A Hermit in the Himalayas

'A Hermit in the Himalayas' by Paul Brunton is the book I finished reading freshly. I wanted to read a travelogue on Himalayas, this was a travel narrative albeit the journey being mainly of the spiritual kind, the physical traveling is only incidental.

This book was first published in 1937, Paul Brunton was a British journalist who later took a turning for spiritual philosophy. In India he came in contact with various spiritual leaders, saints, mystics and yogis of that time mainly Ramana Maharishi, Kanchipuram Shankracharya & Meher Baba among others.

I bit into the book somewhat reluctantly because honestly I wasn't looking for a spiritual travelogue and that too written so long back. I'll have to give it to Paul Brunton for his easy, light handed treatment, almost everyday language that before I knew it I'd finished a chapter.

Paul Brunton wanted to visit Tibet, Mount Kailash in particular (as he says) not as a 'trader nor geographer' but for a 'higher purpose'. He was denied permission by the authorities in command and he decided to carry on his quest in Tehri Garhwal, in comparative solitude among the majestic Himalayas.

Though largely solitary his Himalayan sojourn was occasionally interrupted by visits from persons of his acquaintance, one of them the Prince Mussooree Shum Shere Jung Bahadur Rana of Nepal (who has written the foreword for this book) with whom Brunton roams around the hilly terrain and also pens down some thrilling anecdotes told by the Prince. Another time he was visited by Swami Pranavananda with whom Brunton shares an immensely spiritual experience. There is one chapter wholly dedicated to Charlie Chaplin whose genius is held in high regards by Brunton.

Throughout the narrative Brunton's reverence for the Himalayas is evident, if you too have seen the lofty, rugged sentinel you'd know how the Himalayas inspire awe in us mortals. The search for innerself or as Brunton says 'overself' is eternal for the humankind and so as such this book is relevant even now...

Yes, overall this book is an interesting and satisfying read for me, Brunton doesn't go overboard anywhere except in parts with his political (?) opinions (which could be opinion of many a Britishers in those days).

My copy is published by Rider/Random House and costs Rs. 499/-.