Kathihar to Kennedy - The Road Less Travelled by Sanjay Kumar

It’s a cliche when I read this book and reflect some of my own beliefs about having a purpose-driven life. This book amazed me for 2 reasons. First, what starts as a biography of sorts completely transcends narration to a reflection of societal norms and how flawed some of them are really are and how is it impacting everybody's life blatantly but silently. It’s a story of a boy who travels from a village to the city to just go back again to bring the change he earnestly wished for in the area of education, women empowerment, and numerous other fields. To that extent, it was holistic, Rich with his own experiences, contemplative and somewhat disturbing when we tend to relate to it in our everyday life. What starts as a story ends with a proactive thought of who we really are and what do we stand for? Who is responsible for the degeneration of the values in our society? Why there is corruption in our culture as well as in our thoughts? How things have turned from bad to worse with a bureaucracy which thinks as no less than the kingsmen, government looking other side and poor/marginally neglected class left to fend for itself. Where does it all going to end if we degenerate to the point of no return? Did we ever have an ethical identity? And if so there is a slight chance to invoke that collective wisdom to change the society for good and that cannot happen without changing the education system! A good read and thought-provoking indeed!

ಸರಸಮ್ಮನ ಸಮಾಧಿ | Sarasammana Samadhi by Dr.Shivarama Karanth

Dr.Shivaram Karant’s satirical story about the system of marriage is both commendable and powerful for a reason that it was written in 19s and still very relevant in our society. Marriage has been systemically poisoned and men of powers have suppressed and oppressed women to an extent that they live 2 lives to escape this tyranny - one which adheres to custom and culture which society approves, the other - a secret life where they can imagine a different outcome, dream a better life, crave for a meaningful relationship and possibly escape the clutches of a "bonded labor" called marriage. The struggle and the aspirations of these women portrayed in the novel are brilliant and worth a read. This book deserves a round of applause and holds a mirror to equally hypocritical and irrational patriarchal society like ours! and the fact that it was written by our very own Dr.Shivaram Karanth who was a Kannada writer, social activist, environmentalist, Yakshagana artist, filmmaker, and thinker is all the more worth the bet! He was described as the "Rabindranath Tagore of Modern India who has been one of the finest novelists-activists since independence" by Ramachandra Guha. Fast read but the impression will last forever! Available both in Kannada and English for the book lovers!