“Spiritual” outpourings of a self-proclaimed agnostic – could have been shorter

Limping to the Centre of the World by Timeri Murari

Book on Amazon | My review on Amazon

3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed July 16, 2009

This book is a personal travelogue of a 64 year old Indian man on a spiritual quest, whether he wants to admit it or not. Of how he starts out an agnostic, and ends up a believer (though not in a conventional sense, but a believer in God as seen in the mountains and the sky).

For Indians this is considered the ultimate religious homage – to trek up to and circle Mount Kailash in a clockwise direction, and to cleanse one’s sins in Lake Manasarovar.

One of the repetitive themes throughout the book is “what is spirituality”. The author insists he is not spiritual – presumably in the way the word is defined by the other pilgrims.

The author too goes for similar reasons of personal spiritual achievement, though he does have another strong motivation for his prayers – a foster child’s upcoming major surgery. This heart-felt bond of love with the child is clearly visible through all the other ramblings – the book touches you if only just for this reason.

There is too much unfocused (and not very well thought out or explained) rambling against China and politics. Would have been better to have stuck to a travelogue theme and spiritual quest, without offering political opinions – it takes away from the purpose of the book.

The author makes some sketchy outlines of the fellow-pilgrims, and other people encountered – but they seem rather half-hearted, like unfinished thoughts. You don’t quite end up liking any of the characters (and you don’t get the sense that the author did either!).

There are some scintillating bits of nature description, such as of the river Kali, of the hike along the treacherous ledge above the Kali, the description of Mount Kailas itself, and the long drab plateau drive through Tibet.

If you’re looking for a travelogue or pure “trekking in the mountains” book, this is not it.

If you have the ability to skip over all the uninteresting detail, you can get a fair idea of the logistics of the Kailas-Manasarovar trip organized by the Indian Government. (Makes me determined to never ever go on it!! Not for the love of nature, not for the love of God, not for the feel of an arduous trek..)