top of page
Aditya - The Underwater Boy by Anita Saran
A fascinating adventure story.
In this populous word of ours everyone cries, No More! there is one place which sends out friendly signals - the Undersea. Prof. Sen, a geneticist, creates an underwater boy - the first ever. Aditya adapts well to his new surroundings as do the creatures to their new tenant.
Yet the question lingers: Is man ready for it?
In this populous word of ours everyone cries, No More! there is one place which sends out friendly signals - the Undersea. Prof. Sen, a geneticist, creates an underwater boy - the first ever. Aditya adapts well to his new surroundings as do the creatures to their new tenant.
Yet the question lingers: Is man ready for it?
Circe
“A brilliant, highly experimental work.” – Late Professor P. Lal, Calcutta Writing Workshop
Circe, the enchantress from 'The Odyssey' of Homer, brought out the beast in man and loved only to destroy. This is the story of her adventurous and hilarious quest for the ideal mate. Will she find him within or without?
The novel poses several questions. Is there such a thing as the ideal mate? Is there a difference between sex and love? Here there is an alien posing as an Elvis look alike, a flying carpet that was once a man, a lusting Egyptian mummy, transexual fairies who live in hollow hills, and more such impossible things.
Circe is about the emerging woman who is not afraid to look into herself or question the conditioning she has grown up with, a woman who is fully aware of her most primal desires, as well as her spiritual self and is sometimes torn between body and soul.
Circe, the enchantress from 'The Odyssey' of Homer, brought out the beast in man and loved only to destroy. This is the story of her adventurous and hilarious quest for the ideal mate. Will she find him within or without?
The novel poses several questions. Is there such a thing as the ideal mate? Is there a difference between sex and love? Here there is an alien posing as an Elvis look alike, a flying carpet that was once a man, a lusting Egyptian mummy, transexual fairies who live in hollow hills, and more such impossible things.
Circe is about the emerging woman who is not afraid to look into herself or question the conditioning she has grown up with, a woman who is fully aware of her most primal desires, as well as her spiritual self and is sometimes torn between body and soul.
Dolphin Girl and Other Stories by Anita Saran
Anita Saran John moves you from tears to laughter with these gem-like stories of life in this world and elsewhere.
A girl part dolphin, torn between body and soul.
Adam and Eve get one more chance on another planet.
The hopeless suicide.
A love born from the mists of Darjeeling.
Ghosts who live better than we, the living.
A painting that transcends space and time.
The perils of living alone in way-out places.
A confused magician called Merlino.
Narcissus of the Greek myths still alive in a flower named after him.
A planet where the stars come out once in a thousand years.
A little girl who doesn't want to grow up.
And lovers who meet after ten years.
A girl part dolphin, torn between body and soul.
Adam and Eve get one more chance on another planet.
The hopeless suicide.
A love born from the mists of Darjeeling.
Ghosts who live better than we, the living.
A painting that transcends space and time.
The perils of living alone in way-out places.
A confused magician called Merlino.
Narcissus of the Greek myths still alive in a flower named after him.
A planet where the stars come out once in a thousand years.
A little girl who doesn't want to grow up.
And lovers who meet after ten years.
Slim Now, Stay Slim by Snehlata Panday
I remember this amazing project during my time at Ogilvy & Mather Direct in Bangalore. I was a Creative Consultant there and got the chance to be the Editor of a unique book. This wasn't just any book - it was filled with fascinating stories about famous Bollywood actresses. It was an experience that combined my love for creativity and storytelling in a memorable way.
Slim Now, Stay Slim - Editor Anita Saran
City of Victory - Historical Fiction
A magical historical tale based on the short story of the same name broadcast on BBC Radio. A novella about 4 women in the harem of the King of Vijayanagar (present day Hampi) in the 16th century when this fabled city touted as the "best provided city in the world" by historians was at its zenith.
