Can Love Happen Twice.

The first book was an instant best-seller- the heart wrenching real life story of a guy who lost his girl in a cruel twist of fate days before their engagement.  It was a fairy-tale that begun in the most unexpected of fashions and ended in the most unexpected of ways.  The book was written simply.  Ravinder Singh never had great writing skills.  But perhaps it was the simplicity with which he had penned the book- the fact that as readers we felt each and every moment and could relate to almost everything- that made it special. 

When word got he was releasing a second book, I admit I was most excited.  When I finally got my hands on it, I was apprehensive, wondering what was in store now.  The back-cover claims it’s an emotional roller-coaster.  I must say, they could never have been more wrong.  From the word go, the book is a disappointment.  As big a disappointment as the first one was extraordinary.  Extremely low writing skills, a narrative lacking the mesmerising element that was the characteristic of the first one, loose characterisation, predictable plot to the T- everything that could go wrong has gone. 

From the story point of view, there isn’t anything new.  Ravinder Singh is more or less trying to capitalise on the fan-following he gathered after the success of his first book.  The book follows the same plot- boy meets girl, they fall in love, and everything’s going good before the expected plunge in relationship.  Everything goes downhill, except this time, the girl only leaves him (break-up).  The only difference, this time, the ending has a happy note to it.

The story starts with the three friends (Ramji, M.P and Happy) getting together at Chandigarh Airport.  They are to attend a special late-night show at a prominent f.m station along with Ravin.  But Ravin doesn’t turn up.  The three friends start reading from Ravin’s incomplete second book, and thus we get a second peek into Ravin’s life.  Ravin (as Ravinder Singh calls himself) has an irritating obsession with himself, and sometimes I feel he has been trying extra hard to develop a hero image for himself.  From calling his first book a masterpiece to calling himself Chandigarh’s favourite author (or something like that), he has done it all.  Perhaps the only reason Penguin decided to publish this one was because I too had a love story had been such a big hit.  Otherwise, for an author with such unattractive writing skills, I don’t see him getting to see the light of day.  On read-o-meter, I would give this book a 1.5/10.  Read it only if you don’t have anything else to read.  Avoid if you can.  It somewhat takes the sheen off I Too Had A Love Story.      

The Anna Phenomenon: India Against Corruption.

I thought it was the stuff of novels.  Mob frenzy, popular revolution, the rulers cornered.  Then it happened in the Arab World, with some high profile casualties.  And now, it’s knocking on our door-steps.  Well, now that is interesting.  Anna Hazare has managed to do what no Indian managed after Mahatma Gandhi- galvanise an entire nation.  But the question’s there: Was it really required?  Was the situation so grave that deliberation and discussion, debate and following the normal course of law could not have served the purpose?  Most frenzied people gripped with Anna Phenomenon would answer with an affirmative.  But I believe otherwise.  And with this, I want to make a point here.  I am NOT AGAINST LOKPAL or JAN LOKPAL.  No.  I am merely amused by this Anna Phenomenon, how people have reacted to it, and my own view of the issue.

But before I embark upon a passionate blog, for the convenience of all those who have apparently lost their ability to think and are repeating and believing only what they see on news channels, read in newspapers, a quick over-view of both the versions of Lokpal so that we can once again ask ourselves- Is it really needed? (Skip if you’re not interested, cause it’s not really in a nutshell, though not as detailed as I would have liked.  I believe being a Political Science student has given me a certain edge.  Anyway, for a better understanding of the issue at hand, do go through it.  The rest, as they say, is up to you)

Some important features of the proposed bill are:

1.    To establish a central government anti-corruption institution called Lokpal, supported by Lokayukta at the state level.

2.    As in the case of the Supreme Court and Cabinet Secretariat, the Lokpal will be supervised by the Cabinet Secretary and the Election Commission. As a result, it will be completely independent of the government and free from ministerial influence in its investigations.

3.    Members will be appointed by judges, Indian Administrative Service officers with a clean record, private citizens and constitutional authorities through a transparent and participatory process.

4.    A selection committee will invite shortlisted candidates for interviews, videorecordings of which will thereafter be made public.

5.    Every month on its website, the Lokayukta will publish a list of cases dealt with, brief details of each, their outcome and any action taken or proposed. It will also publish lists of all cases received by the Lokayukta during the previous month, cases dealt with and those which are pending.

