Shirani Rajapakse

Gods, Nukes and a whole lot of Nonsense Shirani Rajapakse

A young village boy's dream of leaving the village becomes a reality when he is mistaken for a Prophet. Bored at being at home after retiring, an administrative officer tries to find ways to regain his lost social status while making a quick earning. A devout old man prays at the Ganges as the world wakes up to a nuclear India. The fortunes of a fake Sadhu changes when someone uses his image on a postcard. A young women meets God in the most unlikely of places, but loses him when she falls asleep. An unusual sight greets three travel buddies as they gaze out onto a street from inside a hotel lobby. Walking through the narrow streets of an old city a young man seeks solitude in a place of worship. A man in search of popularity and fame becomes a consultant with hopes of acceptance among scholars. A young woman takes the train to Varanasi, tracing the footsteps of many who have made the similar journey. Does she find what she was looking for?


These nine stories are all about travel, physical, spiritual and imaginative, and are set in India. The stories retrace the steps of travelers that have made long journeys to sacred places, of journeys of hope and longing to be reunited with family or to connect more closely with God, as well as an individual's journey to create a persona to show to the world.


Imaginative, contemplative and funny these stories speak of human nature and the connections we have to one another, irrespective of color, race, religion or where we come from.