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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline FEBRUARY 06, 2026 | The Indian Eye 33

not tainted his wonder of existence
or barred his unceasing engagement
with subtler mysteries.
The Kumbh till this visit was
seared in his memory only as a theatri-
cal event of human drama, but in 2025
it alchemized spiritually into an expe-
riential landmark expressed as, “I was
just an insignificant speck of dust on
the soap bubble of universe.” The ri-
otous burgeoning of sounds and sights
around him during the two days were
not cacophony but the very pulsations
of his own soul; as he dipped into the
waters as one of the multitudes, he
felt blessed for the opportunity to of-
fer prayers ‘for peace in this turbulent
world.’ The mammoth spectacle of hu-
manity and human endeavor brought
forth an utterance, “Shakti in Bhak-
ti!” from him, and the Mahakumbh
translated into a riveting passage of
transformation too deep for words—
reaffirming the knowledge that the
microcosm and the macrocosm vi-
brate together: My soul too sang
along with the music of the spheres. A sadhu blowing conch pic from the book
A delightful potpourri of pro-
found impressions rooted in person-
al experience, literary penmanship, work to be his own Mahakumbh—he
academic scholarship, and spiritual understands it as another kind of con-
insight suffuse the book. The musings fluence of science and faith where he
uncover multi dimensions of the Ma- has witnessed miracles; the ‘hospital
hakumbh from mythic to astronomic a temple, every heartbeat a mantra’.
by luminaries in various fields such Such creative and profound writerly
as spirituality, fashion, religion, ad- narratives mark the book as a trea-
ministration, medicine, journalism, sure house of fresh insights.
business, politics, theater, academia, Message of unity in diversity
sports, film, art, and music.
The scintillating writerly roster ut the book must not mistaken-
ly be read as a page turner of
he scintillating writerly roster Bthe famous, high or mighty but
of 55 names includes Pujya rather viewed as the melding of voices
TSwami Chidanand Saraswa- to form one voice of homage to cap-
ti, Ayaan Ali Bangash, Kabir Bedi, ture the mightiest sacred geo-astro-
Harish Parvatheni, Satya Hinduja, nomical occurrence in India—which
Dr. Shashi Tharoor, George Mathew, in turn ignites a reexamination of In-
Lord Meghnad Desai, Rev. Victor dia’s role in the world, and her eter-
Lobo, Rev. Father Thomas V. Kun- nal/everlasting (Sanatan) message of
nukal, Dr. Navin Mehta, Farokh En- unity in diversity.
gineer, Dr. Jagdish Bhagwati, Muzaf- Even though the tumult has qui- Yakub Mathew with his book
far Ali, Didi Krishna Kumari, Rakesh etened down, millions have returned
Kaul, Ashi Sonam Choden Dorji, home and the waters lap on in all pages of this book to relive the thrill journeys. As is expressed so beautiful-
Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati, Haji Syed those who dipped into the sangam. of the event. For those such as myself, ly by His Eminence Cardinal Oswald
Salman Chisty, Swami Swaroopanan- The pluralistic waters of the Maha- who could not attend the event early Gracias: “This book will help us listen
da, Anupam Kher, Swami Sarvapri- kumbh are representative of the eter- last year, reading the book is a reen- more deeply---to the longings of our
yananda, Dr. Subramanian Swamy, nal seeking for the divine of various actment of the ritual to experience its own heart, to the silent music of cre-
Mokshapriya, Suhel Seth, Yogmata religious voices fired by the single excitement and energy. The book has ation, and to the voice of the One who
Keiko Aikawa, Radhe Jaggi, Barkha current of—yearning for the tran- done a great service immortalizing speaks through both.”
Dutt, and Ustad Hidayat Khan. scendental. Water has no boundary, it the Mahakumbh, making it tangible Usha Akella, Austin-based poet, has
Even technology played its part surges and flows, turns corners, and for posterity. Finally, we grasp that
authored 11 books that include poetry
in the 2,750 AI driven CCTV cam- erodes hardened hearts. The Maha- Prayagraj, a holy site of pilgrimage and spiritual musical dramas. She has
eras monitoring the festivities as we kumbh demands all masks and attire like Mecca, Jerusalem or Kashi is the been invited to numerous international
are reminded by Amitabh Kant. Dr. are surrendered to her waters, to find human heart where we discover the poetry festivals.
Dinesh Singh creatively interprets the a single skin underneath -- humanity. reconciliation of all contradictions
legendary River Saraswati as the flow It is a purification rite that restores the and paradoxes. Where Love finally She is the founder of the decade-old
of humanity itself. Dr. Achintya Mou- truth underlying all human narratives. is the beginning, remainder, and the Matwaala (www.matwaala.com) that
lick brilliantly perceives his surgical Symbolically we can still dip in the destination in all our inner and outer amplifies South Asian diasporic poets

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