मानव कौल - रूह । कश्मीर यात्रा पर आधारित

 

किताब: रूह 
लेखक: मानव कौल
प्रकाशक: हिंदी युग्म
विधा: यात्रा-संस्मरण 
पेपरबैक: 175 पृष्ठ

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मानव कौल की यह किताब 'रूह', कश्मीर पर लिखा गया यात्रा-संस्मरण है। यात्रा बाहरी से कहीं अधिक भीतरी। मन में चलती उठा-पठक और नॉस्टालजिया। समकालीन विषयों से इतर, यहाँ मानव की नज़र से कश्मीर दिखता है। कश्मीर जो उनका घर था, वह जिस मनोभाव से घर की दीवारों-दरवाज़ों को अपने लिखे में जीवित करते हैं, सराहनीय है।

दृश्य, जब वह बचपन में मौजूद लोगों को अपने सामने पाते हैं, सुंदर है। मानव खुद कहते हैं कि ये कश्मीर के ज़्वलंतशील मुद्दों को केंद्र में रखकर लिखी गई किताब नहीं है। यह डॉक्यूमेंटेशन है, एक ऐसे बच्चे का जिसका जीवन उस एक क्रूर हादसे ने बदल कर रख दिया।

किताब में एक अन्य पात्र, रूहानी जो पूरी यात्रा में उनके साथ है, ‘बहुत दूर कितनी दूर होता है’ में भी आप इसी तरह के पात्र से रू-ब-रू हुए होंगे। क्या ये पात्र काल्पनिक हैं? नाम भले अलग हों, लेकिन वे प्रतिरूप होने का आभास देते हैं, यह दोहराव पाठक को ज़रा विलगाता है।

अगर आप मानव कौल को पहली दफ़ा पढ़ रहे हैं तो यह किताब जादू-सी लगेगी।

ईमानदार राय रखूँ तो मानव ने जितना खुद को ‘बहुत दूर कितना दूर होता है’ में रचा है, ‘रूह’ उस उँचाई को छूने से ज़रा चूक गई। सनद रहे, इनकी किताबों के ज़रिए अनगिन हिंदी पाठक तैयार हो रहे हैं। और यह एक उपलब्धि है। किताब का एक अंश साझा कर रही हूँ -

सन् 1988 के बाद से जो भी घटा था इस वादी में, और वादी से निकल गए सारे परिवारों ने जो सहा था, उन सब लोगों की कहानियों को अगर हम सुनना शुरू करेंगे तो हमें अपनी इंसानियत पर शर्म आने लगेगी। जिस तरह बाहर रह रहे कश्मीरी पंडितों को छूते ही वे फूट पड़ते हैं, ठीक वैसे ही यहाँ रह रहे कश्मीरी मुस्लिम भी पुरानी घटनाओं पर फट पड़ते हैं। लेकिन इन सबमें पंडितों का कश्मीरी मुस्लिम और कश्मीरी मुस्लिम का पंडितों के प्रति स्नेह भाव ख़त्म नहीं हुआ है। यहाँ घूमते हुए जब भी किसी को पता चलता है कि मैं पंडित हूँ, ठीक उसी वक़्त से हमारी बातचीत में एक अपनापन आ चुका होता है। 'इसे सब पता है' वाला एक भाव दोनों के संवादों में रहता है। अब जो पंडितों की नई पीढ़ी है, उसे घटनाओं की सुनी हुई जानकारी है, जिन्होंने उन घटनाओं को जिया था वे या तो बहुत बूढ़े हो चुके हैं या वे अब नहीं रहे। कश्मीरी मुस्लिम बच्चे जो उस वक़्त बड़े हो रहे थे, या जो पंडितों के बच्चे यहाँ से नहीं गए थे, उनके बचपन के जिए हुए की छाप उनके चेहरे... पर साफ़ दिखती है। 'तुम लोग तो चले गए थे, मैं इस वाक्य के पीछे का मर्म समझ सकता हूँ।

Preeti Shenoy's The Magic Mindset | Published by HarperCollins

 

Title: The Magic Mindset
Author: Preeti Shenoy
Publisher: HarperCollins India
ISBN: ‎ 978-9354227721
Genre: Non-Fiction, Self-Help
Pages: 258
Amazon Buy Link
 

‘It is perfectly okay to feel sad about one’s life or plans that didn’t work out. We are allowed to feel what we feel. One of the most important steps in making a change towards positivity is accepting what we feel instead of suppressing it.’

The Magic Mindset by Preeti Shenoy, is thought-provoking book. It focuses on wisdom and inner-guidance. Simple writing, Insightful quotes, and easily doable activities are the core point of this non-fiction book. If you are a beginner and naive to this genre then it can be your perfect pick.

