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The Diary of a Snake Charmer
“‘Utthisht Bharat,’ he said, and in that magical moment I felt that the river, the trees, and the sky…were saying, ‘Utthisht Bharat.’ I got up, never to look back or have doubts again.”
Just as the Bharata of yore responded to the Lord’s call to rise up from dejection, to fulfill his glorious destiny, this modern day Bharat too rises up from the pits of despair and defeat, to set out steadily on his appointed path of duty.
Bharat, an IITian, with a management degree from IIM, had a ‘successful’ innings in the corporate world, with overseas postings too. Having acquired a substantial bank balance, he has the urge to set up a business in rural India, which will bring greater profits to the farmers. Predictably, he is ruthlessly pushed out, and systematically ruined by the vested interests that feel threatened. Deep in despair, he gets help from a most unexpected quarter, a poor tribal snake charmer, known as Nagbaba…
A gripping tale of how he comes out from the mires of debt and ruin, to rise up again, wiser but undeterred from his chosen path…
A story of modern India, the two Indias of the cities and the villages… the urban, educated, elite youth with modern knowledge from science and technology, and the illiterate people of the forests, who have the wealth of wisdom passed down from centuries… the development of cities, which takes place at the cost of the proliferation of slums… the two different cultures that coexist in mutual wariness and mistrust…
Just as the Bharata of yore responded to the Lord’s call to rise up from dejection, to fulfill his glorious destiny, this modern day Bharat too rises up from the pits of despair and defeat, to set out steadily on his appointed path of duty.
Bharat, an IITian, with a management degree from IIM, had a ‘successful’ innings in the corporate world, with overseas postings too. Having acquired a substantial bank balance, he has the urge to set up a business in rural India, which will bring greater profits to the farmers. Predictably, he is ruthlessly pushed out, and systematically ruined by the vested interests that feel threatened. Deep in despair, he gets help from a most unexpected quarter, a poor tribal snake charmer, known as Nagbaba…
A gripping tale of how he comes out from the mires of debt and ruin, to rise up again, wiser but undeterred from his chosen path…
A story of modern India, the two Indias of the cities and the villages… the urban, educated, elite youth with modern knowledge from science and technology, and the illiterate people of the forests, who have the wealth of wisdom passed down from centuries… the development of cities, which takes place at the cost of the proliferation of slums… the two different cultures that coexist in mutual wariness and mistrust…
432 pages, Paperback
Published May 18, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 14, 2016
I am looking to make many important decisions in personal life and job, when I happen to read this book. Just one page into it, and I felt it had to be finished first before other things. Now I am so thankful for it. Wish this book was there ten years ago, but as the author says, everything is Transcendental, and appears to the ready mind.
The author brilliantly takes one on a journey along with Bharat, when he realizes that he has no skills or knowledge left that can make him overcome the enormous problems in his life, and even think of a future. Add the snake charmer and their distressed tribal lot, and their world views interchange. In that churn, we get so many life lessons. Some folks will see the beauty and shortcomings of India (Bharat) in it, some will see the psychologically thrilling drama, while I saw the fight between hope and despair, and truth and falsehood.
Must Read for everyone irrespective of their orientation, and beliefs. It rips one inside, then joins the fragments with deep lessons and one is reborn!
The author brilliantly takes one on a journey along with Bharat, when he realizes that he has no skills or knowledge left that can make him overcome the enormous problems in his life, and even think of a future. Add the snake charmer and their distressed tribal lot, and their world views interchange. In that churn, we get so many life lessons. Some folks will see the beauty and shortcomings of India (Bharat) in it, some will see the psychologically thrilling drama, while I saw the fight between hope and despair, and truth and falsehood.
Must Read for everyone irrespective of their orientation, and beliefs. It rips one inside, then joins the fragments with deep lessons and one is reborn!
December 3, 2020
I read the book a year after first I came in touch with the author. Once, I read his book it made me clear what extraordinary character this person is. Here are a few lines from his book.
"Naivety is such a blessing in the hands of weak. It makes us overestimate what we have and we find a new drop of strength each time when it is required."
"There was no acrimony but warmth left for the person whom we despised correctly for what he was."
"The snakes don’t kill with their poison, they kill with their reputation. Besides they are clear headed. Once they decide to run or to attack, they do it without any half measures."
"I thought for sometime about what could be the poison. The most basic poisons that one human could impart to another were fear and greed, one numbing the heart, the other numbing the mind. A powerful poisonous snake would have lots of both to overcome anyone. If I had to learn to face one, I had to overcome its ability to instill fear or greed in me."
Without any doubt one of the best books I have ever read. I am going to reread this book to make life choices in my own life.
"Naivety is such a blessing in the hands of weak. It makes us overestimate what we have and we find a new drop of strength each time when it is required."
"There was no acrimony but warmth left for the person whom we despised correctly for what he was."
"The snakes don’t kill with their poison, they kill with their reputation. Besides they are clear headed. Once they decide to run or to attack, they do it without any half measures."
"I thought for sometime about what could be the poison. The most basic poisons that one human could impart to another were fear and greed, one numbing the heart, the other numbing the mind. A powerful poisonous snake would have lots of both to overcome anyone. If I had to learn to face one, I had to overcome its ability to instill fear or greed in me."
Without any doubt one of the best books I have ever read. I am going to reread this book to make life choices in my own life.
May 12, 2019
An immersive experience of the real world
This narrative is a captvating account of the reality of Indian society. The author's excellent storytelling skills are quite evident and keep the reader glued from start to the end. I finished the book in two days and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. A lot of events depicting the interactions with the judiciary, health and social systems are very relatable for a middle class Indian. The tribal life and their challenges are a real eye opener as they are a warning for every faction of the modern society.
Finally, it feels as if the author has been a close friend since long and it's an honour to have known him through this book.
This narrative is a captvating account of the reality of Indian society. The author's excellent storytelling skills are quite evident and keep the reader glued from start to the end. I finished the book in two days and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. A lot of events depicting the interactions with the judiciary, health and social systems are very relatable for a middle class Indian. The tribal life and their challenges are a real eye opener as they are a warning for every faction of the modern society.
Finally, it feels as if the author has been a close friend since long and it's an honour to have known him through this book.
July 17, 2016
A brilliant novel on modern India and its inherent problems that is as unique as India. It starts with a well meaning young man coming back to the hinterland to begin a socio-economic venture. Things go well and the sharks come to know of its huge potential, and naturally they want a part in the business without lifting a finger. They start antagonizing the young man and finally try to murder him. The young man escapes with the help of some tribals with serious injuries. He learns what human nature is and learns to lead his life without compromising his inbuilt values, and finally learns how business is done in those parts. He slowly starts rebuilding his life and understands the complexities of the bureaucracy, the underworld, the politicians and learns beat them in their own game without breaking the law of the land. I could learn more about the exploitation of resources, the tribal folks, the small landowners, the small businessmen, and about the exploitation racket using women and children in the north Indian cities. The vivid description of the Satpura forests makes one to travel to those parts to experience a slice of that life in the forests.
This is a book of our times and how well intentioned young men/women can change our country and bring about change to the marginalized people in our society. One of my best reads in recent times...
This is a book of our times and how well intentioned young men/women can change our country and bring about change to the marginalized people in our society. One of my best reads in recent times...
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews