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PARALLELS BETWEEN RAINER MARIA RILKE’S GEOGRAPHY OF SOLITUDE AND ANCIENT INDIAN TEXTS… by Kamlesh Tripathi

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PARALLELS BETWEEN RAINER MARIA RILKE’S GEOGRAPHY OF SOLITUDE AND ANCIENT INDIAN TEXTS

Kamlesh Tripathi

There are thematic parallels between Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke and ancient Indian philosophical texts, especially the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Vedas, and some later spiritual traditions. However, it is better to call them resonances rather than direct influence.

    Rilke repeatedly encourages the individual to turn inward rather than seek answers entirely in the external world. In his book Letters to a Young Poet, he advises the young military officer Kappus to “go into yourself” to examine the questions in your life. This strongly resonates with the Upanishadic movement from the outer world to the inner Self. The Chandogya Upanishad declares: “Tat tvam asi” — “That thou art.” The basic spiritual movement is similar: what we are seeking outside may ultimately have to be discovered within. Let’s not forget Rumi’s quote here ‘What you seek is seeking you” Reciprocal attraction.

    For Rilke, solitude is not simply loneliness. It is a necessary condition for becoming oneself. The Katha Upanishad describes the wise person as one who turns inward and discovers the Self rather than remaining absorbed in external objects. Rilke calls it solitude; the Indian sage calls it inwardness.

    Rilke’s central concern is discovering one’s authentic inner being. He asks the individual not to live according to society’s expectations but to discover what is genuinely alive within. The Upanishadic tradition goes further: the deepest Self (Atman) is not merely one’s personality, ego or psychological identity. It is connected with ultimate reality, Brahman. Thus there is an important distinction: Rilke’s inward journey is psychological, artistic and spiritual; the Upanishadic journey ultimately becomes metaphysical.

    One of the most appropriate similarities is Rilke’s attitude toward uncertainty. Rather than demanding immediate answers, he encourages Kappus to “live the questions.” A question needs to mature before its answer becomes possible, akin to the Shakespearean phrase ‘the why and the wherefore,’ used in The Comedy of Errors. This has an Indian parallel in the Upanishadic method of inquiry. The seeker repeatedly asks: Who am I? What is reality? What is the Self? What happens after death? (as Nachiketa asked). The Kena Upanishad, for example, investigates the mysterious power behind the mind, speech, sight and hearing. In both traditions, wonder precedes wisdom.

    Rilke’s spirituality is deeply connected with silence. When external noise disappears, the individual can hear something deeper. The Indian spiritual tradition places enormous importance on mauna—silence—and meditation. The famous Upanishadic formulation is particularly striking: “Yato vāco nivartante aprāpya manasā saha” —“From where words return, together with the mind, not having reached it.” The idea is that ultimate reality cannot simply be captured by ordinary language. That is very close to Rilke’s poetic intuition: some truths must be experienced rather than explained.

    Rilke does not advise us simply to escape suffering. He asks us to allow suffering to transform us. The Bhagavad Gita does not promise Arjun a life free of pain, conflict or uncertainty. Instead, it teaches him how to act without being psychologically destroyed by the results of action. Rilke’s idea could therefore be expressed as: Do not merely endure suffering; allow it to deepen you.

    Rilke warns against being controlled by external pressures and encourages an inwardly grounded life. The Bhagavad Gita repeatedly emphasises mastery and steadiness of mind.  Rilke does not advocate simply abandoning the world. He wants the individual to experience life deeply while maintaining an inner independence. This resembles the Gita’s concept of detached action—nishkama karma. One participates fully in life without becoming completely enslaved to its rewards and disappointments.

        Rilke’s conception of love is unusually modern. He believes two people should preserve their individuality. Love should allow each person to grow rather than become an attempt to possess another. This can be compared with the broader Indian distinction between love (prema) and attachment (moha). The Gita particularly warns against attachment because attachment can generate desire, frustration and confusion.  

    Rilke was not a conventional religious thinker. He travelled a lot. His spirituality was personal, mystical and sometimes deliberately uncertain. He was fascinated by God, angels, death, beauty and transcendence, but did not always approach them through orthodox religious doctrine. Death is not merely an interruption in Rilke’s thought. It is intimately connected with existence. This also resonates strongly with Indian scriptures. The Bhagavad Gita presents death as part of the transformation of embodied existence: “Jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyur”
“For one who is born, death is certain.”     

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

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THE ‘QUE SERA, SERA’ OF LIFE- BEFORE AND AFTER THE NEPAL DISASTER

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The ‘Que Sera, Sera’ of Life — before and after the Nepal disaster

Kamlesh Tripathi

    Adventure, calamity and song are the pillars of life. Don Quixote, the master adventurer created by Spanish novelist Miguel de Cervantes, never faced a calamity as sudden and devastating as the recent Himalayan disaster in Nepal. Life surprises us with adventure, devastates us with calamity and lifts our spirits with a song. A song is born out of joy and sorrow. Its melody echoes across great rivers such as the Brahmaputra, the Ganges, the Trishuli or the Bhotekoshi River in Nepal, all eventually meeting the unshakable oceans. Despite calamities, they say, the song of life must go on.

    On 26 August 2026, Nepal witnessed a catastrophic chain of natural events after a massive collapse of rock and glacial ice in the Himalayas that triggered a destructive debris flow and flash flood. The disaster swept through the Nepal-China border and downstream areas. The tragedy reminds us how suddenly the familiar world can disappear.

    Let us juxtapose two iconic songs: Kishore Kumar’s mystifying “Zindagi ka safar hai yeh kaisa safar, koi samjha nahi, koi jana nahi”, and the 1955 classic “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be),” written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. The latter was popularised by Doris Day in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1956 film The Man Who Knew Too Much.       The lyrics follow a narrator’s journey through childhood, youth, love and parenthood, repeatedly asking what the future will bring. The answer is simple: whatever will be, will be.

