I am one of those many Indians who was never a practicing Hindu and one fine day, I started reading the Hanuman Chalisa and then continued to read it I am one of those many Indians who was never a practicing Hindu and one fine day, I started reading the Hanuman Chalisa and then continued to read it every day. For two years, I was content with its calm poetic rhythm, without seeking a literal meaning as I more or less understood its essence. Then, last week, I randomly discovered Devdutt Pattanaik’s "My Hanuman Chalisa" on Amazon. What a delightful reading journey it has been!
The author keeps his promise of not turning academic. Instead, as he moves from one chaupai to the next, providing its literal meaning, he launches into powerful commentaries. Through his insights, I now see previously unseen worlds—Ram's caring world. How does one navigate here in Ram’s selfless way? By learning the difference between "jai" (victory where no one is defeated) and "vijay" (victory that involves crushing another).
Mr. Pattanaik also explains how a temple can be created in the mind using words and verses. Indeed, a mind-temple is what I have been visiting every day for the five minutes I spend recalling the Hanuman Chalisa. I wholeheartedly agree with this perspective.
What stands out most in his commentaries is the way he charmingly reveals Hanuman’s sweet nature, alongside his strength, wisdom, and knowledge. Despite both being sons of the wind god, Hanuman and Bhima are remarkably different. Hanuman, born of a monkey, is content being Ram’s humble messenger, while Bhima, born of a princess, carries a sense of entitlement.
I won't reveal everything here, but I will share my favorite detail. Hanuman loves to hear Ram’s stories. He grew up listening to them, never getting enough, and always craving to participate in them, even in a minor role. Once, he recounted to his mother, Anjana, how the monkeys and he built the bridge to Lanka, fought the rakshasas, killed Ravana, and reunited Sita with Ram. Anjana was not impressed; she felt her son was not living up to his potential. “You could have just swung your tail and defeated the demons and rescued Sita without this whole charade of building a bridge and fighting a war. Why didn’t you?” she asked. Hanuman replied, “Because Ram did not ask me to.” He knew the Ramayana was Ram’s story, not his. He did not want to control, appropriate, or overshadow Ram’s story. It was about Ram, not him. I'm glad I stumbled upon this book, as I don't usually read non-fiction. Thanks to Mr. Pattanaik, my appreciation for Hanuman has deepened manifold. ...more
I read Blasphear (Blasphemy+Fear) by Suhail Rauf in two sittings. The time between the sittings when I slept and woke in the morning, I was in the plaI read Blasphear (Blasphemy+Fear) by Suhail Rauf in two sittings. The time between the sittings when I slept and woke in the morning, I was in the place Sohail had meticulously created. This is a cleverly crafted, beautifully written book by a sensitive man. Much like Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner transported readers to Afghanistan, Suhail Rauf’s Blasphear immerses you in the heart of Pakistan. The story begins with Sub-inspector Waqas, who is assigned his first case in a new posting: the suicide of a teenage boy. Waqas, suspecting foul play, believes it to be a murder and soon discovers connections to an earlier killing of the boy’s close friend, a Hindu art teacher. Thus unfolds a captivating narrative told through three distinct voices, each opposing the forces of hate. The author skillfully uses these perspectives to weave backstories and side stories into the intricate, layered plot, driving the narrative forward to a gripping climax at the midpoint of the book. I was charmed by a place where horses and tongawallahs still ply their trade. I loved the delightful chemistry between Waqas and his ex – a boisterous media personality. I was totally enchanted by the cute and steamy snatches of Waqas’ conjugal life. The author has a way of bringing electricity into these interactions. And, of course, the frequent use of shayari by the protagonist, each couplet delivered during moments of introspection or to neatly conclude an argument, firmly roots the story in Pakistani culture. Great stories often emerge from irrational milieus, and Blasphear is no exception. We find ourselves in a setting where dogma reigns supreme, freedom is curtailed, and blasphemy laws tighten their grip, further stifling any semblance of liberty. There is certainly not much love for the Hindus in this environment. Even the good guys eye them suspiciously. The author has found a smart device while describing the Hindu physique, habitation, and body language. In quick, smart sweeps, he makes appropriate depictions of the endemic racism against the Hindu in Pakistan. The storytelling in Blasphear is masterful. The subject matter is gritty, but Suhail Rauf vividly paints a picture that is both compelling and thought-provoking. Readers are left questioning how a society can possibly emerge intact from the mire of hate in which it is entrenched. This dynamic of division and hate is, to some extent, present in many countries – if not all - today, but the setting in Blasphear is particularly troubling.
Waqas addresses this issue poignantly in the final paragraph of the novel: “Initially, everywhere we look we see no one who can help us. We think we are too few, too far from anyone like us. That we will sink or will remain distant and will be eaten by sharks. We don’t know that there are many more like us, although they are just beneath the surface. Those who are afraid to be visible. We must reach out to each other and all others, and soon there’ll be more and more of us who’ll be willing to connect. And our connection will be through books and arts and literature. If we don’t, as time passes, there’ll be fewer and fewer of us, increasingly scared to speak out or reach out.” This powerful passage underscores the novel's central theme: the need for connection and the transformative power of art and literature. Blasphear is a remarkable work that not only tells a compelling story but also offers a profound commentary on the societal divisions and the hope for unity through shared cultural experiences, making it a must-read.
