Zadwata (झाडवाटा) by Anand Yadav (आनंद यादव)

"Zadwata (झाडवाटा)" a Marathi (मराठी) book by Anand Yadav (आनंद यादव). This book is published by Mehta publishing house. This edition was published in 2013 (First edition 2000) and has 140 pages. I read the book through Grantha Tumchya Dari (ग्रंथ तुमच्या दारी) scheme of Kusumagraj Pratishthan (कुसुमाग्रज प्रतिष्ठान). This book is a collection of 14 short stories.

'Eka dagdi gharacha itihas (एका दगडी घराचा इतिहास)' is the story of only two storied house in the village and how it's occupants amassed wealth and what happens later.
'Bakdyawarche jag (बाकड्यावरचे जग)' is not really a story. It's the thought process of a traveler who looks at various scenes from the bus he is traveling in.
'Nar (नर)' is the story of a male and his attempts to find a mate, a female (मादी). But not human, who's he?
'Nave walan (नवे वळण)' is portrait of a village that undergoes changes due to the prosperity and its side effects brought by the new sugar factory from the eyes of a school teacher.
In 'Anghul (आंघूळ)' Bhau works as labourer. He is very tired and wants to bathe with hot water in one winter. There are numerous obstacles that make the bath more and more alluring. Can he take bath?
'Haat (हात)' is the story of a body builder who has lost both his arms in an accident thereby making him dependent for life. What does he want to do with his non existent arms?
'Pot (पोट)' is the story of Dattu Sawkar who was once a very rich merchant and has now list everything after a paralysis stroke and works as a labourer.
In 'Jeevan (जीवन)' all the bank staff is looking forward to one and half day of weekend when news arrives that mother of the bank manager is dead. What about the weekend plans?
In 'Eka gaditil prawasi (एका गाडीतील प्रवासी)' author, who has lost his job and is traveling to Pune in a bus observes his co passengers.
In 'Duty (ड्यूटी)' Banda, a village police, who supports education of two nieces doesn't have money to pay for their school fees. Is there a God sent opportunity?
In 'Badli (बदली)' Mane guruji, a primary teacher in a village, is summoned to bring 30 persons to a sterilization camp. He could find none. What would be the price?
'Palvi ani paangal (पालवी आणि पानगळ)' is the story of Datta, who ran away from all his responsibilities and family 25 years ago. He comes back to his village. What does he find?
'Dushkalanantarcha paus (दुष्काळानंतरचा पाऊस)' is the story of varied reactions to rain after a draught of three years. But not all reactions are happy, why?
'Zadanchi raanwat (झाडांची रानवाट)' is the regret of Darumma, an old farmer, who worries that none of his progeny wants to look after the farm. He worries what will happen after his death?

All the stories have rural background and use rural Marathi. Of these stories I liked Bakdyawarche jag, Dushkalanantarcha paus and Duty.

In a number of stories author has used non living things like bunglow, house, road and village as characters in the stories. It's a USP of the book.

Two of the stories are not really stories but articles about changes, progress and the impact on human lives. And they are very well written.

OK book. Not a must read.

Khulyachi chawdi (खुळ्याची चावडी) by Shankar Patil (शंकर पाटील)

"Khulyachi chawdi (खुळ्याची चावडी)" a Marathi (मराठी) book by Shankar Patil (शंकर पाटील). This edition of the book is published by Mehta Publishing House (मेहता पब्लिशिंग हाऊस) in 2013 (first edition 1964) and has 148 pages. I read the book through Grantha Tumchya Dari (ग्रंथ तुमच्या दारी) scheme of Kusumagraj Pratishthan (कुसुमाग्रज प्रतिष्ठान). This book is a collection of short stories.

