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The Alchemist

Reviewed by Pranto Chatterjee

Published : Saturday, 14 September, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 2212
Paulo Coelho
Few books have that universal appeal, which crosses borders, language, and culture to give its readers generalized truths. Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist is such a masterpiece, a literary treasure beckoning its readers into an insightful journey of self-discovery, purpose, and dream fulfillment. The book was originally written in Portuguese in 1988. Translated into more than 80 languages, it had touched the hearts and minds of millions all over the world-in fact, here in Bangladesh-the aspiration, insistence, and faith resonate directly with all humanity. But what about The Alchemist makes it something more than a novel? Why is it able to change lives rather than simply entertain?

Essentially, The Alchemist is a fable about spirituality that deals with the meaning of a life journey. The action of the storyline follows the course of Santiago, a young shepherd from Spain, as he sets off on a quest to find buried treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. What started as an endeavor to gather material wealth would suddenly go deep into the meaning of self-discovery, where the actual treasure is not the destination but the journeying itself. This novel acts as a mirror to the readers to look upon their life, dreams, and the choices they made in it.

On the psychological level, The Alchemist voices a universal appeal for importance. In this fast, modern world where we chase successes and material gains, the book reminds us where true fulfillment is: in following our Personal Legend, which suggests fulfilling our unique destinies aligned with the deepest passions. 

The message touches closer to home in Bangladesh, where young people face pressures for conformation to societal expectations, taking up careers handed down by others, or abandoning their dreams for practicality. In a country developing at a fast pace, it was a counterbalance-through The Alchemist-he called upon the people to listen to their inner call, trust their intuition, and have the guts to pursue their dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem.

The philosophy of Coelho is simple yet deep: "When you want something, the entire universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." The belief that all things are interconnected is other than a catch-all motivational slogan; in fact, it's a deep, psychological understanding of belief and intention. Neuroscience supports that our thoughts shape our reality. By believing in the possibility of our dreams, our brain will become wired to notice opportunities and take risks beyond the limitation most of us put on ourselves. Coelho reveals this in his story through the many encounters of Santiago with various characters, teaching him life lessons-lessons from the wisdom of the Alchemist himself to the humbling experiences of loss and failure.
The book further offers its readers virtues they can acquire, which include patience, resilience, and faith in the unknown. Throughout Santiago's journey, he faces many setbacks, but with these adversities, he learns to be more persistent. In a world where often immediate gratification is sought, Coelho reminds one that growth indeed takes time, and setbacks are inevitable upon any meaningful journey. This touches the very core of readers' hearts, be they from walks of life in Bangladesh, where at each and every step of overcoming an obstacle to attain success, these obstacles may be economic, social, or political. Coelho encourages us to let the struggle happen-to let the hardness touch us, for it is in those moments that we are tried and ultimately transformed.

One deep teaching of the book The Alchemist is the thought of 'Maktub', an Arabic word that actually means 'it is written'. Coelho gradually and softly presents the concept of fate and free will, which questions the delicate balance between the two. Do we really stand as mere pawns of destiny, or can we manufacture a life of our own? It suggests something greater may be the plan, but we are not passive players-we must act, make decisions, trust in the process even when we can't see the outcome. This provides the reader with a more existential type of contemplation about their own life-how many times are dreams abandoned out of some sort of fear or uncertainty? How often does it happen that we stand and wait for the most appropriate moment to take the first step, which never comes?

Another interesting aspect is the spiritual mood of the novel. The Alchemist fully follows the concept of unity with the world surrounding us. Santiago learns that everything in this universe-interconnected-people, nature, and the cosmos itself. This idea really strikes a very responsive chord in a country like Bangladesh, where spiritual traditions such as Sufism and mysticism have glorified the interdependence of all things. Coelho's narrative speaks to the Bangladeshi reader's own cultural and spiritual heritage, reminding us that in our pursuit of worldly success, we must not lose sight of the inner, spiritual quest.

But what really makes The Alchemist the life-changing read is it that it asks profound questions about our assumptions and perceptions of success, happiness, and purpose - a society that so often focuses on external achievements, Coelho's novel forces a glance in the other direction, inward at whether we live authentically or if we are just following a set course given to us by another entity. It dares us to ask uncomfortable questions: Are we listening to the 'Language of the World,' as Coelho describes it, or are we drowning out the subtle signs and signals that guide us toward our true purpose? Have we, as individuals and as a nation, forgotten how to dream?

For Bangladeshi readers, the resilience, hope, and spiritual fulfillment echoed throughout the novel touch a tender chord. Considering a country that is trying to come to terms with modernization, urbanization, and economic challenges, The Alchemist strikes home to the effect that material success is not all it takes to have lived a good life. It invites one into the pursuance of dreams in keeping with one's real self, taking risks down the way, and being able to trust that, in Coelho's words, "the secret of life is to fall seven times and get up eight."

The Alchemist is infinitely more than a treasure hunt tale. This is fundamentally a guidebook for the person trying to find meaning, purpose, and fulfillment in life. Whether you are a young student or a professional in Dhaka or anywhere in the world through which life takes you, this novel speaks to the heart of what it means to be human. It teaches the readers to believe in their dreams, to listen to their hearts, and to know that the real treasure of life does not come from what we achieve along the way but from whom we become. Probably the most important message hidden in this fable is the fact that sometimes the journey itself is the reward. So, I ask you, dear reader-what is your personal legend, and have you started your journey?

The Reviewer is an M Tech student of IIT Ropar and writes on social, technical and geopolitical issues


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