Review of The Tales from the Quran and Hadith by Lt Col Anurag Shukla

Tales from the Quran and Hadith  

Tales from the Quran and Hadith

The book written by Rana Safavi, a self confessed novice to storytelling, comes across as a charming set of parables, written in a very easy style yet succeeding in capturing the timelessness of the tales. And riveting too, in the wonder that tales of yore characteristically contain and the profoundness of the impact they have had across centuries, shaping the minds of generations of human beings of all faiths. 

When I picked up the book, I must admit I did so with some intention of trying to understand the basics of Islam, especially in the light of the adverse attention some of its proponents are drawing upon it,across the world. When I put the book down after relishing the last tale, it was with a twinge of guilt at having entertained even a trace of that purpose. The combination of simplicity of the stories and the profundity of the lessons transcended all barriers petty human minds place upon themselves. Here were stories of  everyday people going about their everyday affairs often unaware of the benign presence of the Supreme Being, probably just as we do now. 

Had I read it as a child I am certain I would have enjoyed the stories much more. As an adult reader I could not but remark on  the singularity of peoples of the world that comes across as the common strand. Judaic faiths I always knew,drew upon the same seers seen from different perspectives. But the commonality of Nuh(Noah-Manu) and the reference to the dog as the animal that accompanies man on his final journey, bore such striking resemblance to Hindu beliefs,was a point that struck me for the first time. 

Recording of history is fine and Rana Safavi must continue doing it but I personally feel that a good tales leave a deeper impact on man. Goodness is,fortunately, not as vulnerable to individual interpretation as History. So, here I am looking forward to more such tales.

About Lt Col Anurag Shukla 

Growing up in the coal mines of erstwhile Bihar now Jharkhand, I learnt to love and respect Mother Earth. Realising a childhood ambition, I joined the National Defence Academy in 1980 and after four years of training got commissioned into what else,The Bihar Regiment. 21 years of military shaped the young boy into a better human being( I would like to believe so)

Coming up a cul de sac in my career, I chose to part ways, on excellent terms I must add and seek fulfilment elsewhere. Old attractions like writing,reading,playing music were brought out, sunned and dried and put to creative use. However it was in farming that I found the manifestation of all I was at the time. For the last 12 years I have been committed to organic, composite farming in a small Cantonment town called Mhow near Indore, learning, experimenting and validating my own perceptions of the way forward. The environment, unhurried and laid back also makes it easy to pursue my creative hobbies.