tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48811498836562015982024-03-13T06:43:15.456+05:00hopscotchI played hopscotch as a child. And, as a adult too I have retained the ability to leap from one situation to another.
In this blog, you will read primarily about books, stories and their creatorsAmbikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-91294668583543044782023-10-04T15:46:00.005+06:002023-10-04T15:46:53.494+06:00Book Review: Drop of the Last Cloud<p><span style="color: red;">Once upon a time...there were decision-makers</span></p><p><br /></p><p>It's certainly common enough to hear, speak and discuss about 'agency', 'consent', 'control over our bodies', 'privilege', 'patriarchy' and so on. But how many of us are able to apply these concepts in this day and age? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgPQ8zWdVBI1wDrbIrJddxHhZy6-zgtFTKVWanqPe7CZEU77mELelybhv2FMdW3XAYALR53VtJf6m7VcoXUXDrL7qprj38_DrnBg5wA-PChf56EnVCzEOld_08zOJsTf_6YFMMBPm6EQ5nncitpOqefKqTaiPwblTie7K9Ze6ho8KbawZIECd_ch6bbk/s1000/Drop%20of%20the%20last%20cloud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="625" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgPQ8zWdVBI1wDrbIrJddxHhZy6-zgtFTKVWanqPe7CZEU77mELelybhv2FMdW3XAYALR53VtJf6m7VcoXUXDrL7qprj38_DrnBg5wA-PChf56EnVCzEOld_08zOJsTf_6YFMMBPm6EQ5nncitpOqefKqTaiPwblTie7K9Ze6ho8KbawZIECd_ch6bbk/s320/Drop%20of%20the%20last%20cloud.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p>With every generation some challenges stay constant, despite the overall atmosphere build up that 'change is here'. Is the change good though? And, what change are we talking about? Does it signal progress or a backslide? The dialogue continues.</p><p>Now, imagine this scenario being discussed amongst the Nair women of Kakasherry Tharvadu (ancestral house) in Manjoor village, nearly 100 years ago. In her debut novel, <i>Drop of the Last Cloud</i>, Sangeetha G focuses on the lives and times of the Kakasherry women, who were at the cusp of social and political transformation, that took place in pre-independent India.</p><p>The novel opens to 1924, when floods ravaged Kerala and the birth of Gomathi, the protagonist of <i>Drop of the Last Cloud</i>. Gomathi's birth is considered inauspicious; the astrologers have come to the conclusion that 'she will break up the family'. Soon after Narayani, her mother, keeps her distance from Gomathi, and later, in an exception to the then prevalent practise, Gomathi is sent off to her father's house. In modern parlance we ought to add that Gomathi was sent to her biological father's place. Nair women had the right to take on partners, enter into sambandham (informal marriage system). They stayed on in their maternal homes, and did not set up homes with their partner in his house. </p><p>Gomathi's being sent away from Kakasherry Tharvadu was the first seed of conflict sown in her life. She had to battle many a questions; Why did her mother not like her? Should she be a 'good, demure' girl like the patriarchy demanded or assert her rights?; Should she choose her partner or go by her paternal grandmother's wishes? Should she choose her love and be happy or take society's diktat's in consideration? The decisions she took sent her life on another trajectory, leaving her disappointed and bitter. This bitterness spilled into the life of the people she comes in touch with -- her husband, Govindan, her love Madhavan and her children, especially her oldest girl, Madhavi.</p><p>Gomathi's character is someone who is not sure how to take charge of her life in the transformative years that she finds herself in; her aunt, Parvathy chittha, is symbol of those people who are open to new ideas, treating everyone humanely, not allowing deep-seated caste prejudices to colour her interactions; and then there is Madhavi, who could have been a replica of her mother, Gomathi. Instead she becomes independent, gets a job and decides to marry someone of her choice. Education and economically independent in modern times, just like her grandaunt Parvathy was in the bygone era. </p><p>Do men have a role in <i>Drop of the Last Cloud</i>? They do. And one can't help but be sympathetic to the plight of Govindan, who grew up with his own set of complexes, but tries to do the right by everybody, even his estranged wife Gomathi. </p><p>Sangeetha, a journalist, while weaving together the stories of Gomathi, Govindan, Madhavan, provides us with the wide arching background -- of the British policies, Independence movement, Second World War, rise of Communism, labour rights and the reform movements taking place. The ever evolving socio-political factors strive to pull the main characters in different directions. The characters struggle, try to fight their fate, find their place in a new world order and in the bargain lay the foundation of the Kerala state that we know today.</p><p><b>Name:</b> Drop of the Last Cloud</p><p><b>Author:</b> Sangeetha G </p><p><b>Publisher:</b> Ukiyoto Publishing</p><p><b>Pages:</b> 237</p><p><b>Price</b>: Rs 320</p>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-40809294737395294912023-08-26T18:27:00.000+06:002023-08-26T18:27:01.400+06:00Book Review: Goldiboy and the Three Apes<p> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">Ready
for an Isspeshal story?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>Goldiboy and
the Three Apes..--- An Isspeshal Fairy Tale --</i><i> </i>
yes, you guessed it right! It’s a spin-off on the popular fairy tale,
Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The spin here is that Goldiboy is a teenage
boy, with a dazzling, golden smile. Goldiboy likes things ‘Just Right’. The
smell of a Thai curry is off-putting for him, nor does he like the gooey pasta.
But a gluten-free grilled cheese sandwich, yes, Goldiboy loves it!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Maybe you
will think that this Goldiboy is fussy? We would say that he is ‘neurodivergent’.
You and I perhaps fall in the ‘neurotypical’ category. But does that make a
‘neurodivergent’ teenager any less than us? No, ‘we are same same but
different’.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A gorgeously
illustrated <i>Goldiboy and the Three Apes</i> is a peek into the life of kids on
autism spectrum disorder. The picture book has been conceived and penned by
Ashiish V Patil, an autism dad, for his son Rishaan, who was diagnosed with the
disorder at the age of two and half years. This picture book is Patil’s way of
getting ‘neurodivergent’ and ‘neurotypical’ kids and their families to get to
know each other, to shake hands and embrace their sameness and uniqueness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RAE_-3NdsDl0XfCpz1RfPZUF5YJqMEV_f3WudZMz-7EWtisQz_5_T_VfHf12jZ9wMYkRlPfs3O_V6Hu0EXoUKaS6eJu2abKlMcvFLWOCvpw43Nh94e6fSZ52NzX6WpEOG2Ig6qkj9ij1Z6J01PgdsILcN5EqvxeY6JeatE0e--bt1xzZ6Maqspf4xMg/s274/Goldiboy%20and%20the%20three%20apes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="274" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RAE_-3NdsDl0XfCpz1RfPZUF5YJqMEV_f3WudZMz-7EWtisQz_5_T_VfHf12jZ9wMYkRlPfs3O_V6Hu0EXoUKaS6eJu2abKlMcvFLWOCvpw43Nh94e6fSZ52NzX6WpEOG2Ig6qkj9ij1Z6J01PgdsILcN5EqvxeY6JeatE0e--bt1xzZ6Maqspf4xMg/s1600/Goldiboy%20and%20the%20three%20apes.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The picture
book, which has testimonials from celebrities and parents to autistic kids,
seeks to simplify what autism could mean. It’s a spectrum disorder and thus one
autistic kid will not necessarily be similar to another. Goldiboy likes to
listen to music, say ‘excuse me’ or say ‘sorry’ when he burps, but another
teenager his age is unable to speak. It may seem strange, but hey, a better way
to navigate is ‘smile’ and be non-judgmental of each other. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Box<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Google
Autism Spectrum Disorder and it’s an ocean. Tons have been written about it.
The simplest explanation is that it’s a difference in how your brain is wired,
a neurological variation. You see and process things differently from people
who are the norm – who people in the community call neurotypicals. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Name:</b>
Goldiboy and the Three Apes – An Isspeshal Fairy Tale<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Author:</b>
Ashiish V Patil<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Illustrated
by:</b> Nikita Modi Biswas<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Publisher:</b>
HarperCollinsChildren’s Books<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Pages:</b> 120 <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Price:</b> Rs
599 <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> (This book review was written for Amritabharati)<br /></o:p></span></p>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-4003438592297952372023-08-08T19:08:00.006+06:002023-08-08T21:53:33.017+06:00Interview with Arefa Tehsin<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">'There was nothing wrong in it,' Dada Bhai said, his head bent towards the cold, unyielding floor.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">'Sir?' asked Tapan, who had followed him out, just as he had ushered him in personally.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">'A boy and girl loved each other. There was nothing wrong in what Sanaz did. Love. That is what is halal for me.'</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFl9BR74xZn68ob5HdVcE9AcPuyUXDDikUZ0wxyGw3PcW0jhGtjZ0uyBsFEV74k9PpYhgXSU-LZCXLRsRw0Lx1KxljpElKNLlKOk5QP8DcWPSUm6a0iNwZ1OZU9HY5nMI-pq1GcIINlw_FJJn3yiv8j8yeAfu_nytSDGITYKil4PS_p86Fh1beh-KZiNQ/s1000/The%20witch%20in%20the%20peepul%20tree%20by%20Arefa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFl9BR74xZn68ob5HdVcE9AcPuyUXDDikUZ0wxyGw3PcW0jhGtjZ0uyBsFEV74k9PpYhgXSU-LZCXLRsRw0Lx1KxljpElKNLlKOk5QP8DcWPSUm6a0iNwZ1OZU9HY5nMI-pq1GcIINlw_FJJn3yiv8j8yeAfu_nytSDGITYKil4PS_p86Fh1beh-KZiNQ/s320/The%20witch%20in%20the%20peepul%20tree%20by%20Arefa.jpg" width="192" /></a><br /><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Valmiki would not be contained, she knew, whenever the news reached him. He would rage within. Waste away in the cavity of his chest. She needed to bundle up all her nerve and pack it inside her. Convey to him soundlessly that he was fortunate to be loved for two years. Two years! An eternity for someone who had not got two whole hours of it in her life. </span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRyVi7MS3AlpCBaWOSmMFdd60MUlwSPv30SLR8rmyyv7bUWssEvWuoMQUOpL7iOgXKziVasiGRodTHUCSxwMdfv6ODpeuyc8wGM6Koy76mTSPESlej-lPuHetWBc7wlMj1bAQiQLek4H5UQjagOSzt2jLB78O3C9Ip94TXezwcBhf3iexYyCq3IYe1Vs/s3228/Author%20Arefa%20Tehsin%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3228" data-original-width="2114" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRyVi7MS3AlpCBaWOSmMFdd60MUlwSPv30SLR8rmyyv7bUWssEvWuoMQUOpL7iOgXKziVasiGRodTHUCSxwMdfv6ODpeuyc8wGM6Koy76mTSPESlej-lPuHetWBc7wlMj1bAQiQLek4H5UQjagOSzt2jLB78O3C9Ip94TXezwcBhf3iexYyCq3IYe1Vs/s320/Author%20Arefa%20Tehsin%20(1).jpeg" width="210" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #800180; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800180;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">'A whiff of rosewater is enough...'</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">On Makar Sankranti when the kites soar high, Sanaz' wings are brutally clipped. She is found dead in her room and what follows is a trail of questions hiding violence in their midst; of corrosive human behaviour. The ugliness and degenerate behaviour of the many a characters described in <i>The Witch in the Peepul Tree </i>is difficult to side step and compels the reader to ponder, if there is any redemption. There is, but in small measure. </p><p style="text-align: left;">It comes in the form of Dada Bhai, Sanaz's father. Dada Bhai is a visionary, a gentleman-hunter, who is about to lose his livelihood in the newly minted independent country. The story is set in 1950s Udaipur, Rajasthan. The hometown of the author, Arefa Tehsin, who borrows from her family history, to create the character of Dada Bhai. </p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">The novel, <i>The Witch in the Peepul Tree</i>, unfolds over
one day. But the background takes us into early years of Independence, when feudal, royals, nouveau rich, depressed, oppressed classes jostle with each other, to find their space under the sun. When we ask Arefa, how was it to go back in to time?</span><span lang="IT" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> She replies, "</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">I was captivated. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">A period novel requires a lot of research.
Fortunately, I had my family </span><span lang="IT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">– </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">my uncles,
aunts, my father and a few family friends to provide that information. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">I, especially, picked the brains of my uncle Riaz Tehsin
who was a visionary, educationist, humanitarian, veteran of folk arts and culture
and an institution in himself. He was a repository of knowledge of that era. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Those conversations with everyone </span><span lang="IT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">w</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">ere</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">quite
rewarding and have left me richer</span><span lang="IT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">." </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;"><span lang="IT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">The discussion, the seed of the story was germinated during the first Covid lockdown. When the outside chatter had died down, Arefa was '</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">ridiculously happy'. She and her husband, Aditya, live </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">in rustic cottage in a small island colony (</span><span lang="NL" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">in Colombo</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">) in the much loved company of snakes, monitor lizards, porcupines, mongooses, ducks, </span><span lang="IT" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">an occasional crocodile </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">or fishing cat and other denizens of the lake island. </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"> </span></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">"Writing totally suits
my solitary nature. And the lockdown suited it even more. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">While Aditya would
peacefully work in the garden or read, I would be transported to the 1950
Udaipur. I have chronic insomnia. Following a peaceful routine gave me
back my sleep. Being marooned in the cottage was the ideal time for me to write
my first novel for grown-ups.," she says. Arefa has written several novels for kids and teens, drawing them into the nature, to explore their surroundings. <i>The Witch in the Peepul Tree</i> is her first book for adults.</span></p>
<p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;"><span lang="IT" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> Arefa's works are often populated with several characters, each with a mind and purpose of his/her own. Do the characters ever go astray, we ask her.</o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p class="Default" style="line-height: 16.85pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">The characters in my
books have a mind of their own and always follow their own path. I end up
following them every time."</span></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: 16.85pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Nature has always been her muse and gives her hope. Arefa quotes Anne Frank ...'</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";">Where there’s hope,
there’s life.' I am always full of hope
and do not believe that we are living in a dark tunnel. There are difficulties
and challenges in every era. The human history is filled with examples of
overcoming the greatest of trials.</span></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;"><span lang="IT" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Default" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;"><span lang="IT" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: left;">Much like Dada Bhai, Parijat and Rao Sahib. A whiff of rose water is enough to be someone's panacea. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Name:</b> The Witch in the Peepul Tree</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Author:</b> Arefa Tehsin</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Publisher:</b> HarperCollins</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Pages:</b> 323</p><p style="text-align: left;">Price: Rs 399</p>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-50120455227999246132023-06-26T18:33:00.000+06:002023-06-26T18:34:21.929+06:00Book Review: Eleanor & Park<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Who said falling in love was easy?</b></p><p>Eleanor & Park ticks all the boxes of a YA novel -- a new girl in school and town; mean school kids who make her life difficult and an unlikely friend she meets on the school bus. There is music, there are comics, there is an abusive father and then there is another set of loving but strict parents.</p><p>Eleanor, the awkward 'big' girl with red hair, wearing a man's clothes with scarves, rings and ribbons just can't seem to fit in her school, in her new house or in Park Sheridan's normal household; Park the American-Asian kid, in his all black avataar seeks to stay under radar. When the two misfits meet, they can't stay away from each other. </p><p>Rainbow Rowell makes this tale of all-American teenagers universal with her exquisite writing and exploration of feelings. That one friend we all longed for in our seemingly difficult teenage years?Rainbow Rowell could fill in for that friend -- putting in words, naming those feelings and creating a world that is at once magical, special and then hurtful. </p><p>The story written by both Eleanor and Park, in turns, is a device that succeeds, allowing us to know what's churning on in their minds; you know what the boy thinks, what the girl thinks routine? Here it's more beautiful, heart-breaking than prosaic. Set in 1986 and published in 2012 and read in 2022 and again in 2023, the story breaks down barriers of insecurity, inferiority, fear and loneliness that we all carry in some measure. The generation gap dissolves. Swap mix tapes for YT recommendations, books for books/kindle edition, walkman for itunes, ipod or downloads and phone calls and letters for chats on any of the social media apps. Love and distance doesn't matter here. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgDhCEBm5Nw2XqSChvymR9rLsiiE2udzoSoJ-SLYX1ii3UyScQcKN340csSQAzMCOcGerCmLGdY2uqitLcD9JPpxYbn_AfP3rBzYbgSjhBwZ8SiqTdQA_CpkhUBy_KIrcpY-KXYDsx1kdsqoHorGAe-YV8HzEbKfsqzEQiuRZbEfQCR7Bq6ZhCGldScg/s210/Eleanor%20&%20Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="210" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgDhCEBm5Nw2XqSChvymR9rLsiiE2udzoSoJ-SLYX1ii3UyScQcKN340csSQAzMCOcGerCmLGdY2uqitLcD9JPpxYbn_AfP3rBzYbgSjhBwZ8SiqTdQA_CpkhUBy_KIrcpY-KXYDsx1kdsqoHorGAe-YV8HzEbKfsqzEQiuRZbEfQCR7Bq6ZhCGldScg/s1600/Eleanor%20&%20Park.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Name: </b>Eleanor & Park</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Author:</b> Rainbow Rowell</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Publisher: </b>Orion Fiction</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Pages:</b> 329 </div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-15345775650187026512023-06-12T19:04:00.009+06:002023-06-12T19:07:24.729+06:00Book Review: Rishi Kapoor Khullam Khulla (Uncensored)<p><b><i><span style="color: red;"><br />What makes him a star...