Book Review: Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India by William Dalrymple

Its been almost a year now that I have started reading books again. Made sure that I touched upon the writers never read or heard before. It gives a good perspective when one engages oneself in the thoughts that is put into writing. Questioning, Understanding and Differing views gives an understanding of the larger picture. 

When I decided to read this book, I had no idea what it was all about. I had heard only about the author William Dalrymple but nothing to gloat.

I have to say that I did not know that there exists different types of writers. Mostly what I have read was mostly fiction, biography, etc. but never a travel book. This was my first travel book.

India is rich in diversity, culture and so many stories to tell. Religion plays an important part in our daily lives and this book offers us a peek into the lives of people who dedicate their lives to God wholeheartedly and ask for nothing more.

It stuck me how little we know of them who are only revered during religious ceremonies. I have to say the author did a pretty good job reminding us about the hardships, dedication and ways of life to live. 

It reflects upon on the lives of nine such individuals who found their calling in God.

I could relate to the story of the Theyyam dancer having witnessed Bhuta Kola up close which is similar to it. What I did not know was the back story of these dancers that I came to know through this book.

We think we know all about religion/God but its the lives that has been touched upon have the tales to tell.

The glimpse into the life of a girl who always knew she wanted to become a monk, wandered places, learned the ways to live and it was the passing of her friend that led her to question and then on the path of Sallekhana.

It's intriguing to see the author ask them about their choices, the path they walked on and to an outsider that gives a lot of insight into their lives.

Among the nine lives, its the narrative of Manisha Ma Bhairavi, the Bauls & Tibetan monk that makes an interesting read.

I have to say that I at times find the author too excessively describing the surroundings which did made me wonder if that was needed.

Nonetheless each interaction with the nine lives makes you think the path they walked on, the road less traveled and the kind of determination and dedication shown all in the name of God.

I will recommend this book to anyone who wants to explore the facets of these lives who remain invisible to our naked eyes and come to prominence only when we need the presence of our higher calling.

Suicides

The first time when I heard someone saying “suicide” was during my class tenth, when one of my friends told me that one of our classmates had committed suicide. That guy used to sit besides me.

I wondered what prompted him to take such a drastic step even as the results were still to be declared.

The thought evaporated over the years but comes back as I read or hear about people committing suicides through the newspapers or news channel. The number of people committing suicides has gone up and some of the reasons may even baffle you.

Growing up, we are all taught the winning ways but are left alone when faced with a setback. Has the society reached to such a level that failures are simply not acceptable? As it is said “Success has many fathers, Failure has none”.

Committing Suicide is like taking the easy way out. Not facing the people who keep reminding you that you have failed, lost your job, are unemployed and other numerous taunts that becomes unbearable for some. Has the tolerance level of today’s individual’s stoop so low that they just cannot accept failure and try again?

No one can really understand the predicament of such an individual who contemplates such thoughts or is it that we never try to when they try to reach us out?

People today have become so closed-up that some of them actually think twice before they lay their bare chest open. The love between the family members, friends and others are hardly shown and are kept for occasions only. It needs to be shown everyday in forms of hugs, words and support to show that there are people who care for you so that they can reach out to them when they need the support and help.

No wonder it leaves many people stumped when they hear someone they knew commit suicide as they had never saw it coming.

Suicides by celebrities evoke the same shock as behind the glam life; one could never see the true emotions hidden behind the face. The truth is, there are always signs to see if one can observe it, an individual who thinks about taking such a drastic step often shows withdrawal symptoms which is in contrast to their personalities.

Life is all about living and not about running away when one finds themselves in troubled waters. We need to learn living through our bad times as we do in our good times.

Nothing lasts forever.

It’s just a phase which either makes you realize something you haven’t or gives you enough strength so that you can bounce back, but for that to happen one has to try.

Problems come and go, but life once gone cannot come back again.

Before taking that big step, one should think about their loved ones and what would they be put up through…

Call of the Void

I have a confession to make. I am afraid of heights.

Albeit it was not like that always. I have stood on the edge on the roof and was able to look down. It was in college when I realized I had height issues.

