Thursday, 30 September 2010
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Sunday, 26 September 2010
Makau wins Berlin marathon
Saturday, 25 September 2010
Friday, 24 September 2010
Dont Lose your Mind, Lose your Weight
Two States
“Two States” by Chetan Bhagat is a rip roaringly hilarious semi-autobiographical novel that explores the challenges of inter-cultural romance in India.
The story follows Krish, a Punjabi boy, and Ananya, a Tamil Brahmin girl, who fall in love while studying at IIM Ahmedabad. The real conflict begins not with their relationship, but with convincing their culturally rigid families to accept their union.
Bhagat uses humor and simple language to narrate the North-South cultural clash, highlighting stereotypes and social expectations in a relatable way. The book is fast-paced and engaging, and those belonging to the south indian or north indian mileau will appreciate it better. It succeeds in sparking conversations about modern love and family dynamics in Indian society.
Overall, Two States is an easy, entertaining read for fans of contemporary Indian fiction. Goodreads 5/5
Picture taken from the internet, not with an intention of violation of copyright.
A Breath of Fresh Air
Amulya Malladi’s debut novel, A Breath of Fresh Air (published in 2002), is a poignant and evocative tale of love, regret, resilience, and the enduring consequences of a national tragedy. Set against the backdrop of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, the novel weaves personal stories with collective trauma to create a powerful narrative that is both intimate and socially conscious.
The novel opens with the protagonist, Anjali, a schoolteacher in the Indian city of Hyderabad, who is living a seemingly quiet and content life with her second husband, Sandeep, and her young son, Amar. However, her life takes a turn when she unexpectedly runs into her first husband, Prakash — a high-ranking army officer — at a train station. This chance encounter reopens wounds Anjali had worked hard to forget.
The story unfolds in two timelines: the past, where Anjali was married to Prakash and caught in a cold, loveless, and emotionally abusive marriage; and the present, where she navigates the challenges of raising a chronically ill son whose condition is a direct result of her exposure to the toxic gas leak in Bhopal during the night of December 2, 1984.
Anjali was pregnant during the gas leak, and the impact of that fateful night continues to haunt her life, especially through Amar’s fragile health. As the story progresses, Anjali is forced to confront her past, including the betrayal and abandonment she suffered at the hands of Prakash, who had left her alone on the night of the disaster.
One of the most striking aspects of the novel is how it personalizes a national calamity. Malladi doesn’t merely recount the horrors of the Bhopal disaster; she internalizes them through Anjali’s story. The gas leak is not just a backdrop; it is a turning point that defines the protagonist’s entire life and that of her child.
Through Anjali’s journey, Malladi explores the struggles faced by Indian women — especially those bound by traditional roles and patriarchal structures. Anjali’s first marriage is marked by emotional neglect and domination. Her second marriage is one of healing, yet it’s still filled with the societal and familial pressures of raising a sick child. Anjali’s courage to divorce and remarry, despite the stigma, marks her as a quietly revolutionary figure.
Amulya Malladi’s prose is simple yet expressive. She writes with a sensitivity that captures both the internal and external worlds of her characters. Her descriptions of the Bhopal gas tragedy are not graphic, but they are heart-wrenching in their quiet devastation. The alternating narratives between the past and the present are well-handled, giving depth to the characters and their choices. Goodreads 4/5
Picture taken from the internet not with an intention to violation of copyright.
Sun after Dark
Pico Iyer, often described as one of the most eloquent voices in contemporary travel writing, takes readers on a journey of not just physical but metaphysical exploration in Sun After Dark: Flights Into the Foreign. This is not a conventional travelogue; rather, it is a collection of reflective essays that explore the emotional, spiritual, and philosophical dimensions of travel. As always, Iyer’s prose is lyrical, introspective, and layered with keen insight.
Sun After Dark is a compilation of 19 essays that span the globe — both literally and metaphorically. From political exile in Tibet and the Dalai Lama’s spiritual mission to the neon-lit solitude of Tokyo and the silence of the desert, Iyer immerses himself in diverse environments and cultures. But more importantly, he uses each locale as a lens to explore the inner self.
Iyer, born to Indian parents, raised in England and the U.S., and living in Japan, often grapples with identity and belonging. These themes appear recurrently as he discusses nomadism — not just as physical travel but as a psychological condition. The essays are rich with contemplations on silence, particularly in places of spiritual retreat. His visit to a Benedictine monastery and his meditations on the Dalai Lama reveal a longing for inner stillness in a noisy world.
There’s a constant comparison between Western materialism and Eastern spirituality. Iyer is drawn toward cultures where the inner journey is valued as much as the outer one. The book also includes essays on well-known personalities like Leonard Cohen and the Dalai Lama, whom Iyer treats with deep philosophical reverence rather than journalistic detachment.
