The Men Within

Some time back I read a novel entitled " The Men within " written by Harimohan Paruvu. It is not only a book on life lessons, self help & management but makes a great reading- read the word great with a capital G. It is very reasonably priced ( Rs. 195 for 256 pages to be precise ) & is a Very Good read from beginning to end.When I had bought this book I was very doubtful about my selection.I had thought that it may turn out to be a didactic sort of novel.I was proved wrong by the author.It is primarily a novel that very cleverly answers many questions that are raised by life situations.I repeat my words , " It is a Great Read " & Without hesitation I recommend this book to all for an off beat, purposeful & interesting reading.

No Name for this Poem

I do not write in English but when I was in America I did write this poem in a language that I am not very comfortable with.My Daughter in law Rashmi Vaish not only published it in her blog known as " A life in Indigo " but also provided the much needed punctuation marks. I am borrowing it from her to duplicate it here. Rashmi is a gifted writer. She has served in India's leading news papers & then in New York she worked for a big community weekly.She is an excellent photographer too.People should read her to evaluate the depth of her thought. Now the " Untitled " poem ---

Some moments of life,
lived & unlived,
raise questions,
countless questions.

I hear them through the bones of my head.

Rack my brains to find answers.

They are but doubtful.

An old gratitude

hangs to some unknown crease.

Eyes wander onto fogy pathways

till they tire & return.

A delicate thread

that joins two parallel lines

snaps without a warning

under a strange heavy weight.

Countless yellow leaves

scattered all around

create a directional illusion.

A human image

wearing dark green sun glasses

toiling hard to see greenery around

fails & commits suicide.

A big black zero looms large in the air

are these my achievements

or is this the path which I traversed ?

success is but a fleeting waft of air.

the big black zero still looms large,

bent upon breaking all that I cherish.

I wish to burst this zero into many

to own as many zeros as I can

before it puts me down forever.

Boycotting 26th January

Some Extremist organizations of the eastern states of India have given a call to boycott the Republic day & called for a strike. They have advised people to stay indoors & movement of all traffic is prohibited. It seems absurd that people who form a part of this country & seek redressal of their grievances from the Indian government should also give a call for not celebrating the National Republic day. I do not know whether this can be justified by any standard rational argument. But then are we living in an age of reason? We have ruined this country by corruption, nepotism , religious intolerance ( though we are secular as per our constitution ) & discrimination of so many mind boggling types that one may fail to choose the right path. We may sing songs in praise of a growing healthy economy or rising \ shining India but when the masses find it impossible to obtain the bare minimum that life demands then all these songs & claims hurt\ hit deeply. There are problems galore but no one is concerned. We are living in a state of dystopia & this is very- very depressing. In the present state of affairs all of us are supposed to fight to usher in an era of change. We will have to fight for our rights as the citizens of India but the call for a boycott of the Republic day is certainly not the right way to do it.