6.    Investigations of each case must be completed in one year. Any resulting trials should be concluded in the following year, giving a total maximum process time of two years.

7.    Losses caused to the government by a corrupt individual will be recovered at the time of conviction.

8.    Government officework required by a citizen that is not completed within a prescribed time period will result in Lokpal imposing financial penalties on those responsible, which will then be given as compensation to the complainant.

9.    Complaints against any officer of Lokpal will be investigated and completed within a month and, if found to be substantive, will result in the officer being dismissed within two months.

10. The existing anti-corruption agencies (CVC, departmental vigilance and the anti-corruption branch of the CBI) will be merged into Lokpal which will have complete power and authority to independently investigate and prosecute any officer, judge or politician.

11. Whistleblowers who alert the agency to potential corruption cases will also be provided with protection by it.

Difference between Government and activist drafts

Highlights

Difference between Draft Lokpal Bill 2010 and Jan Lokpal Bill
Draft Lokpal Bill (2010)	Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizen's Ombudsman Bill)
Lokpal will have no power to initiate suo motu action or receive complaints of corruption from the general public. It can only probe complaints forwarded by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.	Lokpal will have powers to initiate suo moto action or receive complaints of corruption from the general public.
Lokpal will only be an Advisory Body with a role limited to forwarding reports to a "Competent Authority".	Lokpal will have the power to initiate prosecution of anyone found guilty.
Lokpal will have no police powers and no ability to register an FIR or proceed with criminal investigations.	Lokpal will have police powers as well as the ability to register FIRs.
The CBI and Lokpal will be unconnected.	Lokpal and the anti corruption wing of the CBI will be one independent body.
Punishment for corruption will be a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of up to 7 years.	Punishments will be a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of up to life imprisonment.

Detailed

The following table details differences between the Government and activist backed version

Issue	The Jan Lokpal Bill	Government's Lokpal Bill
Prime Minister	Can be investigated with permission of seven member Lokpal bench	PM cannot be investigate by Lokpal
Judiciary	Can be investigated, though high level members may be investigated only with permission of a seven member Lokpal bench	Judiciary is exempt and will be covered by a separate "judicial accountability bill".[
MPs	Can be investigated with permission of seven member Lokpal bench	Can be investigated, but their conduct within Parliament, such as voting, cannot be investigated
Lower bureaucracy	All public servants would be included.	Only Group A officers will be covered.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)	The CBI will be merged into the Lokpal[	The CBI will remain a separate agency.[
Removal of Lokpal members and Chair	Any person can bring a complaint to the Supreme Court, who can then recommend removal of any member to the President.[	Any "aggrieved party" can raise a complaint to the President, who will refer the matter to the CJI.
Removal of Lokpal staff and officers	Complaints against Lokpal staff will be handled by independent boards set-up in each state, composed of retired bureaucrats, judges, and civil society members.	Lokpal will conduct inquiries into its own behaviour.
Lokayukta	Lokakyukta and other local/state anti-corruption agency would remain in place	All state anti-corruption agencies would be closed and responsibilities taken over by centralized Lokpal
Whistleblower protection	Whistleblowers are protected law	No protection granted to whistleblowers
Punishment for corruption	Lokpal can either directly impose penalties, or refer the matter to the courts. Penalties can include removal from office, imprisonment, and recovery of assets from those who benefited from the corruption	Lokpal can only refer matters to the courts, not take any direct punitive actions. Penalties remain equivalent to those in current law
Investigatory powers	Lokpal can obtain wiretaps, issue rogatory letters, and recruit investigating officers. Cannot issue contempt orders	Lokpal can issue contempt orders, and has the ability to punish those in contempt. No authority to obtain wiretaps, issue rogatory letters, or recruit investigating officers
False, frivolous and vexatious complaints	Lokpal can issue fines for frivolous complaints (including frivolous complaints against Lokpal itself), with a maximum penalty of 1 lakh.	Court system will handle matters of frivolous complaints. Courts can issue fines of Rs25,000 to 2 lakh
Scope	All corruption can be investigated	Only high-level corruption can be investigated[

Source: Wikipedia.

