Quest - Book reviewed

 

Quest by Aditya Raj Kapoor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one book that can be judged by its cover.
On the cover you see the man and his machine under the title ‘Quest’.
As the title says this book is all about the quest that Aditya Raj Kapoor is on. His vehicle for the Quest is the Motorcycle which he has ridden around the world across seventeen countries clocking thirty-five thousand kilometres over a period of ten months.
He makes it clear at the outset that this is not a travelogue but it is about a journey of self-discovery. Motorcycling is the perfect vehicle for this ‘activity’ of introspection. As soon as one starts the ride one tends to zone out and meditation begins. It is multitasking at its best.
In this book Aditya, who hails from a premier family of the Hindi film industry, the Kapoors, son of Shammi Kapoor, traces his life right from the time he got thinking about his life as a young adult. He has been strongly influenced by his Guru who directed him on the path away from the film industry, that he has diligently followed.
Wherever he goes he meets up with his Guru’s disciples who ensure he has safe passage.
What stands out is the fact that a Round the World trip on a motorcycle is a very tough task, physically and mentally.
Aditya, despite his influential contacts in most parts of the world took a long time in getting his plans off the ground, so one can imagine how difficult it would be for a commoner. Hence, if you are planning a similar trip, remember it will be ten times tougher.
This book is more of an autobiography with snippets of his life woven together with circumstances that he finds himself on his motorcycle journey. Very interesting.
This is not a book that can be finished in one sitting. It is a book that has to be relished and digested chapter by chapter which again are thought sized pieces.
Do read it to get an insight into the life of a thinker who loves to balance his life on two wheels round the world.
Does he get the answers he is looking for?
I will not be a spoilsport. Read the book to find out.

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The Journey Home - Book reviewed

The Journey Home by Radhanath Swami
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A well paced book that every traveller will revel in.
This book reinforces the fact that all travellers travel to discover themselves and that every place that is visited leaves an imprint on the soul of the traveller.
No traveller returns with an untouched soul from any trip.
In this autobiography Radhanath Swami (nee Richard) talks about his travels in search of a Guru who will assist him in discovering his self and ultimately that spot which will resolve every conflict in the mind.
Richard a Jewish boy from Chicago decides to embark on this great adventure in the 1970s when the hippie movement is at its peak. He writes about his travel and travails while hitchhiking half way around the world through England, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and finally India.

The book is divided into 4 parts:
1) Journey to the East
2) Mother India
3) Himalayan Pilgrimage
4) Forest of Grace

A book for every genuine traveller! Spiritual or not! It gives a peep into different cultures of the world without being judgmental.
The author is the Swami who started the mid day meals for poor children in schools in the slums and setting up of the Bhaktivedanta Hospital. This was his fulfillment of a promise that he had given to the immigration officer who had viewed him sympathetically and let him enter India when he did not have the requisite money on him as required by Immigration regulations.



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