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Swami and his Friends , was the first book ,other than relating to academics, that i read in the age of 10. I was in fifth standard when my mother gave me this book , which she had borrowed from her college library. The book was a kannada translation of Swami and his Friends by Sharada prasad . As we know sharada prasad is a very famous and noted personality . He was press secretary to former Prime minister mrs. Indira gandhi.

As a boy in fifth standard i could well identify myself with Swami and experience all his joys and griefs. At that age i was wonder stuck, because swami was thinking like me and reacting to circumstances in the same way in which i was doing. I read this book on and on almost more than 25 times. Every time i finish it , i would restart it again. That is why even today, almost one and half decades later, i remember characters like Mani, Rajam, Shankara, Ebinizer, Vedanayagam and many more.

During later years i read his books like Bachelor of Arts, English Teacher.Now in hindsight i can say that book like Swami and his Friends developed in me a desire to read more and more books , including that of R K NARAYAN.

I pay my sincere tribute to this writer who made very common look like so special.

After the success of Lagae raho Munnabhai, at box office Media, both electronic and print,is busy singing the return of Gandhigiri. These very favourable reviews  compelled me to watch the sequel to Munnabhai MBBS. After watching the brilliantly crafted movie, what I feel is, this is a good time pass movie which also gives you some food for thought. Coming back to `Return of Gandhigiri` I can`t say this film will restart an era of Gandhigiri. It is true, film has succeded in educating today`s youth , to whom the word Gandhi represented something  outdated, the Gandhian way of protest, life and its relevance in modern world.

But as I asked earlier will it restart a  movement called Gandhigiri? I think NO. Though the answer may seem little harsh , but I think so. Ask me why…?  For any major movement to flourish people should have firm belief in their culture, value system and should have  common goals. (By culture I am not referring to any particular religion, caste or creed) In today`s India we youth are a confused lot. We are neither rooted in our culture nor comfortable with whatever thrust upon us by west. We are neither trying to adopt the best of both worlds. Thats why i said , we are a confused lot. Sometimes growth, industrialisation, profits, money, greed, consumerism motivates us and sometimes we get attracted to ideas and movements such as Gandhigiri and films like Rang de Basanti impresses us.

What we lack today is the awareness skill and intelligence to blend the finer aspects of our tradition, history, culture, literature , with the skills ,attitudes, culture and competitiveness required for success in modern day world.

Thats why we end up imitating west and at the same time wearing designer Khadi and applauding the success of Lagae raho Munnabhai.