A quick view is enough to conclude that the Jan Lokpal version is the more thorough, and better.  Still, there are certain points which are, at best, riddiculous.   And here is why:

1.       The Lokpal can initiate suo motto action: Now, can it not lead to vested interests?  It may even lead to more corruption.  If Lokpal is meant to police government agencies, then let it act like Police.  Has anyone ever heard of police taking action against anyone without any complaint?  If there’s no complaint, then there should not be any action.  However, I agree than citizens should be allowed to lodge their complaints.  But frivolous complaints should be dealt strictly  with.

2.       Prosecution Power: Well, we already have a system in place to prosecute the guilty.  The Lokpal should only undertake the investigation and forward the charges to ‘competent authority.’

3.       Criminal investigation?  FIR?  Are we looking at an anti-corruption body or an all-powerful extra constitutional mafia here?  Who is there to check Lokpal then?  Who will guarantee that Lokpal’s members will themselves be corruption-free?  And once they are member of Lokpal, they virtually become all-powerful!  It’s blasphemy! Totally unconstitutional!    

4.       PM should be under the purview of Lokpal, but only with certain parameters.  After all, he’s the most powerful functionary in the government; you cannot place someone over his head.  That would undermine the constitution then, with the members of Lokpal eventually getting more powerful.  Maybe not now, but in the years to come definitely.  And also, since MPs enjoy immunity for their actions in the Parliament, they cannot be probed for that.

5.       And last, but not the least, the Lokpal cannot have punitive powers.  There’s a judicial system for that.  Nor can it have powers to obtain wiretaps, issue rogatory letters, or recruit investigating officers  At best, The Jan Lokpal version is an attempt to undermine the constitution, and lord over the government.

So, I am not anti-corruption and anti-lokpal. Anna's cause is for the greater good, but his methods aren't. You say what you see on news channels, what you read in papers, what everyone's saying.  People tell me, it was unconstitutional on the part of Government to arrest him, that his right was violated, that it could happen with anyone of us.   But I am sorry to say, no constitutional right was violated when Anna was arrested. There's something called Preventive Detention (IP  144) where-in the government can arrest anyone who it feels may create a law and order situation, and after the Ramdev incidence, Anna Hazare was asking for it.  And there's nothing in the constitution which says that a person has the constitutional right to hold the government to ransom by taking a fast unto death.

Anna's version is thorough, yes. But it wouldn't go a long way to end corruption. It, as they say, starts at home. So bringing about changes as a macro level doesn’t count much when there's no prior change at the micro level.

 I am told, at home, on facebook, at other places, that it’s not about Anna, it about fighting corruptiom.  No.  It's not about corruption, not entirely. Where was this protestation when Anna called off his fast? And why did it start so suddenly again just because an octogenarian is sitting on a fast unto death? I hear people saying that it has been going on for 60 years; it's high time we take matter in our own hands. Where was this consciousness in the past half a century of independence?

I repeat- I am not against this movement. Obviously, something has to be done to fight corruption. But do you have any idea about how many people would go back to bribe officials to get driving licenses, pull strings to get their children in the nest North Campus colleges, give donations to get their children in the best schools of Delhi? It should start at home, rather than on the streets. No one has given the civil society the right to legislate on such issues. Democracy has some drawbacks, but still, law-making should be left to Parliament. Why isn't Anna willing to appear before the Standing Committee?

The bill is premised on an institutional imagination that is at best naïve; at worst subversive of representative democracy.  It would not be a popularly elected body, like the government, and hence it will have no accountability.  It’s high time people should realise, it is not supposed to be a second STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM.  Gandhiji’s idea of satyagraha was straightforward.  With Mr.  Anna Hazare, it’s tweaking it to own advantage.  Gandhiji fought against a foreign power which oppressed and ruled India without any mandate, without any right.  Mr. Hazare is turning into a dictator now, issuing diktats, telling the government what to do.

Anyway, these are my views.  I may not be correct, legally or otherwise with all of them.  But that wouldn’t matter if I have been able to drive home a point.

And as I say, ‘Main Anna NAHI Hun.’ 

And Thus Ends It All.

Juliet, the loving, cute and affable guinea pig, has departed from this world. Into the waking arms of after-life has she stepped, leaving behind mourning friends. Maybe she'll get to see Romi again. She won't be as lonely as she was in the past couple of days again. Their absence will always be felt. No longer would there be the noise of their wheeking, no longer would the floor be soiled. No more the morning alarm. No more any of the rituals which had come to define our lives in these past few months. Alas it ended so soon. Wish the rendezvous could have continued…

Perhaps in another life time. Such is life. The hard realities. I search for a sign of them whenever I look around the room. My eyes moisten at their slightest thought.

