A River Sutra - Gita Mehta

This is a collection of interconnected stories, about the life and beliefs of people living on, or travelling on a pilgrimage along, the banks of the holy river Narmada.

The narrator is an old man, who has no family to speak of, and who intends to spend the sunset years of his life in 'vanprastha' [According to Hindu mythology, the life of a human being is divided into four phases, in the last of which a (wo)man retires to the forests, away from the worldly things, after fulfilling all the responsibilities.] So, the narrator, who has spend his working years in civil services, takes up the position of the supervisor of a small govt guest house, situated on the banks of Narmada, amongst hills and forests, isolated from the rest of the civilization.

Here, he interacts with the tribals, who attribute supernatural powers to the river, which is worshipped as a goddess. He meets other people in the area, who also believe Narmada to be sacred, capable of purifying sins by just looking at it [apart from having special powers to cure any kind of madness!]. Myths, beliefs, stories are aplenty, as is the beauty of the place. He comes in contact with different people here, and all of them have a story to tell; and the river, Narmada, plays an integral part in their stories and their lives. As a whole, they bring forth the picture of a culture that exists in the interiors of our country, where people have a peaceful life, untouched by the fast pace of urban life that we are a part of.

The stories are beautifully crafted, lucid and believable (for most part), and spiritual. The flow is good, but the pace is slow, perhaps befitting the laidback life in those regions. You can imagine the serenity of the environs, almost feel the cool and fresh air on the banks of the river .... In all, a good companion on a hot, lazy, summer day ...