Warriors in a Truck

I want to share with you what I saw last night.  

Every day in our cement plant, fleets of trucks come and leave for loading and unloading material. Because of delay in loading etc, often the truck drivers and their helpers need to stay in the night near the 'truck yard'. This is what they go through: They take out stoves and utensils, which they always carry with them. Then they purchase something to cook or take out the leftovers with them. They cook food, each one, in front of his truck. They take their dinner there. And then, after spreading a sheet on the ground, they go to sleep......... on the ground.........., by the road side..... under the open sky........., amid mosquitoes..........   

I had seen this many times, but noticed it last night. The truck-driver that appears on TV ads, did you know their hardships? And when we enjoy a night's sleep, with ACs running, millions of poor people toil & moil to earn for their families. It made me feel bad, and I felt an urge to make a difference in at least one less-privileged life......."

- Rahul

[I sent this email to all my colleagues and all were touched after reading it. They appreciated my concern and asked me to send it to the plant manager also. I sent it to our plant manager and then talked to him. I requested him to build some quarters for the truck drivers. He said that it was a good idea but there is always a cost involved...]

Rainy days are here again

The key to happiness is to like what we have got, and not in longing for what we could have. 

The day I arrived in Mumbai, the first rain of the season started. It rained and rained afterwards to the extent that Mumbai lifeline local trains stopped, schools got closed and offices wound up before the usual time. Streets were flooded and newspapers were flooded too with news and views about rains. Water is a great leveler. It makes all the plains and holes to look at the same level. It levels all the different classes, as they are all talking about the same thing. It levels all the religions as all are praying for a common purpose. ‘rain rain, go away… come again another day…’. It has rained to the extent that Umesh says “U for Umbrella” over phone to a client. 

I don’t like rains

Frankly speaking, I don’t like rains. So I don’t understand the craziness when some people love to go out in the rain… I don’t call rain a very natural condition for humans, but it does wet-cleaning to some of our managerial skills. For example, in the rainy days we always plan and schedule almost all our activities to remain high-and-dry. We help someone on the streets. We develop compassion for that old lady in all the mess. Some of us become quality personnel, with concern over hygiene. We learn to look the world differently. I feel the world itself is different during rainy season. 

Down with the rain

I still don’t know how to counter the argument in a passage from my school book “Don’t be like water; it has a natural tendency to go down. Rivers start from mountain tops, go down and down until they end up in a salty sea, thereby losing their identities.” But when I tell my colleagues here that I don’t like getting wet, that I feel my umbrella is not sufficiently large, that I shall wait for the rain to stop, that we should have a hot air blow in the office to dry our cloths (I even suggested recycling hot air exhaust from ACs for the purpose), they say “It doesn’t matter whether you like it or not; there is no choice!”. 

I do like rains

It is true. For much of my disappointment, there is no choice. I can’t control the rains, but wait, I can control my own feelings about rains. So let me say I like rains. Yes, I like rains….. I like everything associated with rains, all those raindrops, rainbows, greenery, sound, paper boats, raincoats, umbrellas, holidays, water, drain, mud; I like anything associated with rains. I like rains.  

Surprisingly, it has stopped raining after I said this.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

eureka mind
June 28, 2008 at 1:13 pm ·
great writing skills … and good post.

Uma Nair
May 17, 2008 at 7:12 pm ·
beautifully written…………… I like rain very much………esp. the fragrance of the soil which comes when few drops of rain touch the land, jumping in pail of water………… the list will goes on…………. I can”t say rain rain go away………..:)

Bad Angel
June 9, 2007 at 3:04 pm ·
I don”t mind the rains when I am indoors with a cuppa but when I venture out I NEED a clear sky. Else am all cribbing!

shivani narula
April 25, 2007 at 6:39 pm ·
i have a different perspective on rain..

KR
March 26, 2007 at 6:24 pm ·
I really agree with all your friends that your articles are absolutely marvellous. i believe that you write in even more interesting and of course decent way compared to chetan bhagat.

Rajat
March 26, 2007 at 6:10 pm ·
hey ur writing skills r damn good man.. the quotations and explanations all r awesome.. keep it up..

