This is not really a book review but just a compilation of my thoughts that gathered in my mind whilst I read Maria Wirth's "Thank you India".
Maria Wirth's 38 year long experience is definitely worth a read, mainly because of her first hand experiences. I could connect with some of the chapters so well that I just wanted to put my thoughts across! I am not spiritually enlightened to even comment on some of her experiences, and would leave it to the reader to experience themselves.
I loved the way how this book is chronologically sequenced, bringing us to the most recent of times and making us connect with the events so easily. I love the fact that Maria has actually met some of the spiritual gurus of whom we have only heard or read!
What I mostly liked about the book is the honesty with which it is written and not with any tall claims to spirituality. Maria easily displays her human nature, the times she had doubts and frustrations and the times she felt at peace, the times she was a traveler and the times she relaxed. The coincidences she writes about can so easily be related to so many of our own experiences.
This book should simply be read because it reiterates the fact that our culture is so colorful and vibrant, whether it is her experiences of the Kumbha Mela, or her experiences of Ramlila. We should see it through her eyes because we miss it ourselves many a times, taking it for granted and not realizing that unless we preserve it, it will be gone for ever!
When I read her experiences on losing a close one and Abdullah's affirmation that we are all one in some plane, it gives some kind of strength.
I read about her experiences in the Satya Sai Baba Ashram and I can very well connect though I have never been to Puttaparthi myself but was fortunate enough to have seen him in person. I have my own little experiences, miracles if you will! I have had my share of doubts and I acknowledge the good work and keep shut in spaces where I know my knowledge is limited. I remember now that I perhaps have a copy of John Hislop's book given to me by someone and may consider a second read. Yes, these are all indications and signs. I say second read, though I may not have really completed my first read.
"Does one need a Guru?" is a question which many ask and Maria also tries to find her answer from her experiences.
She talks about how the caste system has been maligned, how the Brahmins feel bad about themselves and how to be a Brahmin in today's world seems like a curse. Anyone who has been on the other side of the reservation system in education and jobs know it so well.
Maria has dedicated some chapters to the contemporary India, her meeting with Sri Sri and Baba Ramdev, her views on English education, her views on India's culture and how an agenda is up and running to degrade India's value system.
She talks about how the Nirbhaya episode was portrayed across the world thereby projecting a very negative image of India. Initially I was greatly disturbed by the episode and though it was horrific, how it made headlines across the world was something I could not understand. Then slowly I understood the agenda and today I don't particularly read BBC news because they are hell bent on projecting India in a bad light! It was during the same time I created a FB page "India's Daughters (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Indias-Daughters/428360107340019) " to tell the world, and specially Indians, that the women in India are generally excelling across different fields. I chose this name for my FB page as there was a documentary made(by Leslee Udwin) in the same name showing Indian women as being terribly oppressed. Not that there are no issues but things are blown out of proportion.
Maria feels indebted to India and feels that the world is in need of India's wisdom. Yes, it's time we value our traditions and culture and like she says. "Satyameva Jayate"
Maria Wirth's 38 year long experience is definitely worth a read, mainly because of her first hand experiences. I could connect with some of the chapters so well that I just wanted to put my thoughts across! I am not spiritually enlightened to even comment on some of her experiences, and would leave it to the reader to experience themselves.
I loved the way how this book is chronologically sequenced, bringing us to the most recent of times and making us connect with the events so easily. I love the fact that Maria has actually met some of the spiritual gurus of whom we have only heard or read!
What I mostly liked about the book is the honesty with which it is written and not with any tall claims to spirituality. Maria easily displays her human nature, the times she had doubts and frustrations and the times she felt at peace, the times she was a traveler and the times she relaxed. The coincidences she writes about can so easily be related to so many of our own experiences.
This book should simply be read because it reiterates the fact that our culture is so colorful and vibrant, whether it is her experiences of the Kumbha Mela, or her experiences of Ramlila. We should see it through her eyes because we miss it ourselves many a times, taking it for granted and not realizing that unless we preserve it, it will be gone for ever!
When I read her experiences on losing a close one and Abdullah's affirmation that we are all one in some plane, it gives some kind of strength.
I read about her experiences in the Satya Sai Baba Ashram and I can very well connect though I have never been to Puttaparthi myself but was fortunate enough to have seen him in person. I have my own little experiences, miracles if you will! I have had my share of doubts and I acknowledge the good work and keep shut in spaces where I know my knowledge is limited. I remember now that I perhaps have a copy of John Hislop's book given to me by someone and may consider a second read. Yes, these are all indications and signs. I say second read, though I may not have really completed my first read.
"Does one need a Guru?" is a question which many ask and Maria also tries to find her answer from her experiences.
She talks about how the caste system has been maligned, how the Brahmins feel bad about themselves and how to be a Brahmin in today's world seems like a curse. Anyone who has been on the other side of the reservation system in education and jobs know it so well.
Maria has dedicated some chapters to the contemporary India, her meeting with Sri Sri and Baba Ramdev, her views on English education, her views on India's culture and how an agenda is up and running to degrade India's value system.
She talks about how the Nirbhaya episode was portrayed across the world thereby projecting a very negative image of India. Initially I was greatly disturbed by the episode and though it was horrific, how it made headlines across the world was something I could not understand. Then slowly I understood the agenda and today I don't particularly read BBC news because they are hell bent on projecting India in a bad light! It was during the same time I created a FB page "India's Daughters (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Indias-Daughters/428360107340019) " to tell the world, and specially Indians, that the women in India are generally excelling across different fields. I chose this name for my FB page as there was a documentary made(by Leslee Udwin) in the same name showing Indian women as being terribly oppressed. Not that there are no issues but things are blown out of proportion.
Maria feels indebted to India and feels that the world is in need of India's wisdom. Yes, it's time we value our traditions and culture and like she says. "Satyameva Jayate"
