The Twentieth Chapter of the Gita: Hareshwar Roy

Hareshwar Roy,
The Twentieth Chapter of the Gita: Hareshwar Roy

Long ago, there was a small village named Dihra in the Bhojpur region. Outside the village stood a grand temple. In the courtyard of this temple, there was a huge peepal tree with a paved stone platform beneath it.

Once, a revered saint made his seat under this tree. He had a charming personality and a very sweet voice. The villagers were deeply impressed by the saint and requested him to give a discourse (pravachan), which he could not decline.

Word was sent to nearby villages informing them of the event. A stage was set up, and all other necessary arrangements for the discourse were made. On the day the discourse was to begin, a large crowd gathered in the temple courtyard.

Before commencing the discourse, the saint asked a question to the assembled audience, “How many of you have read or heard the twentieth chapter of the Gita? Please raise your hands.” Hearing this, almost everyone raised their hands. The saint's heart was filled with compassion. He went on to say, “Oh wow! You are indeed enlightened listeners. Now I will have no difficulty giving a discourse on the Gita.”

Just then, a ten-year-old boy came up to the stage. Seeing him, the saint asked, “What is it, son? Do you wish to say something?” The boy said, “Maharaj, all these people are lying. It is written in my book that the Gita has a total of eighteen chapters. Where, then, did these people read the twentieth chapter?”

Upon hearing the boy's words, the gathered crowd was utterly embarrassed, while the saint began to smile.
Location: B-37, City Homes Colony, Jawahar Nagar Satna, Madhya Pradesh, India
Dr. Hareshwar Roy beautifully connects global research with local literature. Born in 1964 in Jamuaon (Bhojpur, Bihar), he studied at Patna University and earned his Ph.D. from APS University, Rewa. Currently, he serves as Professor of English at Government P.G. College Satna, Madhya Pradesh. Dr. Roy bridges two worlds: in class, he explains international migration and literary history, while in his heart, he keeps the rich spirit of the Bhojpuri language alive. He has published over 45 research papers focused on Indian Diaspora Writing. As an author in English, he has written Diasporic Articulation in the Novels of M.G. Vassanji, A Study of M.G. Vassanji's Novels, Varieties of Indianity in the Works of M.G. Vassanji and Rohinton Mistry, Diaspora and Indian Diaspora: A Brief Study, Short Notes of English Literature - I and Short Notes of English Literature - II. Rooted in his soil, he is a celebrated Bhojpuri poet featured on 'Kavita Kosh' and in popular collections like Hamar Pahchan Ha Bhojpuri, Hamra Pyar Ho Gail, and Bhojpuri Kavitayein. Ultimately, his life and writings serve as an inspiring example of how academic scholarship and local roots thrive together perfectly.

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