Sonal
March 26, 2007 at 6:10 pm ·
There is one suggestion.Please write a novel.Your language and expression are gifted and you”d be successful like Chetan Bhagat once your novel is published.

Rania
March 26, 2007 at 6:08 pm ·
Of course now we have summer with a hot weather (temperature a round 33 C SO I TRIED TO FIND A NOTHER WAY TO FEEL RELAX & HAPPY ( leaving the offiice & take a long holiday then find a good place to stay there until I feel better ! (of course this cost more money but no way ! ).

Rania
March 26, 2007 at 6:08 pm ·
I wonder why you hate the rain , here we pray for rain , & you can ask
Allah(God) any thing while it”s raining (from honest heart & reading holy
Qur”an) & for sure he will reply.

I like to walk under rain very much this makes me feel many feeling (may i can”t describe this well because of my english not strong enough) , some times you feel your heart become smaller & smaller you can”t breath well , walking under rain makes you feel your heart become larger & larger , you feel you are stronger & your sadness ran away slowly & slowly , then suddenly you feel you are very cold because you will have completely wet clothes , you will run a way to your home with the best felling ( if you don”t take a cold!) , may it seems to be crazy to do so but really i always do that when i feel very sad & all the world against me , then i returned happier than before & more relax.

Sangeeta
March 26, 2007 at 6:06 pm ·
Read your article & realized that you really have a flair for writing ……………………….tell me something ,do you write diary on a regular basis ?…if not ….u should try to find out some time from your busy schedule & express yourself in those white sheets.
I think we all have a mixed feeling about rain.On a rainy day it is nice if we are at home with our near & dear ones,watching TV or listening to good music while munching some bhajjis……………..also one feels great to watch monsoon pouring in the streets from the top floor balcony.On the other hand ,we hate rain when we are strangled in the middle of waterlogged street deperately waiting to get hold of a cab to reach home!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Arun M
March 26, 2007 at 6:04 pm ·
Great Yaar!! You are an inborn writer and great prospects waiting for you if you are serious about it.

Arpita
March 26, 2007 at 6:04 pm ·
Nice one !! you have expressed everything very nicely….. sometimes I feel that it would be better if you could have become a writter or journalist…. whatever you do, you do it with full perfection….. that is the best part of your nature.

Annu
March 26, 2007 at 6:03 pm ·
Beautifully written….The passage has made a subtle reflection of your feelings and has been potrayed in a right manner….
Some grammatical correctness needs some emphasis to have an essence of perfectness in your writing….viz…there is no back with returned…..no other choice can be substituted with “Hobson”s Choice”..etc etc…

Yeah, you have broaden your thinking process by citing good examples/phrases…..

Keep it high….try something on writing poems….it would definitely have a positive impact on oneself….I used to write some during my school days…but apparently stopped as career planned forced me to stoop in some other activities….anyway, this may be a lame excuse…

Khosla
March 26, 2007 at 5:51 pm ·
another beautiful article from your side. It is good to se that you have acclimatized with the Mumbai rains. Your next traget should be the Mumbai TRAINS….especially after the recent blasts that shocked the city….

Agnes
March 26, 2007 at 5:49 pm ·
Thank you for your mail. Life is so much different here (in France) but I can ensure you that people here do not like rain either, even if rain is really no big deal here.

Jitendra
March 26, 2007 at 5:47 pm ·
yaar tum hamesha emotional kyo rehta hai

Akhilesh
March 26, 2007 at 5:47 pm ·
someday you will be a great writer…

Arif
March 26, 2007 at 5:43 pm ·
Thats a nicely written part..
Iloved to read it..except for the fact that I do love water :)

Travelogue: My Visit of Malaysia "TRULY ASIA"

I visited Kuala Lumpur (or "KL" as it is commonly known), Malaysia in March 2005. The visit was official. My company was sending me along with a colleague to take part in a much-sought-after conference for young engineers in the Lafarge Group; a program by the parent group company. But it turned out to be equally beneficial on the personal front in terms of site-seeing and visiting "Videsh". The participants were a group of 18 people: 2 from India, 4 each from Malaysia, Philippines and Bangladesh, 3 from Jordan, and 1 from Venezuela. This was my first foreign trip.  

