“What is India?” earned worldwide appreciation
" Indian
philosophers' subtleties make most of
the great European philosophers look like
schoolboys."
-- T.S. Eliot, a great American poet and critic
If you are suspicious about the
heritage and culture of your country, a book of quotes entitled “What is India?” by Salil Gewali
would be an eye-opener, says John Palmer of Las Vegas, Nevada. Palmer is a big
fan of Indian classical wisdom and
spiritualism. A book of quotations compiled and published by Salil Gewali of Shillong, Meghalaya (INDIA) is doubtlessly a remarkable
attempt to showcase the views of the world renowned scholars about India and
her classical literature , particularly Vedas, Upanishad and Bhagavad Gita. The
book provides how Indian wisdom inspired ‘the
greatest of the great’ scientists,
writers, poets etc that include Werner Heisenberg --- father of Quantum
Physics, T. S. Eliot --- great American
writer, Voltaire, Friedrich Hegel, Ralph Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, H G
Wells, Mark Twain, Bernard Shaw, Erwin Schrodinger--- father of Quantum
mechanics. The compilation has already
earned the world-wide appreciation.
A US based renowned writer Prof Chitra Divakaruni whose famous novel ‘The Mistress of Spices’ was released as a film starring Aishwarya Rai, says ----- "Salil Gewali has lovingly compiled an
excellent set of quotations that illustrate how highly great thinkers from all
over the world valued Indian spiritual culture and how it transformed their
lives. An inspirational read that reminds us of our amazing ancient heritage
and why we need to incorporate it into our lives as modern Indians." The book illustrates how the father of Atomic Bomb,
Julius Robert Oppenheimer got immersed into the treasure trove of oriental
knowledge who even had gone to the extent of proclaiming ---- "What we shall find in
Modern Physics is an
exemplification, an encouragement and a
refinement of old Indian wisdom."
The book has even won the
fascination of an internationally acclaimed NASA scientist, Prof. A. V. Murali,
who comments --- “ 'WHAT IS INDIA' is
simply outstanding! I never knew that such a compilation exists and we
all should be thankful to Salil Gewali ! These great quotes should be
embossed on plaques and displayed on the
walls of our Parliament, State Assembly Halls, and at all our educational
institutions. Most importantly, the material should be made a
compulsory reading for all the school students --- elaborating more
on ' who is who' and the monumental
contributions of these intellectual giants.”
The global recognition that the book earned is doubtlessly something
remarkable we Indiana people can take
pride in. A scholar from Scotland says --- ‘I congratulate Salil Gewali for
this beautiful quotes book on Indian classical literature. True intellectual
minds who are free from prejudices always appreciate Indian wisdom. Indian
wisdom is secular and universal. A big proof is Salil's book with eminent
scholars' comments who are mostly scientists and philosophers.’
The book was released by the Governor of Meghalaya and forwarded by the
Education Minister of the Meghalaya itself. ‘Sri Ramanuja Mission Trust’ of Chennai has undertaken the task of translating and publishing
Gewali’s book into seven languages, as - Tamil, Hindi, Marathy, Telugu,
Kannada, Sanskrit and Malayalam. ‘While
the West has excelled at
investigating and manipulating the Exterior world, the East has specialized in
understanding and transforming the Interior world. This book is a superb
eye-opener’, opines Dr K Bruder of Michigan, USA.
Dr.
Naresh Goswami
Dibrugarh,
Assam
Email:
naresh44pgoswami@gmail.com