BINDESHWAR PATHAK A Renaissance Man by Awadhesh Kumar Sharma (Book Review: 3.5*/5) !!!

2163rd BLOG POST

5^th Book of 2026

Sometimes I really get surprised by how little we know about personalities who have done so much for our nation and its people. While picking up biographies, I ensure that I also select books on individuals about whom I have not heard before. This made me pick up a book on Bindeshwar Pathak, who is considered one of the first people to take up the task of improving India’s sanitation system and ensuring that toilets are built everywhere so that no one has to defecate in the open and manual scavenging activities are reduced to zero. The world noticed India’s toilet program in 2014, but someone like Bindeshwar Pathak had been working on this mission since the 1970s being inspired by Mahatma Gandhi.

 

The book, written in around 200 pages by Awadhesh Kumar Sharma and published by Rupa Publications, benefits from the author’s opportunity to interact directly with the subject of the biography. This made it easier for him to understand the background stories and what led Bindeshwar Pathak to make this the mission of his life. The book discusses how Pathak always felt sympathy and sadness for people who were not treated equally right from his childhood. The author then takes us through his early years, where his ethics and moral practices are highlighted, helping us understand how he processed things internally.

 

He closely observed society’s attitude toward untouchables and people involved in manual scavenging. When he himself stayed with the scavenger community and witnessed their struggles and living conditions, it deeply moved him. This led to the founding of Sulabh International, which later became one of the world’s largest sanitation NGOs, working toward installing double-pit technology toilets across India. This innovation helped generate fertilizer for plants while simultaneously removing the dependence on human beings for cleaning waste on a daily basis.

 

Pathak’s visionary spirit was evident from the fact that he not only worked to stop such degrading practices but also ensured the rehabilitation, empowerment, and social inclusion of those affected by them. His philanthropic outlook extended beyond sanitation, as he also worked for widows, children, environmental causes, and renewable energy initiatives.

 

His Sulabh Sauchalaya mission did not just resolve the primary sanitation problem but also led to the creation of several related initiatives, such as the Sulabh Biogas Plant, water hyacinth utilization techniques, thermophilic aerobic composters, effluent treatment technology, duckweed technology, purified drinking water initiatives, the International Museum of Toilets, biofertilizers, health centers, research and development laboratories, the WASH campaign, SISASSS International School, and the Sulabh Sahitya Academy. Sharma briefly discusses all of these, providing valuable insights into their scope and impact.

 

In the final section of the book, the author explores Pathak’s views on religion, spirituality, creativity, and philanthropy, which reflect the multidimensional personality he was. His poems and the intention behind writing them are explained beautifully by Awadhesh, providing a meaningful conclusion to the book.

 

Talking about the drawbacks, I must say that the first two-thirds of the book primarily focus on a single theme, and the author tends to over-explain certain segments, which begin to feel repetitive after some time. I believe the author could have included more unique incidents from Pathak’s life that would have provided deeper insight into how such a personality thinks and makes decisions. This aspect is largely missing from the book, except in one or two instances. Similarly, how he managed his work and family life being so busy is also completely excluded from the narrative.

 

Overall, I must say that the book inspires hope and belief in how one individual can bring enormous change to society and the world by taking issues close to heart. I would give this book 3.5 stars out of 5.

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WRITING BUDDHA

Shree Hanuman Chalisa by Bhaskar Sharad (Book Review: 4.25*/5) !!!

2162nd BLOG POST

4^th Book of 2026

There are certain texts in Sanatan Dharma that we grow up hearing long before we fully understand them. Hanuman Chalisa is one such sacred composition. We memorize it as children, chant it in moments of fear, recite it before exams, interviews, journeys, and sometimes even before sleep. Yet, very few of us truly pause to understand the depth hidden within those forty verses.

