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Bhura । Sharad Baviskar
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 8, 2025
Inspiring, thought provoking! A biography of a struggler.. from zero to become a Philosophy professor in a prestigious University, having 6 Masters.
October 13, 2023
स्वतचं आयुष्य शून्यातून निर्माण करणारा भुरा ...नक्कीच वाचायला हवी अशी आत्मकथा...शिकण्याची कधीच न संपणारी ओढ आणि भाषा रसिक माणूस... पुस्तकांवर नितांत प्रेम...सतत प्रय्नशील...सामजिक , आर्थिक, वैयक्तीक, कुटुंबीय, आरोग्य अश्या अनेक समस्यांनी घेरलेले असताना ध्येयाची ओढ आणि स्पश्टता राखून ठेवणारा शिक्षणप्रेमी... स्व प्रयत्नाने भाषा शिकताना अनेकांनी केलेला अपमान आणि दाखवलेला अविश्वास दुर्लक्षित करून मित्राच्या मदतीने , कुटुंबाच्या पाठिंब्याने आणि नोकरी करत २४ तासाचा पुरेपूर वापर करून आयुष्य घडवणारा भुरा... आत्मविश्वास संयम यश अपयश ने संपूर्ण कहाणी ...शिक्षणातून आयुष बदलणं शक्य आहे याचं जिवंत उदाहरण...वाचून मज्जा आणि आणि खूप प्रेरणा मिळाली...वाचताना हे पुस्तक संपूच नये असं वाटत होत...सर्व विद्यार्थ्यांनी नक्की वाचव अस पुस्तकं...
December 7, 2024
The book is an autobiographical work tracing the personal journey - from a stunted childhood to reaching the pinnacle of academia going through trials, tribulations, and loss but not without the generosity extended by people along the way.
Even though the book is a rendition of the author's life – from Bhura (byname/ nickname) to Prof. Sharad Baviskar it is also a work that critically examines and contextualizes the Indian social landscape, philosophy, religion, economic disparity, socio-economic-political power by taking us through each chapter/ phase of the author’s life.
The endearing thing about this book is it does not generalize merit and success but rather takes a nuanced approach to it by propositioning that success is as much subjective as it is objective because the social milieu (वस्तुनिष्ठ घटक) in which a person grows up is equally important as much as the person’s effort (व्यक्तिनिष्ठ घटक). Adolescence leaves a lasting imprint on our lives, it can make us turn inward, contemplate and improve or leave us like a rudderless ship.
The author through his own life – from failing in matriculation exams to securing the prestigious Erasmus Mundus scholarship, shows how systemic issues can be overcome by meticulous preparation and hard work but also highlights how social systems can make or break a person and the importance of providing quality education for a meaningful life. The striking thing about this book however is, that it does not sermonize from a pulpit, it is neither inspiratory one-upmanship which we often see nowadays of people chest beating about their superhuman success stories nor is it a motivational pep talk rather it is about overcoming personal and social difficulties with consistent efforts and planning. Thus, it is different from other self-help books or motivational speakers in the market as it emphasizes being an action-oriented person (प्रयत्नवादी) rather than a determinist (दैववादी).
The book is an example of how life brings you down and how every time you overcome adversity – economic, emotional, and health through unwavering determination. One of the important themes the book explores is the education system. Even though education and language are a means to liberate individuals, they are made a site of social and personal struggle by a few people who gatekeep it to deny people equality of opportunity. Education, though meant to empower people is made a means to wield power and maintain hegemony. So, the democratization of education which is meant to destroy hegemony is itself made a weapon to sustain it. The intellectual shallowness in the Indian academic and social activist discourse is briefly discussed highlighting the importance of not becoming a part of any inner circle or group while being steadfast and committed to your ideology and principles.
Indisputably, the book is unputdownable and the variegated themes it explores cannot be summed up briefly as it would be unjust to the labour of the author, the one key takeaway is escaping the vortex of vicious social disparity that plagues millions of Indian lives. I think that is the reason the book is named Bhura as it traverses the journey from Bhura, a life of rural ubiquity to Prof. Sharad Baviskar, a life of dignity and fulfilment.