 

R.I.P Juliet.

It was a pleasure knowing you and Romi.

Hope you never forget us, because honestly, we never will. L

A Guinea Pig named Romeo: An Orbituary

29^th June 2011.

It was 10:40 in the morning, a rather ordinary morning, just another day, except for the fact that clouds were gathered. Signs of ominous tidings?

After waking up some forty minutes earlier, I planted myself in front of the T.V, surfing and checking the movies lined up for the day, only to realise there wasn't anything great lined-up. Slightly disappointed, I put down the glass I held on a side table- its content now swirling in my system, and took a quite bite. I popped in a med for my tonsillitis- it was getting better now, I almost felt no pain, and might just get savour my favourite junk again, sooner than expected. The thought cheered me up, and then turned to my pet guinea pigs- Romeo and Juliet. Last night they had played around for the first time in 5 days, after five bitter, agonizing days for us. It had all begun last Thursday when during a routine visit to the Vet (to get their nails trimmed) we got to know they were suffering from Urinary Tract Infection, and thus the doctor prescribed Sporidex for the. The usually bubbly and playful (not to mention exceptionally hungry) Cavys started behaving odd and were lethargic most of the time in the next few days, seldom wheeking, infrequently eating, sitting at one place continuously for long periods, not moving, seldom playing. Surely I had been worried, we all were, and finally yesterday had taken them to a Vet who prescribed some medicines. Though the two took them after a great deal of struggle, the results were immediate. The last night, they, especially Romeo (realised later she was a female, rechristened her Romi), had played to the heart's content, after which they had treated themselves to pellets and cucumbers and tomatoes and other stuff we had kept in their cage. It was obvious that they were returning to their normal self, and obviously, we were happy. 'Pets have this strange ability of completely changing our lives for the short duration of time they're a part of it, so much so that our world begins to revolve around them. Even the most trivial of issues plaguing them can steal your sleep….'

Feeling good, I returned to my room in search of my cell, about to start what was promising to be long and savage battle, considering what a mess my room generally is in. After searching the most obvious of places, I made to open my closet when my eyes fell upon a very unnatural sight, a sight which I may never forget.

At the foot of the bed lay my Romeo and Juliet's cage. Nothing unusual here. But it was what lay inside which wrenched my heart, and set-in a fear, a strange, chilling fear. Slowly, tentatively, I took a step towards it. I already knew what awaited me, but still prayed silently, fervently, hoping for my intuition to be wrong. Alas, it was not to be. There lay Romi, strangely spread-eagled, her limbs outstretched at odd angles, her eyes strangely blank. She wasn't moving, wasn't breathing. I tapped the cage lightly, just enough to cause her to scramble into her cloth. She didn't move. I touched her. She was stiff. Stiff as a cane. Silently weeping, voice breaking, lips trembling, I cried out for my sister, sleeping peacefully. She woke with a start.

'Romi hil nahi rahi.' Romi isn't moving. I said.

'Kya?' What? She asked, but I knew then she had already realised it. The gravity of my words dawned on her. She came scrambling to where I was. She peered in, and then was let loose a vortex of emotions. Very different emotions. For her, it was the sheer loss of her pet, which she held dear. For me, it was because of regret, of guilt, of remembrance, of missing someone. It was because one of the most endearing and wonderful pets, Romeo had died suddenly, just when we had begun to feel that they both were recovering from whatever had caused them to lose weight and grow lethargic and dull, leaving a gaping void in our lives. '… and then suddenly, when it's is most unexpected (often) they silently slip away… leaving us with a heartache that is too painful to subside.'

Romi did the same to me, to my family. For the short five months she was with us, our world evolved around her and Julie. She became the morning alarm, waking me up with her incessant wheeking for food… she became the favourite past-time, watching her hop around, run around, hide in the corners, dart from one part of the cage/room to the other- Juliet always watching over. She wasn't young, nor was she old- merely five months. She was loud, naughty, active and attention seeking. And we loved every part of it. She would hid under the cloth they would sneak into when they slept at the instance someone unknown entered my room, or when someone made to open the cage. When it was play time, she would follow Juliet everywhere, sniffing her back side, and running for cover at the slightest noise. One of her favourite past times, when not hiding under a cloth or in a corner, was to tug at the cloth we keep in their cage with her two sharp teeth until she was able to pull it out completely. No one loved her more than Juliet I guess. She even let Romi snatch even last bit of pellets, cucumber, tomato and other things we gave them. It was as if even she knew Romi was the younger of the two, and hence should be allowed to have her way. A doting elder sister Juliet was still is... only Romi isn't there to receive her love.

