Shami Tree  (English, Paperback, Narayan G Hegde)

Sham, an aspiring youth from a prosperous rural family, narrates the conflict between ancient cultural values and the emerging modern lifestyle. He realises that in the process of receiving good education to tap new opportunities and lead a lavish life, the new generation has been chasing materialistic acquisition at the cost of social inequality and environmental destruction, ending up in stress and frustration. Realising the erosion of traditional values, the enlightened villagers, with the advice of their spiritual leader, try to strike a balance between moral obligations, cultural values and emerging opportunities of the new world to live happily and in harmony with nature. The Shami tree in Hindu mythology is a symbol of strength and endurance which sacrifices its own life to save other lives while inspiring human beings to search for self-realisation. It also demonstrates its importance in the food chain and in the conservation of biodiversity. This self-help fiction motivates young parents to understand their moral obligations and promote spiritual and cultural values among their growing children.