Book Review: Jammu & Kashmir: Dilemma of Accession

The Book is based on the writings of Smt Lila Bhan- the daughter of the then J&K PM Pandit Ramchandra Kak. Her writing in turn is based on the diary writings/notes of her father, and both these writings have been used by the author Radha Rajan, to write this Book, appending some of her own views.

Page 15 to 104, has been so confusing. That part of the Book has the author’s writing, but the it is so messed up that it is not clear what part is the view of the Author, and what part is just she quoting the writings of Lila Bhan (pages 123 onwards). This Book is primarily based on the writings of Smt Lila Bhan, and some portion is based on the quotes from VP Menon’s Book (IOIS), and some from the quotes from CWMG (Collected Works of MG).

But the point is, the beginning of the Book is so messed up. 

Part 1 - Part 3 (i.e. Page 15-88) in particular, is so badly written. It quotes 3 different books/writings and mixes those up with author’s own views. And the commentaries are made in jumbled sequence numbering which is so confusing. For example, on page 27 is a section with title “section IV RCK paper”, it had point 38, 40, and it goes to Section I point 18,19 etc. On page 55, is “Section VI”, it has point 4,5,6,7, and after point 7, comes some other content with point 10,11,12….16, and next point is 26!! And lo and behold, “Section VI” point 8, makes it entry NOW on page 64! Now, on page 64, there is point 8,9 and then 12!! Page 65 has two sections titled “Section 1”!! And on page 70, there comes “Section V”, with point 41, 42.

Hope you get that. The writing is so messed up in this section. It is as if the author has taken an oath to play with the minds of readers. These serious stuffs of Historical matters, are anyway a bit difficult to understand, so effort should have been made to write about them in an easy to understand way, in stead, the author has put least effort in that direction.

Now, about the views expressed by the author in this part of the Book (uptil Page 104):- I found it a bit motivated against Gandhi and Nehru and also found it to have completely ignored Patel’s role. 

The Book starts by putting the blame of partition on Gandhi (by alienating Muslims and by his flip-flop stand on the Cabinet Mission plan). It then moves on to putting the blame of the J&K’s delayed accession on Gandhi. The basic premise is that PM of J&K opposed the accession due to Congress and Gandhi’s support and propping of Sheikh Abdullah (termed “Jihadi” Abdullah at times). The author has primarily contested the issue on J&K historically being a Hindu region, even though at the time of partition having over 75% Muslims. The author has also claimed that Sheikh Abdullah actually had his own nefarious intentions, and that was realized by Nehru too in 1953 when he jailed him, by which time it was already too late, in the sense that had Congress not supported Sheikh Abdullah, J&K’s PM would have supported accession to India in 1946 itself.

What I found odd about the author’s views, is that it focusses too much on “India being a Hindu Rashtra” and trying to justify things based on that. The word “Jihadi” has been used so liberally in the Book that I am sure it must be the most repeated word in the book! The author also conveniently gives a free hand to Sardar Patel both on the issue of partition, as well as on the issue of J&K’s accession. The author does question the silence and inaction of Patel, but at one point it justifies it by associating a cause to it and at another, it just questions it but let it slide. So while it just questions Patel’s silence and inaction, it actively criticises and vilifies Gandhi and Nehru. The author also opined that Gandhi came out harshly against Princely states, which I think is an illogical argument. The author actually critiqued the “western ideas of secularism, democracy…” at one point, thereby supporting the Kingdom like rule over Democracy. So all those views of the author has come out so odd and archaic. She doesn’t seem to have analysed it in light of how Congress worked at that time- with thought on secularism, democracy, people’s participation etc.

The real content of the Book lies between page 123 to 158. That part contains “Print copy of the original document received from Smt. Lila Bhan”. That is the part, where Pandit Ramchandra Kak’s daughter has written her views in a sequential manner, and she has put forth her views based on the writings of her father only. That section has the actual content, the real content in understandable way. I wish the author had simply written in the beginning only, to just skip to page 123.

Talking of this section, so many facts come up, and Pandit RCK’s views have been presented via her daughter. The basic argument is that J&K’s ruling was all great, and Sheikh Abdullah just came in between to push his own agenda (to have his own separate “principality”, taking support of Congress). Pandit RCK’s side has been explained really well, though at times, I felt things have been dealt in a bit more simplistic ways. That said, the Book rightly blames Mountbatten for the J&K’s accession issue. Clearly, Mountbatten had his own agenda (British interests), as is clear by reading several other books too. But then Nehru and Patel had hardly any way out. The Book unjustifiable blames Nehru for keeping Mountbatten in India with all the vested power, even after independence. Other books on the matter explains why it was unavoidable.

Nevertheless, this Book throws lots of new facts, gives lot of new insights. 

