Shalmali Ke Pushp

This is the title of the prose written by Smt Shashi Kala Srivastava that she recited for all of us here at our home yesterday night. It was our pleasure to host such a talent at our home. I am sure whoever attended this recital will agree with me that it was our privilege to hear such a high quality composition of Hindi Literature and that too live.

My personal Hindi Literature study like most of the folks has been till 10th grade wherein we learnt about the writings of great Hindi scholars like Dinkar, Nirala, Premchand etc However, it was more of an academic study than it was something that I personally enjoyed. The senses and understanding capabilities at young age also inhibits enjoyment of such work. But with age and after adding quite a few number of years since my school days, I think I have developed a strong sense of purpose in listening to such writings and all other similar things that I don’t have the capabilities to do. I enjoy the flow of a story in terms of prose / poetry. I am sure the person who writes such deep philosophy and expresses in terms of a poetry has profound impact on the upbringing of his/her family and people around him / her.

Smt Shashi Kala Srivastava is “Nanni” of Anshi, my daughter Tanya’s best friend. She is visiting her daughter Rachna and her husband Ajay here in Fremont. She is with her husband who is an accomplished teacher of Mathematics himself. Both Tanya and Anshi has been learning Geometry from Sri Srivasatva and I have no hesitation to accept that he has been a force behind continuously improving grades of both Tanya and Anshi in freshmen year of their High School.

Smt Srivasatava a month ago narrated her recent work called “Asmita” on a lazy Saturday afternoon after a brief Puja at my home. I was so touched by her feelings expressed in her book that I decided to request for a second sitting to which she graciously agreed.

"Shalmali Ke Pushp "is a story about the imaginary interaction of the writer with a lady Buddhist monk who has been discarded by her biological mother in a very young age and has been raised by a untouchable family in Northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and an ancient city of Varanasi. The writer has vividly described the struggle of her main character throughout the story and also highlighted the social stigma and other non sensical age old tradition and customs that have plagued India throughout 20th century and surprisingly even today has not been eliminated. The writer has openly expressed her sentiments about the hypocrisy of religion which has taught most of us to hate people of a particular caste who are stigmatized as “untouchables”. The writer’s characterization about burning the house of the Buddhist Monk mother (who was untouchable) because she used the well of the village to get some water touches raw nerves. The writer’s characterization of Buddhism as a religion is something that I have never thought of earlier. She argues that Buddha has long been silent and his commandment has been reduced to mere words.

While the sensitivity of the writer towards mindless age old customs is laudable, equally impressive is the writer’s grasp of Hindi literature. Coming from the heart of Hindi land in India, I could see how shallow my understanding of the Indian language is. In fact I am personally very impressed about the verbal communication abilities of most of the Americans and especially their choice of words to accurately describe any emotions or feelings. I thought Hindi lacks words that describe very accurately our emotions, sentiments and feelings. However, I am now convinced that Hindi has more precise words to accurately describe the emotions and feelings. It’s just that mortals like I has not been exposed to the right literature that helps develops those qualities. We have been grounded so much into science and engineering that we more than not keep fumbling with words that accurately describes a situation, or emotion or feelings. I am sure it is because of people like Smt Shashi Kala Srivastava that Hindi literature is so rich. As a generation, we need to keep the passion of Hindi literature alive so that our children also gets blessed with such literary figure like Smt Srivastava in future and enjoy high quality Hindi literature.

I would like to thank all those who came together inspite of their punishing schedule. Iru and Gagan; Sarita and Sanjay; Nitu and Anil; Rachna and Ajay; Mitu & Pradeep; Rohit, Bimal, Girish & Gyan – Thank You very much for gracing the recital. Without each one of you we would have been able to enjoy so much. I am sure the writer also expresses her gratitude to all of you to come and listen to her work. I completely understand that Friday evening is one of the only time during the week where we want to just relax. I am certain you all have relaxed & enjoyed the session as much as I did. For some of the spouses who could not make it, I am sure you like such events as much as we all do and there are pressing reasons to not being able to make it. We understand and hope you will join us for a similar event next time. For all others who could not make it – let’s join at the next opportune time and event.

To Rachna and Ajay – you both are blessed to have such a rare combination of talent in your parents and in-laws respectively. I am sure you and your children cherish the time spent together during last 5-6 months of their stay here.

Finally I would like to say a big Thank You to Simmi to conceptualize and execute the get-together. As usual, I was out most of the time spending in sorting out things for living. I was just a few minutes ahead of some of the early arrivers. Even after 16 years of marriage, Simmi continues to positively surprise me with her thought process and execution capabilities.

Once again thank you all and from all of us here in US - wishing Sri and Smt Srivastava a very happy and safe journey back to India. Pls. do keep in touch.