प्रकाशवाटा - डॉ. प्रकाश आमटे

प्रकाशवाटा – डॉ. प्रकाश आमटे, हे पुस्तक आहे अश्या एका व्यक्तीच ज्यांनी आपल्या जिद्दीनं आणि दृढनिश्चयानं, कुणालाही ज्ञात नसलेल्या माडिया गोंड आदिवासींना ओळख मिळवून देण्याचं आणि हि व्यक्ती दुसरी तिसरी कुणी नसून खुद्द डॉ. प्रकाश आमटे आहेत. अर्थात त्यांच्या या प्रवासात त्यांच्या पत्नी डॉ. मंदाकिनी आमटे आणि इतर सहकारी तितकेच महत्वाचे. डॉक्टर साहेबांच्या भाषेत म्हणाल तर त्यांना हे यश मिळाल ते त्यांचे कार्यकर्ते होते म्हणूनच.

हि फक्त गोष्ट नव्हे तर एक अवघड कार्य हाती घेऊन त्याला मूर्त रूपात आणलेलं सत्य ‘लोक बिरादरी प्रकल्प’ आहे . हे स्वप्न खर तर बाबा आमटेंचं. ते आपल्या मुलांना सहलीला घेऊन जाण्याच्या हेतुंन त्यांना हेमलकशाला घेऊन गेलेत. तिथली परिस्थिती इतकी वाईट कि आपण इथे काम करायला हवे अशी इच्छा बाबांनी व्यक्त केली. त्या वेळी डॉ. प्रकाश आमटे यांनी ती जबाबदारी स्वतः घेतली आणि काम करण्याची इच्छा दर्शवली.

शब्दात परिचय देऊन ते त्यात संपूर्णपणे सांगता येतील असे बाबा आमटे आणि त्यांचे कार्य नाहीत. आनंदवन तुमच्या पैकी बऱ्याच लोकांना माहित असावं. वरोरा (जि चंद्रपूर) पासून ५ किलोमीटर च्या अंतरावर स्थित हि फक्त एक जागा नाही तर बाबांनी उभं केलेलं घर आहे. घर त्या लोकांन साठी ज्यांच्या घरच्यांनीच त्यांना स्वीकारला नाही आणि न स्वीकारण्याच कारण – कुष्ठरोग. बाबांनी केवळ या रोग्यांवर उपचार नाही केलेत. ते स्वतः त्यांच्या सोबत राहिले, त्यांना त्यांच्या आवडीचे काम शिकविल आणि आत्मनिर्भर बनविले. हे सगळं त्यांचा गमावलेला आत्मविश्वास मिळवून देण्या करीता आणि नव्याने जगण्याची उमीद देण्या करीता. अश्याच वातावरणात वाढलेले डॉ. प्रकाश आमटे आणि त्यांचे मोठे भाऊ डॉ. विकास आमटे.

हेमलकसा - इथे घनदाट जंगल, प्राणी, निबिड अरण्य आणि या सगळ्यांची सोबत असलेले माडिया गोंड आदिवासी. माडिया गोंड आदिवासी हे सगळ्यात मागासलेले. त्यांचा इतर जगाशी कसलाच संबंध नाही. जंगलातल्या प्राणी, पक्षी, नदी, नाले या शिवाय त्यांना कुठलेच आवाज माहिती नाही. साधे कपडे घालणं काय असता हे देखील त्यांना ठाऊक नाही. त्यांचे खानपान पण वेगळेच - कंदमुळं, शिकार करून प्राणी खान, अगदी मुंग्यांची चटणी करून खाणे - हा त्यांचा आहार. त्या मुळे अनेक रोगांना निमंत्रण असेलेले हे आदिवासी. त्यांची भाषा देखील वेगळी, ज्याचा मराठी भाषेशी कसलाच संबंध नाही. डॉक्टर आणि त्यांचे सहकारी जेव्हा इथे आले तेव्हा त्यांनी अश्या परिस्थितीत काम करायचे ठरवले होते.

