This and that

Well the results are out and I have cleared Intermediate. Whines, champ-pains anyone? The sky did not turn a dark yellow, dirty medicine colour, neither did thunder roll over Parangi Malai(St.Thomas Mt.), but as I sat trying there refreshing the mobile page furiously, I did get my results with as much pomp and gusto as Humpty Dumpty had during the great fall.

Of course, no one knows why eggs sit on walls, or why companies have firewalls. And what is with firewalls anyway? The term is very misleading in the Indian context. Didn’t Sita do the agnipariksha to prove that Ravana didn’t touch her(if only 298 existed then-I googled that btw.). Doesn’t that mean, we have to break through and prove ourselves? Mythology my friend shouldn’t only be in spirits or Bunsen burners, it should come in LPG cylinders, with cycle brand agarbati.

Anyway, I hope I don’t need to write any exams for another 2 years. Hope because I may end up being forced to join some other stupid course 😐

My friend’s play ‘A Play About Death’ is happening in March. If you are in Chennai, keep track of their FB page to know more. Or well, I will write about it soon enough 🙂

A very short post, yes, but well see you soon.

Advertisement

Our education system

It is really tough to turn a blind eye to anything- after all NEWS follows us like a curse. Unfortunately, we are forced to believe and deal with things-whether they are real or not. Though I know not many are going to read this post, I still intend to write this-I need to appease my twitching self.

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING

THE IMMORTALS OF MELUHA by AMISH(book review)

THE IMMORTALS OF MELUHA

image from here.

WHEN EVIL REACHES EPIC PROPORTIONS, WHEN ALL SEEMS LOST, WHEN IT APPEARS THAT YOUR ENEMIES HAVE TRIUMPHED,  A HERO WILL EMERGE.

I picked up this book more out of curiosity than anything else.  For one Landmark had it at every nook and turn and for another, the price was within my budget. And I wasn’t disappointed.

Being a person who loves history and mythology, I expected a lot of serious revelations with the inevitable dark music( maybe even Thandavam accompanying it?) and an air of mystery. But while there are a lot of revelations, the book is written in a simple and elegant style. And I say this about the book because I don’t remember reading it- I felt the book.

The book is about Shiva, The Neelakanta. It is about the Suryavanshis and the Chandravanshis. It is about ancient India. It is history. It is Mythology. Things which most of us have grown up with. And a book, with all of it, delightful! It takes one heck of a story teller, to mix it all up, without being a bore.

Shiva, is supposed to be the saviour(as per a legend),  he is a Rudra. It is his duty, to destroy “evil”. A bit of love, a bit of science, a bit of this and that, the book  is beautifully woven. As I usually do, I am not going to give out anything from the story(if the story can be said in 10 lines, then why should the author take the effort?) , but I can tell you, that this a worthy pick.

And I learnt a lot through this book as well. I realized a few obvious things. I recognized a few old things, which had faded away. It has also inspired me in a certain way.

Hope the books which are to follow are as good or better than this 🙂 Especially am curious to see how the author defines “evil”(this book ends with that question).

Rating:- 10/10 ( you probably guessed this by now 🙂 )

P.S:- Follow the author on twitter – @amisht

I feel that I can make this world a better place by being the catalyst.

I feel that, I can make this world a better place, by being the catalyst.

I fail to understand the need for violence, but the cause is so obvious that most miss it bad childhood/upbringing(?). Society while setting expectations, fails to encompass those it shuns(quite obviously).

By looking down upon and trying to keep them down, one day it faces their wrath, simply because they have become too big for it to hold on.

Even as a government fires against its own people, in India, we see a group of Gunmen(Naxals), holding the nation to ransom. It is a pity, that so many lives have to be lost and yet all we care about is what an actor wears/ does.

There are many here(like IHM and Indyeah ) who talk about issues and about the better things in our country. While I am a firm believer in ‘doing’, it is necessary that we have people who write like them. I do wish that better sense could be translated to the country at large by the main stream media.

While on the way back from Chidambaram, I had an interesting conversation with an aunt of mine, about my gen. and the nation. I think every gen. has an onus to carry a nation forward. While a few outstanding personalities may be the actual representatives, it is people who make up the nation.

