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Boby Jose Kattikad's " Sanchariyude Daivam" or Traveller's God belongs to that elite club. Of course, Kattikad is no Nityachaithanya Yati. But the good thing is that never in his book did he pretend to be one.

He takes off from texts and tries to view the world around him in a new light. In that process, he brings to his words a rare charm.

It is interesting to probe the boundaries on the world created by this author who belongs to the Capuchin Ashram in the city. He talks about spirituality and sexuality, and everything in between.

V.J.Thampy, poet, might have been a little bit carried away when he said in the fore word that " these words hold in themselves fluttering of wings by a nightingale that flies away after erasing boundaries of the sky. They move along infinities, and not along boundaries…"

But he puts it right, when he says that each article in this book " make readers return to their own spirituality." It is important, because every individual's spirituality is different.

Kattikad's religious roots are very obvious. But, the good thing about his book is that he could transcend beyond the constrains often imposed on a believer.

He reaches a more humane level. And there are areas in the book that is oriented more towards fiction. Characters move in and out dramatically.

The author even tries to add some comic interludes. He presents some of the jokes that he had heard during his " journeys".

Even though some of these jokes stand apart from the main body of the book, often mis placed, there is one that glitters. Which, the author says, is the darkest joke he had heard. It is about a monk who was meditating on the bank of a river and one man caught in the eddies crying out for help. The man says that he does not know swimming, to which the monk replies, "neither do I. But see how calm I am. ! "

One is at a loss on how to react to this joke. This one piece, in a way reflects the mood of the book. It can be very personal, yet remains aloof.

By Anand Haridas
Courtesy : The Hindu
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