Thank you NISTHA TRIPATHI (The author) for reaching out to me and sharing this book ‘SEVEN CONVERSATIONS’. Truthfully speaking, in the normal course of life, I certainly would have missed out. I would have failed to pick this and the loss would completely been mine. That is for the content not the format or the narration.
Life is an experiment and it will remain so. Everything is MAYA (illusion) and hence you will never be sure about anything that you see, hear, feel, smell or taste. Because the answer is within us. We are the knowledge. What we know is what we may have discovered until now. Life is a bitch and you will be fucked at some time. So simple are the fact of life and so tough they to understand. This is what the book suggests.
In reality, Seven Conversations add nothing new to your understanding of life. It does not give any new direction. Maybe it was never supposed to do so. However, it helps you question yourself. It helps you to see your life in few more hues than ever before. This is where the book scores.
It is a tough task, to attempt thoughts and ideology to be woven into conversations. You tend to flow with it. The simple small thoughts take long to explain. They are stretched over time. The narration starts taking the tomes of being unbelievable. And the experience a bit sour. This happens a lot many times in Seven Conversations.
On the other hand, compliment to Nistha beautifully bringing alive VRINDHAVAN without describing much. The Vrindhavan leg of the story is beautifully written. It passes the test of creating a visual reference point. I could see the temple where the characters meet. I exactly know where they sit down. I can see their faces and their dresses. I see their gestures, the smile and the frown. I hear them literally having a conversation. It made reading so much smooth. Only if she had it maintained across the chapters
No book in this space ever gives you an answer. This too takes you through a journey. Conversations and symbolism, questions and answers, Doubts and surety- set of polarised feelings are sprinkled all over. Unfortunately, it makes it confusing. MOREOVER, I LIKE THAT. As always, there never been an Absolute truth. It is a call of point of view.
Fortunately, the book is far more optimistic in nature. It in fact digs deep down you and allows the buried down latent smile and happiness to resurface. You acknowledge that and smile. Life has a purpose. It has after all not dealt you a raw deal. I love when the chapters do not end with moralistic summarisation. Your take out can be different from mine. That is the way life is and should be. This allows for a far deeper SEARCH WITHIN US than a useless hand-you-down priest-disciple relationship can.
If it succeeds in making you reflect your position, your objective and desire, the difference between CAN & WANT among many other things, then it has been successful in it endeavour. IT MAKES THE BOOK WORTH READING. I am not going to say anything more or try summarising the thoughts posted by Nistha. Go ahead it is for you to seek and explore. GO AHEAD READ IT. YOU WILL DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR. She leaves a few strings untied at the end. I personally appreciate it. This allows you to see and create an ending of your liking.
BUT
At the start, there is forced effort in making love with language. The tear is visible within few pages. The language later on is simple and unforced.
ADDITIONALLY
The book did question my knowledge of Vrindhavan-Mathura, urging me for a longer visit the next time round. It will happen I promise. Banaras and Vrindhavan-Mathura are in my radar.
I like the modern Chitragupta technology centre. However, it does not go well with the fabric of the book. Maybe I fail to understand Nistha’s reason for this variation but then who said that I would get all the answers or even any answers.
Throughout the book, KRISHNA is spelled as Krsna. Is that an intentional mistake? I may never know.
SEVEN CONVERSATIONS by NISTHA TRIPATHI. FROG BOOKS. PAGES 220 PRICE 140.
