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हिंदू - जगण्याची समृद्ध अडगळ
भालचंद्र नेमाडे यांची 'झूल' ही कादंबरी प्रकाशित झाल्यानंतर तब्बल तीस वर्षांनंतर 'हिंदू' ही कादंबरी प्रकाशित झाली. एवढा दीर्घ लेखनकाळ असलेली ही मराठी साहित्यातील अपवादात्मक आणि तेवढीच बहुचर्चित कादंबरी आहे. पुरातत्त्वविदयेचा अभ्यासक व संशोधक खंडेराव हा कादंबरीचा नायक आहे, त्याच्या भूमिकेतून नेमाडे हिंदू संस्कृतीविषयक आपली वैचारिकता मांडतात. स्वातंत्र्यप्राप्तीनंतर दोन धर्मांवरून झालेली भारताची फाळणी, मोरगाववर पेंढार्यांची चाल व लूटालूट, लभानी लोकांचे मोरगावात समरस होणे, मारवाडी समाजासारख्या समाजाचे आपला मूळ प्रदेश सोडून अन्यत्र सामावून जाणे इत्यादींचे वेधक चित्रण या कादंबरीत येते.
564 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2016
105 people are currently reading
1438 people want to read
About the author
Bhalchandra Nemade
18 books122 followersBhalchandra Vanaji Nemade (born 1938) is a Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India. He is famous for his books Hindu and Kosala. Also he is known for his novel Hindu jagnyachi samrudhha adgal. He is a recipient of the civilian honour of Padma Shri (2011) and the Jnanpith Award (2014).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
May 27, 2020
'कोसला' वाचल्यानंतर 'हिंदु- जगण्याची समृद्ध अडगळ' वाचण्याचा योग लगेचच आला. या कादंबरीची व्याप्ती खूप मोठी आहे. स्वातंत्र्यपूर्व काळापासून-स्वातंत्र्योत्तर काळापर्यंत, हिंदुस्तान -पाकिस्तानातील सिंधू संस्कृतीपासून ते विज्ञानयुगावर स्वार झालेल्या आधुनिक मानवापर्यंत. अश्मयुगीन किंवा त्यापेक्षाही प्राचीन मानवाचे बुद्धीवैफल्य ते आधुनिक मानवाचे बुद्धीविवेचन लेखकाने उत्तम रेखाटले आहे.
कादंबरीची कथा ही खंडेराव मोरगावकर या कथानायकाची. कथेचा नायक हा कथेचा सूत्रधारही आहे. तो शेतकरी समाजातील ध्येयपीडितांचे प्रतिनिधीत्व करतो. कादंबरीची जवळजवळ तीन चतुर्थांश कथा ही अर्धग्लानीत असलेया नायकाचे मनोविश्व उलगडते. ग्लानीत आलेल्या भयप्रवाहात नायक जेव्हा वाहत जातो तेव्हा मार्गात अनेक किनारे लागतात पण नाव कुठल्याच किनारी लागत नाही. कुठला किनारा खडकाळ तर कुठे रेतीच रेती तर कुठले किनारे सहप्रवाशांच्या होड्यांनी काबीज केलेले. अंती नाव एका वेगळ्याच किनारी लागते. जेथून सुरुवात केली तिथे. शेवट. सुरुवात हाच शेवट!
कथेतील अगणित प्रसंग आणि त्यायोगे आलेली अनेक पात्रे, नायकास प्रत्यक्ष-अप्रत्यक्ष भेटलेली आणि त्यातून घडत गेलेला नायक हा या कथेचा आत्मा आहे. काही प्रसंग तर हृदयास भिडून जातात. व्यक्ती तितक्या प्रवृत्ती या उक्तीस पात्र ठरणारी अनेक पात्रे कथेत येतात. काही प्रश्न उत्पन्न करतात तर काही बरेच काही सांगून जातात. पोटासाठी आटापिटा करणारे, शोषित, धन्याशी एकनिष्ठ असणारे, कलंदर, तऱ्हेवाईक, जिवाभावाचे, नाळ जोडलेले अशा अनेक प्रकारचे लोक कथेबरोबर प्रवास करत राहतात. नायक हा कुठल्याही आदर्शवादाकडे किंवा दृढ विचारसरणीकडे न झुकता स्वतःला घडवत राहतो, शोधत राहतो.
वर्षानुवर्षे चालत आलेली शेती म्हणजे एक दुष्टचक्रच. शेतकऱयांचा सगळ्यात मोठा शत्रू म्हणजे शेती. दुसरा मोठा शत्रू म्हणजे व्यापारी, दलाल. आणि तिसरा मोठा शत्रू म्हणजे, हमी भावाची फक्त हमीच देऊन खुर्ची टिकवणारे सरकार. नायकाचे शेतीबद्दलचे निरीक्षण आजही लागू पडते. आजही खेडोपाडी काही वेगळी स्थिती नाही. गरीब, अल्पभूधारक, कामकरी, कष्टकरी, मजूर, जिरायती, कोरडवाहू शेतकरी आजही झगडतो आहे.
जगाच्या पसाऱ्यात वावरताना पुस्तकी बुद्धीप्रपंचापेक्षा अनुभवाची शिदोरी वरचढ ठरते. उगाच म्हणून भेटलेला कुणी एखादा मौलिक ठेवा देऊन जातो. किंवा जवळचाच कुणी अक्कलहिशेबी मुबलक ठेव देवून जातो. काही गणितं सोडवण्यापेक्षा ती सोडून देण्यातच शहाणपण. पण प्रारब्धाचे(?) फटकारे सोसल्याशिवाय हे शहाणपण येत नाही. आयुष्याचा जमाखर्च कितीही काटेकोरपणे केला तरी आपण देणेच लागतो.
