Above: Ratanjit, with his wife Dolly and daughter Nisha.
Books
Mending Souls: A Book Review
by RAJAN CHAKARVARTY
"Mending Souls" is sikhchic.com's Book of the Month for August 2010.
MENDING SOULS, by Khushwant Singh. Rupa, New Delhi, 2010. Paperback, Rs. 195.00. ISBN: 9788129116383
THE BOOK REVIEW
The Sikh diaspora has a new spokesman. Khushwant Singh.
The Hoshiarpur-based farmer-turned-journalist-turned-author, who penned the bestselling Sikhs Unlimited three years ago, has now written a riveting biography of Sardar Ratanjit Singh, who has not only set up a multi-million dollar business empire in the U.S. but is also a renowned and much-sought-after motivational speaker.
The book, called ‘Mending Souls', is a fascinating account of the life of Ratanjit Singh and how he used the principles of Sikhism, specially the teachings of Guru Nanak, to become a hugely successful entrepreneur in the U.S.
Mending Souls describes how the first Sikh Guru, Nanak's message of Ik Oankar - All is One - not only showed Ratanjit Singh the path to spiritual enlightenment and improved his quality of life, but also helped him expand his business empire.
At the heart of Mending Souls, just as at the heart of Ratanjit Singh's philosophy, lie twenty-five habits that he insists can "put your life on track". The twenty-five are mentioned in detail in a separate chapter, which - according to the author Khushwant Singh - forms the core of the book.
According to Ratanjit Singh, "The foremost habit is to operate in absolute gratitude at all times."
Often, he explains, we overlook the good things that are happening or exist in our lives, and instead choose to concentrate on the flaws. "Thereby we don't appreciate the good things in our lives and consequently remain unhappy."
I have known the author Khushwant Singh for close to a decade now. The man doesn't believe in half-measures. Certainly not in the work he does. So, when he called me last year and told me about his impending trip to Cleveland to meet Ratanjit Singh, I had an inkling a book was somewhere in the offing.
Khushwant explained he had had several discussions with Ratanjit Singh about the possibility of writing a book that would explain to the readers the latter's unique philosophy and how he used that in both his business and in leading a stress-free life. Following several long telephonic chats and emails, Khushwant was utterly convinced that Ratanjit Singh's unique use of the teachings of the Sikh Gurus to enhance his business and at the same time keep his mind in peace was a phenomenon that needed a wider audience.
Once that realization dawned, there remained the not so simple matter of writing a book on what was hitherto an unchartered territory for the young author.
"As a journalist I had written business stories before, but delving into spirituality was another matter altogether," says Khushwant., who spent hours and days and months chatting with Ratanjit Singh, his friends and family, trying to understand the subtle yet significant influence of Sikhism on the man's business practices.
The result of all the effort that was put in, is Mending Souls, a book that tells you one can go a long way in making a lot of money if only one can find and nurture goodness in everything and everyone. "But if you seek success with an ulterior motive or with the sole objective of personal success," warns the businessman-turned-motivational speaker, "then it is bound to fail."
In an increasingly material world, a book like Mending Souls soothes the mind and points the body towards which path to take, a path shown by none other than Guru Nanak himself.
August 1, 2010
Conversation about this article
1: Irvinder Singh Babra (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), August 01, 2010, 5:00 PM.
Rajan's book review is good but it's brief, yet he has still able to capture Ratanjit Singh Sondhe's extra-ordinary lifestyle and success in America. I am sure sikhchic.com will do more for the book and the man who is an icon. And the kind never seen before, especially the ones in the '70s when the great Indian 'sages' and 'masters' in America turned out to be dubious by the end of the decade. They found the niche among the millions of American/ Western seekers of truth and the right way, collided with them, and I must say, lost more and gained less. It has taken over 30 years for that chaotic era to settle, the damaging, tsunami-like Karmic or chakra of meditational fervour, which disbanded family after family. Now a crop of new leaders, starting with the likes of Ratanjit Singh ji in this milliennium, are making use of the media to re-direct all. Media is paramount, he knows it; the message seems to me in Canada to be: "You bear God within you, poor wretch, and know it."
2: Vikram Manco (Mumbai, India), August 02, 2010, 6:19 AM.
'Mending Souls' ... if it has done even 50% justice in presenting the lifestyle/ achievement and biography of Sardar Ratanjit Singh ji, undoubtedly it will be a heart- and soul-mending experience for each and every reader.
3: Kitty Bhasin (California, U.S.A.), August 05, 2010, 2:12 PM.
"Mending Souls": The Book Review, shows Ratanjit as a dignified soul with an ability to guide and show everyone that every step forward is a step towards achieving more and better. He has proved so in all his life's achievements. This review justifies only part of the enormous treasures we all are seeking to improve our lives and achieving our goals.
4: Chintan Singh (San Jose, California, U.S.A.), October 05, 2010, 12:24 PM.
I had my family check at three bookshops in New Delhi but none of them have it available. Does anyone know of a website or physical store where it is available?
5: Khushwant Singh (Chandigarh, Punjab), October 16, 2010, 12:25 AM.
Dear Chintan Singh ji: The book is available on Amazon.com. In Delhi, Jain Book Depot in Connaught Place has the book. http://jainbookdepot.com