Meet Jehaan, the lovelorn gypsy who longs for her nomadic life; the courtesan Queen gifted to the teenaged King as teacher, who seeks to evade her inevitable end on the King's funeral pyre; the Vish Kanya whose very breath is poisonous and Meherbanu, mentor to these women who dedicates herself to inculcating acceptance and wisdom in these women.
The photographs of present day Hampi bring to life its sumptuous yet dark past. Read the review written by Ann Hite which appeared in 'Feminist Review.' Ann Hite is the acclaimed author of 'Ghost on Black Mountain.'
Review by Ann Hite, Author
Anita Saran’s short story, City of Victory, published by Chillibreeze.com, is one of the best crafted stories I’ve read in a long time. She has a knack of bringing the setting to the forefront without intrusion. To call this piece of work a short story is an understatement. I find it to be more of a novella.
The story is set in sixteenth century Vijayanagar, a city in South India known as Hampi today. Jehaan is a gypsy girl, who is forced to be one of the maids of honor to the queen. This gives her great privilege: jewels, fine clothes, and good food. But Jehaan is not satisfied to be part of this glittering procession. She is an Egyptian and wants to return home to her father and estranged lover. She longs for the fresh air and earth, not a stone floor palace.
Meherbanu escapes a horrible life when she approaches the king and suggests that she care for his zenana (his group of concubines and the queen). He says that he will put her in charge because of her boldness. She becomes the mentor and mother to the women. But what happens to a group of women protected by one man, the king? The author handles this complexity with beauty.
City of Victory had its debut as a broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2004. So many of the images haunted me and remained in my mind long after I read the work. The photos that illustrate the book are as interesting as the characters. I’m delighted to say I found this ebook a wonderful experience.
– Ann Hite, author of 'Ghost on Black Mountain' from
Simon & Schuster.
Audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/ww/en/audiobook/city-of-victory
Amazon Kindle:
https://www.amazon.in/City-Victory-Anita-Saran-ebook/dp/B009SIL60S/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1699783278&refinements
Meet Jehaan, the lovelorn gypsy who longs for her nomadic life; the courtesan Queen gifted to the teenaged King as teacher, who seeks to evade her inevitable end on the King's funeral pyre; the Vish Kanya whose very breath is poisonous and Meherbanu, mentor to these women who dedicates herself to inculcating acceptance and wisdom in these women.
The photographs of present day Hampi bring to life its sumptuous yet dark past. Read the review written by Ann Hite which appeared in 'Feminist Review.' Ann Hite is the acclaimed author of 'Ghost on Black Mountain.'
Review by Ann Hite, Author
Anita Saran’s short story, City of Victory, published by Chillibreeze.com, is one of the best crafted stories I’ve read in a long time. She has a knack of bringing the setting to the forefront without intrusion. To call this piece of work a short story is an understatement. I find it to be more of a novella.
The story is set in sixteenth century Vijayanagar, a city in South India known as Hampi today. Jehaan is a gypsy girl, who is forced to be one of the maids of honor to the queen. This gives her great privilege: jewels, fine clothes, and good food. But Jehaan is not satisfied to be part of this glittering procession. She is an Egyptian and wants to return home to her father and estranged lover. She longs for the fresh air and earth, not a stone floor palace.
Meherbanu escapes a horrible life when she approaches the king and suggests that she care for his zenana (his group of concubines and the queen). He says that he will put her in charge because of her boldness. She becomes the mentor and mother to the women. But what happens to a group of women protected by one man, the king? The author handles this complexity with beauty.
City of Victory had its debut as a broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2004. So many of the images haunted me and remained in my mind long after I read the work. The photos that illustrate the book are as interesting as the characters. I’m delighted to say I found this ebook a wonderful experience.
– Ann Hite, author of 'Ghost on Black Mountain' from
Simon & Schuster.
Audiobook - https://www.kobo.com/ww/en/audiobook/city-of-victory
Amazon Kindle:
https://www.amazon.in/City-Victory-Anita-Saran-ebook/dp/B009SIL60S/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1699783278&refinements
Neverland - An Audiobook
In this charming sequel to James Barrie's 'Peter Pan & Wendy', a little girl refuses to grow up and a nun regains her simple childhood ways in Neverland.