कादंबरीची कथा ही खंडेराव मोरगावकर या कथानायकाची. कथेचा नायक हा कथेचा सूत्रधारही आहे. तो शेतकरी समाजातील ध्येयपीडितांचे प्रतिनिधीत्व करतो. कादंबरीची जवळजवळ तीन चतुर्थांश कथा ही अर्धग्लानीत असलेया नायकाचे मनोविश्व उलगडते. ग्लानीत आलेल्या भयप्रवाहात नायक जेव्हा वाहत जातो तेव्हा मार्गात अनेक किनारे लागतात पण नाव कुठल्याच किनारी लागत नाही. कुठला किनारा खडकाळ तर कुठे रेतीच रेती तर कुठले किनारे सहप्रवाशांच्या होड्यांनी काबीज केलेले. अंती नाव एका वेगळ्याच किनारी लागते. जेथून सुरुवात केली तिथे. शेवट. सुरुवात हाच शेवट!
कथेतील अगणित प्रसंग आणि त्यायोगे आलेली अनेक पात्रे, नायकास प्रत्यक्ष-अप्रत्यक्ष भेटलेली आणि त्यातून घडत गेलेला नायक हा या कथेचा आत्मा आहे. काही प्रसंग तर हृदयास भिडून जातात. व्यक्ती तितक्या प्रवृत्ती या उक्तीस पात्र ठरणारी अनेक पात्रे कथेत येतात. काही प्रश्न उत्पन्न करतात तर काही बरेच काही सांगून जातात. पोटासाठी आटापिटा करणारे, शोषित, धन्याशी एकनिष्ठ असणारे, कलंदर, तऱ्हेवाईक, जिवाभावाचे, नाळ जोडलेले अशा अनेक प्रकारचे लोक कथेबरोबर प्रवास करत राहतात. नायक हा कुठल्याही आदर्शवादाकडे किंवा दृढ विचारसरणीकडे न झुकता स्वतःला घडवत राहतो, शोधत राहतो.
वर्षानुवर्षे चालत आलेली शेती म्हणजे एक दुष्टचक्रच. शेतकऱयांचा सगळ्यात मोठा शत्रू म्हणजे शेती. दुसरा मोठा शत्रू म्हणजे व्यापारी, दलाल. आणि तिसरा मोठा शत्रू म्हणजे, हमी भावाची फक्त हमीच देऊन खुर्ची टिकवणारे सरकार. नायकाचे शेतीबद्दलचे निरीक्षण आजही लागू पडते. आजही खेडोपाडी काही वेगळी स्थिती नाही. गरीब, अल्पभूधारक, कामकरी, कष्टकरी, मजूर, जिरायती, कोरडवाहू शेतकरी आजही झगडतो आहे.
जगाच्या पसाऱ्यात वावरताना पुस्तकी बुद्धीप्रपंचापेक्षा अनुभवाची शिदोरी वरचढ ठरते. उगाच म्हणून भेटलेला कुणी एखादा मौलिक ठेवा देऊन जातो. किंवा जवळचाच कुणी अक्कलहिशेबी मुबलक ठेव देवून जातो. काही गणितं सोडवण्यापेक्षा ती सोडून देण्यातच शहाणपण. पण प्रारब्धाचे(?) फटकारे सोसल्याशिवाय हे शहाणपण येत नाही. आयुष्याचा जमाखर्च कितीही काटेकोरपणे केला तरी आपण देणेच लागतो.
February 23, 2016
Here are a few things you should know before you buy it.
If you are hunting for a entertaining novel don't go for it. Hindu is not written like other conventional novels, it does not follow a cetrain story. Also, Hindu doesn't have a plot. Hindu is actually a documentary-type based on various stories relating to the protagonist 'Khanderao', his family, friends and colleagues which is somehow stitched into a novel(That's what makes Nemade great). But the more you read, the more you realize that the the story is not leading anywhere. In fact, after reading the last page I checked twice if there is something I missed. If you tell me to narrate what is 'Hindu' actually about, I couldn't do it.
Hindu stands out for its uniqueness, the detailed observation and the narration of the rural Maharashtra with its cultural and social heritages. According to me, if you are a not a native speaker of Marathi (or if you are reading the translated version) then you will find it difficult to understand what 'Khanderao' is upto or in the worst scenario you will find the whole book to be flat and uninteresting.
Don't go for it by the 'Jnanpith' tag. There are chances that you'll be disappointed.
I personally think that Hindu is one of the finest works ever done in Marathi literature(or should I say in Indian literature). So, my advice to anyone who wants to enjoy and understand 'Hindu' to its fullest is by understanding the author Bhalchandra Nemade. It is very important to read some of his works before heading towards 'Hindu'. I recommend Kosla, Bidhar, and Nativism (Desivad).
Overall after these conditions 'Hindu' is a must read. I find it very thought provoking and written to perfection. Hats off Nemade!
If you are hunting for a entertaining novel don't go for it. Hindu is not written like other conventional novels, it does not follow a cetrain story. Also, Hindu doesn't have a plot. Hindu is actually a documentary-type based on various stories relating to the protagonist 'Khanderao', his family, friends and colleagues which is somehow stitched into a novel(That's what makes Nemade great). But the more you read, the more you realize that the the story is not leading anywhere. In fact, after reading the last page I checked twice if there is something I missed. If you tell me to narrate what is 'Hindu' actually about, I couldn't do it.
Hindu stands out for its uniqueness, the detailed observation and the narration of the rural Maharashtra with its cultural and social heritages. According to me, if you are a not a native speaker of Marathi (or if you are reading the translated version) then you will find it difficult to understand what 'Khanderao' is upto or in the worst scenario you will find the whole book to be flat and uninteresting.
Don't go for it by the 'Jnanpith' tag. There are chances that you'll be disappointed.
I personally think that Hindu is one of the finest works ever done in Marathi literature(or should I say in Indian literature). So, my advice to anyone who wants to enjoy and understand 'Hindu' to its fullest is by understanding the author Bhalchandra Nemade. It is very important to read some of his works before heading towards 'Hindu'. I recommend Kosla, Bidhar, and Nativism (Desivad).
