New Delhi, February 28: A fictional story that explores themes like life after death, healing, commitment and faith in the master among others is picking up popularity in Germany, says its Indian author Ruzbeh N Bharucha.
“It is amazing because a backpacker who happened to be travelling to India picked up a copy of my book and loved it so much that she gave it to her publisher back home in Germany. They thought it would sell a few copies but the number turned out to be 20,000 and more,” says Barucha.
The author”s book “The Fakir” published in 2007 tells the story of a hippie who wants to commit suicide and happens to meet a holy man who guides him through life and existence.
Barucha, who recently launched a sequel “Fakir- the journey continues” – says spirituality is a way of life.
“Nowadays we complicate it with strange dogmas. Essentially it means good thoughts, good speech and good action, the fundamental way of life,” he says.
Perhaps that is why he says his books are doing well both in the country as well as outside it.
“I write on basic core issues that almost anybody can identify with. There is nothing original in the philosophy being written or said, it has been the same for centuries,” says, Barucha who debuted as a writer with the “The Last Marathon” which he says is a journey into the world of paranormal.
Two of his other books “Devi”s Emerald” and “Rest in Pieces” also explore the metaphysical while his “Shadows In Cages” is an account of mothers and their children living in Indian prisons. The book is in its second edition and has also been translated in Hindi.
The Mumbai-born author also explores various issues of social concern.
Ruzbeh scripted and directed a documentary “I Believe I Can Fly” giving a glimpse about life of mothers and their children in Indian prisons.
His documentary, “Yamuna Gently Weeps,” depicting the demolition of Yamuna Pushta slum has been invited for screening at various international human rights film festivals.
“Yamuna Gently Weeps,” a book illustrated with photographs and interviews with slum dwellers, politicians, renowned town planners, environmentalists and activists, was released in August 2006.
“I write about the paranormal and the spiritual as well as on social themes. I find both of them corelevant and complementary. If society makes a move inwards it would become more compassionate,” says the author.
——–PTI