नाकोहस

by Purushottam Agrawal

'किस दुनिया के सपने देखे, किस दुनिया तक पहुंचे...' इन बढ़ते, घुटन-भरे अंधेरों के बीच रोशनी की कहीं कोई गुंजाइश बची है क्या ? इसी सवाल से जूझते हमारे तीनों नायक-सुकेत, रघु और शम्स-कहाँ पहुंचे... "तीनों? करुणा क्यों नहीं याद आती तुम्हें? औरत है ! इसलिए?" नकोहस तुम्हारी जानकारी में हो या न हो, तुम्हारे पर्यावरण में है... टीवी ऑफ़ क्यों नहीं हो रहा ? सोफे पर अधलेटे से पड़े सुकेत ने सीधे बैठ कर हाथ में पकडे रिमोट को टीवी की ऐन सीध में कर जोर से ऑफ़ बटन दबाया...बेकार...वह उठा, टीवी के करीब पहुँच पावर स्विच ऑफ किया... हर दीवार जैसे भीमकाय टीवी स्क्रीन में बदल गई है, कह रही है : "वह एक टीवी बंद कर भी दोगे, प्यारे...तो क्या...हम तो हैं न..." टीवी भी चल रहा है... और दीवारों पर रंगों के थक्के भी लगातार नाच रहे हैं...सुकेत फिर से टीवी के सामने के सोफे पर वैसा ही...बेजान... टीवी वालों को फोन करना होगा ! कम्प्लेंट कैसे समझाऊंगा? लोगों के सेट चल कर नहीं देते, यह सेट साला टल कर नहीं दे रहा ...

164 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2016

About the author

Purushottam Agrawal (Hindi:हिंदी पुरुषोत्तम अग्रवाल, born 25 June, 1955) is an Indian writer and academic.

He was born and brought up in the city of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. He has an MA (Political Science, 1977) from Jiwaji University, Gwalior and one in Hindi Literature, 1979 from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He was awarded a Ph.D degree by Jawaharlal Nehru University in 1985 on the topic of '‘The Social Meaning of Kabir’s Bhakti’' under the supervision of Namwar Singh.

His academic interests include Bhakti poetry and its social context (especially that of Kabir), indigenous (“vernacular”) modernity, non-violence and cultural & literary criticism.

He has written many books including Kabir: Sakhi aur Sabad (A collection of Kabir’s poetry with an analytical introduction), Shivdan Singh Chauhan (A monograph in “Makers of Indian Literature” series published by Sahitya Akademi, Delhi), Majbooti Ka Naam Mahtma Gandhi (published version of annual Gandhi Lecture, organized by Gandhi Peace Foundation, Delhi), ‘Nij Brahma Vichhar: Dharma, Samaj aur Dharmetar Adhyatma’ (Essays on religion, spirituality and philosophy), Vichaar ka Ananta (a collection of theoretical and cultural essays), Teesra Rukh (A collection of literary and cultural essays), Sanskriti: Varchswa aur Pratiroadh (a collection of cultural and political essays) Hindi Nai chaal mein Dhali ( edited proceedings of the international symposium organized in Patna, India on the evolution of modern Hindi), Akath Kahani Prem Ki : Kabir ki Kavita aur Unka Samay (2009) and Hindi Saray: Astrakhan via Yerevan( 2012). He is also a poet and story writer. His short story Cheng Chui published in Pragatishil Vashudha (2012). His another short story is Chaurahe Par Putala published in Naya Gyanodaya (a Bharteey Gyanpeet Magazine). ""pan Patte ki Goth"" (appeared in ""Pakhi"") is a story about a renowned scientist and academician which is fighting upper-casteist professors and other stakeholder in an Indian university system. ""Pair Ghanti"" is a story about feudal minded polity and casteist bureaucracy. ""Nacohus"" (appeared in ""Pakhi"") is a short story by Agrawal which talks about mindless communal sentimentalism and irrational approach towards art and culture.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purusho...

http://www.purushottamagrawal.com/about/

Reviews

[Abhaga · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book has an interesting and fertile premise but fails in execution. Beyond some newly coined awkward words, there is no real imagination, no real insight or wit. It starts feeling repetitive very soon. It started as a short story and perhaps should never have been expanded into a novel.

What it did get right was capturing the frustration and depression of living through the current times. I was nodding along for the first few pages of the book.

NaCoHuS = National Commission of hurt Sentiments.

[Rahul Khanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like Purshottam Aggarwal's lectures but this book is utterly boring and vapid.