1. Mental illness :A memoir (“Maan Ki Asahajata”) (Hindi) – Prafull Panthari
Book Summary: The book is in two parts.The first part begins with a story of a young person named Manoo who is suffering from mental illness. The story starts from a mental hospital where Manoo is a patient and goes for treatment. One day he reacts as the the doctor ask him something. Manoo asked the doctor, “Doctor, I am suffering. if I share something with you, will you listen to me?” The doctor responded with a mile and said “yes, yes why not?”. Manoo narrates his story.
The story continued with his childhood around his home, school, college and other activities. He was called genius by his teachers, friends and families. He was highly ambitious and he went to a metropolitan city for higher technical education but could not reach his goal. That added frustration to him. There might have been some unknown reasons however Manoo was mentally disturbed. One day he suddenly cried out, terrified and spoke bizarre words. Some advised him to go home to his parents assuming it for some “spirit attack” or a sign of some displeasure with the “home – god”. He went home and did both medical treatment and “spirit appeasing”. Anyhow his problem could not be sorted out. But his parents did not lose hope. In the meantime, he used to scribble in bits of papers and put them in to dust bin. His mother however collected them in a plastic bag.
The second part, deals the how, what and why of this problem; his and his parents struggle with hospitals and clinics. with the help of his parents, family members and the doctors, he gives shape to a book of his own with the bits of paper his mother collected from the dustbin.
What is special of this book is that apart from the contents, the title page and the sketches in the book are all his own. Moreover he is hopeful that he would come to the mainstream and serve people with such problems. he will always needs helps and blessings from you.
2. Controlling your unhealthy mind (Aswatha Maan Paar Niyantran Kaise”) (Hindi) – Prafull Panthari
Book Summary: This book starts with why we started SWAMAN group and its guiding principles. A chapter “A family story” details how a child life from birth to old age shapes to impact his/her well being. another chapter “History of mental illness” details how mental illness came along from “Madness” to various forms of mental illnesses. Chapter ” Various forms of mental illnesses” focuses on mental illnesses details, their symptoms and how they are often mistaken for something else (misdiagnosed). Mentally ill people do not get sympathy and due to that and neglect it become even harder to control and get treatment. A chapter dedicated on treatment options, how westerners are using alternative treatments such as Aroma therapy, message therapy, Cognitive behavioral therapy and visualization therapy. There are various suggestions on how to live, how being positive can help, how to live in society, how managing anger and controlling negative thoughts on day to day life can help.
The book ends with the message “You are not alone and do not lose hope”. an inspiring article on Dr Vashisht Narayan singh (an ex UC berkely Professor) who suffered from Schizophrenia and how he is dealing with it positively. Mental illness is a daily war and it can be contained by not giving up, not losing hope, asking for help and continued support from family and friends.
The Swaman Organization 