Virangula (विरंगुळा) by Da. Ma. Mirasdar (द. मा. मिरासदार)

"Virangula (विरंगुळा)" a Marathi book by Da. Ma. Mirasdar (द. मा. मिरासदार). This book is published by Mehta Publishing House in 2013 ( First edition 1961) and has 140 pages. This book is a collection of 12 short stories.

'Virangula (विरंगुळा)' is a story of a man past his middle age who has difficulty in making the ends meet and in supporting the family and who transforms in a different person when he is called to assist for cremation of a dead person. 'Paus (पाऊस)' is the story of a contract farmer (वाटेकरी), a farmer who does not own the land, who wants a loan from local money lender and how rain changes everything. 'Tailabuddhi Devdutt: Ek anubhav (तैलबुद्धी देवदत्त: एक अनुभव)' is a story thousand year old that tells us how the most learned man can fail to understand a woman. 'Bhog (भोग)' is about a person who has no dearth of talent, efforts or willingness to work, but luck is never with him. He always suffers. 'Moklik (मोकळीक)' is the story of a very old lady who has lived a satisfied life and who is nearing death by old age. But she doesn't die. Her mind is entangled in the loved ones. 'Dhondyacha mahina (धोंड्याचा महिना)' shows us how the social equations and importance shifts balance when a village faces a very strange threat; rain of rocks. 'Adgalichi kholi (अडगळीची खोली)' asks us question if the old ones are to be considered as unnecessary presence and banished to a store room? 'Watmari (वाटमारी)' is about a dacoit who has the heart of a father. 'Eka kugramatil vijaystambha (एका कुग्रामातील विजयस्तंभ)' is a 2000 years old story of rumormongering and a Yavan attack. 'Ajari padnyacha prayog (आजारी पडण्याचा प्रयोग)' is the story of a small boy who never falls ill and wants desperately to become ill. 'Ek hota brahman (एक होता ब्राह्मण)' is about a Brahmin who doesn't let go an opportunity to earn money without doing anything. 'Gavat (गवत)' is about demand supply equation in a village for removing grass.

Allmost all the stories have a rural backdrop. Author has a knack of identifying the idiosyncrasies in the social fabric of rural India. He looks at serious issues with a hint of humor.

All the stories are delivered deftly and with authority. The stories spam various topics from life to death, from ancient India to present India, from old people to young, from despair to hope and from sorrow to joy.

I have read Mr. Mirasdar's literature and heard his Katha kathan (कथा कथन) when I was very young, but when I read it now, I liked it even more. I am looking forward to read some more of Da. Ma. Mirasdar. I would say this was one of the best collection of short stories of the ones that I read recently.

A very good book. Recommend reading.