What do you think?
Tat Ki Khoj
A philosophical exploration of the search for the ultimate truth in life.
108 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2005
About the author
Harishankar Parsai
87 books253 followersHarishankar Parsai (हरिशंकर परसाई) was one of the greatest hindi satire writer. Despite holding a MA degree in English, he never wrote in this language. Started his career as a teacher, he later quit it to become a full time writer and started a literature magazine "Vasudha"(it was later closed because of financial difficulties).
He was famous for his blunt and pinching style of writing which included allegorical as well as realist approach. He was funny enough to make you laugh but serious enough to prick your conscience. There would be hardly any dimension of life left which has not appeared in his satires. He received Sahitya Academy Award(biggest literature award in India) for his book "Viklaang Sraddha ka Daur". He has penned down some novels also.
He was famous for his blunt and pinching style of writing which included allegorical as well as realist approach. He was funny enough to make you laugh but serious enough to prick your conscience. There would be hardly any dimension of life left which has not appeared in his satires. He received Sahitya Academy Award(biggest literature award in India) for his book "Viklaang Sraddha ka Daur". He has penned down some novels also.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 1, 2026
Harishankar Parsai is known for satire, and in 'Tat Ki Khoj', that satire turns into pain.
(in daughter's words):-
"बाहर भीड़ बढ़ रही थी। मोहल्ले के भले-बुरे सब इकट्ठे हो रहे थे। वे जो स्वयं मुझे लोलुपता से घूरते थे, वे जो स्वयं कलुषित थे... अब धर्म और पवित्रता के झंडे हाथ में उठाए थे। सब पवित्र थे क्योंकि ये गोपन में कुशल थे। सत्चरित्र और दुश्चरित्र में कुल इतना फर्क है—पहला कलुष को छिपाने में समर्थ है, दूसरा असमर्थ।"
"हां, स्त्री होना बहुत सी असमर्थताओं को भुगतना है। अबला कहा है तो उसे अबला बनाकर ही छोड़ेंगे। जो अबला बनने से इनकार करेगी, उसे कुलटा बनाएंगे। अबला और कुलटा में से एक नाम चुनना होता है हमें।"
"रोना मेरे लिए जरूरी हो गया था। मैं रोई। पड़ोसी आकर झाँक जाते, पर कोई भीतर न आता। कहते हैं मृत्यु के बाद बैर समाप्त हो जाता है, पर जो घृणा के देवता के सच्चे भक्त होते हैं, वे मुर्दों से भी बैर बांधते हैं। पर कुछ दिनों बाद समझ में आया कि वे नीच नहीं थे, गुलाम थे संस्कारबद्ध भावना के। वे केवल दयनीय थे।"
This book by Harishankar Parsai tells a very heart-touching story about a father, his educated and capable daughter ( for whom the father is unable to find a groom due to dowry demands), and society. I personally liked the way this book has been written because the author, throughout the book, never lectures but simply shows what society does to this family, and the questioning happens inside the reader. Very few books have placed me, as a reader, on the side of people who suffer these illogical and draconian norms. Even though this is a work of fiction, we can see these types of occurrences, behaviours, and hypocrisy daily in our society, and sometimes we even become part of it.
Harishankar Parsai didn't just tell a story; he held up a mirror to our collective hypocrisy.
(in daughter's words):-
"बाहर भीड़ बढ़ रही थी। मोहल्ले के भले-बुरे सब इकट्ठे हो रहे थे। वे जो स्वयं मुझे लोलुपता से घूरते थे, वे जो स्वयं कलुषित थे... अब धर्म और पवित्रता के झंडे हाथ में उठाए थे। सब पवित्र थे क्योंकि ये गोपन में कुशल थे। सत्चरित्र और दुश्चरित्र में कुल इतना फर्क है—पहला कलुष को छिपाने में समर्थ है, दूसरा असमर्थ।"
"हां, स्त्री होना बहुत सी असमर्थताओं को भुगतना है। अबला कहा है तो उसे अबला बनाकर ही छोड़ेंगे। जो अबला बनने से इनकार करेगी, उसे कुलटा बनाएंगे। अबला और कुलटा में से एक नाम चुनना होता है हमें।"
"रोना मेरे लिए जरूरी हो गया था। मैं रोई। पड़ोसी आकर झाँक जाते, पर कोई भीतर न आता। कहते हैं मृत्यु के बाद बैर समाप्त हो जाता है, पर जो घृणा के देवता के सच्चे भक्त होते हैं, वे मुर्दों से भी बैर बांधते हैं। पर कुछ दिनों बाद समझ में आया कि वे नीच नहीं थे, गुलाम थे संस्कारबद्ध भावना के। वे केवल दयनीय थे।"
This book by Harishankar Parsai tells a very heart-touching story about a father, his educated and capable daughter ( for whom the father is unable to find a groom due to dowry demands), and society. I personally liked the way this book has been written because the author, throughout the book, never lectures but simply shows what society does to this family, and the questioning happens inside the reader. Very few books have placed me, as a reader, on the side of people who suffer these illogical and draconian norms. Even though this is a work of fiction, we can see these types of occurrences, behaviours, and hypocrisy daily in our society, and sometimes we even become part of it.
Harishankar Parsai didn't just tell a story; he held up a mirror to our collective hypocrisy.
June 21, 2026
Shayad ye Harishankar Parsai ji ki sabse lambi kahani hai. Unhone wahi likha hai jo wo aksar apni vyang or chhoti kahaniyo me likha karte hai jaise samaaj, purush-pradhanta, or uske aaspass kiye jane wala kataaksh. Kuch bahot hi sundar panktiyo ko prayog kiya gya hai.
Sabse badi baat, Parsai ji ki lekhani me Premchand ki bahot jhalak dikhti hai. Lagta hai Premchand ji ki hi duniya ko koi dusra lekhak badi dhairyata se pesh karte hai.
Sabse badi baat, Parsai ji ki lekhani me Premchand ki bahot jhalak dikhti hai. Lagta hai Premchand ji ki hi duniya ko koi dusra lekhak badi dhairyata se pesh karte hai.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews