तुम चले जाओगे
पर थोड़ा सा यहाँ भी रह जाओगे
जैसे रह जाती है
पहली बारिश के बाद
हवा में धरती की सौंधी सी गंध
भोर के उज़ास में
थोड़ा सा चंद्रमा
खंडहर हो रहे मंदिर में
अनसुनी प्राचीन नूपुरों की झंकार
तुम चले जाओगे
पर थोड़ी सी हँसी
आँखों की थोड़ी सी चमक
हाथ की बनी थोड़ी सी कॉफी
यहीं रह जाएँगे
प्रेम के इस सुनसान में
तुम चले जाओगे
पर मेरे पास
रह जाएगी
प्रार्थना की तरह पवित्र
और अदम्य
तुम्हारी उपस्थिति
छंद की तरह गूँजता
तुम्हारे पास होने का अहसास
तुम चले जाओगे
और थोड़ा सा यहीं रह जाओगे।
I seem to
have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times...
In life after life, in age after age, forever.
My spellbound heart has made and remade the necklace of songs,
That you take as a gift, wear round your neck in your many forms,
In life after life, in age after age, forever.
Whenever I hear old chronicles of love, it's age old pain,
It's ancient tale of being apart or together.
As I stare on and on into the past, in the end you emerge,
Clad in the light of a pole-star, piercing the darkness of time.
You become an image of what is remembered forever.
You and I have floated here on the stream that brings from the fount.
At the heart of time, love of one for another.
We have played along side millions of lovers,
Shared in the same shy sweetness of meeting,
the distressful tears of farewell,
Old love but in shapes that renew and renew forever.
Today it is heaped at your feet, it has found its end in you
The love of all man's days both past and forever:
Universal joy, universal sorrow, universal life.
The memories of all loves merging with this one love of ours -
And the songs of every poet past and forever.
"It wasn’t
just heartbreaking but it broke my identity! All that anguish that was deep
hidden in me because rejections from family and friends started to pour out
like a current in the sea that would seem destructive.”
A short story is like hard hit experiences just in one go. It is always hard to portray a whole story..Weave your characters just in few words. When I received this book, I thought
this is for some kind of social cause. Yes the way author feels the pain of
protagonist Kusum and his life journey, I think It is more than just for some
welfare program.
He is she. She is he. These people
are always present amidst us. But due to narrow mindedness of our society, we
don’t ready to accept that fact, just to save someone’s honour, One has to die
for whole life.
Basically it is story about a boy, wants
to remain what he really is. From inside. And he fights for his identity,
despite the fact that one he loved, is not going to share his life with him.
Here, narration was nice, author made
a decent effort to put simple words to make reading easier, story flows and
that what matters. As I told you it is
short story, which hardly takes one hour. I hope you would get benefited much
with it.
And Yes, end of book will surprise
you. You can give it a try!
About Author:
Santosh Avvannavar: Santosh started
his career as a consultant and Soft Skills Trainer. After his college education
from NITK, Surathkal, he worked as a researcher at University of Eindhoven,
University of Twente, and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He was also
the Placement President while working at IISC, Bangalore. He has over
twenty-five publications of mostly research documents in national and
international journals.
He also dabbles in fiction writing
and is the author of Adhuri Prem Kahaniya; Dear Wife, Your Husband is not a
Superhero, Second Heart and Get a Job WITHOUT an Interview; Be A B.A.;
Surrogate Author; Title is Untitled; Black, Grey and White; The Departing Point;
God’s Table and Umbilical Cord.
He likes to devote his personal time in writing for a
website, namely the Amrita Foundation for HRD (www.amritafoundation.wordpress.com).
I was silent, when she gave you to
me. Struggling with tears, I clubbed your fragile body sophistically into my
arms. There was fear in my eyes, as if I was holding my own beating heart. You
were just like a bubble with palpitating nerves, your bits of moan would seem
like a symphony, your smell made me feel more alive or that was fragrance of
your touch.
Since, I have been
enjoying the collision of emotions, sunsets, autumn, dawn and… motherhood, how
come you filled the void of her absence. I would love to be called your Mumma.
Title: Wanted Back-bencher and Last
Ranker Teacher
Author: Kavita Bhupta Ghosh
Publisher: Leadstart Publishing
ISBN:
978-9352013715
Genre: Fiction, Children and Young
Adult
Pages: 250
Rating: 2.5/5
“Teachers are the architects of a
Nation. They build characters, construct personalities and strengthen spirits
in learners who become National Assets of tomorrow.”