Basically, this book is divided into four steps: Understanding, Practicing, Sustaining and Fun with the Magic Mindset (14-Day Activity Challenge). Preeti Shenoy accepts the fact that, ‘sometimes the very word ‘positivity’ is an irritant, for. It seems like a false sense of not seeing reality for what it is. How can we be positive about, say, our finances, when the credit card bills have piled and we are broke? How can we say that the world is beautiful when millions in it are dying? How can we be positive if a loved one has been diagnosed with a terminal illness? What if the person who means the most to us is snatched away suddenly? That is exactly what happened to me when I lost my father.’

While including her own life experience for better understanding, Shenoy didn’t hesitate of sharing various references, either books or movies, for instance: she mentioned Byrne’s The Secret and the very idea of ‘Law and Attraction’. How our thoughts influence our life. It is sensible thing to put all the exercises in the end of each chapter, which may help the readers to recollect the gist.

Shenoy also mentions the award winning 1997 Italian movie Life Is Beautiful, in which the main protagonist, Guido uses his sense of humour and imagination to keep five-year-old Joshua safe from the horrors of the camp.

In the Magic Mindset, Shenoy calibrates the instant ‘problem-solving’ techniques of current generation. ‘We often seek an escape from our problems by ‘going on a vacation’. Popular culture leads us to believe that by ‘taking a break’ from our daily life, we will come back refreshed, better equipped to deal with our stressors. I might have been doing the same with my vacation in Bhutan. But vacations are just that—mini-breaks. They do not magically make our problems disappear. No matter where we go, our problems will accompany us unless we develop a mechanism to cope— the magic mindset.’

Frankl says, ‘When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.’

Aside from that, sense of communicating well, one of our daily rituals which left a great impact on our mind.  Shenoy explains  ̶  If we are equipped with ‘good communication patterns’, we tend to feel positive in our relationships. We know deep down that whatever the issue, we can talk it over and sort it out. But if the communication patterns are negative, then we go around in circles, discussing the same things over and over.

In her own words, ‘When we are stressed out, breathing is shallow, cutting off essential oxygen to our body cells. Be conscious of how you breathe. If you are getting too stressed while waiting for the interview or the exam to begin, walk away to a secluded spot. Deliberately take slow and deep breaths. Count your breaths as you inhale and exhale. Repeat positive affirmations to yourself: ‘Everything will unfold just the way it is meant to be. We don’t control anything. May the best manifest.’

Synopsis

Sometimes, it's not easy to find the silver lining. While positivity is about looking at the bright side of things, the magic mindset embraces and accepts that it is not always possible to do so. Sometimes things get so bleak that our mind refuses to accept that there can be a silver lining. In this book, Preeti Shenoy gives you a set of principles for every area of life, designed to help us shift our perspective from hopelessness to hope, from despondency to joy, from cynicism to belief - a belief that change is coming, and things are not as bad as they seem. Perfect reading for the difficult times that we are living in, The Magic Mindset is full of tips, suggestions, fun exercises and practical advice on career, family, health, relationships, finances, social media, and more. It also includes inspiring stories and anecdotes from Preeti's own life. A cornerstone for all those who want to change their outlook, The Magic Mindset helps us build a purposeful and joyful life.

 

About the Author

Preeti Shenoy, among the highest selling authors in India, is on the Forbes longlist of the most influential celebrities in India. Her books include When Love Came Calling, Wake Up Life is Calling, Life is What You Make it, The Rule Breakers, A Hundred Little Flames, It’s All In The Planets, Why We Love The Way We Do, The Secret Wish List, The One You Cannot Have and many others. Her work has been translated into many Indian languages. Preeti is also a motivational speaker, and has given talks in many premier educational institutions and corporate organizations like KPMG, ISRO, Infosys and Accenture and others. An avid fitness enthusiast, she is also an artist specializing in portraiture and illustrated journals.

 P.S. This review is powered by Blogchatter Book Review Program.

Book Review: Udbhav Agarwal's A For Prayagraj: A Short Biography of Allahabad

 

Title: A For Prayagraj: A Short Biography of Allahabad

Author: Udbhav Agarwal

Publisher: Aleph Book Co.

Genre: Biography

Pages: 116

 

Books about the cities are my comfort soul reading. A for Prayagraj is a nostalgic portrayal of Allahabad. Udbhav Agarwal knows how to tell a story. Maybe, it’s his writing style, beautiful and clear that makes this biography easily readable, fun and gripping.

I devoured this book, in two long reading sessions and started writing about it immediately. Perhaps, it is an interesting anecdotal look at the old city, ‘Before the city had a name, before it was even a city, it was the place where the rivers met.’