डॉ. प्रकाश आमटे आणि डॉ. मंदाकिनी आमटे - त्या वेळी हे दोघंच तिथे डॉक्टर्स. सुरवातीला सगळे कार्यकर्ते जंगलातच राहिले. जिथे दुनिया काय हेच ठाऊक नव्हते तिथे घर कुठली आलीत. या सगळ्यांनीच अथिक परिश्रम घेतले. समोर येईल ते काम केले. नसेल येत तर ते आधी आपले आपलेच शिकून घेतले. सुरवातीला आदिवासी यांना बघून जंगलात लपायचे. ह्या माडिया लोकांत अंधश्रद्धा भरपूर. काही झाले कि मांत्रिका कडे जायचे. अनेक प्रयास केल्या नंतर या माडिया आदिवासींना थोडा विश्वास बसायला लागला होता आणि म्हणून ते डॉक्टर कडे यायचे.

कठोर परिश्रम घेतल्या नंतर आज हे प्रकल्प उभे राहू शकले. आता इथे ऑपरेशन्स देखील होतात. शाळा आहे. प्राणी संग्रालय देखील आहे. अनेक लोक आता इथे जातात.

महत्वाचे सांगायचे तर हे केवळ पुस्तक नाही. हि एक वाटचाल आहे त्या प्रत्येक व्यक्ती करीता ज्यांत इच्छा आहे लोक कल्याणा करीता काही करण्याची. हे पुस्तक आहे साधेपणाचा, जिथे आपल अस सगळं विसरून अज्ञानात असलेल्यांना प्रकाशा कडे नेण्याचं. हे पुस्तक आहे अनुभवाचं. हे फक्त आत्मचरित्र नसून एक प्रयास आहे बहुतांशी लोकां पर्यंत पोहचण्याचा.

आपल्याला सगळं मिळालं असतांना देखील आपल्या बऱ्याच तक्रारी असतात. "Nervous", "Upset", "Mood off" - असे अनेक शब्द आपण वापरतो. मुळात दृष्टिकोन बद्दला कि अस काही नाहीच हे जाणवतं. हा दृष्टिकोन बदलवणार हे पुस्तक.

आनंदवन ला जायची एक संधी मला आली होती. मी शाळेत असतांना. पण कुठल्या कारणा मुळे मी नाही जाऊ शकली आणि माझ बाबांना भेटायचं स्वप्न मोडल. त्या नंतर ते गेले. त्यांना मी भेटू शकली नाही याची खंत आहेच.

दुसर छायाचित्र आहे माझ्या कुटुंबाच – डॉ. प्रकाश आमटे आणि डॉ. मंदाकिनी आमटे यांच्या सोबत. ती वेगळीच गोष्ट होती कि मी अनेक दिवस घरच्यांवर रुसली होती. मला ना घेता परस्पर "plan" बनवून ते हेमलकश्याला गेले - लोक बिरादरी प्रकल्प बघायला. मी तेव्हा पुण्यात होते. अर्थात मला जायला आवडेलच आणि तशी संधी येताच मी प्रकल्प बघायला नक्कीच जाणार. तुम्ही हि एकदा जाऊन प्रकल्प बघावा, काय काम झाल आहे हे बघाव अशी ईच्छा व्यक्त करते.

डॉ. म्हणतात आम्ही सगळे इथे आलो ते कार्यकर्ते म्हणून. अर्थात ते खर देखील वाटतंय. 

अश्या या सगळ्याच कार्यकर्त्यांना मी नमन करते.

(Non-Marathi readers, there’s English and Hindi translation of the book.

Second Image – With Dr.Prakash Amte and Dr.Mandakini Amte is my family)

The Krishna Key - Ashwin Sanghi

The Krishna Key by Ashwin Sanghi is a thriller read revolving round the quest for unlocking the key – an answer to all the possible questions of the history professor Ravi Mohan Saini and his PhD student Priya Ratani.

Anil Varshney – had spent his life at archaeological sites, particularly ‘Kalibangan’, the most important Indus valley site in Rajasthan. The story now starts here when this young linguist and symbolist finds a small rectangular seal with three animal motifs engraved on the face of the seal. His study reveals surprising information of four such seals and a ceramic plate to hold them - which in turn itself is – The Krishna Key. Having shared this information with one of his school friend and other such friends, he had made all the arrangements to keep the seals and the information secure. For he knew it was a risky task he has taken in his hand. And this proved correct when he was murdered.

