Book Review: “Dhanya Anjanicha Sut”
Author: Aanand Sadhale
Language: Marathi
Pages: 252
Cost: 16 Rs.
Publisher: Navbharat Prakashan
First Published in India: 1975
Aanand Sadhale is author of one of my most favorite books “Ha Jay Navacha Itihas Aahe”. A book which is must read for everyone. A book which taught me there is always another side to the story, even to the History. And there is nothing totally black or totally white, but lots of shades of grey in every one of us. “Ha Jay Navach Itihas Aahe” is a book based on Indian Epic “Mahabharat”. As the name of the book suggests the book states that Mahabharata is a History of Victorious side. If the Kauravas had won the war the story of Mahabharata could have different all together. Aanand Sadhale wrote many books to explain this other side of “Mahabharata”. Aanand Sadhale wrote many such books on almost all the Indian epics. He separates spirituality, holiness and god from all these epics and describe whole epic in logical way. So I think his versions of epics are much more believable. It may be shocking for many of us as these epics were part of our everyday life and beliefs. We are groomed to believe these epics in a certain perspective over generations now. But Aanand Sadhale’s books surely make us think over.
Like ‘Mahabharata’ Aanand Sadhale also authored books on ‘Ramayana’. “Dhanya Anjanicha Sut” is also his one of his version of ‘Ramayana’. In this book he described ‘Ramayana’ taking ‘Hanuman’ as a central character of this book. We all know ‘Hanuman’ as we worship him as god in India and his big role in ‘Ramayana’. But as per his formula or his beliefs Aanand Sadhale kept Godliness out from ‘Hanumana’. He considered him as normal human being and described his story. He applied lot of logic in the book. It is really interesting to consider the other possibility of a story which we are reading, listening and talking about over the generation. If you are very spiritual in nature you might feel the book is little offensive as it does not consider the ‘Hanuman’ as the God but a normal human being. But even without considering as God author did not hurt in any way the legend of ‘Hanuman’. In fact I feel he enhanced in by making him so real.
If I have to rate this book I will give it 6 out of 10. If any of you likes his style of writing, you might also want to have a look at his other work.
His other Books,
1. Ladhai Sampalyavar
2. Ha Jay Navacha Itihas Aahe
3. Amrutmegh
4. Gitgovind
5. Daha Upanishade
6. Matichi Chul
7. Mahapurush
8. Ketaki
9. Asen Mi Matichi
10. Say
11. Abhisar
12. Pranayini
13. Rasmugdha
14. Pari Hari Ha Bramhachari
15. Isapaniti
16. Panchtantra
17. Hitopadesh
18. Vaidehi
19. Ashich Ek Ratra Hoti
20. Dhanya Anjanicha Sut
21. Vasavdatta
22. Kumarsambhav
23. Sakuntala