</span></i></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Is there anything that stays 'undisclosed' in a celebrity's life? Something that can still shock and awe his fans or individuals who admire his body of work and the actor himself? It turns out that yes, some facts can stay carefully undisclosed, especially if you are an actor belonging to an earlier generation; or from a film family that's revered and members of the clan continue to work in one of the biggest film industry.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicplS8TNZ_-yc7kpY6zBVhikhQF0sivGVsAa8cZXmBNxFLFjmEeUu03gYP3ooAHYRXVbE-jxe2qdiONFe04Udy92JRx8oWpl0UznawLADJbwUvK7T2k_2fAaas5481CdBW5DpVHpB-q0Aeb_brZ9RjHe_4KqONCedt8ppn7QBo9_A7WQKfiZU5V4ld/s500/Khullam%20Khulla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicplS8TNZ_-yc7kpY6zBVhikhQF0sivGVsAa8cZXmBNxFLFjmEeUu03gYP3ooAHYRXVbE-jxe2qdiONFe04Udy92JRx8oWpl0UznawLADJbwUvK7T2k_2fAaas5481CdBW5DpVHpB-q0Aeb_brZ9RjHe_4KqONCedt8ppn7QBo9_A7WQKfiZU5V4ld/s320/Khullam%20Khulla.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p>Rishi Kapoor's memories penned in <i>Khullam Khulla</i> (co-authored by Meena Iyer, senior journalist) at times reveal and at times reinforce 'beliefs and opinions' about the Kapoor family. </p><p>His father's fondness for Nargis (actor) was known to everyone and Rishi's possessiveness for Dimple Kapadia (his co-star in Bobby) was also discussed in public domain. His recording of those aspects makes the account authentic. </p><p>With the unbaring of intrigues, rivalries, friendships (some gone sour) and family quirks, the memoirs could have attained a hagiography status. But that doesn't happen and for that we need to thank both Kapoor and Iyer. The writing is matter-of-fact, neither embellishing the actor's struggle with depression or the spats that he got into.</p><p>Somewhere in the book, Kapoor says this about the film industry and its people -- 'We do not all lead false and empty lives. Under all the tinsel and sparkle, there is heart and soul.' One tends to believe him. </p><p>And, now here's some trivia from <i>Khullam Khulla...</i></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Did you know Raj Kapoor was named Shrishti Nath Kapoor at birth? Later it was changed to Ranbir Raj Kapoor, which then became Raj Kapoor?</li><li>The blue eyes of the Kapoor family came from Raj Kapoor's mother Ramsarni Malhotra's side of family.</li><li>Rishi Kapoor was born and brought up in Matunga before he moved to Bandra and then Pali Hill.</li><li>Love blossomed between Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh when they were shooting for Kabhi Kabhi in 1975. Incidentally, Kapoor had earlier rejected the film, it was his uncle, Shashi Kapoor who convinced him to take up the role.</li></ul><div>Name: Rishi Kapoor Khullam Khulla (Uncensored)</div><div>Authors: Rishi Kapoor and Meena Iyer</div><div>Publisher: HarperCollins</div><div>Pages: 256</div><div>Price: Rs 399</div><p></p><p> </p>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-40608673296513099162023-06-05T18:18:00.005+06:002023-06-06T00:36:08.033+06:00Book Review: Murder at the Mushaira<h1 style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="background-color: red; font-size: large;">Ghalib goes detecting</span></i></h1><p><br /></p><p> When presented with 'What if?', the 'scenario' conjures up numerous possibilities making it an interesting proposition to delve in. What if Mirza Ghalib was a detective? Isn't this enough to hook a reader? We bet so.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5iqDHRzrdzAm3K2LLcNgRFsU5dT-e_-6Jh9vYtEp0PqMLL13v_Gu9QXBGhdjIl6g9LYT9eu7KzOVWc9n32Q7LxM5pEgWyK-JiukCGS_CgbcnLhMBmXw5sLodQJlwtZfe_ujZde0MnrwB9UD7rJph0DvzxqLMaZhSJQeh26sxPXVFL9_4n87i3YPl/s1000/Murder%20at%20the%20Mushaira.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="684" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5iqDHRzrdzAm3K2LLcNgRFsU5dT-e_-6Jh9vYtEp0PqMLL13v_Gu9QXBGhdjIl6g9LYT9eu7KzOVWc9n32Q7LxM5pEgWyK-JiukCGS_CgbcnLhMBmXw5sLodQJlwtZfe_ujZde0MnrwB9UD7rJph0DvzxqLMaZhSJQeh26sxPXVFL9_4n87i3YPl/s320/Murder%20at%20the%20Mushaira.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>Thus it is with great interest that we began reading <i>Murder at the Mushaira</i>, and we were not disappointed. Raza Mir, the author, toyed with the possibility of envisioning Ghalib as a detective for nearly 15 years. What we get in <i>Murder at the Mushaira </i>is not a racy whodunit, but more than a peek into the life and times of Ghalib, the Mughal court, the nobility and the sepoys who tried to overthrow the East India Company.<p></p><p>The novel is set against the backdrop of First War of Independence and it begins at a point when the 'night is too silent' and ends with a gunshot with the horse rider thrown away from his mount. Who is the horse rider and what is his mission? At that time, Shahjahanabad is a city brewing with tension, intrigue, an activated network of spies and informants and the common people resenting the overreach of the Company officials.</p><p>Amidst all this, a facade has to be maintained, those in power have to be courted, the good wine has to be drunk, lavish spread to be partaken of and couplets of love and longing have to be recited. It is at one such <i>mushaira</i> or a poetry soiree, hosted by Nawab Ifthikar Hasan that Sukhan Khairabadi, a poet, is found murdered. Almost immediately, hell breaks loose. </p><p>Khairabadi, a bully and a lesser poet, unpopular with the servants of Nawab Ifthikar, is important to the British. The 'why' is revealed slowly, presenting to us a society that has gone to seed and how the nobles kowtow before the next batch of rulers.</p><p>The characters that take the story forward are both familiar and unfamiliar. Ghalib, of course, is a familiar name recast in a new avatar and so is Ramchandra Mathur, a science teacher. The Poet Laureate of the Land turns to Mathur, so as to ascertain what befell Khairabadi. In time, Mathur becomes Ghalib's confabulate on the murder and the 'mission' that they eventually team up for. Mathur lived in that period, but as Mir said, not much is known about the association between him and Ghalib. Mohan Lal Zutshi, another historical figure, is imagined in the novel as one of the key ally of the sepoys.</p><p>Mir in recreating the bygone era, succeeds in keeping the tone of the novel relevant. At a time when various social media handles churn out Ghalib's poetry, post photos of Purani Dilli, heritage tours promise a walk in the past, the mention of Tomb of Sarmad, Ballimaran, Safdarjung in <i>Murder at the Mushaira, </i>makes the setting so much more personal and riveting. After all, no one can deny that history is personal. </p><p>Name: Murder at the Mushaira</p><p>Author: Raza Mir</p><p>Publisher: Aleph Book Company</p><p>Pages: 344</p><p>Price: Rs 999</p><p><br /></p>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-64522753205129957942023-05-09T18:13:00.001+06:002023-05-09T18:13:18.136+06:00Call of the Jungle<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Every
morning we wake up to doom and gloom -- the unseasonal rainfall, the floods,
the drought, disappearing mangroves, urban forests being mowed down, the dip and
the sudden rise in temperature and the illnesses that come with it. What is the
world coming to? Can we put a stop to it? Perhaps; for the answer lies within
us.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In contrast,
Iora’s world seems radiant – the trees are tall, the woods are deep, and so
colourful with greens and blues, talking birds and animals. Why not? She lives
in Twitterland, a hidden rainforest, with hardly any communication with the outside
world. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But you see
the jungle is also doomed, as Iora discovers. The evil forces are dominant and
her father’s life is in danger. She has to quickly track down the Five Angels
and elusive Spirit of Jungle and get them to meet at Scar-faced lake, on a
moonless night. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For the
first time in her 11 years, Iora steps out of Twitterland, but she is not
alone. A dwarf Beetle and her friend-rival, Owlus keep her company. A wise ape,
Baba tries to protect them from the dark forces; and then comes along Chinar, a
young human boy lost in Twitterland. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In this
utterly riveting and captivating journey, the travelers ducking from dangers, deception
and thrilling escapades, imbibe important lessons – trust, sacrifice, patience,
unity -- along the way. Some answers are always found within, as Iora learns.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Excerpt<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red;">“Whatever his
motivation, Iora, we must thank Owlus for saving our lives. And since we are
stuck together, it’s better to carry on as friends.” Without waiting for a
response, Beetle went on, “We don’t have a lot of time before next moonless
night and our task is yet to be completed.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>Name:</b> Iora and the Quest of Five</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>Author:</b> Arefa Tehsin</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>Publisher:</b> Crimson Dragon Publishing, USA</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>Pages:</b> 212</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>Price:</b> Rs 139 (Paperback)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>Genre:</b> YA Supernatural</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">(This book review was first published by Amritabharati)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixt7HGuhDeB1SsouqHqE9lJFWK5gxRPA8AOvN-S1aRQnfaKYfy2UdA1DvdQD7pLmErovPB_e4S6Bo0dCwSJ8AUZBeztdV87tQlFY_XvR5vG443v79ow6VMu1XBN_dIigSY3ju1UEEMMjESRyXZzUNcmiNHgdy3NmZ97mPPf8d5cA95uNgAWJmXqLEE/s2457/Iora%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2457" data-original-width="1642" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixt7HGuhDeB1SsouqHqE9lJFWK5gxRPA8AOvN-S1aRQnfaKYfy2UdA1DvdQD7pLmErovPB_e4S6Bo0dCwSJ8AUZBeztdV87tQlFY_XvR5vG443v79ow6VMu1XBN_dIigSY3ju1UEEMMjESRyXZzUNcmiNHgdy3NmZ97mPPf8d5cA95uNgAWJmXqLEE/s320/Iora%201.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><br /></span></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-47820402860392432672023-05-09T17:59:00.001+06:002023-05-09T18:01:51.141+06:00Mumbai Meri Jaan…<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here’s a
quiz for you: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">a)</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">•</span></span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In which hotel did American author,
Mark Twain stay when he arrived in Bombay? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">b)</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">•</span><span style="font-size: 9.33333px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Which Mumbai school has a natural
history museum section?</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">c)</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">•</span><span style="font-size: 9.33333px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Do you know who was the architect of
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus?</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">d)</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">• </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">What is the old name of Horniman
circle?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you are
curious to find out the answers, pick up Fiona Fernandez’s H For Heritage
Mumbai. It brings to life the people, roads and landmarks of Mumbai that have
shaped the Maximum City, as we know it today. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There have
been several books that have tried to capture the essence of the capital city
of Maharashtra; what makes it tick; what makes its people so resilient. Fernandez
tries to go beyond the clichés and describes vividly the pockets comprising
different worlds that co-exist in one bustling metropolis -- from Mahim to
Bandra and from Colaba and Khotachiwadi to Mahalaxmi and Borivali and Worli in
between. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">H for
Heritage Mumbai is packed with cool facts and eye-catching illustrations and
Fernandez, a journalist, digs deep to unravel a world which tells us that all
the communities who made the city their home, contributed to it in ways, big
and small. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">They built ponds,
planted trees, identified birds, set up schools, colleges, markets, monuments
and places of worship. Fernandez love for Mumbai is infectious and pleasurable
and readers of all ages are bound to feel that emotion. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Excerpt<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9TYyE1DCYuCJANZDNYfz-QvUWjoa8SRW4yYcHj2AEyZg4VdRtLuPj0JqzYjduAkKtbszQhDbBjmxJHwO6wzmroLUAy0GkCeGnROFnGPtN23e71GK5UFX1U5YyhI70Gawd37lsyOwUGz7ap2s97F2GBS_RImL-yjnT6iJwbHSVNE9HTpgOeDhxKIO/s880/image002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="880" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9TYyE1DCYuCJANZDNYfz-QvUWjoa8SRW4yYcHj2AEyZg4VdRtLuPj0JqzYjduAkKtbszQhDbBjmxJHwO6wzmroLUAy0GkCeGnROFnGPtN23e71GK5UFX1U5YyhI70Gawd37lsyOwUGz7ap2s97F2GBS_RImL-yjnT6iJwbHSVNE9HTpgOeDhxKIO/s320/image002.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: red;"><br />S for Sion:
Entry point to Bombay<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red;">On a conical
hill in Sion on Salsette Island is a seventeenth-century fort built by the
British forces since the area stood at an important connecting point between
Salsette and Bombay. The fort acted as a vantage point in case enemies decided
to attack the Bombay islands. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Name: H for
Heritage Mumbai<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Author:
Fiona Fernandez<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Publisher:
HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pages: 103<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Price: Rs
499 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(This book review was first published by Amritabharati)</span></p><span style="color: red;"></span><p></p>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-90742255496047496272023-04-29T19:32:00.002+06:002023-04-29T19:34:10.779+06:00In search of his identity<p><b><i> A Man From Motihari. </i></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-58Dnn1LchBUozVzKVUr1CJ9fbCOnJk92w-rjSn5R2YCAuAyJvwTlm4cODhbA7gNOuqSoAAGJDA2ORMJ4Gqav795Mc6_r-PqsvzvRIuMX3JYdSCbcuTEegLQvOxIAanHR5uRrda0r3r1Jj272wdZI4GHHGrpkUCtuM90fZyaag-zssDhHg0pSSEkZ/s4926/Man%20from%20Motihari%2010MB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3508" data-original-width="4926" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-58Dnn1LchBUozVzKVUr1CJ9fbCOnJk92w-rjSn5R2YCAuAyJvwTlm4cODhbA7gNOuqSoAAGJDA2ORMJ4Gqav795Mc6_r-PqsvzvRIuMX3JYdSCbcuTEegLQvOxIAanHR5uRrda0r3r1Jj272wdZI4GHHGrpkUCtuM90fZyaag-zssDhHg0pSSEkZ/s320/Man%20from%20Motihari%2010MB.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />You will not be far off the mark, if this title reminds you of George Orwell. Eric Arthur Blair, the noted English novelist better known as George Orwell, was born in Motihari. And so was Aslam Sher Khan, the protagonist of <i>A Man From Motihari</i>. The connection doesn't end here...Aslam was delivered in the same bungalow where Orwell was born; Aslam's delivery was aided by a midwife, who was Orwell's nanny. This 'Lady in White' has constant presence in Aslam's life, something like a talisman. <p></p><p>But no, this is not a novel redolent of ghosts stories. Or shall we say it, <i>A Man From Motihari</i> is not the conventional ghost story. Instead its author Abdullah Khan touches upon the 'ghosts' of Babri Masjid, Godhra riots, bomb blasts in Varanasi, the agitation against Citizenship Amendment Act, all seen through the eyes of Aslam Sher Khan, a banker and an aspiring writer from small town India. </p><p>Khan has deftly woven the past and present of our socio-political fabric and forces us to think on our choices, friendship, patriotism and eventually our identity as a nation. There is no suspense, no smoke screen, but plain speaking which pinches us, when we step into the protagonist's shoes for a moment.</p><p>Interestingly, the author measures Aslam through the eyes of his women characters - Aslam's wife Heba, his daughter Kainat, his Bhabhi and his friendship turning into love for Jessica. We see Aslam rise, falter and then rise again, allowing the readers to explore his world, free from blinkers. A rare gift that has to be treasured.</p><p><br /></p><p>Name: A Man From Motihari</p><p>Author: Abdullah Khan</p><p>Pages: 332</p><p>Publisher: Penguin Random House India</p><p><br /></p><p>----------</p><p><b>Abdullah Khan</b> tells us more about <i></i><i>A Man From Motihari</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPch33l-MCskXW2pfHS8zY7dsreVa7JabpN02VuxeXVh_G1CTFMDeZzkc9o2bcdhJr6SKzl-PIcIWR9i9qPASaRJvyw3A5ItWxN7rU7tTg5S6f5SQtfYBvVDTZfINJHGJHXe2OsdgRQx2r4ge9SgcMIHRl56Dkibpi-wBi1-cBY_IJjOiM9ApR8MMj/s1280/IMG-20230420-WA0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1122" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPch33l-MCskXW2pfHS8zY7dsreVa7JabpN02VuxeXVh_G1CTFMDeZzkc9o2bcdhJr6SKzl-PIcIWR9i9qPASaRJvyw3A5ItWxN7rU7tTg5S6f5SQtfYBvVDTZfINJHGJHXe2OsdgRQx2r4ge9SgcMIHRl56Dkibpi-wBi1-cBY_IJjOiM9ApR8MMj/s320/IMG-20230420-WA0013.jpg" width="281" /></a></i></div><i><br /><br /></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Do you
think <i>A Man from Motihari</i> mirrors your struggle when you wrote your first book,
<i>Patna Blues</i>?</b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Not exactly. But, to a great extent Asalm’s
struggles to get published is similar to mine. However, I have given
dramatic twists to certain incidents. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>In <i>A Man from Motihari</i> you
went a little deep, interpreting the various sects of Islam for the layman. Tell us more about it. </b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">No story exists in a vacuum and the
characters are expected to be impacted by the socio-cultural and political
changes taking place around them. Hence, I
decided to include the details about the existing faultlines within Muslim
society, in addition to depicting the contemporary political situation in the
country.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>You have
been away from the small town life for a while now. How do you ensure that when
you are looking back – through the setting of your novels – that you are being
objective and not nostalgic?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">I spent the first 25 years of my life in small towns
and villages, and later for almost a decade, as an officer of a public
sector bank, I kept traveling from one small town to another small town across
the country. I am currently based in Mumbai, but I visit my hometown at least
once a year. Thus, I am still connected with my roots.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>How was
it to see/write your character through the eyes of women – the midwife,
Aslam’s mother, Heba and Jessica?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Initially, I was scared and didn’t know how to
handle it. But, then, one well known Kenyan writer gave valuable tips and assured
me that I need not worry too much. According to her, the writing process for a
male character and a female character are not different. After all, both are human beings. Plus, my
wife, Tarannum, is always there to share her feedback on the manuscript and
especially on female characters. Wherever Tarannum felt I was going wrong, I
made changes.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Which of
George Orwell’s works resonates with you the most? And, what would he think
about your book?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">I loved all his novels and non-fiction works. But,
my most favourites are <i>Burmese Days</i> and<i> Animal Farm </i>in the fiction category.