Overall after these conditions 'Hindu' is a must read. I find it very thought provoking and written to perfection. Hats off Nemade!
January 7, 2016
As always is the case with Nemade sir, this is a treat to read. Bhalchandra Nemadeji writes in his astonishing style, unveils the glorious past of Hinduism but also, do not hesitate to criticize the religion at appropriate places.
His writings rightly describes Hinduism's old character of 'taking everyone in the flow'..
No wonder he studied for decades to write this masterpiece..a must read.
His writings rightly describes Hinduism's old character of 'taking everyone in the flow'..
No wonder he studied for decades to write this masterpiece..a must read.
April 18, 2020
This book was on my reading list for a very long time, I really like Nemade's style, and have previously read his Kosla and Changdev Tetra-logy. But from what I had heard from my fellow readers is that, this book is very abstract and hard to get into.
But that was not my experience at all, as I have previously read Nemade's books, I knew that he writes in very abstract style, and generally we have his narrators jumping all over the place, generally all his books have single narrators, and it is through them that we experience the world.
This book is narrated to us from the point of view Khanderao who is an archaeological student, and who is working at an archaeological site in Pakistan, namely the Harappa civilization. During his work he comes to know that his father has passed away in his native village of Moregaon in Maharashtra.
And so begins the journey of Khanderao from Lahore in Pakistan to Moregaon in Maharashtra, and through this journey Khanderao takes us back to his archaeological ancestral roots all the way back to how his genealogy started from Panipat to how his ancestors came back to Moregaon.
He tells us all this through his memories of his childhood growing up in this village as a son of an farmer, and how a farmer is basically a backbone of an village, who touches all the aspects of an rural life.
The kind of detail of an farmer's life provided to us by Nemade is this book is amazing, the kind of detailed research which went into gathering such detailed things about day to day life in what goes about in our Indian Maharashtra villages, is mind boggling.
Now I am basically from Nashik, and we have our ancestral home there, and in that home, we have a room where all the old things which are of no use to have been kept, all the Indian homes, have such kind of room or space, these are things which you can't throw away or neither use in your day to day life, but they have so much nostalgia and memories connected with them, that you just can't throw them.
While reading this book it gave me a feeling of visiting that room in my ancestral home, because it brings back so many memories, if you have lived in an rural area or an village. Those are good and bad memories.
This is how generally we trace our ancestors, and this exactly how Khanderao does it, by visiting his memories and reliving his past.
This book is an fantastic experience, but don't start it if you haven't read previous Nemade books, I would say first visit them, and then start this magnum opus.
Hat's off to Nemade.
But that was not my experience at all, as I have previously read Nemade's books, I knew that he writes in very abstract style, and generally we have his narrators jumping all over the place, generally all his books have single narrators, and it is through them that we experience the world.
This book is narrated to us from the point of view Khanderao who is an archaeological student, and who is working at an archaeological site in Pakistan, namely the Harappa civilization. During his work he comes to know that his father has passed away in his native village of Moregaon in Maharashtra.
And so begins the journey of Khanderao from Lahore in Pakistan to Moregaon in Maharashtra, and through this journey Khanderao takes us back to his archaeological ancestral roots all the way back to how his genealogy started from Panipat to how his ancestors came back to Moregaon.
He tells us all this through his memories of his childhood growing up in this village as a son of an farmer, and how a farmer is basically a backbone of an village, who touches all the aspects of an rural life.
The kind of detail of an farmer's life provided to us by Nemade is this book is amazing, the kind of detailed research which went into gathering such detailed things about day to day life in what goes about in our Indian Maharashtra villages, is mind boggling.
Now I am basically from Nashik, and we have our ancestral home there, and in that home, we have a room where all the old things which are of no use to have been kept, all the Indian homes, have such kind of room or space, these are things which you can't throw away or neither use in your day to day life, but they have so much nostalgia and memories connected with them, that you just can't throw them.
While reading this book it gave me a feeling of visiting that room in my ancestral home, because it brings back so many memories, if you have lived in an rural area or an village. Those are good and bad memories.
This is how generally we trace our ancestors, and this exactly how Khanderao does it, by visiting his memories and reliving his past.
This book is an fantastic experience, but don't start it if you haven't read previous Nemade books, I would say first visit them, and then start this magnum opus.
Hat's off to Nemade.
March 1, 2013
जगण्याच्या अडगळीला समृद्ध करणारं पुस्तक ...!
May 25, 2018
Detailed descriptions of the rich but crooked culture and lifestyle of hinduism, weaved into the journey of an archaelogy student. A fascinating read.
October 5, 2019
I have read Kosla and am aware of Nemade's literary style. He has taken great efforts in terms of research to pen this so called Magnum Opus of his. Nemade has been consistent in this novel about his thought provoking ironies observed in society. As expected the protagonist is chained to a deterministic set of events and keeps drifting. I am still ok with that. What I am not ok with is as follows -
1. Nemade seems to be very irresponsible towards throwing in racial stereotypes especially about Brahmins and other non Maratha castes. I am not hurt or anything, but he seems to be strongly biased against everything non Maratha ( Kunbi ). At times to an extent that Nemade comes across as a rebel without cause.
2. Technical glitches - Several technical shortcomings eg: the protagonist starts writing a letter to his brother and without any logical ending to the letter, the author relapses to his protagonist's narrative. Several period and time issues, looking at the overall timeline, the protagonist seems to be 24-25 years of age during 1947. Considering this the author has brought political events which occurred 20-25 years later.
3. The commercial trap??- This book could have easily be 200 odd pages less. But I guess, for commercial attraction , Nemade has beefed up the book. In doing so he has strayed many a time giving many inconsequential information inconsistent with the general theme. At times he seems to have undertaken a bigger bite than he could have chewed.
