STORYWALLAH

Some book finds a permanent place in your bookshelf and undoubtedly” STORYWALLAH by Kumar Ganesan “is one such book. Ganesan is a writer who has made sure that the language of the book is simple and yet he leaves and everlasting impression. Chapter wise representation makes it super easy to read. The larger than life character and their association with Ganesan’s life is poignantly described. Ganesan has been eloquent in describing the stories and all his stories had humor vitality and realistic. Every story for me either represented a social value, a social stigma or a human behavior and it was cynically and humorously written. The odyssey on which Ganesan took the readers was enthralling and exuberating. Every story had wit and quirkiness and was serious when required. Kumar Ganesan’s work in STORYWALLLAH has inspired me to make a journal of peoples who I meet in my course of life.

MAlligai po mami, Saapad Raman, life of pai- are stories of people from Ganesan’s life and deals about loss self-discovery and making gratitude with ourselves. The stories are beautifully narrated and the reader feels connected and glorifies the life of these characters.

I me and Pemba, old monk, real men cry and being Subraman- are narratives of experts from Ganesan’s life experiences. The stories share his aspect of fear frolic love and health issues in his life. Though some stories deal with pain but they never lack humor and poignantly told the story. Loved it to core specially Being subraman on writer embracing his health problem and narrating it in a spectacular fashion one must have balls to do that.

Abbasaheb Abhyankar narrates the embalmed views of society towards elderly tragic but true, the story moved me a lot and after all lies are not always a sin.

Make up and made up deals with the subject of illicit relationship domestic abuse and proves the fallacy of women empowerment.

Sambhar vadacury and pushpak express travelogue while one deals with a family outing on the contrary deals with a lone girl’s train journey. Ganesan is a master recounter his narration of characters is unbelievably realistic and pushpak express’s end left me amused.

STORYWALLAH is an honest contemplation and assessment of ideas well contrived, the book is a trove and Ganesan has diligently crafted an amazing book.

https://www.amazon.in/Storywallah-Kumar-Ganesan/dp/9384315796/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522168817&sr=8-1&keywords=storywallah

Solitude and other obsessions

Paperback: 128 pages

Publisher: Notion Press, Inc.; 1 edition (23 August 2017)

Language: English

Writer: Uma, Binod, Trupti, Shruti & Saurin

We are a species fueled by obsessions. Every human achievement, and every infamy, is the result of an obsession that tormented, possessed and consumed. This is a selection of poetry about solitude and other obsessions that have distracted, driven, destroyed and / or defined us. Usually poetry gives us a much-needed break from rigorous fiction reading and lengthy read. It is like a breath of fresh air and makes our mood lite and delivers serious message with an ease.

Uma Sudhindra: Uma’s poem is based various issues and the once that describe the pain of a soldier and his loved once is beautifully expressed. Her travel description is surreal and I have been Rumi fan her poem based on Rumi captures RUMI’s essence. But my favorite poem is “in the lap of death”- Uma have described on of the feared and dreaded aspects of life with an ease. The words are gentle and leave a lasting impression.

Binod Panda: Binod’s poem are sort of serious ones and while reading them it is evident that these are inspired from his life lessons and experience. Binod has used simple language and emphasized more on the meaning of the poems. Life death pain joy are part of life and they are well described though my favorite is mirage and one can easily corelate with Binod’s words we as an individual have long lost our dreams and aspirations while chasing others dreams and we are at times caught in the web from where it is nearly difficult to get back to our original self.

Trupti Kalamdani: Trupti’s work are emotional ones and generally deals with relationship and self-belief. I particularly liked the comeback as it was refreshing and was about self-discovery and self-belief. We as an individual need to vouch for our individuality. The rose sans thorns deal with the agony and pain of being in a relationship and tells the truth in a subtle way. Trupti’s work seems to represent a cyclic process of being down to discovering to evolving and the rebirth. Well phrased and versed poems.

Dr. Shruti Arabatti: Shruti’s work is enthralling there is hidden meaning in her every poem and every verse. She has decided to write about some trivial issues prevailing in the society. U R is one such poem she has beautifully described how we crush young once dream and let him die within. Finding home is again a beautiful poem describing how far we have come chasing a dream we have long lost our interests our home and our family. The End summarizes Shruti’s work and life cycle and the reality of life.

