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To whom the world owes for ever (Vishwa Vasundhara Jinaki Sadaiva Riñi Rahegi): Vangamaya Vol-52

Literature has always had a predominant impact on shaping of the trends of time…. Be those the initiation and expansion of great revolutions or small attempts of teaching young children or propagating specific message among the masses, in each case, thought provoking books – novels, stories, poetry, essays….., etc, play a crucial role in materialization of the associated objectives. Thinking, imagination, conceptualization and sentimental perception are vital elements of both – the life of literature and liveliness of human mind. Literature therefore has an intimate relationship with human psychology.
Changing patterns of civilization and culture since the time of yore have witnessed the gamut of expressions of the voice of soul and the impulses of mind reflected in the gigantic amount of literature – assimilated in the form of scriptures, collections of the deliberations and preaching of great saints, spiritual masters and social reformers and the written or published prose and verse of diverse nature…. Literature can encompass all possible realizations and expressions of Nature and life within and beyond the limits of time and space….
Abstract philosophical treatises, highly intellectual discussions and deliberations do not generally suit to be effective mediums of teaching or setting communication linkage with the masses. Such forms of literature are rather ‘inert’ and beyond comprehension or interest for most people….. The conversational style and/or the real or imaginary sketches of life presented in the novels, stories, plays and poetic narration, on the contrary, easily attract the masses. The simplicity of language, closeness of the characters (of the story or play, etc) with the aspirations, imaginations or ‘familiarity’ of the readers and the relevance and the proximity of the environment – describing the ‘life’ of these characters, with the real life have added advantage. Depending upon the depth and force of the inherent motto these can also be significantly effective in specific circumstances.
The above mentioned vivid forms of literature also support the natural tendencies of “learning by examples” and are therefore frequently used as the most common modes of mass-education…. Listening, watching, reading, contemplating or discussing different representations of these kinds of literary creations also helps conveying the philosophical principles, ideologies and theories too. The substance of the latter may be brought outside the confinement of esoteric and abstract domains and transmitted – through the lucid medium of stories, plays, poetry, songs etc, into the main stream of people’s life.
Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya had always emphasized the creative use of the power of pen and strength of voice for effectuating unity, peace, moral elevation and welfare of the human society. For him, it was more important that the Vedic ideals like “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” – affirming whole world as one large family – are materialized in real life rather than merely glorifying the philosophical literature or being a subject matter of erudite scholarly works on social sciences etc…. He had devoted his sagacity and brilliant versatility (in practically all branches of knowledge in general, and literature in particular) to this noble cause through sincere endeavors towards resurrection of the divine culture of ancient India.
As part of his consistent endeavor, he had studied, translated and eloquently presented in people’s language, the knowledge of all the Vedas, Upnishadas, Puranas, Darshanas and other scriptures of Indian Philosophy. He had written thousands of books on almost all aspects of human life and its connection with other living beings, the universal consciousness and Nature. His saintly heart, trenchant scientific mind and spiritually culminated inner self have enabled his literature encompass all dimensions of human life and its external and internal worlds.
The topics pertaining to – deeper aspects of spirituality, yoga-sadhana, psychology and culture, integration of science and religion, evaluation of ancient and modern systems of human society, future of the world etc, as well as the subject matters of – total health, alternate systems of medicine, refinement of talents and personality-development, mass-education, moral and self-reliant education, healthy development of children, and, the routine guidance for day-to-day life on topics such as – ‘what to eat how to eat?’; ‘how to interact with family and society?’; ‘how to maintain an upbeat mood and creativity?,’….etc, all are covered with equal depth and impact in his books.
Because of his exceptional eloquence, intimacy with human mind, sincere feeling of the pains, aspirations and attitudes of others and because of his internal urge to enlighten every mind and heart, his writings and speeches interest and inspire almost every body who comes in their contact. The simplicity of his language, illustrative style coupled with inclusion of real life examples and authentic references make them more effective. His words seem to carry the force of his soul and the charge of his afflatus.
