Pens and Places

  In the debut installment of the Battle of Vathapi trilogy, "Nandi’s Charge," Arun Krishnan masterfully weaves a gripping tale of honor, strategy, and vengeance set against the backdrop of the Seventh-century Battle of Vathapi. Drawing on historical events and rich cultural landscapes, Krishnan's narrative brings to life a captivating drama that unfolds in the heart of ancient Bharat. The story centers around King Narasimhavarman, a young Pallava monarch burdened with the solemn promise to avenge the humiliation suffered by his father and kingdom in the Battle of Pullalur. With the strategic brilliance characteristic of historical fiction, Krishnan introduces readers to three gallant Pallava warriors – Elango, Kannan, and Muthu. Tasked with debilitating the Chalukyas' allies, the Gangas, the Lankans, and the Pandyas, these warriors embark on perilous journeys fraught with enemies and obstacles. Krishnan's meticulous research is evident in the vivid descriptions o...

Chitra Banerjee never fails to show the mysteries of women, behind every male-dominated story. “The Last Queen” is one such diamond from the historical events of ancient India. Author has gracefully and bravely described all the faces of a common girl, rising from ash like Phoenix.  This book is divided into those stories of the last queen of Punja, Rani Jindan, who was a symbol of intelligence, wit, devotion and humor. Through “behind-the-scenes” coverage of evergreen ballads of famous kings, you will get to know the different side of the tale through Jindan’s eyes. This story is a simple life’s journey of Mayi Jindan, from a daughter/sister who was an epitome of innocence and love, to the mother who dedicated her last breath for patriotism. Honestly, I couldn’t put the book down once I started. Everything was surreal, like a real life story in front of my eyes, beyond the grand walls of Sheesh Mahal. I thoroughly enjoyed the intricate details of places, events, costumes, food, le...

  Imagine you get a chance to deliver the lecture as if it’s your last day at work, how will you feel?. You will try to make the best of it, right?. But with this book, Randy had lived the moment of reality. He actually delivered his last lecture, accumulating all of his childhood dreams and lessons of life. After a very long time, I cried while reading the emotions. It’s totally a surreal gesture to go on a ride through someone’s else’s eyes. I am not going to give any spoilers but all I can say is if I will be stranded on an island alone, I would prefer to carry this book among all of the materialistic things. There’s everything here you can think of life and its atrocities, powerful optimism, clarity of dreams, hope for future, humor at every phase, and sincerity in each challenge of the world. This book is meant for the young readers as well the oldest generation, who need the best kind of advice.  On the other hand, it might be difficult to put your foot in someone’s shoe...

  Balli Kaur Jaswal's "Now You See Us" delves into the intricate lives of Cora, Angel, and Donita, three Filipina domestic workers in Singapore. The author skillfully navigates the complex tapestry of their experiences, revealing the harsh realities and social injustices these women face. Cora's sorrow over her nephew's death, Angel's turmoil after a breakup, and Donita's resilience despite abusive employment showcase a powerful narrative that tugs at the heartstrings. Jaswal masterfully weaves a tale that goes beyond a simple murder mystery, tackling broader issues of classism, exploitation, and the maltreatment of migrant workers. The book doesn't shy away from revealing the cruelty these women endure at the hands of their employers, emphasizing the stark imbalance of power and privilege. The vivid portrayal of Singapore's diverse landscapes and societal challenges adds depth and authenticity to the narrative. What stands out is the author's ...

  I don’t have any specific opinion on feminism. Neither do I like to differentiate anything that is beyond the reach of gender neutrality. But I know for a fact that women are the most powerful creatures on this planet. They have the power to create a new life, suffer with blood every month and balance the mundane life with utmost pride all the time. They not only bloom but also spread the fragrance around them. I am also surrounded with such a wonderful community of women, who always support me in my lows and cheer for me in my highs.  @Unicorn and @Authoropod have collaborated this time on the special occasion of Navratri, and I am so happy to contribute my flavor of colors in 9 different ways. I want to dedicate the essence of these shades to the strong women pillars of my life. Orange : Warmth and energy There’s no one more deserving than my grandmother and mother for this impregnable title. Both of them have always given me warmth so that I always feel secure. They pr...