Among non-fiction, I liked <i>Homage is Catalonia</i>, Orwell’s account of the
Spanish civil war, the most. I believe that Orwell would have liked my attempt
to address the issue of identities and marginalisation through my novels. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Finally,
did Covid have a role to play in the writing of this novel? How did you deal
with it?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">During the pandemic, I was too disturbed to write
anything significant. A couple of tragedies in my family kept me preoccupied
mentally and I could not write much. This novel was written in 2021 and I took
less than eight months to finish it.<o:p></o:p></p><p><br /></p>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-84550721595972752522023-01-11T18:19:00.004+06:002023-01-18T12:07:31.564+06:00Summer’s song<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(This book review was first written for Amritabharati)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Summer’s Song</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMQui7NqEyE7_CxCk9bg_DsNmkO47c0wqlYdvetN3tFO42Nl5qEaYH6gQwNGB7OAkf_FEVPE9nzpwBx5FbmHGN2EKpfDcyo7wfTVEKfVd37RdiNEtf523wdwOJS20U7u727P9JSyD98tiR1yiQATvEEvqsq1610yd7q4rFl9gfbj2XIZkyKk845YK/s1360/Bena's%20Summer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="880" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMQui7NqEyE7_CxCk9bg_DsNmkO47c0wqlYdvetN3tFO42Nl5qEaYH6gQwNGB7OAkf_FEVPE9nzpwBx5FbmHGN2EKpfDcyo7wfTVEKfVd37RdiNEtf523wdwOJS20U7u727P9JSyD98tiR1yiQATvEEvqsq1610yd7q4rFl9gfbj2XIZkyKk845YK/s320/Bena's%20Summer.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Title: Bena’s Summer<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Author: Shibal Bhartiya<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Pages: 247<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren’s Books</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">From its
first page, Bena’s Summer draws you into a world that is fast fading away -- of
innocence, believing in and doing the good, trust and happiness. The story is a
visual treat of a summer that promises fun with cousins, climbing trees, eating
raw mangoes and reveling in the pleasure of having outsmarted elders.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Set
somewhere in the 80s, Bena’s Summer travels to Gaya in Bihar, where her paternal
relatives stay in Altamash Manzil and later to Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, where
her maternal grandparents and aunt live. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A largely autbobiographical story of Shibal
Bhartiya, her protagonist Bena or Benzair Altamash is a precocious eight-year-old.
Bena is generous to a fault and believes in the goodness of all; sometimes she
does stumble and makes an unkind remark, but apologises straight from the heart
when she realises her mistake. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The idyll
charm of Bena’s vacation is disrupted by unsavoury episodes which are a test of
everyone’s faith. Yet everyone rises to the occasion, notwithstanding a heart
break and broken limb or two. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Bena’s
Summer is a modern tale of family quibbles, holding on to traditions, social
niceties, friends and neighbours turning overnight into foes, frayed
socio-political fabric and how it could be set correct. All you need is faith and
a ramrod spine to side with the right. Benazir Altamash has it in plenty.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red;">Excerpt<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red;">What’s
wrong, Bibbi Khala, a scared Bena asked. Meer huddled into his mother’s lap.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red;">Your Baba’s
train hasn’t reached Patna yet, and Mama is worried.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red;">Mama, Baba
said he won’t reach till 4 pm, said Bena, it’s only noon! Yes, said Mama. He
should be almost out of the zone now, Mama said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red;">Yes, of
course Baji, said Bibbi Khala. Let’s all pray, Mama suggested.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red;">Bena was
shocked. She had never seen her mom pray. Like ever. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-85742080831450035192023-01-11T18:13:00.003+06:002023-01-11T18:13:42.390+06:00Right there…behind you<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(This book review was first written for Amritabharati)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XTbX8aj0jBvn3tIu0xTwtaNpV50Ye973XLq5qPcNkQBspMoGPY-YnQrdiAJGlrJ-VQZ0ExM7nCE9Qz67NMaLkNEHdyFIIYQ-UeOwJfjpMCvirYgHHu-k_k4wBUIh5047W4mPnXJmRzXj71zp6PkzYt1QHJO9vSeI79v8QP1Q2sDW2e-G1397k85s/s1360/Saira%20Zariwala%20is%20Afraid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="880" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XTbX8aj0jBvn3tIu0xTwtaNpV50Ye973XLq5qPcNkQBspMoGPY-YnQrdiAJGlrJ-VQZ0ExM7nCE9Qz67NMaLkNEHdyFIIYQ-UeOwJfjpMCvirYgHHu-k_k4wBUIh5047W4mPnXJmRzXj71zp6PkzYt1QHJO9vSeI79v8QP1Q2sDW2e-G1397k85s/s320/Saira%20Zariwala%20is%20Afraid.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><b>Title:</b> Saira Zariwala is Afraid<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><b>Author:</b> Shabnam Minwalla<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><b>Pages: </b>352<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><b>Publisher:</b> HarperCollins Children’s Book<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Right
there…behind you</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">An ordinary
school girl’s life gets enmeshed with wannabe stars, the rich and happening set
of Mumbai and the result is an edge-of-the-seat whodunit murder mystery. Saira
Zariwala gets a silver iphone for her 15<sup>th</sup> birthday, but her
excitement is elbowed out when she realises that her mobile number previously
belonged to one Akaash and all the messages that pour in are for him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">‘Who is
Akaash and where is he?’ Saira wonders as the evil forces quickly zero in on
the teenager, who at first, is clueless about her role in the scheme of things.
Saira’s history of panic attacks, protective parents, her outwardly cool but
watchful elder brother, and a set of school friends and frenenemies keep the plot
churning <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in Saira Zariwala is Afraid</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The book
teems with characters, but not one is ‘unnecessary’ in terms of plotline. They
all add to the atmospherics of the story and succeed in creating the scary,
spooky adventure. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Saira Zariwala is
Afraid</i>, which won the Atta Galata, Bangalore Lit Fest’s Best Young Adult
Book 2021, gives us a peek into the pressures and insecurities that the
youngsters these days deal with and how they try to stay afloat. It also has
its sweet and laugh out loud moments with the author, Shabnam Minwalla,
capturing the banter of school kids through her writing. All in all, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Saira Zariwala is Afraid</i> is an unputdownable
book. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: red; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Excerpt <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: red; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I don’t know
what came first – the fear or the footsteps. But suddenly, I realised two
things. That somebody was watching me intently. And that someone was walking
towards me from behind. I glanced nervously over my shoulder and saw two
figures looming in my direction.</span></p>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-61094629414505314722022-03-29T18:39:00.007+06:002022-07-19T19:34:48.435+06:00'Not be able to write the books you had longed to...'<p><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">Three years to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown has taught us all many a lesson, that (hopefully) will not be forgotten in a hurry. Amidst all the changes that we have lived through -- WFH to WFA, hybrid work models, 'new normal', and connecting with almost the entire world online -- here are some stories of how those in the creative field plodded on.</span></p><p><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">Here's a series with authors and artists on how the virus affected their productivity. We start off with Deepa Agarwal, a prolific writer, poet, who has written for children and adults. Read on...<br /><b><br /></b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHs7v11Z1P_6JbsYkrnoyyE_akQ-Yn_H4WZbP4wjkErVpBcGVBB2rE92B-cFcJRZooVih_uCMnv-ZPIyt3hp6HqcpsLGyYg1q_bhOuNP3O9TTBqnEMB2R8qzDg8pw29bcRJSP9Y_emQOV7cEbUDmwpR8QETjPNobKL-fYavOnEDvK4rKslbMg-8DA5/s4995/IMG_9490.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4995" data-original-width="3628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHs7v11Z1P_6JbsYkrnoyyE_akQ-Yn_H4WZbP4wjkErVpBcGVBB2rE92B-cFcJRZooVih_uCMnv-ZPIyt3hp6HqcpsLGyYg1q_bhOuNP3O9TTBqnEMB2R8qzDg8pw29bcRJSP9Y_emQOV7cEbUDmwpR8QETjPNobKL-fYavOnEDvK4rKslbMg-8DA5/s320/IMG_9490.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">Many publishing
houses hosted interactive online sessions to connect readers with their
authors. How was your experience?</b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">There were several requests from publishers for
sessions with schools and on social media like Facebook and Insta Live
interviews. There were also requests for pre recorded videos. Not only
publishers but other writers, book stores, reading groups and various
organisations and individuals contacted me. Schools too, requested workshops
and author interactions on their own. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Personally, I prefer a face-to-face session
with kids since you can connect better. However, it was the only possibility at
this time and as an author I was conscious of the necessity to stay engaged
with my audience. It was a mixed experience. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Some sessions were excellent, in
others the teachers were not able to control the kids, which is understandable
or there were technical issues. In the social media sessions, the audience
varied. Often there was a combination of children and adults, so the comments varied
too. The one advantage I found was that it was possible to reach out to a much
larger audience and since some of the videos were put up on You Tube it was
possible for interested people to find them later at leisure. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">But I must
mention that there were issues concerning the honorarium writers usually
receive. Some schools did not want to pay even a token amount or made promises
to prescribe books for supplementary readers which they did not fulfil.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Could you manage to
stick to your writing routine during the lockdowns and unlocking period?</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">It was extremely
hard. When the lockdown began, I was faced with the deadline for my book </span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Kashmir!
Kashmir!</i><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> and had to force myself to get on with it. After the manuscript
was submitted, I could not think of starting another book but making videos
turned out to be a stress buster in an odd way. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Then I decided to compile my collection
of poetry for adults which had been getting postponed and that brought some
sense of accomplishment because the book </span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Forgotten Kaleidoscopes</i><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> was
eventually published last year. As a writer who is constantly working on
something or the other, it was demoralising for me to experience this kind of
block, particularly because at my age you are conscious of the passage of time
and the fact that you might leave incomplete manuscripts behind and not be able
to write the books you had longed to. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">After I got Covid it was worse because it
took a long time to recover the energy to sit at my desk and my output remained
very low. I still haven’t been able to return to my old routine but have learnt
to be grateful that I am still writing, though slowly.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Would covid and the
dystopian reality we lived through find their way in some of your work at some
point?</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">It definitely will.
I do have one short story on the lockdown in </span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Kashmir</i><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">! </span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Kashmir</i><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">!
and have made some outlines for others. Some writers managed to produce
excellent work during the epidemic, but it has been difficult for me. I need to
distance myself to get the right perspective.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" lang="EN-IN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Did you write for
yourself during these three years to seek hope or introspect?</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN-IN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Well, most of my
writing is actually for myself, even if I put it out in the world. When I was
able to write, it was a way of coping with the all-pervasive anxiety. My poetry
helped me to introspect and writing at least one story with a happy ending
enabled me to hang on to hope for an end to this nightmare. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Were your views of
the health or human crisis in conflict as a writer and as a common person?</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN-IN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">These two parts of
me are inseparable. However, when writing for children you do tend to tone down
some of your stronger views or harsher judgements. At the same time, these will
find their way into my writing for adults.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-4052817012943649682021-03-11T18:22:00.001+06:002022-07-21T18:15:47.338+06:00Kashmir! Kashmir!: Tales that will make you empathise<p style="text-align: center;"> Ambika Shaligram</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Is there a kid in your class who has a natural aptitude for running? Well, Zainab would be happy to meet them, to pick a tip or two. You see, Zainab has done her school proud by winning a race. </p><p style="text-align: left;">And, then there is Bashir, who is pro at football, looking forward to his next match. Bet, you have another friend who is equally good at the sport. Oh yes, you should meet Rehman too, who might not be good at cricket like his friends. But he is at home on a sled, racing far ahead of his friends on the snow laden hilly tracks.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Maryam is inquisitive, always ready to talk and ask questions. Anam is a little shy, but has a way with words, the written, of course. Sajid wants to be something else, not a salesman, like his father. For the life of him, Sajid can't press upon the visitors to Dal Lake to buy pretty stuff. It is necessary, how else will they earn their livelihood, his father tries to impress upon Sajid.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-08eqAoxh6es/YEn3RVjF5-I/AAAAAAAAYFs/AeEDBKj4zyAGNj_rKLliEtQa_qbgoUtfACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Kashmir%2BKashmir_final%2Bfront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1324" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-08eqAoxh6es/YEn3RVjF5-I/AAAAAAAAYFs/AeEDBKj4zyAGNj_rKLliEtQa_qbgoUtfACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Kashmir%2BKashmir_final%2Bfront.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>These kids, alongwith a few others, feature in a clutch of nine stories written by Deepa Agarwal in her latest book, <i>Kashmir! Kashmir! </i>Published by Scholastic India, the book paints Kashmir in colours of saffron spice, weaves of kani shawl, rogan josh, and apples, presenting to the readers a culture that is not widely known. We know Kashmir through the news -- of militancy, stone pelters, low internet connectivity, abrogation of Article 370, closure of schools. All of this is all covered in <i>Kashmir! Kashmir!</i> But the twist lies in the tales, each one achingly poignant, the characters who we hope to meet someday in flesh and blood when we travel next to the region are a testimony to Agarwal's empathetic writing. <p></p><p style="text-align: left;">The elements of spirits, of thrill, fear, shame, love and longing have been superbly crafted into the stories by Agarwal and they linger on long after we have finished reading the stories, because we all have touched base with these emotions at some point in our lives and come out stronger. <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Agarwal, who has written over 50 books for both adults and children, has written this one for children and teenagers. But like all good books, <i>Kashmir! Kashmir! </i>transcends categories and labels and is bound to touch a chord with the adults too.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Name: <i>Kashmir! Kashmir!</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">Author: Deepa Agarwal</p><p style="text-align: left;">Publisher: Scholastic India</p><p style="text-align: left;">Pages: 136</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-30719800724092780492021-03-03T13:47:00.035+06:002022-07-21T18:18:34.683+06:00Girls and the City: Dishing out unpalatable truth<p>Ambika Shaligram</p><p>Food and all the closest adjectives that make up the culinary world grab you in Manreet Sodhi Someshwar's <i>Girls and the City</i>. It tosses you around, lets you simmer a bit, and sets you out on a plate to chew and ruminate. </p><p>There's Reshma Talwar, who loves her Butter Chicken, but in her heart she's afraid of being called the <i>gori moti bhains</i>, a scar from her teenage years. JJ or Juhi Jha, on the other hand, easily tucks into large quantities of food, stays back late in office because the company picks up food tab if you stay back beyond the prescribed hours for work reasons. She knows hunger and intimately so, scrounging off pots for the last grain of rice or trying to hide a roti in her <i>salwar</i>, away from the males in the family who dig in their meals for second and third helping. </p><p>And, then there is Leela Lakshmi, who has lot on her plate. An abusive father, an abusive relationship, from which she has tenaciously build a happy life for her daughter, Nani or Nayanika and herself. They are well-fed, but Leela never knows when she has to fall back on her Plan Z, if she is unable to retain her freelance assignment with Royal Foods via DreamCom. She is handling the communications brief for DreamCom whose biggest and oldest client is Royal Foods. All the three protagonists live and work in Bengaluru.</p><p>The three are work colleagues, with Reshma being the marketing lead for McMaster's Consultants, which is advising Royal Foods on where they are going wrong. Juhi is the trainee at DreamCom and is working closely with Leela. Kieren Warrior, a desi from America and Reshma's boss, who has gone vegetarian in India, completes the table. </p><p>However, food is only one of the ingredient that goes into making of <i>Girls and the City</i>. The title definitely has a recall value (we are not saying which one) and may pass off as a generic at first. It's only later when the background stories of the characters interfere with their present, that you realise that all the little, big secrets that the girls are harbouring, could be your or mine stories. We all have come from different towns and tier-two cities to a metro city, to prove a mark, to climb a social or corporate ladder, to escape guilt...to find peace.</p><p>What if the girls from Unnao had lived? Would they have become Juhi, who is mocked as <i>gori ganwar </i>in her office? In the book, Juhi hails from Unnao. Reshma's father has been murdered and Leela is braving all stigmas that a single woman/parent faces. Their stories stem from the headlines of our newspapers...of gangrape, abuse, bullying, sexually molested, preyed upon in office. That's what makes Reshma, Juhi and Leela are real. And, their experiences in Bengaluru, in fact it could be any city, become unpalatable for the readers at times. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QRxUzBMGfQc/YD89ew_aVeI/AAAAAAAAX28/ZzLsRc2gKh49XXlk4oggExzbz33J_ckOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Girls%2Band%2Bthe%2BCity.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1335" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QRxUzBMGfQc/YD89ew_aVeI/AAAAAAAAX28/ZzLsRc2gKh49XXlk4oggExzbz33J_ckOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Girls%2Band%2Bthe%2BCity.jpg" /></a></div><b>Title:</b> Girls and the City<p></p><p><b>Author:</b> Manreet Sodhi Someshwar</p><p><b>Publisher:</b> HarperCollins</p><p><b>Pages:</b> 351</p><p><b>Price:</b> Rs 399<br /></p>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-53086496402934164062021-01-14T11:22:00.004+06:002021-03-12T18:17:40.512+06:00There is something more to Ruby Rauf <p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">By Ambika Shaligram</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WDe5zs1Dd1k/X__TwjEArAI/AAAAAAAAXL8/I7GPR49s90wR2dQ0ua7Fxrc0AcysF2dtACLcBGAsYHQ/s502/image001.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; font-size: 14pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="308" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WDe5zs1Dd1k/X__TwjEArAI/AAAAAAAAXL8/I7GPR49s90wR2dQ0ua7Fxrc0AcysF2dtACLcBGAsYHQ/w216-h320/image001.jpg" width="216" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><b>Name:</b> The Impeccable Integrity of Ruby R<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><b>Author: </b>Moni Mohsin<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><b>Publisher:</b> Penguin Random House India<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><b>Pages:</b> 276</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s very
easy to assume that Moni Mohsin’s latest work, <i>The Impeccable Integrity of Ruby
R</i> has no surprises. On the surface, Ruby Rauf comes across as a familiar
character, a person we know. One who has aimed high, but inevitably has her
fall from grace. An industrious student studying in London, Ruby is working
hard towards her Master’s degree so that she can grab a job back home in
Pakistan and lead a comfortable life which was snatched from her and her mother,
when her father passed away. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">In London, she
happens to attend a speech by Saif Haq, a has-been actor, who is testing waters
in Pakistan's politics. He still has charisma, good looks and convinces Ruby into
quitting her degree and returning home to work as the social media manager for
his political party, Integrity. Of course there are other compelling reasons
for Ruby taking up the offer, which everyone in the subcontinent can relate to,
especially those who have no access to power, to correct the wrongs done to
them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">That’s how
Ruby starts out, earnestly believing that Saif can and would be a harbinger of
change. Slowly but surely Ruby changes hues, coming to believe that the end
justifies the means. She acquires predatory wings, swooping down on those who
try to mock/question Saif on social media. This is where The Impeccable
Integrity…scores. The conflicts, the chasm and the hope harboured by the masses
described by Mohsin in the book are not unfamiliar. It’s easier to draw
comparisons to what is happening in our country; the devouts vs the questioners/non-believers,
patriots vs betrayers that one encounters while navigating the moral and
political minefield on Twitter and elsewhere on social media. Unless we are a
troll ourselves, we can only haphazard how the troll and abuse machinery works.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Written with
a light yet witty approach by Mohsin, known for her popular<i> Butterfly series</i>, <i>The
Impeccable Integrity of Ruby Rauf</i> makes sense of the world that is manipulated
by political machinery. It is cleverly written and there is something more to
the straightforward story of Ruby.</span></p>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-25268414122686270112020-12-03T19:11:00.002+06:002022-07-21T18:23:58.683+06:00One for the road<p> </p>The Postscript book review was first published in Sakal Times<br /><div class="arr--story-page-card-wrapper"><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p>Ambika Shaligram <br /></p><p>There
is no single template to deal with death, the mind-numbing grief and
that aching sense of loss. Holly was comforted by the letters that her
husband, Gerry Kennedy managed to deliver to her after his death.