And among the people, we have trend setters who dare to tame the loose winds of change and purport a silent revolution through their works. Artists aren’t mere call girls of history, they are its pillars who hold, bear and show the whips and scorns of time(so to speak). It is left to these people, graced by wit and hardened by time, to open and reopen paths, which can lead to betterment.

A common theme today is that humans are meant to live in harmony, with themselves and the world around. While this seems a middle class fantasy, the truth is that while stratification is a natural phenomenon, the way the different strata interact with each other is greatly dependent of human virtues.

The presence of myriad castes and haggling Gods, sects, groups etc  ensures that Utopia and Ethiopia are worlds apart. While on one hand diamonds are born out of blood and men drive planes into another country’s purse and take away THE MOST PRICELESS CURRENCY- life, on the other hand, we drive towards a world where a slate no more requires chalk and  a touch opens the world.

Education is a necessity, which like any necessity, depends on how rich you are and how much you can afford. While, public systems exist to inspire equality, its functioning is far from  ergonomic. On one hand, we strive to slash drop out rates and on the other we brand our children, with the pathos of capitalism discrimination. While languages still form a barrier, we try hard to reduce it, yet very little is done to remove the old prejudices.

Schools should aim at opening the minds, so that the rabbit on the moon, is understood to be craters and at the same time the ability to recognize the fact that someone realized that it looked a rabbit. Yet we carry on with a myopic nonchalance and conclude that the previous generations turned out just fine.

Technology more specifically the computer tends to fill in this for those with access(I worry at the thought that the Gods might soon rule this world as well), but from the rest, very few have a chance.

What fails to be recognized, is the fact that potential is developed with nurture, which is made of the twins – emotional and intellectual. There is no science or art, which can be felt and understood without the help of these two.

Yet we hail one and forget the other – making the other one angry. It doesn’t take a genius to notice this. There is a need to heal ourselves. The cunning of exploiters cannot be culled unless every child born in the world, smiles with innocence and feels the warmth of love.

Every war wagged and every man, woman and child suppressed yesterday has led to a situation where  even as a few of us use our intellect for better purpose, others are led into watersheds of hell.

It is time we start exercising, if we do not, tomorrow it our body that will crumble and we will be the suffers. While wisdom can guide, it is the same people with wisdom, who at times seem to stand in our way- no one is right, no one is wrong, but to us the future belongs, remember.

P.S:- These are just my views. You can disagree with it/add to it 🙂 I am always willing to learn 🙂

Inheriting the world- a candid view

Can we refuse to inherit? No we can’t. Unfortunately.

I am an 18 year, who probably is more sensitive to the world around me than others of my age. When I first heard someone tell me, that my gen. is the hope of the future, I felt happy. That was back then, when I was a 15 year(?) old, when the world seemed a novel place.

Reality(or whatever little of it, i have seen) has a pretty bad influence. Of late, I feel even more pessimistic than usual. Maybe I tend to romanticism too much, but having provided for that, still, the picture looks pretty pathetic.

You see, there are very few who are sensitive to the world in general. And it makes no sense for us(I think I am part of the few), to  just talk among ourselves and discuss. True our India has an “argumentative tradition” (as Sen puts it) but today we no more have rulers who are capable enough of understanding the arguments.

You see, democracy is supposed to empower us. It is supposed to give us voice and supposed to make us a part of the nation. But text books can be pretty misleading(of course if you notice the larger picture, it really isn’t- why are kids supposed to mug? Why are they not given reasons? Marks, teachers, parents, right to talk? hmpf.) and I am sure it has been a pretty sour welcome to reality for many.

Not that I expected anything great.  I set my expectations, as low as possible and yet, things keep hitting new lows. I am doing a professional course and yet I cannot expect professionalism in the institute(I shall keep away from that for now). I go to an esteemed college, where, contrary to the name, there is no Ananda(or a canteen at least to the level of Ananda Bhavan).

See I don’t even need to go to the good parts- politics, global warming, discrimination at various degrees etc. I can choose anything I want and well show you how screwed up it is.

I probably am too tired to write about those many many things which I care about. Now I actually  try to ignore stuff. But I am someone who has learnt to be sensitive to issues. But to what vain?

Inspite of all that, we need to enjoy life. You know what? After a certain while, you get used to these things. Screw expectations, if the system is sucky, you too can make it suck. After all it is just another drop of water. If you want to stand out try adding poison. No one is going to question it. Maybe I am being candid, but hell this is reality, right?