We caught the Malaysian Airlines flight from Kolkata's Dumdum airport at 2' O clock in the morning. The crew was good, and we reached KL in no more than three and half hours of flight. There is a time difference of two and half hours between the two countries, so it was 8 O' clock in the morning there! While the plane was landing, I saw from some height, very clearly marked pieces of land, lying on the ground, just like floor tiles. I thought: Is this country really well organized, or seem so from a distance. Later, my suspicion was removed, as I found the country very well maintained and organized.  

The Kuala Lumpur International Airport is among the top 5-6 airports of the world. It is very big, and extremely beautiful. It is perfectly neat and clean and a nice display of automation. The airport has big markets and a large number of duty-free shops. There are frequent trams running from one part of the port to the other. The cosmopolitan people were of varied nationality. I felt very good to find me there! I saw some Indians too. A group of blue-collar workers had arrived from some flight. Later, while going through the local newspapers I came to know that there is scarcity of blue-collar workers in Malaysia, and workers from some other poor nations fill the gap. A Mercedes was waiting for us at the airport.  

The highway we were cruising on was of four lanes on both sides, and the traffic was in discipline. The limousine reached the speed of 140 Kmph. By the side of the roads, there were palm trees everywhere. I thought of them as coconut trees. Everywhere either palm trees, or beautiful grass made the scene very beautiful. Throughout the drive, I was totally amazed to see, how man and nature both have joined hands to make the place like heaven. I am very impressed with the infrastructure of the place. Quoting: "The city's bustling streets, its shining, modern office towers, and its cosmopolitan air, project an unbounded spirit of progress and symbolize Malaysia's unhesitating leap into the future."  

Our accommodation was arranged at Hyatt Regency, Saujana, which was 40 minutes away from the airport. The luxurious hotel consisted of three Golf courses and several swimming pools. The participants of the Kuala Lumpur F-1 racing (March 2005) were staying at the same hotel! 

The people speak Malays as well as English. We had no problem while communicating. But the real handicap was the pronunciation. The Malaysian people used to speak in an accent that was not easy to comprehend for me. I remember, once we said "pardon" two times to a waitress, only to realize that she was saying "Thank you" to us! People were smart and fashionably dressed. There are three main people groups in Malaysia: Malays, Indians and Chinese. Many Chinese are Buddhist; Indians are Hindus or Muslims and Malays are officially Muslim. I saw most of the Malay women wearing scarf. Today ten percent of Malaysia is of Indian origin. Their culture, with has exquisite Hindu temples, cuisine, and colorful garments - is visible throughout the land. Most of the people of Indian origin we interacted with, in Malaysia, were of 3rd or 4th generation residents of the country. They don't know much about India, but are interested to be more aware of the present India.  

The training was in the daytime, and almost every evening, we went to all the beautiful places of the Kuala Lumpur city. The KL Tower is one of the highest communication towers in the world. We dined at the roof-top 'revolving' restaurant. It keeps on revolving, and with the walls of glass, we get 360 degree views of the city from that height.  

The Petronas Twin Towers, with a height of 1,453 feet, one of the world's tallest buildings has great shopping malls on lower floors, and we dined at the McDonald's restaurant. There are big shopping malls everywhere, though having come from India, I didn't find the prices luring. One Malaysian Ringgit (RM) is equivalent to 12 Indian Rupees. And most of the articles were 2-3 times costlier than "Made in India" products, of the same brand and company. I bought several gift items for my loved ones at home, and at last I had to buy one more luggage bag, in order to accommodate all the shopping.  

The Central Market is a center for the display of Malaysian culture, arts and crafts. We enjoyed playing Bowling one evening, and another evening we visited one sea food restaurant. We also dined at the former residence of Malaysian Prime Minister, which is now open for public bookings. The Chinese market and Times Square were also the places of visit. There are some South Indian markets as well, where all "Made in India" products were being sold. I noticed the price of one Britannia Milk Bikis of Rs 7/- in India, was priced MR 1.5 (Rs 18/-) there. Here we enjoyed the (South) Indian food like Dosa, and 'Roti Chanai' was my favorite there.  