The first thing I noticed about this
book is title... while turning pages there was image in my mind that this is
some kind of nostalgic book… wrote with a purpose to memorize and refresh up
school days.
But eventually I got to know it is
much more than just a teen story. I can relate some incidents explored in this
book. Actually it is sort of bridge of understanding between teachers, kids as well
as parents.
The protagonist, Roma Mathur is very
normal still unique in her own way. A sudden remembrance started playing in my
mind when I flipping the pages, as if I have met these characters before..
Maybe couldn’t notice enough, natural though.
Book has potential to change your
perspective towards teenage life… which makes easier to apprehend how parents
playing with their kids minds. And most important Author threw a light on our
education system that is need of an hour. When meaning of education has been
lost and it just trapped into projects and assignments. Free and talented minds
deserve more than that. They have been just swallowing the knowledge without
being curious.
Besides this author weaved a story in
which she didn’t forget to draw attention towards examination phobia, breakdown
issues, in this story teacher helps her students to overcome but in real life
we hardly find any guidance when it comes to emotional help. With lots of real life activities author
narration connects with readers easily.
And Author Says …
The book also clears some serious
myths about the teaching profession;
1) Teachers join the profession
because of the long holidays.
2) Teachers wouldn’t recommend the
teaching profession to their child or brightest student.
3) If you are not good enough for any
other profession choose to teach. It is the easiest profession in
the world.
4) Today teachers do not want to
teach students, they just want finish their jobs.
5)
Teacher themselves are not too inquisitive. Today technology is virtually
changing every few months. Teachers have outdated knowledge which does
not serve any purpose today.
The book
enumerates experiences of learners as they battle behind closed doors to emerge
from Test Trauma, classroom anxiety, performance dysfunction, infatuations and
substance abuse.
At Last.. I think, you should give a try to this book,
sincere effort for making better life of our future generation..!
About
the Author
Kavita Ghosh currently works as an
English teacher and German Pasch Project Coordinator with Delhi Public School,
Bangalore South. She has spent many years teaching in six schools across the
country and has interacting with thousands of students. She decided to write
this book to foster a better understanding of both teachers and student
requirements in today’s new and modern era. She also writes the widely
appreciated blog kavitalistens.wordpress.com
“I love life. If I really wanted to
die, there is a fan, ropes, clothes that can tie myself with. Why would I do
this? If AFSPA is repealed I will take food. It is as simple as that.”
These words of Sharmila, are basically
the theme of this book. Anyway for a while keep away this thought that you are
reading some book review and just imagine, your nervous system suddenly stopped
identifying one of your organ, I don’t think I have to explain what you would
have suffered in that given condition… that’s what happening with Manipur, and North-east
states of India. And I must say author of this book, Anubha Bhonsle took a
major step to explore that unknown land and lives, and present in front of us,
make us aware about the exact situation of our so called progressive INDIA.
“Mother, Where’s My Country” is not
only a book with reports of some unconcerned state but It is an intense effort
of a lady, a responsible Indian, a person with soul before anything else. Anubha
Bhonsle, spent her 8 years amidst these people who have been just breathing
without knowing the exact definition of life.
“Like ‘self curfew’, this term was
their invention for the hostile vibes they felt on the street every time a
gun-wielding security person looked at them.”
Frankly speaking When I started the
book I have to read first chapter twice.. Just to absorb the fact that pain….spilling
on the few pages. I don’t even imagine how those people has been survived,
besides this how that brave lady Anubha Bhonsle could explore their painful lives
and inked it, honestly she tried to draw attention towards the reality of AFSPA.
IN HER OWN WORDS
When I first started exploring life
in Manipur, I wanted to understand the notion of despair here because of the
existence of what’s called the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Since
1980, the act has given security forces unbridled powers—including the
authority to arrest and shoot a citizen on mere suspicion and to search
property without a warrant. It also protects soldiers from trial and punishment
without the sanction of the central government.
The story
captures life in a state where midnight raids by security forces are not
unusual, although they occur now less frequently than they used to. Children
walk to school amid guns while “What to do if you are raped” booklets circulate
in markets.
Over the past
nine years, I have conducted close to 200 interviews, scrutinized dozens of
documents and court testimonies, revisited places and people, and repeated
numerous questions. The excerpt here relies on exhaustive interviews conducted
over days with two women, whose identities I have protected. These women have
broken their silence; we are their witnesses.
NARRATION
Although this would not be an easy
read, filled with related reporting, documentation of tribal lives, but Anubha
didn’t forget to make it alive by adding some real factors…her experiences, stony-hearted
stories of the victims.
She says the book springs from
"reflections and notes from my reportage and fieldwork" spread over
nine years. This includes two hundred interviews and dozens of documents and
court testimonies. In her words, "My goal has been to describe the stories
and silences of people I met and spoke to truthfully and honestly."
CORE
When I started the book I thought it
was only Sharmila’s biography perhaps… but here Author explored and triggered
more brave characters and their perspective for instance Rape and Murdur of
Thangjam Manorama, Imas and their “naked protest”, debate about AFSPA BILL (1958)
in lok sabha and views of leaders. Anubha also mentioned about the
Sinam Chandramani’s poignant case, a boy once got awarded for his bravery,
couldn’t avoid the pangs of random fire by Assam Rifles jawans. Plus, she put some light of Irom Sharmila
Chanu’s life in a broader way.
"She wasn’t a big girl, she’d never
been in a fight, she avoided confrontation, or even complaint for that matter,
She never seemed heroic, she wasn’t good at sports and not much could be said
about her grades, she was just Sharmila, lanky, perhaps a little boyish, and
inclined to be just herself and by herself."
"Here was a woman infinitely
comfortable in her own skin, comfortable in her tapering fingers that ended in
long, broken nails, the delicate slope of her shoulder, her boney cheeks,
unkempt hair, her black brown eyes, sensual mouth. Without the nasal tube and
behind strong profile in photographs, she was an ordinary person, sensitive,
easily hurt."
"Sharmila, would sometimes remove the
tube attached to her nose, turn to her side and read. Or simply mumble and moan
in a slow halting voice, a voice that rarely betrayed any sense of urgency or
discomfort."
Overall, it is mirror for the
government and every Indian. A powerful attempt by Anubha Bhonsle. MUST READ !
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anubha Bhonsle is an award winning
journalist based in Delhi, where she is Executive Editor with CNN-IBN. She has
reported extensively on politics, gender, human rights and the armed forces.
Over the last ten years much of her reportage has concentrated on the impact of
long-standing conflict. She has reported from Jammu and Kashmir and the North
East of India,especially Manipur.
Anubha is a recipient of the Ramnath Goenka Award for her reportage on the
funding of political parties. She is also a Hubert H. Humphrey/Fulbright Fellow
2015-16. In 2014 she was given the Chameli Devi Award for her body of work. The
Jury at the New York Film Festival has commended her documentaries on Irom
Sharmila and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
“Love in Life is never a battle of
'win' or 'loss' but a journey of unconditional acceptance.”
INTRO
When I took a first glance of this
book, literally I thought “Second Spring” is nothing but another love story
that makes you travel a bit into dreamy land and ends with some obvious happy
ending. But here author surprised me this book is lot more than just a love
story. Not only you enjoy every bit of it plus you learn from every twist and
turns of its protagonist life.
STRUCTURE
Basically it is a story of a single
mother, Avantika who is bold and beautiful in every aspect of life. She always
believed in “not to lean on others shoulder” but when she met Rohan Rana she
felt a sudden urge towards him due to his innocence. She got confused first but
later on the connection been made. Though the feeling was mutual yet their
relation couldn’t work out and they separated.
No matter how much you try feelings
take time to overcome. Avantika was trying to get over that pain with some spiritual
learning and she accomplished it… suddenly Rohan reappeared and how things
changed..?
NARRATION
Here I want to say that I admired the
way Author narrated the whole story. The way she creates scenes is stupendous. While
reading the whole image was in front of my eyes.. it was like a smooth journey
where I met few interesting characters which made me realize about balance in
life through their experiences.
CORE
Sometimes you don’t want to read just
to get more stories, you read because you want to enjoy their little lovely or
dark moments. If you feel the same, this book is for you cause author tried to
create a whole life in front of us, you feel their pain, you smile with their
happy moments. So I loved the book. Must say it is a healthy one but you couldn’t
stop once you get started reading it.
Generally we can’t take interest or
we don’t have that much power to perceive what is happening behind the lighted
glimmering world of corporate. This book is passage for you to know about their
personal life. How they face challenges when it comes to relation.
READER’S MOMENT
Love has a tendency to go out of the
window when promises go awry, reality sets in, and responsibilities take over.
Women are emotional and proud
creatures. They need to be respected and cherished in a relationship or else things
don’t work out.
