Aflatoon (अफलातून) by Prof. Vikram Apte.

"Aflatoon (अफलातून)" a Marathi book by Prof. Vikram Apte. This book is published by Vidyavaibhav Prakashan in 2017 and has 153 pages.

This book was inaugurated by Prof. Milind Joshi on 30th June 2017 in Phaltan. I attended this function. This book is collection of 15 word sketches of peculiar personalities. Author informs readers in his introductory remark that some of them are real, some part real and some imaginary. 

Subrao (सुबराव) is a person with contradictory personality traits. 

Hareram (हरेराम) is a principled doctor who views his profession as help to humanity but he is also outspoken. 

Gajanan Charantirthakar (गजानन चरणतीर्थकर) is a shy boy who becomes a well known kirtankar (कीर्तनकार).

Iravati mawshi (ईरावीत मावशी) is the only survivor of her family who is a trove of knowledge, is always happy and is fond of giving unsolicited advise.

Zopalkaka (झोपाळकाका) has a very good constitution, is good looking but is extremely lazy and miser. He spends all his time on a swing (झोपाळा), hence the name. 

Damle doctor (दामले डाॅक्टर) is a collection of incidences about whimsical Dr. Damle. It's not really a story. 

Aflatoon (अफलातून) is a pet name given by author to a quirky person he met and then befriended.  His quirkiness doesn't end with death. 

Gangatai (गंगाताई) is a child widow,  staying at her brother's house and managing all affairs while helping others. 

Shamu (शामू) is a harmless man, with limited intelligence and without education or job. He lived all his life without doing anything and causing no trouble. 

Pintya (पिंट्या) was a very naughty boy who is also helpful. What a contradiction?

Yamnajji (यमनाज्जी) is an elderly lady who  lost her family to plague in her early youth. She is outspoken and does not change even when it  turns counter productive. 

Hector ajoba (हेक्टर अजोबा) is a elderly Greek man,  married to an English woman and settled in South Africa, living a retired life as care taker of a society. 

Prashant Mistry (प्रशांत मिस्त्री) is a uneducated farmer in Andaman with a transparent personality and clear thoughts. Author met him just for a couple of hours but he created a permanent impression. 

Zelya (झेल्या) is the story of a beggar who has thought about the future of his family wisely. 

Shewantabai (शेवंताबाई) is a quarrelsome woman in the village who has a number of virtues but is unpopular due to this one vice. 

I thought that  stories Gangatai & Yamnajji, both child widows and Shamu & Zelya, both mendicants, should have had more space between them. They came too close to each other. 

This book is a collection of personalities.  They are common people with special characters that you find in your life. But one needs special observation skills to identify the uniqueness and prowess to put them in words. Author provides a physical description of  every character including  body structure, skin colour,  age,  clothing, style etc. While reading it the picture of the character is automatically drawn in the minds eye. 

The book is written in rich colloquial Marathi. But it is easy to understand. Since it talks about the every day events, one can relate with the events and characters easily. That is the success of the book. 

The book cover shows a fluttering butterfly and a sparrow. It hardly has any connection with the content. Back cover of this book  is unconventional. It does not have blurb, instead it provides information about author on back cover. 

Why did I read this book? The author.  

What I didn't like?  Some stories appear curtailed.   

What did I like?  Observation. 

Disclosure: The author is my father.

Hence I would refrain from making a recommendation.