Book Inspires Us : Shriram G. Pachindre, Senior Editor, Kolhapur

The world of books is truly unique. There's a special joy in holding a book, reading it peacefully, and savoring its content. It's also fun to reread parts you don't understand or really love. After we outgrow the habit of thumb-sucking and start taking small steps into the world, we get introduced to books. As we build our connection with letters and begin reading small books, we realize, consciously or unconsciously, that we've entered a vast and magical world. Holding and reading a printed book is a pleasure, but a book isn't just for entertainment. It has a unique power to revitalise and inspire the human mind. Countless books have inspired youths worldwide for generations.

The Formative Years of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was shaped by stories of valor and ethics. During his childhood, printed books weren't available. The printing press hadn't yet been developed in India. Back then, all books were handwritten. Manuscripts of the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and other ancient texts were rare. However, Jijabai, his mother, would either purchase these manuscripts or have them copied to read to him. She shaped his bravery by narrating tales of ancient heroes. Jijabai began to inspire him to fight foreign invaders and oppressive rulers to establish his own Swaraj (self-rule), and these stories played a crucial role. The tumultuous environment, the harsh reality, Jijabai's inspiring presence, and his loyal, brave companions, along with the influence of these stories, were instrumental in shaping Shivaji Maharaj's character. He learned to fight against injustice, and he learned about ethics and integrity. From the life of Lord Krishna, he drew inspiration for politics, strategy, and Karma Yoga. The transformation of Shivaji Maharaj into a unqiue leader was also fueled by the lessons from these texts.

The Saints and Their Literary Pursuits

It's true that great saints like Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram never attended school in the traditional sense. However, they had a deep understanding of the Gita, Vedas, and Upanishads. Saint Dnyaneshwar carefully studied the ancient scriptures and contemplated them at a young age. This contemplation is reflected in his works, the Dnyaneshwari and Amritanubhav. Saint Tukaram also diligently and faithfully studied the works of his predecessors, including Saints Namdev and Dnyaneshwar. Their literature was undoubtedly a source of his inspiration.

The Power of a Gifted Book

When I was a child, living in Shivaji Peth, my neighbor, Nanakaaki, gave me a book called Mrityunjayachya Katha (Stories of the Conqueror of Death), written by Datta Tol. It was a book of stories for children, filled with tales of freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for India's independence, such as Khudiram Bose, the Chapekar brothers, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, and Madanlal Dhingra. Nanakaaki's son, who was a young man, not a child, at the time, read the book, joined the army, and showed great bravery in the 1971 India-Pakistan war. That's how much that book inspired him.

Shivaji's Legacy: A Global Inspiration

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's own life became a great epic of inspiration. His stories of valor and his glorious life inspired great leaders all over the world. For example, Vietnam, a tiny country compared to the USA, fought America for 20 years and eventually forced the global superpower to back down. When asked where they got the inspiration to fight, their Prime Minister proudly said he was inspired by the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. We may wonder how Shivaji's biography reached Vietnam and in what language it was, but one thing is certain: books taught the warriors of the world about his valor and high moral standards. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, a great hero of India's freedom struggle, was also inspired by Shivaji's life. He planned his escape from his Kolkata residence, dodging British police and spies, and reaching Japan, all inspired by Shivaji's dramatic and heroic escape from Agra. Subhasbabu's disguise and escape plan were meticulously thought out. Just as Shivaji Maharaj escaped from the cruel and cunning Emperor Aurangzeb's tight security in Agra, so did Subhasbabu. While under house arrest, he carefully studied Shivaji's life. He was also influenced by Rabindranath Tagore's poem, Jayatu Shivaji (Victory to Shivaji). Many Marathi authors have written biographies of Shivaji. Dr. Balkrishna's four-volume, 1800-page English biography, published in 1932, is a globally recognized work. Dr. Balkrishna was not Marathi; he was a scholar from Multan, Punjab (now in Pakistan), who came to Kolhapur. He had a doctorate from London University and wrote this extensive biography. Another inspiring biography was commissioned by Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj and written by Krishnaji Arjun Keluskar. Additionally, novels like Ranjit Desai's Shriman Yogi have also inspired many young people. The English translations of these books have reached people all over the world. The book Shivaji Kon Hota? (Who was Shivaji?) offers a perspective on Shivaji from our own soil. Every book about Shivaji Maharaj inspires young people, teaching them about his immense bravery, political acumen, ideal administration, strategic warfare (like guerrilla tactics), foresight in understanding the importance of forts, extraordinary love for his mother, progressive nature, organizational skills, compassion for his colleagues, and the highest ethical standards that even his enemies admired.  