One warning for Indians: At several places they cook Chicken/Lamb/Beef on the same stove, and using the same utensils. And even the fast food like burgers may contain beef without mentioning on wrappers. So take care, and ask before taking. Also, there are prayer rooms (surau) in many public places. Don't enter one, thinking it is the rest-room!  

We returned back by the same Malaysian Airlines flight. But the facilities provided were much better in KL-Kolkata flight, than the Kolkata-KL flight. I don’t know why.  

I made at least four Malaysian friends - Sasheen, Haris, Dhynna and Faizah are still in touch with me by emails. All the 18 participants are very well connected through Lotus notes email IDs, and frequently share our experiences. I returned back with loads of sweet memories... memories of the lifetime...

- Rahul

[Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal. This article is written as travelogue from that point of view.]

I visited my Alma Mater

Several times we talk of helping our juniors; of keeping them involved in the right things; or of showing them the right track. I think it is one of our duties as seniors. As we are proud of our juniors at some point of the time or the other, it is important for us to help them whenever we can. And the best way to help them is to “inspire” them. Seeing is believing. And “inspiring” is the best “teaching”.

I don’t claim to have achieved 100% by what I did a few days back, but I made sure that I did my best.

NIT Durgapur chapter of ISTE (Indian Society for Technical Education), organized its 11th AISEC (All India Students’ Engineering Congress) on Jan 21-22, 2006. I delivered an ‘invited lecture’ there. The topic was “Changing face of Cement Industry”. It dealt with how once upon a time cement industry was considered a pollution creating industry, and now a days it is looked upon as a waste consuming industry (alternative raw materials, alternative fuels, additives). I met a number of young engineering students from across India. I was impressed by their presentations in the Technical Paper Presentation sessions. Two young guys from VIT-Vellore had developed an e-OPD s/w, which prescribes medicines once symptoms are entered on a computer program. The s/w has got a training phase, where it actually learns how to make a decision. They have created a website and are planning to put the s/w there for free, for medical students to study and help them update it! Several other papers were very good, and I went through them being in the panel of judges.

In between and after the sessions I interacted with students and helped them with their concerns. A lot of them were in confusion over joining “IT” or “Core tech” companies. They were as enthusiastic as we were in our college times.

And most importantly, I visited ‘my’ Alma Mater after 20 months. I passed though the same pavements and lived in the same hall-4. Visual looks have changed for a better. If you have not been there since long, learn from me that the mess and bathrooms are completely renovated; something we thought will never happen. The college has got a grant of 21 crores from World Bank, and a lot of things are benefiting. I met the child who used to sell ‘parathas’ in our hostels, the ‘dada’ who sells ‘misties’, the shop keepers in ‘techno stores’, and our loving ‘nadu da’ who served us with ‘roties’ in ‘jhups’. Of course I met some of our professors, who have not changed even a little in these years.

I suggest, go visit your alma mater once. Then you will know how good it feels.

- Rahul

Friendship Vs Love

Recently, one of my friends asked our group of friends: “Which one is more important in life: Love or friendship; which one is more powerful?” Lots of guys were confused and marked the question as a difficult one. But I tried. I hope it will be interesting for you, to read my view.

In my opinion, while friendship is more important in life, love is more powerful.

Friendship is cultivated; it is nurtured by every moment shared among the friends. Friendship happens mostly in like-minded people only; or persons of similar background, or similar thinking.

But Love is something that is uncontrolled. You don’t know and you start loving someone. Any similarity is not a pre-condition. In fact, most of us love someone who is entirely dissimilar to ours. It is often said: “Love is blind.”

Friendship is a two-way process. For a successful friendship, both of you need to like each other. But one way love is possible. Some people spend their entire life without revealing their love to someone else. Nothing like this happens in friendship. Friends express their friendship very often.

Often, friends remain friends for life-long, while lovers get apart.

Love is more universal. We can love a child, our grandfather, our college, or our country. Friendship is different.

Friendship is a healthier relationship. One doesn’t force his/her friend to remain only his/her friend. You can have a number of friends at the same time. But love turns to be possessive. The partners expect the other’s loyalty with him/her. Friends often forgive each other. But lovers often break apart or their relation gets tensed on small issues.