Life comes with no guarantees. Who
knows whether the next day’s sun will dawn at all? Best to savor everything
right now.
I loved the anonymity that a mega
city brought to my life. Nobody cared who you were or what you did, you were just
a speck in the crowd.
Loving someone selflessly would mean
praying for his or her happiness whether you are part of that happiness or not.
If you love until it hurts, there can
be no more hurt. Once we cross the deepest part of hurt, it doesn’t hurt
anymore. You become part of the eternal journey of love… no hurt, no worries,
and one just prays for the wellbeing of other person —that’s true love for you.
Innumerable poets and philosophers throughout history have tried to figure it
out— partially or incompletely. Love is a destined journey.
Perfect maturity is to understand why
your loved one did what they did, although their actions hurt you, hurting them
back is not an option.
Overall, It’s an light hearted
fiction, If you want to spend a beautiful weekend. Go For it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With a Master degree in Information
Technologies from the University of Central Missouri, Sandhya Jane has been
working for over two decades in the global corporate environment including some
of the leading investment banks in Manhattan, India, and Hong Kong.
She has travelled widely across the
globe for work assignments, giving her a unique look at many different cultures
and regions. Currently, she lives in Hong Kong with her husband and son.
In addition to writing fiction,
Sandhya also regularly writes on the subjects of technology, management, and
other motivational topics for leading websites and an Indian newspaper.
All eyes on her, she examined the
ground with her left foot, stretched her shoulder joints and glanced at the opposition
player who was buried under the instructions of coach.
A rail of thoughts started playing in
her head “It’s not some gilli-danda which you play across the lane. Its
badminton, complicated game, needs proper footwork, balance of mind...And time.
No, I can’t select an outsider...”
She watched the whole game behind the
fence that day. A petal of dream unfolded in her gleaming eyes. She had not
left with any choice but becoming another Eklavya.
Science Fiction is the only genre I
have never touched before. After devoting so many years to science studies…Maybe
I was not that much excited to know more this and that. It’s awkward no and
Boom.. Here I got the chance to read these 12 short and adventurous stories
belong to the imaginative world.
The world exists in Author mind only and
then Mahesh Pasanjpe says “a tiny idea planted in a fertile young mind could
flower into a wondrous discovery. The reader of today could be the scientist of
tomorrow.”
Although this book is totally devoted
to children yet you want to read. After all who doesn’t want to be kid anymore?
I read it in one sit. Don’t expect these stories have any Unimaginative climax
or something. Still they seem complete in themselves. Stories described with
doodles, graphics are the beauty. Besides there are aliens, kids with
supernatural powers, giant asteroids, and different universe.
LAKSHMI’S VOICE – it’s a story of a kid named
Lakshmikant Pant , who possess a kind of voice which is not so normal, loud
enough to stop people from doing anything. And when Indian researchers got to
know about this, they try to use it as military weapon. They don’t even care
that lakshmi facing a lot of trouble while performing test. Ending was good
though.
THE BEST LAID PLANS – A floundering alien ship lands in
the desert, The occupants die but few members made it and they make sure to
continue their race further with loads of knowledge they gained. But in the end
their plans didn’t work somehow.
MISSION TO VENUS - A thousand years of terraforming
have changed venus, making it habitable for mankind. But the project trapped
into trouble, onstacles are there to get the success and then an investigation
team comes with their commandos.
FROM DIFFERENT TIMES – it is story of time travel. Protagonist was transferred into 18th
century by bolt of lightning. Now he has
to make adjustment just to survive, somehow situation gets out of control, but
he decides to be brave.
I hope you aware of little bit terminology
because you need it while reading. Although it is for teens.. 12-14 Years of
kids still If you would like to read stories about science projects, future of
artificial intelligence. You can give it a chance. Happy Reading!
TAKEN FROM THE BOOK –
"Earth, as mankind knew it, no longer
existed. All species on Earth were destroyed forever. The Earth’s orbital speed
was reduced by the asteroid impact and the moon’s orbit was also altered as a
result."
"Datta was watching a classic
Hindi film from the 2020s, a period he was particularly fond of. It was just a
3D film with octophonic sound – totally outdated technology for the year 2094 –
but it played reasonably well on his senses.
About the Author
Mahesh Paranjpe, an M.