Strange as it sounds having a tall height and short railings would make sure that I stood a feet away instead of being on the edge.

A few years back, it took a worse hit when I visited a place where interior was taking place. Standing on the 12th floor, I was not able to look down and when I sat on a bed next to an open wall without window, railings with hardly a few distance.

As I walked towards the bed and looked outside, I had this voice in my mind prompting me to jump out of the window. As weird as it sounds I did not pay any heed to it but I did ponder on it on the back of my mind why would such a thought would come to my mind?

I had completely forgotten about until it happened again.

Strange, a voice inside your head telling you to jump and there is no coming back from it. Why would one think in such a way? Was the subconscious at play? Trying to telling something? Was it all a figment of imagination for all to begin with?

There were no answers.

Did my own sanity saved the day for me? Made me think about those people jumping from high-rise buildings, did they listened to that voice in their mind as their own and took the step...

I had confided about this to a family member. A few days ago they told me that one of their friends also experienced such an incident and apparently it has a name.

Its called "Call of the Void" or as they say in French "l’appel du vide".

Studies have been conducted to understand this phenomenon but there has not been a complete breakthrough on why the mind would say something that would end up hurting or killing yourself?

It is very normal to happen and can happen to people with no history of depression, mental illness, suicidal tendencies, etc.

If you’re among those who experience the call of the void, it’s usually nothing to worry about. It’s just one of those interesting, mildly scary, not-yet-fully-understood weird tricks of the brain that a lot of people experience (Source).

There is so much to know and so little we know. I would quote from the X-Files "The truth is out there" which pretty much sums it all.

The sad part is not everyone knows about this. Call of the void is a real thing and it would certainly help to make others aware especially those who are hearing those voices.

You may refer below links in case you want to know more:

Link 1
Link 2

Ram Bharose

"What do you mean by names don't match? I have given you my pan card and adhar card that reflects my name only. I have given them across for other KYC & account opening. What do you mean by name is not matching? No one has ever come back to me once. How can you say name is not matching?" thundered John Alex Stalin on his cellphone.

The bank executive Ram Bharose listened to John and said "I know Sir but as per the new rules put in place. Your government photo id cards full names should match. Your middle name is not matching."

"What the fuck do you mean its not matching? My middle is written in both "Alex Stalin". Are you guys blind not to see? screamed John.

"Sir, I know. Your pan card mentions John Stalin but your adhar card states John Alex Stalin. There is a middle name mismatch." said Ram Bharose.

John shook his head, his hand touching his forehead as he walked up & down the hall "Arre Ram Bharose, woh pan card ke second line ka naam mere abba ka hain na!!" 

"Sir, nahi chalta na, usse first line hona chaiye tha, jaise apka Adhar card main hain. Aap naya pan card kyu nahi banate?"

By this time John is huffing & puffing down the hall unable "Ram Bharose". "Yes Sir". "Tu ek kaam kar woh jo application hain usse aag laga de, nahi toh ek kaam kar usse fadkar dust bin main daal de. Nahi kholna mujhe koi account" he thundered.

"Sir, aap to bura..." is what John got hear as he disconnected the call.

Leela appeared hearing his screams as John's cheeks went red with rage. "That fellow says aapka middle name galat hain. Bolta hain baap ka naam missing hain"

Hearing it Leela started laughing as she sat besides John in her attempt to try and console him.

Seeing her laugh he got more enraged and said "You find this funny? You see how I teach them a lesson. I will tweet this to their CEO on twitter. Phir dekhta hu kaise middle name mismatch dekhta hain"

"Why taking so much stress? Just give him na what he wants and khatam karo. Baat ko chewing gum ke tarah kheech ke kya kar loge"

"Leela, you don't understand. Somebody has to stand to their idiotic demands. Where is it written that full name should match in all government ids? ID main photo nahi dekhta kya?

"John, do you really think you can argue with fools? Tumko lagta hain isse desh badal jayega. I am telling you, just give them what they want and leave it" All John could do was fume at her.