4. The language and episodes- I can understand the usage of local dialect to give the reader a feel. But overload of obscenities and spicier gossips only from the upper castes ( ignoring any good work dine by them) etc. robs away credibility from the author.
Hence 3 stars.
1. Nemade seems to be very irresponsible towards throwing in racial stereotypes especially about Brahmins and other non Maratha castes. I am not hurt or anything, but he seems to be strongly biased against everything non Maratha ( Kunbi ). At times to an extent that Nemade comes across as a rebel without cause.
2. Technical glitches - Several technical shortcomings eg: the protagonist starts writing a letter to his brother and without any logical ending to the letter, the author relapses to his protagonist's narrative. Several period and time issues, looking at the overall timeline, the protagonist seems to be 24-25 years of age during 1947. Considering this the author has brought political events which occurred 20-25 years later.
3. The commercial trap??- This book could have easily be 200 odd pages less. But I guess, for commercial attraction , Nemade has beefed up the book. In doing so he has strayed many a time giving many inconsequential information inconsistent with the general theme. At times he seems to have undertaken a bigger bite than he could have chewed.
4. The language and episodes- I can understand the usage of local dialect to give the reader a feel. But overload of obscenities and spicier gossips only from the upper castes ( ignoring any good work dine by them) etc. robs away credibility from the author.
Hence 3 stars.
August 7, 2014
Power of entering into someone's mind. Bhalchandra Nemade is great.
January 14, 2023
मराठी ग्रामीण जीवांचा गुंता दाखवत असलेली कादंबरी.
सुरुवातीला वाचण्यात लय यायला वेळ लागणार कारण लिखाण हे बोलीभाषेत बऱ्याच ठिकाणी आहे.
नेमाडे यांचे हातोटी अफाट आहे, ज्यात त्यांनी अख्या वैश्विक विष्याना यातून हात घातला आहे.
एकदम कठीण विषय आणि डोक्याला विचार करायला लावणारा.
ज्या लोकांना मराठी शेतकरी ग्रामीण जीवांचा अनुभव नाही त्यांना वाचन अवघड जाणार.
सुरुवातीला वाचण्यात लय यायला वेळ लागणार कारण लिखाण हे बोलीभाषेत बऱ्याच ठिकाणी आहे.
नेमाडे यांचे हातोटी अफाट आहे, ज्यात त्यांनी अख्या वैश्विक विष्याना यातून हात घातला आहे.
एकदम कठीण विषय आणि डोक्याला विचार करायला लावणारा.
ज्या लोकांना मराठी शेतकरी ग्रामीण जीवांचा अनुभव नाही त्यांना वाचन अवघड जाणार.
September 6, 2018
Great...
August 18, 2024
Hindu, Jagnyachi Samriddha Adgal (means, "Hindu: The resourceful storehouse for living"):
Magnum opus by Bhalchandra Nemade. Published in 2010. Marks the checkpoint in the history of North Maharashtrian culture. The book takes the reader into pre-partition India (in 1940's) and speaks upto 1970's. The plot is set up as, a young Marathi PhD student of archaeology studying at Deccan college Pune, moves to present day Pakistan for excavation, and comes back from there to India due to personal emergency. Nemade goes back 5000 years, talks about the daily lives of early Indians, moves onto Vedic periods, the greatest of kings, the different intrusions on the Indian soil, the history of Maharashtra, the British and their sins, the dialects, the castes, the communities, the rich and the poor of the ancient Hindu culture. The book is not a proponent of any Hindu ideas, nor is it a criticism. It is an average Hindu feeling jotted down in words. It doesn't define being Hindu as being of a particular religion, but of the great culture that's as old as the great India. Nemade won the highest literary award given annually by the Indian govt. the Jnanpith for this work. Respect!🫡
Magnum opus by Bhalchandra Nemade. Published in 2010. Marks the checkpoint in the history of North Maharashtrian culture. The book takes the reader into pre-partition India (in 1940's) and speaks upto 1970's. The plot is set up as, a young Marathi PhD student of archaeology studying at Deccan college Pune, moves to present day Pakistan for excavation, and comes back from there to India due to personal emergency. Nemade goes back 5000 years, talks about the daily lives of early Indians, moves onto Vedic periods, the greatest of kings, the different intrusions on the Indian soil, the history of Maharashtra, the British and their sins, the dialects, the castes, the communities, the rich and the poor of the ancient Hindu culture. The book is not a proponent of any Hindu ideas, nor is it a criticism. It is an average Hindu feeling jotted down in words. It doesn't define being Hindu as being of a particular religion, but of the great culture that's as old as the great India. Nemade won the highest literary award given annually by the Indian govt. the Jnanpith for this work. Respect!🫡
August 30, 2019
Beauty. Language wise, content wise an astonishing experience. Some may say the language is very difficult and story is going nowhere; but believe me it is our limited knowledge of so-called "shuddha marathi" which is the problem here. The book takes us to the enlightening journey of vast enriched cultural treasure of rural Maharashtra. The writer expresses his views on many aspects of life through different experiences and they are well supported with arguments. The positive thing here is that at least he tried to take the rituals and customs on argumentative level which many(of writers, so called social scientists & thinkers) previously assumed or accepted as the "universal truth". Though some of the arguments and so the views are challengeable, they can be accepted as the choice may differ. So when summing up, it is a good, readable book which is not going to waste your time.
January 8, 2018
A must read book. It takes you through the 20th century era, struggle by the Farmers family that defines the story most of the farmers in the village area.
After reading this book, the struggle of characters, you start to think that todays life is so easy and we are very lucky.
After reading this book, the struggle of characters, you start to think that todays life is so easy and we are very lucky.
September 5, 2013
this is a monumental work from Nemade
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2014
MUST READ... GREAT BOOK...
READ IN 2 DAYS...
READ IN 2 DAYS...
February 19, 2015
Amazing!
