Gapsap (गपसप - पळसखेड परिसरातल्या अस्सल लोककथा) by Na. Dhon. Mahanor

 "Gapsap (गपसप - पळसखेड परिसरातल्या अस्सल लोककथा)" by Na. Dhon. Mahanor - Simple and sweet!

This book is published by Samakalin Prakashan. This 5th edition was published in 2018 and has 63 pages. 

This is a small collection of rural folktales from the area of Palaskhed, the place where author belongs. Folktales are spread by word of mouth rather than through written books. But this tradition is disappearing fast. This is author’s attempt to preserve the stories and making them more approachable to a larger pool of readers.

Gapsap (गपसप): This is the story of a cobbler who wouldn’t mend the broken footwear unless the owner tells a good tale (Gapsap). One day he meets a customer who teaches him lesson of his life.

Thakbaji (ठकबाजी): There are two expert cheaters. They decide to work together. But would they share the loot?

Kalkutya Gangyabhat (कळकुट्या गंग्याभट): Gangyabhat is a Brahmin. But he has a very bad habit of creating scandals out of nothing and making people fight. When he is about to die, he throws his final dice.

Rangrao Patlachi Goshta (रंगराव पाटलाची गोष्ट): Rangrao Patil and his young beautiful wife (Kesar) have no offspring. Rangrao has relations with several women. Narayan, a strapping young Brahmin likes Kesar and wants her. He and domestic help of Kesar hatch a plan to unite them.

Zhoot bolne mein maja hai (झूठ बोलने में मजा है): It’s the story of the daughter of a Kunbi, who, by her intelligence and confidence convinced a king that it’s fun to lie.

Pakhranchya goshti (पाखरांच्या गोष्टी): This is a collection of very very short stories about various birds that tell you why a bat hangs upside down, why Maina’s make a lot of ruckus? Why the owl can be shoo’d off only with one curse and nothing else? Why Koyal calls kuhu kuhu etc.

It’s a very small book. The stories are also small. Sometimes there is a confusion of time period. Sometimes they don’t sound credible. But all that is bound to happen when they are passed on through word of mouth. Nevertheless, they are all interesting.

Why did I read this book? Small. Was available.

What did I like? Originality. 

What I didn't like? Only 5-6 stories.

Recommend reading. A good quick read.