Maunraag

Book Review

This first collection of Mahesh Elkunchwar’s lalit lekh literally takes you all around the world. You also are carried away in his emotional, nostalgic journey in the memory lane along with him. His outstanding narration of the thoughts, experiences put in a somewhat cynical, philosophical in melancholy mood shows the depth of his all round knowledge (vyas & abhyas) & studies. The impact of different ( anechvidh) relationships have sometimes made bitter, angry and thus his outlook towards the life, which he has expressed touches you throughout the book. Munaraag is Silent Melody. It could be the constant sad humming in the heart, which may be echoing in the mind constantly; Could be buzzing of bees in the honeycomb in the brain driving you crazy , could be loud ghantanad vibrating the whole body internally or could just be the organ playing in the ears bringing the ultimate peace. It definitely is the experience within, the sum of all the combinations hidden in each cell of your body you have ever lived. Mahesh Elkunchwar’s Munarag takes you to experience that level of intense jivachi ghalmel, happened because of the questions which are never answered and the situations you give up because you have no control over it. Like his constant dream (Jyatyas hi Druvo Mritu) about the lake & drowning, that are mainly symbolic of intuitions towards unresolved repressed issues and parts of our lives which haunt constantly. They may represent an emotional doubt; hint at emotions of powerlessness and overwhelming feeling. You can relate to them, especially since at conscious level when we are trying to appear in control while at subconscious level that control is lost and there is no place but the bottom. Mahesh Elkunchawar is a renounced play writer and has a brilliant career and name in Marathi Sahitya. In contrast to his plays, in Munaraag, he comes across tender, in search of himself, trying to come out of the shell. Like nautilus, our lives have the compartments and even though we try to keep them as separate as possible sometimes or eventually it all streams through. In the most of the lekh, through rambling of random thoughts, self analysis or talking out loud you get the feeling that there is much more untold behind that. May be there is a slight disconnect or missing link which he is not ready to disclose (He does not have to. This is not an auto biography). It is fascinating to enter in one’s past to see what molded him to be the person, writer he is. It is one way to understand his characters in his plays. In these lekh he is much more mellow, still introvert but trying to come to terms. As he said, First few lekh,Kalokhachi Phule, which were written for Maharashtra times, feels like they were “written” for the paper. Lekh after that, from (Hard to give names in English which probably are titled by his passion of Sanskit(!) ) are where he is writing in first person makes appear true to himself. His philosophy of life, the eternal loneliness of being and constant suicidal thoughts at the back of his mind swirls your emotions along with the depth of his feelings. Elkunchwar’s obsession about his home town Parwa almost reminds of Scarlet O’Hara’s ( Gone With the wind) with Tara. As a Professor of English his knowledge of the literature and command on the language is outstanding. As he said his writing is influenced by Sartre, Camus, Ibsen, and Albee but has his own style. Throughout the book you see an eight year old child trapped (as he said) in the feeling of rejection, hurt, holding onto the green Bityas not ready to let go, forget or to forgive. All in all, Munraag,compilation of these Lalit Lekh written over his writing career, vividly expresses his inner thoughts. Elkuchwar’s perception of life’s experiences, interaction with others is written in complex yet enchanting style Muanraag is definitely a must read and an addition to your collection.