Have you ever sat beside an old-experienced person and listened to their life story? This book feels the same. I was literally imagining the journey with him, experiencing the whole juggled path in his ways.  “Absolute Khushwant” is not exactly a memoir, but tribute to his own thoughts throughout his life. You can totally feel the real Khushwant Singh, explaining his ideologies, memories, emotions, work ethics and a lot more masala. He started with very subtle topics about his first love, sex, marriage and regrets.  And then continued with broader topics like politics, writing career, partition, communism, his native land Pakistan, religions, and his love for Urdu language. He patiently explained about the taboo topic of death too. I am not saying I agreed with everything he told or believed, but I felt like I was listening to someone's perception of living a grand life. I have not even lived half of what he survived. But I am looking forward to doing so many experiments and a...

  If I were to invite you into the recesses of my mind, where literary treasures are stored, you'd find a special alcove reserved for epic tales that transcend time and culture. It is within this sacred space that "The Ramayana" by R.K. Narayan resides, a gem that brilliantly captures the essence of an age-old Indian epic. Just as Matt Haig is my undisputed favorite in the world of contemporary fiction, R.K. Narayan reigns supreme in the realm of classic Indian literature, and "The Ramayana" is yet another testament to his literary prowess. "The Ramayana" is akin to a celestial constellation, shimmering brightly in the vast expanse of literary constellations. Narayan takes the epic originally composed by the legendary Tamil poet Kamban and breathes new life into it. The story is a magnificent tapestry woven with threads of adventure, love, duty, and the eternal battle between good and evil. Like a seasoned storyteller, Narayan transports us to a mythic...

  I was very young when I discovered about the term “suicide”! My younger siblings and I were very excited about the movie “3 Idiots”, and we were jamming on the song “Sari umr hum mar mar ke jee liye, ek pal to ab humein jeene do” . Freedom to choose the right thing for our career and the intolerable pressure by parents leading to a drastic consequence on someone’s life, we had seen in front of our eyes right then. I clearly remember, my siblings didn’t understand what happened on the tied rope through the spinning-camera-drone, but that night I didn’t sleep. The words “Ye suicide nahi, murder hai” were dancing on my mind, showcasing the harsh realities of upcoming life. How can giving up be so easy? One of my classmates attempted suicide just after the result night. I didn’t know him personally, but joining the dots was easy about why it happened! Our whole school, local news were filled with negative vibes that day. His parents were crying, blaming themselves, for pressurizing ...

Have you ever encountered fictional incidents in your dreams? I know it’s very common and people use to weave unrelated scenarios in their good night REM sleeps. But I wonder how many of you are daydreamers, chatting random talks of life with fictional characters from books/movies/web-series! Strange right?   I am not exaggerating by writing my weird thoughts, while having conversations with so many people in my mind. And that too in between my mundane tasks. Sometimes while switching on the light, I casually say “ Lumos ”. And then imagine Dumbledore clapping, for making him proud by “switching on the light” (hahaha, iykyk).  Sometimes I just stare at the words on the virtual letter, written by Augustus Waters from The faults in our stars . I try to feel the pain Hazel must have come across through her soul. I repeat his dialogues “I’m in love with you, and I’m not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things.” and think of some random lover o...

  There are a ton of blogs by now on the trending topic “Generative AI”. Some will show you the details by taking help from one of them, and some will provide you with the straight facts. I am trying something new this time and will try to write for those who are still scared/naïve of this hard-to-not-notice thing. Let’s start this revolutionary topic with a simple example. Imagine the era when there were no medicines, and people used to die at a very young age because of mere diseases. With the evolution of healthcare facilities, humans started to live longer. At that stage, the main concern was if the population is increasing, how will the survival needs be fulfilled? But with advancement in healthcare, came the technology of automated farming and latest yields. At that point of time, the main fear was how humans will survive and with time it got resolved with better results. Imagine the era when only men used to work and go to offices. Women were meant to take care of family, an...

  There’s no perfect formula for consistent happiness in life, but you must have heard someone saying, either in school or by elders, “Where there is a will, there is a way!”. I am no saint to guide anyone to follow some meditative path or a scientist to  instruct them to go through some major experiments to prove my point. I am just a human, who makes mistakes and learns from them. I am sure every individual has their own perspectives and ideologies to carry, but life becomes easy if we listen other’s views. I believe, if we implement at least 5% of the things that we experience from someone’s lifespan, it's enough.  Though there are plenty of pointers you will encounter while searching for the golden words for science of happiness, but here are my top 5 ways to be happy, which are very personal and fully verified :   People say “Stay Positive”. But how? How can you be positive if there are plenty of pending things to do? How can you be happy when you see your close...