A large number of Hollywood marriages fell apart. Because, the actors and actresses have grown in a habit of being friends with so many people at the same time and they find it difficult to remain loyal to a particular partner.

Friendship is more important. Throughout our lives, we take help of friends. Life would become very difficult, if we don’t have a good number of friends. We make gatherings, we enjoy weekends, and we share gifts in friendship. Friendship allows us to learn from our friends. As we can have a lot of friends, we get a good exposure. But if love turns too possessive, often it kills the enjoyment. Friendship is superior to love.

Love is powerful. Often, it makes us take wrong decisions. Those who have little control over their emotions, fall in love, and break so many relations, just to get remain with their lover.

Therefore I say, friendship is more important, but love is more powerful.

Book Reads

Finished reading "Aleph" by Paulo Coelho. In the pages, the author discovers that rebirths/reincarnations happen and souls come back to earth often also to fulfill what was left in past life, like unfulfilled relationships. Paulo realizes that in one of the past lives he was a priest in Church and had participated in "inquisition" of a girl who loved him. The girl was burnt alive by Church as part of this "purification" process to cleanse her of things which Church forbid (like worshiping nature which is a Pagan practice). The girl had taken rebirth along with him and in the current life as a famous author he asks for her forgiveness in order to get free. So essentially he means to say that Karma matters and rebirths happen. And that life is a journey... This can be said to be summary of the book. Also, I think he speaks of Paramatman when he says, "In real life we tend to see ourselves as separate beings, but the universe is only one thing, one soul." Again, in essence this is also what Vedanta says...

Read a booklet titled "Our Dear Dumb Friends" by JP Vaswani, published by Sadhu Vaswani Mission, Pune. It basically advocates against meat-eating and non-vegetarianism. The author says, "All life is sacred" and says that the same "life" which is inside man, is also inside the animals and hence we should display "the spirit of Maitri" towards them. Man should not be slave to appetites and consider animals also as God's Creation. There is an interesting portion where he makes a point: "There are no wild animals!", giving example of famous animal trainer Ivan Tors who said, "For thousands of years, virtually all our ideas about animals came from hunters whose purpose was to kill, for food or trophies or sport. Hence the term 'wild' animals. Hence the branding of certain animals as deadly or untamable or highly dangerous to man. None of these concepts is true." The author says that animals are intelligent creatures as they respond to love. He says meat-eating is murder as every animal has the "right to live". One can't deny the truth in the pages of this book. 

Rich Dad's Rich Kid, Smart Kid: Giving Your Child a Financial Head Start
By Robert T Kiyosaki and Sharon L Lechter
ISBN: 0446677485

After reading Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad Poor Dad, I felt like reading more of his books. This is a book where he is guiding all of us on how to plan for a parenthood wherein we can give a financial head start to our kids. It tells about what to teach our kids about financial freedom from the beginning so that they grow up into financially successful men and women.

Rich Dads Before You Quit Your Job: 10 Real- Life Lessons Every Entrepreneur Should Know about Building a Million-Dollar Business
By Robert T Kiyosaki and Sharon L Lechter
ISBN: 161268050X

Another book from Robert Kiyosaki; I think its title introduces its subject well :)

Book Review: What Young India Wants by Chetan Bhagat

‘What Young India Wants: Selected Essays and Columns’

By Chetan Bhagat

Rupa Publications

ISBN 978-81-291-2021-2

This book is a collection of newspaper articles and columns published by the author Chetan Bhagat. The book starts with Chetan talking about himself and his life, in fact in the manner of a concise autobiography, though readers may find it unnecessary. Then there are about 30+ articles collected for the book which span over many issues and subjects, with the central theme being India and its progress.

I personally didn’t agree with many of the view points mentioned by the author and many arguments. For example, do you really think a diverse and big country like India can ever be compared with a city state like Singapore? It will be like comparing apples with oranges and all the statistics and parameters of these two countries will take us nowhere. The pages show that the author is deeply concerned about India and wants progress here, which is very appreciable. I think young readers should definitely think about the issues Chetan Bhagat takes to write upon. They may or may not agree with him, but at least the thinking will create something positive and will be an improvement over statuesque.