    The recent Nepal disaster gives those words a haunting resonance. People went about their daily lives, travelling, working and living beside the rivers, unaware that a gigantic mass of rock and ice was about to descend from the Himalayas.

    Did The Man Who Knew Too Much really know too much? Could anyone truly know when nature would unleash its fury? Humanity has accumulated extraordinary scientific knowledge, yet nature continues to remind us of the limits of prediction.

    This recalls Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, where Victor Frankenstein’s scientific ambition creates consequences he cannot control. The comparison is not between Frankenstein’s creature and a natural disaster, but between the human desire to understand and control the world and the humbling realisation that some forces remain beyond our command.

    Before calamity, life often appears permanent.  The Nepal disaster has also shown the vulnerability of Himalayan communities and the importance of early warning systems. Reports indicate that the enormous speed of the flood left communities with very little time to react. The catastrophe has consequently renewed discussion about monitoring and warning systems for hazards that can originate in remote mountain regions and cross national boundaries.   Yet even amid destruction, the song of life continues.

    The Sound of Music, with its book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, similarly continues to remind generations that music can provide courage in difficult times.     And then there is ABBA’s memorable line: “The winner takes it all,
The loser has to fall.”

   But disasters do not necessarily create winners and losers. They create survivors, rescuers, mourners and rebuilders. They reveal the fragility of human existence, but they also reveal extraordinary courage. Rescue workers, security personnel, volunteers and ordinary citizens become part of a collective struggle to save lives and restore communities. And then, slowly, nature begins to heal.

    The rivers continue to flow.  The Ganges does not stop. The Brahmaputra continues its journey. The Trishuli or the Bhotekoshi River will flow as they have for centuries. The mountains remain majestic, even after their slopes have collapsed. The sun rises each morning. Birds return. Children play again. Markets reopen. Homes are rebuilt.

    Life finds its rhythm once more. Perhaps that is the deepest lesson of Que Sera, Sera. The phrase “Whatever will be, will be” suggests acceptance of an uncertain future. But acceptance does not mean surrender. It means recognising the limits of human control while still doing everything within our power to prepare, protect and rebuild.

    The Nepal disaster reminds us of this truth with painful clarity. A landscape that appeared eternal can change within minutes. A river that sustained communities can suddenly become an agent of destruction. A familiar road can disappear beneath mud and debris. A home can vanish, while a simple house key may become the last surviving symbol of a life that once existed there. The calamity may interrupt the song of life, but it cannot silence it forever.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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NAVRATRI: THE NINE NIGHTS OF SHAKTI AND DEVOTION, AND THE TRIUMPH OF GOOD OVER EVEIL

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Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

    India is a land where festivals are not merely occasions for celebration. Rather, they are expressions of mythology, spirituality, culture and collective memory. Among its most vibrant festivals is Navratri, the sacred celebration of the Divine Feminine. The word Navratri is carved from two Sanskrit words: nava, meaning nine, and ratri, meaning night. These nine nights and ten days are devoted to Goddess Durga and her nine manifestations, collectively known as Navdurga.

    Sharad (Ritu) Navratri culminates on Vijayadashami, or Dussehra. The festival arrives with the autumn season. This is when the monsoon begins to retreat, and the air acquires a distinctive freshness. Ardent devotees prepare for worship, and devotional bhajans fill the atmosphere.

    Navratri concerns the battle between Goddess Durga and Mahishasura, a powerful demon who had obtained a boon that made him invincible. This made Mahishasura arrogant, and he started challenging the gods and threatening the cosmic order. The gods amassed their divine energies to create Goddess Durga. She possessed extraordinary strength, courage and determination. Riding a lion or tiger and wielding celestial weapons, she fought Mahishasura and eventually destroyed him.

    This victory conveys much more than the defeat of a demon. It symbolises the triumph of righteousness over arrogance, wisdom over ignorance and divine order over destructive forces. Durga’s many arms represent her ability to confront several challenges simultaneously, while her lion signifies courage and mastery over fear.

    In northern India, the period culminates in Dussehra, which celebrates Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana, as narrated in the Ramayana. Although the stories differ, their underlying message is similar. The evil may appear powerful, but it cannot claim an eternal victory over righteousness.

    Each day of Navratri is associated with a particular manifestation of Durga, representing a distinct quality of spiritual strength—Day 1: Shailputri- the daughter of the mountains, who gives a firm foundation. Day 2: Brahmacharini, the practice of penance, teaching us devotion and perseverance. Day 3: Chandraghanta, the bearer of the crescent moon bell, inspiring courage. Day 4: Kushmanda, the cosmic creator, filling the universe with creative energy. Day 5: Skandamata, the mother of Kartikeya, offering maternal love and protection. Day 6: Katyayani, the warrior goddess, driving determination to fight injustice. Day 7: Kalaratri, the fierce destroyer of ignorance, conquering darkness and fear. Day 8: Mahagauri, the radiant ray of light, bringing purity, peace and renewal. Day 9: Siddhidatri, the giver of boons, leading to spiritual fulfilment and attainment of higher wisdom.

    Through these forms, the Goddess becomes a many-sided representation of feminine power. She is compassionate yet fierce, nurturing yet fearless, and gentle yet capable of confronting the greatest adversities.

    Navratri begins with Ghatasthapana, also known as Kalash Sthapana, a ritual that invokes the Goddess. Devotees establish a sacred space in their homes, offer flowers and prayers, light lamps and recite devotional texts. Many observe fasts, while others devote the nine days to meditation, charity and acts of service.

     In Gujarat, Navratri is celebrated through the enchanting dances of Garba and Dandiya Raas. In West Bengal, the larger autumnal celebration takes the form of Durga Puja, with magnificent pandals, artistic idols and community festivities. In northern India, Ramlila performances bring the story of Rama to life, culminating in the burning of Ravana’s effigies on Dussehra. In southern India, traditions such as Golu, involving the display of dolls and figurines, add another dimension to the festival.

    These regional variations demonstrate the extraordinary diversity of Indian culture. The rituals may differ, but devotion to the Divine Feminine and the celebration of good overcoming evil remain powerful connecting threads.