Cecelia Ahern’s PS, I Love You was all mush, lump in your throat, kind
of story. Perfect love of Gerry and Holly, one would say. The letters
always signed off with ‘PS, I Love You’ guided Holly to rediscover
herself. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jmkl6KYXKYM/X8jjk9R47TI/AAAAAAAAWv8/PvSsPZeD5NoQAZ0cHno-10aPWXmBPYAuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Postscript.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1377" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jmkl6KYXKYM/X8jjk9R47TI/AAAAAAAAWv8/PvSsPZeD5NoQAZ0cHno-10aPWXmBPYAuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Postscript.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p>Postscript
is the PS to this book and opens to Holly’s life seven years after
Gerry’s death and six years after she received his letters, one for
every month. Those who have read the first book (and watched the movie
as well) and found it concluding on the right note, would definitely be
wary of Postscript. What more could it say about death and healing?
Turns out, quite a lot.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p>Seemingly
personal gestures can invite a chain of action and reaction as Holly
discovers. A group of terminally ill patients form PS, I Love You club
and request Holly to help them write letters for their loved ones. Holly
is reluctant because she doesn’t want to be sucked back into the vortex
of grief that she has left behind.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p>Holly
is now working with Ciara (her sister) in her second-hand goods shop. She is
thinking of moving in with Gabriel when this proposal comes through and
Holly finds herself in the midst of adventures of leaving packets and
letters, shooting videos for Bert, Paul, Joy and Ginika. Their stories
of illness, of dread (of being forgotten), of making the most of the
days they have, are inspiring, emotional and dare we say manipulative.
Every turn of phrase and puns, coined cleverly and sensitively by Ahern
bring us close to a sob. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p>The
one story that actually shapes Holly’s life again is that of Ginika,
16-year-old mother to a baby girl, Jewel. She is dying of cervical
cancer, and if spunk alone could have vanquished the Big C, then Ginika
would have become a cancer survivor long back. She has trouble reading
and writing and therefore wants Holly to teach her how to write a
letter. One letter reminding Jewel of the time they spent dancing
together to ‘Incy Wincy Spider’ in the bath, things that scare her,
things that made her laugh, is all that Ginika wants to leave behind.
Others have planned more elaborate stuff, for their wives, kids –
driving lessons, piano lessons and even their ‘presence’ at their
daughter’s wedding rehearsal. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p>As
an epiphany, Holly realises that this could be very controlling. She
says to Paul: <i>...But you have to leave room for them to remember you
themselves. And they can’t allow the ghost of you to take someone else’s
place.</i> Until then, Holly had always thought that Gerry’s letters were
for her. In fact they were for Gerry, because he wanted to be around for
sometime. And, so it was for the members of PS, I Love You club. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p>It’s
about things that people do for those they love in the event of having
to leave them behind. Like Gerry did for Holly. And, Holly helped others
to do for their loved ones. One for the road, always.</p></div></div></div><div class="text-story-m__gap-16__3f6DM"><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-2"><a data-share-icon="linkedin" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Fone-road-42530&title=One%20for%20the%20road" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"></svg></a><br /></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-3"><a data-share-icon="whatsapp" href="https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Fone-road-42530" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"></svg></a><br /></li></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-64280347909577316222020-12-03T19:01:00.003+06:002022-07-21T18:26:09.662+06:00In another time and city<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ruG438ovotY/X8jhXuoZ86I/AAAAAAAAWvw/-_x5EIVXGzAiprqBVfqn2K6rDd3pDYd3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Shahjahanabad%2BCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1514" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ruG438ovotY/X8jhXuoZ86I/AAAAAAAAWvw/-_x5EIVXGzAiprqBVfqn2K6rDd3pDYd3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Shahjahanabad%2BCover.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="text-story-m__gap-16__3f6DM">This interview was first published in Sakal Times<br /></div><div class="arr--story-page-card-wrapper"><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p>Ambika Shaligram <br /></p><p>Rana
Safvi’s third book in the Delhi trilogy series, Shahjahanabad – The
Living City of Old Delhi – would strike a chord with the most. After
all, who hasn’t heard of Purani Dilli, as we know it now? The other two
books in the trilogy include Where Stone Speaks: Historical Trails in
Mehrauli, the First City of Delhi and The Forgotten Cities of Delhi.
They have been published by HarperCollins.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p>Shahjahanabad
or Purani Dilli was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Old timers,
descendants of noblemen from Mughal court and members of the Hindu
Kayastha community, who moved with Shah Jahan from Agra, still live
there. They refer to Shahjahanabad as ‘shehr’. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p>Shah
Jahan decided to build this city because he found Agra and Lahore forts
less spacious for his retinue of dignitaries. He finalised the present
location between Firozabad and Din Panah for Qila-e-Mubarak (Red Fort)
and laid the foundation. The city of Shahjahanabad was built around the
Qila.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p>To
write Shahjahanabad – The Living City of Old Delhi – Safvi visited the
shehr regularly, keeping one day for exploring, and three days for
documenting it. The book is a result of her visits, as well as
contemporary accounts, which involved chatting with the residents. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p>The
base for the descriptions came from Asar-us-Sanadid by Sir Sayyid
Ahmad Khan, Waqiaat-e-Darul Hukumat Dehli by Bashiruddin Ahmad Dehlvi,
The Archaeology and Monumental Remains of Delhi by Carr Stephen and
Monuments of Delhi by Maulvi Zafar Hasan. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p><span style="color: firebrick;"><strong>DESOLATE GRANDEUR</strong></span><br />
Those living outside Delhi have one singular impression of Purani Dilli —
of it being a culinary delight. And, so it was for Safvi before she
began working on her books. “I have been visiting the Red Fort and
eating at Karim’s for many decades now. But these visits were that of a
tourist. I started studying the area for two translations I did:
Dastaan-e-Ghadar (Penguin Random House) and Asar- us-Sanadid (for Tulika
books). These acquainted me with the glory of the Mughal Era in the
context of this city. So, yes, my perceptions changed from those of a
tourist to someone invested in the area and its history and heritage,”
says Safvi. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p>The
continuously inhabited city, Delhi was ruled by 10 dynasties. If one
were to look at the commonalities of all these regimes, one aspect
stands out. Says Safvi, “From the monuments I study, I do find a
commonality. There’s a sense of desolate grandeur: that everyone,
however, great a king or emperor, eventually is turned into dust.”</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p><span style="color: brown;"><strong>UPHEAVALS AND TRANSITION</strong></span><br />
Through the pages of Shahjahanabad...it becomes apparent that the Qila
and city was deliberately destroyed by the British, after the 1857
uprising. The water canals, the baghs, the quarters, the open air
markets have all but disappeared. We can learn about Shah Jahan’s
obsession with symmetry only through the accounts of the past. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p>The city also witnessed another upheaval with the Partition of the country. What is its future going to be like?</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p>The
author replies, “The British did change the old city quite a bit to
make it easier to control and for smooth troop movement after 1857. The
Partition of 1947 meant that there was an exchange of population. Many
shifted to Pakistan and refugees from Pakistan came to Delhi. The grand
havelis were partitioned into smaller portions and now except for the
original gateway which still stands, inside there’s a profusion of small
flats and houses. Some havelis have been turned into warehouses or are
just falling down. Builders are also buying them and turning them into
flats.”</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p><span style="color: maroon;"><strong>LOCALS TO LEVERAGE</strong></span><br />
Safvi in the book writes about the library initiative taken up by Delhi
Youth Welfare Association. The Hazarat Shah Waliullah Library has as
many as 25,000 books in Arabic, Persian, Hindi, Urdu and English. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p>Safvi,
who is closely associated with the project, says, “The residents of
Shahjahanabad are now trying to revive their city. And only they can
because they are invested in the city. There are more such projects
going on, like ‘Margins to mainstream’ which gives free coaching to
students appearing for school and entrance exams.” </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p>“Most
of the wealthy families have shifted out of Shahjahanabad. Their houses
serve as shops or godowns or are closed. But the syncretic culture of
Shahjahanabad survives. Hindus and Muslims still live together and bond
with each other, participate in each other’s festivals, sorrows and
happiness,” she adds. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="color: black;"><p><span style="color: saddlebrown;"><strong>USING SOCIAL MEDIA</strong></span><br />
Safvi, who blogged on Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, food and culture, before
penning books, has a good fan following on social media sites. When
asked what role can online platforms play in course correction of
history, monuments, she replies, “Earlier, we could only spread
information through textbooks, newspapers or radio. Social media has
made information dissemination and absorption easy. We can connect to
literally thousands immediately. But the downside is that misinformation
also spreads just as fast, if not faster. So one has to be very careful
in following and believing information given on social media. We should
rely only on authentic sources.</p></div></div></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-63183031967974422462020-11-25T20:03:00.002+06:002022-07-21T18:27:00.965+06:00Getting closer with God<p> </p><div class="text-story-m__header-details__1zfGI" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lora, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><h1 class="arrow-component arr--story-headline story-headline-m__headline__1LzaJ story-headline-m__dark__1wPld" data-testid="headline" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-big); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-xs); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-transform: unset;">An interview with Bhakti Mathur, who has been penning, Amma, Take Me series, introducing her children to various faiths. The interview was published in Sakal Times </h1><div><br /></div><div class="p-alt arr--sub-headline arrow-component subheadline-m__subheadline__3H1ig subheadline-m__dark__31XBm" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono4); display: -webkit-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-xs); overflow: hidden; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"></div></div><div class="text-story-m__story-details__274VC" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lora, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: unset;"><div class="author-card-m__author-card-wrapper__n4ZfR author-card-m__leftAligned__12UNV" data-test-id="author-card" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex;"><div class="author-card-m__author-image-wrapper__m3TF3" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-s); margin-right: var(--arrow-spacing-l);"><a href="https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/author/ambika-shaligram" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;"><div class="author-card-m__author-image__1Vk5A author-card-m__first-author-image__1NL45" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: 0px; overflow: hidden;"></div></a></div><div class="author-card-m__author-name-share__1d5a1" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font-size: var(--arrow-fs-s); justify-content: center; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1);"><a href="https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/author/ambika-shaligram" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;"><h5 class="author-card-m__multiple-author-style__83yoG author-card-m__dark__QM2sZ" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-s); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ambika Shaligram</h5></a></div><div class="author-card-m__author-details-wrapper__PBmm3" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; justify-content: center; margin-left: var(--arrow-spacing-l); padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs) var(--arrow-spacing-xs) var(--arrow-spacing-xs) 0;"></div></div><div class="text-story-m__timestamp-social-share__1X8oT" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="arrow-component arr-publish-details publish-details-m__timeStamp__2jKln publish-details-m__dark__3LMZX" data-test-id="timeStamp" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono4); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><div class="publish-details-m__publish-details__3DBdw publish-details-m__dark__3LMZX" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex;">Published on : <time class="publish-details-m__date__2xi0-" datetime="2020-01-05T03:48:06.000Z" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="2020-01-05 03:48">05 Jan, 2020 , 9:18 am</time></div></div><div class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><ul class="social-share-template-m__wrapper__3nSbK" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: row-reverse; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: var(--arrow-fs-big); overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; z-index: var(--zIndex-social);"><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M15.843 3.189c-1.478 0-2.689 1.239-2.689 2.75 0 .293.046.58.13.846L8.844 9.31a2.638 2.638 0 00-1.687-.621c-1.477 0-2.688 1.238-2.688 2.75 0 1.51 1.21 2.75 2.688 2.75.638 0 1.224-.231 1.687-.615l4.446 2.525a2.778 2.778 0 00-.136.84c0 1.51 1.211 2.75 2.689 2.75 1.477 0 2.688-1.24 2.688-2.75 0-1.512-1.21-2.75-2.688-2.75-.742 0-1.419.317-1.907.82l-4.323-2.46a2.763 2.763 0 000-2.221l4.317-2.459c.488.506 1.168.82 1.913.82 1.477 0 2.688-1.239 2.688-2.75s-1.21-2.75-2.688-2.75z" fill-rule="evenodd" fill="#0D0D0D"></path></svg></div></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Fgetting-closer-god-44924" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M9.906 20v-7.156H7.5V10h2.406V7.75c0-1.187.334-2.11 1-2.766.667-.656 1.552-.984 2.656-.984.896 0 1.625.042 2.188.125v2.531h-1.5c-.563 0-.948.125-1.156.375-.167.209-.25.542-.25 1V10H15.5l-.375 2.844h-2.281V20H9.906z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="twitter" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Fgetting-closer-god-44924&text=Getting%20closer%20with%20God&hashtags=" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M19.137 8.594c.023.094.035.246.035.457 0 1.687-.41 3.316-1.23 4.887-.844 1.664-2.028 2.988-3.551 3.972-1.664 1.102-3.575 1.652-5.73 1.652-2.063 0-3.95-.55-5.661-1.652.258.024.55.035.879.035 1.71 0 3.246-.527 4.605-1.582-.82 0-1.54-.24-2.162-.72a3.673 3.673 0 01-1.283-1.811c.234.023.457.035.668.035.328 0 .656-.035.984-.105a3.724 3.724 0 01-2.109-1.301 3.542 3.542 0 01-.844-2.32v-.07a3.493 3.493 0 001.653.492 4.097 4.097 0 01-1.196-1.336 3.557 3.557 0 01-.457-1.776c0-.644.176-1.26.528-1.845a10.188 10.188 0 003.357 2.742 10.222 10.222 0 004.236 1.125 5.122 5.122 0 01-.07-.844c0-.656.164-1.272.492-1.846a3.615 3.615 0 011.336-1.353 3.568 3.568 0 011.828-.492c.54 0 1.037.105 1.494.316.457.21.862.492 1.213.844a7.479 7.479 0 002.356-.88c-.281.868-.82 1.548-1.617 2.04A7.926 7.926 0 0021 6.66a8.132 8.132 0 01-1.863 1.934z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-2" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="linkedin" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Fgetting-closer-god-44924&title=Getting%20closer%20with%20God" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M6.71 19H3.26V7.904h3.45V19zM5.005 6.383a1.926 1.926 0 01-1.41-.594A1.923 1.923 0 013 4.38c0-.544.198-1.014.594-1.41a1.926 1.926 0 011.41-.594c.544 0 1.014.198 1.41.594.396.396.594.866.594 1.41 0 .544-.198 1.014-.594 1.41a1.926 1.926 0 01-1.41.594zM19.625 19h-3.451v-5.418c0-.89-.074-1.534-.223-1.93-.272-.668-.804-1.002-1.596-1.002-.791 0-1.348.297-1.67.891-.247.445-.37 1.1-.37 1.967V19H8.9V7.904h3.303v1.522h.037c.248-.495.643-.903 1.188-1.225.593-.396 1.286-.594 2.078-.594 1.608 0 2.734.508 3.377 1.522.495.816.742 2.078.742 3.785V19z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-3" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="whatsapp" href="https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Fgetting-closer-god-44924" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M18.404 5.505a9.457 9.457 0 012.02 2.96 8.587 8.587 0 01.715 3.449 8.665 8.665 0 01-1.245 4.53 9.282 9.282 0 01-3.347 3.307 8.894 8.894 0 01-4.552 1.225 8.835 8.835 0 01-4.327-1.102l-4.817 1.265 1.307-4.694a8.775 8.775 0 01-1.225-4.531 8.77 8.77 0 011.225-4.531 9.17 9.17 0 013.306-3.307 8.781 8.781 0 014.531-1.224c1.198 0 2.347.23 3.45.693a9.515 9.515 0 012.959 1.96zm-6.409 13.96c1.36 0 2.626-.34 3.797-1.02a7.75 7.75 0 002.796-2.756 7.202 7.202 0 001.04-3.775c0-.98-.203-1.933-.612-2.858a8.088 8.088 0 00-1.694-2.47 7.565 7.565 0 00-2.449-1.653 7.405 7.405 0 00-2.878-.571c-1.36 0-2.62.34-3.776 1.02a7.646 7.646 0 00-2.755 2.756 7.316 7.316 0 00-1.02 3.776c0 1.442.394 2.775 1.183 4l.164.286-.776 2.775 2.857-.734.286.163a7.275 7.275 0 003.837 1.061zm4.123-5.674l.123.082c.19.082.299.15.326.204.027.054.034.19.02.408a2.11 2.11 0 01-.163.674c-.095.231-.313.462-.653.694-.34.231-.633.36-.878.388-.38.054-.748.054-1.102 0-.408-.082-.952-.273-1.632-.572-1.388-.599-2.654-1.714-3.797-3.347l-.081-.082c-.6-.843-.898-1.62-.898-2.327 0-.707.244-1.32.734-1.837l.041-.04c.19-.19.395-.286.612-.286h.49c.11 0 .198.02.266.061.068.041.129.143.183.306l.694 1.674c.082.163.095.3.041.408a2.832 2.832 0 01-.53.735.917.917 0 00-.205.265c-.027.068 0 .143.082.225.38.707.83 1.265 1.347 1.673.381.3.952.64 1.714 1.02.218.11.381.096.49-.04.354-.408.599-.707.735-.898.054-.109.123-.163.204-.163.082 0 .177.013.286.04.218.082.735.327 1.551.735z" fill-rule="evenodd" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="arr--story-page-card-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">On her trips to India, Bhakti Mathur and her two boys, Shiv and Veer, often visit religious shrines and places of worship. The Hong Kong-based former banker has an agenda up her sleeves — firstly, to introduce her children to the country of their origin and the many festivals and mythology tales that make India a very vibrant and inclusive country. Secondly, the interactions, questions and the introspection that occurs finds its way through the books that Mathur has been writing for her children and other readers their age. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4QQakYM0bk0/X75j0b3BQAI/AAAAAAAAWp0/9cUeihFx1r8uTJ0cycO4Q-sPJNaZJ0vdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/WhatsApp%2BImage%2B2019-12-27%2Bat%2B11.04.22%2BAM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4QQakYM0bk0/X75j0b3BQAI/AAAAAAAAWp0/9cUeihFx1r8uTJ0cycO4Q-sPJNaZJ0vdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/WhatsApp%2BImage%2B2019-12-27%2Bat%2B11.04.22%2BAM.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Her first book was Amma Tell Me About Holi! in 2011 and now she is working on a new series — Amma, Take Me — in collaboration with Puffin Books. So far Mathur and her kids visited Golden Temple in Amritsar, the Sri Venkateswara<br /> Temple in Tirupati, the Dargah of Salim Chishti at Fatehpur Sikri. In February 2019, they visited Shirdi and the visit was described in her latest book Amma, Take Me to Shirdi.