How to Write Fantasy
A detailed account of how I wrote my fantasy novella 'The Choosing' published by Solstice Publishing. Covers topics such as creating the setting, using world building techniques, achieving reader empathy, characterisation, plot, credibility and much more.
Review
Review by TJ on Amazon India
How To Turn a Biography Into A Fantasy
Reviewed in the United States on 2 January 2013
Verified Purchase
How do you turn a biography into a fantasy?
Anita Saran's book How to Write Fantasy may be of help.
In this book, Saran steps you through all the decisions she made in adapting her semi-biographical story "The Truth About Dragons" into her Fantasy novella "The Choosing"
Loosely based on a friend's life, the story is about a hedonistic woman who sees the light and gives up a life of pleasure to live on a purely spiritual plane.
Saran drops her first nugget of wisdom in the introduction of How to Write Fantasy itself, with her suggestion that good fantasy writing must begin with a crystal clear THEME.
Once Saran decides the theme of her fantasy is the battle between body and soul, her work is off and running.
Well, almost.
Because biography and fantasy are two different literary animals, Saran says she had many decisions to make regarding the number and type of characters, the settings, the plot development and the treatment of events to suit a" fantasy" version of her story.
The selfish jealous mother of The Truth About Dragons (biography) becomes the fiery dragon in The Choosing (fantasy)
Why?
I will leave it to you to read Saran's book and explore her reasoning.
Through the different chapters of How To Write Fantasy, we learn about all the different choices and substitutions Saran made, including some abandoned ones - such as the idea to invent a invent a fantasy cereal called mushi for the inhabitants of her story.
I have read fiction very sparingly over the last twenty years, and fantasy fiction not at all; nevertheless, I think fantasy readers and writers looking for tips and tricks should check out Saran's book and see what they may be able to find there.
Good luck with your writing adventures. If you are a slacker with a dream to write, but have shown no discipline for the task thus far, arm yourself with a few good tips and tricks from Saran's How To Write Fantasy and then commit yourself to getting it done at NaNoWriMo.
Happy Writing!
Review
Review by TJ on Amazon India
How To Turn a Biography Into A Fantasy
Reviewed in the United States on 2 January 2013
Verified Purchase
How do you turn a biography into a fantasy?
Anita Saran's book How to Write Fantasy may be of help.
In this book, Saran steps you through all the decisions she made in adapting her semi-biographical story "The Truth About Dragons" into her Fantasy novella "The Choosing"
Loosely based on a friend's life, the story is about a hedonistic woman who sees the light and gives up a life of pleasure to live on a purely spiritual plane.
Saran drops her first nugget of wisdom in the introduction of How to Write Fantasy itself, with her suggestion that good fantasy writing must begin with a crystal clear THEME.
Once Saran decides the theme of her fantasy is the battle between body and soul, her work is off and running.
Well, almost.
Because biography and fantasy are two different literary animals, Saran says she had many decisions to make regarding the number and type of characters, the settings, the plot development and the treatment of events to suit a" fantasy" version of her story.
The selfish jealous mother of The Truth About Dragons (biography) becomes the fiery dragon in The Choosing (fantasy)
Why?
I will leave it to you to read Saran's book and explore her reasoning.
Through the different chapters of How To Write Fantasy, we learn about all the different choices and substitutions Saran made, including some abandoned ones - such as the idea to invent a invent a fantasy cereal called mushi for the inhabitants of her story.
I have read fiction very sparingly over the last twenty years, and fantasy fiction not at all; nevertheless, I think fantasy readers and writers looking for tips and tricks should check out Saran's book and see what they may be able to find there.
Good luck with your writing adventures. If you are a slacker with a dream to write, but have shown no discipline for the task thus far, arm yourself with a few good tips and tricks from Saran's How To Write Fantasy and then commit yourself to getting it done at NaNoWriMo.