November 25, 2018
No words to review it. Its a must read for every one.
July 17, 2018
गूढ, समृद्ध आणि कोहं ची जाणीव करून देणारे...
July 31, 2013
भावविश्व उलगडणारी अडगळ..
May 1, 2023
नेमाड्यांच्या लिखाणाचं परीक्षण वगैरे करण्याइतका मी मोठा नाही. पण हे पुस्तक वाचताना आलेले विचार नोंदवतो आहे.
पुस्तकाच्या बायलाईन प्रमाणे हे पुस्तक बऱ्यापैकी विस्कळीत आहे. रूढार्थाने ही कादंबरी नाही. पुस्तकाचा नायक खंडेराव मोरगावकर ह्याच्या मनाची अवस्था दाखवणारं हे चित्रीकरण आहे. कुठेतरी पाकिस्तानात पुरातत्व संशोधन करत असताना खंडेरावाला बातमी मिळते की त्याचे वडील आजारी आहेत. त्यांना भेटायला मग तो तडक निघतो. त्या संपूर्ण प्रवासात त्याचं मन सैरभैर झालेलं आहे. अनेक प्रसंग आठवतायत, घटनाक्रम मागे पुढे होतो आहे, आयुष्यात आजवर भेटलेले सगळे मनःचक्षूंसमोर येत आहेत.
खंडेराव मोरगावातील एक शेतकरी (कुणबी) कुटुंबातील आहे. मोठा परिवार, जमीनजुमला, अनेक नातेवाईक असं विस्तारलेलं घर आहे. त्यामुळे कथानकांना तोटा नाही. शेतीचे प्रसंग येतात तसेच संसाराचे अनेक प्रसंग येतात. वारकरी संप्रदायाची तोंडओळख होते. अश्या शेतकरी कुटुंबातून येऊन खंडेराव मात्र पुरातत्व विषयात शिक्षण घेतो. विषयाचा अभ्यास करताना, मराठेशाही, इंग्रज ह्यांचे संदर्भ येतातच. पण हे झाले सत्ताधीश. ह्या शाह्या बदलताना, स्वतंत्र भारताचं अस्तित्व आल्यावर समाजात, चालीरीतींमध्ये काही फरक पडले का? जातींचं पोटजातींचं विभाजन तसंच राहिलं की काही बदल झाले, ह्याचेही चिक्कार संदर्भ येतात.
नायकाचं कामाचं स्वरूप आणि शेतकरी पार्श्वभूमी वगैरे पहाता कथानकाचा आवाका खूपच मोठा आहे. हडप्पा संस्कृतीतून सुरु होऊन लिखाण आजच्या परिस्थितीपर्यंत येतं. ह्यासाठी काढलेल्या नोट्स, पुस्तकाची संहिता महाप्रचंड असणार हे ओघानेच आलं. अनेक उल्लेख फार तपशील ना देताही बरंच काही सांगून जातात. लिखाण ओघवतं आहेच आणि वेगवान सुद्धा. ६०० पानांमध्ये हे सामावून घेताना दमछाक झालेली असणारच. त्यामुळे मग विस्कळीत पणा तसाच राहू देण्याऐवजी गत्यंतर नसावे.
ह्या सर्व पसाऱ्यातून सहज अनेक पुस्तकं झाली असती. अखिल भारतीय उपखंडाच्या समाजाचं 'पृथिव्यैः समुद्रपर्यन्ताया एकराळिती' असं समग्र चित्रण असा आवाका हिंदू ह्या नावातून पुढे येतो. हिंदू धर्म नसून जीवनपद्धती आहे ह्या वाक्याला संदर्भ म्हणून हे पुस्तक वापरता यावं हा त्याचा पैस आहे. पण तेवढा पल्ला गाठणं लेखकाला ह्या भागात तरी (अजून भाग येणार आहेत असे कळते) शक्य झालेलं नाही.
कथा खानदेशातल्या मोरगावात बराच काळ अडकून पडते. मग थोडेफार कॉलेजचे संदर्भ येतात. पुस्तकाच्या सुरुवातीलाच छान पकड घेऊन सुद्धा
(नेमाड्यांची शैली आवडली, मी अजून कोसला वाचलेलं नाही, त्यामुळे हा पहिलाच अनुभव) नंतर ती सुटत जाते. कृषीसंस्कृती बद्दल बरंच काही लिहिताना, शहरांबद्दल काहीच कथा येत नाहीत. महाराष्ट्रापुरता विचार करायचा तर पुण्या-मुंबईचे संदर्भ येतात पण फार खोली नाही. घाटावर अडकून पडल्याने कोकण तर अगदीच नावालाही सापडत नाही.हिंदू म्हणूनही आसेतुहिमाचल जाण्याचा प्रयत्नही कादंबरी करत नाही. जितकी बायलाईन चपखल आहे तितकंच नाव उगीच मोठेपणा आणणारं आहे. केवळ नावामुळे पुस्ताकाकडून अपेक्षा प्रचंड वाढतात त्याला ते न्याय देऊ शकत नाही आणि मग थोडासा विरस होतोच.
अशाच मोठ्या आकांक्षेचं पुस्तक 'सातपाटील कुलवृत्तांत' आठवलं. मी ते अजून वाचलेलं नाही पण अफगाणिस्तान ते अहमदनगर असा विशाल अवकाश तिथेही आहे. पण कादंबरीचं नाव पाहता केंद्रस्थानी काय असेल ही अपेक्षा तयार होते. तेच हिंदू या नावाने झालं.पुढच्या भागांनी विषय अधिक खुलतो का ते पाहायला हवं. आत्तापर्यंत खंडेराव नायक नाहीच, निवेदकच जास्त आहे. पण पुस्तकाच्या शेवटी घडलेल्या घडामोडींनंतर खंडेरावाला अनेक जबाबदाऱ्या हाती घ्याव्या लागतील असं दिसतं.