  For the people who don’t love  romance novels and still try to read them, this book is for you. The thing about these novels is that you don’t even know why you are reading. And you won’t believe me, I picked up this book because of its catchy cover. I didn’t even know earlier that this one belongs to a love story. But, will you believe me if I tell you that this one is more than romance. The title “The Sun is also a Star” quickly gives anyone a resemblance of believing in something positive. And that’s what Nicola Yoon has written smoothly by taking an unexpected love story related to her life. Call me cynical or whatever, but I found the chapter for all the supporting characters very diametrical. You will know why and when any incident takes place, causing the entire universe in place. Whole narration revolves around Natasha and Daniel. But every small detail is curated and embossed with circumstantial evidence. A girl who is a non-believer of hope and magic, and a guy who...

  If you are expecting something spicy out of this confession, you will be disappointed, because I am too! I am also carrying my thwarted expectations till grave, only to share my quirky reactions of mind with the neighboring skull about my code-of-conduct with books. So here are my top 9 bookish confessions (NOTE : PLEASE DONT JUDGE ME!) : I looooove to buy books. Books, with crisp white flavorful pages of freshly wrapped ink scents. Books which I can touch and turn to the other side with my hands, not by swiping left or right. Books, which I can hold with a salsa positioned hand. And it’s not over. I love to buy books, even if I have plenty others to read in my TBR! I sometimes wonder what my TBR books must be talking on the shelves and bitching about every new-comer in their neighborhood. I always make a promise with myself after buying books that this should be my last until I wont finish the already-staring-books-at-my-place. And then, with every interesting/wish-list worthy b...

 There’s a common saying that the roots will never change, no matter how much surroundings try to change a person. Earlier I never understood this, as I always thought that we are bound to change ourselves according to the places we live. But after experiencing almost 3 decades, now I understand the value of “origin”. I feel so proud that I came from the land of Mithila, also known as Janakpurdham , an ancient cultural and religious hub located in the southern part of Nepal and the northern part of the Indian state of Bihar. I am sure, most of the people don’t even know about the various facts of Ramayana, that actually happened on this holy land. There are several facts, customs, folk songs and foods that I want to highlight today, which make me a member of true Mithila family, and I am so honored that I get to write my experiences here, taking reference from Mithila Nagri: In our families, we cherish folksongs and are sung on every festive occasions like Durga puja, Ramnavmi, Kal...

  If you have connected your dots of this title with Prime’s web series, then you are the right audience for this blog. Also, this is not a sponsored post. It’s just an open letter to all the makers-creators-actors-helpers-technicians of this great digital panorama, who unleashed all the layers of patriarchal pigeonhole. If you have not seen it till now, then don’t worry, I will not give the spoilers. But, trust me, please go watch the series and then come again here to read the entire drama happening afterwards. Yes, let’s start talking about the concept of Made in Heaven first. As per my opinion, I believe in “Karma”. Whether it is associated with good deeds or the punishing atmosphere, everything is interconnected with our destiny. And it's not necessary that if you are doing good with a person/community, you will get the same response from them only. This vibe is revolving across the universe and you will get your contribution in one or another form by anyone, literally ev...

  If there’s a time machine which can bring back the same thrill and adrenaline rush while reading the best books of my childhood, I will run first to grab the jackpot. Literally, those were the days when no Instagram existed to block your mind with unnecessary noise of digital algorithms. We were totally relying on the word-of-mouth-trend. Everything from discussing the small details of appearance of characters to fantasizing about the author, we grew up. My home has always been decorated with books like magazines for elders i.e. “Kalyan Patrika” , many ancient Sanskrit verses and old academics of English literature of my great grandfather, then magazines like “Champak”, “Wisdom”, and “Chacha Chaudhary” were always on the top of the shelves as we got to buy every new edition monthly by the newspaper guy. I would love to have the same excitement again of those times when my brother and I used to share stories from those magazines and write down the famous quotes in our l...