Legacy by Sudha Menon (Book Review)!!!

  Today, I am going to talk about a book which has given me an immense pleasure during my recent journey to Nashik. For the 5 hours that I was in train, this book was my companion. Rather than wasting time in watching greenery and never ending farms, I spent my time in reading Sudha Menon's 2nd book- "Legacy". My father kept saying that what's the use of traveling if you have to read books during journey too and I kept smiling and doing what I love in life- Reading, reviewing  and writing. The 258 pages book also has a tagline "Letters from eminent parents to their daughters". But let me tell you, it is not only for daughters to read but for everyone of any age group. 

           Sudha Menon is the bestselling author of Leading Ladies: Women Who Inspire India and a journalist with over twenty years of experience. She has worked with the Independent, the Hindu Business Line, and Mint, writing on politics, women, health, and business. Sudha is the founder of Get Writing!, a workshop for potential writers, and is also passionate about Writing In the Park, an initiative that she has started to get people out of their homes and spend time in the outdoors, writing in public parks and gardens. Sudha has been invited to several educational institutions and corporate campuses as a speaker where she talks to women's networks about leadership and diversity issues. She lives in Pune with her family.

 The synopsis of the book says:-

A compilation of personal letters from Indias most prominent personalities, sharing with us some of their most intimate experiences and profound insights on life 

Narayana Murthy, Chanda Kochhar, Kishore Biyani, Zia Mody, K.V. Kamath, Ajay Piramal, Amit Chandra, Ganesh Natrajan, Renuka Ramnath, P.P. Chhabria, Pradeep Bhargava, Deep Anand, Capt. Gopinath, Mallika Sarabhai, Shaheen Mistri, Sanjeev Kapoor, Jatin Das, and Prakash Padukone They say a daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart. In Legacy, noted journalist and author Sudha Menon brings forth a rare collection of personal and evocative letters from parents to their daughters. Through their fearless approach to life, love, and overcoming obstacles, these icons from the world of business, arts, films, food, and sports share with us their experience and wisdom as they pass them on to their daughters. 

Deeply moving and thought provoking, Legacy is a remarkable collection of life lessons that will delight and inspire at the same time. 

   

     Talking about the authoress, I don't know how I didn't know about her first book till date. I saw her session with Mr. Sanjeev Kapoor at India Non Fiction fest 2 weeks ago and she was so charming during the whole 45 minutes that I decided to go through both her books. I started with her latest release and seriously speaking, the book is as awesome as it could have been. The concept that she has decided to go with is so unique that I don't think if she wouldn't have attempted, anyone else could have in next 2-3 years. The personalities that she has selected for writing letters to their respective daughter(s) are so varied, different, heard and unheard of that you like to continue with the book. Everyone's experience is so different from others that every letter is a new road to walk up on. The generosity with which each letter is carved out for the lovely girls/women is commendable. I don't know what's the real role of Sudha Menon in the book but I'm thankful to her for struggling to get time out of these personalities' busy schedule and bringing out something that has taught me so much.

             The cover page of the book is itself like a light monsoon which takes us to a different world altogether. The back cover page also has some beautifully written reviews. Hard cover makes this book more special. Deepika's note to her father, Mr. Prakash Padukone(on the first page) just after I opened the book was a wonderful surprise. I am going to list some of my favorite letters- Ajay Piramal's letter gives inspiration while Amit Chandra's is quite emotional and made me cry initially. Chanda Kochhar letter was another piece that inspired me through her journey of her success in ICICI bank. In Ajnya, K. V. Kamath's daughter, I saw my mother somewhere. Hence that letter is another lovely piece for me. :-) Mr. Narayan Murthy has written as if he is not a Superstar in IT sector but a middle-class man like my mother. I loved his attitude. Mr. Prakash Padukone's letter is quite different and I also love him personally for being enough bold-minded to allow his daughter in a glamorous industry.

            Renuka Ramnath's letter which tells how she kept working after her husband's demise made me want to meet her. I seriously wish that I meet her some day. I will touch her feet and get blessings. She is a superwoman indeed. Mr. Sanjeev Kapoor's letter came after a long time and it was straight from his heart. I loved how he has written everything without getting much details about his success story. I loved a part where he tells how he remained adamant to learn Sanskrit even when his school said that they can't teach him because he was the only one who was opting for it. That was the best part I read in the book with due respect to every one who wrote about their characters. The last letter by Zia Mody is a wonderful end to the book. It is enough heart-warming that you want to call author and ask her to release the second part to this book too. :-) 

          The photographs of some personalities with their daughters in the end is beautiful but I would have loved if it could have come with the respective letters rather than together in the end. The book is more about content and hence you might miss the entertainment that one expects in the book. Rest, I would say that Sudha Menon is an authoress whom everyone would love to read and her books will definitely be in the shelves of the readers who love motivational, biographical and auto-biographical books. I wish to read her first book- Leading Ladies soon. This 258-pages book is a gift to all the Indians who want to do big in life. I rate this book- 4 out of 5. 

 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU!!!