I feel guilty, regretful. When they cavys first came, I was reluctant to touch them, not letting them on my bed, fighting to keep them off the floor, because they soiled it. I regret the time I wasted, because when I finally fell in love with them, it was to be for a very small time. And even when I did, I ignored Romi. She was the smaller, the chirpier, playful… cheerful… She would scramble around incessantly, trying to get away from the loving hand of my sister or mother. She would bite real hard (Juliet licks your finger). Now when I look back, I realise how close she had grown to me. Turning back the pages, I realise that she would understand my simple commands, most notably when I brought something to eat in my room (I always do that, coz I NEED something to read when I am eating) and she would start wheeking for something to eat… I would say, 'NAHI.' And all of a sudden, she would go all silent, looking hopefully at me, her mouth raised up. It had become almost a ritual for me to give them some of my salad first and then eat.

It's perhaps that Romi, wheeking for food upon seeing me eating something that I'll always miss.

Juliet is presently living alone, lonely and dull. Evidently, she too is feeling the pain of losing a companion. She still doesn't eat much, drinks less, and sits at the same place for long hours without moving. Her cage has been changed, room changed, feeding timings changed…. In short, she has been given a completely new environment so that she can focus on what's new
and not concentrate on what's missing.

A latter visit to another Vet, who has had past experience of dealing with Guinean Pigs, revealed that it, was the medication which killed Romi. Amoxylin, an antibiotic, is the most lethal drug you can possibly give to your cavy (we didn't knew this. Most of the first time Cavy-owners don't) and those Vet who don't normally deal with these angels often, unsuspectingly, recommend these drugs for them. Juliet survived. It's luck. She's recuperating now, being administered another medicine to counter the effects of the deadly antibiotic. Was this the reason they weren't taking amoxylin easily and struggled a lot? I wish, we wish, we had known.

The knowledge that possible they weren't suffering from any disease of any kind, that no medicine was needed, that they were always healthy, and that Romi died because of carelessness will always bother us. Her innocent face, wheeking and looking at me hopefully forever etched on my mind. Juliet will soon get another companion, provided she recovers from the devastating effects of the antibiotic, but the void created by Romi's demise shall never be filled. Again.

    "Death is the hardest thing,

    Not for those who have passed,

    But for those who are left behind."

   

    "And now I know,

    How much I'll miss you… the sight of your frail,

    Limp body, placed in front of my eyes."

Romi (the smaller of the two) seen here with Juliet, her partner in crime.

R.I.P ROMI.

You'll never be forgotten.

Ashwin Sanghi: The Indian Dan Brown? (Review of The Rozabal Line, Chanakya’s Chant AND Ashwin Sanghi in general.)

They hail him as India's answer to Dan Brown-the master thriller writer. Ha. Preposterous. That's the most blatantly laughable claim I have read or seen in a long-long time. Really. Can there even be another Dan Brown? Yeah right, I am a big Dan fan, but still picked up first the Chanakya's Chant and then the Rozabal Line (which was previously published in 2007 in the States under Sanghi's pseudonym, Shawn Haigins to impress foreign readers) but the experience left me vastly disappointed and with a solemn resolve of not trying another of his works.

Da Vinci Code had an innovative plotline, backed by gripping narration and thought-provoking plausible justifications. Indeed, Dan Brown's research was so thorough that the book became one of the all-time bestsellers, and catapulted him to international fame. On his part, Ashwin Sanghi did a credible job by picking in an explosive concept/theory: what exactly happened after Jesus's crucifixion. Sanghi resurrects a theory which states that Jesus travelled to India and spent his last days in Kashmir. In fact, Rozabal is believed to the resting place for Jesus and contains the grave
where Jesus was buried. Sanghi uses this theme and mixes it up with Indian divinity concept and even explores a theory that Jesus was inspired by Buddhism- A kind of a mixture that is a heady concoction and offers a great opportunity for an author to write a masterpiece, and catapult himself to the select and exclusive club of unputdownable writers.

