Fiction on Indian spirituality popular in Germany

New Delhi, Feb 28 (PTI) A fictional story thatexplores themes like life after death, healing, commitment andfaith in the master among others is picking up popularity inGermany, says its Indian author Ruzbeh N Bharucha.

"It is amazing because a backpacker who happened to betravelling to India picked up a copy of my book and loved itso much that she gave it to her publisher back home inGermany. They thought it would sell a few copies but thenumber turned out to be 20,000 and more," says Barucha.

The author''s book "The Fakir" published in 2007 tellsthe story of a hippie who wants to commit suicide and happensto meet a holy man who guides him through life and existence.

Barucha, who recently launched a sequel "Fakir- thejourney continues" - says spirituality is a way of life.

"Nowadays we complicate it with strange dogmas.

Essentially it means good thoughts, good speech and goodaction, the fundamental way of life," he says.

Perhaps that is why he says his books are doing wellboth in the country as well as outside it.

"I write on basic core issues that almost anybody canidentify with. There is nothing original in the philosophybeing written or said, it has been the same for centuries,"says, Barucha who debuted as a writer with the "The LastMarathon" which he says is a journey into the world ofparanormal.

Two of his other books "Devi''s Emerald" and "Rest inPieces" also explore the metaphysical while his "Shadows InCages" is an account of mothers and their children living inIndian prisons. The book is in its second edition and has alsobeen translated in Hindi.

The Mumbai-born author also explores various issues ofsocial concern.

Ruzbeh scripted and directed a documentary "I BelieveI Can Fly" giving a glimpse about life of mothers and theirchildren in Indian prisons.

His documentary, "Yamuna Gently Weeps," depicting thedemolition of Yamuna Pushta slum has been invited forscreening at various international human rights filmfestivals.

"Yamuna Gently Weeps," a book illustrated withphotographs and interviews with slum dwellers, politicians,renowned town planners, environmentalists and activists, wasreleased in August 2006.

"I write about the paranormal and the spiritual aswell as on social themes. I find both of them corelevant andcomplementary. If society makes a move inwards it would becomemore compassionate," says the author.