I cried like a baby while reading this book. I don't think I have ever cried after reading any book (Ok, I might have shed a tear or two after reading the last page of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows because I did not know what to do with my life after that!) but this book touched my heart like no book ever will.
This book is written in Marathi by Pandurang Sadashiv Sane (Sane Guruji) loving called Shyam during his childhood. Sane guruji completed writing this book in mere 5 days while he was in Nashik Jail as he was an social activist during Civil Disobedience Movement. He narrates his personal experiences with his mother, Yashoda, the values she instilled in him while growing up. His mother was very simple, kind, at the same time very dignified lady and held high morals.
My favorite experience from Shyam's life was when, shyam was too scared to swim and his friends were mocking and making fun of him. His mother instead of cajoling him, smacked him and dragged him towards the well and pushed him inside the well (something very similar to what my mom would do!).
His mother loved animals, the cow they had, she would consider it as Laxmi (goddess of wealth) and truly so after the cow's death their financial condition deteriorated.
In one incident Shyam was given alms as a bhikshuk (money/food given to saints) his mother was deeply saddened by the incident. After all she was a dignified woman, she did not like anyone giving alms to his son out of sympathy.
This book has such simple incidents but the flamboyant way Sane Guruji has narrated them it just has to make a place in your heart. Completing the book in mere 5 days just leaves me in awe, one can imagine the fluency with which the writer must have penned down his thoughts. No wonder this book is hailed as one of the greatest tributes to mother's love in Marathi literature.
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