And that is the only high point of this novel. After this, the book goes downhill, in every-aspect. Highly dis-jointed, no clear direction as to where the story is going, or even what is the objective of this novel (Da Vinci was about the Jesus's and Mary's relationship, along with the secret of Holy Grail.) multiple sub-plots, spanning thousands of year, from ancient world right up to 2012.

The novel is basically about an American priest who has recurring visions from his past-life, a mysterious terrorist outfit the fate of whose members curiously resembles that of the twelve apostolates and the End-of-the-world theory. The sudden jump from one place to another, often in another time (Say, Mumbai 2012 to Judea 24 AD) often leaves the reader confused and out-of-the-loop.

Seriously, Sanghi should have stopped writing after the first 10 pages.

For those who have read Da Vinci Code, avoid it at all costs.

For others, give it a try. You might be impressed, though be sure to follow it with Da Vinci.

Chanakya's Chant

Sanghi's second novel. Starts of really well. Left me impressed, though as it progress, the narration again fails to grip, and loses focus. Once again has the potential of being an international bestseller, perhaps Samit Basu would have done a better job. Anyway, worth a read. Though it may leave you disappointed. Promising beginning, shambolic end. *sigh*

"Accountability"

The sensational murder of a college student in broad day-light. That too near one of the busiest intersections in the city. Naturally, the police would have been the first one to be blamed. The killer managed to get away even after shooting the 2nd year student on a foot-over as SHE was coming down it, ironically on the International Women's Day, when the Home Minister made a statement that the capital had seen a decline in crime against women. 

Student activists vented their fury at the Police, claiming their coverage is inadequate, two PCRs are stationed at the South Campus around the clock, how can such an incidence happen even then? The DCP makes a statement to media, students hold protest march, and the same old story is repeated again. These things have come to define life in the NCR in the recent past. Of course, there is no dearth of examples of such incidences, with the area where the recent shooting took place having acquired notoriety in recent years as being unsafe for girls. 

Perhaps what was more appalling was a very dumb statement (one of the many she has made) by Smt. Sheila Dixit, the Chief Minister. "The Police Department is not under my purview"

Very smart Mrs. Dixit. You have passed the buck, washed your hands off, and put the blame on

a) The Delhi Police and;

b) Home Ministry, under whose control Delhi Police comes.

Tomorrow, taking a cue from the CM, the Home Ministry might issue a statement that it is under the State Administration to look into the matter. The blame-game starts, all over again. In between, one or two police vehicles maybe torched, protesting students might be lathi-charged. But the question which remains unanswered in, who should be held accountable? Only last night, I was present at the Studio of a very prominent English news channel as they interviewed the students who are leading the protest movement. I happened to be a part of the discussions there, since I accompanied them. One of the questions which came up regularly was: Who is accountable? 

After a most enlightening little "chat" there, I believe the authorities can be left alone to play the blame-game, it's what they do the best. The question is for the common man to ask himself. She was shot around 10:30 in the morning. It was not exactly an 'off-hour'. I am sure like always, the place had the usual hustle-bustle of college students. How come than, the assailant managed to run down a foot-over and just melt away from the scene of crime? 

Was there no one present there willing to give him a chase? Try to apprehend him perhaps? I am sure if one of their own was attacked, they wouldn't have looked on. I know some guy did give him a chase, but a more determined effort could perhaps have been more fruitful. Not that I am blaming him of course. 

Staging protests might only help to mount pressure on the concerned department to apprehend the absconding killer, but wouldn't it be better if we can avoid such a situation altogether? A change is needed, in the mindset of people. That's all that can really help, little changes at micro-level. Creating and joining F.B groups is not exactly constructive, and perhaps, stringent punishment for any kind of harassment against women might do. It can deter the criminals, the teasers.. But then, we are a democracy..  

Turbulence.

So . . so . . . after a long wait, I finally got my hands on Samit Basu's latest offering- Turbulence. And didn't it blow me away, in a manner at least. Since there haven't been many urban-superheroes' themed novels by Indian author, (in fact none I can think off), I was a bit skeptical, deciding to give it a read just because of my love of Samit Basu books. But I have to admit now, this book was something more than just a binding of words with actions and sequences. This was something special, and far-far better than expected.