For not so serious thinkers and casual reading but never without readers’ own perspectives on the subjects.

- Rahul

Book Review: A Tiger For Malgudi by RK Narayan

‘A Tiger for Malgudi’

RK Narayan

Indian Thought Publications, Mysore

ISBN 978-81-85986-11-1

“A Tiger for Malgudi” is one of the classic RK Narayan Novels. In this novel, author presents our world through the eyes of a tiger. Having read it, we are left wondering and appreciating the author for having such a great power of imagination and detail.

This book could also be aptly called “An autobiography of a Tiger”. It starts with a tiger narrating his story. The tiger, who is the hero of this novel, was born and brought up in a jungle. He was a mighty tiger who went on to marry and have kids. But one day, humans arrive in the forest and kill his family. More tragedy follows and he was captured by a circus. There starts his story of immense suffering which ended when he killed his Captain and was rescued by a Sadhu. The sage called him his brother and talked to him like a human being. The story is full of humorous instances and is a pleasure to read.

I think this book should be patronized by “Save the Tiger” project. I think no sane person will ever dream of harming a tiger after reading this book. Also, readers will build a greater connect with the world and nature, after taking a ride with RK Narayan’s Tiger.

Highly recommended to all.

- Rahul 

Book Review: Yayati by VS Khandekar

‘Yayati’ (Novel) (Hindi)

(Winner of Gyanpeeth Puraskar and Sahitya Akadami Puraskar)

By Vishnu Sakharam Khandekar

Translated in Hindi by Moreshwar Tapaswi

Rajpal and Sons

ISBN 978-81-7028-559-5

‘Yayati’ is a mesmerizing epic tale as told by the brilliant author VS Khandekar. Yayati was originally a character from the great epic Mahabharata. In this novel, the author has used his own literary skills and imagination to develop the story by adding some character and modifying the story, which he has clearly and honestly clarified in the introduction section of the book. His is not really a mythological story but one with which readers of every generation and time can connect with. Though essentially Yayati is a king and this novel revolves around his struggle for power and affluence, the finer elements of the story and the lessons coming out of them are relevant even for today. Here is a novel which describes heights of greed, lust and craving for materialistic pleasure which are increasingly becoming inherent part of human nature. It is not a depressing story but one which shows that there always is light at the end of the tunnel if we care to find it…

This is my first reading of Mr. VS Khandekar, which was recommended by a friend. And how lucky I was for being introduced to it! Though the book was originally written in Marathi language, it has been translated into many languages. The same book is available in English as well. I got its Hindi translation and found it exceptionally good. The language is of very high quality and it’s a pleasure to read through the book. At some places, the language is so beautiful, with such relevant and wonderful adjectives being used, that we can’t remain without falling in love with the book.

A few lines from the book from pages 52/53:

“Sabhi Rishi aur pahaad door se ek-se hi lagte hain.”

“Japmala me jaise ek-ek rudraksh pichhe khisakta jata hai, usi tarah se eke k din bitataa chala gaya.”

“Gahri hari vriksh-vaatikaon me we do kutiyan aise lag rahi thin, mano do nanhi-munni bahnen ek-dusre se lipatkar ek hi kambal me so gai hain.”

I felt in love with author’s such a strong connection with nature and an eye for detail…

I highly recommend the book to all.

- Rahul 

Book Review: 1984 by George Orwell

‘1984 a novel’

George Orwell

Rupa Publications

ISBN: 978-81-291-1611-6

George Orwell (Eric Artur Blair) (1903-50) born in Motihari, present day Bihar, India and educated in England, is a writer author par excellence and has produced some classic works like Animal Farm (1945) and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949). Through his novel 1984, Orwell has highlighted the perils of a totalitarian or authoritarian state.

