দেবতাত্মা হিমালয়

by Prabodh Kumar Sanyal

Presented from the Introduction as was written by the then Prime Minister of India, Sri Jahrlal Nehru.

Introduction - The Himalayas are not only in the form of Nagari Raj in the top of India's vast land, but also a deep message in the heart of every Indian. The Himalayas are associated with the life of our nation from the dawn of history; And not only that our statehood has affected the Himalayas, but also with our art, our myths and religion, these mountains are closely linked. Himalaya participated in the development of our national life for thousands of years from the far past, I think no other hill-mountain or hill ranges could have been able to do so in other parts of the world.
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Jahrlal Nehru (less)


ভূমিকা - হিমালয় যে শুধু ভারতের বিস্তীর্ণ ভূভাগের শীর্ষে নগাধিরাজ রূপেই বিরাজমান তাই নয়, প্রত্যেক ভারতবাসীর অন্তরে তার একটি গভীর বাণীও মন্দ্রিত। ইতিহাসের ঊষাকাল থেকে হিমালয় আমাদের জাতির জীবনের সঙ্গে গ্রথিত; এবং শুধু যে আমাদের রাষ্ট্রনীতিকেই হিমালয় প্রভাবিত করে এসেছে তাই নয়, আমাদের শিল্পকলা,আমাদের পুরাণ এবং ধর্মের সঙ্গেও এই পর্বতমালা ঘনিষ্ঠভাবে যুক্ত হয়ে আছে। সুদূর অতীতকাল থেকে হাজার হাজার বছর ধরে আমাদের জাতীয় জীবনের বিকাশে হিমালয় যে অংশগ্রহণ করেছে, আমার মনে হয় পৃথিবীর অন্য কোথাও অপর কোন পাহাড়-পর্বত বা গিরিশ্রেণী তা করতে সক্ষম হয়নি ।
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লিখেছেন জহরলাল নেহরু

449 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1954

About the author

Sanyal, Prabodh Kumar (1905-1983) litterateur, journalist and traveller, was born on 7 July 1905 at his maternal uncle’s house at Chorbagan in Kolkata. During 1937-1941 he worked as editor of the Sunday literary magazine of Jugantar. While working as editor of the Swadesh he was once accused of sedition. He also edited the Bijli and Padatik.
Prabodh Kumar loved travelling, and travelled six times all over India, going to many inaccessible areas in the Himalayas. Apart from India and Nepal, he also travelled to other places in Asia as well as Europe, the Americas and Russia. He enriched the travel literature of Bengal by writing books such as Mahaprasthaner Pathe (1937), Russiar Diary, Debatatma Himalaya (2 vol) and Uttar Himalaya Charit. Mahaprasthaner Pathe was immensely popular. In 1960 he established the Himalayan Association in Kolkata. In1968 he was made president of the Himalayan Federation. In 1978 he went to Norway via the North Pole.
Prabodh Kumar is primarily known as a novelist of the ‘Kallol era’. Apart from the Kallol, he used to write regularly in journals such as the Bijli, Swadesh, Dundubhi, Padatik, Forward, and Banglar Katha. His first novel Jajabar was published in 1928. This was followed by Priyabandhabi (1931), Agragami (1936), Ankabanka (1939), Puspadhanu (1956), Bibagi Bhramar, Hasubanu, Banahansi, Kanch Kata Hire and Nishipadma. In his novels and short stories he laid more emphasis on friendly human relationship between man and woman than on physical sex. His love for travelling significantly influenced his novels, which describe a variety of characters living diverse lives by preference to solitary characters living confined, sedentary lives. He used simple but effective language to describe the complex life stories of his characters.
In recognition of his literary achievements, Prabodh Kumar was awarded a gold medal by Calcutta University (1911), the Shishir Kumar and Motilal prizes (1910) and the Sharat and Ananda prizes (1980). Prabodh Kumar Sanyal died on 17 April 1983

Reviews

[Santanu Dutta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very complex, but nice read. This book is more of philosophical feeling associated to the Himalayas. The Himalayas from days immemorial are treated as one guardian angel in many a religion's and in religious feeling. The book, however do not treat or try to provoke such a feeling. Instead the author places the narrative in a height fast higher than common religious beliefs can attain. There lies the success and beauty of the book. Thoroughly a marvelous read, like the scene of the beautiful mountain that Himalayas is.

The book starts from the westernmost corner of the Himalayas, that lies in Pakistan in today's map. And tells us the forgotten takes off ancient Ariyan Civilization, the Kushan dynasty. stories of Kanishka and followed gradually East to the Brahmaputra valley in India Tibet border. This story is a c chronicle of authors lifelong travels in the areas.

[Koyel Bhattacharyya · Rating 5 out of 5]

ভারতবর্ষের দর্শনের সঙ্গে হিমালয়ের যে সুগভীর সম্পর্ক ব‌ইটা পড়তে পড়তে প্রতি রোমকূপে অনুভব করেছি সেই আঙ্গিকে হিমালয়কে চাক্ষুষ করার জন্য আমি এই পূণ্যভূমিতে বারবার জন্মাতে চাই। এ ব‌ই কেবল ভ্রমণকাহিনী নয়, এ ব‌ই কেবল উপন্যাস নয়, এ ব‌ই যেন আমার মত কোটি ভারতীয়র প্রাণপিঞ্জর। দেবতাত্মা হিমালয়… ভারতাত্মা হিমালয়…

[Arin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have mentioned the most favorite part in the following video: https://youtu.be/k9UPf8jeVjs?si=QAOHQ...

[Sutapa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, Himalaya is god! Himalaya is almighty! A great effort to touch such a vast subject.