Happy Writing!
The Choosing - A Fantasy
A story about a girl torn between body and soul and her eventful journey into womanhood and self-realisation
Review
Enmesh yourself in fantasy and the world of Tacta, where a young girl discovers she is destined to serve her people in a role she never imagined. Complete with unicorns and dragons (albeit semi-tame dragons), The Choosing explores the depth of personal growth as we move from innocent childhood to alert maturity. Akaasa makes this move from neglected child to enchanted leader in her world - not of her own "choosing" but she makes a conscious decision to accept.
Saran has placed us neatly inside the thoughts of a young woman reflecting on how she arrived where she is. Though set in a mythical place, with mythical characters, it gives the reader insight into his or her own personal growth choices.
When we are offered the opportunity, do we choose to accept? If we do not, what will await us? More importantly, if we do accept, what will be expected of us? Will we live up to that expectation? Neatly packaged in a flowing tale and available as an E-Book on Amazon.
Dennis Rizzo
A Christmas Conspiracy
ILLumina Press
Review
Enmesh yourself in fantasy and the world of Tacta, where a young girl discovers she is destined to serve her people in a role she never imagined. Complete with unicorns and dragons (albeit semi-tame dragons), The Choosing explores the depth of personal growth as we move from innocent childhood to alert maturity. Akaasa makes this move from neglected child to enchanted leader in her world - not of her own "choosing" but she makes a conscious decision to accept.
Saran has placed us neatly inside the thoughts of a young woman reflecting on how she arrived where she is. Though set in a mythical place, with mythical characters, it gives the reader insight into his or her own personal growth choices.
When we are offered the opportunity, do we choose to accept? If we do not, what will await us? More importantly, if we do accept, what will be expected of us? Will we live up to that expectation? Neatly packaged in a flowing tale and available as an E-Book on Amazon.
Dennis Rizzo
A Christmas Conspiracy
ILLumina Press
Becoming Vegetarian
Tj
When An Animal Lover Speaks, Everyone Ought to Listen
Reviewed in the United States on 1 November 2012
Verified Purchase
Different people take different paths to vegetarianism. For me, amazingly, it was reading a few paragraphs in one of Lewis Carroll's least popular books. No way Carroll could have predicted that decades after publication of his book Sylvie and Bruno, this scene would stir up an instantaneous and powerful desire in a young girl's heart to become vegetarian. But yep, that was what happened. Just as reading How God Changes the Brain led me to meditation, the story of which is told in the Connected Minds post on my blog, these words from Carroll converted me to a fierce vegetarianism that lasted, if not long enough, for several years of my life:
"No; I saw that, said Sylvie. He's always afraid of being praised. But he made me eat it, really! I would much rather he--oh, what's that? And she clung to my hand, half-frightened, as we came in sight of a hare, lying on its side with legs stretched out just in the entrance to the wood.
It's a hare, my child. Perhaps it's asleep.
No, it isn't asleep, Sylvie said, timidly going nearer to look at it: its eyes are open. Is it--is it--her voice dropped to an awestruck whisper, is it dead, do you think?"
"Yes, it's quite dead," I said, after stooping to examine it. "Poor thing! I think it's been hunted to death. I know the harriers were out yesterday. But they haven't touched it. Perhaps they caught sight of another, and left it to die of fright and exhaustion."
"Hunted to death?" Sylvie repeated to herself, very slowly and sadly. "I thought hunting was a thing they played at like a game. Bruno and I hunt snails: but we never hurt them when we catch them!"
"Sweet angel!" I thought. "How am I to get the idea of Sport into your innocent mind?" And as we stood, hand-in-hand, looking down at the dead hare, I tried to put the thing into such words as she could understand. "You know what fierce wild-beasts lions and tigers are?" Sylvie nodded. "Well, in some countries men have to kill them, to save their own lives, you know."
"Yes," said Sylvie: "if one tried to kill me, Bruno would kill it if he could."
"Well, and so the men--the hunters--get to enjoy it, you know: the running, and the fighting, and the shouting, and the danger."