 

Shree Hanuman Chalisa, translated and commented upon by Bhaskar Sharad and published by Rupa Publications, is a 92-page devotional companion that attempts to bridge this very gap. It brings together the original verses, the concluding dohas, and a clear, contemporary English translation, followed by a lucid explanation of each chaupai. What makes this book stand apart is not merely the translation, but the intention behind it — to make the sacred accessible without making it superficial.

 

Whenever life feels slightly unstable or emotionally heavy, I find myself turning toward spiritual literature. There is something deeply grounding about revisiting timeless verses that have carried generations through uncertainty. Reading this book felt less like “completing” a book and more like sitting down with a guide who gently explains what we have been chanting for years.

 

The author does not attempt to over-intellectualize the Chalisa. Instead, he unpacks its spiritual depth in simple language, allowing the reader to see Hanumanji not only as the embodiment of physical strength but as the ultimate symbol of devotion, humility, and fearless service. Often, in popular culture, Hanuman is celebrated for his power — lifting mountains, crossing oceans, defeating demons. But this commentary repeatedly reminds us that his real strength lies in surrender, discipline, loyalty, and unwavering faith.

 

One of the aspects I appreciated most is how the commentary connects ancient wisdom to everyday life. The explanations do not remain confined to mythology; they move into reflection. For example, verses that speak of fearlessness are gently linked to how we handle adversity in our personal and professional lives. Lines that praise Hanuman’s humility are interpreted in the context of ego and self-image in modern society. Without sounding preachy, the book quietly invites the reader to introspect.

 

The English translation is contemporary and clear, making it accessible even for those who may not be deeply familiar with Sanskritized Hindi. At the same time, the sacredness of the verses is preserved. This balance is not easy to achieve. Many translations either become too literal and rigid, or too simplified and diluted. Here, the devotional energy remains intact.

 

Another beautiful aspect of this book is that it encourages the reader to slow down. The Hanuman Chalisa is often recited quickly — sometimes mechanically. But when you read each chaupai followed by its explanation, you naturally pause. You reflect. You begin to see patterns — themes of surrender, courage, wisdom, discipline, service. It almost becomes a meditative exercise.

 

The commentary also subtly shifts the way we perceive devotion. Hanumanji is shown not as a distant deity to be feared or merely worshipped for favors, but as an ideal to be imbibed. His strength is not aggression; it is restraint. His courage is not arrogance; it is faith. His service is not compulsion; it is love. This shift in understanding can transform the way one approaches prayer itself.

 

In today’s fast-paced world, spirituality is often reduced to quick rituals or motivational quotes. This book resists that tendency. It does not try to market the Chalisa as a “success formula” or a miracle shortcut. Instead, it presents it as a lifelong companion — something to revisit during chaos, confusion, or even moments of gratitude.

 

If I have to mention a small limitation, it would be that readers looking for deeper historical or scriptural cross-references may not find extensive academic detailing here. The focus is devotional and reflective rather than scholarly. But perhaps that is also its strength. It does not overwhelm; it guides.

 

What I personally felt while reading this book was a renewed connection with verses I had taken for granted. It reminded me that repetition without understanding becomes habit, but repetition with awareness becomes transformation.

 

This book is not meant to be rushed. It is meant to be kept near your bedside, revisited on Tuesdays or Saturdays, carried during travel, or opened randomly on a difficult day. It works beautifully for young readers trying to understand the Chalisa in English, as well as for elders who wish to deepen their reflection.

 

Overall, Shree Hanuman Chalisa by Bhaskar Sharad serves exactly what it promises — a lucid, devotional commentary that bridges tradition and understanding. It preserves sacredness while enhancing clarity. It turns recitation into reflection.

 

For anyone who chants the Hanuman Chalisa regularly but has never truly explored its meaning, this book can become more than just a translation. It can become a spiritual mirror.

 

I would rate this book 4.25 stars out of 5 — not merely as a reading experience, but as a companion for inner steadiness and faith.

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WRITING BUDDHA

Wabi Sabi by Nobuo Suzuki (Book Review: 4.5*/5) !!!