पुस्तक वाचनीय नक्कीच आहे. आपलं विचारविश्व समृद्ध करणारही बरंच काही ह्यात आहे. नावाला साजेशी उंची जरी गाठली नसेल तरी पंखातली ताकद आणि दूरचा पल्ला गाठायची क्षमता ठासून भरलेली आहे.
पुस्तकाच्या बायलाईन प्रमाणे हे पुस्तक बऱ्यापैकी विस्कळीत आहे. रूढार्थाने ही कादंबरी नाही. पुस्तकाचा नायक खंडेराव मोरगावकर ह्याच्या मनाची अवस्था दाखवणारं हे चित्रीकरण आहे. कुठेतरी पाकिस्तानात पुरातत्व संशोधन करत असताना खंडेरावाला बातमी मिळते की त्याचे वडील आजारी आहेत. त्यांना भेटायला मग तो तडक निघतो. त्या संपूर्ण प्रवासात त्याचं मन सैरभैर झालेलं आहे. अनेक प्रसंग आठवतायत, घटनाक्रम मागे पुढे होतो आहे, आयुष्यात आजवर भेटलेले सगळे मनःचक्षूंसमोर येत आहेत.
खंडेराव मोरगावातील एक शेतकरी (कुणबी) कुटुंबातील आहे. मोठा परिवार, जमीनजुमला, अनेक नातेवाईक असं विस्तारलेलं घर आहे. त्यामुळे कथानकांना तोटा नाही. शेतीचे प्रसंग येतात तसेच संसाराचे अनेक प्रसंग येतात. वारकरी संप्रदायाची तोंडओळख होते. अश्या शेतकरी कुटुंबातून येऊन खंडेराव मात्र पुरातत्व विषयात शिक्षण घेतो. विषयाचा अभ्यास करताना, मराठेशाही, इंग्रज ह्यांचे संदर्भ येतातच. पण हे झाले सत्ताधीश. ह्या शाह्या बदलताना, स्वतंत्र भारताचं अस्तित्व आल्यावर समाजात, चालीरीतींमध्ये काही फरक पडले का? जातींचं पोटजातींचं विभाजन तसंच राहिलं की काही बदल झाले, ह्याचेही चिक्कार संदर्भ येतात.
नायकाचं कामाचं स्वरूप आणि शेतकरी पार्श्वभूमी वगैरे पहाता कथानकाचा आवाका खूपच मोठा आहे. हडप्पा संस्कृतीतून सुरु होऊन लिखाण आजच्या परिस्थितीपर्यंत येतं. ह्यासाठी काढलेल्या नोट्स, पुस्तकाची संहिता महाप्रचंड असणार हे ओघानेच आलं. अनेक उल्लेख फार तपशील ना देताही बरंच काही सांगून जातात. लिखाण ओघवतं आहेच आणि वेगवान सुद्धा. ६०० पानांमध्ये हे सामावून घेताना दमछाक झालेली असणारच. त्यामुळे मग विस्कळीत पणा तसाच राहू देण्याऐवजी गत्यंतर नसावे.
ह्या सर्व पसाऱ्यातून सहज अनेक पुस्तकं झाली असती. अखिल भारतीय उपखंडाच्या समाजाचं 'पृथिव्यैः समुद्रपर्यन्ताया एकराळिती' असं समग्र चित्रण असा आवाका हिंदू ह्या नावातून पुढे येतो. हिंदू धर्म नसून जीवनपद्धती आहे ह्या वाक्याला संदर्भ म्हणून हे पुस्तक वापरता यावं हा त्याचा पैस आहे. पण तेवढा पल्ला गाठणं लेखकाला ह्या भागात तरी (अजून भाग येणार आहेत असे कळते) शक्य झालेलं नाही.
कथा खानदेशातल्या मोरगावात बराच काळ अडकून पडते. मग थोडेफार कॉलेजचे संदर्भ येतात. पुस्तकाच्या सुरुवातीलाच छान पकड घेऊन सुद्धा
(नेमाड्यांची शैली आवडली, मी अजून कोसला वाचलेलं नाही, त्यामुळे हा पहिलाच अनुभव) नंतर ती सुटत जाते. कृषीसंस्कृती बद्दल बरंच काही लिहिताना, शहरांबद्दल काहीच कथा येत नाहीत. महाराष्ट्रापुरता विचार करायचा तर पुण्या-मुंबईचे संदर्भ येतात पण फार खोली नाही. घाटावर अडकून पडल्याने कोकण तर अगदीच नावालाही सापडत नाही.हिंदू म्हणूनही आसेतुहिमाचल जाण्याचा प्रयत्नही कादंबरी करत नाही. जितकी बायलाईन चपखल आहे तितकंच नाव उगीच मोठेपणा आणणारं आहे. केवळ नावामुळे पुस्ताकाकडून अपेक्षा प्रचंड वाढतात त्याला ते न्याय देऊ शकत नाही आणि मग थोडासा विरस होतोच.
अशाच मोठ्या आकांक्षेचं पुस्तक 'सातपाटील कुलवृत्तांत' आठवलं. मी ते अजून वाचलेलं नाही पण अफगाणिस्तान ते अहमदनगर असा विशाल अवकाश तिथेही आहे. पण कादंबरीचं नाव पाहता केंद्रस्थानी काय असेल ही अपेक्षा तयार होते. तेच हिंदू या नावाने झालं.पुढच्या भागांनी विषय अधिक खुलतो का ते पाहायला हवं. आत्तापर्यंत खंडेराव नायक नाहीच, निवेदकच जास्त आहे. पण पुस्तकाच्या शेवटी घडलेल्या घडामोडींनंतर खंडेरावाला अनेक जबाबदाऱ्या हाती घ्याव्या लागतील असं दिसतं.