But the first part of the Book got spoilt by author’s motivated views and bad style of writing. Here are some examples:-

" Islamic separatism and jihad which is organized in Pakistan and launched across national borders into Jammu and Kashmir— in the exact same manner in which Congress-ruled provinces organized the destabilizing mission inside their borders and launched them across borders into the adjoining Princely States. "

"a triumphant Gandhi and the INC instigated civil unrest in several Princely States in the name of civil liberties, temple entry and "responsible government". There was Congress-triggered unrest in Mysore, Travancore, Kashmir, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Rajkot, Talcher and Dhenkanal." 

"Gandhi decried western civilization in the much-touted Hind Swaraj but sought extinction of India's Hindu Princely States for western notions of democracy, secularism, civil liberties and "responsible governance". Hindu nationalists must begin to understand Gandhi's Indian National Congress for what it had become after the passing away of Tilak—a de-Hinduised social reform instrument driven by non-Hindu political ideas." 

If someone reads this book in isolation, it may spread misinformation, it is very important to read this Book only after reading a few other books on India's partition. Just talking from the point of view of the then PM of J&K, the book presents a one-sided picture, since it tries to defend PM Ramchandra Kak so hard. Completely focussed on putting RCK's view, and in attacking Gandhi and Nehru, the Book fails to look at the issue with larger perspective. That said, it does throw some good insights, like how Congress got befooled by Sheikh Abdullah and how his friend Nehru himself ordered to jail him in 1953.

Review: A man called Ove

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars. This Book easily claimed spot in my “Best Books read” list. It now remains close to my heart with few of nicest ever books I have read. And I can count them on fingers- Shantaram, A Thousand Splendid Suns, The Color Purple, A man called Ove.

The peculiarity of this book lies not in its story, but its writing style. The book focuses not on story, but on subtle emotions and internal thoughts. In fact the Book has hardly any story, its story can be summarised just in a single page, may be just in a few lines! But the way it stands out, is the brilliant portrayal of emotions, and the portrayal of heart-touching love in spite of the behavioural differences among people.

There are just 3 main characters in the book, and the entire book revolves around them- Ove- an introvert, reserved man of serious thoughts, his deceased but deeply loved wife Sonja- an exact polar opposite, but chirpy, and an avid Book lover, and his Iranian neighbour Parvaneh. Parvaneh, has recently moved in the neighbourhood with her husband and two young kids. She is chirpy as bird, and keeps poking nose into Ove’s secluded life.
And the family has shifted at such a time when Ove has been planning to die by suicide.

Throughout the Book, Ove makes 4 attempts at his life, but fails all the 4 times due to one reason or the another. But the major reason of his failure at dying, remains his good heartedness. He is always reminded of something good to do, and ends up postponing the dying. The Book is neither too emotional, nor is too romantic, and that is another part where it stands out. It is a bitter sweet mix of emotions, humour, love and laughter. The Book makes you cry at times, but makes your heart fill with love and warmth at most times. It is the story of a old man having planned to die by suicide, to meet his deceased, beloved wife Sonja, but only to have all his plans thwarted by the entrance of a new lady in her life- Parvaneh, who is irritating initially, but makes a forcible but permanent place in his heart later.
It brings tears to the eyes, when Ove dies in sleep, Parvaneh comes and notices, sits beside him for long, and then whispers in his ears while letting him be taken away by ambulance crew-
“Give my love to Sonja, and thank her for the loan”. (the “loan” was Ove himself)

Some of the best quotes from the Book:-
“Ove had never been asked how he lived before he met her. But if anyone had asked him, he would have answered that he didn’t.”- Simple sentences, but such brilliant portrayal of emotions 😊❤️

“On the Sunday she was buried. On the Monday he went to work. But if anyone had asked, he would have told them that he never lived before he met her. And not after, either.”

“I just wanted to know what it felt like to be someone you look at.” ❤️

“She often said that all roads lead to something you were always predestined to do. And for her, perhaps, it was something. But for Ove it was someone.”

“In the end she found out how he got the scars. And when one of her girlfriends asked why she loved him she answered that most men ran away from an inferno. But men like Ove ran into it.”

“‘Loving someone is like moving into a house,' Sonja used to say. 'At first you fall in love with all the new things, amazed every morning that all this belongs to you, as if fearing that someone would suddenly come rushing in through the door to explain that a terrible mistake had been made, you weren’t actually supposed to live in a wonderful place like this. Then over the years the walls become weathered, the wood splinters here and there, and you start to love that house not so much because of all its perfection, but rather its imperfections. You get to know all the nooks and crannies- How to avoid getting the key caught in its locks when its cold outside....”

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The Mountain Shadow: Book Review

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This novel is a sequel to the earlier novel Shantaram. The earlier novel ended with the protagonist Lin (a.k.a. Shantaram) realizing that his friend Abdullah is alive. Shantaram also parted ways with his girlfriend Karla. Karla had married a rich business tycoon and  Shantaram started living with Lisa. The novel also ended with Sanjay taking place of the head of mafia gang and others unwillingly relenting to his command. 