    Beyond mythology and ritual, Navratri carries a message of considerable relevance to contemporary society. The battle between Durga and Mahishasura can also be understood as an inner struggle against greed, anger, jealousy, arrogance and intolerance. The demon we must conquer is not always outside us; sometimes, it resides within our own minds.

    The festival also invites us to reflect on the status of women. If the Goddess is worshipped as the embodiment of Shakti, or power, then reverence for her should extend beyond temples and ceremonies. It should be reflected in the dignity, safety, equality and opportunities afforded to women in everyday life. The true spirit of worship must find expression in our conduct.

        The eternal message of Navratri is beautifully simple. Darkness may persist, injustice may appear invincible, and evil may temporarily triumph. But faith, courage and righteous action can change the course of events. May Navratri inspire us not merely to worship the power of the Goddess, but also to awaken that power within ourselves.

The author is a novelist, poet, short story writer and a columnist

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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Kindness without expecting a Reward is a form of Greatness

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Kindness without expecting a Reward is a form of Greatness

Kamlesh Tripathi

   Baucis and Philemon are an elderly and poor couple. They live in a modest cottage in the ancient kingdom of Phrygia, a hill country in present-day Turkey. One day, the gods Jupiter and Mercury, disguised as average travellers, visit the neighbourhood seeking shelter. They knock on the doors of many wealthy households, but sadly nobody welcomes them. Finally, they reach the humble home of Baucis and Philemon. Though the couple have very little. They warmly invite the strangers inside and offer them whatever food and drink they can afford.

    The story of Baucis and Philemon, narrated by the Roman poet Ovid in Metamorphoses, is an emotional tale. It is about hospitality, humility, love, gratitude and the rewards of goodness. In today’s world, where wealth and status are often mistaken for happiness, its message is very relevant.

   The elderly couple’s hospitality is sincere. They do not enquire who their guests are, how wealthy they are, or what they can offer in return. They see two wayfarers in need and help them. But when their guests miraculously cause the wine vessel to refill by itself, Baucis and Philemon realise that their visitors are no ordinary men but gods.

   The gods then reveal why they have come. The wealthy neighbours who refused them hospitality are punished, whereas the humble couple’s cottage is spared. The gods transform the cottage into a magnificent temple. They grant Baucis and Philemon their wish. Baucis and Philemon in turn serve the gods together and die at the same moment, so neither will have to live without the other. It happens one day in extreme old age, as they stand before the temple, the couple are transformed into two trees growing side by side: an oak and a linden. Their physical lives end, but their love remains eternally intertwined.

    The story conveys several important lessons. True wealth is generosity, not possession. Baucis and Philemon are materially poor but spiritually rich. Their wealthy neighbours possess abundance but lack compassion. The story reverses the conventional creed of prosperity. Those with the least can give the most. It also celebrates hospitality as a moral virtue. A stranger should not be judged by appearance or social position. Baucis and Philemon welcome their guests not because of their godly status but simply because they are human beings in need.

    Most certainly, the story celebrates faithful companionship. Their final wish is not for gold, power or immortality but to remain together. Even their morphing into trees symbolises the permanence of their love.

    Likewise, in Indian culture and religious folklore, the Banyan and Neem trees are quite often grown in proximity so that their branches and roots wrap around each other. This intertwined pairing is viewed as a sacred, divine union and is called the holy marriage. In many rural parts of India, communities perform formal wedding rituals (Vriksha Vivaha) between the two trees to symbolise marital harmony, loyalty, and the balancing forces of nature.

    The enduring message of Baucis and Philemon is extremely simple. Kindness offered without expecting a reward in itself is a form of greatness. In a world increasingly concerned with status, possessions and appearances, their humble cottage reminds us that a generous heart can be richer than a palace.

Writtenand posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

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Book Review: The Man Who Refused to Bow… A Story of Courage … by Pranita Lele

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The Man Who Refused to Bow… A Story of Courage … by Pranita Lele

Reviewed by: Kamlesh Tripathi

 

    The book is a personal account of author Pranita Lele, who is combating horrific situations that life has offered her. Her husband is suffering from Cancer. Cancer, as one can say, is the reverse of the Midas touch. Just as the Midas touch converts everything into gold, cancer can transform life into a gruelling journey. Cancer can walk into anyone’s life surreptitiously, and as an uninvited guest, without any warning, just as it walked into Vikram Lele’s life, the author’s husband. You need a Satyavati to retrieve her husband from the menace of cancer. I’m reminded of the famous story of Satyavati, Satyavan and Yama. The analogy may sound similar. Pranita and Vikram’s story evokes the celebrated episode of Savitri and Satyavan in the Mahabharata. When Satyavan suddenly fell ill while working in the forest, Savitri cradled his head in her lap. When Yama, the god of death, arrived to claim her husband’s life, she refused to abandon him and followed Yama, ultimately persuading him to restore Satyavan’s life. Truly, a kindred metaphor.

    Another glimpse that one gets is of the 1963 Bollywood hit … Dil Ek Mandir, starring Meena Kumari, Rajendra Kumar and Raj Kumar. For a closer fit, consider Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning, whose relationship involved emotional support during difficult periods, though it is not principally a story of a wife nursing a seriously ill husband.

    I’m reminded of the first stanza of one of my poems titled, ‘I’m Life,’ where life says:  You think you know me/Well, everyone thinks that way/But believe me/ I’m very sneaky/I’m very tricky/And I rarely play by the rules you make for me.

       Spread across 40 chapters and around 170 pages, the book presents its central message in a precise, concise and accessible manner. Normally, such books are unplanned because tragedies strike without notice, and the author has to play it by ear. The narration is in easy English, in short sentences with a pleasant trickle and flow like a flowing river.

     The book intertwines life’s onerous circumstances with biological calamities. Aged parents above 90. Vikram, after recovering from brain haemorrhage, falls prey to oesophageal cancer. And in this global world, one cannot expect children to be by your side always. And in these frightful circumstances, one finds author Pranita walking through a dark isthmus all by herself.