2161st BLOG POST

3rd Book of 2026

Whenever life is not very pleasant, I try picking up a self-help book because there is always one or a couple of insights that make it easier to move forward through tough phases. Sometimes, even if the ideas are not new, a book presents them differently, bringing the same old advice into a more productive and implementable perspective. Reading “Wabi Sabi” by the Japanese author Nobuo Suzuki did exactly that for me. This 160-pages hardover book takes us deep into one of the Japanese Zen philosophies, which also forms the title of the book, meaning “The Wisdom in Imperfection.” The book carries a foreword by none other than Hector Garcia, the co-author of another famous Japanese bestseller, Ikigai.

 

The author explains the individual meanings of the words Wabi and Sabi, and what they represent when considered together. Taking us through different interpretations, Nobuo emphasizes that it is about finding wisdom and beauty in incompleteness, imperfection, the unfinished, and the impermanent. The book is divided into three sections—The Philosophy of Wabi Sabi, Wabi Sabi in Art, and Wabi Sabi as a Way of Life.

 

In the first section, the author introduces Zen philosophy and Wabi Sabi briefly before delving deeper. One chapter explains why we should not be too hard on ourselves while chasing perfection, as the world conditions us to believe that perfection is the ultimate goal. It highlights how, when we begin to accept our own imperfections, we also learn to accept the imperfections of others. In doing so, the world becomes slightly more bearable and empathetic.

 

The author further discusses relationships, explaining how expectations can often lead to disappointment. Everyone is living life according to their own timeline and vision; comparison and expectation only complicate relationships unnecessarily.

 

In the chapter on drawing inspiration from nature, the author explains how nature is endless and rarely perfectly finished. Even ancient palaces often have a corner left incomplete. The foam of the sea forms and dissolves endlessly. The idea of a “proper ending” is largely a human construct, and it is often the source of our inner turmoil.

 

The second section is dedicated to Japanese art and aesthetics, where creations are not always made with the intention of being perfectly finished. Instead, broken parts, recycled elements, and purposeful incompleteness are embraced to create something unique. Within this section, the chapter on melancholy stood out for me. The author beautifully explains why melancholy is an indispensable emotion and how it can exist without necessarily leading to depression or loneliness. Nobuo also highlights how people today often suppress melancholic feelings through medication. He gently guides us toward understanding how creativity, calmness, and even happiness can emerge by embracing Wabi Sabi principles.

 

In the third section, the author shifts towards practical implementation. He provides examples and tabular formats that contrast how things are commonly perceived versus how they could be approached through Wabi Sabi. The example of a broken bucket and the story of a painter who never saw his work as genius—even at the age of 110—illustrate how imperfection can lead to excellence. It reinforces the idea of focusing on personal growth rather than comparison.

 

The chapters on creating space through minimalism may sound like common advice, but the step-by-step guidance on decluttering both externally and internally makes it actionable. The author also references modern habits—constantly checking emails, scrolling social media, rushing towards our phones—instead of spending time in silence or with nature.

 

The book contains beautiful black-and-white and coloured glossy images, reinforcing how imperfection can be just as beautiful as something seemingly perfect. Each chapter ends with a poetic “Meditation” section. There are numerous lines that feel deeply reflective, even if they are not presented as typical motivational quotes.

 

Talking about drawbacks, I felt the author could have provided clearer guidance on how to maintain a Wabi Sabi mindset when professional and personal expectations constantly demand urgency and deadlines. Living this philosophy in a fast-paced environment is challenging. Additionally, including more real-life examples of public figures who embraced imperfection and turned it into success could have strengthened the practical aspect. For most of the book, the narrative leans more towards philosophy than implementation, placing it in the same segment it subtly critiques in other self-help books.

 

Overall, Wabi Sabi feels like a meditation in itself—best read when life feels chaotic and cluttered. It resonates deeply in such moments; otherwise, it may come across as just another philosophical self-help book rooted in spirituality. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5. Thanks to my sister-in-law for gifting it to me.

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WRITING BUDDHA