The Gita: For Children [Paperback] Roopa Pai Paperback – Address Book, 1 January 2015

Radhika said to me few days after she returned from WCF event, “Hey, I got a good book for you, which I bumped into at the Delhi Airport. It is completely in ‘dude’ (youth) language, and you will like it. It is about Gita, and I just read few chapters”. I said, “Cool, what is so cool about it”. She immediately, “Never mind. You will not read any book that I would suggest or bring”. With a partly faking hurtful tone, I said, “Fine. If you believe it so, don’t show it to me”.However, like any desi wife who wants to do best for her spouse, she walked to me, and gave the book “The Gita – FOR CHILDREN”. I quickly read what’s on the back page, and browsed, few random pages. The book struck my chord somewhere, I have read first 3 chapters until midnight. I told Radhika, I will return it back to her only after I read it completely. Every 10 minutes, I was profusely thanking Radhika for recommending the book to me.For next 4 evenings / nights (during ‘Holi’ / ‘Good Friday” weekend), I have read through the book, as If a kid was reading Harry Potter. Yes, I never forget the eagerness with which Revanth used to wait and complete Harry Potter books on a single night. Last time (in this decade), I read a book over a single night, was a book by John Grisham and/or a book by Dan Brown. I haven’t really read any book other than thatRoopa Rai’s rendition of Gita, gave me solid clarity on purpose of life, definition of happiness, definition of god, definition of a prayer, and definition of good living, good human being, and more. She used day-to-day examples and events, to explain abstract topics such as “You are not the doer” or “You are it” or “You are the God”. It connected random dots in my head, which were representations of various ideas and beliefs planted by various books, literature, conversations, that I have read over the decades.I have immediately ordered few additional copies, to give them as a gift to folks around me, and evangelize the need for reading such a lovely / clear presentation of Gita. Though the title of the book says, “The Gita, FOR CHILDREN”, this book is thoroughly enjoyable by almost everyone out there (and specially you)Structure / Few Highlights of the book:Starts with story of Mahabharata and the lead characters. It gives the context of the events that lead to the deadliest war in the human history. I have actually learned few interesting data points, which I haven’t learned despite having watched several dozens of movies, sitcoms, reading zillion comic books on Mahabharata (which I am sure most of you did too)Then it leads us to the confusion of Arjuna on why he needs to go through the pain of killing his friends, uncles, gurus / teachers, and extended family members, to earn back his lost empire. He just wants to give it up as he does not see the need for losing everything and not sure if he will be happy at the end. That’s when the Krishna begins his conversation which is the basis of Gita, and which is considered as holiest conversations in the human historyI have recently read that, our Union culture minister might soon recommend the inclusion of Gita, Mahabharata and the Ramayana in school curriculum. Now, I feel that it is a great move. Given that the book is religion agnostic, it should be adaptable and likeable by everyone.If you take a look at these lesson that she documents, for each of the 18 chapters from the Gita, you will understand the ease with she explains Gita.I loved the concept of “Multi Thinking”. Krishna says to Arjuna, “Those who are thinking about me, at the time of the death, will join me”. Then Arjuna says, “That is so difficult. I do not know when I am going to die. How will I know or ensure that I am thinking about you, at the time of the death? Author explains in the simple words, using the concept of “Multi Thinking”, similar to the lines of Multi Processing. She says, simple acts of being in content / gratitude is also same as act of prayer. We just need to practice the art of being content, all the time.Author does mix a healthy dose of western examples to convey the essence of spirituality. Book is peppered with fun trivia and anecdotes, and interesting parallels, events, and nuggets that actually relate to teaching of the Gita and it’s 700-verse spiritual guideIn one of the examples, author quotes words of physicist J Robert Oppenheimer, who headed the team which created the world’s first nuclear weapon during World War II. After the first atom bomb, The Gadget, was tested in the desert of New Mexico, Oppenheimer had explained the mixed feelings of the team in the following words: “We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried. Most people remained silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty, and to impress him, takes on his multi-armed form”, and says, ‘Now I am become Death, destroyer of worlds.’ I suppose, we all felt that, one way or another.” You can hear him on this youtube link[...]In another example, Pai talks of the importance of endurance by citing JK Rowling’s example, whose Harry Potter was rejected 17 times before it was accepted and went on to become a phenomenon. Coincidentally, JK Rowling had recently published some of the rejection letters on the web. Just google for them. She also uses analogies of The Beatles, Michael Jackson and Rudyard Kipling, tooShe uses simple description and explanation to convey the message of Karma Yoga. Example: For instance, don’t expect to top the class just because you studied really hard, or get disappointed when you don’t. In fact, according to the Gita, performing an action (studying) because you want a certain result (to come first) is completely flawed action; the right way is to study simply because that is your work, your duty as a student.Gita is supposed to be a guide book for enlightenment. To be able to convey its essence for the teens is not an easy task. Roopa Pai had significantly succeeded in this effort. Many techniques are used here to make the style reader friendly. The chapter titles by themselves attract attention. She summarises essence of 18 chapters using simple titles (see below) and super clear explanation. You cannot go wrong with the Gita! A lifetime may not be enough to appreciate fully the Gita, but the sooner one starts, the better. I would consider you as one heck of lucky dude, if you end up reading Gita, and actually persuade, compel, and motivate loved ones (starting with your kids) around you to read it too.

