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It’s
been magnificent, not just for the Brazilian author, Paulo Coelho, but for the
whole book-reading world. The frenzy some of his books created still lasts in
the global culture. The Alchemist, The Witch of Portobello, Brida, and The Fifth Mountain, to name a few. Mr. Coelho’s books took the New
Age intellectual revolution into the new millennium.
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If
Castaneda’s books provide us with a line of awareness between the ordinary
reality and the parallel ones, in Paulo Coelho’s literary universe, they merge
into one. A very good example can be seen in The Alchemist. When Santiago and the alchemist were in the desert
in front of the bandits, where they would later perform the miracle of being
transformed into wind, we see this same merging of realities.
Five
years back, in a small public library in Kannur, I discovered my first Paulo
Coelho book. I had heard his name previously in the pamphlets and bullets
published by one of the prominent publishers in Kerala. When I came across The Fifth Mountain, in that small public
library, I did not hesitate to pick it.
However,
I should not say, if my memory is not betraying me, I was entirely free of
doubt just before taking the book that this would be a great read. I was
hesitant enough, just like any one would be. I turned the pages and took the
first page. It was lucid, simple, and direct. I took it, without another
hesitation.
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In the
preface of The Fifth Mountain I read
that universal mantra of self-realization, for the first time. Remember, The Fifth Mountain was the first ever
book I read, by Paulo Coelho. I did not even hear about The Alchemist, before I took The
Fifth Mountain in my hands. Perhaps, I had heard about The Alchemist from the bulletin, but I could not recall such an
event now.
“And,
when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve
it.”― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
These
words reminded me that my dreams are not mine alone, but they have a reason to
be in my mind. Whatever I write from here onwards, about how this quote helped
me to put life into perspective, would, I am afraid, become a shapeless outburst
of my gratefulness to the author, to the teacher. August 24th is his
birthday.
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I
wish my dear writer, Paulo Coelho, a very happy birthday. May you receive the best
of joy, health, and sunshine.
I
regret addressing Paulo a Brazilian author, in the beginning of this short
piece. He is very much a universal writer, given his reach and impact.
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