Being looked as murder suspect of his school friend Anil Varshney - the history professor and his PhD student, a few times escapes from police custody, now where their quest begins. Their conversation throughout the journey walks us through different fields of study – be it- astrology, space, an epic The Mahabharata, the yadavas, four yugas, Hindu philosophy and incarnations of the Vishnu. Having known about the seals and with who each of these seals resides from Varshney, the professor knew whom, what and where to search for.

How the professor one-by-one hears the killing of his friends and the renowned scientists, in the same fashion as others - makes him think more of the similarities that resemble the death of the Krishna.

Now begins the discussion that date backs to the place Kurukshetra – where took place ‘war of Mahabharata’. It takes us through the unknown knowledge of ‘Sarasvati Civilisation’ and finding and missing of seals one after another.

In the middle of the course of this adventurous journey there takes a shocking turn, all the persons involved – the professor, PhD student, the attacker, the lawyer, Inspector and her sub-ordinate, CBI Director, dons of Mumbai – reveals their true face. Here, it makes this book a thrilling experience of ‘what next?’

This book can be looked as benefit of two in one. For, beginning of every chapter, Lord Krishna himself is telling the story about himself even before he himself was born – as eighth incarnation of the Vishnu.

I found a few pages wherein I started losing my interest due to the extra knowledge on every topic and character. I think if not mentioned, the book could had been a less bulky. But, later was able to link a little from this knowledge in coming chapters.

I liked the book being presented in ‘108’ chapters. According to Hindu Philosophy this number is considered as sacred. We can find how well are explained the importance of numbers -5, 7, 18, 108, 786 & 894- used in ancient times.

One who is interested in acquiring knowledge related to ancient scriptures, space, nuclear science and genetics – a book with basic knowledge for all, somewhere relatable to ancient times and how we use it these days.

This book takes us to nooks and corners of ‘Bharatavarsha’ and importance of the concepts and principles of previous times.

At the end, after true faces are revealed and a few of them being killed– finally the true ones find a destined place they were searching for. And as they found out the place also do they come to know the real truth.

Like the characters, as you go through the chapters from start to end, you yourself will find the truth that lies in – ‘The philosopher is more important than the stone!’

Thriller read people!!!

Attitude Is Everything by Jeff Keller

The reading journey of the book appears as if it is written to transform you from within. When we meet people in different walks of life, we often tend to speak about their attitude. Whether for the first time or it is known person we describe someone’s personality in terms of their attitude and so the author tries to explain what difference can attitude make to you and described it as- “Attitude Is Everything”.

Jeff Keller, the author of the book has discussed his own personal and professional choices he made to come where he is today. From being a lawyer by profession earning lump sum amount to becoming a motivational speaker- his journey is all about fears, risks, rejections and most important being ‘change in attitude’. This book written by him is a consolidation of all the lessons he learnt on the path of his own journey.

Let us see what he is trying to make us learn:

1. It is our attitude that we can control and keep our mental window clean. Thinking positive/optimistic is the key that will lead us to our goals. Merely thinking positive for a while and negative thoughts for the remaining is not going to work. It must be a continuous and persistent effort to think positive. 

2. Our results are those that reflect our thoughts. By changing our thinking, we can change our results.

3. Repetition is the key. Something said or done daily will make a difference in one’s life. Stay positive.

4. Success is not an overnight process. It requires efforts, commitment and patience. It doesn’t mean one may not face any problems. But by keeping attitude window clean and belief in self will help overcome these obstacles.

5. Visualize your success. Make a picture in your mind, how you see your success. Take actions. One must imagine what for him/her success looks like and every time must try to see a clear picture.

6. Make commitment to yourself. Work to achieve those commitments. Refuse to quit. Take advantage of opportunities.

7. Problems and challenges are important. They  bring out best within us. We learn our own hidden talent and potential while dealing with them. So, grab these opportunities.