The story revolves around Winston Smith who lives in Oceania, one of the three super-states remaining in the world after a global war. He works in the Ministry of Truth as an editor revising historical records and articles to make the past conform to the party line and deleting references to the people who have been "vaporized". But he develops hatred towards the govt. and Big Brother and even goes on to love a lady called Julia. He is trapped and exposed of his intentions by the Thought Police and is made to undergo a reform, to “cure” him of his dislike towards Big Brother and also to betray his love. Julia also is subjected to similar treatment and even she betrays him. In the end both accept the betrayal.

There are many interesting and invented concepts which have come up through this novel and have gone on to become realities in their own ways. Concepts like of Big Brother, Room 101, the Thought Police, thoughtcrime, unperson, memory hole (oblivion), doublethink and Newspeak have become phrases for denoting totalitarian authority. Even the adjective "Orwellian" now denotes characteristic of George Orwell's writings especially the novel 1984.

The novel is a classic one and I think in parts it even resembles science fiction. Part of it looks like political literature and not exactly fiction. But in some parts it is even dramatic and grasping. It is one of those novels who have impacted human history and collective thinking. It forces all of us to do self-introspection and also to review if we are helping directly or indirectly any authoritarian government in our respective countries. The novel should be read by one and all, especially before voting age, in order to ensure that our world remains safe and sane for ages to come.

[Rahul Tiwary]

Book Review: Talkative Man by R K Narayan

‘Talkative Man’

RK Narayan

Indian Thought Publications

ISBN: 978-81-85986-12-8

Talkative Man is a story set in the legendary town of Malgudi and is one of the classic novels by the great author RK Narayan. Talkative Man or TM as he is called lives at leisure in the prestigious Kabir Street of Malgudi and is passionate about his journalistic endeavors. One day, a man gets down at the city’s railway station and instantly becomes center of huge attraction and talk in the town because of his Western attire and affluent air around him. TM takes up the task of entertaining him and the man ultimately could only be satisfied in getting accommodation inside TM’s house itself. Next, there are some curious gossips about the man and his actual activities as against his claimed one, of working on a book to shake up the world and his claimed mission of working for the United Nations. To enhance the suspense, a lady comes down from a train at the same station and claims to be the wife of this curious gentleman. TM is more loyal towards his ‘friend’. And the later part becomes a tale of his unfriending with is friend who is getting more suspicious day by day and to reconciling the lose ends to contain the harm that could be caused to the peace and life of Malgudi.

It’s a wonderful story and it’s a pleasure to read RK Narayan. I simply loved reading each bit of it and highly recommend to all.

[Rahul Tiwary]

Book Review: Bhaj Govindam by Adi Shankaracharya

‘Charpat Panjarika Stotram’ by Adi Shankara

Bhaja Govindam

Translation and analysis by B. Neelakar, B.P. Shashank Kalyan

Hindoology Books

ISBN 978-81-223-1074-0

Ancient Hindu texts like the Vedas deal with immense depths of philosophy and contain truths which are relevant for time immemorial. Because of difficult language it may not be possible for all to read and learn those evolved texts. Therefore it is very important that gist of those remarkable texts are presented for the younger generation in the simplest ways possible. Through this book which contains at least twelve shlokas from Adi Shankaracharya and many others from his disciples, one can get a good overview of the richest Hindu philosophies. The language of translation is clear and of very high quality. Each shloka contains immense wisdom and encourage us to seek the true purpose of our life.

I recommend this book highly to one and all.

- [Rahul Tiwary]

Book Review: Bhaj Govindam by Adi Shankaracharya

‘Charpat Panjarika Stotram’ by Adi Shankara

Bhaja Govindam

Translation and analysis by B. Neelakar, B.P. Shashank Kalyan

Hindoology Books

ISBN 978-81-223-1074-0

Ancient Hindu texts like the Vedas deal with immense depths of philosophy and contain truths which are relevant for time immemorial. Because of difficult language it may not be possible for all to read and learn those evolved texts. Therefore it is very important that gist of those remarkable texts are presented for the younger generation in the simplest ways possible. Through this book which contains at least twelve shlokas from Adi Shankaracharya and many others from his disciples, one can get a good overview of the richest Hindu philosophies. The language of translation is clear and of very high quality. Each shloka contains immense wisdom and encourage us to seek the true purpose of our life.

I recommend this book highly to one and all.

- [Kumar Rahul Tiwary]