hidden image

Tides – A Story Bank launched

Dr. Somak Sen Dr. Somak Sen
14 Nov 2022

After a grand success of ‘Waves – Story Bank’, Fr. Felix Raj’s another literary creation ‘Tides – Story Bank’ narrating different experiences of life was released recently at SXUK campus. While releasing the book, Shri Jawhar Sircar, Hon’ble Member of Rajya Sabha briefed the audience regarding the ongoing scenario of the country and stressed on inclusiveness through practices of perseverance. 

Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala has written the foreword to this book. He mentions about the literary contribution of Fr. Raj to its readers that observe people’s stories with supreme importance than anything ever.    

‘Tides’ came after ‘Waves’, the first volume which had received wide acceptance among its readers. While acknowledging Fr. Raj’s contribution as an academician and an educational entrepreneur in the field of developing higher education in West Bengal, Dr. Tharoor says in his foreword that this new creation narrates vivid experiences of life that a human being passes through. Stories here express a wider angle of life starting from religious beliefs, philosophical stances, political aspects and historical references, he added. 

Fr. Raj in his book expresses that today’s mundane world leave people’s minds filled with complexities and doubt, which take away peace of human life. Selfishness, hatred, disbelief, cruelty are being practiced at worst level across the world. But that do not affect the normal course of nature. Every day the world runs in its own order; seasons are changed automatically, years pass away. Despite all irregularities, incessant waves of sea keep us reminding that nature will continue to move in its own chosen path unperturbed. 

Fr. Raj, in his book, spreads the message of ‘Vasdhaiva Kutumbakam’ taken from various angles of Christianity to Hinduism, from Islamic beliefs to Buddhist philosophies as preached by great leaders earlier; thus, creating an essence of reaching to one goal of ‘attainment’ through various ways. From mythological aspects to modern literature, he has narrated every aspect of humanity through an artistic way; yet presenting the non-fiction. His expression of evangelism has been represented here through description of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the founder of Bhakti movement in India; while binding of social order in a same string has been reflected through the humanitarian activities carried out by the Jesuit society since time immemorial across the globe. 

‘Tides’ narrates stories of life. It tells its readers to experience the very truth of life rather than believing in superficial structure of materialism. Stories here in the ‘Divine Touch’ section pacify readers with knowledge of great souls of the world, who dedicate their lives for the sake of humanity. The next section ‘Faith’ helps to strengthen belief in the Almighty, thus, making one devoted to Him. The next two sections ‘Greatness’ and ‘Inspiration’ motivate the readers to work selflessly to get solace in life instead of only thinking and chasing after material profits. Historical incidents under the ‘Sparks’ section have been narrated by the author in a lucid way which help readers not only get connected with past glories, but also come to know about various national and international acts of greatness. 

Mostly India centric stories, in many cases, Fr. Raj has used first-person narrative style to make the stories more appealing directly to its readers. His final stories, thus, conclude with the message of strengthening one’s will power more to realise and follow the ways of universal truth of life, i.e. selfless service. His very words, therefore, reverberates through the last few lines of the book, “If we want the rainbow, we need to put up with the rain. God is always there with us and for us.”                                      

Recent Posts

The BJP's push to drop 'secular' from the Constitution is part of a deeper effort to reshape India's democratic identity. Behind the verbiage lies a long-standing ambition to replace constitutional va
apicture Jacob Peenikaparambil
14 Jul 2025
As history is reshaped to fit a narrow political script in a very Nazi fashion, the roles of Dalits, Muslims, and Christians in building modern India are being quietly erased.
apicture Fr Soroj Mullick, SDB
14 Jul 2025
The Supreme Court questioned the legality and timing of the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of Bihar's voters' list. Concerns were raised over arbitrary procedures, lack of safeguards
apicture Joseph Maliakan
14 Jul 2025
Education is evolving, driven by passionate educators like Fr Gabriel Coutinho, who champion innovative, child-centric methods. Workshops like EXPERIMATH are indicative of the shift towards hands-on l
apicture Pachu Menon
14 Jul 2025
A Microsoft employee, after 25 years of service, discovers that he has been laid off without warning. The job that he had been holding onto for the last 25 years is no longer there, speaking aloud tha
apicture Jaswant Kaur
14 Jul 2025
Although intimations of Air India's precipitate decline have been doing the rounds for quite some time, we have been diehard clientele of the airline, certainly not for love or Atma nirbhar considerat
apicture Mathew John & Annie Mathew
14 Jul 2025
Amid rising inequality and neglect, Indian workers face rights that evade them, precarious jobs, and unsafe conditions. Strikes, stalled reforms, AI-driven gig work, and apathetic climate expose the d
apicture Jose Vattakuzhy
14 Jul 2025
Make your reels, dance your dances, speak your truth. But also, seek something deeper. Let your greatest influence be not your wardrobe or your views, but the stillness in your spirit, the peace in yo
apicture Robert Clements
14 Jul 2025
In a world scarred by war, hatred, and inhuman leadership, education must humanise, not merely inform. Sanjeevani Vidyapeeth shows how empowering the marginalised with values, character, and competenc
apicture Jacob Peenikaparambil
07 Jul 2025
The sinking of MSC ELSA 3 off Kerala's coast exposes a toxic mix of corporate impunity, political complicity, and environmental neglect. As hazardous cargo threatens lives and livelihoods, the silence
apicture Joseph Maliakan
07 Jul 2025