पुस्तक वाचनीय नक्कीच आहे. आपलं विचारविश्व समृद्ध करणारही बरंच काही ह्यात आहे. नावाला साजेशी उंची जरी गाठली नसेल तरी पंखातली ताकद आणि दूरचा पल्ला गाठायची क्षमता ठासून भरलेली आहे.
February 22, 2020
Re-read this novel almost after a decade for an informal discussion with friends - and was again amazed by its ambitious array of topics - ranging from epistemology to social hierarchy of mid-20th century of Northern Maharashtra: a region situated at crossroads of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and other parts of Maharashtra.
At the same time, the repetitions became more glaring this time. For a 'Quartet' project of this magnitude - and one which doesn't follow the usual path of including multiple characters spread over a few generations - such repetition, perhaps, is exculpatory given its range of topics; had it been only for the content. However, stylistically speaking, too, 'Hindu' seems to lose its track even before it reaches the first half.
The opening chapters, however, are spectacularly engaging. Khanderao, a budding archeologist from rural, well-to-do family of farmers; narrates his dream that highlights his anxieties, uncertainties about a future and a state of limbo - not just academically or in terms of worldly matters - but at a juncture when the whole social structure seems to be ready to turn a page. This is not depicted in cliched binary terms - the inherent ambiguity of stream-of-consciousness shores up the beginning (as well as the end) of this novel.
After the protagonist-centric first part, Hindu sort of plateaus into a documenting mode - listing various social mores, everyday objects, procedures and observations - all of which highlight the central theme of this part: namely, the toll the agrarian system extracts on nature, social outcasts and somewhat antithetically, even on its supposed beneficiaries: the well-to-do farmers such as Khanderao's family.
Of course, the comparison with Kosala (and 'Changdeo Chatushtay') is inevitable. Apart from the protagonist and his milieu, the events in his life are similar (complicated relationship with father, untimely death of a sibling) - but except the first part of the novel, hardly any section of Hindu would rival Kosala in its acuity. (It might be morbid in more ways than one to point this out: but the musings about accidental death of Khanderao's older brother come in a distracted fashion - in a sharp contrast with the painfully poignant way of Mani's untimely demise in Kosala).
True to Nemade's idiosyncratic style: the novel is replete with casual dismissals as well as thoughtful, new points of view; structurally sound and open-ended; promising and under-delivering. This first installment of this 'Indian Odyssey' of a sensitive individual as well as the society he belongs to - is vivid, complex, confusing and contradictory - true to its subject matter (warts and all!); and hopefully, so would be the next parts of this ambitious project.
At the same time, the repetitions became more glaring this time. For a 'Quartet' project of this magnitude - and one which doesn't follow the usual path of including multiple characters spread over a few generations - such repetition, perhaps, is exculpatory given its range of topics; had it been only for the content. However, stylistically speaking, too, 'Hindu' seems to lose its track even before it reaches the first half.
The opening chapters, however, are spectacularly engaging. Khanderao, a budding archeologist from rural, well-to-do family of farmers; narrates his dream that highlights his anxieties, uncertainties about a future and a state of limbo - not just academically or in terms of worldly matters - but at a juncture when the whole social structure seems to be ready to turn a page. This is not depicted in cliched binary terms - the inherent ambiguity of stream-of-consciousness shores up the beginning (as well as the end) of this novel.
After the protagonist-centric first part, Hindu sort of plateaus into a documenting mode - listing various social mores, everyday objects, procedures and observations - all of which highlight the central theme of this part: namely, the toll the agrarian system extracts on nature, social outcasts and somewhat antithetically, even on its supposed beneficiaries: the well-to-do farmers such as Khanderao's family.
Of course, the comparison with Kosala (and 'Changdeo Chatushtay') is inevitable. Apart from the protagonist and his milieu, the events in his life are similar (complicated relationship with father, untimely death of a sibling) - but except the first part of the novel, hardly any section of Hindu would rival Kosala in its acuity. (It might be morbid in more ways than one to point this out: but the musings about accidental death of Khanderao's older brother come in a distracted fashion - in a sharp contrast with the painfully poignant way of Mani's untimely demise in Kosala).
True to Nemade's idiosyncratic style: the novel is replete with casual dismissals as well as thoughtful, new points of view; structurally sound and open-ended; promising and under-delivering. This first installment of this 'Indian Odyssey' of a sensitive individual as well as the society he belongs to - is vivid, complex, confusing and contradictory - true to its subject matter (warts and all!); and hopefully, so would be the next parts of this ambitious project.
