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Book Review: Wagging Tongues by Yogie Chandra Tatvaraj

Wagging Tongues by Yogie Chandra Tatvaraj is a riveting collection of short stories, adaptations, and his personal philosophical reflection on many aspects of life. The book offers around 50 pieces of writing which are easy-to-read and comprehend. Seemingly the book is segmented in three parts. First is the author’s life journey through Ranjan D’ Cruz, who once was a famous Rock singer with his band called Rakshas.


Secondly, adaptations from philosophers and folktales that the author must have acquired in his lifetime. Thirdly, his personal thoughts and opinions about life that shaped him, or he keenly observed while experiencing life. As you traverse through a gamut of aspects, you will notice that the book is poignant in bringing out the funny yet positive learning from life.

Nearly all short stories/pieces involved Ranjan as a lead observer or character. In the first story, we see that owing to Christian roots Ranjan D’ Cruz greatly appreciated England, he was fond of it. The story ‘Patient No. 497’ narrates the irony of his fate. How he fell in love with an English blonde, chased her to England, and finally got the racial and cultural shock. He then realizes the harsh reality of the world and thinks of accepting Indianism over chasing the Western glory.

The book is full of knowledgeable insights, funny yet startling life experiences, wisdom, intelligence, and something extra that is beyond words. From entertainment to reflections, the book has something or other to offer for all types of readers.

Each story has warmth of moral commentary… at times from the philosophers, and many a time from the author. One can make note of quotes given by Yogie Chandra Tatvaraj. He is as good as any philosopher he mentioned in the book. For instance, see that quote on life’s intensity, from the story ‘Who Was The Guru?’

“A fool takes himself seriously, the wise man takes himself lightly and life seriously, which is all present and eternal, unborn, undying, experienced as Being, Consciousness and Bliss.”

The tone of the book is contemporary, hilarious, and out of dead zone. Despite all it poses a stark stance on our society. The society where we live is funny and merciless, through Ranjan you could feel how it worked against a naïve artist.

“A normal person is what is left society has squeezed out all unconventional opinions and aspirations out of a human being.”

Later in the book when the reflections oscillate up and down, Ranjan looked shocked the way society treated him. And he caught in the dilemma of what to accept and what to shed, for instance belief vs. consciousness.

“Belief is the death of consciousness.”

“Belief is the death of living life with the moment as it gives you some fixed ideas.”

The book reflects philosophy of many prominent figures like Bruce Lee, Krishnamurti, Rabindranath Tagore, E Tolle, Albert Einsten, Osho, etc.

Grasping the essence of the entire book is not possible in one review. The book offers many great insights about life from a rudimentary sense of view. The more you read this book, the more likely you grow fan of Ranjan’s queer anecdotes.

The book is perfect for someone going through a reading slump and looking for something easy, breezy, and light. This is purely a mood booster book that can be read over and again.

Yogie Chandra Tatvaraj’s narration is superb and simple. His command over language is exquisite, the way he phrases situations and events casts a lovely impression about his inherent flair for writing. Writing about life with so much comprehension was possible for him, as he is a multi-faceted person.

Buy from Amazon Kindle.

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