Tech. (Ind. Engg. & Op. Res.) from I.I.T. Powai, has worked with an Indian
IT MNC for nearly two decades. An avid reader from childhood, he continues to
be fascinated by the ideas and worlds created through words. The stories of
Roald Dahl lent enchantment to his childhood and he was introduced to classic
science fiction by authors like H.G. Wells, Jules Verne and Isaac Asimov, who
opened his mind to limitless possibilities. His other interests include
photography, music, films, and solving brain teasers – all of which he does his
best to fit into the routine of a harried Mumbaikar. Mahesh also loves to
travel and explore destinations on foot. He is a foodie and feels blessed to
have a wife who loves to cook as much as he loves to eat.
It needs guts to write anything that
makes sense, it needs even more courage to write about something which
is not accepted by society while it instilled in roots of it since eras.
Past week I read a column in TOI about
Ruchira Gupta and her latest anthology. At book launch of “River of
Flesh and Other Stories” she engulfed all the emotions, her years and years of
work experience in just one line “Prostitution is not about choice. It’s
lack of choice.”
Frankly speaking I have never read anything
like this before, even I was aware of this term Prostitute and human
trafficking. When so called developed people feel evil while pronouncing this
word only… It stirred my soul that few girls suffered that undying pain
on their body. Huge Respect for the lady, Our Editor… Ruchira gupta has
spent her whole life just working for these girls, who are as normal as us and
carry same emotions into their heart unless their surrounding starts to play its
brutal game.
When I was going to explore the book I
was little hesitated…then I took a glance of index…and smiled, literally I smiled
because there were few familiar names...closer than anything my favourite
Amrita Pritam, Ismat Chughtai, Premchand, Kamleshwar, Krishna Chander, Manto,
among others. Happiness started to rush in my veins and I read…And Read until I
finished it.
Basically it has all in all, 21 stories of the
finest writers of Asia. All about the Sex workers, women’s inequality
and commercial rape… Here Ruchira Gupta did a great job just to
accumulate all and present in a book for readers.
Amrita Pritam weaved the character of singing girl
Neelam in “THE SHAH’S HARLOT” a serene lady who accepted her fate as second
woman while performing all the duties as first.
Ismat Chugtai Writes about Lajo in “The Housewife”
A lady who only knows how to give love, the norms of society made her believe
that she is not good enough to be wife of someone. But she feels helpless when
it comes a little desire “A home of my own!
Kamleshwar creates a character Jugnu In “RIVER
OF FLESH” which makes you teary eyed, The way author writes.. I think it is
blessing to read him. He gives a hint of slavery for lifetime and disease take
hold. ” A Poignant tale!
Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay writes beautifuuly in “HEENG
KACHAURI” A single story which makes you smile a bit, It is about a boy who
growing up near the world of Prostitutes and address them as Didi. I am sure
you have watched “Amar Prem” that rajesh khanna and sharmila tagore’s movie.
But the story was same and must say beautifully portrayed.
Kamala Das explored a little girl’s life in “A
DOLL FOR THE CHILD PROSTITUTE” a girl who somehow trapped in brothel, and her
innocence changed a man’s heart, heartwarming tale.
Manto’s words roared in “THE HUNDRED
CANDLE POWER BULB” I can’t even think words to precise the emotion manto
instilled into this story. Best read.
Premchand writes about of begum in “THE MURDER
OF HONOUR” whose journey ends in the brothel with news that her husband killed
himself because he couldn’t handle the truth her lady stands in whorehouse while
he didn’t hesitate to throw from her own house.
Besides these Nubendu Ghosh’s
MARKET PRICE, Niranjana’s THE LAST CUSTOMER, Quratulain Hyder’s ANCESTRY, Siddique Alam's GOD FORSAKENcaptures your mind.
This book makes you think, broaden
your mind about the suffocating environment we are creating. No these girls are
not obscene. Obscenity lies in our perception, the lack of choices, the
poverty, these are not just stories they are lives who dead but couldn’t buried
for years. There is a lot of going behind those beautiful posters of Life. Feel
It.
Highly Recommended.Worth your time
as well money.
About Editor
Ruchira Gupta is a writer, feminist
campaigner, professor at New York University and founder of the
anti-sex-trafficking organization, Apne Aap Women Worldwide. She won the
Clinton Global Citizen award in 2009, the Sera Bangali Award in 2012 and an
Emmy for outstanding investigative journalism in 1996. She has helped more than
twenty thousand girls and women in India exit prostitution systems. She has
also edited As If Women Matter, an
anthology of Gloria Steinem’s essays, and written manuals on human trafficking
for the UN Office for Drugs and Crime.