It is natural for a great scholar, saint, spiritual master and social reformer like Acharya Sharma, to recognize the eminent contributions of others’ pen and voice too. He has honored creative works in different fields of knowledge and culture and acknowledged related contributions with special admiration. Great thinkers, endowed with immense courage and integrity and having revolutionary ideas devoted to the service of humanity…., have been given sincere tribute by him in the present volume.
This volume presents precious collection of the significant contributions and noble aspects of the revered characters of – Mahatma Gandhi, Karl Marx, Rousseau, Harriet Stowe, etc, whose thoughts, speeches and writings could illuminate the world-history with perennial glow in its darkest phases. As the rows of kindling lamps and candles converts the dark night of Amavasya (“no moon”) into Deepawali – the festival of light, similarly, the impulses of courage, righteous thinking and self-respect triggered by the dedicated endeavors of these great personalities had turned the oppressed, weakened, waned and maligned face of humanity into a clean, healthy, bright and smiling one….
The immortal contributions of glorious men and women of literature are remembered in the first chapter. The lives, works and greatness of the scholars like – Kallat, Kahlil Gibran, Rabindra Nath Tagore, Vishnu Sharma, Dante, Babu Gulab Rai, Shopenhover, William Shakespeare, etc, are reverenced here. The next chapter remembers the great poets of all times, ranging from – Kalidas, Tulasidas, Mirabai, Amir Khusaro, etc, to – Chandra Bardai, Mohammed Jayasi, ‘Nirala’, Mathilisharan Gupt, Moh. Iqubal, Earnest Jones, Elliot, Puschkin, Pabloneruda, etc, whose poesy and songs can, on the one hand, kindle the glow of compassion and divine love and, lit the fire of protest to burn the roots of malice, exploitation and immorality on the other.
The noted writers, journalists, painters, musicians and other artists, whose works had direct contact with larger sections of the society and whose talents had the power to divert the flow of thoughts and convictions – capable of bringing historical changes in the socio-political systems of their times, deserve special mention. Among the talents of this dignity, the names of John Steanback, Pearl Buck, H.G. Wells, Lenin, Arnold Tynabi, etc, are referred as highly as, those of Karl Marx or Harriet Stowe. The readers will get an opportunity to feel the great moments of the lives of their ideal writers (of this class) in the third chapter.
This chapter naturally incorporates the sketches of important literary contributions – reflecting people’s voice, of eloquent writers and journalists like – Chandradhar Sharma Guleri, Ramanand Chattopadhyaya, Shantinarayan Bhatnagar, Ben Harris, Amratlal Chakravarti, etc. Lives and characters of Uri Gogrin, Earnest Hemmingsway, Alfred Noble, Max Muller, Samuel Johnson, Von Gog, Guestav, Eiffel, Rahul Sanskrutayan, Riche Kalder, etc are also recalled here to illustrate different spectrums of the talents and creative engrossment of human mind.
The amazing contributions of distinguished talents in other disciplines of life including arts, science and culture have indeed made the world grateful forever…. In the successive chapters, this volume reminds us of the enormous potentials of human mind by highlighting the immortal achievements and important episodes of the biographies of such extraordinary talents. The list includes – Mathematicians like, Euclid, Voltaire, Pythagoras, etc; Scientists like, Newton, Einstein, Darwin, J.C. Bose, Birbal Sahani, Hargovind Khurana, etc; Philosophers and intellectually reputed social reformers ranging from George Bernard Shaw, Dr. Radhakrishna, etc to Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Purushottamdas Tandon, etc; Artists, singers and musicians of the kind – Dada Sahab Phalake, K.C. De, Angelo, Bithoviyan, Fra-Angiko, Stravinski, Shaishanna, Ustad Allaudin, etc.
Most importantly, all the descriptions here are presented in the narrative and conversational style of stories. That makes the volume more suitable for most people. It not only offers a rare collection of precious information, rather, also contains the power to educe the greatness existing in each one of us and arouse and refine our own talents too.