Varaaha Series volume reviews
Review of the article entitled "Life Skills"
VARAAHA SERIES is my first book in English, which is yet to be published.
Each one of the stories you find in the said book appeared earlier as blog posts.
C T Joshi, South Asia's most recognised journalist, has an appreciation for those blog posts and began writing short reviews for those. I copy paste below the first of those reviews:
"Short review for the article entitled LIFE SKILLS:
It is a simple and straightforward story. That is the beauty of it. I knew Mr Varaha Murthy quite well. Simplicity and straightforwardness were his strengths as an individual.They are reflected in this short story remarkably, making it touching and heart-warming.
Another speciality of this story is, it doesn't say why Dorai's mother doesn't like him. Reasons may be many. Intelligent readers can guess their own reasons. It is not only a story but also a riddle for readers."
- C T Joshi
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"Life skills" has even appeared as a story in the volume entitled "Labyrinth of Relationships". Cover page image figures in the gallery below, whereas it could be purchased through link https://www.amazon.in/Labyrinth-Relationships-Capt-Sahana-Sundar-ebook/dp/B07MK3L5YG
Review of the article entitled "SOCIETY: PRESENT AND FUTURE"
Varaaha Murthy was a man of deep concern for people. He was concerned about the negative trends that are creating havoc in our society, be it religious bigotry or gender inequality or social intolerance. He was always pained by injustice, unfairness that are being witnessed today incessantly, increasingly.
This noble quality of Varaaha Murthy comes out lucidly and vividly in this piece. It is a mirror to the modern society.
But he is not an incorrigible pessimist. He points out how society itself is fighting against some of the negative developments. One only wishes his optimism comes true.
One may not agree with all that he asserts. Especially about the seeming end to some of social malpractices that prevail today. To some extent he rambles with too many points crowding this writing. But no one can question his sincerity, his social concern and his deep awareness of what is happening around us today.
- C T Joshi
Review of the article entitled "Vedic Religion"
Indology is the study of ancient India. Its scope is vast that an Indologist needs his whole lifetime to study ancient India.
The paradox is that Western scholars gave a much-needed push to Indology when Indians themselves had forgotten their glorious past during the long periods of onslaught by foreign conquerors.
Varaaha Murthy provides a brief glance of a few important aspects of ancient India's thoughts and schools, principally religious ones.
It is very brief naturally since the subject is so vast and all-embracing. But It should be enough to create interest in one to go further deeper into the subject.
I would like to point out one development.
It is true that there was animal sacrifice as a ritual long long back as stated by Sri Varaaha Murthy. But in course of time our ancestors realised that it was wrong, gave it up completely and replaced it with a symbolic practice which did not involve animal sacrifice.
- C T Joshi
Review of the article entitled "Jail Birds"
Versatility and positive, constructive thinking are perhaps the forte of Sri Varaaha Murthy. He has Interest and knowledge of so many things under the sun that one wonders whether he was a human encyclopedia..Indeed he WAS. The variety of subjects and social concerns of the ongoing series of his writings is itself an indication of this. At the same time he does not go on writing anything vague or rambling. There is always in his writings positive constructive approach and responsiveness to anything worth considering. That is Varaaha Murthy in short.
A major segment of our society consists of prisoners including a large number of under trials. They are one of the most neglected sections. To make their plight all the more pathetic is the fact that society rarely accepts them even though they have changed for the better leaving behind their dark past. The social stigma sticks to them like their skin.
Especially the conditions of under trials is bleak. They do not know how long they will remain behind the bars and more importantly what future holds for them.
These days the Governments have been laying stress on the prisoners' reformation and rehabilitation. It is a wholesome development. But we have still to go a long way.
It is good that Varaaha Murthy has discussed this vital but sidelined issue in a separate chapter.
- C T Joshi