“झीजून मरावं पण थिजून मरू नये” the author’s mother’s instruction which is oft invoked reminds me of Nietzsche’s “I know of no better life purpose than to perish in attempting the great and the impossible.”
Even though the book is a rendition of the author's life – from Bhura (byname/ nickname) to Prof. Sharad Baviskar it is also a work that critically examines and contextualizes the Indian social landscape, philosophy, religion, economic disparity, socio-economic-political power by taking us through each chapter/ phase of the author’s life.
The endearing thing about this book is it does not generalize merit and success but rather takes a nuanced approach to it by propositioning that success is as much subjective as it is objective because the social milieu (वस्तुनिष्ठ घटक) in which a person grows up is equally important as much as the person’s effort (व्यक्तिनिष्ठ घटक). Adolescence leaves a lasting imprint on our lives, it can make us turn inward, contemplate and improve or leave us like a rudderless ship.
The author through his own life – from failing in matriculation exams to securing the prestigious Erasmus Mundus scholarship, shows how systemic issues can be overcome by meticulous preparation and hard work but also highlights how social systems can make or break a person and the importance of providing quality education for a meaningful life. The striking thing about this book however is, that it does not sermonize from a pulpit, it is neither inspiratory one-upmanship which we often see nowadays of people chest beating about their superhuman success stories nor is it a motivational pep talk rather it is about overcoming personal and social difficulties with consistent efforts and planning. Thus, it is different from other self-help books or motivational speakers in the market as it emphasizes being an action-oriented person (प्रयत्नवादी) rather than a determinist (दैववादी).
The book is an example of how life brings you down and how every time you overcome adversity – economic, emotional, and health through unwavering determination. One of the important themes the book explores is the education system. Even though education and language are a means to liberate individuals, they are made a site of social and personal struggle by a few people who gatekeep it to deny people equality of opportunity. Education, though meant to empower people is made a means to wield power and maintain hegemony. So, the democratization of education which is meant to destroy hegemony is itself made a weapon to sustain it. The intellectual shallowness in the Indian academic and social activist discourse is briefly discussed highlighting the importance of not becoming a part of any inner circle or group while being steadfast and committed to your ideology and principles.
Indisputably, the book is unputdownable and the variegated themes it explores cannot be summed up briefly as it would be unjust to the labour of the author, the one key takeaway is escaping the vortex of vicious social disparity that plagues millions of Indian lives. I think that is the reason the book is named Bhura as it traverses the journey from Bhura, a life of rural ubiquity to Prof. Sharad Baviskar, a life of dignity and fulfilment.
“झीजून मरावं पण थिजून मरू नये” the author’s mother’s instruction which is oft invoked reminds me of Nietzsche’s “I know of no better life purpose than to perish in attempting the great and the impossible.”
January 9, 2025
सुंदर पुस्तक. Inspiring. It motivates one to pursue their dreams. Some key takeaways for me which I will try hard to incorporate in my behavior and personality
(1) एकांत आवडणे ही चुकीची गोष्ट नाही. 20-30 दरम्यानचं वय हे सहसा स्व ची ओळख (search for self-identity) आणि संघर्षचं असतं. आणि या काळात व्यक्ती अंतर्मुखता आणि एकांताला प्राधान्य देऊ शकते. आणि ते स्वाभाविक आहे.
(2) की आपण जर आपल्या प्रयत्नात प्रामाणिक असू तर संधी येत जातात आणि यश मिळत राहतं.