<p></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">We chat with Mathur to know how she converses with her children about religious faiths, rites and rituals... </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: darkslategrey;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">- What do your boys think of the visits to India and the shrines they have visited so far? What sort of questions or observations do they make?</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Given a choice, Shiv and Veer would have preferred a beach holiday or a visit to Disneyland. However, once they reached the destination — whether it was the Golden Temple, Tirupati, Dargah of Salim Chishti or Shirdi, they were enthralled. Each of the trips had been a unique experience for them. They have been fascinated by the sights, sounds and stories behind the monuments. That led to endless questions — what, why, where, how. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: darkslategrey;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">- The books are based on the conversations I have had with them answering their questions as we walked through these monuments. We visited Shirdi in February 2019. They wanted to know why Sai Baba never revealed his name or religion, how he got the name Sai Baba, did he really perform miracles, what did he believe in?</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />They were fascinated that Sai Baba loved to sing and dance; he loved animals and shared his food with dogs and cats, that he had a horse as a pet; he spoke to plants while gardening and that he had so many friends and followers.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: darkslategrey;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">- Do their friends have similar observations or feedback? What does religion or faith mean for them?</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />That’s a tough question to answer. They are lucky that their school in Hong Kong has a big focus on exposing them to different religions. They have visited temples, mosques, churches and synagogues through school visits. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">To them, religion is probably a combination of rituals, places of worship, a higher power and beliefs. What I have tried to teach them through the books is that all religions at their heart have the same universal values of love, kindness, generosity and courage. I hope they are imbibing that.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: darkslategrey;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">- You had mentioned that as a kid, you had been to Fatehpur Sikri. Have your impressions as a child/youngster overlapped with that of an adult Bhakti?</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />As a child, I believed that the Sufi saint Salim Chishti was a magician, who could make any dream come true. As an adult, I now realise that it is the power of belief, faith and hard work that makes dreams come true.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">The Dargah of Salim Chishti will always be a magical place for me. I have always felt the presence and blessings of Shaikh Salim Chishti in the Dargah. And that has given me the strength to pursue my dreams. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: darkslategrey;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">- How has your perception towards religion changed vis-a-vis Amma, Take Me to... series? Did you learn something new about a faith?</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The most enriching part of writing the Amma, Take Me series has been the amount I have learned about the history and practices of different religions — Sikhism, Hinduism and the Sufis.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />My perception of religion has not changed but it has been reinforced. Religion is not rituals, or some dogma — religion is being kind and being the best person that you can be. All the faiths teach this. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: darkslategrey;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">- Did you wish that you had books like these, introducing you to different religions, in your childhood? How would have they helped you like they are helping Shiv and Veer?</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Yes indeed. I think books on religion and history can be quite boring, preachy and didactic. But if the stories are told from a child’s point of view — it would pique his/her interest. The questions are the questions they want to ask. That’s what my aim has been in the series — to make the books fun and interesting for kids. Having my kids, who are 11 and 9, ask questions has helped me (hopefully) to get into their minds. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: darkslategrey;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">- What do children need most — moral values or introduction to diversity — through literature?</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Both. I think children need role models and the first and most important role models are their parents. The parents need to internalise and practise the values they want their children to imbibe. Children don’t need to be preached to — they need to be shown the qualities to cultivate, to live a happy life.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Literature and stories are a wonderful medium to show them how characters behave and respond to situations and the consequences they face. History and mythology are wonderful tools for parenting.</p></div></div></div></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-28218985483668309142020-11-25T19:59:00.002+06:002022-07-21T18:29:14.715+06:00Surrendering to music<p> </p><div class="text-story-m__header-details__1zfGI" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lora, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><h1 class="arrow-component arr--story-headline story-headline-m__headline__1LzaJ story-headline-m__dark__1wPld" data-testid="headline" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-big); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-xs); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-transform: unset;">This is a book review of The Sixth String of Vilayat Khan, written by Namita Devidayal and published by Context, Westland books</h1><div class="p-alt arr--sub-headline arrow-component subheadline-m__subheadline__3H1ig subheadline-m__dark__31XBm" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono4); display: -webkit-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-xs); overflow: hidden; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"></div></div><div class="text-story-m__story-details__274VC" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lora, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: unset;"><div class="author-card-m__author-card-wrapper__n4ZfR author-card-m__leftAligned__12UNV" data-test-id="author-card" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex;"><div class="author-card-m__author-image-wrapper__m3TF3" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-s); margin-right: var(--arrow-spacing-l);"><a href="https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/author/ambika-shaligram" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;"><div class="author-card-m__author-image__1Vk5A author-card-m__first-author-image__1NL45" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: 0px; overflow: hidden;"></div></a></div><div class="author-card-m__author-name-share__1d5a1" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font-size: var(--arrow-fs-s); justify-content: center; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1);"><a href="https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/author/ambika-shaligram" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;"><h5 class="author-card-m__multiple-author-style__83yoG author-card-m__dark__QM2sZ" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-s); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></h5><h5 class="author-card-m__multiple-author-style__83yoG author-card-m__dark__QM2sZ" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-s); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ambika Shaligram</h5></a></div><div class="author-card-m__author-details-wrapper__PBmm3" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; justify-content: center; margin-left: var(--arrow-spacing-l); padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs) var(--arrow-spacing-xs) var(--arrow-spacing-xs) 0;"></div></div><div class="text-story-m__timestamp-social-share__1X8oT" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="arrow-component arr-publish-details publish-details-m__timeStamp__2jKln publish-details-m__dark__3LMZX" data-test-id="timeStamp" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono4); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><div class="publish-details-m__publish-details__3DBdw publish-details-m__dark__3LMZX" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex;">Published on : <time class="publish-details-m__date__2xi0-" datetime="2020-01-12T02:48:06.000Z" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="2020-01-12 02:48">12 Jan, 2020 , 8:18 am</time></div></div><div class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><ul class="social-share-template-m__wrapper__3nSbK" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: row-reverse; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: var(--arrow-fs-big); overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; z-index: var(--zIndex-social);"><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M15.843 3.189c-1.478 0-2.689 1.239-2.689 2.75 0 .293.046.58.13.846L8.844 9.31a2.638 2.638 0 00-1.687-.621c-1.477 0-2.688 1.238-2.688 2.75 0 1.51 1.21 2.75 2.688 2.75.638 0 1.224-.231 1.687-.615l4.446 2.525a2.778 2.778 0 00-.136.84c0 1.51 1.211 2.75 2.689 2.75 1.477 0 2.688-1.24 2.688-2.75 0-1.512-1.21-2.75-2.688-2.75-.742 0-1.419.317-1.907.82l-4.323-2.46a2.763 2.763 0 000-2.221l4.317-2.459c.488.506 1.168.82 1.913.82 1.477 0 2.688-1.239 2.688-2.75s-1.21-2.75-2.688-2.75z" fill-rule="evenodd" fill="#0D0D0D"></path></svg></div></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Fsurrendering-music-45187" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M9.906 20v-7.156H7.5V10h2.406V7.75c0-1.187.334-2.11 1-2.766.667-.656 1.552-.984 2.656-.984.896 0 1.625.042 2.188.125v2.531h-1.5c-.563 0-.948.125-1.156.375-.167.209-.25.542-.25 1V10H15.5l-.375 2.844h-2.281V20H9.906z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="twitter" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Fsurrendering-music-45187&text=Surrendering%20to%20music&hashtags=" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M19.137 8.594c.023.094.035.246.035.457 0 1.687-.41 3.316-1.23 4.887-.844 1.664-2.028 2.988-3.551 3.972-1.664 1.102-3.575 1.652-5.73 1.652-2.063 0-3.95-.55-5.661-1.652.258.024.55.035.879.035 1.71 0 3.246-.527 4.605-1.582-.82 0-1.54-.24-2.162-.72a3.673 3.673 0 01-1.283-1.811c.234.023.457.035.668.035.328 0 .656-.035.984-.105a3.724 3.724 0 01-2.109-1.301 3.542 3.542 0 01-.844-2.32v-.07a3.493 3.493 0 001.653.492 4.097 4.097 0 01-1.196-1.336 3.557 3.557 0 01-.457-1.776c0-.644.176-1.26.528-1.845a10.188 10.188 0 003.357 2.742 10.222 10.222 0 004.236 1.125 5.122 5.122 0 01-.07-.844c0-.656.164-1.272.492-1.846a3.615 3.615 0 011.336-1.353 3.568 3.568 0 011.828-.492c.54 0 1.037.105 1.494.316.457.21.862.492 1.213.844a7.479 7.479 0 002.356-.88c-.281.868-.82 1.548-1.617 2.04A7.926 7.926 0 0021 6.66a8.132 8.132 0 01-1.863 1.934z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-2" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="linkedin" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Fsurrendering-music-45187&title=Surrendering%20to%20music" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M6.71 19H3.26V7.904h3.45V19zM5.005 6.383a1.926 1.926 0 01-1.41-.594A1.923 1.923 0 013 4.38c0-.544.198-1.014.594-1.41a1.926 1.926 0 011.41-.594c.544 0 1.014.198 1.41.594.396.396.594.866.594 1.41 0 .544-.198 1.014-.594 1.41a1.926 1.926 0 01-1.41.594zM19.625 19h-3.451v-5.418c0-.89-.074-1.534-.223-1.93-.272-.668-.804-1.002-1.596-1.002-.791 0-1.348.297-1.67.891-.247.445-.37 1.1-.37 1.967V19H8.9V7.904h3.303v1.522h.037c.248-.495.643-.903 1.188-1.225.593-.396 1.286-.594 2.078-.594 1.608 0 2.734.508 3.377 1.522.495.816.742 2.078.742 3.785V19z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-3" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="whatsapp" href="https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Fsurrendering-music-45187" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M18.404 5.505a9.457 9.457 0 012.02 2.96 8.587 8.587 0 01.715 3.449 8.665 8.665 0 01-1.245 4.53 9.282 9.282 0 01-3.347 3.307 8.894 8.894 0 01-4.552 1.225 8.835 8.835 0 01-4.327-1.102l-4.817 1.265 1.307-4.694a8.775 8.775 0 01-1.225-4.531 8.77 8.77 0 011.225-4.531 9.17 9.17 0 013.306-3.307 8.781 8.781 0 014.531-1.224c1.198 0 2.347.23 3.45.693a9.515 9.515 0 012.959 1.96zm-6.409 13.96c1.36 0 2.626-.34 3.797-1.02a7.75 7.75 0 002.796-2.756 7.202 7.202 0 001.04-3.775c0-.98-.203-1.933-.612-2.858a8.088 8.088 0 00-1.694-2.47 7.565 7.565 0 00-2.449-1.653 7.405 7.405 0 00-2.878-.571c-1.36 0-2.62.34-3.776 1.02a7.646 7.646 0 00-2.755 2.756 7.316 7.316 0 00-1.02 3.776c0 1.442.394 2.775 1.183 4l.164.286-.776 2.775 2.857-.734.286.163a7.275 7.275 0 003.837 1.061zm4.123-5.674l.123.082c.19.082.299.15.326.204.027.054.034.19.02.408a2.11 2.11 0 01-.163.674c-.095.231-.313.462-.653.694-.34.231-.633.36-.878.388-.38.054-.748.054-1.102 0-.408-.082-.952-.273-1.632-.572-1.388-.599-2.654-1.714-3.797-3.347l-.081-.082c-.6-.843-.898-1.62-.898-2.327 0-.707.244-1.32.734-1.837l.041-.04c.19-.19.395-.286.612-.286h.49c.11 0 .198.02.266.061.068.041.129.143.183.306l.694 1.674c.082.163.095.3.041.408a2.832 2.832 0 01-.53.735.917.917 0 00-.205.265c-.027.068 0 .143.082.225.38.707.83 1.265 1.347 1.673.381.3.952.64 1.714 1.02.218.11.381.096.49-.04.354-.408.599-.707.735-.898.054-.109.123-.163.204-.163.082 0 .177.013.286.04.218.082.735.327 1.551.735z" fill-rule="evenodd" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="arr--story-page-card-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">The Sixth String of Vilayat Khan gives us a close look of the man and his whimsical genius. What or who makes a prodigy? Well, god-given talent is one, but there are other factors too — nurturing of that talent, destiny and the artist’s approach to exploring his/her music. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Namita Devidayal, the biographer of brilliant sitarist Ustad Vilayat Khan deconstructs his persona vis-a-vis his contemporary and another brilliant artist, Pt Ravi Shankar. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Those of us who are far removed from the exalted stratosphere of genius musicians, might not be so clued in to their ‘rivalries’ or the disagreements between the fellow artists. But the few tidbits that float into public domain help in creating a ‘perception’ about the artist. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Devidayal, a journalist and musician, explores the image of Ustad Vilayat Khan with meticulous precision and peels off the layers to present us a man who is brilliant, flamboyant, competitive, enjoys good things in life...but chucks it all to go and live in remote exclusion. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">It was unthinkable for an artist in the ’70s to leave the city for the countryside, for it was in urban cities like Bombay and Delhi that your career would flourish. This break from the hedonistic life that had consumed Vilayat Khan’s life (but not his music) made him look for the peace and depth in his artistry. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Around the same period, his contemporary was wooing the audiences in the West, making them fall in love with the melody of Indian classical music. Pt Ravi Shankar was devoted to his art, but he did make it more palatable for the Western audiences — he explained the ragas, reducing the time frame for the playing of the raga and later collaborating with George Harrison of Beatles. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Vilayat Khan too played in Western countries and in his later years, also moved to the USA, but he didn’t favour fusions or collaborations. For his music, he looked deep within himself. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">The Sixth String also answers many questions that might plague a connoisseur of music – why is there resentment amongst the artists when government bodies announce awards, why do many artists now spend most of their time abroad and so on. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Vilayat Khan always questioned the gradation of the artists. ‘How does the government know which artist is good or not?’ he would ask. Much of the debate over honours, accolades, payments and pensions for the artists, how organisers have commercialised events is discussed in the book, by way of India’s music history.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Devidayal explains how music flourished under the royal patronage, and then gramophone company stepped in and musicians started recording their music. In the run-up to Independence, All India Radio was established and it was here that many artists like Vilayat Khan and Pt Ravi Shankar got their break. In the early days of Independence the rich elite, among them Shrilal-Shankarlal (Devidayal’s ancestors) sponsored many concerts and in one of them, Shankar and Khan had a face off with the latter coming out much better and stronger. She also sheds light on how the Indian classical musicians played for films and who benefited from it. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">The sitarist had also composed for films, but he didn’t make much hoo-haa over it. He had many flings with the yesteryear actresses and barely escaped a marriage with one by the skin of his teeth. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">The ‘Imdadkhani’ gharana (Vilayat’s grandfather, Imdad and father, Enayat were both brilliant musicians) played a big role in the musician’s and his younger brother, Imrat’s lives. Their mother ensured that the musical legacy was equally divided between the two — Vilayat would play sitar and Imrat would play the Surbahar. But the musical strains between the two were visible. And, down the years, the split occurred and most would attribute it to the elder brother. Vilayat’s children too suffered living under his shadow; his eldest, Shujaat broke away and succeeded in making a name for himself. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">The bitter family conflicts only served to make the artist and his music more humane. The fragments of his family are still held together by music of the Imdadkhani gharana. The musician and his biographer would have us believe that music is supreme; we should surrender to it. They are right.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LAbp7HqDl8Y/X75i41Hou9I/AAAAAAAAWps/9VUNjdVN4XUKlNQzp-RUY4K0h-pjo0zUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s268/The%2BSixth%2BString%2Bof%2BVilayat%2BKhan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="188" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LAbp7HqDl8Y/X75i41Hou9I/AAAAAAAAWps/9VUNjdVN4XUKlNQzp-RUY4K0h-pjo0zUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/The%2BSixth%2BString%2Bof%2BVilayat%2BKhan.