O P Sharma
Name of Book : ‘Prakash Path’ (Hindi)
Author : Chuni Lal Sharma
Publisher: Highbrow Publications, Jammu
Year : 2024
Pages : 215
Price: Rs. 499
This 215-pages book in Hindi entitled ‘Prakash Path’ by former Programme Executive and Broadcaster of AIR, Chuni Lal Sharma, is a collection of motivational and inspirational short essays. It contains 64 essays written in a very simple but impressive language, which is quite easy to understand by the common people.
As the present society is running a materialistic marathon and in this race often keep Nelson’s eye towards human values, ignoring bonds of relationships, kindness, sympathy, cooperation generosity, social as also moral standards which are enshrined in our ancient scriptures. Our culture and religion have very rich traditions of virtues but in the garb of modernization the people attempt to achieve their goals by adopting ‘shortcut routes’ ! Be it a path of darkness, no worry. But, we may not forget that the virtues and moral values are always long lasting citadel of a society.
Meaningful Messages
Essays in the ‘Prakash Path’ are on variety of subjects like-history, culture, scriptures, anniversaries, festivals, Gandhian philosophy, unity and also nationalism. These essays contain distinct messages for the entire society. Titles of each essay, in the book, are very catchy and convey meaningful messages.
For example, few titles like: Kaise Bhool sakte hein hum, woh Baisakhi; Mansik khushi khareedi nahi jaati.;Sadsangat mud mangal moola; chot Lage to yaad aati hai Maan; Aajkare so Ab; Bharat mein Rashtravaad ka Punarjagran; Parmarth mein hain Gandhi ji; Sab ko sukhi banaoo. And so on.
Let us now peep into these titles and reflect on the messages conveyed by the author of this book.
Kaise kaise bhool sakate hein hum woh baisakhi (How can Baisakhi be forgotten?), We celebrate this festival with cultural fervour and gaiety. But, this day (April 13, 1919) also carries painful memory of gruesome massacre by the then British rulers at ‘Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar’ when thousands of innocent people had assembled for a peaceful protest in freedom movement of their mother- land. So we must remember that:
Sookh gaya Hai jo lahoo Shaheedon ka
use hamesha yaad rakhen to baat bane
( Martyrtdom of freedom fighters should never be forgotten)
“Mansik khushi”
In this essay, C L Sharma opines that the happiness comes from within and that too by feeling contentment; for you may be multi- millionaire, you can’t be happy if un-contended from within:
Mansik khushi khareedi nahi jati
Muft milti hai Santosh se yaaro
(The peace of mind can’t be bought but it comes out of sense of service and satisfaction)
While the essay ‘Satsangat mud mangal moola’ conveys the truth that Satsang (good company) gives eternal happiness, It saves us from mental, physical and moral disorders. According to our mythology Satsangat makes our path for the “next life” after leaving this world. Saint Tulsidas’ sayings follows :
Satsangat mud mangal moola
Soi fal sidhi sab dhan phoola
(Spiritual company always gives us eternal bliss)
Lessons of Life
‘Chot Lage tou yaad aati hai -Maa’ is symbolic of when one is hurt, he/she recalls invariably the mother. As everybody knows the mother gives us birth, feeds us, brings up selflessly. Be a child or a person of any age, for a mother he /she is always her child. We may forget her, but she never forgets her progeny. She always wishes all well to her sons/ daughters. She always gives them shelter and blessings like a Banyan tree; in words she is symbol of ” blessings and bounty”.
Yet another essay ‘Aaj kare so ab’ ( Do right now what is to be done) give the message to make hay while the sun shines and never lose one’s valuable time on trivial pursuits. Do the noble work immediately but should delay the job that may harm anybody!
Saint Kabir has well said:
Kal kare so aaj kar, aaj kare so ab
Pal mein parley hogi, bahuri karega kab
( Do good things on priority basis for tomorrow may be too late)
“Prakash Path” also contains some essays on nationalism and conveys the readers, especially the youth, to go through the history of our struggle for freedom from foreign yoke. Though we lost the First Battle of Independence in 1857 but after it the renaissance of our nationalism began with greater vigour which ultimately won us freedom in 1947. During this struggle, lakhs of patriots struggled and made supreme sacrifices which really make all of us feel proud. Therefore, the author rightly pleads that we must never forget our great heroes of Independence with words:
“Maan barha desh ka jab tiranga charha asman” (We all salute when Tri-Colour flies sky-high)
Likewise, there are four essays in the book on Mahatma Gandhi and Gandhian philosophy conveying his unique message of virtues and principles which are “relevant even today and times to come” and much useful not only for our society but also the global family.
The concluding essay of this book is ‘Sab ko sukhi banao’ ( Make everyone progress and prosperous) gives the clarion call of “live and let live”. This means that one man’s happiness may expand to everyone’s happiness.
As the poet Jaishanker Prasad says:
Apne sukh ko vistrit kar lo
Sab ko sukhi sukhi bnaao
It may be added that Lord Krishna has also mentioned these two Paths in Bhagwat Geeta (8.24 and 8.25) saying that the path of light expands our energy and the dark path spoils it.
The book “Prakash Path” was released recently at a well-attended function on Nov. 8,2024 and described as a “lighthouse for the society”.
Sharma’s ‘Prakash Path’ is an excellent work which illuminates a path of compassion, tolerance, and humanity. Prakash Path means the luminous path (midst darkness and directionless environ) which leads us to achieve our goals. While the publishers have done a fine job in printing and production; the author deserves a good word for his inspiring narration. It should be read by one and all, especially the students and new generation.
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