'Inga (इंगा)' is the story of politics in a rural highschool. It's the tug of war between Anna (Chairman) and Mr. Kamire (Principal).
'Hyoch Maza Shilon (ह्योच माझा शिलोन)' is the story of Nama tailor who wants his father in-law to gift him a radio, but he won't. What will Nama do?
In 'Dohale (डोहाळे)', Nargis likes to eat a variety of food but her mother in-law, a miser, won't allow her. How can she make it happen?
In 'Don kami pandav (दोन कमी पांडव)', three friends have affair with same girl at the same time. She is then married to another man in another village. What will the three do?
'Dhula (धुळा)' is the story of a loyal but unintelligent servant who will do anything for his master.
In 'Tol bhairav (टोळ भैरव)' Manuhar wants to have an affair with a school teacher but she already has a boy friend. What will happen?
In 'Kombdi (कोंबडी)' four policeman are bored to their bones while guarding a railway station and insipid food. They want chicken, but how?
In 'Potdukhi (पोटदुखी)', Mhadu Khot wins a substantial word puzzle prize. But many in the village cannot digest it. What do they do?
In 'Padarmod (पदरमोड)' a fourty year old peasant marries a girl after long celibacy. She seems to be young. When will he consummate his marriage?
In 'Vilayti pik (विलायती पीक)' Digambarpant decides to grow kobi, a foreign vegetable. He grows a big crop. What happens next?
On 'Gom (गोम)' an old man is distressed because his son in law beats his daughter. He implements a fantastic plan. Will the plan succeed?
'Khulyachi chawdi (खुळ्याची चावडी)' is the story of Tatoba and Sakhu who's son is very very ill, or is he...?
'Bhujang (भुजंग)' is the story of Janai who's husband is useless and has developed abnormal appetite. She sees a cobra in her field frequently. Will it bite?
'Uun (ऊन)' is the story of a person, who has lost his wife and has little say in a joint family, and his unadulterated love for his son.

Like all Shankar Patil stories, these stories also have a rural backdrop. Marathi language used in the book is rural Marathi. Most stories happen in one imaginary village near Kolhapur. The stories cover various aspects of village life ranging from village politics, scandals, illicit affairs, individual issues, cheating, lack of education, hunger etc. When not much happens in a small village, even minor and seemingly unimportant things become important and interesting. Villagers get something to chew on for a while.

Of these stories Don kami pandav, Kombdi, Potdukhi and Vilayti pik were the better ones but Bhujang & Uun were the best. I remember having seen a Marathi movie based on story Bhujang starring Nilu Phule (निळू फुले). Reference of some of these stories also appear in Shankar Patil's other books.

Although some of the stories handle serious issues like domestic violence and death, Shankar Patil has presented the stories in a lighter vein. He has inclined towards hilarity rather than philosophy. This is his preferred genre.

This book contains fourteen short stories. Average length of each story is about ten to eleven pages.

Read if you like rural stories and rural Marathi.

Bandhara (बंधारा) by Shankar Patil (शंकर पाटील)

"Bandhara (बंधारा)" a Marathi book by Shankar Patil (शंकर पाटील). This book is published by Mehta Publishing House and this edition was published in 2013 (First edition 1989) and has 116 pages. This is a collection of eleven stories. I read this book through 'Grantha tumchya Dari (ग्रंथ तुमच्या दारी)' scheme run by Kusumagraj Pratishthan (कुसुमाग्रज प्रतिष्ठान).

"Bandhara (बंधारा)" is a story of a man traveling to his in laws in joy because he has become father 13 years after marriage and his silent fellow traveler who is going to same village. Why? "Perni (पेरणी)" is the story set in a village where it has rained after 3 years and sowing season has started. But everyone has a different thing to sow. Seeds, ideas, plans, opportunities and revenge. "Khasdaranche 'saha' vimanoddan (खासदारांचे 'सह' विमानोड्डाण)" is the story of first air travel of the lover of a politician, a member of parliament. "Bailancha vima (बैलांचा विमा)" tells us what happens when a farmer takes out the policy of his oxen and when one of them dies. "Pandharpeshi lok (पांढरपेशी लोक)" is a story of learned and timid passengers in a bus driven by drink driver and their reactions. "Hybrid Mawshi (हायब्रिड मावशी)" is the story of a shrewd business woman and how she sustains a business in a sleepy town that is undergoing changes of industrialization. "Nave ganit (नवं गणित)" takes us quickly through the life of a boy who round away from home and the transformations that take place in his life. For good or for worse? "Khelkhandoba (खेळखंडोबा)" is the story of census of monkey population in a village. "Gavgunda (गावगुंड)" is the story of a powerful man in a village who rapes young women but is so powerful that no one can do anything until some youngsters decide to do something. "Pur (पूर)" is an analogy of overflowing emotions with overflowing stream in the rainy season. "Dhumakul (धुमाकुळ)" tells us what measures are taken to find and kill a cobra that has entered a bungalow.