“The Burning House”: One of the most powerful essays, this piece deals with the impermanence of home, memory, and safety, especially post-9/11. Iyer ruminates on the fragility of what we consider stable. “The Empire Strikes Back”: A penetrating look at the reversal of colonial cultural flow — how Eastern cultures are now influencing the West in terms of spirituality and lifestyle.
“The Dalai Lama’s Valet”: A humanizing, even humorous portrait of the Tibetan leader’s entourage, giving insight into the mundane amidst the sacred. “Where Silence Is Speaking”: This essay chronicles Iyer’s stay at a monastery in California and explores the significance of silence in personal transformation.
Iyer’s prose is poetic, often meandering, and reflective. He is less interested in providing practical travel information and more in drawing connections between external landscapes and internal states. His style evokes the feeling of a long, quiet conversation held in the early hours, contemplative and gently profound.
Some readers may find the writing abstract or overly philosophical, especially those seeking straightforward narratives. But those familiar with Iyer’s work will appreciate his signature depth, literary allusions, and spiritual curiosity.
Sun After Dark is a luminous collection that reinforces Pico Iyer’s position as not just a travel writer, but a thinker and seeker. It invites readers to journey beyond airports and monuments — to the vast, shadowy terrain of the soul. Ideal for thoughtful travelers, armchair philosophers, and anyone who finds meaning in cultural crossings and quiet introspection, this book is a reminder that sometimes the most profound light emerges after darkness. Goodreads 4/5
Picture taken from the internet not with an intention to violation of copyright.
The Longest Race
The Longest Race by Tom Alter is an inspiring and emotionally resonant novella that captures the grit, determination, and inner struggles of a long-distance runner. Set against the backdrop of Indian athletics, the story delves into the psyche of a young man chasing excellence and meaning through the grueling sport of marathon running.
Alter, known more widely as an actor and theatre personality, writes with sensitivity and insight, drawing from his own passion for sports. The narrative is lean yet poetic, weaving themes of perseverance, identity, and self-discovery. What makes the book stand out is its quiet intensity — it’s not just about running, but about life’s relentless challenges and the courage to keep going.
A quick but impactful read, The Longest Race is both a tribute to the spirit of sport and a meditation on personal growth. Goodreads 3/5
Picture taken from the internet not with an intention to violation of copyright.
Thursday, 23 September 2010
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
KAVERI - TRAIL BY FIRE
Saturday, 18th September 2010 saw nine of us (Raj, Zico, Kavin, Bhaskar, Ashok, Gautam, Mahesh, Amit, Rahul) at the Santacruz airport at 9.15 a.m. all looking fit like going into war. Bhaskar had already started the first of his many witty remarks and repartees, when Kavin commenced the first of his Sardar jokes. Both of these gentlemen kept us in splits throughout the two day marathon safari.
Bangalore was pleasant at 11.00 a.m. when we started on our long road trip to Mysore, which took about 5.5 hours, with a halt for lunch at Kamats hotel enroute. The lunch was a feast in a traditional Mysore style with rice, sambhar, rasam, etc. in a plaintain leaf.
Okay, carbo loading done, now to the Ginger hotel which we reached at 4.30 p.m. Mysore weather was even more pleasant than that of Bangalore and by then it had started raining. I am sure many runners would have eyed that PB, and of course quite a few achieved it as well.
We came down at around 5.15 p.m. and decided to go for a short walk which ended with a loss of few thousand rupees from our wallets – all this happened in a blink of an eye – a friendly neighbourhood autorickshaw wallah eyed us undecided what to do, where to go, when he offered to ferry us to the market to have a look at the traditional Mysore items and bring us back, all for a princely sum of Rs.50/- only. Decision made, 6 of us clambered into the auto, got the red eye from a couple of traffic police guys and reached the venue still undecided what to buy and what we came there for. Raj made the decision to buy some sarees for his wife and everybody followed him in a frenzy and polished off about 20K in less than an hour. We runners have affinity for doing everything with clockwork precision.
Dinner at Ginger was a runners’ special with pasta, curd rice, fried potatoes, fruit jelly, ice cream et al. We had an early dinner and retired to bed around 10 p.m. Sunday morning dawned in an almost chilly cold weather and all of us said “Wow” this must be great – little did we know what was in store for us as the day progressed.
We had to travel about 20kms to a place called Young Island Resort from where we had to collect our bibs, timing chips & food coupons. That done, we had to travel back about 2 kms to the starting point, which was a little inside the main road and where the RFL stall was in full attendance with all supplies already in place. We came across some venerated runners like Honda, Sabine, Kothandapani et al There were some other firangi runners as well and the atmosphere was charged with excitement though it was lacking in the tension usually associated with a big city marathon like Mumbai.
