Hi,
Everyone! And as I started on my journey of writing from zero (or was it
minus?) position, I could see the impracticality, the improbability, the utter
impossibility of it all. I just wasn’t going to knuckle under to that pressure,
that’s all.
But
while my head was floating in the clouds, I had my feet planted on Mother Earth
at all times. It was clear to me that if I was going to make it, I was most
certainly going to need—perhaps even a truckload?—some Divine Intervention.
I
have said many times that I have a deep
belief and faith in God. So for me Divine Intervention is a reality. It exists.
I am also ever the optimist; my glass is always half full, never half empty.
To
come to the point, I am going to present to you all the list of the Divine
Interventions (DI) that I was incredibly lucky enough to experience.
The
very first of my DI occurred almost immediately upon my making tracks upon my
journey. I knew I needed help from people who knew more about Savarkar. I also
needed to feel connected.
But who? And
how? These were the big Qs!!
I
am (or perhaps was is the more correct word) a shrinking violet when it comes to
contacting strangers. But I had no choice. I had been avidly devouring all the
information provided in savarkar.org and been eyeing their ‘contact us’ button
very longingly. One and a half month went by before I had the courage to dash
off an email saying that I was writing a novel on Savarkar and intending to
visit India in the summer, would they suggest someone to contact for research
help? (I can’t put in words what it cost me to write those feeble lines.)
I
got a reply almost immediately with Mr. Joglekar’s (who was visiting the U.S.
at the time) email ID and a question re what my novel was about. I did give a
moment to wonder why I was not given any contact in India as I had asked—but really,
I was so-o-o-o excited at the info (for it was Mr. Joglekar’s book on Savarkar
that had set me on this path) that I didn’t care. I gushed out a reply full of
enthusiasm, particularly mentioning my intention to reveal the truth of Gandhi.
This
time the reply was very warm and I received two precious contact infos: Dr.
Arvind Godbole and Dr. Shreerang Godbole.
I was over the
moon! Dr. Arvind Godbole had been Savarkar’s physician and Dr. Shreerang
Godbole . . . ! What can I say? I had read his terrific article on Savarkar (chockful of details as his articles
always are) and had actually wished that I could meet him and tap all the info
I felt he had on Savarkar.
There
wasn’t any sign of ‘shrinking’ or a ‘violet’ as I rushed to write him an email.
He seemed most willing to help too! He turned out to be a savarkar.org team
member . . . ! (what were the odds . . . ?) It was at this time that I read
another of his articles.
Time seemed to
stand still for me (I admit I have a melodramatic turn of phrase.) Every point
he made (very boldly and satirically too!) was like a point on the plot line of
my novel. He seemed to me to be of the same mind as me where Savarkar was
concerned. Literally the words Kindred Soul came to my mind.
There
and then I made up my mind to hang on to him for all I was worth. He was a
complete stranger; I knew nothing of him, and yet I felt I knew him.
He
has been of infinite help throughout
the writing of my novel. It was he who pushed—yes, pushed (or maybe dragged,
kicking and screaming)—me into translating Savarkar’s poems. I was sure I
couldn’t do it, he was just as sure I could. It is he who gave me the
opportunity to become a savarkar.org team member and do research and writing
for the website. I much appreciate the opportunity of doing this for Savarkar.
I
have dedicated my novel to him, Dr. Shreerang Godbole, for it was inconceivable
to me to dedicate it to anyone else.
What is it but
Divine Intervention that out of this whole wide world I should come upon the
one person who is of the same mind as me re Savarkar?
More
tomorrow,
Anurupa
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