Two days later as John & Leela were having their cup of tea, John received a call and the voice over the other end said "Sir, Ram Bharose bola raha hu. Apne twitter main complaint...."

Leela watched his expressions changed to rage as he cringed and listened. She asked him who it was and he loudly said "Ram Bharose!!!"

Tinder, Ok Cupid...

"I am tried of this finding a wife shit. I am starting to feel that matrimonial sites have fake profiles just to lure us into joining them." complained Nikhil.

"If things go like this, then we will only get Aunties for marriage" Wasim said as both the uncles laughed.

"I have now given up on the idea of getting married, I will live a single life, travel and do whatever I want to do. Maaja ne life jiva nu.(lead a happy life)  Nikhil said into his cellphone.

"What about old age? who is going to look after you? Family family hoti hain baki sab gair hote hain (Family is family, no one else is going to look after) taunted Waism.

"You mean to say that I should get married so that there is someone to take care of me in my old age? Bas yeh reason ke liye shaadi kar lu" (So I should get married for this reason) He asked as his voice grew louder followed by silence on the other end.

"Bas yehi bolna tha??" (This what you had to say) he asked Wasim again. Again there was no reply. "Hello, so gaya kya" (Hello, have you fallen asleep) Nikhil asked.

"Sex" the other voice said. Nikhil thought he heard wrong "Kya?" (What) he countered.

"Sex. men marry for sex. Woh bhi lifetime free." (Men marry for sex as its lifetime free) Hearing this Nikhil responded "Tu bola raha hain jo bhi aadmi shaadi karte hain, woh sirf aur sirf sex ke liye karte hain!!"(You mean to say guys only get married for sex) "Arre nahi rahin. Love marriage ho toh apne choice ki. Arrange ho toh jo mila so..." (No, If its love marriage, its your choice and in arrange marriage, one has to make do with what they get)

"Abe tu kya bol raha tujhe pata bhi hain kya" (Do you even know what you are talking about) he retorted. Wasim listened to him patiently and said "Tu samjah nahi re. Woh Bipasha ka movie dailogue hain na Yeh jism pyaar karna nahi jaanta. jaanta hai toh sirf jism ki bhookh. Woh yaad aagaya tha isliye bol diya" (You are not understanding. You rememer that Bipasha's movie dailogue. The body knows no love, it knows only hunger. Remembered that hence said it)

"Lekin zindagi main ek hum rahi ki zarorat toh sabko padti hain. Yeh baat aur hain ki hum usse parivar agae badana, bacche paida karneka naam dete hain. (Everyone needs a companion. Its a different matter that we say to do it in the name of carrying family name forward, to have kids..)

"Wah babaji wah. Aaj subah subah coffee ki jagah kuch aur toh nahi mari thi na?" laughingly Nikhil asked. (You are great Babaji. Instead of coffee, you did not had anything else right?)

"Tu meri sunta nahin hain. Mera saath rahega toh shikh lega" (You never listen to me. You will learn if you stay with me) said Wasim pulling his leg.

"Toh Wasim Baba, hum dono ki iss samasya ka koi upay hain?" (So Wasim Baba, do you have any solution for our problem?)

"Kuch nahi balak. Jo pryas tum shaadi.com aur jeevansaathi main kar rahe ho, wohi tumhe tinder, bumble, ok cupid aur market main ek naya app aaya hain uss pe karna hain. Safalta zaroor tumhari gale padegi" (You just keep doing what you are doing. You know have to do the same on dating apps like tinder, bumble, ok cupid and there is a new dating app you should try. Success will come to you) Wasim said and both had a hearty laugh.

That evening Nikhil was fiddling with his phone when he remembered his conversation with Wasim. He went to the play store downloaded the app, filled his details and tried his luck on it as he swiped left & right...

P.S.; This was suppose to come a week before Valentine but its never too late.

You can also shop at Amazon below for:

Valentines Cushion Cover
Romantic Love Cards
Swarovski Crystal Neckalce Titanic Blue
RED Hoodie with White Print: Faith Hope Love
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Big Boss Big Boss

Radhika was watching the whole fiasco as both Manoj & Rahul were arguing in the meeting. Atul, the manager who had called up the meeting was a mute spectator.