All the stories are rural stories. Author had portrayed controversies, idiosyncrasies, contradictions, limitations and emotions in this book. Some of the stories are humorous, some are sarcastic and some introduce us to the reality face-to-face. The average length of stories is 10-11 pages.

On occasions, when it was possible and expected, author has chosen not to dramatize the stories. Though all the stories are good, none is WOW.

Shankar Patil is a well known name Marathi literature. He is also known to tell his stories to thee audience verbally. I like to hear him, kathakathan (कथाकथन), more than reading him.

Not a WOW book. Read if you have time.

Chakatya (चकाट्या) by Da. Ma. Mirasdar (द. मा. मिरासदार)

"Chakatya (चकाट्या)" a Marathi (मराठी) book by Da. Ma. Mirasdar (द. मा. मिरासदार). This edition of the book is published by Mehta Publishing House in 2014 (First edition in 1970s) and has 160 pages. This book is a collection of 13 stories.

'Shivajiche hastakshar (शिवाजीचे हस्ताक्षर)' is a story of confrontation between the history teacher of a boy and his historian father and how he suffers in the fight. 'Pralay (प्रलय)' is a story set in a village of illiterate adults and what they do after reading a news that the world will end, by flood, in eight days. 'Baba (बाबा)' is the story of a father who keeps bragging about his courage and daredevil acts to his son. But was he so? 'Photo (फोटो)' is the story of two rural bumpkins who were never photographed and wanted themselves to be photographed. 'Swabhaw (स्वभाव)' is about a lady who criticizes her neighbor for rumormongering while she does exactly the same. 'Police tapas (पोलीस तपास)' is about Police investigation or rather the lack of it in rural set up. 'Rang denyacha prakar (रंग देण्याचा प्रकार)' is a humorous story about experience of a lower middle class man of painting his house. 'Nava rasta (नवा रस्ता)' is about a proposed new road through Eknath's agricultural land. Can he save his land? 'Abhyas (अभ्यास)' is a story of how study happens or does not happen in a class of school. In 'Shaydi (शायडी)', a man comes to a village. Some think he is mad, some think he is Shaydi. Who is he and what is Shaydi? In 'Pathan (पठाण)' a young man decides to help his friend impress the girl he loves. How does it go? 'Babancha abhays (बाबांचा अभ्यास)' is the story of a father, an editor by profession, trying to supervise studies of his son. In 'Gaflat (गफलत)' there is a theft in a village and all the villagers are trying to determine how the thief entered and exited the seemingly impenetrable villa.

Of all the stories I liked Pathan (पठाण) & Gaflat (गफलत) the most.

Book cover is drawn by Shi. DA. Phadnis (शि. द. फडणीस). If I am not wrong, book covers for all the books written by Da. Ma. Mirasdar are drawn by Shi. DA. Phadnis. His caricatures have special strokes and one can recognize his pictures just by looking at them.

Most of the stories are set up in rural background. This is the speciality of Da. Ma. Mirasdar. Most of the stories are humorous with a border of harsh reality. Author has seen a story where a common man would not be able to. His power of observation is commendable.

All the stories are small with an average length of 12-13 pages, making them crisp. You do not get a chance to get bored. Modern readers who are not interested in rural backdrop may or may not like the book.

The book is good, but another book from same author that I read in recent past, titled 'Virangula (विरंगुळा)', was better.

Read if you have time.

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.