Maráthi
SHRIRAMA, A CHILD JUST 10 YEARS LIVING IN VELANI, A SMALL VILLAGE IN KONKAN. HIS FATHER LOOKS AFTER THE TEMPLE OF LORD VELANESHWARA. HE HAS LOST HIS MOTHER AND NOW HIS FATHER LEAVES HIM AT THE DOORSTEPS OF GURUJI, THE ONE WHO IS FAMOUS FOR TEACHING VEDAS AND UPANISHADS TO HIS PUPILS. HIS FATHER THEN MARRIES ANOTHER WOMAN. SHRIRAMA HAS A FLAIR FOR MATHS AND LOVES TO STUDY. HE PERSUADES HIS GURUJI TO ALLOW HIM TO COMPLETE HIS MATRICULATION EXAMS. BUT BEFORE HIS RESULTS ARE DECLARED HE HAS TO RETURN TO VELANI AS HIS FATHER DIES. THEREAFTER, SHRIRAMA GOES THROUGH LOTS OF PAIN AND TROUBLE TO COMPLETE HIS EDUCATION. WHEN HE FIRST GOES TO GURUJI’S ASHRAM, HE MEETS DEVI. HE LOVES HER FROM DAY ONE. HE WAITS FOR HER THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE. BUT WHEN SHE FINALLY MEETS HIM, SHE IS NO MORE THE DEVI THAT HE HAD BEEN KNOWING. SHE IS NO MORE PURE. ON THE CONTRARY, SHE HAS LEARNT THE WAY TO ENCASH HER BODY TO SATISFY THE MALE LUST AND IN RETURN TO GET THE BENEFITS. IT IS SHRIRAM’S PURE LOVE DEVOID OF ANY LUST THAT CHANGES HER ATTITUDE TOWARDS LIFE. DO THEY LEAD A HAPPY LIFE THEREAFTER?...``गुरुजी, लौकिक जीवनात अशांतता... पारलौकिक जीवनाच्या अस्तित्वाविषयी खात्री नाही. कुणी तरी सांगतंय म्हणून विश्वास ठेवण्याइतका अडाणीपणा नाही. जगण्या-मरण्यातली गूढता उकललेली नाही. परंपरेनं सांगितलेल्या गोष्टींवर निश्चित विश्वास नाही. या विचारांनी गांगरून, गोंधळून गेले आहेत सारे. निश्चित मार्ग दिसत नाही; असलेल्या मार्गांनी केलेली निराशा लपत नाही. संधिकालाची अवस्था आहे गुरुजी... संक्रमणकाळी साऱ्या विचारप्रणाली निर्णायक उत्तर देण्यात असमर्थ ठरल्या आहेत. समष्टीला त्यांची खात्री नाही; पण समोर दुसरा मार्गही दिसत नाही. काळाच्या विचित्र धारेवरून प्रवास सुरू आहे. आता निश्चितता हवी आहे. गूढता संपायला हवीय. सगळे अर्थ स्पष्ट व्हायला हवेत. स्थिरता हवी.`` श्रीराम बोलायचा थांबला.
