Aruna Gurumurthy

Written by Tina OpinesDecember 31, 2023
Buddha In the Brain
Poems by Aruna Gurumurthy
Book covera book of poems

BOOK REVIEW

This slim book of poetry is dense and many faceted. Gurumurthy grabs the typical reader with her first poem, A Free World – “A small-town coffee girl, I brew tunes, I stem tones of sentiment.” It is a universal image yet personal at the same time. So relatable by so many. Next, poems begin to weave in the beauty of neuroscience coupled with human foibles. In Amplitudes one hears her voice with “Our brain cells link – we liaise, Our greeds oscillate, vices titillate but Courage does no decelerate.” With subsequent works she begins to question – everything of consequence never leaving the personal behind. Further along her writing explodes into the global and universal realms coupled with imagery from our quotidian lives – gun violence, slum life, wars, and natural disasters, while at the same time traveling country back roads and stopping by grocery stores. In all this, Gurumurthy keeps her strong commitment to her poetic voice through cadence and rhythm lulling one into her world that is a “cascade of dreams” (Today’s Life, Tomorrow’s Dream, a Third World). This poet’s approach is reminiscent of Mahadeviyakka’ s poetry in that both offer a transcendent perspective while living in a very real world. Aruna Gurumurthy offers us a gem.… (plus d'informations)

DIYA: A Megawatt Approach to Change by Aruna Gurumurthy – a good read; and not quite the book I'd been expecting it to be; which was a pleasant discovery.

Beginning my reading, I noted the author's written comment about her book - that it "was not a traditional book that is read cover-to-cover at one go." Consequently, I took the time to read DIYA: A Megawatt Approach to Change over the course of several weeks. I was glad I did; it gave me added time to mull over the subtle nuances of Gurumurthy's writings. The author may have been 'chomping at the bit' for my review; but hey, I was enjoying the read and "all good things come to those who wait." 

So, what is DIYA: A Megawatt Approach to Change about? Well, after careful thought and consideration, I guess I’d say “life.” How do we view it? How do we interact in it? How do we respect it? Are we compassionate? Loving? Understanding? Helpful? Curious? Should we be?

I am of the “yes” opinion to all, although there are those who might disagree since we do, each of us, have our own life to live after all, right? And yet, at the end of the day, our ‘singleness’ is merely an illusion because we are all interconnected – even with those whose actions/mannerisms we dislike.

Within the pages of DIYA: A Megawatt Approach to Change, Gurumurthy strives to offer her readers different outlooks, different understandings, different approaches, and different ways to view the world, and people, around us.

Is DIYA: A Megawatt Approach to Change a preachy, be-kind-to-others instructional handbook? No, not at all. Instead, it is a conglomeration of short stories, experiences, sayings, thoughts, et cetera that are succinctly written and are designed to make the reader “go, hmm” and think, wonder, or ponder about this world we live in; this life we each lead.

In summary, DIYA: A Megawatt Approach to Change is assuredly one of the most enjoyable ‘raising awareness’ books I’ve read in a long while. It was a pleasant read; enjoyable and … enlightening.… (plus d'informations)