BAIKUNTHI (A Review) By M. A. Rathore

Originally written in Rajasthani, the novel, Baikunthi by Deokishan Rajpurohi is the debut translated work of Sanghmitra Rathore, paints a vivid and arresting picture of Rajasthani folk cultur BAIKUNTHI  (A Review)  By M. A. Rathore e and traditional performance during a death ceremonial Baikunthi, a journey to heaven, in a strikingly different culture from the rest of the country. It provides a minute description of the twelve days of mourning and condolences by the family of the departed soul; ultimately awakening the uselessness of the pomp and show of the procession at the end of the story when the protagonist dies. The conflict created by the fellow mourners and the reality faced by the protagonist propels this riveting tale. 

The son of a billionaire Seth, the neo-conventional protagonist from the novel, Baikunthi,Bhanwarsa was informed that his father's Fortuner car was bumped into a turbo and all the passengers were saved except the owner of the car, Khemji Seth, he prepares a Baikunthi, a death procession and organizes meals for the community for twelve days of condolences. People come around the village community and perform all the traditional obituaries and ceremonies related to it. 

In an impressive and lively manner, the novelist portrays the procession of Baikunthi so well that the reader feels himself as a fellow mourner, performing all the activities along with the grief-stricken family, relatives, and friends. The minute detail of the cremation with incense burner is smelt into the nostrils of the readers. In the North Western part of Rajasthan where opium eating at such procession is an essential requisite, the protagonist denies the use of such drugs but he has to accept it before the authority of village Panch, members. He has been surrounded by such a circumstance that he has to perform all the activities prevalent in the society which causes him some two and a half lakh rupees and more. 

As soon as he performs all the activities he realizes at the end that the procession was futile and he decides that he is not going to use such a procession in the future on his death. A change was taking place in society and he was the precursor of the new ways of dealing with such spendthrift processions. He tries to draw out the unemployment in the village by providing several tasks of collecting gums, Kers, Shangri, dry vegetables, and other forest produce. He makes the best use of bringing out of the vice-gripped society. 

He gets remarried his sister, Kamli, and paves the way for the remarriage of widows in the village. He expresses his deep concerns whenever there is drought; building water tanks for animals as well as for human beings. He changes the face of the village by planting several trees, making it more captivating than ever before. He abolishes dowry and performs his son, Leeladhar's marriage at one rupee and coconut just to perform the tradition.

The funeral procession as well as the marriage procession of Bhanwarsa's son has been described as lively and picturesque. Baikunthi keeps the Indian tradition alive for future generations in the print where modern people are living away from such traditions. It is on account of the novelist as well as the translator the credit goes to both the eminent personalities that they have provided the rich traditional heritage.

Publisher: Rajasthani Granthagar

Author: Deokishan Rajpurohit

Translator: Sanghmitra Rathore

Price: Rs. 125

Let's have a New Resolution By M. A. Rathore

An Essay

Let's have a New Resolution 

By M. A. Rathore 

Every year, the new year starts with a resolution. It gives us new challenges, new dreams to be followed, and new projects to be fulfilled. We always see the bright aspects of life even if we had unfavorable occurrences the previous year. There were a lot of misshapen; physical as well as mental during the last year, however as human nature is we forget our sorrows and come up with a new zeal to enjoy life. Life in its variegated colors attracts us to enjoy the fruits of life with all its tinges. 

Though every day is a new day, and we should have a good resolution to make and follow the same. Remembering those of the past and being sorrowful are also not compatible because it is human nature if we talk about our sorrows people will not take interest in us. Being sorrowful, they do not prefer to listen to the same story of man. They just want to migrate themselves out of the situation, when life has given them so many opportunities to relish life why should they lead such a life? If life can be better living. To understand life is to make himself close to nature, and nothing is beyond nature. Nature herself molds human life and nature. Autumn follows summer and summer has its reasons to displace his infancy before Autumn. In between the four seasons, life nurtures life. 

It is said we should forget our past and should start with new resolutions. Every time there is time to start afresh. Now it is time for winter. Nature is not sleeping but is still in the making of some good plans for us. Time is good for achieving something great in life. You can read a book of poetry, or some thrilling novel, or you can write a few lines about your own life. You can guide a child, your friend, your neighbor your colleagues, your kith and your kin to fulfill their purposes. Doing work for others is not a bad thing. Is life living for us? Are we so self-centered that we just think about ourselves and the rest are but vagabonds? If we feel some kind of humanism in us we should devote some time to others. 

If you have time to look around you, you will see you are enjoying the gifts of nature; you are taking all the advantages of a good human life; you will see your hands are full of precious things even if you do not require them, and you can lead your life without them. Think about your necessities and then widen your legs to reach them. 

The new year resolution calls you to have some great thought about your future and then fulfill it considering the betterment of your fellow brethren. Happy New Year 2023 to all of you!