Book Review: Midnight Journey of a Seed

Book: Midnight Journey of a Seed

Author: Manish Srivastava

Genre: Poetry, Philosophy, Self-help, Spiritual

Available at: Amazon.in

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The Covid-19 pandemic had us struggling mentally and spiritually because none of us ever thought such a calamity would befall our modern society with so many amenities and scientific backing. Manish Srivastava writes in his poetry collection- Midnight Journey of a Seed: 

“There is a wild uncharted field

Between what science can explain

And what religion can claim”

With countries, communities, and families grappling with the horrors of a rogue virus of unknown origins, trying to make sense of a cloistered lifestyle bound by lockdowns, covered by masks, Manish is shaken and perturbed. Like many individuals, he takes a deep inward journey. He pens down his thoughts using the techniques of journaling and poetry. Taking cues from spiritual influences in his life and practical experiences as a family man and professional, he creates a book that deserves a space in our bookshelves. The pandemic way of life affected the writer, and the anguish and sensitivity seeped through the pages, both in prose and verse. 

Manish’s book is brave, as it calls out issues of governance. It is triggering because it revives the traumatic months of our world ravaged by the pandemic. Yet, his work is important because we are capable of collective amnesia, and it is imperative for the revival and regeneration of our civilization to remember what we have endured. He says, 

“At 70 cases we were alarmed

At 7 million we have become numb and disengaged”

The reflective writings remind us not to be complacent or casual. He calls upon the endurance and the commitment of our ancestors. We emerge from their seeds – tendrils, shoots, and leaves, with roots bound to the Earth. Manish’s work is meditative. He shares his spiritual practices, encouraging us to invoke a similar empathetic journey. The writing is straightforward, simple, and relatable. The tone is sad, lingering, yet hopeful, and at times even satirical. For how else can a writer shake us from the nonchalance of our precious existence?

The artwork by Sumitra Ahake, a gifted artist, further enhances the contemplative value of this book. Look deep inside each piece of Warli art embedded in seed and reflect on the message in the ink strokes. The artwork, poetry, and prose—all deserve undivided attention—consumed in whole or part. This book endorses the power of resilience and the need for individual awakening to develop a collective consciousness committed to nourishing the seed within us.

Grab your copy for a weekend journey into what we braced in 2020-2021. This book will make you ponder how we must approach 2022 and beyond, in the shadow of the unknown. Manish sums it up in one of his 77 poems:

“Life doesn’t care what we plan —

It gives us what we secretly long

To preserve our essence

In the middle of any storm”