‘The Unburn Desire’ is a captivating and tender tale that spans the life of a boy through his teens till he is a young man in his early thirties. Roy ‘The Unburn Desire’ is a captivating and tender tale that spans the life of a boy through his teens till he is a young man in his early thirties. Roy is the name of the boy and by page 3 I was pulled right into what Roy calls his adventurous fable. Before I knew it, I was roaming inside his head, hearing his thoughts, feeling his hurt, his loss, his guilt.
Thirteen-year-old Roy thinks his army officer father does not love him, loved only the older brother, Joy, he never did want a second child. Roy is a writer, Joy excelled in sports. For the army man father, one is the proverbial apple of his eye, the other he simply terms a loser.
Tragedy strikes when Roy helplessly watches his brother drown in a pool, unable to save him. Soon after, he loses his father in the Kargil War. Overwhelmed by shock and guilt, Roy feels an urgent need to escape. He leaves his family home and enrolls in a boarding school in Dehradun.
Later – a young man – Roy still lives with the trauma, is unhealed, lending to the narrative therefore the same sweetness of innocence, albeit of a hurt soul. He visits his mother, seemingly, after many years and receives several mementos, belonging to his brother and father. He realizes how many misconceptions he has been living with. After all he was just a kid when those two loved ones left him so abruptly.
He learns of his father's heroism during the war and decides to memorialize his life story, ensuring the world knows about his bravery. The more he writes, the more deeply he feels connected to his father—the man "who didn't fear getting shot on the battlefield but rather feared the death he had died a million times already in his son's heart."
The real drama unfolds when Roy crosses fate while trying to save a drowning man. The book he is writing is yet unfinished and we enter the strange realm of the afterworld, so meticulously researched by Karan Bhatia, the author.
‘The Unburn Desire’ engages the reader right from the start, is tenderly written. This is one book where heroes are not just men who defy death but those with enduring spirits and unfulfilled aspirations....more
I'm a sucker for murder mysteries and courtroom dramas, so when I came across Divyaroop Bhatnagar's Mussoorie Murders, it didn’t take long for me to cI'm a sucker for murder mysteries and courtroom dramas, so when I came across Divyaroop Bhatnagar's Mussoorie Murders, it didn’t take long for me to curl up and get lost in its pages. Mr. Bhatnagar is a master storyteller, weaving together two interbraiding storylines separated by decades. As I read, it felt like a movie playing on a screen in my head. Mr. Bhatnagar's ability to make readers fall for both strong-minded damsels in the novel is impressive. As you watch them be led into trouble, you want to warn them, tell them to be careful - watch out, but it's to no avail. A girl will do what a girl will do. But the clever writer quickly shifts the scene, leaving you to follow the intriguing life of the other girl you've also become attached to. When the murders happen, Mr. Bhatnagar executes them so deftly that you accept them and move on, eager to see what happens next. The author brilliantly adds glamour to the plot by including characters like Kipling and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I hadn't realized until now that they were contemporaries. Much of the discourse in the book happens over food or drinks, in eating places, bars, or at dinner tables. Reading about the sumptuous meals makes you feel like part of the feasting experience. Next time I visit Mussoorie, I will surely check out the watering holes and eateries introduced in this wonderful novel. I so wish they exist. After finishing the book, several marvelous characters remain vivid in my mind. I will surely be thinking about them for some time to come. One memorable example is a butler dressed in a hotel uniform—bow tie and all—who, before picking up the guests' luggage and speaking in fluent, educated English while leading them to their rooms, bends down to touch their feet. This brief, delightful interlude is both flabbergasting and charming. Thank you, Divyaroop, for this wonderful treat. I eagerly await your next book. ...more
Not bad! Uncle Jack adeptly navigates the fine line between a character teetering on the edge of lechery and a genuinely charming older gentleman withNot bad! Uncle Jack adeptly navigates the fine line between a character teetering on the edge of lechery and a genuinely charming older gentleman with a refreshingly unabashed attitude towards sexuality that would seem appropriate only in Paris. Charm wins. Surpasses Fifty Shades.