"Yes," said Sylvie. "Bruno likes danger."
"Well, but, in this country, there aren't any lions and tigers, loose: so they hunt other creatures, you see." I hoped, but in vain, that this would satisfy her, and that she would ask no more questions.
"They hunt foxes," Sylvie said, thoughtfully. "And I think they kill them, too. Foxes are very fierce. I daresay men don't love them. Are hares fierce?"
"No," I said. "A hare is a sweet, gentle, timid animal--almost as gentle as a lamb."
"But, if men love hares, why--why--" her voice quivered, and her sweet eyes were brimming over with tears.
"I'm afraid they don't love them, dear child."
"All children love them," Sylvie said. "All ladies love them."
"I'm afraid even ladies go to hunt them, sometimes."
Sylvie shuddered. `"Oh, no, not ladies!' she earnestly pleaded. "Not Lady Muriel!"
"No, she never does, I'm sure--but this is too sad a sight for you, dear. Let's try and find some--"
But Sylvie was not satisfied yet. In a hushed, solemn tone, with bowed head and clasped hands, she put her final question. "Does GOD love hares?"
"Yes!" I said. "I'm sure He does! He loves every living thing. Even sinful men. How much more the animals, that cannot sin!"
"I don't know what `sin' means," said Sylvie. And I didn't try to explain it.
"Come, my child," I said, trying to lead her away. "Wish good-bye to the poor hare, and come and look for blackberries."
"Good-bye, poor hare!" Sylvie obediently repeated, looking over her shoulder at it as we turned away. And then, all in a moment, her self-command gave way. Pulling her hand out of mine, she ran back to where the dead hare was lying, and flung herself down at its side in such an agony of grief as I could hardly have believed possible in so young a child.
"Oh, my darling, my darling!" she moaned, over and over again. "And God meant your life to be so beautiful!"
Sometimes, but always keeping her face hidden on the ground, she would reach out one little hand, to stroke the poor dead thing, and then once more bury her face in her hands, and sob as if her heart would break.
I was afraid she would really make herself ill: still I thought it best to let her weep away the first sharp agony of grief: and, after a few minutes, the sobbing gradually ceased, and Sylvie rose to her feet, and looked calmly at me, though tears were still streaming down her cheeks.
I did not dare to speak again, just yet; but simply held out my hand to her, that we might quit the melancholy spot.
Yes, I'll come now, she said. Very reverently she kneeled down, and kissed the dead hare; then rose and gave me her hand, and we moved on in silence".
Now comes a new book directly aimed at promoting vegetarianism.
Becoming A Vegetarian - One Woman's Experience by Anita Saran.
Could reading Becoming a Vegetarian - One Woman's Experience be the book that turns you away from the killing of animals for sport or for food?
I hope so.
The book contains, besides the principal argument of vegetarianism for compassion's sake, every other argument that can be made for vegetarianism - be it religious, historical, social or medical.
However, my reason for recommending you buy and read Becoming Vegetarian - One Woman's Experience goes beyond the artistic, literary or expository merits of the book.
I believe that when an animal lover speaks, everyone ought to listen.
I have known Saran for decades.
Before Saran was vegetarian, she was an animal lover who could not and would not turn away from the plight of a starving, injured or homeless animal.
We would be walking on the road and talking, when she would squeal because she had noticed some stray dogs on the side of the road. Next minute, I would see her emptying her handbag of any available food she had; and if she didn't have any, run to the nearest bakery or grocery store to buy some food; in all the time I knew her, she could never ignore a helpless animal.
This was Saran.
Saran's home was also a shelter to many unloved dogs. Even when she had too many to care for, her heart was always big enough to take in one more.
So a year ago, when I requested Saran to guest post on my blog, we both knew the ideal subject would be her pets.
Becoming Vegetarian - One Woman's Experience is a quick read written by someone who enjoyed eating meat until her early 40s, when she participated in a study session on ahimsa and converted to vegetarianism overnight.