It succeeds in conveying the different pools of city’s pasts, as they appear in the present, mirage-like. Udbhav skillfully takes reader to the streets of his beloved place. He added personal stories to make this biography even more layered.

A young writer decides to return to his hometown to reclaim many facets of his city. He loves Allahabad, and its Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb that clearly transpires while reading the book. He writes about his personal experiences, his curiosity of other writings on Allahabad, as well as his reflections. The very personal touch is given from the beginning where he shares his childhood visit of Kumbh Mela. I think the best way to depict his emotion is to include that part here as well.

‘It was the year of Kumbh Mela, the largest congregation of in the world. New designs were spread all over the canvas of the city. My last Mela had been twelve years ago, when I still lived in Allahabad. I remember staying in Tent with Baba for two months; my cousins and I would make balls, out of the river loam. We’d stop by the Shaktiman weighing machines and keep score.

Twelve years later, entering the Mela was like, entering an ‘Exhibition centre, multiplex, Mega mall’ at peak hours. The same religious motifs- bright Om signs – etc were up alongside Pepsi advertisements. Speakers blared pre-recorded Ram-Kathas.’  

Udbhav divides his book into easily separated chapters, so the reader doesn’t lose the charm of reading. Each section focused on theme based setting.

In the first sections, ‘McAloo Tikki in Allahabad’ Udbhav recollected his childhood impressions. He talks about his school and friends and how would look for mentions of the city in their history books. He also mentions Sunday evenings in coffee house where he grew up, and movie days in Gautam talkies. Udbhav certainly awed by the Chowk Ki Holi, it was famous for its booming possessions and rowdy play, and the Chowk masjid delivered the most teeming morning prayers in Allahabad.

In the second section, Udbhav discussed Saam Daam Gun Bed, about crime, strategies of survival, and the crucible of street law. The way author was drawn to Balu Raja’s story not only for details on administrative hierarchies but also for its craftiness.

In another section, titled ‘Baikaiti’ he talks about the ‘Allahabadiyat’ in different intellect personalities. While talking with Dr. Chopra, he brings out many stories of big writers and big politicians, such as Purshottam Das Tandon and Madan Mohan Malviya. They all are full of confidence, kind of fakkadpan and that was magical. Here, Dr. Chopra shares a moment of the time of emergency ‘If Mahadevi Verma and Firaaq Gorakhpuri gave an impromptu speech, people would run across town for them.’

Also, Udbhav showed concerned on the Writings on Allahabad, ‘Perhaps the truest tragedy of the city was the sqandering of its creative persona.’ He spoke about many books including Vimal Chandra Pandey’s Ii Ilahabad Hai Bhaiyaa and Nasira Sharma’s Zero road.

‘Apna Time Ayega’, it is a fourth section of this book. A quick read as it is played on miseducation and joblessness in small cities. ‘If the outsiders were impressed, the insiders wanted to get away.’ This sentence alone makes it all clear. He mentions a most favourite watch here, Tigmanshu Dhulia’s film Haasil, watching this movie is like to have the dirt of Allahabad beneath your fingernails.

And last section ‘F for Fyaar and F se Firaq’ is dedicated to romance. Although the characters revealed in the book are interesting but I feel lost here and there, maybe it is an absence of single compelling narrative.

Udbhav ends this book with an emotion that echoed throughout the journey ‘What is it about this place, a centripetal force that spools you back? After a decade of planned and unplanned returns, I am still not sure. Ye Shehar Kasturi Re…’

It is definitely not a perfect read yet colourful one. Adding to that, it is a good warm-up if you are making a visit to your own hometown. Don’t expect that this short biography will make you aware about the historical aspects of Allahabad. Yet it will leave you yearning to explore more about the city.

About the Author

Udbhav Agarwal is a PhD candidate in Political Science at Johns Hopkins University. He was born in Allahabad and has studied at the Doon School and Vassar College. His writings have appeared in the Economic and Political Weekly and Journal of Narrative Politics. This is his first book. 

P.S. I received this review copy by publisher in exchange of an honest review. Also, Thank you Vivek Tejuja,  

Siddharth Shanghvi’s Loss: Three hauntingly beautiful essays on grief

‘It’s the phone call you dread – yet fully expect.

‘Papa passed away,’ my sister said through muffled sobs. ‘He died’ she repeated, as if I might not have understood her the first time around.’

 ‘Loss by Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi’ opens with the most brutal sentence no one wants to hear. I have gone through this experience. I lost my mother in an accident (2009). I received the call, and was left with numb heart, and her innocent promise that, I will never leave your side.

