BRAHMAHATYA: by Rajiv Mittal Complicated yet integrated characters, a skilfully created sequence of inevitable events and a thick suspense plentifully fed by a revengeful, murderous intent, Brahmahatya has it all. To make the novel additionally delectable, there is the generous inclusion of local flavor. This, I said to myself, is an Indian story written in English. […]
Year: 2017
Boy With a Backpack
The boy with a backpack was ten years old, give or take a year. He had bright, intelligent eyes and a cocky assurance about him. He wore a tan jacket and khakhi full length trousers, in protection against the chilly winter winds. He was carrying a backpack which he refused to put down. From time […]
Book Review: Water Boarding by Bragadeesh Prasanna
Water Boarding is not just a romantic story. While the story revolves around love (yes, there is a love triangle), this story is a lot more than just another romance. The story demonstrates how circumstances and events can hold you immovably captive in their grip, reducing you to a helplessness so acute that you feel as […]
Book Review: Revelations of an Imperfect Life
To be honest, this is not a book review. This is the description of a soul-satisfying feast. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that the first paragraph of the book was about maasor tenga, a signature dish from verdant Asom. It is not just a paragraph heralding a gripping story. It has layer upon layer of […]
Book Review: Lean in to Relationships
Book Review: Lean in to Relationships by Rishabh Jhol I was highly skeptical when I began to read this book. The title was not exactly encouraging and the cover page was uninspiring. Moreover, relationships? Er… um… I thought to myself. Rather pompously, yes. My first clue that […]
Parenting: Building Up Your Child
“Come on Anuj! Come on, buck up! Faster, faster, FASTER!” The woman leaning over the railings yelled hoarsely in a passion of parenting frenzy! The venue was crowded. A brown cloud of dust hovered over the tents under which parents sweated it out while their progeny sweated it out on the field. Tanvi glanced at the vociferous, […]
Tomorrow’s Teachers
Teachers are revered by all communities, nations and civilizations. In India, 5th September is celebrated as Teacher’s Day. The celebration is to honor the birthday of India’s second president Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a teacher par excellence. It is doubtful though, that Dr Radhakrishnan could have imagined what teachers many decades after him would be like, or […]
Book Review: Finding The Angel By Rubina Ramesh
The protagonist Shefali is an orphan who is raised by Kalpana, the best friend of her mother. At the time the story opens, Shefali is working for Kalpana’s gallery as an expert art curator. Kalpana is approached by a once-upon-a-time royal family to curate their art collection at their haveli in Rajasthan. It is prestigious […]
Earth: The Only Home You Have
It was World Environment Day on 5th June. The day came and went without too much fanfare. Some token tree plantations, lots of photo-ops, the same hackneyed speeches and that was that. You more or less waved the day a desultory adieu, happy to throw the faint tinge of guilt off and pack it up […]
Affirmations: Day #15
I affirm that… My attitude grows happier and healthier every single day. If you live consciously, if you try to bring consciousness to every act that you go through, you will be living in a silent, blissful state, in serenity, in joy, in love. Your life will have the flavor of a festival. That is […]