November 5, 2022
हिंदू जशी संपत आली मनात आलं की आपण यावर रिव्ह्यू लिहावा पण मग असं ही वाटलं की, आपले शंभर-दोनशे शब्द ह्या कादंबरीची उत्कृष्टता व्यक्त करण्यास पात्र तरी ठरतील का. मग ठरवलं की रिव्ह्यू नाही लिहायचं पण काही तरी असं नक्कीचं लिहायचं. हिंदू ही कादंबरी मला सदैव चिरंतर राहणारी कादंबरी वाटते. ती अशी की हिंदू वाचत असताना मला इन्टरस्टेलार मधला एक सीन आठवला त्यात एक शिक्षक कूपरला म्हणतो, "आपण केयरटेकर जनरेशन आहोत, आपापल्या अजून इंजिनिअरस् नकोत, आपल्या चांगले फार्मर्स हवेत." हे आपल्या सध्याच्या काळात लागू नाही होत, पण नक्कीचं भविष्यता हे होईल याची शक्यता नाकारता येत नाही. हिंदू कादंबरीची शेतीशी किंवा मातीशी नाळ खूप खोलपर्यंत जुळलेली आहे असं समजून येत. आपण कितीही प्रगती केली तरीही शेवटी आपल्याला आपल्या मूलभूत गरजांसाठी शेतीवर अवलंबून राहावं लागणार. मग आपण दुसऱ्या ग्रहावर का जाईना तिथेही सुरुवात शेतीपासून करावी लागणार हे दुर्लक्षित करण्यासारखं तर नाहीच. अजून हिंदुबद्दल सांगायचं तर, खंडेराव विठ्ठल या नायकाची सुरुवात हिंदुत झाली. पण खंडेरावचा शेवट कधीचं हिंदुपर्यंत मर्यादित नाही राहणार एवढं तर नक्कीचं. त्याचा शेवट त्याच्या वाचकांच्या शेवटासोबत होईल आणि जोपर्यंत खंडेराव विठ्ठलला वाचणारे सापडत राहतील तोपर्यंत तो जिवंत राहील अर्थातच खंडेरावचं नायक म्हणून अस्तित्व नेहमी शाश्वत राहील. आणि ज्या प्रकारे भालचंद्र नेमाडेंनी हिंदू लिहिली तो एक प्रकारचा आविष्कारच वाटला मला. एकूणच ही कादंबरी मराठी साहित्यास भालचंद्र नेमाडेंनी दिलेली एक अप्रतिम भेट आहे जिला वेळेचं बंधन ही नाही राहणार कधीचं. याच्यात काही डाऊट नाही की हिंदू , "रीड बिफोर यू डाय" ह्या यादीत येते.आणि तुम्ही जर मराठी वाचक असाल तर तुम्ही हिंदू एकदा तरी वाचायला हवीचं.❤️
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January 9, 2021हिंदू जगण्याची समृद्ध अडगळ
अत्यंत उत्तम पुस्तक . ग्रामीण हिंदू जीवनाचे सूक्ष्म निरीक्षण. मानवी भावनांचे बेधडक वर्णन. शेतकरी समुदाय कसा जीवन जगतो त्याचे उत्तम चित्रण.
मात्र खंडेराव घरच्यांशी बेजबाबदारपणे वागतो तसं इतरांनी करू नये हे देखील सूचित करण्याचा प्रयत्न दिसतोय. घरची शेतीवाडी ,आधार नसता तर खंडेराव शिकूच शकला नसता. सुबत्तेमुळं त्याचं पोट भरलेलं आहे म्हणून एवढं चांगलं जीवन त्याला जगता येतंय.
हिंदू जातीव्यवस्था ,विविध जातींच्या समजुती ,धारणा ,स्वाभिमान ,लाचारी आशा अनेक मिती (dimensions) या पुस्तकात आहेत. ग्रामीण शब्दांचा रतीब पुस्तकात आहे. प्रसंग वर्णने अत्यंत सजीव.
काळजीपूर्वक ,धीम्या गतीने वाचणारा वाचक या पुस्तकाचा खूप आस्वाद घेऊ शकेल.
अत्यंत उत्तम पुस्तक . ग्रामीण हिंदू जीवनाचे सूक्ष्म निरीक्षण. मानवी भावनांचे बेधडक वर्णन. शेतकरी समुदाय कसा जीवन जगतो त्याचे उत्तम चित्रण.
मात्र खंडेराव घरच्यांशी बेजबाबदारपणे वागतो तसं इतरांनी करू नये हे देखील सूचित करण्याचा प्रयत्न दिसतोय. घरची शेतीवाडी ,आधार नसता तर खंडेराव शिकूच शकला नसता. सुबत्तेमुळं त्याचं पोट भरलेलं आहे म्हणून एवढं चांगलं जीवन त्याला जगता येतंय.
हिंदू जातीव्यवस्था ,विविध जातींच्या समजुती ,धारणा ,स्वाभिमान ,लाचारी आशा अनेक मिती (dimensions) या पुस्तकात आहेत. ग्रामीण शब्दांचा रतीब पुस्तकात आहे. प्रसंग वर्णने अत्यंत सजीव.
काळजीपूर्वक ,धीम्या गतीने वाचणारा वाचक या पुस्तकाचा खूप आस्वाद घेऊ शकेल.
July 22, 2020
Hindu is actually a subtle critic of Hinduism. It revolts around the life of protagonist 'Khanderao' and create its impact. This novel in its early pages might bore you. It's slow. You might want to skip few pages. Don't do that. After few pages you will build an interest and then you will wade through this master piece smoothly. Prefer to read in Marathi. This is a Dnyanpith awardee novel. And the sucess of which can be seen that author is awarded by the right wing Indian PM.
August 8, 2020
One of the best book in Marathi literature..!! Opinions may differ but the efforts of an author are undoubtedly great. The scope of the book is too wide from Mohenjo-Daro to the Aaryans to the caste system. This book also describes the actual village life in Maharashtra and how caste system survived. The author supports concept of nativism which many of the readers don't agree but still this book is worth reading.
January 25, 2020
It is a complicated book to read. There is a continuous story, but it often takes a backseat and discussion of various topics such as family values, Hinduism, history, urbanization, etc takes the center stage. It was a serious reading and the writing skills are brilliant. But it is not a page-turner. 4 Stars!
July 6, 2022
Excellent but contents not well organised. The book is full of information which this generation don't know about our culture, customs, social system in Maharashtra, and in particular, in khandesh part of the state. In my opinion, the one who leaves in or associated with khandesh and likes to read, must read this book.
January 3, 2023
Another book in typical Nemade writing style. This book is the life journey of our protagonist Khanderao. It gives granular details from his village and lifestyle. During this journey the author relates it with Hinduism and encourages us to think over it.
This novel is not meant for everyone. So choose it thoughtfully.
This novel is not meant for everyone. So choose it thoughtfully.
January 3, 2025
Peak of Marathi Literature. Never read such deep book ever, where Author takes to new horizons. Impeccable Book. Legacy of this book will be unmatched in Indian Literature. Also this book won the biggest literary award in India- Gyanpeeth.
September 23, 2017
Bhalchandra Nemade Sir's writing is not much of intriguing. I failed to get grasp of this ,even author failed . Strictly no entry zone for this author from now onward by my side.
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