 At first, this little book behaved as a ‘Kataar’, slashing through me, inch by inch and pain echoed in flashes. It became a warm sky eventually, where could I actually breathe.

In his book, Siddharth Shanghvi meditated over myriad of moments, vulnerable and intimate. Writing is crisp and elegant. The way author used metaphors is beyond any praises, “Considering death is like plunging your hand into pond: encountering shapes you cannot name…”

I have been amazed how author recollected the pieces of his broken soul and woven them into words with such precision. It takes certain amount of courage to write about your pain and longing.  

“When we lose an intimate, two deaths occur. The first is the formal, physical death of the person. The other death is of the person we were around them.”

Basically, ‘Loss by Siddharth Shanghvi’ is consist of three essays, documentation of three deaths, along with few photographs.

“To write was to help someone else erase some part of their pain. This was the first motive for all my writing. It remains so.”  

In first section, Siddharth Shanghvi reminisces about his father, Mr. Dhanvant, a fiery independent being, and to watching him to struggle with cancer and later, loneliness.

Author remembered the small ordinary moments with him, as how his father keeps aside all the good reviews of his books, he never forget to give company to his son to the dentist’s chair, and dropping him at school was his morning routine.

“In the end, the only thing we can do for anyone, beyond loving them, is simply to acknowledge them as they are, for who they are, even if it is to let them go from our lives.”

Here, author decoded many facets of life as, ritual of going temple, The Antyeshti sanskar, and urgent need of mourning space.

In second section, Siddharth Shanghvi talks about his dog, Bruschetta. ‘Maybe dogs know this trick, a sleight of paw as it were, they can hack into our loneliness, pry it open like a lock, decode its inner machinery, lay it bare, make us believe we were never teetering into the wrong side of alone.’ he writes.

The day Bruchetta comes into his life and the day he leaves, unforgettable imageries, lingers to your mind.

Siddharth analyzed the eternity of pain and marked some findings, “when will it all be done? But I cannot put myself down, I cannot euthanize the experience that deadens me.”

The essence of this essay is, “Grief is not a record of what has been lost but of who has been loved.”

 

Besides words, Author included some exquisite photographs to this collection. In a photo, Ariel shot shows his father at the head of a long lonely dining table. Another frame portrays the melancholy of empty house. There was one shot of stairs which leads to nowhere, and a memory of his four-legged angel peeking through the grill.

“Loss” embraced my soul from the beginning but the third section of the book about his mother, Padmini, just left an indelible impact on me.

It begins with pondering over a question of life, “Could someone else die for you, or could this idea be expanded to mean that you die when someone does?”

I am in awe of his words, and powerful imagery, author picked to describe his mother “In the blinking darkness of the ambulance I accounted all that was still intact, unchanged, prime among them my mother, unbreakable, indivisible, a sage of losses, a graduate from the university of untold suffering.”

Here, author tells about her mother’s disease, difficult hospital trips, moving bed, long nights full of suffering,  Despite of having such mess around, she has strong  personality, “Who laughed her heart out, and briefly it seemed her many miseries grew silent and her laughter was louder than her sorrow- louder than all life. “

She sings a lullaby for her son, writes handwritten letters to her husband and weaves a poetry book for her own soul, Here, I am sharing a piece of her poem ‘Bhatkan’.  

जीयें तो कुछ ऐसे कि तन्हा न रहें हम,

जिनसे हैं, जिनके हैं, उन्हीं से जा मिलें हम।

And his mother’s advice “She told me to enjoy my fame but to never quite believe it. Write more. Read Read Read.

Word by word, this book dissects your very being and finds a hidden voice, longing for shore. Although, it is a short book, which hardly takes two days to finish, but this breathing tale will remain with you till eternity. Keep your loved ones close and this book even closer. Highly Recommended! 

 

 About the Author

Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi's debut novel, The Last Song of Dusk, won the Betty Trask Award in the UK, the Premio Grinzane Cavour in Italy, and was nominated for the IMPAC Prize. Translated into 12 languages, The Last Song of Dusk was an international bestseller. Shanghvi has been voted: India Today's 50 Most Powerful Young Indians; Times of India's 10 Global Indians; Hindustan Times: 10 Most Creative Men; Sunday Times UK: The Next Big Thing; New Statesmen UK: India's Ten Bright Lights; Elle Magazine's 50 Most Stylish People. Shanghvi's new novel, The Lost Flamingoes of Bombay, was nominated for the Man Asian Literary Prize 2008.

Connect: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook 

P.s. Can't Thank you enough Vivek Tejuja and HarpercollinsIndia for the copy. 