     But to every downside there is an upside. The world survives because of the balance. The plane has wings. It will glide through high turbulence, provided the pilot is competent and the support system is good. This is where the Oncology Department of Max Hospital Lucknow comes into play. Its team of doctors and support staff extended extensive support to Vikram and Pranita throughout the treatment. The subject book is definitely to honour the entire team of Max Hospital.

    The author has painstakingly acknowledged friends and relatives, contacts, including overseas contacts and hospital staff, for what they did for Vikram.

    The book doesn’t bear a sombre and morose tone. It is filled with lively episodes that take you away from the pain of the patient and the family.

    The author has used the correct terminology in terms of describing each stage of illness. The narrative helps in building the doctor-patient relationship. The narration has a separate chapter for each doctor and support staff. It describes Chemotherapy, Radiation, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy in simple language.

     Pranita Lele’s steadfast companionship also recalls the enduring ideal of marital devotion found in English literature. In John Milton’s Paradise Lost (there is a thematic echo), Adam and Eve’s relationship, despite its trials and consequences, explores the profound bond between husband and wife. While the circumstances differ considerably from Vikram and Pranita’s struggle with cancer, the work invites reflection on companionship when life becomes difficult. Pranita’s story brings this ideal into the everyday world of medical appointments, uncertainty and caregiving, showing how commitment is expressed not merely through words but through continued presence and practical acts of love…. A real page-turner.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

Appreciation received from a reader.

Wow .I read the article .So well written .His writing proves that he is an highly intellectual person .So much depth and meaning in his writing .
Great work Pranita .I am sure and confident with all your support ,prayers and positivity Vikram will be fine .Our prayers and best wishes are always with you both .God bless .👍❤️❤️❤️

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

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BOOK REVIEW: Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne:

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The Novel That Dug the Foundations of Science Fiction.

Kamlesh Tripathi

    Even after 160 years since its publication, Journey to the Centre of the Earth continues to inspire media, scientists, writers, filmmakers, and dreamers alike. It tells us that every great discovery begins as an improbable idea, often dismissed by conventional wisdom before eventually reshaping our understanding of the world.

    The title remains one of the top classics of world literature. The imaginative scope Verne brings to this novel remains par excellence. The narration didn’t accurately predict science, but it captured the adventurous spirit that makes scientific discovery possible. Very few novels have merged imagination, intellect, and excitement so successfully. No wonder, Jules Verne’s descent into the centre of the Earth remains one of literature’s greatest ascents.

    “Science, my lad, is made up of mistakes, but they are mistakes which it is useful to make, because they lead little by little to the truth.”  In his evergreen classic Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Jules Verne has his protagonist, Professor Otto Lidenbrock, spell out these lines to his nephew Axel. It is to explain that false theories and errors are normal and valuable steps on the road to real discoveries. Published in 1864, the novel is absorbing and offers a unique reading experience.

    Verne changed the ground rules because earlier imaginative voyages mostly belonged to mythology or fantasy. He based his narrations on scientific knowledge, technological possibilities of his time and created extraordinary adventures. He encouraged his readers to assess the scientific possibilities behind the plot rather than accept the plot blindly. This approach became the hallmark of his novels and influenced other writers from H.G. Wells to Arthur C. Clarke and beyond.

    An eccentric geologist is the chief protagonist of the novel, and it starts with him. His name is Professor Otto Lidenbrock. He comes across a puzzling manuscript written by a 16th century Icelandic alchemist named Arne Saknussemm. The encrypted message claims that one can reach the Earth’s centre through the crater of the extinct volcano Snæfellsjökull in Iceland. Professor Lidenbrock embarks on an expedition that defies logic but requires a plethora of common sense. He is accompanied by his reluctant nephew Axel and the stoic guide Hans.

    What follows is English literature’s iconic and memorable exploration. Verne takes his readers through subterranean passages, massive caverns, underground oceans, forests of gigantic fungi, and landscapes inhabited by prehistoric creatures. Each discovery is explained with remarkable precision. The author gives it a touch of realism that distinguishes it from conventional fantasy. The intellectual honesty with which Verne presents his theories is praiseworthy even when the science is inaccurate by today’s standards.

    Though Professor Lidenbrock is driven by a strong desire to uncover truth, his determination often hinges on recklessness, but Verne doesn’t ridicule his ambition. Instead, he labels scientific inquiry as one of humanity’s most difficult pursuits. In contrast, Axel, the Nephew of Lidenbrock, serves as the doubtful observer, voicing the doubts and fears shared by readers. Hans, on the other hand, demonstrates that courage is measured not by words but by enduring action.

    From a modern scientific perspective, Verne’s subterranean adventure looks impossible. The immense pressure and heat of Earth would obviously render such an expedition inconceivable. Yet to play down the novel purely on scientific grounds is to misunderstand its intent. Verne was not predicting a geological reality; rather, he was illustrating the spirit of a scientific exploration. Like all great fiction, the novel is less concerned with being correct than with encouraging readers to imagine the possibility.

    Stylistically, Journey to the Centre of the Earth has both meticulous description and narrative momentum. Verne’s detailed explanations of geology, mineralogy, and palaeontology occasionally slow the pace of the novel for readers used to faster storytelling. When detailing increases, the pace of the novel slows down.  Yet, these passages provide the novel with intellectual depth. They remind us that genuine exploration requires patience, observation, and evidence.

    The novel is not without limitations. Female characters virtually play no role in the book, a characteristic common to much nineteenth-century adventure fiction. Some episodes rely heavily on coincidence. The conclusion, following the painstaking descent, appears abrupt. Nevertheless, these weaknesses are insignificant when weighed against the novel’s originality, imagination, and historical significance.

    The novel’s most remarkable achievement is its lasting relevance. Today, humanity explores the depths of the oceans, maps distant planets, and probes the origins of the universe with sophisticated technology. The scientific impulse driving these endeavours remains identical to that which animated Professor Lidenbrock, with the irresistible desire to understand what lies at the centre of the Earth.

