Tatvamasi – A different perspective to Indian culture

Tatvamasi. Literally meaning, it’s you! Belief, faith, strength, determination, love, gratitude, everything is you. It starts with you and ends with you.

Dhruv Bhatt has yet again created a masterpiece where he takes the reader through the century old, popular among believers, the Parikrama of the sacred river, Narmada (a river pilgrimage) and how that tradition- that faith is still holding strong. The book is narrated through an Indian-origin-American character who is a researcher and a non-believer. One who sees everything through a critic eye, questions every tradition and superstition. One who is like you and me. His journey from being a non-believer to becoming a devotee.

In this journey, the book brings forth some heart-touching facts about the rural/tribal community living in the areas along the riverside. One such startling experience described is – the villagers put some oil and oil lamps (diya) outside their homes every night for the pilgrims to massage their feet. Some conversations with Shashtriji and Gandu Fakir shake your very foundation. When asked if he believed in past births, Shashtriji replied, do you believe in this birth? Gandu Fakir being a non-hindu had undying faith in this Hindu tradition of worshipping a river. As he said, whether I am a Hindu or a Muslim, spirituality begins at my home. 

A story that will move you to the core and inspire you to, if not take the pilgrimage, at the very least, worship this great river once. Story that reveals the truth behind a diverse and vibrant country that is bound strongly by a force. One who has never visited India, never read or heard the mythological stories, Ramayana and Mahabharata, will still know about it. It is in the blood. This fact is so beautifully brought forth in the book that we start observing such minute behaviour of ours which sets us apart from other cultures. One such incident happened with me at work. An English colleague was sitting next to me, having a chat, when by mistake my feet touched him and as a reflex, I touched him lightly, took my hand to my head and apologised. He was surprised by this reaction although didn’t say anything. But that look on his face made me wonder that the belief of seeing God in fellow humans is so well imbibed in our behaviour. Many such beliefs that are interwoven between our culture and behaviour are eloquently described in Tatvamasi.

As I read Tatvamasi, I felt being born and brought up India, how little do I really know about our culture, ancestors and the scientific logics behind certain rituals. It is incredible to know how science and religion have been merged to reach the population. Without revealing much about Tatvamasi, leaving it for you to explore, I shall end my review with one last quote by Shastriji, “Have faith, not needing to define in what. Just have faith.”

Reva

The movie adaptation of this book has done excellent justice to the story. Capturing every crucial and soul changing incidents, the story has been modified a little to reach the greater audience. The direction, acting, screenplay and dialogues have been incredible in bringing forth the depth of the book. Even having moved once by the book, I was equally moved by the movie.