"Writers never really die, until people stop quoting them."

This novel starts with Shantaram's emotional conflicts with Lisa. Lisa was in two minds about Shantaram , and more so because she knew that deep inside, Shantaram still loved Karla. Also, Lisa didn't want to get stuck at a place or with a person. She was also of bisexual nature. All these things started complicating their relationships. Finally, one day Lisa broke up with Shantaram. What hurt Shantaram was not the break-up, but the high expectations from Lisa, even at the time of break-up (like money, loan, car etc.). After that Shantaram goes on his last salvation mission to Sri Lanka, a mission which will free him from the mafia gangs world of Bombay. In his absence, Lisa was murdered by one of Shantaram's enemy. He gets together with his girlfriend Karla in quest of the murderer. Post this point the novel starts revolving more around the Karla-Shantaram relationship. This is one refreshing aspect of this novel. 

Some time later, his friend Abdullah takes him to Idriss- the wise sage on the mountain, who was the Guru of KhaderBhai. A large part of novel is dedicated to the Karla-Shantaram spending time in Idriss's mountain aashram. Devotees and people loving philosophical conversations keep flocking to the Idriss aashram, and Shantaram-Karla duo starts loving this place. 

The novel also deals with Lin's friends Gemini Gorges winning lottery worth millions (actually it was inheritance property discovered), and how they face hassles facing the new-found limelight.

Another plot involved in the novel is the Shantaram-Sanjay-rival gang equation. Sanjay gang's rivalry with opposition gang keeps increasing and it reaches to a point where KhaderBhai's own cousine child  Tariq who was his coming up heir, was killed along with his protector Nazeer. Both these person were very close to Shantaram. Sanjay's working style was being hated upon by more and more people in his own gang. Abdullah was planning for a revolt against him. So there is a three angled crime scene going in the mafia world of Shantaram .

Shantaram moves out of mafia gang and starts living solo, working freelance. Karla starts spending more and more time with Shantaram. Karla's husband was responsible for Lisa's murder, and they finally were relieved to have him dead indirectly. The novel ends with a sad note of a bloody war between Sanjay gang and Abdullah, where both Sanjay and Abdullah dies. Karla and Shantaram's story ends on a happy note finally.

“Truth is the freedom of the soul. We’re very young, in this young universe, and we often fail, and dishonour ourselves, even if only in the caves of the mind”

 Unlike its prequel novel "Shantaram", this novel deals more with the abstract things- the relationships, the philosophical talks, the psychological stuffs and how human minds think on various matters. Love and relationships takes a center stage in this novel. Karla's overpowering character and Shantaram's humble nature has been shown brilliantly. The contrast of fast city life and the soothing life in the lap of mountainous nature too has been focussed. All in all, an interesting read.

P.S.- I have collated together some wonderful quotes from the novel. You can read them here. In case you want to know more about the earlier novel in this series- "Shantaram", You can read the book review of Shantaram here.

The Mountain Shadow: Some Quotable quotes

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In my next post, I will be posting book review of the novel "The Mountain Shadow". But before that I thought to compile all the nice, quotable quotes from the novel. Here they go:-