 

Vivek Tejuja’s Memoir - So Now You Know: Growing up Gay in India

Title: So Now You Know: Growing up Gay in India

Author: Vivek Tejuja

Publisher: HarperCollins India 

ISBN:  978-9353572693

Pages: 160

Genre: Non Fiction, Memoir

“The constant hum of the sea was the most comforting sound to me. It gave me a lot of solace. At that time I didn’t know why I felt so good sitting on the balcony, listening to the sounds of the sea and watching it, awestruck at how large it was. Besides the sea, I had my books. They made me see the world differently.”

When you talk about books, you talk about Vivek Tejuja. Believe me, reading community owes him a lot. He reads, he reviews and recommends books on social media. You could consider him almost a book therapist, a kind one.

When he announced his book year back, it was an excitement in the air. I eagerly wanted to know the person who breathes books in real manner.

Vivek Tejuja’s memoir, So Now You Know contains fragments of memories; a small gem of a book seemed to me, more like a long love letter to your younger self.

“It was a nightmare. School was nothing but a big bullying ground. I wonder when children realize the power of hurting? When do they turn so brutal that they do not once stop to think of kindness, politeness and the choices they make? Surely it’s something we only learn with age? I didn’t know anything about anything then, and I am sure neither did my bullies”

While going through some pages, I actually felt those words on my skin, either teasing or lack of kindness, confusions, or alienation and that tight slap. I imagined those lonely nights when you just shut your eyes and think about a parallel world with some hope, where broken friendships don’t exist, where feeling of being left alone doesn’t scare you much, bullying is mere word and your loved ones accept you the way you are.

Vivek Tejuja has written about growing up gay in 90’s. Author brings back that nostalgic phase when social media was not a part of our routine, when people actually meet and hold hands, when libraries would seem our second home, when we wait for hours just to check random mail, dial-up connection, of course, Playing music on cassettes and catching movies in proper theatre.

“I was ashamed of myself; not because of who I was or what they said about me, but because I could not stand up to them. I could not stand up for myself”

This book documents the author’s life into various phases, not in chronological manner though, Author writes about societal rejection and how it leads him to guilt, and the battle you fought inside all your whole life.

It is a poignant, yet light-hearted tale. Prose is raw and beautiful, like some old buddy disclosing his life in front of you. And you just want to listen to him, bit by bit, and uninterruptedly.

“One incident is all it takes for you to not confide in your loved ones. You think they will not be able to understand what you are going through, and maybe you’re right. Parents are supposed to be there for you, at every step of the way, but when you realize you might be remotely different, is anyone really there for you?”

When Vivek Tejuja narrates his friendships, I found him powerful, he is so comfortable to share his intimate life to the world and that sense of vulnerability makes him a wonderful writer.

I do accept, some sequences can be tough read, there was sadness but not a single sign of self-pitying. Vivek writes about unimaginable treatment by his close friends, even with great sensitivity.

On the one hand, you write a show about women’s empowerment while on the other; you are busy encouraging stereotypes when it comes to a gay man, down to even gestures and expressions

Vivek Tejuja’s memoir asks many questions to the society, need to be answered. Yes, I missed something in this book, his short notes, and experiences with particular book, hope he will consider writing his next book soon.

Some highlighted Parts from Vivek’s Memoir

“What is an eighteen-year-old to do without friends? How does he manage living day to day? Who does he speak to? Who does he confide in? What happens then? Though I always had my books to fall back on, there were times when all I wanted was a friend who would hear me out – and no one was around”

“I wanted my sky, my moon, my countless stars, twinkling just for me. And when I did not get them, I took the simple route: by building a fortress around my heart. For most of the time”

“Gay or straight or bisexual or transgender or being anyone remotely different doesn’t matter – because you know what, we are all struggling, no matter what. It took me a long time to understand that about people. We all fight our own battles. Some show it to the world and some hide them. Why then is there this lack of empathy?”

“Being gay is not about losing your identity or changing who you already are. Most people think it is all about the drama, the diva-ness, the blasé approach and attitude to almost everything in life, which is not true. There are more aspects and, moreover, maybe I should not use the term ‘being gay’ – as it’s not something you become, it is a part of you and yet not what you are all about.”

“Loneliness makes you want things you never thought you’d want from life. Love being one of them”

About the Author

VivekTejuja has worked with books at Flipkart and now at Verve magazine, and writes regularly on books and the experience of reading, notably on his blog, TheHungry Reader.