The Influence of the Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita, a significant text in Indian culture, was a source of inspiration for countless freedom fighters and soldiers. Many revolutionaries like the Chapekar brothers went to the gallows holding a copy of this text, which teaches one to fight against the enemy. Subhasbabu's companions said he always carried a copy of the Gita with him and read it whenever he had time, even while the Azad Hind Fauj was fighting the British army. Lokmanya Tilak was also inspired by the Gita in his national work. While in prison, he wrote a valuable philosophical text, Gitarahasya, a commentary on the Gita. In courts, Hindus take an oath on the Gita to speak the truth, though this is a judicial process and not related to the kind of inspiration we're discussing. However, one could say it inspires people to speak the truth. Mahatma Gandhi also found the Gita inspiring. Although his opponents claimed he appeased Muslims, the Bhagavad Gita undoubtedly inspired him in the freedom struggle. He always carried a copy with him. The book that had an unparalleled impact on Gandhi's life was Unto This Last, published in 1862 by John Ruskin. The inspiration Gandhi gained from it was crucial for all Indians. The principles on which Gandhi based his economic system for a country like India were derived from this book. Gandhi said, "When I read Ruskin's book, I was transformed. I decided to change my life. I got ideas about the principle of trusteeship, the relationship between owner and employee, the use of modern technology in India's context, economic equality, and self-sufficient village economies from Ruskin. If humanity learns about equality, brotherhood, and other ideals, the whole of humanity will accept those principles." The fact that the Bhagavad Gita, Unto This Last, and the books of the famous Russian author Leo Tolstoy had such a profound effect on a great person like Gandhi speaks to their greatness. It also shows how seriously Gandhi took his reading.  

The Transformative Power of Books for Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

The entire world knows the importance of books in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's life. After he made the declaration, "I may have been born a Hindu, but I will not die one," leaders of many religions invited him to join their faith. But he converted to Buddhism at the end of his life because he realized it was truly a religion of equality. He chose Buddhism because it originated in India and was "his own." Thousands of people from the Mahar community converted to Buddhism with him on that day because they trusted him completely and knew that he never acted blindly. Ambedkar's decision to convert to Buddhism was based on a thorough study of the religion. He never made any decision without deep contemplation. He had been studying Buddhism for many years, carefully reading various texts, from the Dhammapada to many other sutras. He made the declaration in a conference in Yeola, Nashik, on October 13, 1935, and converted 21 years later on October 14, 1956, in Nagpur. It wouldn't have been difficult or impossible for him to convert immediately after his declaration, so why did he wait for 21 years? After his declaration, Barrister Jinnah offered him Pakistani citizenship and the governorship if he converted to Islam (Jinnah had been planning for a separate nation for a long time). Similarly, the Nizam of Hyderabad tried to entice him with billions of rupees for himself and millions for every follower who converted to Islam. But Dr. Ambedkar wasn't swayed by any offers. For 21 years, he carefully studied all the religions of the world, reading and examining hundreds of books. Finally, he chose Buddhism, a religion born in India that promotes humanity and is scientific. Throughout this journey, books were his companions. They gave him knowledge and inspiration. Even the books of the religions he didn't accept provided him with knowledge that helped him decide what to accept and what to reject.  

Inspiring Stories and Personal Connections

The novel Mrityunjay has inspired many to overcome challenges. The character Karna, who was humiliated as a "son of a charioteer," overcame this prejudice. His brave demeanor, immense generosity, unwavering friendship, and heroic death have given many young people a new perspective on life. There are many examples of people who were contemplating suicide but started living a new life after reading Shivaji Sawant's novel Mrityunjay. Ek Hota Carver (There Was a Carver), written by Veena Gavankar, is a book that gives children and young adults the courage to create something new from nothing. It is a book that gives the strength to live. The agricultural revolution created by George Washington Carver, a poor Black boy, amazed the world. This book has definitely inspired countless students. When I asked my son, who is now 26, which books have inspired him, he named two he read in his childhood: Ek Hota Carver and Akashashi Jadle Nate (A Connection with the Sky) by the renowned scientist Jayant Narlikar. My son said that reading Akashashi Jadle Nate doesn't just inspire one to study astronomy, but it also inspires one to aim for a lofty and distant goal. This book provides a detailed explanation of space science with deep scientific concepts in a fascinating language. Books inspire us. They have the power to change our lives. The list of such inspiring books is long, and it's impossible to discuss all of them in a single article. If I were to write about all the books that inspire, it would become a book series in itself. - Shriram G. Pachadre, Senior Editor, Kolhapur   Contact : 7350009433 This article is the translated version of the original article पुस्तक देते प्रेरणा... written by Shree. Shriram G. Pachindre published in the Sahitya Chaprak Diwali Ank 2025