What can I say? For me this was a perfect book. In a memoir the author has included several compelling narratives. She tells us about the heartbreakinWhat can I say? For me this was a perfect book. In a memoir the author has included several compelling narratives. She tells us about the heartbreaking going-ons in the world without breaking our hearts. Those things have to be put down on paper so no one says they were not told. We don't need to get angry to be outraged, but we must also know. I feel people become great not necessarily because they are born gifted, but because of the paths they choose. Gandhi Ji is an example. Reading this account, I feel Eve Ensler has transcended into similar greatness making the choices that she has made. Only respect....more
This was a nice - easy read. Quite a detailed after-life account, it took me by surprise. I still don't know what to make of it. I just read it througThis was a nice - easy read. Quite a detailed after-life account, it took me by surprise. I still don't know what to make of it. I just read it through and enjoyed it. Reading an account like this does make you wonder why, we on earth have allowed religion to trigger so much hate. Still, this could be an account as narrated to the author by her deceased brother, or alternatively, it could be her aggrieved mind 'telling' her the story from the snippets it already carries : this is for each reader to decide for themselves....more
This is a well-researched book and makes for a very interesting read. It aims at a direction that surprises the reader and presents a wonderful concluThis is a well-researched book and makes for a very interesting read. It aims at a direction that surprises the reader and presents a wonderful conclusion. One's respect for folklore is also renewed reading this work....more
"Storytelling is the last true form of magic left in the world," says a character in the book. Indeed, there is magic in this book. It grabbed me righ"Storytelling is the last true form of magic left in the world," says a character in the book. Indeed, there is magic in this book. It grabbed me right from the prologue and walked me through dark tunneling ways of the vine terroir peopled with both normal humans and those practicing magic and witchcraft. I am not 'into' this genre. Still couldn't put the book down and read it in one sitting. ...more
Mahesh Bhatt writes well. But this book is strange. For a man who was constantly telling everyone I am no Godman, go away! he invites people to anotheMahesh Bhatt writes well. But this book is strange. For a man who was constantly telling everyone I am no Godman, go away! he invites people to another's house - a villa - in a foreign land, just so he could bid the final farewell. And he takes his time. Perhaps I should have read the other book Bhatt wrote on UG to understand his greatness. The account in this book makes him seem an irresponsible drifter, living off other people. The bizarreness of the entire scenario makes it an interesting read. Otherwise, it reveals one to a circle of people living quite pointless lives....more
This book is not well written. The account is intriguing, replete with the bombardments, the hidings, the rounding up of the jewish families, and the This book is not well written. The account is intriguing, replete with the bombardments, the hidings, the rounding up of the jewish families, and the facilitating of their secret escapes by the civilian population ... you live through war-time northern Italy -There are some next to impossible feats, meetings with Mussolini, regular dealings with the German high commands in Italy ... whether all this comes from the writer's own - first-hand - experience or it is a product of his imagination, the truth is reading it one feels the author did not enjoy writing this. The reader too therefore is left uninspired...more
The title of this book is a bait. The book itself takes you to the turn of the twentieth century, you live through the times, charm and all. The plot The title of this book is a bait. The book itself takes you to the turn of the twentieth century, you live through the times, charm and all. The plot too follows the historical timeline. The going-ons of the Indian National Army, also of the Indian officers recruited for the world war is new in this work. You don't read much of that in other works of fiction. But where I feel the author goes in overdrive is in suggesting Mr Jinnah romantic interest in the protagonist. Mrs Jinnah and Miss Jinnah (wife and sister) - the two important (and extremely colorful) women in his life - were mentioned in passing and very superficially. The liberties taken in the treatment of Jinnah by the author, I must say, has shaken my sensibilities....more
Simply written, this was an interesting read. Reading it I felt a window to Bikaner royalty was let open and I got to take a peek. I particularly likeSimply written, this was an interesting read. Reading it I felt a window to Bikaner royalty was let open and I got to take a peek. I particularly liked to read the parts that take the reader to Delhi of the 1960s....more
"Amrita Sher-Gil: A Life" is not a memoir, it is more 'like' an academic thesis on a personage who died a long time back (1941) at the age of 29 years"Amrita Sher-Gil: A Life" is not a memoir, it is more 'like' an academic thesis on a personage who died a long time back (1941) at the age of 29 years. With the limited primary sources at hand, the work is replete with sometimes runaway, most of the time suggestive, salacious and half-baked accounts culled from a variety of sources. In writing this, the author has laid bare a life-account that does not invoke in the reader admiration for this artist. It would have been better to have introduced Amrita Sher-Gil through just her art and a brief bio....more
"Sherpa Tenzing stayed on the peak of Everest for ten minutes only . I cannot grumble as I’ve been lucky in staying at the top for 16 years ! ” Memoir"Sherpa Tenzing stayed on the peak of Everest for ten minutes only . I cannot grumble as I’ve been lucky in staying at the top for 16 years ! ” Memoirs are like windows set in walls that separate one's world from another. This memoir provides a glimpse of a world inhabited by several remarkable people in times before our times ... Uday Shankar, Prithviraj Kapoor, Ravi Shankar. One is introduced to the girl Zohra Sehgal, are surprised, because we have always known her as the adorable hundred year old grandmother. In that sense, the memoir demystifies the grand lady. One gets a sense of the lifestyle of the artistes who travel the world to perform. ...more
I loved reading this historical novel, it took me on an interesting trip, albeit to places (and times) of no interest to me. Nice storytelling, delighI loved reading this historical novel, it took me on an interesting trip, albeit to places (and times) of no interest to me. Nice storytelling, delightful language - experiments with a variety of styles to keep it so...more
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