Buy online: So Now YouKnow: Growing up Gay in India

Book Review: Super Women by Prachi Garg

Title: Super women

Author: Prachi Garg

Publisher: Shrishti Publishers

ISBN:  9789382665632

Genre: Non Fiction

Pages: 155

Source: Author

Rating:  4/5

INTRO

The emerging woman ... will be strong-minded, strong-hearted, strong-souled, and strong-bodied...strength and beauty must go together." 
— Louisa May Alcott 

With these strong words of Louisa May Alcott, I wish I could capable enough to review this book presented by Prachi Garg. Because It can be a life changing book for aspiring entrepreneurs.  

In the current scenario when everyone running towards catching the moon, there are few souls who challenged the whole sky, sky—full of stars. It may sound little bit poetic, but what a book, Man!

Prachi Garg, an author of this book, explored twenty lives; succeed to change the definition of success. Only one thing which stands these twenty women out of the crowd, they all have strong vision and enough passion to follow their dreams, NO MATTER WHAT. They carve their own niche through ideas which changed millions of lives radically. 

When we watch television or read magazines, we happen to stop while catching a glance of successful woman. Although Newspapers provide information about their venture but their life journey still remains hidden.

Prachi Garg did a tremendous job in that field; she threw light into their inner selves and extracted real success history. What unique trait they carried, how they accomplished their dreams. What obstacles they faced, how much time they devoted, and the thought behind every foundation.

Literally few stories just stirred my soul, if I read about them into some magazine it would have been another business article, but I appreciate the effort of an author, she maintains the balance of information and emotional rollercoaster life of respective entrepreneur.

Author says in the lives of most people, the comforts of the predictable, the stable or the normal take precedence over anything that may sound remotely risky, but there are few daring souls who believe in challenging the norms, in stepping away from conventions and making a routine of the extraordinary way of life.

I would not be fair to share synopsis of every story but I love to share  these inspiring pieces from the book.

Medhavi Gandhi, Founder of Happy hands 

“I increasingly encountered situations which forced me to realize that while the youth potential of india was huge, their awareness and recognition of Indian arts, crafts and heritage was embarrassingly low. This of course included me because our education system was such. Though we train to be doctors, engineers and MBAs Nobody trains to be a traditional artisan designer Yes, artisan, No.”

Ria Sharma, Founder of Make Love No Scars

It had merely begun a college project. I wanted to break conventions and work on something I could relate to, although I had very little knowledge about the survivors of acid attacks. Back then, the journey consumed me with one experience after another, I knew I would never be the same again.

I thought I was going to save them but I eventually realized they were the ones saving me. They were rescuing me from all the material inconsequential and superficial engagements of life. They were helping me embrace my own identity, my own existence with pride.

Richa Singh, Founded Your D.O.S.T

During graduation a friend who had been going through severe anxiety owing to her job placement, committed suicide one random evening, I had never even realized that she had been going through so much stress. All I could think of was that she could have been saved. That was the turning point of Richa’s quest. From being a bystander and the mourner her heart was set on finding the solution and doing whatever she could do to save people from their states of stress anxiety or depression. 

Geetika chadha, Imagenie

When you see how you touched the lives of people, and  the things they will remember you for, you feel like you are on the right track. It’s a win win situation for everybody, isn’t it?

Besides them, You will meet

Masoom minawala – Style fiesta

Rachna nagranee – Pitaraa

Richa kar – Zivame

Sneha raisoni – Tappu ki dukaan

Charnita arora – Perfect life spot

Rashi narang – Heads up for tails

Tina garg – Pink lemonade

And many more… Highly recommended. I literally wish this book should place into school libraries. As books have power to change lives. Big congratulation to Prachi Garg for her superlative effort. 

ABOUT AUTHOR

Prachi Garg is a true blue Mirandian, who is an entrepreneur herself. She co-founded Ghoomophiro.com and Anmoluphar.com. An alumna of Great Lakes Institute of Management, she is passionate about writing and travelling.

CONNECT WITH:  Facebook | Twitter | Web

BUY ONLINE:  Super Women by Prachi Garg (Amazon) 

Book Review: Library of Luminaries: Frida Kahlo: An illustrated Biography by Zena Alkayat

Title: Library of Luminaries: Frida kahlo  

Author: Zena Alkayat

Illustrator: Nina Cosford

Publisher: Chronicle books LLC

ISBN: 9781452150239

Genre: Biography, Non Fiction

Pages: 135

Rating:  5/5

The moment I started reading this book I knew this would be an indescribable piece of art and book proved me right. Basically Zena alkayat described a life history of Frida Kahlo in a most beautiful manner. I didn’t know anything about frida except that she was a flawless painter who had lived her artistic charm.

But when we take glance an artist we only observe the upper surface where the success blossoms, we forget to unfold their life history. And literally I was in tears when I was going through this book. how could someone paint grief. Life was tough for her, beyond our imagination still she lived it gracefully.  