    Jules Verne didn’t merely write an adventure novel. He prescribed curiosity. His message is as relevant today as it was in the nineteenth century. Civilisation progresses because there are always those willing to descend into darkness in search of light.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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Life Lesson From French Author Jules Verne

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Life Lesson from French Author Jules Verne

Kamlesh Tripathi

    The greatest journey in life is not the journey across continents, but the journey into the unknown. More than 160 years ago, Jules Verne asked his readers to imagine something that seemed impossible, and that was the journey to the centre of the Earth.

    In his classic novel Journey to the Centre of the Earth, by Jules Verne, the chief protagonist, Professor Otto Lidenbrock, discovers a mysterious manuscript written by the Icelandic scholar Arne Saknussemm. It reveals a secret route into the Earth through the crater of an extinct Icelandic volcano. Lidenbrock does not dismiss the idea simply because it sounds impossible. He decides to explore it. And that is where the first lesson of life begins. Never allow the word “impossible” to become the end of your curiosity.

    Lidenbrock sets out with his reluctant nephew Axel and their Icelandic guide Hans. The journey takes them deep beneath the Earth, through dark passages, enormous caverns, underground seas and landscapes populated by prehistoric creatures. But beneath all the adventure lies a much deeper story. It is the story of human beings confronting the unknown. Axel is frightened. He doubts the expedition. He questions whether they will survive. And who among us has never behaved like Axel?

    We all have moments when we stand before an uncertain future and think, What if I fail? What if I get lost? What if I cannot come back? Fear is natural. But fear can’t always be allowed to make our decisions. Then there is Hans. He speaks little, but when difficulties arise, he acts. He reminds us of another important truth: Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is continuing despite fear.

    And then comes one of the most memorable ideas in the novel. Lidenbrock tells Axel that science is made up of mistakes. Mistakes that are useful because they gradually lead us towards truth. What a lesson for life!

     We often consider mistakes to be failures. We hide them. We regret them. Sometimes we allow one mistake to define our entire life. But mistakes can also be teachers. A wrong decision can show us what not to do. A failed attempt can reveal a better direction. A closed door can force us to discover another entrance. Failure is not always the opposite of success. Sometimes it is a part of the road to success.

    The expedition also teaches us something about perseverance. Imagine descending into darkness without knowing what lies ahead. That is life. We rarely have the complete map. We take one step, then another. Sometimes the path disappears. Sometimes we have to turn back. Sometimes we discover something extraordinary precisely because the journey did not go according to plan.

    Jules Verne’s science may not always agree with modern scientific knowledge. The immense heat and pressure deep inside the Earth would make such a journey impossible in reality. But that is not the real point. Verne was teaching us to imagine beyond the boundaries of the familiar.

    Human progress has always begun with somebody asking an unreasonable question. Can we fly? Can we reach the Moon? Can we travel beneath the oceans? Can we communicate instantly across the world? Yesterday’s impossibility can become tomorrow’s reality.

    So perhaps Journey to the Centre of the Earth is not really about reaching the centre of the Earth. It is about reaching the centre of ourselves. Deep inside every person lie unexplored chambers: our courage, creativity, resilience, curiosity and dreams. The greatest discoveries may not be beneath our feet. They may be within us. So, when life presents you with an unknown path, do not immediately turn it away. Take the first step. Make mistakes. Learn. Keep going. Because sometimes the darkest journey leads us to the brightest discovery.

    And perhaps that is Jules Verne’s greatest lesson. To discover the world, we must first have the courage to explore the unknown within ourselves.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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 Pitru Paksha: Remembering Ancestors in Hindu Tradition … by Kamlesh Tripathi

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Pitru Paksha: Remembering Ancestors in Hindu Tradition

Kamlesh Tripathi

    In this fast-paced world, one hardly gets time to remember one’s ancestors. But God has devised a methodology to find ways and means to bridge this gap. Pitru Paksha is one such occasion and season when we remember our ancestors with reverence. It is a 16-lunar-day period in the Hindu calendar, dedicated to the remembrance and reverence of ancestors (pitrs), falling typically in the lunar month of Bhadrapada (September). It commences on the Pratipada, the first day of the dark fortnight, and concludes on Amavasya (the new moon).

    This fortnight is deemed inauspicious because of its association with death rituals and culminates with the Shradh ceremony. The ritual includes food offerings to deceased ancestors, believed to bring peace to their souls and ensure blessings for the living.

    Pitru Paksha is based on Hindu scriptures and the principles of astronomy. When the Sun moves from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere, it symbolically enters the realm of the ancestors, also known as the south celestial sphere. This transition typically coincides with the autumnal equinox, which is why Pitru Paksha falls during this time.

    Hindu scripture Garuda Purana emphasises the importance of Shradh. They describe how the offerings reach the ancestors through a cosmic chain. From Varuna (the god of waters) to Vishnu, then to Surya, and finally to the pitrs (ancestors).

    A popular tale from the Mahabharata adds a mythological flavour to the observance of Pitru Paksha. After Karna died and reached heaven, he discovered that the food he touched turned into gold. This puzzled him. He asked Indra the reason. He was told that while he donated gold throughout his life, he had never offered food to his ancestors. To atone, Karna was granted a fortnight to return to Earth to perform Shradh and offer food. These 15 days came to be known as Pitru Paksha. It emphasises the necessity of feeding the departed souls for their peace and well-being.

    Shradh and Tarpana are the central rituals that involve offering food (pindas made of rice and barley), water (tarpana), and prayers. Shradh is performed on the tithi (lunar date) that corresponds with the ancestor’s date of death. Specific days are designated for those who died in particular ways, such as violent deaths, children, or ascetics. Sarvapitri Amavasya is the most important day for honouring all ancestors, regardless of their specific date of death. It can also make up for missed Shradh rituals. Gaya (in Bihar) is considered the holiest place to perform Shradh, where, during Pitru Paksha, lakhs of pilgrims gather at the banks of the Falgu River for the Pitru Paksha Mela. A symbolic aspect of the shradh is the feeding of crows, believed to be messengers of Yama or the ancestors themselves. If a crow eats the offering, it is taken as a sign that the offering has been accepted.