The full marathon race started exactly at 6.30 a.m. after the usual instructions to the runners. Out went Zico, Raj, Mahesh, Amit, Veera, Sundaresan, Krishna. The full marathon route was two loops of the distance from starting point to 10.55 kms and back to the starting point. Water and aid stations were laid at 2.5, 4, 5, 6, 7.5, 9, 10.55 kms and were well stocked with water, lucozade, bananas, oranges, parle-g, peanut butter jelly sandwiches and first aid. Few volunteers were roaming the distance in motorbikes to look out for people who were feeling discomfort and they were a couple of them who kept the volunteers busy. An ambulance with medical doctor was stationed outside the start line which was also bought into use a couple of times.
Next was the half-marathon which also started with clockwork precision exactly at 6.45 a.m. Out went Ashok, Giles, Mani, Mahesh Gune, Sridhar and myself. Giles was in close pursuit of Bhasker and the dream fight had begun. The rain clouds which was witnessed on Saturday had decided to take a day off on Sunday and therefore it was a clear sunny morning which saw the half marathon participants take the road. The route was very scenic and a sight for greenery starved city denizens. The RFL organisation was razor perfect with kms markings in chalk on the ground & cross markings to ensure people do not wander where cows & buffaloes are allowed to.
Few kms gone into, terrain gauged, pace adjusted, steady and determined strides, full concentration on the road ahead, 6 kms – need for replenishing lucozade, 8 kms - runners returning after doing U-turn at 10.5 kms, exclamations, motivations, determined faces, 9 kms - our runners coming, Bhasker galloping back, (where is Giles??), Ashok, Zico, Raj and others, 10.5 kms need for a break. Sun out in full fury now, chugging along slow and steady pace, stumbled about 3 to 4 times, which triggered the cramps, first in the right calf, then in the left calf, then in both calves, taking all the water stops, walking for a few steps after the cramp attacks, then again re-starting till last kms reached, volunteers out – shouting encouragement and the distance to the finish line - 800, 200, 100 to go and then sprint to the finish.
Pleasantly surprised to receive a finishers’ medal and kept it proudly around my neck until the strap broke – no problem, medal a first one. Ran into Giles about to plunge into a local Jacuzzi and Bhasker and Ashok looking fresh as ever, even without the jacuzzi. Again a cramp attack after we started walking towards the Resort, which Ashok kindly helped reduce with massage.
We collected the bib money, had our lunch, which was again quite fantastic with rice, sambhar, rasam, papad & payasam – quite a feast after the early morning work. By the time we came back to the venue, Krishna had finished his race and Mahesh had gone to fetch the others.
The sun was at its beastly best and we were only waiting with trepidation because the usual stalwarts were yet to come. But come they did: one by one Zico, Amit and then a long wait for Raj. By this time we were really worried for Raj and we (Ashok, Bhaskar & myself) decided to venture out into the route with a worried look on our faces. A few minutes later Raj emerged regally escorted by Krishna on one side and Mahesh on other side. We decided to join the party behind the royals and all of us sprinted across to the finish line. Of course, none of us were given a second finisher medals. Kavin was left to finish his first full marathon in the capable hands of Rahul, Amit’s brother. We had to perforce leave the venue because of check out restrictions, damn.
Quite a few achieved their personal best - Amit (whopping 30 mins), Mani (sub 2 hour half & also PB), Sridhar (whopping 23 mins), quite others achieved good timings - Ashok, Krishna, Mahesh, but the real hero was Bhasker Desai with a fourth place in Veteran Category. Kavin, Veera & Sundar achieved their first full marathon.
Endurance building on those monster hills at Aarey and BNP definitely helped in sustaining the pace under the unrelenting and merciless sun. All Mumbai runners finished creditably in this trail marathon.
Food taken by the full marathoners, bibs refunds obtained it was time to leave Mysore, which we did around 2.00 p.m. Enroute we again descended on Kamats, this time justifiably proud of our early morning achievements. All of us ordered Idli & Wada, which was probably the “in” thing to have in Karnataka, along with the dosas. The idli was shaped in a cylindrical shape, enveloped in a patta This was the first time, we were seeing idli in a shape other than like that of an UFO. The dosas mercifully survived the revolution and were round in shape.
Reached Bangalore airport at 8.15 p.m., the plane took off before time and landed in Mumbai after circling overhead for about 30 minutes, enough time for us to have a nights eye view of the Ganpati pandals in Mumbai. Reached home at 12.15 p.m. and had probably the best and soundest sleep in yearssssssssss.