When I was reading Bhagat Jaideva's Geet Govinda, I felt that Guru Nanak too had written similarly about the devotional love. As a matter of fact, there is no aspect of life or state of mind, which Guru Nanak has not commented upon. He discusses all the religious writings- Vedas, Qur'an, Puranas, Shastras, Smrities, Buddhist and Jain writings, Nathbani, etc.in a very lucid manner in his hymns.
Geet Govinda is written in the same poetic form as Sukhmani -a saloka is followed by an astpadi (octet). I found that the first hymn in Geet Govinda, sung as Aarati before the idol of Lord Krishna in Jagannath temple at Puri and the Aarati 'Gagan mai thaal... sung by Guru Nanak outside the temple, in praise of the Creator seemed to be a reply to the Temple Aarati in almost the same tenor. This finding kept my mind occupied for quite some time as to how should I describe this like-mindedness in writing. One day my thinking got divided into two; one part became Suhasini and the other, Bachan Singh, which became a Punjabi Novel.
I am beholden to the leading light of the literary world, a great scholar of the Sikh Faith, and a Psychologist of international fame, late Dr. J.S. Neki, Sahitya Akademi awardee, who, in spite of his pre-occupations, read this script and expressed his views thereon, providing me very sound guidelines to finalize the work in a more meaningful manner.
I owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. S.P. Singh, former Vice Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amrtistar, for writing the FOREWORD which has encouraged me much to look forward to rewarding days ahead, in my old age years beyond eighty.
"There is something indeed', is a remarkable novel which skillfully weaves an enchanting love story between two strangers who try to escape from harsh and taxing realities of life by becoming ascetics. It is a treasure house of the best of Geet Govinda and Sri Guru Granth Sahib. It opens a window on them. To present their selected verses which meet the twin tests of excellence and retaining the perennial charm of their mesmerizing original messages shows Dr. Rajindera Singh's profound understanding of both Gurbani and Geet Govind.
It offers a brilliant fictional account of the deepest longings of the human heart as it searches for the Divine. Both Suhasini and Gurbachan celebrate love in their unique ways through exchange of letters. Their letters are poetic whispers expressing their feelings that penetrate human relationships and inspire fathomless intimacy. The experience of ravishing ecstasy that this novel revokes will continue to haunt the lovers whose passion it arouses and who beseech to get merged with each other so long as their hearts dance in the fire of love.
I am obliged to Dr Rajinder Singh, the author of the novel "There is Something Indeed', the English version of Punjabi Novel 'Koi Gal Tan Zaroor Hai' for providing me an opportunity to write a few words about the text and furthermore giving me a chance to go through the novel. This novel is of worth to create a sense of spiritual journals through the writings of great Guru Nanak and mystic Hindi Saint Jai Deva.
The highest poetic skill of Great Guru Nanak and the devotional expression of Saint Jai Deva throw a flood of light on the literary heights.
I am also inclined to agree with the views expressed by Dr. J.S. Neki in the Forewod to the original Punjabi version of this novel, that this writing is much more than a novel. Saint Jai Deva's world famous book Geet Govinda has been studied thoroughly by the author and a sort of research conducted in finding similarity in the spiritual and not so spiritual; love and longing for the Creator and the joyous games by one of the gods considered to be an incarnation of Vishnu. Only two hymns by the saint poet have been included in Sri Guru Granth Sahib but not Geeta Govinda. The dialogue between the two similarly placed individuals has been so designed as to bring out the best in them. The same thoughts expressed in a very free and easy manner, bordering on obscenity, by Jai Deva have been found in the Guru's hymns, in a very circumspect manner. The concept being the same - There is only one Male and all the rest are His females - has been depicted in a very meaningful manner. Instead of raising the two characters male and female- to high skies or taking them down to the bottom of the ocean, they have been kept down to earth. Their saintly disposition does not limit them to the spiritual sphere only. Their human instincts arise and are aroused too, despite sharing very highly spiritual import in the two writings-Divine words and the love lore of Lord Krishna wherein love assumes all the possible postures which can be adopted by man and woman in love. Above all, though not aimed at research of any kind to start with, it comes out as a research work too. It is well known that Guru Nanak Dev Ji paid a visit to Jagan Nath Puri accompanied by his companion, Mardana, who was a Muslim. Only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple. When Guru Nanak was asked whether he was a Hindu, he replied that he was not; only a human being. How could he go in leaving Mardana outside? They sat down outside the main gate of the temple. Jai Deva's invocational verse in Geeta Govinda was sung inside the temple as Aarati with manmade contrivances for worship, like a platter, full of lamps, incense sticks, flowers, olibanum, etc. When the devotees began to come out at the conclusion of aarati, Guruji asked Bhai Mardana, "Let us sing our Aarati now". The devotees listening the Aarati, sung by Guruji and Bhai Mardana, gathered around them. The striking feature of this hymn Gagan mai thaal is that while the Aarati in the -- temple was in praise of the deity, the Aarati outside by Guruji praised the Creator and His creation. Jai Deva calls his object of worship "Bhavakhandana" and Guruji too calls the Creator Bhavakhandana whose praise continues to be sung all the time. Instead of all the other man-made objects used for worship inside, all the gifts of God/nature have been enumerated in Guruji's hymn. Having come so very close to each other spiritually, the two characters are also drawn towards each other physically and ultimately they tie the knot and enjoy marital bliss.
It is really a very praiseworthy effort by the author who is a well known writer and translator too. I congratulate him for the publication of this book for the English readers.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
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