8. Repeatedly speak and tell positive words to yourself. Tell your plans only to those who are ready to be with you in your path of success. Once told, be accountable.

9. Be enthusiastic. Next time someone asks you, ‘how are you?’ answer them with positive words like, great, excellent, terrific, etc. Even though you don’t feel the same try answering with positive words. Once habitual with it…see the difference it creates for you as well as for the one asking you.

10. When in trouble, stop complaining. Instead, focus on the solution or to lessen the problem. Complaining is only going to distract your thoughts and energy from your goals.

11. Wisely choose people around you. Negative people are slowly and continually going to spit venom. Make a point to stay with nourishing and positive people.

12. Come out of your comfort zone. Try something you are afraid of. Retreating from your fears won’t lessen your problems. Confronting them is.  Expand your comfort zone.

13. As adults we often think of people around us, society, what if we fail…stop thinking about what others think. What would help us is doing the task and failing. This will develop our skills. To fail is an opportunity to learn and re-learn.

14. Meet new people. Have conversation with new people. Stay in contact. Networking will accelerate the pace to reach your goals.

Above mentioned are the concepts, inculcating which are going to bring tremendous positive energy in us, if followed with discipline. The author has extremely well explained the positives of taking risks in your life to follow your dreams and passions. Age is no barrier to begin from start in one’s life. It is our thinking, efforts, commitments, patience and…ATTITUDE, that is going to make a difference.

CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE…you see changes in your life.

Positive Reading folks!!!

Chanakya Neeti

Chanakya Neeti”- Translation and Comments by: “Vishwamitra Sharma” is the collection of thoughts of Chanakya.

A medieval India scholar was accused as a ruthless political manipulator and humiliated for his ugly looks.Whatever actions he took were to safeguard his motherland from narrow minded quarrelling chieftains and kings. The infuriation of humiliation gave a new turn to history of medieval India, which raised a common child into “The Great Emperor Chandra Gupta”. Chanakya was too ahead of the times he existed in. Not only a scholar, but he was an economist, strategist, teacher and an able administrator. As Kautilya he wrote “Arthashastra”.

This book of Sanskrit couplets and quatrains guides a person to achieve goals of life and reach new heights of success. It gives a person the thought of carrying himself/herself with all safety yet a joyous life in the society. At many instances, he (Chanakya) has warned a person to safeguard himself/herself from the evils of the society. 

From bringing changes in day-to-day life to achieving the ultimate goal, against all odds of society is what summarises this book. How a person must treat himself/herself, what ways to earn money and how to invest it, which truths a person learns in bad times, how to choose friends, whom to stay away from, what not to utter in front of people, how to keep secrets about your plans announcing which can be harmful, how parents must treat their children and vice-versa, how important is education and learning, ways to bring self-discipline and self-development, how one must tackle an enemy, why is it important to stay healthy, what wonders can meditation do to the body, what is a true religion, how to assess oneself and analyse the situations around, how to treat a guest, instead of being afraid fight back during times of troubles, what wonders can will power make, what consequences we face are the results of our own acts, one must know when and what to speak, what information must be told to others and what not, what qualities an individual must possess, what all qualities a student must have, instead of worrying about past and fearing future: focus on present – these are the thoughts that one must learn and imbibe in their character. 

The book also speaks about the women. Though written in medieval times when situation and position of woman was different, I don’t completely agree with thoughts presented for them. Women in those times were seen as mere things. They were denied certain rights and freedom to live their life on their own terms. Contradictory to those times, today women have excelled in almost every stream and have become stronger to even support their families. There are a few thoughts that explain that women must be devoid of certain rights and freedom and how they must be treated. I disagree with those.

While reading the book I realized that many of these thoughts I knew earlier. But in daily life we somewhere tend to miss them out and later realize that we could have acted in a particular way. We often tend to ignore these thoughts but somewhere our life experiences teach us the same.

I suggest this easy to read and understand book specifically for teenagers who are new to life experiences. This book can help you avoid making mistakes, which we often learn after making any such. The book can help you grow personally, intellectually and spiritually as well. It can help grow thought process and decision making powers. Ultimately once our thinking process develops, so do we.

Happy Reading!!!!