Seeing them fight gave her headaches, she wished if there was a mute mode like on the tv remote control she could activate. She did that every time Sidharth Shukla & Asim Riaz Choudhary started their non stop verbal duels.

Back in her mind, she was wondering who was Sidharth & Asim among the two of them. Even as they were been pacified by others and in midst of it Atul would speak out which would evoke no response. 

Somehow the meeting ended and as she moved towards her desk she felt Rahul was more of a Asim as he was aaraaraar damn irritating as Salman Khan would say in Big Boss season 13. He would constantly push everyone around to get his work done and would poke endlessly to make his point.

As she sat at her desk, Jyoti grabbed a chair near her and said "Aaj toh kuch zyada hi ho gaya, Atul sirf suno suno karta rahegya" "Chhod na Asim aise hi hamesha poke karte raheta hain" Radhika replied.

"Asim"?? Jyoti said looking at her amusingly. "I am talking about Rahul". "Yes, Rahul only. He reminds me of Asim from Big Boss". 

"Big Boss??" Jyoti questioned. "You dont watch it? this season is good. I am also watching it for the first time only". She said.

"Yaha pe apne masale sulajhte nahin aur tu big boss dekhte hain, wah wah" Jyoti laughed and went away. 'Masale', that is the word that Mahira Sharma would use in the show Radhika recollected.

As she deep dived into her work, her attention was again broken by the raised voice of Rahul. She could see Rahul poking Manoj at his desk while some choose to ignore, others tried to intervene.

She looked at them wondering who they would be, had they been on Big Boss. One by one she was able to relate them to the remaining contestants Paras Chhabra, Rashami Desai, Shenaz Kaur Gill, Mahira Sharma & Arti Singh. 

Manoj had to be the Sidharth Shukla as he was the one who would always have logical answers & would be there for this team.

Happy that she was able to find her big boss within her own department, she went back to her work. 

Minutes later, her eyes went wide as she thought of herself and the character she will play on the show and who would be Big Boss?

Realization dawned on her that she would be the "camera" as she would see everything but would only show what she wanted to. That is what happens when one is second in command.

"Atul has called us both in his cabin" Rahul said to Manoj as they both walked towards it. 

Hearing it Radhika smiled and got back to her work. The mystery of Big Boss stood resolved.

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Book Review: Serious Men by Manu Joseph

If you have read about my last to last book review, you will understand that when one is reading books from unknown/new writers its kind of a gamble not knowing how the ride is going to be.

Till now, it has been good and it just got better with the book "Serious Men" by Manu Joseph. 

Every author has their own writing style. A way of telling the story which keeps one enthrall, engrossed in the book or might not. The writing styles also gives an insight on the intellect of the author and the undertones played by the words. This one certainly makes one think about it.

The story is about a father Ayyan Mani who along with his son plays a game in the surroundings of the BDD chawl, institute of theory & research & the society. Will his game be exposed? Will he give up before his last move or will he be on top of it?

Every story telling has a beginning, middle & end but this one stands out with a different approach that I have come across.

One of the beauty of the book is that as one reads into it, it leads you in the life of Ayyan Mani in such a subtle way that one becomes engrossed into it. 

It takes one into the world of science through its nuances that one actually forgets the main plot and wonder if they are reading about the science world. One is left wondering about making alien contact.

The author also take a dig at the casteist society of ours in a pun way that is hilarious.

I ensured that I had Google nearby to me every time I came across a word that I have never heard before. The last time I remember doing that was of me making attempts to read Charles Dicken's Oliver Twist (which I have & yet not read).

The word melancholy seems to be the author's favorite word as it has been repeated all over the book.

The book stands out in many ways wherein it appears like a puzzle to decipher the main plot of the book. One might find themselves lost if the do not read into the hints given by the author. It stands out in many ways with the approach of story telling.

The open-ended climax certainly keeps one guessing.

Looking forward to read more books by the author.

Its recommended as a must read!!

P.S: One can buy the book from Amazon on https://amzn.to/30Z35p2