1. "They’re nothing. Just a fringe group. Nobody listens to them." ‘The fringe usually works its way to the centre that ignores or insults it.’
2. Writers never really die, until people stop quoting them.
3. I stand for your right to create and present art, but I think that rights come with responsibilities, and that we, as artists, have a responsibility not to cause feelings of hurt and injury in the name of art. In the name of truth, maybe. In the name of justice and freedom. But not in the name of art.’
4. One of the great mysteries of India, and the greatest of all its joys, is the tender warmth of the lowest paid.
5. Religion is just a long competition to see who can design the silliest hat.
6. Fiction is fact, made stranger. The truth about anything is a lie about something else. Come on, step it up, Shantaram.
7. The way to love, is to love the way.
8. If you’re not living for something, you’re dying for nothing.
9. Be prepared for war, the more so if you despise war.
10. Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you, and do not do to others, what you would not have them do to you.
11. Good is only half the truth, and truth is only half the story.
12. You know what the difference is, between war and peace?’ the man sitting next to me whispered, a smile in his voice. ‘I’m guessing you’ll tell me,’ I whispered back. ‘In peace time, you sacrifice twenty to save one. In war time, you sacrifice one to save twenty.’
13. People who abhor crime, as I do, often ask why men who commit crimes, as I did, do such things. One of the big answers is that the low road is always easier, until it crumbles away beneath desire. One of the small answers is that when life and freedom are at stake, the men you meet are often exceptional.
14. Truth’s a sweet thing, unless someone’s cutting it out of you, and then it’s a very bitter thing.
15. What is civilisation? Idriss once remarked. It’s a woman, free to live as she wants.
16. When it means nothing to anybody else, and it means everything to us, isn’t that love?
17. If you’re thinking about it, you can also put some thought into the fact that you don’t have the right to take your own life. Nobody does.’ ‘Why not?’ Rannveig like the runway asked, her eyes wide, innocent of the cruel, broken question she’d just asked. ‘Think of it this way, Rannveig, does a deranged person have the right to kill a stranger?’ ‘No.’ ‘No. And when suicide is in your head, you’re the deranged person, and you’re also the stranger, in danger of the harm you might do to yourself. No matter how bad things get, you don’t have the right to kill the stranger that you might become, for a while, in your own life. The rest of your life would tell you, at that point, it’s not an option.’
18. Faith is unconditional love, and love is unconditional faith. Vinson, Naveen and I were men in love, without the women we loved, and faith was a tree without shade.
19. Corruption is a tax imposed on any society that doesn’t pay people enough to repel it themselves.
20. Men don’t like to be that honest about love: to put the gun in a woman’s hand, and hold it against their own hearts, and say, Here, this is how you kill me.
21. Can you define destiny?’ Ambitious demanded. ‘Destiny is the treasure we find in the awareness of death.’- Idriss.
22. The purpose of life is to express the set of positive characteristics to the most sophisticated degree that you can, by connecting with pure intention to others, and our planet, and to the Divine Source of all things.’
23. Generosity is the spiritual language of love, humility is the spiritual language of honour, and devotion is the spiritual language of faith.
24. Teachers, like writers, never die while people still quote them. 

P.S.:- If you haven't read my earlier post on the quotes from this novel's prequel "Shantaram", please catch them here. The corresponding Book review of the Novel 'Shantaram', can be read here.

Shantaram: Book Review

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"So it begins, this story, like everything else—with a woman, and a city, and a little bit of luck." 

Quoted from the novel, this gives a bit of idea what the story is all about. Shantaram is a story about Shantaram and his exile life in Bombay. The life involves his role in Bombay mafia, his love for the girl Karla, and his philosophical journey with his Boss-cum-saviour KhaderBhai. 

What is most remarkable about this novel is that it has been written by a convicted Australian criminal who escaped high security prison of Australia and entered India on fake passport. The author, "Gregory David Roberts" has based the novel on his real life, so the initial part of novel is taken from his own life. But after that he surly has mixed it up with lot of fiction. 

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There are three main characters in this novel- Shantaram, Karla and KhaderBhai. The Novel revolves around Bombay mafia headed by KhaderBhai and stories of people working with him. There are a few more highlighted characters like- Prabakar and Abdullah. The chief protagonist, Shantaram enters India on fake passport, reaches Bombay and tries to mingle in there. Initially, he does some petty criminal jobs like currency exchange and drugs selling, but slowly he gets dragged into the KhaderBhai's Bombay mafia gang. In the initial days when he finishes up with his money, he starts living in slums, where he helps people with his basic first aid skills, opening his own small clinic there. Prabakar was the Bombay tour guide he had hired on his first day in Bombay, and Prabakar becomes one of his best friend in Bombay. The slum dwellers love this foreign guy so much for his simplicity and willingness to mix.

A significant portion of novel describes his life in slum, his willingness to mix with poor people, his compassionate and kind nature for people in suffering. He also eagerly learns the Marathi language. Prabakar takes him to his native village in Maharashtra, and there Prabakar's parents give him the name- "Shantaram". Prabakar himself had given him a short name "Lin", and the slum dwellers used to call him "LinBaba" with respect.

Paralally, the story moves in three more dimensions. First is his hangouts at the famous Leopold cafe, where he makes 4-5 great friends. Second is his love relationship with the girl Karla, who happens to be another foreigner on the run in Bombay. And third is his life in the companionship of KhaderBhai.

His life with KhaderBhai, is what takes major part of the novel. KhaderBhai's mafia used to have a council system where all the privileged council members used to meet at regular intervals to discuss mafia things, and more so, to discuss philosophy- which was the favourite hobby of KhaderBhai! So Shantaram, even though not a council members, used to get invited there for philosophical discussions. And slowly, he grew closer to KhaderBhai. They used to have long spiritual, philosophical discussions many times, and those part of books are really fascinating to read. Like this quote by KhaderBhai- 

"In order to know about any act or intention or consequence, we must first ask two questions. One, what would happen if everyone did this thing? Two, would this help or hinder the movement toward complexity?’

Even otherwise, the novel is full of philosophical quotes which make you stop and think about the deep meaning intended to be conveyed. Like take this one- 

"One of the ironies of courage, and the reason why we prize it so highly, is that we find it easier to be brave for someone else than we do for ourselves alone."