You and me blog and tweet and what not, yet do you think the poachers or the tigers are going to listen to you and me? I do. But I also know they don’t. Do you think the terrorists(of all kinds) give a damn? They have been brainwashed enough. A post, my friend is not going to teach them.

Reality is where you suck up to people and get things done. Hell ya. See thinking of others is a forbidden sin, after all no one gives a damn about you. This is a good old rant, I guess. But I think, I deserve a chance to say these things. And well, seeing the size of the post, I can guarantee myself that most people will see the cartoon and skim through the post and skip to comments, so I can be assured no one is going to give me any sympathy.

Sympathy does us no good. See a fellow sold a movie with sympathy. We are meant to build careers and go on. We enjoy it by having cars/cameras etc. It is better to live in your own shell and wade off invaders. Maybe I should withdraw into mine and not give a hoot, I would love to, but I know I cannot.

I probably care too much. I am trying to learn. But I cannot be a hypocrite. I thought my thoughts were on the right track and maybe they are. But then who cares for what I think? Today we have wonderful people ruling us. I am happy Chennai is a safe city. We hopefully won’t have communal violence here and since it is supposedly conservative, the Senas(or is it padais?) won’t find room here. Try chastising Mylapore and you will been smeared in vibuthi (ash), topped with a namam.

This is another bloody long post. I am happy, I can do this. This goes in line with those conditions apply sort of thing. No one has read it and yet it is out there for everyone to read. This is therapy as well. I feel sort of better. But am still uneasy. After all why do I care? I say I don’t care, yet somewhere in there I care.

I set out believing that the world is good. Now I know the world is good, but the people are too good. I am happy that I have a few friends who can put up with my abject thinking. Abject because, senses and brains are meant for rote learning and yes for feeling pathetic when a person whom you do not know has marked you low.

For those who have been reading my poetry, all this might seem expected. And you probably already know, that I will keep fighting, simply because I am me. Poetry is one of the few joys in this world. IF not for that, I doubt if sanity will ever embrace me.

I recluse to this world, where my thoughts are transformed into unseeable things and spread among humanity in signals. This place is sort of where I belong. But the way I belong to a place never changes- known to everyone, yet very few pay attention. No I am not complaining.

I love to be myself. I find happiness is being me. I know, I know, this has gone out of control. How I wish I had not inherited this world. But hey! at least I should try to make it better for the future right? Peace sounds cool. But you adults are never going to settle for it. After all Europe/Washington is cool enough right? Try Chennai it is hot, you will love it, complete with Molaga Bajji.

Let us face it, all this is too good to be true. We like entertainment. We are selfish. I am- I want to be known in this world. I like to be appreciated and yes I take criticism seriously, because I believe it to be constructive. I think I am a nice guy, especially when you are nice to me. I will do anything for you, as long as I can trust you.

So, whatever. This is a rant, so guess, it ends with a bunch of smileys, showing that all is well. And am not going to edit this. Spellings, grammar and whatever can go hang it self. Carpe diem!

😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀

Republic Day

I know, I know, I am about 23 hours late to post it. But I had to think, contemplate about what to post.

Should I post my million smileys and a few patriotic videos? Should I represent the two-sided development story. Should I talk about poverty, farmer suicides and buffer stocks? Should I talk about freedom and people power or should I talk about how human rights problems exist.

Should I talk about our wonderful history and the unity or should I talk about communalism, racism, sectarianism and hatred for each other? Should I talk about the Indian cricket team or about the state of hockey? Should I talk about the tigers or about cows and dogs? Should I talk about terrorism or the BPO story? Should I talk about our wonderful culture or about the pseudo-culturalists who don’t understand even as much as I do?

Should I talk about our democracy or about corruption? Should I talk about the wonders of our media or about the underground world? Should I talk about the men and women who protect the country or about those who wear white clothes and launder black money?

I can, we can talk about all that and much more. That’s what defines India.

India- a name which inspires,
a name which nationalizes,
a name which dominates,
a name which Induces,
the symbol of alacrity,
a name which we salute
and which we will unmute,
through our flute,
the power of youth.