    The Garuda Purana details the journey of the soul after death and the importance of Shradh. Several key verses stand out: “On Amavasya, the airy manes appear at the door of their descendants. If they are not offered, they sigh and curse their descendants.” “Offerings made with faith during Shradh reach the ancestors wherever they may be.” These verses demonstrate that rituals are not merely traditions but acts of spiritual continuity, filial duty, and love that connect generations across life and death.

    Pitru Paksha shares striking similarities with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day in Christianity, and with ancient Greek ancestor rituals in the form of funerary customs, highlighting a universal human concern for honouring the dead. All Saints’ Day honours all saints who have reached heaven. All Souls’ Day is dedicated to praying for departed souls in purgatory, helping them attain peace. Practices include Masses, candles, almsgiving, and visiting graves, much like the offerings made during Shradh.

    Across cultures and ages, humanity shares this sacred impulse to honour those who came before them and continue to walk with us, unseen but never forgotten. Death is not an end, but a passage.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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THE LEGACY OF INVENTIONS

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THE LEGACY OF INVENTIONS

Kamlesh Tripathi

       Scientists and inventors may create something with good intentions. But depraved minds may commandeer it for nefarious motives. Truly speaking, inventions do leave an indelible legacy behind, where some may turn out to be serenades of life, and some the hounding baggage difficult to carry.

    Scottish physician and microbiologist Alexander Fleming was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for the discovery of penicillin. Penicillin was later developed into an antibiotic to kill bacteria. It has since then saved many lives. Fleming therefore must have left the world with pleasant memories of his invention.

    Alfred Nobel invented ‘dynamite’, a high-power explosive that ravaged humanity. He made a fortune out of that. But it was only during his lifetime that he realised that the invention of dynamite was a great threat to humanity. He later bequeathed his fortune to institute the Nobel Prize for Excellence.

    Conversely, Eadweard Muybridge, often called the ‘father of the motion picture’, left the world with glorious recollections. This isn’t the case with General Mikhail Kalashnikov, the creator of the AK-47 assault rifle, though it was designed for the defence of his country. He was an author and a poet too. Later, he rose to become a general with innovative attributes, but his inventions appear to be for the wrong causes. Kalashnikov maintained that his rifle was an ‘armament for defence and not a weapon of offence.’ Yet, numerous killings have taken place with this invention.

    Kalashnikov claimed he was always motivated more by service to the nation than money. But the rifle that was once good for the nation was used by terrorists in illegal and dreadful killings. In the final years of his life, he was saddened by the awful responsibility for the millions of deaths that his invention had caused, as per his published letter to the head of the Russian Church. Kalashnikov died at the age of 94. In his interviews, he insisted that he created the AK-47 assault rifle only to protect his country, and rejected responsibility for killings perpetrated by zealots and terrorists using his weapon.

    Kalashnikov didn’t have a simple life. In his old age, he was troubled to learn that his rifle was used for evil acts, even though he knew that his weapons were also used to destroy adversaries and defend his motherland. In order to find peace, like Alfred Nobel and Oppenheimer, Kalashnikov too retired to a quiet life in the hope of experiencing a godly touch sometime and somewhere before his death. To seek pardon, he wrote a letter to the head of the Russian Church, saying:

    “My soul’s ache is unbearable and has irresolvable questions: If my rifle took lives, does it mean that I, Mikhail Kalashnikov, aged 93, a peasant woman’s son, an Orthodox Christian in faith, am guilty of those people’s deaths, even if they were enemies?”

    Kalashnikov spent a major part of his life as an atheist in an atheist country. Only at the age of 91 did he feel the call of faith and answered it. As he was approaching the end of his life, doubts entered his mind that his invention gave a chance to millions of miscreants … to butcher innocents.

    Surely, inventions do leave a legacy behind. Some legacies are insurmountable for the soul to carry through. But sadly, the inventor only realises that when it’s too late in life.

    The story remains incomplete without knowing what Oppenheimer felt after the atomic bombs exploded in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Did he feel exalted or miserable? Only he’d be able to tell. But of course, the sting of karma does follow you beyond the frontiers of your present life.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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Shravan Charity Mission: Publications of Author, Poet & Columnist Kamlesh Tripathi

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

***

Publications of Kamlesh Tripathi

BOOK TITLE: GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in eight prestigious libraries of the US, which include Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; and University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed at MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in the libraries and archives of Canada; the Open Library; Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai; Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India; Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh; and Azim Premji University, Bangalore and the Library of Cancer Aid and Research Foundation, Mumbai. The title also finds a mention in a book titled ‘Enduring Cancer: Life, Death and Diagnosis in Delhi’ by Dwaipayan Banerjee, published by the Duke University Press).

BOOK TITLE: ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(It is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; It is also available for reading in the Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)

BOOK TITLE: AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(This is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity, which is the undying characteristic of Lucknow. The book was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2014. It is catalogued and included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K; Herrick District Library, Holland; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA; Black Gold Cooperative Library Administration, Arroyo Grande, California; Berkeley Library, University of California; The Peshastin Public Library and The George Public Library near Washington, a Northern Central Washington Libraries branch; the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library in Arizona in the US and the Salina Public Library, Kansas, USA.

BOOK TITLE: REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan-India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, which works for child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD, Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2016).

BOOK TITLE: TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

(Is a story of an Indian salesman who is humbly qualified. Yet he fights his way through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read, not only for salesmen but for any reader. The book was launched on 10th February 2018 at Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

BOOK TITLE: RHYTHM … IN POEMS

(Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems are about our day-to-day life. Poems from this book have been published in Shillong Times, Bandra Times, Bhavan’s Journal, Arunachal Times and Goan net. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha).