Things take a sudden turn in story when KhaderBhai prepares to leave for Afghanistan to help Afghans in the war with Russians. He was an Afghan and his villagers were involved in the war with Russians. He was going to smuggle arms and money to Afghanistan. He had contacts in Pakistan and so, he left with his entire gang, for Afghanistan, via Pakistan. Shantaram too left along. Somewhere along the journey, he came to know of a very bitter reality about KhaderBhai which made him fight with him. KhaderBhai was like a father figure for him, but he felt betrayed and broken. 

Things moved on, he came back to India, but KhaderBhai got killed by Russians in the journey. After his death, the story takes a downhill. The equation in KhaderBhai's Bombay mafia changes. It becomes "Sanjay Gang", and the story gets rolling fast. Karla gets married to someone else. Shantaram moves in with another girl Lisa. Life slowly moves on for all... till the next series of novel in the sequel. 

The uniqueness of this novel is in it's style of story telling. The story is such a perfect mix of love, betrayal, suspense, thrill, and philosophy. The story gives such an immersive experience to the reader. You get completely involved with the narrative. You will start wishing that everything happens good between Lin and Karla, that their heart comes out of the pains inflicted by the past. You starts wishing well for all the characters. When Shantaram gets a feeling of betrayal by knowing about the reality of KhaderBhai, you also feels the equal amount of shock and surprise. Even though most part of the novel is fictitious, it appears so real. Even though the novel is just too thick- almost 950 pages- it hardly bores you. This is a perfect novel for someone who likes philosophical discourse, as well a love story full of struggle and mystery. Highly recommended novel, if you haven't already read it. 

P.S.- This novel has several, wonderful quotable quotes, and I have put up another blog-post compiling them all. You can read them here.

Shantaram: Some wonderful Quotable quotes from the Novel

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In continuation with my earlier post on the Review of Shantaram novel, I thought to compile some of the wonderful quotes from the Novel. Some of these are so striking, realistic and philosophical that they make you stop and think over it for a moment. Here they are:- 

1. So it begins, this story, like everything else—with a woman, and a city, and a little bit of luck.

2. The voice, Afghan matchmakers say, is more than half of love. 

3. But wisdom, in one sense, is the opposite of love. Love survives in us precisely because it isn’t wise.

4. Civilisation, after all, is defined by what we forbid, more than what we permit.

5. The facts of life are very simple. In the beginning we feared everything—animals, the weather, the trees, the night sky—everything except each other. Now we fear each other, and almost nothing else.

6. That’s not wise, Lin. I think wisdom is very over-rated. Wisdom is just cleverness, with all the guts kicked out of it. I’d rather be clever than wise, any day. 

7. One of the reasons why we crave love, and seek it so desperately, is that love is the only cure for loneliness, and shame, and sorrow. But some feelings sink so deep into the heart that only loneliness can help you find them again. Some truths about yourself are so painful that only shame can help you live with them.

8. What I am saying is that reality—as you see it, and as most people see it—is nothing more than an illusion. There is another reality, beyond what we see with our eyes. You have to feel your way into that reality with your heart. There is no other way.

9. The truth is that there are no good men, or bad men,’ he said. ‘It is the deeds that have goodness or badness in them. There are good deeds, and bad deeds. Men are just men—it is what they do, or refuse to do, that links them to good and evil.

10. I don’t know what scares me more,’ she declared, ‘the madness that smashes people down, or their ability to endure it.’

11. Sometimes we love with nothing more than hope. Sometimes we cry with everything except tears.

12. Nations neglect no men more shamefully than the heroes of their wars.’

13. The world is run by one million evil men, ten million stupid men, and a hundred million cowards. The rest of us, all six billion of us, do pretty much what we are told!’

14. Some of the worst wrongs, Karla once said, were caused by people who tried to change things.

15. What characterises the human race more, Karla once asked me, cruelty, or the capacity to feel shame for it? I thought the question acutely clever then, when I first heard it, but I’m lonelier and wiser now, and I know it isn’t cruelty or shame that characterises the human race. It’s forgiveness that makes us what we are.

16. One of the ironies of courage, and the reason why we prize it so highly, is that we find it easier to be brave for someone else than we do for ourselves alone.

17. Lovers find their way by such insights and confidences: they’re the stars we use to navigate the ocean of desire. And the brightest of those stars are the heartbreaks and sorrows. The most precious gift you can bring to your lover is your suffering.

18. They were poor, tired, worried men, but they were Indian, and any Indian man will tell you that although love might not have been invented in India, it was certainly perfected there

19. Every virtuous act has some dark secret in its heart, Khaderbhai once told me, and every risk we take contains a mystery that can’t be solved.

20. None of us lie or guard our secrets when we sing, and India is a nation of singers whose first love is the kind of song we turn to when crying just isn’t enough.

