MaaAayeeAmmaMotherMai...
It maybe just a single word but defines someone with unconditional love and care.
'Swami teenhi jagancha pan Aayee vina bhikari.'{Loose translation:You maybe the greatest of this universe but certainly a beggar if without a mother}
I maybe a king ...maybe a beggar...maybe the most respected individual...maybe the least respected one...
All I know is that... I am too small {too big a word}in front of my mother.
---THE AUTHOR AND TRANSLATOR---
'Shyamchi Aayee' is a great work in Marathi literature by Pandurang Sadashiv Sane'{better known as Sane Guruji} which is translated by 'V.Sivaramakrishnan'.
Aacharya Keshav Atre's film 'Shyamchi Aayee' based on this story made the book even more popular.
Sane Guruji {1899-1950}wrote this book in five days while he was detained in jail for participation in the 'Civil Disobedience movement'.
He was a sensitive man with a creative imagination and a prolific writer.
As the translator puts it 'the book cannot be classified into any genre;it is neither a novel nor a memoir; not a poem nor a series of essays'.
The translator 'V.Sivaramakrishnan' has a master's degree from Madras university.He has been a broadcaster of 'All India Radio' and is now an associate editor of 'Bhavan's Journal' with more than 100 short stories among his works.
--- BOOK CONTENT and CHARACTERS--
'Shyamchi Aayee' is one such book which portrays love for one's mother in the best of it's forms.
This book is a not a literal translation of the book 'Shyamchi Aayee' but a good attempt in giving the essential points of each episode with mandatory connecting links between each episode.
The content is purely based on Shyam's{Sane Guruji's} personal experience with his mother.
The book is filled with twelve short stories,all based on the author's true stories ,each with a unforgettable moral. They are written in a way which tells us that Shyam has narrated them to his friends .The two main characters are, as the title suggests,Shyam and his mother.Wherever necessary, additional characters are introduced such as his family and friends.The beauty of the book lies in the fact that it explores, realistically ,the mother-child relation .The way the mother teaches the child the necessary values is appreciable.Her approach is not restricted to lecturing but making him realise his faults through daily experiences.
--- An IDEA of content---
This book has no specific plot and cannot be categorised under any particular section of books.
To get an idea of content read further...
In one of the stories :
Shyam's mother is unable to keep her 'Savitri Vrath' as she is hit with Malaria fever and is unable to move.This Vrath involves going around the Vadh{Banyan} tree 108 times.Shyam's mother being a staunch follower of customs is also aware that customs can be changed; if for a good reason.
She requests Shyam for doing the rounds around the 'vadh' for her.
Shyam refuses and reasons out that Vrath being a women's custom all school boys will mock him.
All ladies will laugh at him.He will be a centre of foolishness.
On account of his reasoning his mother answers ''Shyam!why should you feel ashamed of doing your mother's work?Is this not God's work?Don't be ashamed of doing God's work.Be ashamed of committing sin.'' Shyam realised that doing our parent's work whether big or small is equivalent to devoting bhakti to God.He realised that we should feel ashamed of watching bad films,smoking, reading bad books and on the otherside feel happy in helping anyone.
--- ABOUT THE WRITING ---
The book is aimed at spreading our Indian values and instilling in the minds of the youth, good values .
Hence the English language used in this translation is simple and straight forward .
Inspite of the stories being different a beautiful link knots them together.
The title of every story is a moral by itself.
There is no usage of slang language much prevalent in novels and alike.
The translator has not used high level English hence one can read with speed.If read continously ,two hours are enough to complete the book.
But the magical impact that these two hours will leave on your behaviour is worth it.
At the beginning the stories are light and cheerful , related to village routine.
As the book progresses we get to know more about the writer's problems,his challenges ,his family's problems.But what stands out throughout the read is his mother's positive attitude and her deep faith in God while sailing through all the problems.
The mother is not portrayed dishonestly as a perfect one,as no one is perfect .Even she commits mistakes but what is noteworthy is that she admits them and apologises readily.
It serves as a good emotional read ...the last story brought tears to my eyes and those pages were wet with my tears.
---HOW TO READ ---
Though this book can be finished at a go I feel that one should read it in parts. One story a day is enough.Think...contemplate...how can I apply these morals to my life?Those customs and traditions in the book may seem outdated but certainly not the values.I could imagine myself in Shyam's place in one of the stories wherin he learnt to swim.His mother though harsh at that time, he realised the importance of her harshness much later.{very much like me...Even I[a chic] would have never learnt swimming but thanks to my mother's harshness I am proud to master it now}.
This book can also be a substitute for bed-time stories for your younger siblings and cousins.This book certainly has brought about some change in me {as in ,in my values}.
--- ATTRACTIVE ENTRY ---
The RAMRAKSHA STOTRAM is printed in the appendix with all the meanings explained.The printing is both in Marathi as well as in English.I was very excited to know the actual meaning of this stotram.
Even in the stories if any Sanskrit word is used a detailed explanation of that word is given at the bottom of the page.
---MY EXPERIENCE---
After reading this short translation I am eager to know more about the original book and the direct translation.I am even eager to watch this movie.
--- LINES FROM THE BOOK ---
# Any mother will love her child.But the one who loves all children is a great mother.
#The cow and the spinning wheel are Bharat's Godesses.The day we started neglecting them our misfortunes began.
#God likes everything that is offered if the ghee of devotion is mixed with it.Even if you offer pebbles with devotion,He will accept them as sugarcandy.
#Fraternal enmity has been the curse of Bharat from the days of the Mahabharata.{India became a prey to foreigners because of lack of unity among Indians}
Okay....I'm signing out.
As soon as I watch the movie I will review it and bore you'll again...lol
PS:This is my first book review.
Comments and suggestions are forever welcomed and awaited.
Good luck,
Bonjour
