This story is about a helpless sparrow trying to build a nest and bring out little birds. It faces various obstacles in this effort. The sparrow courts a female sparrow and decides to start his family. He starts hunting for a place to lay the nest. After several attempts, finds a place. But it faces sudden problems in building a nest.
Mangalam Shiva has published his book of short stories "CENTURION" In sequel to his first book of short storie " EMPTY FISTS" . The AUTHOR IS A RETIRED MARKETING PROFESSIONAL HAVING WORKED IN WELL KNOWN PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANIES IN INDIA. After retirement he has taken to writing short stories with themes focusing on social injustices in India against Women & Children. Using his imagination and experience he has created situations & characters to portray in the stories. The stories are very emotional & poignant having attracted powerful comments from the readers. He has a great passion for photography, listening to ghazals and reading fictions by authors like Robert Ludlum, Robin Cook, Sidney Sheldon, Jeffrey Archer, Tom Clancy, James Patterson, David Baldacci and many more. I have read about 250 books so far. Recently, I have uploaded 10 stand-alone short stories on Amazon KIndle Direct Publishing Platform. All the books/stories are available on Amazon.in/Amazon.com Mangalam Shiva.
I have grown very fond of talented short story writer Mangalam Shiv’s books and short stories, and I find excuses to keep reading his works whenever I get the time to do so. This particular story titled ‘Sparrow’s Nest’ immediately caught my interest because among other birds, sparrows have always been my favourites after parrots.
When I was young and growing up in Mumbai, I used to love to meditate on the activities of sparrows in our church compound or outside on my windowsill (when the windows were still open) or in my building compound. However, by the time I was in high school the sparrows of Mumbai had totally disappeared from Mumbai not only because of the increasing levels of pollution and garbage in the city, but also mainly because of the many mobile phone towers that came up during this time and were killing any small birds that flew over the area near the tower. This dramatically impacted the sparrow population, and I was dismayed to see them leave.
Thankfully, due to Mumbai’s many ‘Go-Green’ Drives, we have managed, only since the latter portion of the last decade, to bring sparrows back to the city.
That is why it was obvious that I chose to read ‘Sparrow’s Nest’ by Mangalam Shiv, and I am glad I did. I found the short story charming, a pleasant read, and it made me reflect on the plight of the denizens of the wild in Mumbai as the city progresses even further into the AI Age and the Age of Data Science. I enjoyed the story and finished it off at one go over a cup of warm coffee mixed with jaggery. It is a ‘feel-good’ read and worthy of anyone’s perusal who loves nature and works towards its conservation, like me.
My favourite character in this short story was the mother of the little girl who was fond of the sparrows. I felt the matriarch was very much like my own mother who, though she shows some tolerance towards cats and dogs draws a huge line where birds and reptiles as ‘pet-pals’ are concerned. So, I could resonate with the thoughts of this character very easily and even to a certain extent empathized with her. You will know why when you pick up your copy of this captivating and simple short story.
My favourite portions of the text were whenever the tenacity of the sparrows was put into focus, especially when they were building their nest. I found those portions to be inspirational, especially for younger readers as well as uplifting for all adults like me who have had a hard day at work or at college. Mangalam Shiv has the knack of narrating his short stories with poise, simplicity and lucidity that wins the heart of the reader quite easily. This, mixed with the right amount of suspenseful narration makes for brilliant storytelling which can be very addictive indeed! Heart-warming to say the least, ‘Sparrow’s Nest’ easily gets 5 stars from me.
If you wish to read a really uplifting, short and captivating short story then do pick up your Kindle copy of ‘Sparrow’s Nest’ today! I hope to read more of Mangalam Shiv’s works in the near future. I simply cannot get enough of him. He certainly has that charm which Ruskin Bond prides himself for but with the precision in his narrative style and craft like that of Chetan Bhagat, Durjoy Datta, Divya Prakash Dubey and Ravinder Singh. I especially found this short story to be very much like the sentimental literature of Durjoy Dutta this time and so if you as a reader like the aforementioned current bestselling Indian authors then you should also now make way for Mangalam Shiv as he has certainly a lot to offer in the same light.
I especially felt the heart-warming conversation between the little girl and her father to be very much like probably what Durjoy Dutta would have written but with the added precision for suspense like Chetan Bhagat who is currently the King of Modern Popular Indian Literature. Mangalam has an added advantage of using crisp descriptions and ‘to the point’ changes in plots and subplots that makes him remind me of all these current nationally bestselling authors.
I think Mangalam Shiv needs to write more short stories like these in the coming days and weeks. We in India, especially in the bustling city of Mumbai need his kind of literature to keep our spirits up amidst work and studies as we manoeuvre our way through a city that is developing into a new Shanghai at the speed of light. We need to, at the same time, focus on our priority to keep the city safe for our animal and bird denizens which Mangalam Shiv has also beautifully managed to capture in this short story. We as Mumbaikars have always lived happily amidst nature, especially with a lot of birds all our lives; let us not break the bond that we share with them just for the sake of innovation and rapid urbanization.
Mangalam Shiva's Sparrow's Nest is a poignant and inspiring story about a sparrow's determination to build a nest and care for its future offspring, despite facing numerous obstacles. The narrative explores themes of resilience, hope, and the challenges of survival in a world filled with unpredictable dangers. The sparrow encounters harsh weather, predators, and human interference as it strives to create a safe space for its young, mirroring the struggles many face in their own lives.
Shiva's writing is poetic and vivid, capturing the beauty of nature while evoking deep emotional connections with the reader. The story not only highlights the bird's perseverance but also subtly raises awareness about environmental issues, emphasizing the delicate balance between wildlife and human activities. The sparrow’s journey is a powerful metaphor for overcoming adversity and finding hope even in the face of repeated setbacks.
Suitable for readers of all ages, Sparrow's Nest resonates with both children and adults, offering valuable lessons on resilience, empathy, and the importance of protecting nature. Ultimately, the book leaves readers with a sense of optimism, reminding them that with determination, even the smallest among us can achieve great things
Does everyone deserve to have a beautiful home? A family? Happy life? Safe life? You will say - Definately Yes! What if i say, a bird also deserve the same. Yes, I'm talking about Sparrows. Now, i can see the silence because no one has an answer to this?
Hold On. Here’s a story about sparrows which will make us realise how much destructions we have been doing to these small beautiful creatures. This short story will get you tears in your eyes. It has triggered a warning to all of us to mend our unnatural acts otherwise very soon than later we will also be punished for the harms we have been inflicting upon nature and it's constituents. I got the lessons of love, hope, kindness, humility and cruelty in this just eight pages book. Huge respect for Mangalam Shiva ji for this title🙏😊