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p></div></div></div></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-18382975035336772192020-11-25T19:54:00.002+06:002022-07-21T18:31:49.825+06:00Let the light in<p> </p><div class="text-story-m__header-details__1zfGI" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lora, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><h1 class="arrow-component arr--story-headline story-headline-m__headline__1LzaJ story-headline-m__dark__1wPld" data-testid="headline" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-big); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-xs); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-transform: unset;">Tanu Shree Singh talks about her book Darkless. The interview was published in Sakal Times<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_8xK22FOl0g/X75iCqGaYzI/AAAAAAAAWpk/IwrrgdF3EGUmKtonBenL2GC3vwLnZXy_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s282/Darkless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="179" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_8xK22FOl0g/X75iCqGaYzI/AAAAAAAAWpk/IwrrgdF3EGUmKtonBenL2GC3vwLnZXy_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/Darkless.jpg" /></a></div><br /></h1><div><br /></div><div class="p-alt arr--sub-headline arrow-component subheadline-m__subheadline__3H1ig subheadline-m__dark__31XBm" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono4); display: -webkit-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-xs); overflow: hidden; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"></div></div><div class="text-story-m__story-details__274VC" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lora, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: unset;"><div class="author-card-m__author-card-wrapper__n4ZfR author-card-m__leftAligned__12UNV" data-test-id="author-card" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex;"><div class="author-card-m__author-image-wrapper__m3TF3" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-s); margin-right: var(--arrow-spacing-l);"><a href="https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/author/ambika-shaligram" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;"><div class="author-card-m__author-image__1Vk5A author-card-m__first-author-image__1NL45" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: 0px; overflow: hidden;"></div></a></div><div class="author-card-m__author-name-share__1d5a1" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font-size: var(--arrow-fs-s); justify-content: center; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1);"><a href="https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/author/ambika-shaligram" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;"><h5 class="author-card-m__multiple-author-style__83yoG author-card-m__dark__QM2sZ" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-s); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ambika Shaligram</h5></a></div><div class="author-card-m__author-details-wrapper__PBmm3" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; justify-content: center; margin-left: var(--arrow-spacing-l); padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs) var(--arrow-spacing-xs) var(--arrow-spacing-xs) 0;"></div></div><div class="text-story-m__timestamp-social-share__1X8oT" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="arrow-component arr-publish-details publish-details-m__timeStamp__2jKln publish-details-m__dark__3LMZX" data-test-id="timeStamp" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono4); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><div class="publish-details-m__publish-details__3DBdw publish-details-m__dark__3LMZX" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex;">Published on : <time class="publish-details-m__date__2xi0-" datetime="2020-01-19T03:27:05.000Z" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="2020-01-19 03:27">19 Jan, 2020 , 8:57 am</time></div></div><div class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><ul class="social-share-template-m__wrapper__3nSbK" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: row-reverse; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: var(--arrow-fs-big); overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; z-index: var(--zIndex-social);"><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M15.843 3.189c-1.478 0-2.689 1.239-2.689 2.75 0 .293.046.58.13.846L8.844 9.31a2.638 2.638 0 00-1.687-.621c-1.477 0-2.688 1.238-2.688 2.75 0 1.51 1.21 2.75 2.688 2.75.638 0 1.224-.231 1.687-.615l4.446 2.525a2.778 2.778 0 00-.136.84c0 1.51 1.211 2.75 2.689 2.75 1.477 0 2.688-1.24 2.688-2.75 0-1.512-1.21-2.75-2.688-2.75-.742 0-1.419.317-1.907.82l-4.323-2.46a2.763 2.763 0 000-2.221l4.317-2.459c.488.506 1.168.82 1.913.82 1.477 0 2.688-1.239 2.688-2.75s-1.21-2.75-2.688-2.75z" fill-rule="evenodd" fill="#0D0D0D"></path></svg></div></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Flet-light-45445" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M9.906 20v-7.156H7.5V10h2.406V7.75c0-1.187.334-2.11 1-2.766.667-.656 1.552-.984 2.656-.984.896 0 1.625.042 2.188.125v2.531h-1.5c-.563 0-.948.125-1.156.375-.167.209-.25.542-.25 1V10H15.5l-.375 2.844h-2.281V20H9.906z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="twitter" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Flet-light-45445&text=Let%20the%20light%20in&hashtags=" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M19.137 8.594c.023.094.035.246.035.457 0 1.687-.41 3.316-1.23 4.887-.844 1.664-2.028 2.988-3.551 3.972-1.664 1.102-3.575 1.652-5.73 1.652-2.063 0-3.95-.55-5.661-1.652.258.024.55.035.879.035 1.71 0 3.246-.527 4.605-1.582-.82 0-1.54-.24-2.162-.72a3.673 3.673 0 01-1.283-1.811c.234.023.457.035.668.035.328 0 .656-.035.984-.105a3.724 3.724 0 01-2.109-1.301 3.542 3.542 0 01-.844-2.32v-.07a3.493 3.493 0 001.653.492 4.097 4.097 0 01-1.196-1.336 3.557 3.557 0 01-.457-1.776c0-.644.176-1.26.528-1.845a10.188 10.188 0 003.357 2.742 10.222 10.222 0 004.236 1.125 5.122 5.122 0 01-.07-.844c0-.656.164-1.272.492-1.846a3.615 3.615 0 011.336-1.353 3.568 3.568 0 011.828-.492c.54 0 1.037.105 1.494.316.457.21.862.492 1.213.844a7.479 7.479 0 002.356-.88c-.281.868-.82 1.548-1.617 2.04A7.926 7.926 0 0021 6.66a8.132 8.132 0 01-1.863 1.934z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-2" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="linkedin" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Flet-light-45445&title=Let%20the%20light%20in" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M6.71 19H3.26V7.904h3.45V19zM5.005 6.383a1.926 1.926 0 01-1.41-.594A1.923 1.923 0 013 4.38c0-.544.198-1.014.594-1.41a1.926 1.926 0 011.41-.594c.544 0 1.014.198 1.41.594.396.396.594.866.594 1.41 0 .544-.198 1.014-.594 1.41a1.926 1.926 0 01-1.41.594zM19.625 19h-3.451v-5.418c0-.89-.074-1.534-.223-1.93-.272-.668-.804-1.002-1.596-1.002-.791 0-1.348.297-1.67.891-.247.445-.37 1.1-.37 1.967V19H8.9V7.904h3.303v1.522h.037c.248-.495.643-.903 1.188-1.225.593-.396 1.286-.594 2.078-.594 1.608 0 2.734.508 3.377 1.522.495.816.742 2.078.742 3.785V19z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-3" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="whatsapp" href="https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Flet-light-45445" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M18.404 5.505a9.457 9.457 0 012.02 2.96 8.587 8.587 0 01.715 3.449 8.665 8.665 0 01-1.245 4.53 9.282 9.282 0 01-3.347 3.307 8.894 8.894 0 01-4.552 1.225 8.835 8.835 0 01-4.327-1.102l-4.817 1.265 1.307-4.694a8.775 8.775 0 01-1.225-4.531 8.77 8.77 0 011.225-4.531 9.17 9.17 0 013.306-3.307 8.781 8.781 0 014.531-1.224c1.198 0 2.347.23 3.45.693a9.515 9.515 0 012.959 1.96zm-6.409 13.96c1.36 0 2.626-.34 3.797-1.02a7.75 7.75 0 002.796-2.756 7.202 7.202 0 001.04-3.775c0-.98-.203-1.933-.612-2.858a8.088 8.088 0 00-1.694-2.47 7.565 7.565 0 00-2.449-1.653 7.405 7.405 0 00-2.878-.571c-1.36 0-2.62.34-3.776 1.02a7.646 7.646 0 00-2.755 2.756 7.316 7.316 0 00-1.02 3.776c0 1.442.394 2.775 1.183 4l.164.286-.776 2.775 2.857-.734.286.163a7.275 7.275 0 003.837 1.061zm4.123-5.674l.123.082c.19.082.299.15.326.204.027.054.034.19.02.408a2.11 2.11 0 01-.163.674c-.095.231-.313.462-.653.694-.34.231-.633.36-.878.388-.38.054-.748.054-1.102 0-.408-.082-.952-.273-1.632-.572-1.388-.599-2.654-1.714-3.797-3.347l-.081-.082c-.6-.843-.898-1.62-.898-2.327 0-.707.244-1.32.734-1.837l.041-.04c.19-.19.395-.286.612-.286h.49c.11 0 .198.02.266.061.068.041.129.143.183.306l.694 1.674c.082.163.095.3.041.408a2.832 2.832 0 01-.53.735.917.917 0 00-.205.265c-.027.068 0 .143.082.225.38.707.83 1.265 1.347 1.673.381.3.952.64 1.714 1.02.218.11.381.096.49-.04.354-.408.599-.707.735-.898.054-.109.123-.163.204-.163.082 0 .177.013.286.04.218.082.735.327 1.551.735z" fill-rule="evenodd" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="arr--story-page-card-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Darkless. If you are in a hurry, you are bound to read and mutter to yourself, Darkness. Let us tell you that it’s a common enough mistake, surrounded as we are by situations that are anger and sorrow inducing.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Why blame Ani who is awake one night when the moon shines on and little specks of light dance on the ceiling? In the morning, when the sun peeps in, the boy whispers, ‘It’s dark. Still dark.’ When Nani exclaims that it’s a bright, sunny day, just right for ice cream, Ani keeps quiet. It seems that everything has lost its colour.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Why is the boy so dispirited? It’s because Ani is missing his Mumma. ‘I wish she comes home,’ he whispers to Dobby, his dog. And, when he sees the familiar car, Ani rushes inside his home and straight into her arms. Mumma is home, but her hair is gone...She is ill with cancer and that’s why Ani is desolate. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">But with mum’s arrival, life suddenly looks hopeful. ‘I was scared you’d never come back.’ Mumma holds Ani. ‘I am here now,’ she says. ‘And so are Dobby, Nani and your friends.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">‘As long as you let others love you, you will be okay,’ she says. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />‘Even if you are not there?’ <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />‘Yes’.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">This poignant tale written by Tanu Shree Singh and published by Penguin Random House, is quite different from other books written for children. Most books tip toe around the subjects of illness and try to keep the end positive. But not Darkless.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">The author says, “Negatives are as much a part of life as positives. We unnecessarily protect kids when they need the whole spectrum of emotions and situations to be able to cope with everything that life throws at them.” </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Singh is an Assistant Professor in Psychology, and has completed her studies in Positive Psychology, a relatively new branch of the subject. When asked if his work on parenting and studies in Positive Psychology helped her write the picture book, she replies, “More than work, I think life experiences in different roles as a student, teacher, parent, wife and a friend helped me write this. I have seen people suffer in silence. I have suffered quietly. And the only thing that pulls us out is letting in the light of love, be it a friend, a parent, a pet or people you work with. Even a random smile exchanged in a market goes a long way.” </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">In a few lines complemented extremely well by Sandhya Prabhat’s illustrations, Singh has captured Ani’s feelings and his Mumma’s sentiments. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">How long did you actually take to pen those few lines, we ask. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">The author quips, “Multiple drafts spread over more than a year is what went in to the few lines! The first draft that I sent to Richa Jha (editor of the picture book) was very long and text heavy. In the following months, the two of us exchanged a million and a half mails thrashing the text and removing a thousand unnecessary words.” </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">The idea for Darkless was sowed in Singh’s telephone call to a friend. She says, “A friend was working on a STEM book around the concept of light. She called me up to thrash out some ideas and I wondered how it would be to see the concept in the light of emotions. A bright sunny day also gets dark if one is low. That was the beginning of this book.” </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">And, would there be any more sequels to this book or subject? </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">“I do not see a sequel. But yes, I do hope to write more on darker, lesser-talked about subjects,” says Singh, before signing off.</p></div></div></div></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-64568316022284852942020-11-25T19:48:00.000+06:002022-07-21T18:33:42.903+06:00Taran N Khan’s Shadow City — A Woman Walks Kabul, an intimate portrait of the city<p>I spoke with Taran N Khan, who has written a book titled Shadow City. The interview appeared in Sakal Times</p><div class="text-story-m__header-details__1zfGI" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lora, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><h1 class="arrow-component arr--story-headline story-headline-m__headline__1LzaJ story-headline-m__dark__1wPld" data-testid="headline" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-big); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-xs); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-transform: unset;"><br /></h1><div class="p-alt arr--sub-headline arrow-component subheadline-m__subheadline__3H1ig subheadline-m__dark__31XBm" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono4); display: -webkit-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-xs); overflow: hidden; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"></div></div><div class="text-story-m__story-details__274VC" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lora, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: unset;"><div class="author-card-m__author-card-wrapper__n4ZfR author-card-m__leftAligned__12UNV" data-test-id="author-card" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex;"><div class="author-card-m__author-image-wrapper__m3TF3" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-s); margin-right: var(--arrow-spacing-l);"><a href="https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/author/ambika-shaligram" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;"><div class="author-card-m__author-image__1Vk5A author-card-m__first-author-image__1NL45" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: 0px; overflow: hidden;"></div></a></div><div class="author-card-m__author-name-share__1d5a1" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font-size: var(--arrow-fs-s); justify-content: center; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1);"><a href="https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/author/ambika-shaligram" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;"><h5 class="author-card-m__multiple-author-style__83yoG author-card-m__dark__QM2sZ" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-s); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ambika Shaligram</h5></a></div><div class="author-card-m__author-details-wrapper__PBmm3" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; justify-content: center; margin-left: var(--arrow-spacing-l); padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs) var(--arrow-spacing-xs) var(--arrow-spacing-xs) 0;"></div></div><div class="text-story-m__timestamp-social-share__1X8oT" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="arrow-component arr-publish-details publish-details-m__timeStamp__2jKln publish-details-m__dark__3LMZX" data-test-id="timeStamp" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono4); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><div class="publish-details-m__publish-details__3DBdw publish-details-m__dark__3LMZX" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex;">Published on : <time class="publish-details-m__date__2xi0-" datetime="2020-03-07T16:24:06.000Z" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="2020-03-07 16:24">07 Mar, 2020 , 9:54 pm</time></div></div><div class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><ul class="social-share-template-m__wrapper__3nSbK" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: row-reverse; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: var(--arrow-fs-big); overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; z-index: var(--zIndex-social);"><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M15.843 3.189c-1.478 0-2.689 1.239-2.689 2.75 0 .293.046.58.13.846L8.844 9.31a2.638 2.638 0 00-1.687-.621c-1.477 0-2.688 1.238-2.688 2.75 0 1.51 1.21 2.75 2.688 2.75.638 0 1.224-.231 1.687-.615l4.446 2.525a2.778 2.778 0 00-.136.84c0 1.51 1.211 2.75 2.689 2.75 1.477 0 2.688-1.24 2.688-2.75 0-1.512-1.21-2.75-2.688-2.75-.742 0-1.419.317-1.907.82l-4.323-2.46a2.763 2.763 0 000-2.221l4.317-2.459c.488.506 1.168.82 1.913.82 1.477 0 2.688-1.239 2.688-2.75s-1.21-2.75-2.688-2.75z" fill-rule="evenodd" fill="#0D0D0D"></path></svg></div></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Ftaran-n-khan%E2%80%99s-shadow-city-%E2%80%94-woman-walks-kabul-intimate-portrait-city-47289" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M9.906 20v-7.156H7.5V10h2.406V7.75c0-1.187.334-2.11 1-2.766.667-.656 1.552-.984 2.656-.984.896 0 1.625.042 2.188.125v2.531h-1.5c-.563 0-.948.125-1.156.375-.167.209-.25.542-.25 1V10H15.5l-.375 2.844h-2.281V20H9.906z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="twitter" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Ftaran-n-khan%E2%80%99s-shadow-city-%E2%80%94-woman-walks-kabul-intimate-portrait-city-47289&text=Taran%20N%20Khan%E2%80%99s%20Shadow%20City%20%E2%80%94%20A%20Woman%20Walks%20Kabul%2C%20an%20intimate%20portrait%20of%20the%20city&hashtags=" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M19.137 8.594c.023.094.035.246.035.457 0 1.687-.41 3.316-1.23 4.887-.844 1.664-2.028 2.988-3.551 3.972-1.664 1.102-3.575 1.652-5.73 1.652-2.063 0-3.95-.55-5.661-1.652.258.024.55.035.879.035 1.71 0 3.246-.527 4.605-1.582-.82 0-1.54-.24-2.162-.72a3.673 3.673 0 01-1.283-1.811c.234.023.457.035.668.035.328 0 .656-.035.984-.105a3.724 3.724 0 01-2.109-1.301 3.542 3.542 0 01-.844-2.32v-.07a3.493 3.493 0 001.653.492 4.097 4.097 0 01-1.196-1.336 3.557 3.557 0 01-.457-1.776c0-.644.176-1.26.528-1.845a10.188 10.188 0 003.357 2.742 10.222 10.222 0 004.236 1.125 5.122 5.122 0 01-.07-.844c0-.656.164-1.272.492-1.846a3.615 3.615 0 011.336-1.353 3.568 3.568 0 011.828-.492c.54 0 1.037.105 1.494.316.457.21.862.492 1.213.844a7.479 7.479 0 002.356-.88c-.281.868-.82 1.548-1.617 2.04A7.926 7.926 0 0021 6.66a8.132 8.132 0 01-1.863 1.934z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-2" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="linkedin" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Ftaran-n-khan%E2%80%99s-shadow-city-%E2%80%94-woman-walks-kabul-intimate-portrait-city-47289&title=Taran%20N%20Khan%E2%80%99s%20Shadow%20City%20%E2%80%94%20A%20Woman%20Walks%20Kabul%2C%20an%20intimate%20portrait%20of%20the%20city" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M6.71 19H3.26V7.904h3.45V19zM5.005 6.383a1.926 1.926 0 01-1.41-.594A1.923 1.923 0 013 4.38c0-.544.198-1.014.594-1.41a1.926 1.926 0 011.41-.594c.544 0 1.014.198 1.41.594.396.396.594.866.594 1.41 0 .544-.198 1.014-.594 1.41a1.926 1.926 0 01-1.41.594zM19.625 19h-3.451v-5.418c0-.89-.074-1.534-.223-1.93-.272-.668-.804-1.002-1.596-1.002-.791 0-1.348.297-1.67.891-.247.445-.37 1.1-.37 1.967V19H8.9V7.904h3.303v1.522h.037c.248-.495.643-.903 1.188-1.225.593-.396 1.286-.594 2.078-.594 1.608 0 2.734.508 3.377 1.522.495.816.742 2.078.742 3.785V19z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-3" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="whatsapp" href="https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Ftaran-n-khan%E2%80%99s-shadow-city-%E2%80%94-woman-walks-kabul-intimate-portrait-city-47289" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M18.404 5.505a9.457 9.457 0 012.02 2.96 8.587 8.587 0 01.715 3.449 8.665 8.665 0 01-1.245 4.53 9.282 9.282 0 01-3.347 3.307 8.894 8.894 0 01-4.552 1.225 8.835 8.835 0 01-4.327-1.102l-4.817 1.265 1.307-4.694a8.775 8.775 0 01-1.225-4.531 8.77 8.77 0 011.225-4.531 9.17 9.17 0 013.306-3.307 8.781 8.781 0 014.531-1.224c1.198 0 2.347.23 3.45.693a9.515 9.515 0 012.959 1.96zm-6.409 13.96c1.36 0 2.626-.34 3.797-1.02a7.75 7.75 0 002.796-2.756 7.202 7.202 0 001.04-3.775c0-.98-.203-1.933-.612-2.858a8.088 8.088 0 00-1.694-2.47 7.565 7.565 0 00-2.449-1.653 7.405 7.405 0 00-2.878-.571c-1.36 0-2.62.34-3.776 1.02a7.646 7.646 0 00-2.755 2.756 7.316 7.316 0 00-1.02 3.776c0 1.442.394 2.775 1.183 4l.164.286-.776 2.775 2.857-.734.286.163a7.275 7.275 0 003.837 1.061zm4.123-5.674l.123.082c.19.082.299.15.326.204.027.054.034.19.02.408a2.11 2.11 0 01-.163.674c-.095.231-.313.462-.653.694-.34.231-.633.36-.878.388-.38.054-.748.054-1.102 0-.408-.082-.952-.273-1.632-.572-1.388-.599-2.654-1.714-3.797-3.347l-.081-.082c-.6-.843-.898-1.62-.898-2.327 0-.707.244-1.32.734-1.837l.041-.04c.19-.19.395-.286.612-.286h.49c.11 0 .198.02.266.061.068.041.129.143.183.306l.694 1.674c.082.163.095.3.041.408a2.832 2.832 0 01-.53.735.917.917 0 00-.205.265c-.027.068 0 .143.082.225.38.707.83 1.265 1.347 1.673.381.3.952.64 1.714 1.02.218.11.381.096.49-.04.354-.408.599-.707.735-.898.054-.109.123-.163.204-.163.082 0 .177.013.286.04.218.082.735.327 1.551.735z" fill-rule="evenodd" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="arr--story-page-card-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Walking in Kabul is like looking through the kaleidoscope... and as journalist Taran N Khan makes her way through the city’s bazaars, squares, library, bookshop, graveyards, university, and archaeological site, wedding halls, we get intimate with each new image of Kabul. An image which is far removed from the pictures that we co<br />njure up from reading the headlines of a city and a country (Afghanistan) that has seen war, destruction and loss. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1jCIae3nWs/X75gWREwlyI/AAAAAAAAWpY/rjt9PqRhaLMEVnMNix4EHModfm7-K4FzACLcBGAsYHQ/s499/image002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1jCIae3nWs/X75gWREwlyI/AAAAAAAAWpY/rjt9PqRhaLMEVnMNix4EHModfm7-K4FzACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/image002.jpg" /></a></div><p></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Khan’s book, Shadow City — A Woman Walks Kabul, published by Penguin Random House India, doesn’t sidestep from talking about war, Taliban, ISAF and the NATO, but the journalist in her takes the backseat, and the storyteller in her steps up, in ways which empathises with the people and their joys and sorrows and the yen to live. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">We get to meet the people who stayed in touch with their khak (soil or mitti) whether they lived in Kabul through the spiral of violence and chaos, or those who escaped briefly to neighbouring Pakistan or the far away Canada, USA or Germany and returned after the overthrow of Taliban government by the US-led coalition forces. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">As we write this, there is another turn in the fortune of the country as the USA and Taliban have signed a peace deal. But the time that the Mumbai-based journalist spent in Kabul, teaching video production techniques to radio and TV station employees, was one where most of it seemed optimistic on the surface. The real estate was booming, and people were rebuilding their homes, old landmarks giving space to new ones. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Khan guided by her chats with Baba (her grandfather) on poetry and literature, discovers the city; Doctorsaab takes her on a nostalgia journey; Khalid is in search of his father and Nazira takes her to cafes, and in search of Shaheed Naheed, a girl who lost her life escaping the militia. There is an underlining despair to the stories that Khan narrates, but they don’t subsume us because almost always, the writer turns the kaleidoscope and we come face to face with resilience.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Here's more from Khan... </span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: maroon;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">- Can you tell us how you chose the ‘voice’ of the book, making it a more intimate one over the reporter’s instinct?</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I wanted to find a way to tell these stories that allowed me to move between different spaces in the city, as well as through the layers of its past — to wander through its streets, stories and memories. And I was keen to find a form that let readers make their own connections to what I was describing. The voice of the book and its structure came about because of this. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: maroon;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">- Did you sift through many perspectives about Kabul, and how did you manage the popular vs lesser known?</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />My attempt was simply to describe the city as I saw it and talk about the things that seemed vital and interesting to me. It was possible to explore the different layers of the city each time I returned, as I could see what had changed and what remained constant. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: maroon;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">- It seems to us that it’s a biography of Kabul, but it has no photos. Did you toy with the idea of including pictures in the book?</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I did think about it, but decided not to include photos because I wanted to allow readers to imagine the city for themselves. So many images of Kabul come loaded with stereotypes, and I did not want to get caught up with those. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: maroon;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">How have the Kabuli nurtured your soul?</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I was fortunate in having people around me who helped me explore the city with intimacy and access. I received warm welcomes in most places, and witnessed the tradition of hospitality to guests that Kabul is known for. I think that as an Indian woman, I was also able to relate to people and forge connections, thanks to the shared culture of the region. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: maroon;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">- Can you tell us a little about poetry that Baba read out to you? Is that something very endemic to South Asian culture, a sher, poem for every occasion?</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It’s a custom I find very beautiful, of producing a verse according to the occasion. My grandfather had a wide taste in poetry and also a great memory — he often recited couplets from Ghalib and Rumi, or the verses and ‘pahelis’ of Amir Khusrau. On his shelves I also found Pablo Neruda, Rabindranath Tagore and Mahmoud Darwish, in English translation. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: maroon;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">- Have you made any recent trips to Kabul, any more changes have taken place?</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />My last journey was in 2013, by then Kabul’s population had grown to around five million. The city had spread out geographically. At the same time, the security situation had deteriorated, and there were more barriers and roadblocks. Over the years, some of the areas ruined by war had been rebuilt. I would love to read accounts of all the changes that have come about since then as the city has transformed in different ways.</p></div></div></div></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-7083569795631815752020-11-25T19:43:00.002+06:002022-07-21T18:34:55.117+06:00Bans & Bar Girls: How the ban emerged from economic reasons, not moral grounds<div class="text-story-m__header-details__1zfGI" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lora, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><h1 class="arrow-component arr--story-headline story-headline-m__headline__1LzaJ story-headline-m__dark__1wPld" data-testid="headline" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-big); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-xs); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-transform: unset;"><bdi style="box-sizing: border-box;">Interviewed Sameena Dalwai for her book Bans & Bar Girls. The interview appeared in Sakal Times</bdi></h1><h1 class="arrow-component arr--story-headline story-headline-m__headline__1LzaJ story-headline-m__dark__1wPld" data-testid="headline" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-big); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-xs); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-transform: unset;"><br /></h1><div class="p-alt arr--sub-headline arrow-component subheadline-m__subheadline__3H1ig subheadline-m__dark__31XBm" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono4); display: -webkit-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-xs); overflow: hidden; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"></div></div><div class="text-story-m__story-details__274VC" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lora, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: unset;"><div class="author-card-m__author-card-wrapper__n4ZfR author-card-m__leftAligned__12UNV" data-test-id="author-card" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex;"><div class="author-card-m__author-image-wrapper__m3TF3" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-s); margin-right: var(--arrow-spacing-l);"><a href="https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/author/ambika-shaligram" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;"><div class="author-card-m__author-image__1Vk5A author-card-m__first-author-image__1NL45" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: 0px; overflow: hidden;"></div></a></div><div class="author-card-m__author-name-share__1d5a1" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font-size: var(--arrow-fs-s); justify-content: center; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1);"><a href="https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/author/ambika-shaligram" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;"><h5 class="author-card-m__multiple-author-style__83yoG author-card-m__dark__QM2sZ" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-s); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ambika Shaligram</h5></a></div><div class="author-card-m__author-details-wrapper__PBmm3" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; justify-content: center; margin-left: var(--arrow-spacing-l); padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs) var(--arrow-spacing-xs) var(--arrow-spacing-xs) 0;"></div></div><div class="text-story-m__timestamp-social-share__1X8oT" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="arrow-component arr-publish-details publish-details-m__timeStamp__2jKln publish-details-m__dark__3LMZX" data-test-id="timeStamp" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono4); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><div class="publish-details-m__publish-details__3DBdw publish-details-m__dark__3LMZX" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex;">Published on : <time class="publish-details-m__date__2xi0-" datetime="2020-03-24T06:51:05.000Z" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="2020-03-24 06:51">24 Mar, 2020 , 12:21 pm</time></div></div><div class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><ul class="social-share-template-m__wrapper__3nSbK" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: row-reverse; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: var(--arrow-fs-big); overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; z-index: var(--zIndex-social);"><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M15.843 3.189c-1.478 0-2.689 1.239-2.689 2.75 0 .293.046.58.13.846L8.844 9.31a2.638 2.638 0 00-1.687-.621c-1.477 0-2.688 1.238-2.688 2.75 0 1.51 1.21 2.75 2.688 2.75.638 0 1.224-.231 1.687-.615l4.446 2.525a2.778 2.778 0 00-.136.84c0 1.51 1.211 2.75 2.689 2.75 1.477 0 2.688-1.24 2.688-2.75 0-1.512-1.21-2.75-2.688-2.75-.742 0-1.419.317-1.907.82l-4.323-2.46a2.763 2.763 0 000-2.221l4.317-2.459c.488.506 1.168.82 1.913.82 1.477 0 2.688-1.239 2.688-2.75s-1.21-2.75-2.688-2.75z" fill-rule="evenodd" fill="#0D0D0D"></path></svg></div></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Fbans-bar-girls-how-ban-emerged-economic-reasons-not-moral-grounds-47937" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M9.906 20v-7.156H7.5V10h2.406V7.75c0-1.187.334-2.11 1-2.766.667-.656 1.552-.984 2.656-.984.896 0 1.625.042 2.188.125v2.531h-1.5c-.563 0-.948.125-1.156.375-.167.209-.25.542-.25 1V10H15.5l-.375 2.844h-2.281V20H9.906z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="twitter" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Fbans-bar-girls-how-ban-emerged-economic-reasons-not-moral-grounds-47937&text=Bans%20%26%20Bar%20Girls%3A%20How%20the%20ban%20emerged%20from%20economic%20reasons%2C%20not%20moral%20grounds&hashtags=" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M19.137 8.594c.023.094.035.246.035.457 0 1.687-.41 3.316-1.23 4.887-.844 1.664-2.028 2.988-3.551 3.972-1.664 1.102-3.575 1.652-5.73 1.652-2.063 0-3.95-.55-5.661-1.652.258.024.55.035.879.035 1.71 0 3.246-.527 4.605-1.582-.82 0-1.54-.24-2.162-.72a3.673 3.673 0 01-1.283-1.811c.234.023.457.035.668.035.328 0 .656-.035.984-.105a3.724 3.724 0 01-2.109-1.301 3.542 3.542 0 01-.844-2.32v-.07a3.493 3.493 0 001.653.492 4.097 4.097 0 01-1.196-1.336 3.557 3.557 0 01-.457-1.776c0-.644.176-1.26.528-1.845a10.188 10.188 0 003.357 2.742 10.222 10.222 0 004.236 1.125 5.122 5.122 0 01-.07-.844c0-.656.164-1.272.492-1.846a3.615 3.615 0 011.336-1.353 3.568 3.568 0 011.828-.492c.54 0 1.037.105 1.494.316.457.21.862.492 1.213.844a7.479 7.479 0 002.356-.88c-.281.868-.82 1.548-1.617 2.04A7.926 7.926 0 0021 6.66a8.132 8.132 0 01-1.863 1.934z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-2" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="linkedin" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Fbans-bar-girls-how-ban-emerged-economic-reasons-not-moral-grounds-47937&title=Bans%20%26%20Bar%20Girls%3A%20How%20the%20ban%20emerged%20from%20economic%20reasons%2C%20not%20moral%20grounds" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M6.71 19H3.26V7.904h3.45V19zM5.005 6.383a1.926 1.926 0 01-1.41-.594A1.923 1.923 0 013 4.38c0-.544.198-1.014.594-1.41a1.926 1.926 0 011.41-.594c.544 0 1.014.198 1.41.594.396.396.594.866.594 1.41 0 .544-.198 1.014-.594 1.41a1.926 1.926 0 01-1.41.594zM19.625 19h-3.451v-5.418c0-.89-.074-1.534-.223-1.93-.272-.668-.804-1.002-1.596-1.002-.791 0-1.348.297-1.67.891-.247.445-.37 1.1-.37 1.967V19H8.9V7.904h3.303v1.522h.037c.248-.495.643-.903 1.188-1.225.593-.396 1.286-.594 2.078-.594 1.608 0 2.734.508 3.377 1.522.495.816.742 2.078.742 3.785V19z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-3" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="whatsapp" href="https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Fbans-bar-girls-how-ban-emerged-economic-reasons-not-moral-grounds-47937" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M18.404 5.505a9.457 9.457 0 012.02 2.96 8.587 8.587 0 01.715 3.449 8.665 8.665 0 01-1.245 4.53 9.282 9.282 0 01-3.347 3.307 8.894 8.894 0 01-4.552 1.225 8.835 8.835 0 01-4.327-1.102l-4.817 1.265 1.307-4.694a8.775 8.775 0 01-1.225-4.531 8.77 8.77 0 011.225-4.531 9.17 9.17 0 013.306-3.307 8.781 8.781 0 014.531-1.224c1.198 0 2.347.23 3.45.693a9.515 9.515 0 012.959 1.96zm-6.409 13.96c1.36 0 2.626-.34 3.797-1.02a7.75 7.75 0 002.796-2.756 7.202 7.202 0 001.04-3.775c0-.98-.203-1.933-.612-2.858a8.088 8.088 0 00-1.694-2.47 7.565 7.565 0 00-2.449-1.653 7.405 7.405 0 00-2.878-.571c-1.36 0-2.62.34-3.776 1.02a7.646 7.646 0 00-2.755 2.756 7.316 7.316 0 00-1.02 3.776c0 1.442.394 2.775 1.183 4l.164.286-.776 2.775 2.857-.734.286.163a7.275 7.275 0 003.837 1.061zm4.123-5.674l.123.082c.19.082.299.15.326.204.027.054.034.19.02.408a2.11 2.11 0 01-.163.674c-.095.231-.313.462-.653.694-.34.231-.633.36-.878.388-.38.054-.748.054-1.102 0-.408-.082-.952-.273-1.632-.572-1.388-.599-2.654-1.714-3.797-3.347l-.081-.082c-.6-.843-.898-1.62-.898-2.327 0-.707.244-1.32.734-1.837l.041-.04c.19-.19.395-.286.612-.286h.49c.11 0 .198.02.266.061.068.041.129.143.183.306l.694 1.674c.082.163.095.3.041.408a2.832 2.832 0 01-.53.735.917.917 0 00-.205.265c-.027.068 0 .143.082.225.38.707.83 1.265 1.347 1.673.381.3.952.64 1.714 1.02.218.11.381.096.49-.04.354-.408.599-.707.735-.898.054-.109.123-.163.204-.163.082 0 .177.013.286.04.218.082.735.327 1.551.735z" fill-rule="evenodd" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="arr--story-page-card-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Earlier this year, the Supreme Court paved the way for the reopening of dance bars in Mumbai, relaxing stringent conditions imposed by the Maharashtra government on their licencing and functioning. The decision to ban dance bars was taken in August 2005 and the public discourse revolved around the subject of ‘morality’.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FNwGmo4SQjo/X75fQSIiE5I/AAAAAAAAWpM/7MPjeOCuJ-gNjqiIJE6sk0mfNXMkRNKhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s499/Bans%2B%2526%2BBar%2BGirls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="327" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FNwGmo4SQjo/X75fQSIiE5I/AAAAAAAAWpM/7MPjeOCuJ-gNjqiIJE6sk0mfNXMkRNKhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Bans%2B%2526%2BBar%2BGirls.jpg" /></a></div>A new book on the subject, Bans & Bar Girls — Performing Caste in Mumbai’s Dance Bars, says the reason had to do with economics, with wo<br />men from lower caste earning more. The monograph (defined as a highly detailed and thoroughly documented study or paper written about a limited area of a subject or field of inquiry) has been authored by Sameena Dalwai and it has been published by Women Unlimited — An associate of Kali for Women. <p></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: maroon;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">EXAMINING THE REASONS</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />In the introduction to the book, Dalwai says, ‘The essence of most academic journeys, like this one, inevitably begins with that inconspicuous ‘why’ — and mine was ‘why the ban?’</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">We ask if she had certain impressions about the dance bars and bar girls and if they changed while she was working on the monograph? “In that period, the feminists in Mumbai took a stand that this is a hereditary occupation. And that was one of the reasons given for continuation of livelihood. My stand was that sati was also traditional and hereditary, but it’s injurious to people themselves. On the factors of public morality, law and order, you can close down certain operations. But in a right-wing-ish kind of society, this is a very bad, legal gimmick. That’s what I thought earlier,” says Dalwai.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">In the book though, the academician has made it clear that what we saw in the dance bars was a twist — in terms of positionality of caste, class, gender of women who were working there. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">“I started to realise that actually by using the traditional occupation, skillset that the women have been able to, in a way, turn their position on its head. They were able to earn far more in the bars. It is a unique space of women earning more than men as it doesn’t happen in an economy,” explains Dalwai.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">The women’s employment is actually low and so is their work participation rate (WPR). “Those women from the SC/ST communities, who are a part of the WPR, have no choice of work. They are pushed by poverty into manual labour. “But in dance bars, they are able to twist this result and they are able to actually use it for their gain. That is the reason why they were banned,” she adds. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Women from the traditional dancing and entertaining communities of north India — Bedia, Deredar, Kanjhar, Nat, Rajnath, collectively known as Bhatu community, and Kolhtani community from Maharashtra comprised the dance bar girls working in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: firebrick;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE WOMEN</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The Bans & Bar Girls...has also explored the rise of globalisation, liberalisation. But in its wake, we have also seen hardlining of position on what women need to do, the morality discourse and so on. Do we see more hardlining in the future, we ask Dalwai.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">She says, “First, I think our society is facing a crisis. Social scientists have in earlier times called this situation an anarchy. Anarchy is a situation where the earlier set of rules and norms, morality sees a shift, a change while the new set of rules are yet to set in. In this time, what generally happens is, there is no belief system and it’s difficult to have faith. The suicide rate grows, people don’t know where they stand, what is it that they should follow. All this usually leads to the emergence of the right wing. Country after country has seen a rise of right-wing in this period. Second, women are the first to be affected by right wing.