BOOK TITLE: MIRAGE

(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

BOOK TITLE: AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra

(It is the story of the man who received His Holiness The Dalai Lama and his retinue in 1959 as a GOI representative when he fled Tibet in 1959. The book was launched on 21st November 2022 by His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Dharmshala. The title is archived in the library of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR), Government of Tibet, Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) and the personal library of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The title is also archived in The Ohio Digital Library, USA. It was recently included in the digital library of the world-renowned company APPLE. Included in the library of Friends of Tibet and Maharashtra Mitra Mandal Library in Bandra, Mumbai.

BOOK TITLE: RHYTHM IN POEMS

The book was relaunched with additional poems at the Lucknow Book Fair on 7th March.2025

(POEMS, SHORT STORIES AND ARTICLES OF KAMLESH TRIPATHI PUBLISHED IN NEWSPAPERS, JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES)

THE TIMES OF INDIA (Speaking Tree)

Speaking Tree: 1. Basant Celebrates Ma Saraswati, Shiv, And Spring 1.2.25; 2. Mahashivratri: A Night of Divine Illumination, 26.2.25; 3. Kabir Spun Indic Syncretism Through His Dohas, 12.6.25; 4. The Soul Connection 19.7.25; 5.  Every Separation Diminishes the Whole 16.9.26;

THE ECONOMIC TIMES (Speaking Tree)

Speaking Tree 1. Celebrating Transitions 15.1.26; 2. The Colours of Holi, 3.3.2026; 3. Celebrating Baisakhi 14.4.26; 4. AI: Wisdom No Guarantee 30.6.26; 5. Marcusian Formulations, 14.8.26; 6. Celebrating Krishn 4.9.26

THE SENTINEL, USA

  1. Is Ambition the double-edged sword of greatness, 23.11.25;

SENTINEL ASSAM

  1. Short Story: Return of Sangeeta, 21.6.26

BHAVANS JOURNAL

Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.2019; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.2020; 3. Eagle versus Scholars, June 15 & 20, 2020; 4. Indica, 15.8.2020; 5. The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6. Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9. The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10. Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11. Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12. Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13. Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14. A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15. Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16. Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17. Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18. Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19. Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20. Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25. Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26. The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22; 27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29. Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34. Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35. When Gods Get Angry 31.12.22; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. The Nag Mandir 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23; 43. The Tale of Genji 15.10.23; 44. The Soul Connection 1.12.23; 45. Book review: Jungle Nama … a story of the Sundarban 16.3.24; 46. Book review: A Forgotten Chapter 16.5.24; 47. Exploring Ancient Egypt, 1.8.24; 48. The Story of Dhruva, 16.8.24; 49. Two Hundred Years of Tea in Assam 16.9.24; 50. The Cosmic Messenger 16.10.24; 51. Biblioburro: The Four-Legged Library 16.11.24; 52. The Cologne Cathedral 1.1.25; 53. Gandhi to Mahatma 16.1.25; 54. Huxley’s Take on Translated Works 16.3.25; 55. Ernest Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory 1.7.25; 56 The Story of Bhishma Pitamah 1.9.25; 57. A Twist in the Tale, October 1-15, 2025; 58. Philosophy Overdose (Book Review) November 16-30, 2025; 59. Ambedkar: From Caste to Constitution April 1-15, 2026; 60. Book Review; A Timeless Work… The Epic of Gilgamesh (May 16-31, 2026); 61. Rainforests: Earth’s lungs and world’s pharmacy, 1.6.26; 62. Every ‘Why’ has a ‘Wherefore’, 1-15, August 2026; 63. Places Associated with Sri Krishna Leela, 1.9.26;

THE SHILLONG TIMES

Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: Happy New Year 8.1.23; 2. Poem: Spring 12.3.23; 3. Poem: Right and Wrong 20.3.23; 4. The Gush of Emotion—Writing, 26.3.23; 5. The Nag Mandir, 7.5.23; 6. Poem: Mother 7.5.23; 7. Poem: Rain Rain 9.7.23; 8. Poem: You Come Alone You Go Alone 6.8.23; 9. Poem: Rain Rain (Second Time) 10.8.23; 10. Poem: Guru Teacher 1.10.23; 11. Poem: Autumn … The Interim Heaven 15.10.23; 12. Poem: Happy Diwali 12.11.23; 13. Overcoming Blindness: Learn it the John Milton Way 10.12.23; 14. The Happy Prince and The Happy Man’s Shirt 31.12.23; 15. Annus Mirabilis -2024 7.1.24; 16. Gandhi to Mahatma Gandhi- Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa 28.1.24; 17. Poem: Together But Not Made For Each Other, 11.2.24; 18. The Birds Bees and The Spiders of Nicholas Guildford and Jonathan Swift 25.2.24; 19. The Overcoats of Nikolai Gogol and Ruskin Bond 10.3.24; 20. The Ethnic Colours of Holi 24.3.24; 21. A Lesson from Dalai Lama, 21.4.24; 22. Poem: Morning Walk 28.4.24; 23. Trip to Rhine Falls, Switzerland, 19.5.24; 24. Poem: Hurt 2.6.24; 25. Poem: Your Conscience Was My Sign On 16.6.24; 26. Poem: The Eerie Ways of Time 7.7.24; 27. Poem: Celebrating the T20 World Champions 14.7.24; 28. Read to Rise above mediocrity, 4.8.24; 29. Poem: Desire vs Reality 11.8.24; 30. Jack Ma’s Pristine Advice to Employers, Employees and the Youth 22.9.24; 31. Tagore and Kipling 3.11.24; 32. Poem: Merry Christmas 22.12.24; 33. Poem: The Sunset Point, 5.1.25; 34. Cancer Warning Labels on Alcoholic Beverages, 12.1.25; 35. Poem: Hope … In the Arc of Twilight, 19.1.25; 36. Basant Panchami celebrates the Arrival of Spring 2.2.25; 37. Poem: The Falling World Order, 9.2.25; 38. A Peep into Native American Literature, 23.2.25; 39. Poem: Good day, Bad day 9.3.25; 40. Reincarnation of Dalai Lama in a free World, 6.4.25; 41. Ambedkar: Fighting the Caste Monster, 13.4.25; 42. Switzerland: The Scenic Mount Titlis & Lucerne 18.5.25; 43. Poem: A Ray of Hope 8.6.25; 44. Poem: Monsoon Melodies 27.7.25; 45. Poem: There Is Nothing Right, says Gen-Z 14.9.25; 46. Poem: The Golden Voice of Zubeen Garg 28. 9.25; 47. Poem: Diwali: The Festival of Lights 19.10.25; 48. Poem: When the Summer is Through, 7.12.25; 49. The Golfer’s Pride, 11.1.26; 50. Poem: The World Within Books, 15.2.26; 51. Poem: Meet His Majesty The AI, 1.3.26; 52. There Was A Time 22/3/26; 53. Poem: In Nature’s Lap 7.6.26; 54. Poem: The Comeback Trail 5/7/36; 55. Poem: Life is Short, 2.8.26;

