Publications

The ‘dullard’ of the story, an unfortunate failure at school, is a familiar figure in every age. Poor at his books, he compensates with a wealth of common sense and goes on to survive life’s trials rather well. His comically smug, scholarly companions, on the other hand, soon meet their doom. These tales may mirror everyday human vices in a time-tested and engaging way, but they are also gentle guides to a wiser, happier path.

How important is a guest who visits one’s home? What could be more important than achieving knowledge through meditation? These tales taken from the Mahabharata tell of age old values that emphasize the divine status of a guest and the importance of dharma or duty above all else and teaching these lessons are simple creatures like a mongoose, a crane and a pigeon.

The prison of Kala Pani was the destination for many Indian freedom fighters. Scores of revolutionaries were exiled to this dreaded cellular prison which was in Port Blair in the Andaman Islands. Veer Sarvakar was one of them. Hounded by the police from London to Marseilles and then to India, he faced the most trying situations in his untiring effort to fight British rule. But even the despair and darkness of Kala Pani did not dim his courage. Veer Sarvakar found the most unique ways to motivate his prison mates and keep their belief alive in an independent India.