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Resources » Articles/Knowledge Sharing » E-Books »
Book Review : The thread of God in my life
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The thread of God in my life
Editor, author, publisher, RM Lala reveals the constant presence of God in his life through his autobiography — The Thread of God in my Life
When a master chronicler puts pen to paper to write his story, you can expect it to be a page-turner, drawing the readers in. Russi Manekshaw Lala’s autobiography is a simple, brutally honest telling of his life, straight from the heart.
His fruitful and varied life provides a rich canvas for the unfolding of his story — as a journalist, manager of a publishing house, an author, director of a well-known trust, founder and chairman of the Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy and his role in the Moral Re-Armament movement.
As with all his books, Mr Lala’s wonderful command of the English language and story-telling style of writing breathe life into his autobiography too. Befitting his habit of extensive reading, religious, literary and inspirational references are strewn throughout the narrative, prompting a reader to look them up and maybe read a few.
As Fali S Nariman, eminent solicitor and a friend of six decades, mentions in his foreword, RM Lala takes himself lightly. Throughout the narration, he never lets the description of his tribulations bog the reader down — his parents' separation, the period of coldness in his marriage, financial troubles and his fight with cancer have been dealt with in a matter-of-fact way, without an ounce of self-pity.
The book is divided into two parts: the first is primarily concerned with events in his life and the inspiring second part talks about the influences in his life that have shaped him. Figures and events in history — Acharya Kripalani, Vinoba Bhave, the anxious wait on the lawns of Bombay University as the grand clock ticked away towards India's independence, etc — enliven the book throughout. And, though the autobiography is titled The Thread of God in my Life, a reader will also find the thread of the author's humility running through the story along with his deep faith in God.
At the outset, Mr Lala says, “A person should be ready to receive a book. The more it satisfies a need in him at a particular point in time, the greater the impact.” This book, apart from satisfying needs, will inspire in the reader the courage to meet life head-on, reassurance about the presence of a Supreme Power, the will to follow his / her inner voice and the need to build a “House of Values” and to live within it. An excerpt from the book about his fight with cancer: “At times I have wanted to flee but I know that the only way to deal with pain when it comes is to go through it and not around it. When my boat is small and the sea stormy, I need the strength that comes from a power higher than myself.
The great thing about physical pain is that after it passes we forget it. When physical pain stabs us it is good to remember that 'this will also pass'.
Finding a faith and cultivating friendship with my Creator was the most wonderful thing to have happened in my life. I learnt that prayer is of three types: you speak to God, next you want to listen to Him, and lastly you just like to be in His presence and converse with Him silently.
The choice of books, friends and the discipline of a quiet time has kept this flame of faith alive. This desire to turn to the Lord is my most precious possession. The ability to do so follows the sincerity of the desire. It is available to all.
Acceptance of the reality leads to peace of heart. Acceptance is not helplessness or surrender. It is a recognition of reality, and the starting point of a strategy for meeting a challenge. Rebellion can only make things worse. It needs a special kind of courage because whenever there is a recurrence of my problem, I know it hurts those to whom I am dear. But it should not and cannot be hidden. It is best to reveal it. So long as they see the will to stand up to it, they are reassured.
The importance of attitude cannot be overemphasized. We fail to realize it adequately, but we have a choice about how we face the pressures of everyday life. We can choose to react in a positive way, doing our best, or we can make ourselves miserable repeating in our minds patterns of defeat. Hippocrates, the father of Western medical science, said that it was more important for doctors to know what sort of person had the disease than the sort of disease a person had.
As a cancer survivor I might utter a word of caution. My 'fighting spirit' is not at the same level every day, or at all times during the same day. One can sometimes drift from a mood of defiance to one of stoic acceptance or even one of exhaustion with life. The question is what is your feeling at most times? And how do you pick up?”
Book: The Thread of God in my Life
Author: RM Lala
Publisher: Penguin Books India
Number of pages: 194
Price: Rs399
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam launches Thread of God in my life by RM Lala
I am not important but what has happened to me and what I have learnt from it may be," says the author in his opening words. "The book has been called 'an autobiography with a difference' because it is presented in two parts — the first is the story of my life and the second, the values I have learnt from it. FS Nariman says that the latter part is 'scintillating'."
Some excerpts from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam's speech:
"When I read the book I found that the book is a book of books. Why I am saying that, because you feel every page is scholarly and touches the heart. Many authors appear in the book; many poets appear in the book; many scriptures appear in the book.
"Every page of the book of Russi Lala indeed breathes the spirit of faith, self confidence and hope. Throughout the book, the message of Rig Veda is ringing. What is that message? It says: Let not the thread of my song be cut when I sing; let not my work get over before fulfillment.
“The book continuously shines. Russi Lala's book revealed to me that beauty in the character is possible and harmony in the soul is possible and order in the nation is possible and peace in the world is also possible, but one thing we need and that is righteousness in the heart."
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