The Gita : For Children (Paperback)“The Gita for Children” is not yet another book on Bhagavad Gita. This book has both Sanskrit slokas and English meanings posted for the key aspects in all the chapters of the Gita.The author Roopa Pai has done a tremendous job of simplifying a complex subject. Her style is wonderful and she uses humor and contemporary language that will surely appeal not only to children but to their parents and other adults as well. Instead of the customary sloka by sloka translation and exposition, she has tried a new approach which proved a smart and successful attempt judging from the rave reviews. Even Swami Chinmayananda’s book for children was read mostly by adults. Readers have come out with unequivocal endorsements and well-merited encomiums – 5 Stars for her book.The computer engineer who wrote the eight-book series, "Taranauts” also succeeded eminently in this attempt. The use of examples from various resources (Atticus, Oppenheimer etc.,) helps the reader to grasp the salient points. Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and Kipling's poem, If and Carl Sagan's Cosmos and Shakespeare's As You Like It, to name a few.I like the following interpretation : "The Indian New Year is not 1 January when everything is cold and asleep and dead, but somewhere between end-March and early April, at the beginning of spring, when the sun has chased away the last of the winter chill and new life is bursting out of everywhere. In other words, at a far more logical time to celebrate new beginnings than 1 January."Page 61 – 65 : Go(o)d will find a way – Ten Avatars of Vishnu. We can think of inspiring leaders as avatars – as small gods in human form, appearing in every age when unrighteousness is rampant. This wisdom leads us to the light of Truth and Justice. No doubt.Page 122 – 125 : Roopa has explained beautifully the newly coined word (by her) ‘Multi-thinking’ . She has delineated the benefits of parallel thought tracks every time when you are in match mode, or homework mode or chore mode. Her narration of how the parallel thought track could one day could become your main thought track is brilliant. She has interpreted the essence of Gita for not only the young and impressionable audience but also for a 66 years old guy like me. (I am a 16 years old with 50 years of experience.)Page 132 – 134 : Roopa has attempted to elucidate the important lesson – “No action is itself good or evil. It is intent that makes it so. All actions have consequences.” Even if we slip into the worst kind of wrong action, there is no need to despair. If we sincerely try to reform, God’s law will treat us just the same as a saint. We will be rewarded with as much inner peace and happiness as anyone else. No doubt that it is a nice warm blanket of thought to snuggle into at night. Particularly when we struggle to see the whole picture in our chaotic world.Page 180 – 181 : The author has described the beautiful lesson : You are God -- Tat Twam Asi. How nicely she has shown how the essence and the life force of both a bulb and a treadmill are the same – rooted in electricity. Her sense of humor is evident when she describes a treadmill as a contraption : “it is a good way to get exercise while watching TV, is usually used as a towel stand at home.” It is true hundred percent.Page 202 – 203 : How succulently the author describes our daily digestion with the description of Vaishvanara (the fire of Digestion) mentioned in Gita. Gita says that Krishna is the Producer of Food (Sunlight), Distributor of the Food (Plant sap) and Consumer of the Food (Vaishvanara). Gita mentions only four types of food.Page 204 – 206 : Roopa narrates in her characteristic epic style the various Axes Mundi symbols – fig tree, Bodhi tree, gopurams, shikara towers etc., Even a rocket ready to take off could be seen as an AM Symbol because, this when launched, actually connects to other realms.Roopa is currently hard at work trying to earn the right to this epitaph: "She was often content." We can also add this comment : “She proved an inspiration for children by decoding Bhagavad Gita’s essence.” We can pray sincerely for the continued success of this lady who experienced the first immersion of Gita in this book, and for her husband who lives the word of the Gita without having read a single line of it. We all should take pride to have born in the vast and inclusive ocean of notions that is India. Now, my responsibility as a review is over.It is your responsibility to get the book and read it thoroughly and happily.

I like the book. Good for children,short & Crisp explanation.I can say it's a mini version of original Gita

Thoroughly enjoyed reading the book .The simplicity of the book ,the examples and the insight provided really opened my eyes to the beauty of the Gita . Recommend for both children and adults alike.