Author : Kartik Sharma and Ravi Nirmal Sharma
“The Quest of the Sparrows” by Kartik Sharma and Ravi Nirmal Sharma is a story which depicts the spiritual journey of a common young man, Partiban. It basically revolves around the paramount aspect of life which is related to non material values. The story constitutes of divergent encouraging elements which as a whole make it a gripping tale.
As the front cover says ‘explore the joy of freedom’.. the book is all about searching a real self. Moreover, the book title suggests, that the story is inspired by the peaceful and free life of a sparrow. The book deals with the life of a man, Partiban, a reluctant guru. He begins an interesting journey which is filled with several ups and downs. According to Partiban, this spiritual expedition of 600 kilometers on foot to Ganpatipule in Ratnagiri was a practical spirituality workshop to achieve one’s true potential. He sets out this trip in order to make his followers realize that survival isn’t the goal of life. A much significant contribution still awaits us, which is related to holy beliefs and ideas. The group of followers is composed of several distinct types of people who were going through some or the other wretched conditions of life. As Swami Partiban and his disciples didn’t carry any sort of money or belongings with them in the journey, the story contains different anecdotes of how they manage their stuff and try to sustain in this trek. The book also takes you to the past of Partiban’s life where he was bewildered about certain situations and how he comprehends some amazing lessons of life through his father. Also, the book consists of an important character, Shruti ( Partiban’s girlfriend), daughter of a rich industrialist, but he couldn’t marry her because of his financial crisis. The story basically reveals the concepts of joy, peace and freedom via several characters that are represented in the book.
As you gradually get involved in the story, it will raise numerous questions in your mind. Will guru Partiban and his followers complete the journey? Will they reach to their destination? Or will they give up in the middle of this spiritual test? Will they perceive the true meaning of life and their existence?
The cover picture of the book is noticeable and of course the title perfectly suits the story. The thoughts expressed in the story are certainly deep which also shows author’s great intellect and research. It is a simple tale but very effective. The insights of life mentioned in the book can change one’s perspective of looking at things. The book is capable of lifting you up and can absolutely swing your mood.
I liked the author’s writing style as he presented some of the supreme notions of life without much preaching. The book in a way answered many questions that were constantly going in my mind while reading. Besides narrating about the carefree life of sparrows, the author has discussed about self evolution, meditation and the importance of connection to divine.
Several points which are mentioned in the book are thought provoking. Through this book one can introspect in his/her life which is extremely valuable. It was an easy and a fast read for me. The theory of “Practical Spirituality” is captivating and can help people to link to their spiritual side. The book can take you to an entirely different world where you can search a real meaning of happiness, liberation, courage, selfless attitude, and faith. Apart from explaining numerous beliefs and suggestions the story also demonstrates practically how one can achieve tranquility of mind and joy while leading a meaningful and creative life. The analogy that has been expressed in the book is commendable. It reminded me of this famous quote:
“The reason birds can fly and we can’t is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.”
This is a highly recommended book especially for those who are keen to find answers of their inner requirements or want to explore a fully different viewpoint of life.
Rating : 4/5
Reviewer : Shivani Chauhan