The ALCHEMIST

I have discovered some of the most exciting revelations in books and have, over the years, grown to like some types of books more than others. I am very fond of biographies and topical books, including the post-modern genre of books by ‘spiritual’ teachers. I would like to share, through this piece of writing, my reflections on the book The Alchemist. I have always read not only for the pleasure of the pursuit but also for the whole experience, which includes the effort, the gain and the discovery. As such I value Paulo Coelho as a new and gratifying reading experience.

Coelho appeals to me probably because I am a Romanist at heart. I believe, whatever we are today, or whatever we may become in future, is because of our dreams.
The Alchemist means a great deal to me because it has taught me two things – the courage to dream and the value of exploration. I believe that I started understanding my own mode of thinking once I went through the book in an in-depth manner. I got to know the importance of constant self-evaluation – that is, whenever we realize that we are falling short of our expectations, the realization actually acts as a catalyst to push us to the next level in our lives.
The Alchemist presents a simple fable; when I say simple I mean it. Honestly speaking I had expected something more convoluted and abstruse going by the title. But the simple fable is by no means uninteresting, leave alone staid. The story is based on simple truths presented in plausibly unique situations. In the genre of all best –sellers of all ages, the Alchemist, uses the most appealing formula; simple story, plausible people, fantastic places and most importantly, a lesson that is rock solid by virtue of its commonsense. In his journey, the central character of the book Santiago sees the greatness of the world and aspires for its treasures. He chances upon many people, including an alchemist, each one of whom enlightens Santiago that the treasure is the journey itself, the discoveries he has made, and the wisdom he has acquired in the process; Succinctly put, the "treasure lies where your heart belongs.” The outcome of this symbolic masterpiece is that we find ourselves compelled not avoid our destinies and inspired to follow our dreams.
Perhaps the relevance of any book is to a large extent determined by what it gives the reader – this could be in any terms – in terms of an intellectual experience, a laugh, a revelation, a lesson or sheer entertainment. Candidly speaking, The Alchemist gave me some of all this and will long remain a favorite.

WASTELAND

I have always revealed an uncanny propensity for verse. I choose to think of it as “uncanny” because no one in my family, as far back as I can trace, showed such a preference. One poem that I have read and had to re-read often to assimilate and appreciate is T.S. Eliot’s The Wasteland. Every interface with the work is a surprise ------ allusions, references, symbols unfold a profound picture of a human plight that was and is.

The greatest appeal of the poem lies in its topicality. When Eliot wrote the poem he wrote of a “wasteland” as it was then (1900s), but what he wrote is true of even today. Recent years have been characterized by profound changes – financial upheavals, political shifts, personal tragedies and massive losses of life to disease and violence. ‘’April” now, more than ever before, is the “cruelest month” and man, as never before, well epitomizes “fear in a handful of dust.” With every reading of this prophetic masterpiece, readers like me toast the creator.

T.S. Eliot creates no utopia. On the contrary he shatters one. By analyzing the state of “our” lives he draws the bleakest of pictures in which there are only two outcomes – death, or worse than that, living death. Through the five “sections” of the poem Eliot moves on sketching with precision the disintegration of man and his value systems and building the grime to a crescendo by drawing on vivid imagery and reference to different symbols (“Hyacinth”, “Madame Sosostris”) and by resorting to very unconventional interpretations of myth, religion and tradition.

The refrain of the poem is the ‘death’ of a culture. The several speakers, all of them lost souls and each engaged in a soliloquy, unaware of one another, symbolically convey a decaying social body, too disjointed and fractured to convey and effect the strength of a meaningful entity. The poet, however, identifies the different plights and emerges as the central figure. At the end he speaks audaciously of his own inability to love and becomes a metaphor for the sickness of the world.

The most dramatic and appealing aspect of the poem is the element of hope T.S. Eliot ends on. Very realistically, spirituality is offered as the only succor, the only panacea for redemption.All else, retaliation, revenge, anger, despair and helplessness are futile solutions. The answer is spirituality – be it in the form of a God, a faith or just inner goodness.

The Wasteland ends with a prayer for rain and for the ability to love.


Shantih. Shantih. Shantih !!!!!!