Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India Dr Ramdas Athawale and Padma Shri Advocate Ujjwal Nikam who is also a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament launched Shri Ramesh Khanvilkars’s book The Stormy Path in Mumbai. Also present on the dais were Shri Bharatshet Gogawale, Minister for Employment Guarantee Scheme of Maharashtra and Adv. Vitthal Bhaurao Konde-Deshmukh, Hon’ble Chairman, Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa, and Akshay Sonthalia, Founder of Poets Choice & Free Spirit LLC, the publisher of this book.
Beginning his speech with respect to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Ujjwal Nikam said, “I congratulate Shri Ramesh Khanvilkar for successfully carrying forward Dr Ambadkar’s mission for providing education particularly to the lower strata of the society,” while launching the book by Ramesh Khanvilkar – The Stormy Path.
An English version of the book in Marathi – Vadalvat, The Stormy Path is a Biography of Shri. Ramesh Khanvilkar, about his life, achievements, efforts and struggle behind it. Writer of the book is one of the most eminent writers of Marathi literature- Dr. Vijaya Wadh ma’am. The book that is based on the struggle and existence of his struggles is translated from Marathi to English by Poet’s Choice and Free Spirit LLC.
“The Stormy Path is especially written for students and today’s youth to motivate them, wherein ten topics are mentioned are quite inspirational and spectacular. It is about my childhood experience of hardship, where I even studied under a small lamp, on days of festivals when my family barely had enough food to share. I have penned an emotional description of my family background and our struggles,” mentioned Khanvilkar.
Akshay Sonthalia, Founder of Poets Choice & Free Spirit pointed out with pride, “A story which was limited to those who can read Marathi, was given to me to be made available worldwide. So, it already had an established readership. Besides, the usual rags to riches, a story of a self-made man – a man of resilience, patience and integrity. I saw Shri Ramesh Khanvilkar as my father figure who has fearlessly walked through strife and nurtured human values more than material wealth, and this synced with my vision in his book “The Stormy Path.”
At age of 21 years of life, Ramesh Khanvilkar founded his very first institute- Rajaram Sheth Vidyalaya and its establishment story with struggle and attack on life and blessings of Lord Ganesh showing him path of success, all are mentioned in an absolute way which feels emotional yet quite inspiring.
Book also talks about hobbies he nurtured in childhood, about the foundation of R. K B. Ed and D. Ed college, etc. There is a special mention about his mother Shrimati Sharda Khanvilkar, her teachings and lessons on life. An emotional part wherein the departure of his father and feelings behind are mentioned quite emotionally. “It is an inspiring book for the youth of today,” Khanvilkar remarked.
Enumerating the invaluable information in the book, Akshay Sonthalia noted, “The youth of today should read The Stormy Path to gain inspiration from his journey – to gain clarity of thought and vision. Above all to now stop the deteriorating trends for the betterment of all, by putting values before mansions and cars. It’s a real-life story like that of a character named Jamal in one of the Bollywood stories.”
About the publishers of The Stormy Path:
Poets Choice & Free Spirit LLC has published 176 Poetry Books, single author and multiple author anthologies. 121 titles in other literary collections. The Stormy Path by Shri Ramesh Khanvilkar, is their first Autobiographical Book of an Indian author. It is their first Non Fiction Prose Book, of an author from India. The book took an unprecedented 3 years to finalize and publish. The number of single author titles published of Indian origin remains fewer than 7 today.
– By PARESH B MEHTA