21. People say that money is the root of all evil,’ Khaled told me when we met in his apartment. His English was rich with accents of New York and Arabic and the Hindi that he spoke reasonably well. ‘But it’s not true. It’s the other way round. Money isn’t the root of all evil. Evil is the root of all money.

22. That’s how we keep this crazy place together—with the heart. Two hundred fuckin’ languages, and a billion people. India is the heart. It’s the heart that keeps us together. There’s no place with people like my people, Lin. There’s no heart like the Indian heart.’

23. Sooner or later, fate puts us together with all the people, one by one, who show us what we could, and shouldn’t, let ourselves become. 

24. But we are all moving towards it—everything in the universe is moving towards it. And that final complexity, that thing we are all moving to, is what I choose to call God. If you don’t like that word, God, call it the Ultimate Complexity.

25.   Karla says that depression only happens to people who don’t know how to be sad.’ 

26. In order to know about any act or intention or consequence, we must first ask two questions. One, what would happen if everyone did this thing? Two, would this help or hinder the movement toward complexity?’

27. ...in the long run, motive matters more with good deeds than it does with bad.

28. ...because if we all learned what we should learn, the first time round, we wouldn’t need love at all.

29. You can never tell what people have inside them until you start taking it away, one hope at a time.

30. At first, when we truly love someone, our greatest fear is that the loved one will stop loving us. What we should fear and dread, of course, is that we won’t stop loving them, even after they’re dead and gone.

31. I could’ve loved her. Maybe I already did love her a little. But sometimes the worst thing you can do to a woman is to love her.

32. We know that crying is a good and natural thing. We know that crying isn’t a weakness, but a kind of strength. Still, the weeping rips us root by tangled root from the earth, and we crash like fallen trees when we cry.

33. I told him, she said, that a good man is as strong as the right woman needs him to be.’

34. There are three things that no Indian man can resist: a beautiful face, a beautiful song, and an invitation to dance.

35. It was just that all the hope had been so empty, so meaningless. And if you prove to a man how vain his hope is, how vain his hoping was, you kill the bright, believing part of him that wants to be loved.

36. You can’t kill love. You can’t even kill it with hate. You can kill in-love, and loving, and even loveliness. You can kill them all, or numb them into dense, leaden regret, but you can’t kill love itself. Love is the passionate search for a truth other than your own; and once you feel it, honestly and completely, love is forever.

37. MEN WAGE WARS for profit and principle, but they fight them for land and women. Sooner or later, the other causes and compelling reasons drown in blood and lose their meaning.

38. Love’s a one-way street. Love, like respect, isn’t something you get; it’s something you give.

39. It’s bad, loving someone you can’t forgive.’ ‘It’s not as bad as loving someone you can’t have,

40. He’d been able to deal with that pain because he’d accepted his own part in causing it.

41. when the loving, honest moment comes it should be seized, and spoken, because it may never come again.

42. There are few things more discomfiting than a spontaneous outburst of genuine decency from someone you’re determined to dislike for no good reason.

43. Luck is what happens to you when fate gets tired of waiting.

44. It is always a fool’s mistake, Didier once said to me, to be alone with someone you shouldn’t have loved.

Novels and Fictions: My Favorite Fiction Writers

Novels are probably the most addictive thing I have in my life, so addictive that once I start a novel, I can't focus on any other work before finishing that novel. My first encounter with novel was in 7th standard when I came across a Hardy Boys novel in my School's library. After that I didn't take much time to finish reading all the available novels of Hardy Boys and then followed Nancy Drew. Both were similar ones, meant for small children. Stories of adventure, suspense and playfulness. Sherlock Holmes books by Arthur Conan Doyle followed next. His wise detective ventures with Doctor Roberts were always so fascinating. And then I slowly moved on to several other writers' novels, like those by Agatha Christie, Robert Ludlum, Fredrick Forsyth,Sidney Sheldon, Jeffrey Archer, and then Chetan Bhagat. Needless to say, I used to read novels just and just for entertainment. I loved novels with thrill, suspense and mystery. 

Image Source:-
http://coverwhiz.com/content/
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In last few years, I read several other kind of novels, which were a mix of philosophy and the usual thrill and suspense. Dan Brown and Gregory David Roberts (of Shantaram fame), have been two such novelists who have impressed me a lot with their writing style. Out of all these novelists, Dan Brown is the one, whom I would put as my most favourite novelist. Almost 7-8 yrs back, when I had came across his most famous novel- Da Vinci Code- I was least interested to read that, or any of his other novels. That's because the novel, going by news, seemed more of a religious and scientific fiction, and I was least interested in the genre. Suspense,thriller were what attracted me. But then last year a friend suggested me one of his other novel, I took it up to read, and found it quite exciting! It was indeed related to religious mythology, but there were fare share of suspense, and thrill involved. After that I finished most of his novels one by one. Interestingly, I didn't find his most famous novel - Da Vinci Code- that nice. 