Symbolism synchronising dances,
The cheerful voices with faith,
All in respect of the omni present.
Like the lotus blooming at the sun,
Every heart sensing the riches and love
Of our evergreen culture. The will
To work at the highest zenith, powered
By the songs of everness; to protect
Her, the daring protectors; to connect
The super natural to the mortals, the
Men of prayers; to richen her wealth
The sellers; welcome aliens to the
Land of nirvana and peace.
Giving’s personification, the power of will,
Theories existing’s discovery minds.
Harnessing the universe, building life,
Creator’s homeland, the lap of luxury,
A man’s dream place of birth.
The power of unknown’s life
Enfolded in you, pride of our Mother, India
Bharata gauravaya namaha.

A nation is made of people,
and as the pillars of a nation,
we need to first indulge in contemplation,
once done,
our true progress will begin.
So let us join hands
and cause the change,
let us walk together,
to make our nation and world better.

I love my country,
no i can’t hide.
It is so lovely and divine.
i am proud to an Indian
a true gift for all life.
It is too sweet and
nice-i feel child like.
I love all in it and all
with it.Name of centuries
imbibed in one-it is
my mother land-
INDIA AND I AM AN INDIAN.

JAI HIND!

Something about me

This probably has become a habit now. Sunday afternoon posts. There is something comforting about it(though it doesn’t fetch many comments). Today I am going to write something about me.

ASPIRE, is the word. Now what do I aspire to be? The way I talk , people think I have it all figured out. So here is the truth- I haven’t figured out anything.

True, I am doing CA(about 100 days to go for the exam *sigh), but well I am not really into the idea of working as one.  I am doing it because otherwise I will be wasting my time with B.Com alone. Of course, not that formal education is going to turn me into Bill Gates.

SO what do I want to be? Well, when I was a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut, but that seems pretty far away, especially since I am in the commerce stream(you can make my day, by telling me, how I can still become one). Some how the idea of flying in an almost surreal world, combined with views of swargaloka(though I had figured out,even back then, that it didn’t exist) , comets and planets, captivated my imagination.

I used to be left to my own devices. In a world of “big kids” and  adults, I usually found day dreaming and imagining more fun. Superman and Spiderman, were never my favorites, simple because they had too much to do with humans. I preferred my own characters and turned even the most mundane object into something awesome.

I used to rearrange chairs and make the nether world beneath tables and beds my cool crafts. In short I wanted to be a superhero, but with another dimension- I wanted to be up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky.

Some how I have always felt more comfortable, in my own world. People who know the gregarious me , will be surprised. After all, I keep making friends(and ‘enemies’ so to speak) all the time. But behind that there is that love for being in my own world. And probably that is why, I have never feared any God, as such- I saw the idols as “fun people to play with” and used to think of new wars and stories.

And I used to be shy(The change probably came during the summer of 2007 and of course blogging, but more about it later)- I couldn’t stand being blindfolded(those games at kiddy parties) or being too far away from people I knew. There is a gap of six years between me and my sister, so that probably, added my preference for playing alone.

Building blocks were a strong favourite. I probably would have made will make a very good architect. The scope they offer along with their definite proportions is overwhelming. Only wish I had bigger blocks to build now.

We have a swing at home. And I have never fell down from a swing. For others it might be horses and ponies, for me it is swings.I came up with a variety of polo- cycle polo(among myriad others) The opposition- chairs, tables and anything/anyone in my way.

Imagination changes everything. It gives you a lot of freedom, blank walls become carpets of history and thoughts, the sky holds animals  and people.

I was and still am a very cautious person. I never take on anything head first. I see, I analyse and then act. People around me can make fun of me, but I analysed how to walk on walls way before any of my class mates did, I am sure. Walls offer a great way to practise balance.

Walking around the perimeter of my house and imaging all sort of opponents and ways to fight them. I think I have fallen from a wall, only once, that too, when I tried to get down hurriedly, for some unknown reason but then again, that probably is it. I hate making big mistakes and make sure they never happen again(?).

My judgement is mostly right, because as I said, I never get into something without thinking about it. The only place where my prognosis might be wrong, is here, the blogging world. It still hurts to think that my idea failed to materialise.

I am a bad loser. I cannot stand losing. And yet success in competitions, exams and even sports, has eluded me. I set high standards (probably too high, thanks to being the hero in my small little world) and when the bubble broke, I used to feel very very low.