“I believe that by working i will forget the sorrows and i will be able to be a little happier.”

“my paintings are the most frank expression of myself, without taking into consideration either judgments or prejudices of anyone.''

It is strength to laugh and to abandon oneself, to be light. —Frida Kahlo

Illustrations are so beautiful that you don’t feel to stop in middle. How an accident shattered her childhood, she had been living not only with physical pain but she struggled with the pain in relationships. She was a painter but more than that She was a Lover, An inspiration, A Life with creative Vision. 

ABOUT AUTHOR

Zena Alkayat is a journalist, author, and editor based in London.

Book Review : Mother, Where's My Country? by Anubha Bhonsle

Title: Mother, Where’s My Country?

Author: Anubha Bhonsle

Publisher: Speaking Tree

ISBN:  9789385288357

Genre: Non-Fiction, Reportage

Pages:  250

Rating:  5/5

INTRO  

“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).

CONNECT:  Website | Facebook | Twitter 

BUY ONLINE: Mother, Where's My Country? (English) 

P.s - I received this copy under FLIPKART REVIEW PROGRAM. Thank You @Vivekisms !

किताब समीक्षा: बात निकलेगी तो फिर: एक गज़लनामा - सत्या सरन

टाइटल: बात निकलेगी तो फिर – एक ग़ज़लनामा  

लेखक: सत्या सरन

अनुवादक: प्रभात रंजन

शैली: संगीत, जीवनी  

पब्लिशर: हार्परकॉलिंस इंडिया

स्त्रोत: निजी कॉपी
पृष्ठ: 160

रेटिंग: 5/5 

जिस आवाज़ को आप अपनी हर नब्ज़ में महसूस करते हों

जिस आवाज़ में छिपा दर्द अपने स्वभाव से परे जा, आपके दिल को सुकून पहुँचाता हो

जिस आवाज़ को सुने बिना आपकी रातें सुबह का सूरज लांघने में हिचकती हों  

जिस आवाज़ को सुनकर ऐसा लगे जैसे “बस पहुँच ही गए घर” किसी अपने के पास..

मेरे लिए यह आवाज़ जगजीत जी हैं।

एक अरसे बाद जब किताब हाथ में आयी तो आंखे किताब के कवर पेज से उलझ गयीं.. ज़गजीत जी की इतनी तस्वीरें इंटरनेट पर बिखरी रहती हैं फिर भी हर नयी तस्वीर को देखकर लगता है संगीत का अगर चेहरा होता तो तो हू-ब-हू ज़गजीत ज़ी से मिलता.. इतना ही सादा इतना ही संपूर्ण। लबों पर हल्की सी हंसी, चेहरे पर थोडी सी शरारत और आँखे शून्य, आँखें जहाँ हर कोई पनाह पाना चाहता हो, कुछ लम्हें ठहर कर उस आवाज़ को महसूस करना चाहता हो... देखना चाहता हो कि गज़ल गुनगुनाते वक़्त जगजीत जी को दुनिया वैसी ही दिखती होगी जैसी है.. या फिर वो अपने आवाज़ के आयामों में एक नया जहाँ तलाश लेते होंगे जहाँ दर्द भी मीठा लगता हो, किसी बिछड़े हुए रिश्ते की तरह।

यह जीवनी, जगजीत जी की ज़िंदगी के तह-दर-तह सफ़हे खोलती जाती है, जहाँ उस एक आवाज़ से ही नहीं, उस शख्सियत से भी रू-ब-रू होने का मौका मिलता है जिसे संगीत से अलग जानना शायद इतना आसां नहीं होता। जगजीत जी की ज़िंदगी के कुछ पहलुओं को इतना करीब से जानना जहाँ आपको रोमांचित करता है वही दिल में एक कसक रह जाती है की काश थोड़ा और जान पाते.. उनका बचपन, संगीत को लेकर उनका लगाव, जब गज़लें एक श्रोतागण तक ही सीमित थी तब एक परिपाटी से परे जाकर संगीत के क्षेत्र मे अपना ही नहीं गज़लों का भी अलग मुकाम बनाना, अपने लिए गए फैसलों पर, अपने सपने पर विश्वास करना, उस सपने को पूरा करने के लिए संगीत के एक नए युग की शूरूवात करना, माईक के पीछे का संघर्षरत जीवन। जगजीत जी के पारिवारिक जीवन के बारे में जानने का मौका मिलता है जहाँ चित्रा जी से भेंट, कुछ नए रिश्तों से जुड़ाव आदि से संबधित कुछ किस्से है और सफलता के दौर से गुज़रते हुए, अपने सपने के लिए नया आकाश बनाकर... उसपर अपनी आवाज़ से सतरंगी इन्द्रधनुष फेरते जगजीत।