It was another novel- "Angels and Demons", which I liked most. His novels stand out in a sense that they contain a right mix of religion stuff, philosophy and the thrilling suspense. I liked the Gregory David Roberts's novels too. But Dan Brown's novels have a slight edge. Besides, Robert's books are more like inspired from his own life. But since they are inspired from real life, they look more realistic too. That said, Dan Brown, will stay to be my favourite fiction writer, followed by the Shantaram :)

Comics reading Habit of Childhood: A nostalgic walk down the lane

Image Source: http://nagrajcomicscollection.blogspot.in/
2012/03/grand-master-robo-dhruv-hindi-comic.html

Childhood days are fun. When we look back at our childhood days, it feels so nostalgic. The kind of silly games we used to play, the kind of mischief we used to do, everything brings smiles on our faces. One such integral part of my childhood was reading Comics. Those were the days of primary school days i.e. below 5th STD. While my father was receptive to the idea of bringing story books for kids, he was not very appreciable to the idea of comics, I don't remember why, probably due to the cost factor. So officially, I used to get once-a-month quota of story books like "Champak", "Nanhe Samrat",or Suman Saurabh". (I am pleasantly surprised that I still remember these names!!). But then comics was a luxury item for me. It was also a kind of contraband item for all the kids in my neighborhood. The reason being that, parents won't buy it, and if you buy it yourself, questions will be raised as to where did you get the money from? It was banned in School too, because kids used to bring it and read during class time. So in short, Comics was loved by kids, loathed by teachers and avoided by parents. But then we all know what happens when you try to suppress something. It finds its own way! 

So somewhere, some innovative business minded guy got an idea, and there started a business out of it- "Comics on Rent". Yes you heard it right, the idea of renting comics was very much real then. It was a booming business for shopkeepers then (not sure, if it continues even now). They knew that the kids can't buy comics, so they started renting it out. There were two kinds of comics, one of about 30 pages, costing around Rs 15, and another kind was of around 60 pages, used to be called as "Digest", and that used to cost about Rs 30. The time was of 1990s, more precisely around the year 1995, and I am sure, at that time, even this much price must have felt a bit steep for my parents. So anyway, the per day rental charge of the 30 pages comics was 50 paisa, and for Digest comics, it was Rs 1. Now, 50 paisa and Rs 1, were affordable for us kids. We used to get pocket money sometimes, and for doing household chores (or for marketing) we used to get paid such small-small remunerations. Well, now it looks funny for sure, but on the other hand I think it is a great idea for parent- Pay pocket money for household works. So we used to collect some money this way. We also used to keep eagle eye on roads on the way to School and back, just in case we find some 50 paisa coins on road, which will get us a day of happiness!! In fact, in those times, there used to 5 paisa, 10 paisa, 20 paisa and 25 paisa coins as well. So any single coin found on road, was like a treasure discovered! Besides these two, we had another way- comics sharing. So one kid will rent a comics in Rs 1, and he will finish it reading, pass it on to other ones. This way, by spending just Rs 0.50 or 1, 4-5 kids were able to enjoy reading the comics. In short, it was a financially difficult times for us, but then kids can conceive some great innovative ideas!

Image Source:- http://abhilifelapazzo.blogspot.in
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The story of smuggling of Comics too is very fascinating. Since it was a contraband item, it had to be carried in hidden way. While taking to School, we used to carry them under shirts. We couldn't afford getting them seized by teachers. That would mean loss of Rs 15-30, which would drive us bankrupt easily (or we would have to sell some study books at half price, to make up for that). Sometimes, we used to read them while classes are going on, and there we used to hide it below our genuine textbooks. The moment teacher will come, the comics would be slid under the textbook and we used to pretend we are such a studious students!! :D 

At home too, it had to be hidden many times. Most of us kids were addicted to comics, and parents didn't used to see it as a good habit. They used to think, we are always lost in imaginary world, and we better spend more time over school books, doing some "real" study. So our life was difficult, but we used to have fun nonetheless. 

Talking of comics characters, mine was a small town, but the shopkeeper owners used to have all the varieties of comics. Since space was less, they used to spread all the comics on a make-shift stall outside their shop. Kids could go there, scroll through them, and pay them Rs 0.5 or 1, to take away one comics for a day. Sometimes I wonder, how they used to trust us without any IDs. May be they were sure that we are not going to change School/town ever, or may be they just trusted the honesty of a kid! So there were comics of all characters, and we used to cherish many. There was Nagraj,  there was Doga, there was Chacha Choudhary-Rocky-Sabu trio, and then my most favourite one "Super Commando Dhruv"!! I absolutely used to love Dhruv's comics, they used to fascinate me, primarily because he was able to do everything without any super-power. He used to crack most cases just with help of his brilliant mind-power! Then Nagraj too used look great. I don't remember any more characters right now. Ok, I did a quick google to refresh my mind, and after going through more names on Internet, I recall to have read following heroes comics too- Parmanu, Bhokal, Tiranga, Bankelal. Bankelal and Chacha Choudhary were kind of non-action, cartoon characters. And I have been an action loving guy, so I used to love more the other action oriented comics. Dhruv and Nagraj comics were my most read comics.