THE ASSAM TRIBUNE

Article: 1. The Magic of Reading 11.12.23; 2. Gandhi to Mahatma 29.1.24; 3. Geography of Solitude 8.4.24; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 22.4.24; 5. A Source of Inspiration, 29.4.24; 6. The Four-Legged Library, 12.5.24; 7. Age and Achievement, 10.6.24; 8. Read … To Rise Above Mediocrity, 1.7.24; 9. Crusade for a College, 25.8.24; 10. Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory (Panorama) 27.9.24; 11. Short story: Love in the Air, 20.10.24; 12. Short story: The Prick of Conscience, 5.1.25; 13. Lost in translation, 6.1.25; 14. Travellers’ tales 20.1.2025; 15. Audit your days, 17.2.25; 16. When Darkness became Vision, 27.10.25; 17. Remembering Bhagat Singh, 23.3.26; 18. Tunnel Vision, 19.7.26;

THE ARUNACHAL TIMES

Poem: 1. Hope—In The Arc of Twilight, 13.8.23; 2. Poem: Spring 3.3.24; 3. Poem: The Morning Walk, 10.3.24; 4. Poem: The Golden Voice of Zubeen Garg 5.10.25; 5. A Happy Republic Day to Indians, 25.1.26;

BANDRA TIMES, MUMBAI

Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: SPRING, 1.4.23; 2. Poem: Mother, 1.6.23; 3. Poem: Rain Rain, 1.8.23; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 1.6.24; 5. Read to rise above Mediocrity 1.8.24; 6. Poem: Merry Christmas 1.12.24; 7. Poem: Happy New Year 1.12.24; 8. The Enduring Colours of Holi 1.2.25; 9. Poem: Global Warming 1.4.25; 10. Pahalgam Carnage 1.6.25; 11. Life Lessons 1.6.25; 12. Poem: Arrogance 1.8.25; 13. Poem There is nothing right … says Gen Z 1.10.25; 14. Celebrating the joy and rights of Children 1.10.25;

THE GOAN NET

Poem: 1. Autumn – The Interim Heaven, 6.10.24; 2. Reader’s Rewind 17.11.24; 3. Reader’s Rewind: The Irony of Tash Moustache or Mooch 5.12.24; 4. The Sunset Point 22.12.24; 5. Reader’s Rewind: The Joy of a Morning Walk, 3.1.25; 6. Harmony in creation 26.1.25; 7. Poem: What is truly Good for me? 2.1.25; 8. Poem: We both were left behind, 9.2.25; 9. India Afloat like Ship of Theseus, 23.2.25; 10. Maha Shivratri: A night of divine illumination, spiritual awakening, 26.2.25; 11. Poem: Good Day Bad Day, 2.3.25; 12. After Birth, Death is the First Spiritual Tip, 30.3.25; 13. Poem: Aspiration 31.8.25; 14. Poem: Fascinating Goa, 7.9.25; 15. The Secret to long life lies in deeds, not years 6.11.25; 16. Poem: The other side of hometown, 9.11.25; 17. Children’s Day 14.11.25; 18. Poem: Why do things happen 23.11.25; 19. Poem: I Want More, 30.11.25; 20. Poem: Small to Big … Reborn Poem, 7.12.25; 21.What is life without mirth and laughter 18.12.25; 22. I find the Joys of Heaven here on Earth 4.1.26; 23. Be the Wise Man 18.1.26; 24. A Happy Republic Day to Indians, 25.1.26; 25. Kasauli: A jewel in the Himalayan Crown, 1.2.26; 26. I dreamt of Utopia 8.2.26: 27. Legends surrounding the Parijaat Tree, 27.3.26; 28. Poem: Eros’s Love Arrow 29.3.26; 29. Poem: The all-round beauty of ‘namaste’ 5.4.26; 30. Twilight Tremors: When Solitude meets Companionship, 26.4.26: 31. World Music Day: A Tribute to Music’s Enduring Magic 21.6.26;

SENTINEL GUWAHATI, ASSAM

  1. Return of Sangeeta, 21.6.26;

CITY ESSENCE MAGAZINE

  1. Three Love Stories: A Comparison, July 7. 2025; 2. Without Genghis Khan’s Daughters There Would Have Been No Mongol Empire 11.1.26;

SRIJON MAGAZINE

Articles & Poems: Poem: 1. Global Warming 1.5.25; 2. India Afloat Like The Ship of Theseus 1.5.25; 3. Reincarnation of the Dalai Lama In A Free World, 1.5.25;

SANT VIVEK MAGAZINE

  1. Hindi Poem: Parmarth Chintan

ARTICLES IN THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE ESAMSKRITI

Aritcles: 1. 29.12.2020: Indica by Megasthenes; 2. 14.3.22: About The Dimasa Kingdom Assam; 3. 10.12.22: Grand Trunk Road–Uttarapath; 4. 5.10.23: The Ghost Town of Kuldhara Near Jaisalmer;

(ALL THE ABOVE BOOK TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE ON AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

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