Wings: A Voyage

The Book “Wings” essentially deals with the subject of psychological development of a human mind. The author has depicted this subject matter through the protagonist of the novel Aakash. The character of Aakash has been presented struggling constantly with the existential question of his inner world i.e. the self. This quest to find the reason for existence constantly encounters with the manners of the external world. Aakash passes through the troubles of gender infatuation at every stage of his life through the characters of Sandhya, Priya, Shilpa and Kajal. At each stage of this, he stumbles upon an odd psychological conflict. The story becomes even more interesting when his quest for existence also meets with the dilemma of societal calculations, status, economic strength and his own career. It would be interesting to know how this character progresses through his inner quest, surpasses all the affairs of external world and finally meets with the destiny, the eternal and the immortal one. The story of Aakash thereby becomes not only his story but the story of all the human minds/youngsters progressing through the stages from immaturity to maturity in the paradoxical conflicts of inner and outer worlds. However, it is only after passing through the experiences of external affairs, a human mind is satisfied at a certain period and recesses himself/herself to look inside. Protagonist(Aakash)’s transformation in the novel is shown through the major theme of love. Aakash is a lover of nature, living in the Valley of Himalaya Mountain. The story begins at the age of age of 18 and ends at age of 25. During this, he comes across many events and happenings with which all the youngsters may relate them. He gets interested in opposite sex, he fill changes in his body. He feels demand of opposite sex in himself and he feels love towards the person who fulfils his demand. He enjoys lot to be with her. At college, he comes in the contact of a modern girl who is stylish, beautiful, well educated and intellectual. He feels love towards her also. He also comes in touch with one Himalaya tribal girl who is innocent but uneducated, practical but not acquainted with modern life, who has certain wisdom but not capable to deal with society. He feels deep friendship with her. During his job, he comes in touch with another girl who is smart, beautiful, daughter of powerful man, economically sound and very polished. They come close with each other during company tour. His mother is also interested in their relation. Thus, Aakash meets Sandhya and gets into corporeal union with her. At college, he meets Priya and gets into the logic of their relation. At job, he meets Shilpa and gets into the calculations of the society and his career. During all these external affairs, there is a special entity inside him leading him throughout his journey. It is because of this individual only his transformation becomes possible and he meets with the mature, immortal and eternal destiny of his life. Thus, it would be interesting to know who this individual is and how she helps Aakash to surpass from the immature external affairs and thereby meeting with his inner self, established, timeless and infinite one. Often the story is passing through many interesting events, characters and places including the beauty of nature. The present novel was first written into Gujarati language with the title Pankh and it has been translated into English due to friends’ demands.