Basu, the famous writer of the GameWorld trilogy is back with a bang.

With Turbulence, he speaks about very Indian superheroes, ordinary humans who get powers that reflect their deepest longings, innermost desires . . . so everyone on flight BA 142 from London to Delhi is now a superhero, mildly to vastly powered super-humans (some indeed have weirdest powers imaginable)

The story revolves around the main cast, with plenty of sidekicks thrown in. So you have the protagonist, Aman Sen, whose new-found powers enable him to control everything that's on network. Yes, even the internet bends to his will.
There's Tia, a housewife from Assam, who always wanted to do many things and be at many places, so her powers make her a very literal embodiment of MPD. She can split herself into as many Tia's as she wants, and then merge together again, and can acquire every skill a Tia picked up on the way (very useful)
There's Uzma. A lot of reviews liken her to Katrina Kaif. Th similarities are there, I admit. Uzma is a brit-pakistani beauty who wants to make it big in Bollywood. Everyone likes her, and she oozes sexiness. But yet, I didn't find her one bit like her.
Then you have Vir, a former IAF pilot who can now fly.
And finally, you have the two supervillans. Immensely powerful Jai, Vir's former superior in the IAF who is now a one one army, with the old predictable goal of conquering the world. And there's a mysterious character with such remarkable ability to manipulate mob that is would put the Seldon Plan to shame and render his psychohistory useless.

So, Aman, with his rag-tag collection of rouge superheroes is out to beat the bad guys.

That's pretty much about it. The characters are very Indian. I like their Indian-ness. Some, or rather most of their habits can be related to, if you know what I mean. Basu, with this eccentric and interesting collection of cast, weaves together an unputdownable story, with his trademark zany humor and acerbic wit, which catapults him high up, with Jonathan Stroud. (If you have read Bartemeous, you would be knowing what I am talking about)  . . . Blockbuster perfection, electric and a racy page turner.  

I must admit though that after reading the GameWorld trilogy with it's breakneck speed, sharp twists and turns and plot changes, I was left demanding for more. Maybe Samit decides to write a sequel. I don't know. Haven't exactly been following him recently. But it might be a possibility. The ending is pretty much like the last Foundation book ended.

Verdict: A must read. It won't disappoint you. As BEN AARONOVITCH put's it:

"You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll gasp and you will demand a sequel"

Oligarchy.

A cool wind swept through the square, carrying a scent that would change the world. Tension and excitement was palpable in the air. The signs were clear; something would happen today. There were talks of the dark king stepping down. Some said that foreign hands could play their parts. Still others maintained that the king would hold on, the protests would die down, and then would his black hand come down heavily on those who dared oppose him. ‘How could they even dream of toppling him, The Dark King, before whom even the Gods tremble with fear?’

The crowds had started to gather from the morning itself, but it was now that it was reaching a hysteric level. The attendance had been unprecedented today. There was chanting of ‘Go Away Black Heart’ all around the square. Loud banners unfurled in the air, swaying lightly in the breeze. Huge screens had been erected at the four corners, and indeed around the city itself, to intimate every one of the developments. The general atmosphere around the city was more relaxed. No one seemed to remember that the curfew hours had begun, and it was time to retreat into the safety of their respective houses.

But then, there wasn’t really any need to tell them. The last major outbreak of violence had been two days ago, in the downtown area between the anti and pro-king groups. It had left more than a hundred dead, thousand injured, but it was the outcome of the very same incident that had fueled the general anger and contempt for the King to new heights. People had taken to the streets like never before, determined to throw the immortal sorcerer out of the office now.

Around the country, small and powerless conjurers and magicians pledged their support to the cause. They knew they were nothing more than amoebae compared to the King, but then, was David any bigger? They helped to conjure safety shields and manufacture more effective Molotov’s.

Today, the security establishment was conspicuous by its absence. There was no sign of the fearsome Secret Service, or of the regular police. The militia was absent too. There was no response on government help-lines. In short, it looked as if the administrative machinery had been dismantled over-night.

*******

The leader of the mass-movement, Ranhall, led the procession through the entire city, before stopping in the grounds of the historic Fort Independence. The whole complex was lighted by atomic lights. Temporary shelters had peen erected, and there were provisions for eating as well. Somewhere ahead was a small dais on which stood a young, flamboyant boy. He seemed to be speaking something into a loudspeaker, but for some reason, couldn’t be heard. He looked bemused, and signaled the technician to look into the problem.

