#Book Review- The Singing Guru by Kamla Kapur

The Blurb reads,

From the best-selling author of Ganesha Goes to Lunch and Rumi’s Tales from the Silk Road comes an original novel about the life and travels of Guru Nanak, a musician, enlightened thinker, and one of the most beloved figures in eastern spirituality.

In this fascinating book, Kamla K. Kapur weaves together facts, legends, folktales, myths, and over forty of Guru Nanak’s poems—preserved in the Sikh holy book, the Granth Sahib—to form this captivating depiction of the leader’s life. From being seduced by deadly women to almost getting eaten by cannibals, the exciting account presented in The Singing Guru includes moral tales without being proselytizing. Factual details are intermingled with fantasy to produce a symbolic portrait in which humor and imagination combine to convey a profound and entertaining spiritual narrative.

I’ve not known much of Sikhism beyond what was taught in school and I’ve always wondered about that faith and religion. I have always known followers of Guru Nanak to be extremely peaceful and embracing of other religions as well as nurturing a strong pride for their own. And I’ve found it admirable.

This book was such an eye opener. Firstly, it is told from the point of view of Mardana. Who is a muslim following Baba Nanak across his spiritual journey.

This book is extremely simple to read. It is also power packed with gems. You want to find out what happens. Mardana is a brilliant narrator and you get lost in his stories. He silently goes about peeling layer over layer from your eyes as he makes you want to embrace a simple and wholesome life.

Indeed the allure of a simple life is very strong. When you’re caught in the never ending cycle of work, money, stress and keeping up appearances, it is but natural that your mind and soul will get depleted.

Somehow, reading such simple books reminds me that there is more to life than a mere desk job. There is more to life than prestige defined by someone sitting miles away from you. And that glamour need not mean that life is fulfilling. And that the grass is always greener on the other side.

This was such a sweet and simple book to read. I will no doubt be reading it again. It demystified one of India’s frontier religions and made me ever so respectful of the followers of this religion. I will be sure to go to a Gurudwara sometime and pray for my soul to find contentment.

My Rating: 5/5