In her book, Saran presents the Buddhist and Jain viewpoints on consuming the flesh of animals, viewpoints she has come to believe.
Sensitive to other viewpoints, Saran presents the moral arguments for vegetarianism and also stresses the ecological, health and survival benefits.
Counter arguments and doubts about becoming protein deficient or weak are quickly dispelled by citing facts and providing a list of several bodybuilders who are vegetarian.
Being in great shape herself, and looking far younger than her years, Saran's health and youthfulness eloquently testify to the cosmetic benefits of vegetarianism.
Finally, if you are unclear about what it means to be vegetarian and how to go about becoming one, Becoming Vegetarian - One Woman's Experience, provides you with all the instructions and necessary cautions to ensure you will succeed.
I am glad Saran wrote this book and I hope many will buy it, read it and be encouraged by it to become vegetarian.
When An Animal Lover Speaks, Everyone Ought to Listen
Reviewed in the United States on 1 November 2012
Verified Purchase
Different people take different paths to vegetarianism. For me, amazingly, it was reading a few paragraphs in one of Lewis Carroll's least popular books. No way Carroll could have predicted that decades after publication of his book Sylvie and Bruno, this scene would stir up an instantaneous and powerful desire in a young girl's heart to become vegetarian. But yep, that was what happened. Just as reading How God Changes the Brain led me to meditation, the story of which is told in the Connected Minds post on my blog, these words from Carroll converted me to a fierce vegetarianism that lasted, if not long enough, for several years of my life:
"No; I saw that, said Sylvie. He's always afraid of being praised. But he made me eat it, really! I would much rather he--oh, what's that? And she clung to my hand, half-frightened, as we came in sight of a hare, lying on its side with legs stretched out just in the entrance to the wood.
It's a hare, my child. Perhaps it's asleep.
No, it isn't asleep, Sylvie said, timidly going nearer to look at it: its eyes are open. Is it--is it--her voice dropped to an awestruck whisper, is it dead, do you think?"
"Yes, it's quite dead," I said, after stooping to examine it. "Poor thing! I think it's been hunted to death. I know the harriers were out yesterday. But they haven't touched it. Perhaps they caught sight of another, and left it to die of fright and exhaustion."
"Hunted to death?" Sylvie repeated to herself, very slowly and sadly. "I thought hunting was a thing they played at like a game. Bruno and I hunt snails: but we never hurt them when we catch them!"
"Sweet angel!" I thought. "How am I to get the idea of Sport into your innocent mind?" And as we stood, hand-in-hand, looking down at the dead hare, I tried to put the thing into such words as she could understand. "You know what fierce wild-beasts lions and tigers are?" Sylvie nodded. "Well, in some countries men have to kill them, to save their own lives, you know."
"Yes," said Sylvie: "if one tried to kill me, Bruno would kill it if he could."
"Well, and so the men--the hunters--get to enjoy it, you know: the running, and the fighting, and the shouting, and the danger."
"Yes," said Sylvie. "Bruno likes danger."
"Well, but, in this country, there aren't any lions and tigers, loose: so they hunt other creatures, you see." I hoped, but in vain, that this would satisfy her, and that she would ask no more questions.
"They hunt foxes," Sylvie said, thoughtfully. "And I think they kill them, too. Foxes are very fierce. I daresay men don't love them. Are hares fierce?"
"No," I said. "A hare is a sweet, gentle, timid animal--almost as gentle as a lamb."
"But, if men love hares, why--why--" her voice quivered, and her sweet eyes were brimming over with tears.
"I'm afraid they don't love them, dear child."
"All children love them," Sylvie said. "All ladies love them."
"I'm afraid even ladies go to hunt them, sometimes."
Sylvie shuddered. `"Oh, no, not ladies!' she earnestly pleaded. "Not Lady Muriel!"
"No, she never does, I'm sure--but this is too sad a sight for you, dear. Let's try and find some--"
But Sylvie was not satisfied yet. In a hushed, solemn tone, with bowed head and clasped hands, she put her final question. "Does GOD love hares?"
