Ashwattha

Shri Narendra Madhav Joshi completed his graduation in Production Engineering from the University of Bombay and worked in Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. From ’91 to ’93.

Convinced in his heart, like most of the Indian youths, about the total failure of present day system, unable to think about a sustainable alternative, hastened by the unique situation in the first half of ’93 to ’98 (in the North-east: H.O. Dibrugarh). Being in the core of the projects ‘Arun Jyoti’ (a service project for Arunchal Pardesh) and ‘Institute of Culture’ Guwahati (research, documentation, and in general, thought movement for the Seven Sisters)- that too at a time when these projects were in a very fluid, crystallising stage, the author was fortunate enough to come in contact with a very wide cross section of society – kids, youth, oldies, educated, illiterates, leaders, scholars, thrownounts, frustrated, honoured, frared, etc. Their unforgettable love, anguish and his own inner struggle – seemingly endless search for the truth and passion to understand and interpret the culture of this immortal motherland of ours – all this led him consciously and unconsciously, tortuously yet jubilantly to continue this long journey called ‘Aswattha’’!!

Aswattha’, as the very name indicates, is a unique type of book. Its style, its approach, its contents and their arrangement, the impressive richness of pictorial representation, everything makes it different from the ordinary run of the publication. It is not an easy book to rea, but the patient reader will be abundantly rewarded in a way which no other single book would do to him.

Why and how was the book written? What is the basic character of the book? It is, in fact, an exploration and a discovery. A brilliant young man from Maharashtra, a genuine seeker of the Truth in his own chosen way, traverses the entire land of Bharat Varsha and arrives at his destination the land of the Seven Sisters of North East, motivated solely by the desire to serve the cause of the Indian unity and integrity, which was and still is in jeopardy. Bewildered by the confusing diversity, yet absolutely sure in his mind about the fundamental unity, the age-old concept of the entire Bharat as one, Mother India, the inquisitive youth starts on his pilgrimage of exploration, finally leading him to the glorious discovery of the spiritual and cultural unity, manifesting in diverse forms and colours, shades and sounds a vibrant experience of the blissful Truth of ‘unity in diversity’ which is the unique gifts of India to the world. The book speaks to us at every stage, through every line and also between the lines, about the struggle, the determination, the patience and the perseverance and ultimately the joyous vision that enthrals and compensates. That is, in short, the texture of the book which I have the privilege to place in the hands of the reader.

As a Foreword, probably I could stop here. But I am tempted to say a few words more as to how the book impressed me. It is not just that the author speaks about his understanding; probably the subject is so difficult and so complex that he, by himself feels diffident and incompetent to deal with it. The message is conveyed through the illumining words of the greatest minds not only of India, but from all over the world, because the theme is of universal significance, minds from all times and all climes. But it is the Vedas and the Upanishads, the sages and saints of Bharat, both ancient an modern, whose words, sometimes lengthy quotation from their works that give the sanction and authority, the view and the vision, the glimpse of the ultimate Truth which lies beyond verbal expression ‘nay’ even the subtle thought.

The book is obviously a gift of high intelligence, but it is not the product of mere reason. There is a holistic vision which enlivens and illumines it. It takes, in its wide sweep all facets of life: economics, politics, history, mythology, culture, religion, art, literature, rituals and ceremonies, primitive and modern and tries to dive into the depths of the collective unconscious and comes out with the discerning knowledge common to humanity. Yet the author is fully conscious of the fact that it is only in India that this unity was applied successfully to mundane life and attempted to lift it up to divine heights. The effort, the tapas, the yajna has to continue till the strife-torn humanity realise the futility of it all and turns inward, India-ward for this all fulfilling message of blissful immortality, First India has to live it, then she will be able to impart it. That is her mission and destiny. That is also the message of this book.

I wish the talented young author a great future and expect from him greater contribution than the present one.