Apr 26, 2012 04:15 PM
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25.4.2012
Living with a purpose
Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan was the prolific ex president of India. He has written this book that describes in detail the various heroes of India that he considers important from a national point of view.
What’s most intriguing in this book is that he uses language that really suits the purpose of the book that he has written. He doesn’t necessarily sing paens or songs in favor of his heroes, but puts across his arguments clearly and practically so as to point out the utility and wholesomeness of his chosen few.
Needless to say, the heroes of the book, as the title explains, have a purpose for which they were born. Having fulfilled the purpose the heroes then grew into national symbols of pride and social unity. These heroes are people whom we look up to. The best homage the writer pays is to Rabindranath Tagore. He writes of the multifaceted personality of the sage like hero, who grew from strength to strength and even graced the streets of Kolkata with his passionate Rabindra Sangeet, his proud nationalist sentiments, and his heady concoctions of Hindu theology.
Radhakrishnan doesn’t hesitate to proclaim that he’s a believer in an age when atheistic and scientific pursuits were seen as supreme. He is not only a believer, but a firm practitioner of the ideals of Vedant, and makes sure to leave no stone unturned in laying the democratic, secular and sublime message of his theology.
His ode to Guru Nanak is also noteworthy in that he tries to bring out the exact import of the teachings of the saint who also delicately balanced the Hindu Muslim issue and made sure that brotherhood and good sense prevailed.
The book urges the reader to undertake the journey of self exploration and find out for himself what his mentor has created him for. All the heroes in the ex president’s book have some special spark that the reader may or may not relate to. But after reading of such exceptional individuals that our land has produced, the least you can do is walk in their path, or even just pass on an iota of their excellence.
I thoroughly recommend this book for all the youth who can sample some great classical taste not only in language but also in choice of profession and excellence in the author’s chosen field. If this doesn’t compel you to excel, nothing will!