Image Source: http://abhilifelapazzo.blogspot.in/2009
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I miss them so much these day. I think they are still available to buy, they can be ordered online as well. Last year, I had come across a website where many comics were available to read online too (free of cost). And now, I can buy them easily too. I just noticed that they are available just Rs 40 onwards. But I don't know why, I don't feel like buying them. First, because I hardly get time to read these days. And also because, I am not able to related to those comics now. They look a bit childish now. Guess there was a big gap in my reading habits, and slowly I graduated from those pictorial comics to textual novels of Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and slowly to more matured novels. But still, If I had my way, I would love to read Dhruv and Nagraj comics. I just wish that the creators of those comics, start a different version of comics too- for grown up folks, which could be on the line of the novels of Robert Ludlum or Agatha Christie. They could present Dhruv and Nagraj as RAW under-cover agents, or may be a supercop of Special Ops group. 

Ending it up here. Heartiest thanks to all the comics creators, specially the creator of Dhruv - Anupam Sinha

P.S.- This blog-post is an entry for IndiSpire section of Indiblogger, where the most voted topic is chosen as topic of the week, and all the interested bloggers write on that topic.

Revolution 2020- A short review

Well, it's a story of two friends falling for the same girl. One guy is passionate about bringing about revolution through his writing, and the other guy-the hero,being out of choice gets caught up in setting up a College business. He albeit himself clean, but the money for the college is funded by an MLA who is corrupt. The girl keeps changing sides until finally deliberately given away by by the hero to his fellow competitor friend. Apparently he gets a change of heart, feels guilty and thinks he doesn't deserve the girl.

Anyway the story is a nice one but since it has sad ending, so it disappoints a bit in the end (In the end the hero deliberately sacrifices his love for another supporting role hero, which most reader would dislike). Otherwise, apart from that, it's very nice. It has been given modern touch by including online chat conversations and a few more similar things. And as always, Chetan Bhagat has put a few very good one-liners, some witty and some thoughtful ones. All in all, a detailed love triangle having all the needed masaala(a few steamy scenes too), and also enlightening how girls can switch between guys so easily and so frequently. If the last 30 pages had been of my choice-i.e. the hero getting the much deserved gal, then I would have given it a 8/10 rating. But this way, I would give it 6/10. But still, it was far better than his "3mistakesOfMyLife" and "1Night@callCentre". I am sure he could have easily written a bit better,just brought sm different twist in story in the end making the ending a happy one. I don't know why he preferred a sad ending :/

*****     *****     *****     *****     *****     *****     *****     *****

Now here goes a composition of all the witty, hilarious, interesting and thoughtful one-liners from the novel, that I liked big way-

☞ Love makes us do stupid things.

☞ Love, officially, is nothing but a bitch. (Page 73)

☞ (#Bansal) Students and teachers strode about in a purposeful manner as if they were going to launch satellites in space. (Page 59)

☞ Why does girls give confusing signals? (Page 44)

☞ Happens. We are losers. We don't get things easily. Marks,ranks,girls- nothing is easy for us. (Page 79)

☞ Sometimes the only way to get rid of an unpleasant feeling is to replace it with another unpleasant feeling. (Page 80)

☞ Of course you could be one of those naturally talented students who never have to study much. But most of us are not,courtesy our parents' mediocre genes. Ironically, these same same parents who donated these dumb genes take the longest time to understand that their child is not Einstein's clone. (Page 82)

☞ I wanted to tell her she hadn't spoken to me for three months. However girl gets extremely upset if you give them evidence contrary to their belief. (Page 85)

☞ She gave me an understanding nod. But she could never understand that losers, even if they do not have a brain, have a heart. (Page 102)

☞ When you screw up someone's life, the least you can do is leave the person alone. (Page 105)

☞ It's amazing to be in love (but) only when the other person loves you back. (Page 151)

☞ Life is a bitch when the only women you can think of belongs to someone else. (Page 159)

☞ I didn't know what to say to that. Girls can come up with the simplest of message that have the most complex meanings. (Page 208)

☞ Girls are contradictory. They will say they like communication, but on certain topics they clam up. If they like you, they would prefer you sense it rather than make them say it. (Page 228)

☞ Girls don't like to discuss intimate moments,especially if you probe them. However, they also get upset if you don't refer to the moments at all.
(Page 251)

Hope you liked the post :)