Saurin Desai: Saurin’s poems was by far with what I corelated the sorrow of an individual and the reality of living in metro no matter how crowded or surrounded you are with people but you would be alone if it isn’t the right place. Regrets is about the time that we didn’t took in account the time where we fooled around. Saurin’s poems are about the individual stuck and trying to rediscover himself. The pain is beautifully described and well versed. His work isn’t complicated and will compel to read further.

https://www.amazon.in/Solitude-Other-Obsessions-Uma/dp/1947697412/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521481230&sr=8-1&keywords=solitude+and+other+obsessions

सिनेमा दीवाने

बात निकली ही  है तो दूर तक जाएगी, बात ६० के दशक की है जब भारतीय सिनेमा ने धूम मचा रखा  था  | जनता घंटों सिनेमा हॉल के बाहर लाइन में टिकट के लिए लगी रहती | लोग  इस चकाचौंध को देख कर मंत्र मुग्ध थे  और बॉलीवुड से फैशन सड़को पे भी नज़र आने लगा था |  भला मेरे पिताजी कहाँ इस से वंचित रहने वाले थे अभी यौवन के देहलीज पे कदम ही रखा था और सिनेमा की चकाचौंध से सराबोर हो गए थे | भले ही सिनेमा ने बदलाव लाया हो पर एक चीज़ जो सिनेमा तब भी नहीं बदल पायी वो थी समाज की सोच जो की सिनेमा को संस्कृति विनाशक मानती थी और ये मान बैठी थी की समाज के पतन का कारण ये निगोड़ी फिल्म ही है | कोई क्या सोचे इस से पापा को कभी फ़र्क नहीं पड़ा - मस्त रहो मस्ती में आग लगे बस्ती में | मानो पिताजी सिनेमा के लिए और सिनेमा पिताजी के लिए ही बने थे | सिनेमा के नायक स्वतः ही ज़िन्दगी जीने का प्रारूप बनते जा रहे थे और पिताजी भी धीरे धीरे सम्मोहित हो इस कल्प परिवर्तन  को अपना चुके थे | परंतु ऐसे परिवर्तन ज्यादा दिन कहाँ चुप पाते और तब इस तरह के भूत उतरने का एक ही इलाज था चप्पल- जी एक ज़ोरदार चप्पल | पिताजी को खुराक मिली भी पर सिनेमा का भूत और सर चढ़ गया | हाँ ये बताना तो मैं भूल ही गया था की इस सिनेमा की दीवानगी में पापा अकेले नहीं थे पर उनके मित्र कमल चाचाजी भी थे  और अब इन दोनों की लुकाछिपी घर वालों के साथ शुरु हो गई , घर वाले डाल डाल तो ये पात पात | बच बचा के पापा सिनेमा हॉल पहुँच ही जाते और कभी कभार पकडे भी जाते तो जम के धुलाई हो जाती | दादाजी ने आख़िरकार एक तोड़ निकाल ही लिया अगर पिताजी ३ घंटे से अधिक समय घर से गायब होते तो ये मान लिया जाता  की सिनेमा देखने ही गए होंगे और घर पहुँचते ही उनका स्वागत जूते और चप्पलों से किया जाता कभी कभार तो घर में कोई पैसे इधर उधर रख के भूल भी जाता तो ये मान लिया जाता की पैसे पिताजी ने ही सिनेमा देखने के चक्कर में  हाँथ साफ़  किया होगा | वीर तुम बढ़े चलो की तर्ज पे पिताजी भी हर सम विषम परिस्थतियों  से लड़ते हुए अपने सिनेमा की चाहत को बरकरार रखा और एक ऐसा जुगाड़ खोज निकला जिसे साँप भी मर जाए और लाठी भी ना टूटे | पैसे की समस्या के समाधान के लिए पिताजी टूशन पढ़ाने लग गए अब सब से विकट समस्या से निपटना था समय का तोड़ निकालना |
पिताजी और कमल चाचा के बीच मंथन शुरु हो गया कई कप चाय और दिमाग पर ज़ोर डालने से ऐसा प्रतीत हो रहा था की निदान मिल भी गया था | अंततः ये तय हुआ की एक सिनेमा को देखने में दो दिन का समय लिया जाये गा और एक दिन पिता जी मध्यांतर के पहले सिनेमा देखेंगे और उसी दिन मध्यांतर के बाद कमल चाचाजी सिनेमा देखेंगे और कोई एक दुसरे को कहानी नहीं सुनाएगा और  दिन दोनों लोग उसी प्रकार अदल बदळ कर सिनेमा को पूरा कर लेंगे इससे अब तीन घण्टे घर से बाहर नहीं रहना पड़े गा और मार नहीं पड़ेगी | फॉर्मूला काम कर गया और दादाजी इस खुशी में थे की उनकी पिटाई रंग लाई | पिताजी के पास हर समस्या का समाधान था शुरु में थोड़े विचलित ज़रूर हो जाते पर ठन्डे दिमाग से सोचने पे अंततः कामयाब हो ही जाते |

