Abhijaat

The book opens with a heartfelt note by the author, which presents several thought-provoking ideas. The author observes that the easy availability of cheap, shallow, instant content through social media is dulling the intellectual appetite of young people. According to the great German writer and statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “The decline of literature reflects the decline of a nation.” Art and literature must not be banished from society’s collective memory; someone must step forward to arrest this erosion.

This book has been written in precisely that spirit of concern, echoing the sentiment expressed in the following lines:

“I cannot bear to see these people drowning before my eyes; compassion compels me to come to their aid.”

While reading about how the author encountered some of the world’s greatest writers, poets, and playwrights at different stages of his life, I personally felt a tinge of envy. The reason is simple. In 1987, on a secluded beach in Goa, probably Palolem, I once saw a fair-skinned foreigner sitting shirtless on a deck chair beneath an umbrella, with a beer cooling beside him, completely absorbed in a thick book. Since then, I have dreamed of recreating that very scene someday, but the dream remains unfulfilled to this day.

Now, let us read an excerpt from the author’s note.

The beaches of Anjuna and Vagator were once my favourite haunts. My old friend, Candido Almeida, has run a small guesthouse and restaurant called Amigo in Anjuna for many years. Amigo means “friend” in Portuguese and Spanish. After spending time partying wildly at beachside gatherings, Amigo was my usual place to unwind and relax.

It was there that I met a colourful and diverse circle of new friends from Europe. Many of them were discerning readers. My friend Alan Pereira was well versed in the alternative culture that was rapidly emerging during the 1980s, changing states of consciousness, and techno-acid music. He introduced me to the works of Hermann Hesse and Tom Robbins.

Eddie Edward, a friend from Hungary, introduced me to Aldous Huxley and Allen Ginsberg. It was my French friend, Henri, who first brought the names Arthur C. Clarke, Philip K. Dick, and Ray Bradbury to my attention.

My German friend Heinz was a great admirer of Thomas Mann. He lent me Death in Venice, a deeply melancholic novella that explores the human psyche, which sparked my curiosity about Mann’s other works.

Michael from California and his girlfriend, September, visited Goa every year during the 1980s. They possessed a veritable treasure trove of books, particularly American literature. Whenever they returned home, they would leave some of these books behind as gifts for me.

I believe this is enough to give readers a glimpse into the author’s literary journey. Yet, the author humbly points out that this book is merely a window. The modest hope is that, after viewing the landscape through this window, readers will feel inspired to explore these writers and their works in greater depth.

The publisher hopes that discerning Marathi readers will warmly welcome this book.