True to my sun sign, I can very emotional, sensitive, while in fact I seem the contrary. And that has given a sort of “emotional photographic memory”. Colours have always fascinated me(my mom will tell you, that she had to teach me “white”, because I refused to accept white to be white, I am very tenacious) and though I am not all that great at drawing, I like to doodle.

Cricket cards and cricket. I remember the vigour with which we used to collect those things. When I grew older, it was replaced with cards, but it was cricket at least till I was 9-10. The only part of cricket I still like is bowling. I like anything which can be made to act under my spell. Batting is no fun, I probably got no where in cricket, because I refused to play forward defence in my coaching class(much much later).

Watching. Trains, autos, sky, construction etc. Sitting quietly and observing things, is second nature to me. And questioning when I don’t understand is first. While now I can articulate and describe it, back then, I think I understood that a lot of effort goes into it and felt that everything could be figured out. The element here is, that things can be moulded and can fit in.

I am already approaching the 1000 words mark, but these are things which I love to recount. Someone questioned me a few years back(on one of my poems), how can someone so young write such stuff. To me and probably to people who have seen me grow up, it has never been a surprise. I enjoy thinking, watching, observing and most of all creating.

From Drop Box

I started to write much later. But writing is a sum of all those things which I used to love doing, which I cannot do now because of various reasons. It is my shell, where I can hide, it is where I am the hero again and where things cement and mould into each other, the way I want.

The paint will stain the walls in the angles I want and the sky is probably not that high. unlike other kids, I never wanted to be a doctor when I saw one, an engineer or a teacher, I wanted to be an astronaut and I believed it was possible and still do.

I learnt history, tales and fables and politics through my grand dad. That probably is the reason, why I never struggled in social science like others- I knew them already and to me, they were plays being performed in my head. India in my head, was a fantastic idea, it was a passion and something which we fought for and got it. It is our home and we belong here.

Yet time has disrupted that view. More than time, it is people. I still have the belief in my dreams. I still believe India can be much more, India can be the best. But it is the people. And that is the element, which though I understand a lot about, I fail to understand one thing- the need to be caught in a box. Or maybe I am.

But one thing is for sure. What I want to be, What I really want to be , What I really really want to be, is , a writer. And I am one. It doesn’t matter if no one reads what I write. I have always been the hero. The skies and the walls and the chairs and my friends are there for me. That is why I say, I write for myself.

It probably is a wall, erected to block the disappointment of not being what I imagined what I write will bring to me, but it has a door. You can knock, I am waiting.

P.S:- The post should tell you one more thing about me- I can be random and let my thinking cleave it’s own path.

Hopeless-hagen

Googling- hagen means noble boy. Well the nobel boys(and girls) of the world, sat down to discuss and (try)  agree upon some common measures. Well it didn’t take a genius to predict the inevitable-nothing positive has come out of it.

Sure, globalization means that we the people of the world, with our wonderful rights to speech, voiced our despair; But no one heard us. Maybe, as the Delhi CM said, when asked about the Commonwealth games, let us pray.

The Accord by the way is this(click on the link to read it). And the flaws just present themselves to you, unless of course,  you don’t happen to understand English. This clearly shows that no one gives a damn. I had mentioned in the podcast, that a solution is going to be tough to arrive at and also discussed some of the problems- well pity our leaders, seem to crying over spilt milk and more bothered about other things- this shows we still cannot see ourselves as humans first.

I am not going to write a huge post, about this, mainly because those who read my blog are clever enough to understand things anyway, but I agree to most of what he has to say.

Recently, I went for a debate, where the topic was ” Climate change a conspiracy against the developing world” and well it seems true now. I had talked about in my podcast- pledging money etc, shows us that the “West” is still after control over the others.

The US portrays itself as a champion of modern “free” values, but it is the main culprit(or so it seems). If you are so wise, why don’t you just set some examples? We have enough hypocrites here and we know how you people work, so if you give a damn about “global warming”(  when your cities are covered in two feet of ice), then you better start doing some work.

Transfer of technology and establishing a fund sounds great, but where is the technology? And USD 100 billion? You mean, that the developing world needs only that much to change, when your companies need more to bail themselves out?

Shifting the burden on the developing world is fine, but the main aim here is to try to provide a square meal a day to our entire population, providing gainful employment(how about cleaning the environment?) etc. If you indeed have the technology, why aren’t you already using it?