"Yes!" I said. "I'm sure He does! He loves every living thing. Even sinful men. How much more the animals, that cannot sin!"
"I don't know what `sin' means," said Sylvie. And I didn't try to explain it.
"Come, my child," I said, trying to lead her away. "Wish good-bye to the poor hare, and come and look for blackberries."
"Good-bye, poor hare!" Sylvie obediently repeated, looking over her shoulder at it as we turned away. And then, all in a moment, her self-command gave way. Pulling her hand out of mine, she ran back to where the dead hare was lying, and flung herself down at its side in such an agony of grief as I could hardly have believed possible in so young a child.
"Oh, my darling, my darling!" she moaned, over and over again. "And God meant your life to be so beautiful!"
Sometimes, but always keeping her face hidden on the ground, she would reach out one little hand, to stroke the poor dead thing, and then once more bury her face in her hands, and sob as if her heart would break.
I was afraid she would really make herself ill: still I thought it best to let her weep away the first sharp agony of grief: and, after a few minutes, the sobbing gradually ceased, and Sylvie rose to her feet, and looked calmly at me, though tears were still streaming down her cheeks.
I did not dare to speak again, just yet; but simply held out my hand to her, that we might quit the melancholy spot.
Yes, I'll come now, she said. Very reverently she kneeled down, and kissed the dead hare; then rose and gave me her hand, and we moved on in silence".
Now comes a new book directly aimed at promoting vegetarianism.
Becoming A Vegetarian - One Woman's Experience by Anita Saran.
Could reading Becoming a Vegetarian - One Woman's Experience be the book that turns you away from the killing of animals for sport or for food?
I hope so.
The book contains, besides the principal argument of vegetarianism for compassion's sake, every other argument that can be made for vegetarianism - be it religious, historical, social or medical.
However, my reason for recommending you buy and read Becoming Vegetarian - One Woman's Experience goes beyond the artistic, literary or expository merits of the book.
I believe that when an animal lover speaks, everyone ought to listen.
I have known Saran for decades.
Before Saran was vegetarian, she was an animal lover who could not and would not turn away from the plight of a starving, injured or homeless animal.
We would be walking on the road and talking, when she would squeal because she had noticed some stray dogs on the side of the road. Next minute, I would see her emptying her handbag of any available food she had; and if she didn't have any, run to the nearest bakery or grocery store to buy some food; in all the time I knew her, she could never ignore a helpless animal.
This was Saran.
Saran's home was also a shelter to many unloved dogs. Even when she had too many to care for, her heart was always big enough to take in one more.
So a year ago, when I requested Saran to guest post on my blog, we both knew the ideal subject would be her pets.
Becoming Vegetarian - One Woman's Experience is a quick read written by someone who enjoyed eating meat until her early 40s, when she participated in a study session on ahimsa and converted to vegetarianism overnight.
In her book, Saran presents the Buddhist and Jain viewpoints on consuming the flesh of animals, viewpoints she has come to believe.
Sensitive to other viewpoints, Saran presents the moral arguments for vegetarianism and also stresses the ecological, health and survival benefits.
Counter arguments and doubts about becoming protein deficient or weak are quickly dispelled by citing facts and providing a list of several bodybuilders who are vegetarian.
Being in great shape herself, and looking far younger than her years, Saran's health and youthfulness eloquently testify to the cosmetic benefits of vegetarianism.
Finally, if you are unclear about what it means to be vegetarian and how to go about becoming one, Becoming Vegetarian - One Woman's Experience, provides you with all the instructions and necessary cautions to ensure you will succeed.
I am glad Saran wrote this book and I hope many will buy it, read it and be encouraged by it to become vegetarian.
The Dhammapada, Volume X Part 1: Translated from Pali by F. Max Muller
Max Muller
An Audiobook
The Buddha's Words From The Pali
Narrated by Anita Saran
Narrated by Anita Saran
bottom of page