It is a universal tale. A fable that we’ve heard in many ways. Yet, each time an interesting version comes up, the same story seems rivetting once again. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho reminds me of Khalil Gibran. Coelho may not be having the same poetic felicity with the language, but his message is thought provoking and inspiring.
Santiago, a young man with all the frailties of the world is destined to search for a Treasure. His mind is fraught with disbelief, fear, nonchalance and a lack of passion. Moreover he falls in love with a young girl. A girl who makes him realise the worthiness or charm of this world. A maiden who truly loves him. But he has miles to go......
He is accompanied on his supposedly impossible journey by an Alchemist. But this Alchemist doesn’t merely change the Lead into Gold. He has a bigger, much better job to do. Metaphorically speaking he has to convert Santiago from being an ordinary young lad to a jewel-of-a-person. A person of greater consequence. The Alchemist invokes the importance of the Search in Santiago’s mind. According to him, the treasure shall not only make him a rich-happy man, it will also make him ready for bigger, better things in life.
He also says that acquiring a treasure isn’t a child’s play. One has to make sacrifices. One has to rise above one’s own self. One has to try to do things which seem to be literally impossible. Santiago’s state of the mind undergoes a massive change. He leaves his love behind, symbolising shunning of attachments, though he promises to return once he achieves his goal. The show of extraordinary strength in desert captivity makes him realise that even God favours the brave-n-courageous.
The Alchemist is a better read than many of these Robert Shculler Tough Times never last... or Deepak Chopra and Shiv Khera kind of positive thinking books. The transformation of a weak (Lead) mind into a strong (Gold) mind is exceptionally well told. The metaphors and imagery is simple. The story is well told and is gripping. In a way it reminds me of Richard Bach’s Jonathan Livingstone Seagull. A story of the triumph of an inspired spirit over mere tomfoolery.
The book was delivered to my doorstep by Grantha Bookstore for Rs. 230/ But I would advice that don’t waste your money by doing what I did. Instead, go to Fort on a sunday and get a new copy of The Alchemist for a mere Rs. 100/. You can find other books by the same author over there as well.
The Alchemist, May give you a new perspective. Read It!