Underrated treasures blogfest

I seldom participate in blogfests, because more often than not I miss out the blogfest announcements. And by the time I come to know it’s too late to join and do justice to the theme. Luckily for me, I came to know about the Underrated Treasures Blogfest the moment my good friend Alex J Cavanaugh announced it on his blog. I joined immediately.

Everyone has a favorite movie/band/book/T.V Show, that no one else has ever heard about. For whatever reason, they remain undiscovered and underrated. Now is our chance to tell the world about this obscure treasure. 

I will talk about two books that I feel everyone should read. Both the books are my eternal favourites.

I am sure quite a few of my Indian blog buddies must have heard about the book ‘Autobiography of a Yogi.’ Written by Paramahansa Yogananda, it has been translated into more than 30 languages and is considered one of the 100 Best Spiritual Books of the Twentieth Century.

In the book Paramahansa Yogananda tells the inspiring chronicle of his life: the experiences of his childhood, his encounters with many saints and sages during his youthful search throughout India for an illumined teacher, his  spiritual experiences, his ten years of training in the hermitage of a revered yoga master, and the thirty years that he lived and taught in America.

While reading the book I had goosebumps many times when certain incidents were narrated. Paramahansa Yogananda takes a deep look at the ultimate mysteries of human existence. He explains the subtle but definite laws behind both the ordinary events of everyday life and the extraordinary events commonly termed miracles. I am planning to read this book again sometime in the future. Its a book I would recommend to everyone, even those who have no interest in saints and mystics.

The second book I feel is an undiscovered gem is ‘Caravan to Tibet’ by Deepa Agarwal. When I picked up this book, because of its simplistic cover and title, I had no great expectations from it. And thank God for that. The book surpassed all my expectations.

The book is about fourteen-year-old Debu’s search for his missing father. His father travelling with a caravan of traders from Kumaon (India) to Tibet has  gone missing.  When Debu sees a Tibetan trader in the local market wearing an amulet remarkably similar to his father’s, he is convinced that his father is alive. Debu joins the next caravan to Tibet to look for his father. After that the adventures flow thick and fast: Debu is forced to stay in a monastery with a young lama who takes a fancy to him, his capture by a band of bandits led by the cruel, mysterious Nangbo gifted with magical powers and a stay in the goldfields of Thok Jalong. The thrilling horse race is one of the highlights of the book. Debu’s character was very endearing and I connected with him right in the first few pages.

I am looking forward to visiting the other blogs and getting familiar with many Underrated Treasures.

P.S. Thank you Ninja Captain for this amazing blogfest.