I have already mentioned(in my podcast) that this is not about saving Earth, but this is about saving humanity. But the treats are apparently not visible to many. Whether the scientific results are true or not is a question, this is a critical issue. Yesterday we fought over our resources, today we fight over who religion and sects , tomorrow we will be fighting over our waste.

And rationing the amount of energy a person can use is absurdity. Unfortunately we(who have the technology and the rest) use (and emit) more than those who are living in refugee camps and fighting for survival. Maybe as a specie, we will survive through this. But it is not about that, we are talking about living-as “the most intelligent race”, we deserve better(?). Unfortunately, there seems to be a lack of humanism among our leaders.

The way forward- come up with “green technology” for the primary industries first- no drying(and polluted) rivers is not going to help reduce the amount of water in the ocean. If nuclear is the way forward, then well better start using to produce energy, before Uncle Sam decides he can’t answer questions and throws one at us, to shut us up and as for the nuclear waste, well I am sure the deserts make a very good dumping yard(hope you get the sarcasm).

Maybe manufacturing goods which last long( just try your international brands here, to make a washing machine work for more than a year, you need waste about  Rs.5000, make calls, threaten to sue etc) and follow some basic norms. Improving public  transportation facilities will help( seeing people hanging from foot boards isn’t let’s say isn’t going to make me take a bus!) and also reducing traffic jams will help. Planting more trees in urban areas, will help lower the temperature(caused due to concrete and metal) and reduce the need for ACs.

I did feel that dividing industries among countries(to avoid duplication of resources), might be a solution, but then it has many flaws. One thing is for sure- time to see ourselves as humans first and the rest.

Well to end this post ,let me quote  Shelley–

Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!

Happy Children’s Day

Since blogger’s who are younger than me, don’t seem to exist(put your hands up if you are one) , as a handsome young thing, I want a gift from all my reader’s. Just remember to cross check and make sure you don’t get me the same thing as someone else(you are welcome to discuss the gift in my comment section) 😀

And well all you adults out there(for 24 hrs I am kid), Don’t worry you are still a child, or at least your mom will tell you so. If not you’re a child at heart, you can start crying when someone scolds you. So Happy Children’s Day.

And well it’s supposed to be Nehru’s birthday let’s not forget. So is the Congress Government going to give gifts and hold a party for the entire nation? Why not? Make sweets for the entire nation, maybe for once we all can eat sweets, when there is no food? See you give sweets today and when the kids grow up they will vote for you. That is effective bribing or one for the future.

Quite crude, I guess. But don’t worry, once Rahul become’s our PM, we will have a Teenagers’ day. Yay! Not the one where we can’t sing our national song but the one where our tobacco industry lives only on exports(really bad bad me). But let us not be mistaken, we should have a common language by then. I am planning to invent one.

Goooo goo gaaa giii – that’s happy children’s day. Gaa? Giigeek?

Hmm..What is that a free domain for 100 years?

I thought the world was supposed to end by 2012. Don’t make people richer unnecessarily. And well I am too bugged of working on photoshop for two continuous days, so no banners and yes I think my blog is banned in China *sigh* , so again,

HAPPY CHILDREN’S DAY EVERYONE 🙂 Get yourself a big rose, on my behalf(after you have sent me my gift 😛 ).

THE ARGUMENTATIVE INDIAN BY AMARTYA SEN(book review)

A wonderful, awesome, spectacular book. Each and every one of the fifteen essays is worth your time and lends a different perspective into India.

I love the way Sen writes and also the way he explains his views. The book was educational to say the least; It talks about how India and its “Argumentative tradition”  played and still plays a part in development, science, art, literature etc. The illustrations and examples drawn across various epochs lend clarity and force the arguments home.

According to me it is a must read, especially today, where our Unity seems threatened because of sectarianism in politics(so much so that it has started to spill over on to the internet, even in youtube!). India is a nation which has come forward because of its diversity and also because it has had space for people to question tradition and explore other alternatives(blandly put, there are no stakes for people who dare to oppose) and of course its ever evolving culture.

And to keep the review short, I agree with William Darlymple(his remark about the book, printed on the cover),

” One of the most stimulating books about India to be written in ages”.

It has indeed made me realize many things about India, its people and culture, but sadly such books are never going to be read by the masses and we can forget about such ideas being presented to them.

Rating- 10/10

Image from here.