किताब को जगजीत जी की जीवन कथा के अनुसार कई छोटे छोटे पार्टस में बाँटा गया है और बड़ी ही खूबसूरती से उन भागों के शीर्षक स्थापित किए गए। उनके जीवन का हर एक किस्सा उन्हीं की गायी एक गज़ल के साथ शूरू किया गया है, जो कि वाकई काबिल-ए-तारीफ़ है।

जगजीत जी के जीवन से उठाए गए अंशों का चित्रण इतने सलीके से किया गया है कि यह जीवनी.. आँखों के समक्ष चलती डॉक्यूमेंट्री जैसा महसूस करवाती है, जहाँ जगजीत जी थे, चित्रा जी थीं, और उनके अस्तित्व को पूरा करता उनका परिवार, उनका संगीत।

किताब के अंतिम कुछ पृष्ठ चित्रा जी की वर्तमान ज़िंदगी पर लिखे गये है.. उनके अंतर्मन में ऐसी ना जाने कितनी किताबें होगी कितने ही किस्से होंगे...कितना मुश्किल होता होगा उस आवाज़ को सुनना जो आपसे अलग नहीं थी और फिर एक दिन अचानक उस आवाज़ का बस याद बन जाना। आवाज़ जो पूरी दुनिया की रूह को सूकून पहुंचाती है वो शायद चित्रा जी के दिल में एक दर्द एक टीस पैदा करती होगी।

यह गज़लनामा उस शक्स की ज़िदंगी का क़तरा भर है.. जगजीत जी की हर एक गज़ल में, अल्फाज़ों के बीच उठती गिरती सांसे, ठहराव पाते लफ्ज़ और उस ठहराव पर अपने सुनने वालों की धड़कने बांध लेने वाले जगजीत जी को कुछ सफहों में समेट पाना, चंद लम्हों में बयां कर पाना उतना ही मुश्किल है जितना इश्क का दर्द की लौ से दूरी बनाए रखना।

सत्या सरन जी का बेहद शुक्रिया। आपके इस खूबसूरत प्रयास के लिए हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ। 

किताब से कुछ अंश: 

“गुलज़ार ने खुलेआम उनकी तारीफ करते हुए कहा था “मिर्ज़ा गालिब, जगजीत से परे के जगजीत हैं।“

बात निकलेगी तो फिर दूर तलक जाएगी

जगजीत जी ने इन आलोचनाओ को अपने ही अंदाज़ मे लिया “मेरी आलोचना इसलिए की गई  क्योंकि मैंने गज़लों की धुन बनाने मे कई साज़ो का प्रयोग किया। लोग कहते हैं यह भी कोई गज़ल है इसके जवाब में, मैं उनसे पूछता हूँ आप बताएँ गज़ल कैसी होती है?

अगर आप कहते हैं कि बेग़म अख्तर की शैली गज़ल गायकी की अकेली शैली है तो मैं उसे नही मानता। उनकी शैली उनके महौल को बताती है, लेकिन इसका मतलब यह तो नही हुआ कि ये कोई फॉर्मुला है जिसे दूसरे भी अपनाएँ। उससे पहले बरकत अली की अपने शैली थी। यह मेरी अपनी शैली है, अब देखना यह है कि किस शैली को लोग स्वीकार करते हैं जिसे स्वीकृति मिलती है वही आगे चलकर परम्परा बन जाती है। अलग-अलग शैलियाँ साथ-साथ चलती रह सकती हैं।“

मुझको मुझसे अभी जुदा न करो

(अपने बेटे विवेक की असामयिक मृत्यु के बाद..)

“दुर्घटना के बाद एक तरह से वह संलग्नता पहले से मजबूत हुई, लेकिन एक तरह से उन्होंने खुद को मुझसे दूर भी कर लिया। पहले की तरह एक-दूसरे से वह रिश्ता नही रह गया। 

पहले कुछ हफ्तो के बाद जगजीत ने अपना तानपुरा उठा लिया। वे घंटों उसे बज़ाते, मानो संगीत की तान उनके दर्द की परतो के पार जा कर उनके दिल को फिर से जगा रही हो”

स्मृतियाँ, दर्द और आँसू सब अपनी जगह थे लेकिन उन्होंने उन सबको अपने अन्दर थाम लिया उस ताकत के बल पर जो संगीत ने उनको दी थी।“

यह किताब एक बेहद खूबसूरत ज़रिया है उस शख्स की ज़िंदगी के बारे में जानने का जिसकी आवाज़ ने आपकी कई रातों को शायद ज़िंदगी दी हो। 

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