It had grown late now, the crowd was restless. They had come here expecting some kind of announcement proclaiming the resignation of the Sorcerer-King and a return to a civilian governorship. However, all they had to do here was hear stories about the old king. . The wide-spread corruption, the atrocities, tales of families being torn apart, of disappearing and of killings.

(To be continued.)  

Revolt.

Its been in the news for the longest of times now. In the print media, all over news channel. A topic of debate and discussion within the Political sphere, from the topmost echelons to the lower rungs. Its events have been followed religiously by the industrialists, for the manifold impact it has had and will have in determining the fate of global economy in the months to come. Yeah, you're right. I am indeed talking about the biggest revolution since the fall of the Shah.

(I might be wrong here, but then, I honestly can't recall any 'true' revolution since the Iranian revolution of 1979. Maybe the pro-democracy movement in Nepal would qualify as one, the break-up of USSR in 1991? Not that, of course. There might have been countless little movements in the intervening years, but come on, how many of them actually resulted in the fall of an Iron-fisted autocratic head, eh?)

Yeah, so, the fire, which started in Tunis, before sweeping across the length and breadth of the Arab World, and resulted in the fall of the head of the only stable Arab state had been stoking for long. Its been all said before. I am no expert, thus would not be analyzing the events which led to the revolt, or the after-effects. No no.. 

Instead, I am here just state what i feel.

Hosni Mubarak, (i don't know why, i feel i have a little respect for the despot. it's not exactly that easy to manage a STABLE ARAB NATION, is it? anyway, I respect Napoleon too) could have avoided the situation altogether. Not exactly a nice preposition, being kicked out from the office, is it?

I guess its turning nonsensical now, this blog spot. Might have something to do with this headache i have because of tonsillitis. Would continue next time, with definite idea as to what i should write.  

Update on Alibi

'ALIBI' my most ambitious short-story/project till date, a psychological thriller, still stuck in the first draft section. However, i might restart work on it again, possibly with-in this month. It's exhausting, though shaping up well. I hope it turns out to be worth the effort. 

Love Story.

A celebrated maxim says that it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Ravinder Singh’s ‘I Too Had A Love Story’ proves the maxim true and beautifully depicts the beauty and power of true love through the writer’s own heart touching love story.


It is the narrative of the journey of meeting of two strangers through a matrimonial site to the point, where their relationship becomes the most precious gift of Almighty.


Ravinder and Khushi have never seen each other, but love has made them one. The writer has successfully brought out the depth of their relationship through the lively and graphic delineation of their conversation, feelings and emotions. The readers can feel their warmth and closeness in the lively and picturesque account of how they longed to be with each other in the rain, the coaxing and cajoling after the tiffs and trying to feel each other in imagination. 

Reading this book is all the more enjoyable as the reader relates and identifies with the writer. Impatiently waiting for the next phone call, little surprises bringing them closer, late night conversations, tears and smiles, all these make it a read-till-finish book.

The throbbing curiosity, the irrepressible apprehensions and the overpowering excitement and happiness to meet Khushi in person for the first time takes the story to a crescendo of feelings, emotion and action. Soft and light hearted humor strewn throughout adds an entertainment quotient to the story. The writer tickles a funny bone as he talks about his paranoia when revealing his affair to his parents.

Tear will roll down when an accident leave Khushi battling with death and Ravinder shattered. It reminds that a beloved can save his love till where God intervenes.

Along with the innate beauty of their love story, the expression of the subtle emotions in the most simple and lucid way makes it special. The fact that the writer does not make any effort to impress the readers with lofty words and articulations point to the honesty of the writer’s feelings.


The book is an absolute must-read for people who love love stories and restores the faith of the readers in the existence of love which had almost got obliterated in this fast paced age of modern technology. 


The most moving part of the book though is before it even begins.. 
The author has dedicated it to the loving memory of a girl he loved, yet couldn't marry: 
Tere jaane ka asar kuch aisa hua mujh par, 
tujhe dhoondhate dhoondhate maine khud ko paa liya
…. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come across an author in me.


Rightly said, 'Not every one in this world has the fate to cherish the fullest form of Love. Some are born, just to experience the abbreviation of it.'