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| That Unforgettable Story: Bestselling Author Anu Lal at Capitol Mall, Kannur, Kerala |
Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a small volume of fiction written
by Richard Bach. Some of you have read it. Some of you haven’t. It’s a highly
readable novella with a seagull named Jonathan Livingston as its titular hero. The
totality of the essence that shines through this story is not just about a
seagull and the quest for success. More importantly, one must look at this book
as a motif that corresponds to the inner voice of an individual. When I read
this book, as a young student of English literature, I immediately associated
it with a writer’s journey. I contemplated on the many nuances Mr. Bach, who I consider
one of my gurus, must have employed to reveal his own life through the pages of
Jonathan Livingston Seagull. The reason
I considered the possibility of an autobiographical element in this book is
that in every writer, there is a seagull.
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| Image Courtesy: Google |
Those very few successful authors are able to free the seagull engraved
in their consciousness by the same creative power that generated their life
force. Is it possible to live without consciousness? Perhaps, but think about
the quality of life one must be missing under an unconscious state of
existence. Every writer goes through stages of evolution. We evolve into being
who we are. This evolution need not be biological. It could be spiritual or intellectual.
Just like an ordinary person having lost his consciousness, a writer struggles
if one does not free the seagull within one.
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| Image Courtesy: Google |
What do I mean by “the seagull within us?” The seagull within us
is our inner voice. This same voice sometimes gives a character in one of our
stories, a unique individuality, and the narrative a significant identity. Voice
is literature has a different meaning. It is not literally an audible sound. But
in a novel or a story, ‘voice’ is the narrative style and peculiar alignment of
thoughts and words. In order to achieve a unique and poignant voice on paper,
one must achieve the same in life outside the paper.
There may be a multitude of concerns that haunt you each day—electricity
bill, water bill, cable and internet bill, food, family, house maintenance or
mortgage, etc. Often, these many concerns put a lock in the cage in which our
inner seagull resides. This inner seagull came with us while we were born,
within the same package that is we.
Once we realize our karma that is the cause of our restlessness,
the path that we need to travel, we must take the courage to let the seagull free.
Let it fly, away and above, everything we have known and seen; let it find new
horizons; let it guide us. Let your inner voice take up thoughts that were,
until then, impossible for you to handle, or improbable. Let your imagination accompany
that inner voice. This is where fiery books were written.
| Image Courtesy: reutersmedia.net |
In the last decade of the previous century, a woman had a
dream-like idea. It was highly improbable and senseless. Had she been living in
Kerala, her own self-respect might have prevented her from penning down this
story. But she lived in Europe, and she took the courage to free her seagull
that is in her. In a few years, her book became a phenomenon. You must have
heard of her, everyone does. She goes by the name, J. K. Rowling.
About The Author:
Anu Lal is the author of Wall of Colours and Other Stories,
Book-1 in the Hope, Vengeance, and History Trilogy. He resides in India. His upcoming book is Clenched Hands, Bloody Nails. His
second book You Should Know How I Feel has been
a bestseller in Amazon India.
Author Page: Here
Twitter: @Anulalindia
What a wonderful post! Writers, listen to your inner seagull! Need to read that novella! How about you?
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