कवि प्रमोद तिवारी जी के शब्दों में बहुत ही अद्भुत वर्णण हैं |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwpgcevcXpY
     

The Irony of happy muharram

Author: Syed Amjad Ali

Paperback: 100 pages

 Publisher: Half Baked Beans First edition (2017)

 Language: English

 Printed Price: INR 199

Syed Amjad Ali is an advertising professional and this book marks his debut as a writer. This book highlights the unintentional mistakes and the hilarious consequence which arises due to social divisions. This book is a genuine attempt to portray an average Indian Muslim’s life (the good the bad and the ugly). This book is a result of heartfelt work put in by Syed Amjad Ali. When you go through the book you would come across the examples and real-life instances that occurred with the author and his known once. The example quoted are hilarious and will leave you laughing but when you ponder a bit it seems odd and painful. For us its just might be a simple mistake but we change and challenge some else’s identity. The different chapters of book take us sequentially through the journey of our ignorance and this book in particular helps us changing our notion.

Syed Amjad Ali has done a brave work in breaking the myth around the Muslim community and also tells us the different factor affecting a Muslim’s life. All the issues discussed in various chapters are quite relevant and notions against them still prevails in the society. I have been enlightened and enriched with knowledge by the means of this book. It is light hearted read which deals with issue of social and religious matter and delivers a message with ease. Amjad Ali grasp of knowledge is phenomenal. Overall a good read

https://www.amazon.in/irony-Happy-Muharram-Syed-Amjad/dp/B0777HDF52/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520360623&sr=8-1&keywords=happy+muharram

Final Illumination…..

Author: Farrah Begum

Paperback: 100 pages

 Publisher: Half Baked Beans First edition (2018)

 Language: English

 Printed Price: INR 199

 Writer: Farrah Begum is an established writer with a decade of experience and she excels in depicting plethora of human emotions. And in case of Final Illuminations she writes about some trivial and lesser discussed individual emotional issues issue of domestic abuse depression harassment and suicidal behavioral patterns. In spite of she writing about serious issues yet she manages to keep the book light hearted and joyous to read. Protagonist in this book faces some serious life challenges and difficulties but the book never gives its readers a lull moment. Chapter wise representation make it super easy and builds a kind of introduction of what’s coming ahead.The book resonates between the low life moments to happy justified ending justifying the characters to the fullest. At the end of the book you are not left wanting more. The character buildup is phenomenal and Farah this book is well contrived and exceptionally depicted.

Plot: Protagonist Zubeida is a beautiful girl talented and jovial but the world around starts crumbling, being brought up by a single mother and literally no man around her fear for opposite gender becomes grave when her best friend slips into comma due to a physical assault by her boyfriend. Zubeida is let left all alone broken shattered and afraid. Zubeida’s character is so well described that the reader is bound to feel in love with her and feel her agony and pain. Zubeida who once was a vibrant and joyous girl starts slipping into depression. Her fight with depression is so realistic and the description is par excellence. The details of her dressing sense will make you awestruck. The gradual built up of story evolves with evolving Zubeida and reaches to a deserved end.  I hate giving spoilers but this book is a must read. This particular boom will make you determined and proves ultimately good people win. Jude’s character is flamboyant and lovable and he is the one who turns around the story. Beware of Zubeida’s moms character her skills with cooking will leave you hungry and searching for some heritage recipe. I enjoyed reading this book and finished in a single go. To end I Quote from the book- Those who shed tears are not weak but are the strongest.

https://www.amazon.in/Final-Illumination-Farrah-Begum/dp/B078RN5R27/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519742586&sr=8-1&keywords=final+illumination