(3) Italian concept of "Dolce Farniente". या इटालियन संकल्पनेनुसार काहीच न करणे हीसुद्धा एक कला आहे जी सर्वांना जमत नाही. हा जो अवकाश मिळतो आपल्याला त्यात आपल्या मनातील गोंधळाचा निचरा होऊन स्पष्टतेकडे वाटचाल सुरू होते. जीवनाच्या धबडग्यात दाबून टाकलेले विचार बाहेर येतात. हे फार गरजेचं आहे आणि आजच्या डिजिटल काळात ते फार कठीण होऊन बसलंय. आपल्या वेळेसाठी विविध समाज माध्यमांत स्पर्धा चालली आहे (attention economy). या स्पर्धेत आपण स्वतःलाच वेळ देऊ शकत नाही. त्यामुळे एक उथळ वरवरचं जीवन आपण जगतो. त्यामुळे Dolce Farniente ही संकल्पना is a big takeaway.
(4) आपले जे आदर्श आणि मूल्य आहेत त्यांचा पाठपुरावा करण्याची प्रेरणा मिळाली. भुरा जसा न आपल्या मूल्याचा पाठपुरावा करतो ती सर्व कहाणी प्रेरणादायी आहे.
(1) एकांत आवडणे ही चुकीची गोष्ट नाही. 20-30 दरम्यानचं वय हे सहसा स्व ची ओळख (search for self-identity) आणि संघर्षचं असतं. आणि या काळात व्यक्ती अंतर्मुखता आणि एकांताला प्राधान्य देऊ शकते. आणि ते स्वाभाविक आहे.
(2) की आपण जर आपल्या प्रयत्नात प्रामाणिक असू तर संधी येत जातात आणि यश मिळत राहतं.
(3) Italian concept of "Dolce Farniente". या इटालियन संकल्पनेनुसार काहीच न करणे हीसुद्धा एक कला आहे जी सर्वांना जमत नाही. हा जो अवकाश मिळतो आपल्याला त्यात आपल्या मनातील गोंधळाचा निचरा होऊन स्पष्टतेकडे वाटचाल सुरू होते. जीवनाच्या धबडग्यात दाबून टाकलेले विचार बाहेर येतात. हे फार गरजेचं आहे आणि आजच्या डिजिटल काळात ते फार कठीण होऊन बसलंय. आपल्या वेळेसाठी विविध समाज माध्यमांत स्पर्धा चालली आहे (attention economy). या स्पर्धेत आपण स्वतःलाच वेळ देऊ शकत नाही. त्यामुळे एक उथळ वरवरचं जीवन आपण जगतो. त्यामुळे Dolce Farniente ही संकल्पना is a big takeaway.
(4) आपले जे आदर्श आणि मूल्य आहेत त्यांचा पाठपुरावा करण्याची प्रेरणा मिळाली. भुरा जसा न आपल्या मूल्याचा पाठपुरावा करतो ती सर्व कहाणी प्रेरणादायी आहे.
March 31, 2024
लेखकाने दिलेला त्यांचा शैक्षणिक प्रवास हा जरी साधारण वाटत असला तरी खूप प्रेरणादायी आहे. या पुस्तकात लार्जर दॅन लाईफ अशा गोष्टी नाहीत परंतु वास्तविकता किती दाहक असू शकते याचे वर्णन या पुस्तकातून घडते. पुस्तकाच्या सुरुवातीलाच अगदी पुस्तकातच अंतरिम गाबा असणारी एक ओळ येते जी लेखकाची आई म्हणते "झिजीन मराण पण थिजीन नाही मराण" हे अहिराणी भाषेतील बोलत लेखकाला प्रत्येक वळणावर आयुष्यात संघर्ष करताना आठवत राहतात. खानदेशातील एक दहावी नापास मुलगा कसे पुढे जाऊन देश-विदेशात पाच डिग्री घेतो आणि वैचारिक प्रगल्भता कशी घडत जाते ही गोष्ट खूप छान वाटली.
June 14, 2024
एका जिद्दीची कहाणी... आजच्या युगात तरुणांना स्फूर्ती दायक पुस्तक👍🏼
April 2, 2025
I wrote whole blog on this....
Follow this link for my blog👇👇
http://blog2004ashmit.blogspot.com/20...
Follow this link for my blog👇👇
http://blog2004ashmit.blogspot.com/20...
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