting depressed, or becoming overwhelmed.

This is my perspective about the book and not a review. Drawing from the yogic philosophy, ayurveda or life of those emerged victorious--may be in the corporate world or armed forces--the book provides a great framework for 'personal values'.

The book is easy to read and has good information, which will be useful to all weather you have cancer or not as it is an inspirational journey. If you are looking to find your passion in life, look no further than the author. Penned by a tone- help practitioner with over 20 times of experience, this book is packed with advice on how to discover and pursue joy and true happiness indeed in delicate situations like death.

 About the Author

Apart from being my dear friend and an inspiration in all sense, Ketan Rajaram Bondre is a passionate communications professional with 20 years of experience in media, reputation management, corporate communications and financial and general media. He studied diverse subjects like Mechanical Engineering, Journalism and Communications, Geography and Sociology.

My perspective about - Mrutayushi Zunj (मृत्यूशी झुंज) by Nirmala Gokhale (निर्मला गोखले)

 

My perspective about - Mrutayushi Zunj (मृत्यूशी झुंज) by Nirmala Gokhale (निर्मला गोखले)

The first thing that this book taught me was to be positive in all situations. It is a small 56 based Marathi book written by Smt Nirmala Gokhale who has used very simple language. The book is published by Navchatanya Publishers in 2018.

It is a story a person who survived 8 times from incidents that were close to death.  From 1935 – 2012 this person was facing different kinds of diseases till he left this world in 2013. The story revolves around a person Vijay Ghokhale whose daughter has written this book. From fighting with diabetics for more than 40 years to jaundice, accidents he had faced a lot of trouble but used to always come back fit and fine.

Not well, upset, feeling low words were never in his dictionary, he used to fall sick and again get up with full strength and enthusiasm. The whole book describes his fights with the way he and his family fought with the life enormous accidents and incidents he met in his life. It describes the Mumbai that was then not so congested and connected. At the end of the book one may feel that all his/her problems is very small compared to what Mr Gokhale faced in his life. And will also learn to look life in a positive way.

My lesson from this book is to enjoy every day as it comes and be positive about all that things.

 

 

My Perspective - ‘Enchanting Fragrant Gardens’

KS Reads - 1 

On the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya finally I decided to write blog on the books I read. This will benefit me personally as I will read more to write more. This will be my presepctive of the book, I will not call it a review as I may not be eligible to review books as of now. Hope to get your support in the same.

My first book on which I’m giving my perspective is - ‘Enchanting Fragrant Gardens’ by Anjana Dewasthale. This book was published in January 2022 and I read it is April 2022. The book has 80 pages and costs Rs 250. 

The book will make one fall in love with 62 fragrant plants explained in it and this colourful book is filled with stories, history, culture and traditions of flowers.  

The book is full of fragrances of taught and flowery experience sharing. It gives one an insight of the flowers you see every day in a completely different perspective. Flowers is my week point, I love their colours and fragrance both but never thought of gardening of flowers, theair fragrances effect on us and so on.

As Anjana Dewasthale has rightly written in her book – ‘If you have little space and can plant just one plant just one plant a fragrant one’ , I have planted one raatrani in my small house in vasai. Also, her statement where she says – “We didn’t offer flowers to the gods elders did it “ – I would associate with this so much so that all the flowers that my grandmother (aai) offered god just came in frount of eyes.

The flowers would have a ‘sweet spicy fragrance’ coming from it was never imagined by me. ‘ Bakuli chi phule’ – is my all-time favourite flower – reading the information that hosts sparrows made it more special. And wearing a mogra gajara was mandatory for me and my Mummy for all festivals as we both loved its fragrance a lot.

The meaning of the song “lapavilas to hirva chaapha, sugandh yacha lapel ka” … would actually be felt more while reading it.. The information that there is a jasmine for every season was also very interesting and not known to me; likewise I was surprised to read about the King of the day flower.

Madhumalti is seen a lot in vasai and I always collect it (infact sometimes I steal it from the gardens). Desi Gulab is another flower found easily and loved by most. Surangi Gajaras and Marva are not found anywhere now – is my observation.

I have zero knowledge of flowers – I just love their colour and fragrance and hence I in no capacity can review this book which is written by an expert in this filed but this book made me think of the flowers and its gardens in a totally different way.

Please give suggestions in the comments 

 

Kartiki Shastry Lawate 

Enjoy life as it comes!!

A Twenty One year old boy passed his British Navy exam in around 1930’s. There was no Indian navy then as we still had to again the so called independence. He was at the peak of his happiness and went on to tell this to his parents, who belonged to a normal middle class Brahmin family. Father was a Charted Accountant with the British government, he was respected a lot for his honesty by all and mother was a house maker. The young chap rushed to his parents and gave them the good news. He needed signature of his parents stating that they don’t object his admission in Navy. His father rejected to sign. After making constant efforts to convince his father he did not get what he wanted. His parents stand was that they know how Indians are treated in Navy so they didn’t want their son to be there. But the young chap was determined to join Navy. He went to the naval academy and requested them to take him without signature as he has cleared the exam. It did not work out and the guy got very upset.

This chap then decided to leave the house, mother was very upset on his this decision so she instead that he at least shifts to a city where they have relatives. The chap agreed and shifted to Nagpur. Here with the help of a friend he started come small construction business which flourished with in no time, he started getting good contracts and money. The chap who wanted to join Navy one time becomes a complete money minded contractor.

The chap’s mother was a follower of Sai Baba, once when she was in Nagpur one of the devotees said that they want to build a new Sai temple and so she asked her son to donated something and also help in the construction of the temple as he was in that business only.  He fully disagreed and said my business is my business and I don’t believe in god and all as when I left home I didn’t have a penny with me and no one helped me. But after the mothers persistence the boy agreed to start the work. The work of the Sai temple started and one fine Thursday when the boy was working he saw another small boy of around 15 years praying in front of the statute of Sai baba. The smaller boy had some glow on his face, thought the chap. He approached the smaller boy and said “baba what are you doing here”, the younger boy did not reply. Back home the chap was thinking what the hell was I doing how can I call a younger boy baba and what all is going on. He stopped going to the temple and used to send his workers only later.

But for some work again he had to go there and found the same guy sitting and meditating. He approached the younger guy who told him that he should also come to the temple and pray every day. Slowly the contactor started going to the temple twice a day and then   stated spending maximum hours of the day in the temple only. He did not come to know when he became a devotee of Sai. His parents again started cribbing that he needs to marry and earn for his bread and butter at least. But the contractor had decided to stay in the temple and do Sai seva, he used to cook for himself and the younger chap and both used to sleep in the temple complex only.

If he got anything in from of donation he gave it immediately to the first needy person he found. This contactor was also one time football champion who played at the State level as well as he had done is B.Sc in chemistry.

The contractor now is 76 years old and the younger chap in his 60’s both still sleep in the temple and follow the same process of donating whatever they get. The contractor loves his younger brother a lot, so he is in touch with his younger brother and his family and has maintained that relation only.

 This is a real life story of my father’s elder brother my Bhau Kaka- whom I love and respect a lot as he has always told me and guided me on what is the scientific reason for the rituals that we follow. His name is Madhukar Shastry and other chap is still called as Baba in Nagpur. Love you and respect you lot Kaka, the dedication that you have given is something to learn from you, I hope I get one-fourth of it at least so that I can succeed in life fully.