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Giving an example of what happened in the sucontinent, Dalwai says, “During Partition, men and women were killed, but women were also raped. It became a matter of honour, of community because women’s bodies, behaviour, the clothes they wear are not their own. In our South Asian patriarchy, an individual woman’s body belongs to the father, the family, the clan. So if you want to insult a community, you rape their woman. Both sides of the communities believe in that. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">“A mother’s main job is to watch over the teenaged girls. In case there is something wrong, the father, the mother-in-law will ask the mother, ‘Tum kya kar rahi thi,’ ‘laksha nahiye ka porikade?’ What does ‘laksha’ mean? To protect their daughter’s vagina, the honour of the family. Her sleeping with someone becomes a huge problem because of that, especially if it’s a upper caste woman with a Dalit man.”</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: brown;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">CASTE AND ECONOMY</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Moving on to the caste question, where traditonally the upper castes have wielded cultural and political influence, the ban on bar girls, who come from lower castes, was not a moral stance. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">“Do we, the middle class people, not like dance? We like to go to places where children dance and sway their hips and we are very happy for Pinky or Pintu. While it is not spoken, the reason for the ban is economic — that lower-caste women are earning more than what we expect them to earn. We have decided by caste, class and gender hierarchy how much each casteperson will earn and we have followed that strictly through domestic and all kinds of labour. We have seen to it that the price of labour doesn’t grow at all,” says Dalwai, adding, “What we see is a discourse on morality, but inside it is an economic gesture, which is connected to caste and gender. The upper caste, political class might wonder why men have to throw their earnings on these women? They are anyway available to us as birthright and gender right. In this situation, those women making money from their sexuality becomes a problem.” </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Even after the Supreme Court’s decision, it’s a no-win situation for the bar girls, feels Dalwai. “The dancers I spoke to, will not be able to make a comeback now. The communities they hail from are still around. Yet this is a no-win situation, until the economy that is based on the sexual labour changes. And, that seems unlikely till the situation of the community, caste changes. In communities like Bedia, the men don’t work, their wives, daughters get into sex work. People outside the caste, community also don’t let these men do their businesses. There is a kind of continuation of that system where women have to sell their sexual labour and earn for their community,” she adds.</p></div></div></div></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-33097773095914739432020-11-25T19:37:00.003+06:002021-03-12T18:19:11.565+06:00World Book Day: The publishing business during the COVID-19 days<p>For Sakal Times, now The Bridge Chronicle</p><div class="text-story-m__header-details__1zfGI" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lora, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><h1 class="arrow-component arr--story-headline story-headline-m__headline__1LzaJ story-headline-m__dark__1wPld" data-testid="headline" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-big); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-xs); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-transform: unset;"><br /></h1><div class="p-alt arr--sub-headline arrow-component subheadline-m__subheadline__3H1ig subheadline-m__dark__31XBm" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono4); display: -webkit-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-xs); overflow: hidden; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"></div></div><div class="text-story-m__story-details__274VC" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lora, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: unset;"><div class="author-card-m__author-card-wrapper__n4ZfR author-card-m__leftAligned__12UNV" data-test-id="author-card" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex;"><div class="author-card-m__author-image-wrapper__m3TF3" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-s); margin-right: var(--arrow-spacing-l);"><a href="https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/author/ambika-shaligram" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;"><div class="author-card-m__author-image__1Vk5A author-card-m__first-author-image__1NL45" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: 0px; overflow: hidden;"></div></a></div><div class="author-card-m__author-name-share__1d5a1" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font-size: var(--arrow-fs-s); justify-content: center; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1);"><a href="https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/author/ambika-shaligram" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;"><h5 class="author-card-m__multiple-author-style__83yoG author-card-m__dark__QM2sZ" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-s); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ambika Shaligram</h5></a></div><div class="author-card-m__author-details-wrapper__PBmm3" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; justify-content: center; margin-left: var(--arrow-spacing-l); padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs) var(--arrow-spacing-xs) var(--arrow-spacing-xs) 0;"></div></div><div class="text-story-m__timestamp-social-share__1X8oT" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; justify-content: space-between; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="arrow-component arr-publish-details publish-details-m__timeStamp__2jKln publish-details-m__dark__3LMZX" data-test-id="timeStamp" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono4); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><div class="publish-details-m__publish-details__3DBdw publish-details-m__dark__3LMZX" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex;">Published on : <time class="publish-details-m__date__2xi0-" datetime="2020-04-23T08:12:06.000Z" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="2020-04-23 08:12">23 Apr, 2020 , 1:42 pm</time></div></div><div class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><ul class="social-share-template-m__wrapper__3nSbK" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: row-reverse; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: var(--arrow-fs-big); overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; z-index: var(--zIndex-social);"><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M15.843 3.189c-1.478 0-2.689 1.239-2.689 2.75 0 .293.046.58.13.846L8.844 9.31a2.638 2.638 0 00-1.687-.621c-1.477 0-2.688 1.238-2.688 2.75 0 1.51 1.21 2.75 2.688 2.75.638 0 1.224-.231 1.687-.615l4.446 2.525a2.778 2.778 0 00-.136.84c0 1.51 1.211 2.75 2.689 2.75 1.477 0 2.688-1.24 2.688-2.75 0-1.512-1.21-2.75-2.688-2.75-.742 0-1.419.317-1.907.82l-4.323-2.46a2.763 2.763 0 000-2.221l4.317-2.459c.488.506 1.168.82 1.913.82 1.477 0 2.688-1.239 2.688-2.75s-1.21-2.75-2.688-2.75z" fill-rule="evenodd" fill="#0D0D0D"></path></svg></div></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Fworld-book-day-publishing-business-during-covid-19-days-48950" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M9.906 20v-7.156H7.5V10h2.406V7.75c0-1.187.334-2.11 1-2.766.667-.656 1.552-.984 2.656-.984.896 0 1.625.042 2.188.125v2.531h-1.5c-.563 0-.948.125-1.156.375-.167.209-.25.542-.25 1V10H15.5l-.375 2.844h-2.281V20H9.906z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="twitter" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Fworld-book-day-publishing-business-during-covid-19-days-48950&text=World%20Book%20Day%3A%20The%20publishing%20business%20during%20the%20COVID-19%20days&hashtags=" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M19.137 8.594c.023.094.035.246.035.457 0 1.687-.41 3.316-1.23 4.887-.844 1.664-2.028 2.988-3.551 3.972-1.664 1.102-3.575 1.652-5.73 1.652-2.063 0-3.95-.55-5.661-1.652.258.024.55.035.879.035 1.71 0 3.246-.527 4.605-1.582-.82 0-1.54-.24-2.162-.72a3.673 3.673 0 01-1.283-1.811c.234.023.457.035.668.035.328 0 .656-.035.984-.105a3.724 3.724 0 01-2.109-1.301 3.542 3.542 0 01-.844-2.32v-.07a3.493 3.493 0 001.653.492 4.097 4.097 0 01-1.196-1.336 3.557 3.557 0 01-.457-1.776c0-.644.176-1.26.528-1.845a10.188 10.188 0 003.357 2.742 10.222 10.222 0 004.236 1.125 5.122 5.122 0 01-.07-.844c0-.656.164-1.272.492-1.846a3.615 3.615 0 011.336-1.353 3.568 3.568 0 011.828-.492c.54 0 1.037.105 1.494.316.457.21.862.492 1.213.844a7.479 7.479 0 002.356-.88c-.281.868-.82 1.548-1.617 2.04A7.926 7.926 0 0021 6.66a8.132 8.132 0 01-1.863 1.934z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-2" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="linkedin" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Fworld-book-day-publishing-business-during-covid-19-days-48950&title=World%20Book%20Day%3A%20The%20publishing%20business%20during%20the%20COVID-19%20days" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M6.71 19H3.26V7.904h3.45V19zM5.005 6.383a1.926 1.926 0 01-1.41-.594A1.923 1.923 0 013 4.38c0-.544.198-1.014.594-1.41a1.926 1.926 0 011.41-.594c.544 0 1.014.198 1.41.594.396.396.594.866.594 1.41 0 .544-.198 1.014-.594 1.41a1.926 1.926 0 01-1.41.594zM19.625 19h-3.451v-5.418c0-.89-.074-1.534-.223-1.93-.272-.668-.804-1.002-1.596-1.002-.791 0-1.348.297-1.67.891-.247.445-.37 1.1-.37 1.967V19H8.9V7.904h3.303v1.522h.037c.248-.495.643-.903 1.188-1.225.593-.396 1.286-.594 2.078-.594 1.608 0 2.734.508 3.377 1.522.495.816.742 2.078.742 3.785V19z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-3" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="whatsapp" href="https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Fart-culture%2Fworld-book-day-publishing-business-during-covid-19-days-48950" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M18.404 5.505a9.457 9.457 0 012.02 2.96 8.587 8.587 0 01.715 3.449 8.665 8.665 0 01-1.245 4.53 9.282 9.282 0 01-3.347 3.307 8.894 8.894 0 01-4.552 1.225 8.835 8.835 0 01-4.327-1.102l-4.817 1.265 1.307-4.694a8.775 8.775 0 01-1.225-4.531 8.77 8.77 0 011.225-4.531 9.17 9.17 0 013.306-3.307 8.781 8.781 0 014.531-1.224c1.198 0 2.347.23 3.45.693a9.515 9.515 0 012.959 1.96zm-6.409 13.96c1.36 0 2.626-.34 3.797-1.02a7.75 7.75 0 002.796-2.756 7.202 7.202 0 001.04-3.775c0-.98-.203-1.933-.612-2.858a8.088 8.088 0 00-1.694-2.47 7.565 7.565 0 00-2.449-1.653 7.405 7.405 0 00-2.878-.571c-1.36 0-2.62.34-3.776 1.02a7.646 7.646 0 00-2.755 2.756 7.316 7.316 0 00-1.02 3.776c0 1.442.394 2.775 1.183 4l.164.286-.776 2.775 2.857-.734.286.163a7.275 7.275 0 003.837 1.061zm4.123-5.674l.123.082c.19.082.299.15.326.204.027.054.034.19.02.408a2.11 2.11 0 01-.163.674c-.095.231-.313.462-.653.694-.34.231-.633.36-.878.388-.38.054-.748.054-1.102 0-.408-.082-.952-.273-1.632-.572-1.388-.599-2.654-1.714-3.797-3.347l-.081-.082c-.6-.843-.898-1.62-.898-2.327 0-.707.244-1.32.734-1.837l.041-.04c.19-.19.395-.286.612-.286h.49c.11 0 .198.02.266.061.068.041.129.143.183.306l.694 1.674c.082.163.095.3.041.408a2.832 2.832 0 01-.53.735.917.917 0 00-.205.265c-.027.068 0 .143.082.225.38.707.83 1.265 1.347 1.673.381.3.952.64 1.714 1.02.218.11.381.096.49-.04.354-.408.599-.707.735-.898.054-.109.123-.163.204-.163.082 0 .177.013.286.04.218.082.735.327 1.551.735z" fill-rule="evenodd" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="arr--story-page-card-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">On World Book Day, Indians find themselves in a unique scenario. The book stores, libraries are shut; and WhatsApp groups are abuzz with free downloads of novels, comics, magazines and so on. And on Facebook and Instagram, the authors are recommending lockdown reads, reading excerpts from their books and trying to widen their audience base.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">The publishers too, have postponed the launches of their physical books and are making them available on digital platforms. Will this have an impact on our reading habits? </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">We chat with a few people from the sales and editorial team of publishing houses to get answers.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">***<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">‘eBooks will grow, but this trend will not sustain…’</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Rahul Srivastava, MD, Simon & Schuster India & Himanjali Sankar, Editorial Director, Simon & Schuster India.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Many books are now being released digitally either on Kindle or as eBook as distribution of physical copies is a problem. Do you think it will have some impact on the publishing of physical copies?</span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Rahul Shankar (RS):</span> eBooks never really took off in India, and this is the event where publishers are promoting, and readers are buying since physical books are unavailable for the past one month in the country.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">eBooks will grow but this trend will not sustain because their prices are quite low – on Amazon Kindle Top 100 charts – 46 books are below Rs 25, 25 books below Rs 100 and 13 between Rs 100-200 (this is dynamic but a true representation). eBooks will gain a market share, but other formats will also come back.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Himanjali Sankar (HS):</span> Currently, we are all scrambling around for inventive temporary solutions that can minimise revenue losses. I am not sure if these solutions can be permanent – we need a deeper, more organic shift in thought and behaviour for long-term changes that aren’t just reflex responses to a pandemic situation.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Are there any measures that the book publishing industry is thinking of to counter the impact?</span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">RS:</span> This situation is unique to India because everywhere else, physical books are available, and eBook sales have not really grown. Online reading, launches and book festivals are being organised to keep the readers engaged.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Can you let us know if any titles of Simon & Schuster India will be released only digitally, for the time being?</span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">RS:</span> Yes, we have a schedule of titles being released as eBooks for April and May, but print versions will be published as the market stabilises.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">HS:</span> We are planning our first ebook launch on April 28 – of Samit Basu’s near-future novel, Chosen Spirits. The next book in our publishing schedule, Young Mental Health, the second book in our Mindscape series which has been envisaged by Amrita Tripathi, will also be first released digitally in May.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">***<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">‘Once the life is normal, business will become normal too’</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Rahul Dixit, Director, Sales Director, HarperCollins India</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Taslima Nasreen’s Shameless has now been released digitally. Will this become more permanent?</span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Rahul Dixit (RD):</span> No, I don’t think this will become permanent. Yes, in the current scenario, physical distribution of copies is not possible and so we released the eBook as first format. But the good thing is that the people are discovering and learning ways to find and read on digital mediums. It is a new experience for a lot of people, and many will love the convenience of an eBook/audiobook. So, I am very happy that we published this highly anticipated book and I believe in the long run, it is good for books. It will expand the market.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Once the markets open, people will return to book shops as they will return to theatres, cinema and restaurants, and we will have a print book market back with newfound digital readers as a bonus.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">The impact on physical copies is only as far as the stock movement is restricted and people are at homes. Once life is normal, the business will become normal too. I don’t think books will face what news media is going through for two reasons:</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">1. Reading a 5000-word article on your phone is different from finishing a 500-page book. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">2. News is in the moment, dynamic and in small capsules. Plus, it comes very cheap. Books are definitive (more authentic too) and also expensive. It’s the difference like the two products that define the pattern of their consumption. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Can you let us know if any other titles of HarperCollins will be only digitally released?</span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">RD:</span> We have a released Shuttling to the top (The PV Sindhu Story) and Big Questions Of Life by Om Swami. We will release a few in May too.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">A day-long tete-e-tete with authors</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />HarperCollins India will be celebrating a World Book Day Jam on their Instagram page – @HarperCollinsIN – which will have a series of live author sessions, making for a perfect booklover’s day in, during the lockdown.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">The day-long activity will feature live sessions on various topics - including food, music, travel, poetry, nostalgia for a city, love, relationships plus reading recommendations, among others. It will be led by a whole host of popular and bestselling authors like Ravinder Singh, Nikita Singh, Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghavi, Rana Safvi, Boria Majumdar, Nalin Mehta, Aanchal Malhotra, Meghand S, Soumya Bhattacharya, Kavitha Buggana, Aniruddha Mahale, Rehana Munir, Anukrti Upadhyay, Vivek Tejuja along with food blogger and baker, Shivesh Bhatia, singer-composer and now writer, Anmol Malik, and poet-writers, Sharanya Manivannan and Aditi Angiras</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">***<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">‘Audiobooks offer a more imaginative and immersive experience’</span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">India’s bestselling author Sudha Murty’s new book, How the Onion Got Its Layers releases in the <a href="https://www.amazon.in/dp/B087BVBTQL/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=B087BVBTQL&qid=1587387112&sr=8-1" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f81cd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">ebook</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Sudha_Murty_How_the_Onion_Got_It_s_Layers?id=AQAAAEDsaCYo2M" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f81cd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">audiobook</a> formats on the World Book Day.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">The book, peppered with gorgeous illustrations accompanying a simple yet engaging narrative, is perfect for introducing emerging readers or beginners to the timeless works by the author.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Sohini Mitra, Publisher-Children’s, Penguin Random House India, gives us details.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Do you think audiobooks and ebooks will gain prominence, considering that for a few months at least, distribution of physical copies would be a problem?</span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Sohini Mitra (SM):</span> I think all formats can coexist and particularly in today’s context where parents are looking for safe and accessible books/content, experiencing these electronically opens up possibilities. This also ensures that the new works of authors continue to reach out to audiences far and wide.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">With kids staying indoors, parents are constantly looking for ways to engage them. In this context, I feel eBook and audiobooks are good channels to keep readers connected to the world of stories.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Do you think the children’s imprint should have more audiobooks for the younger readers?</span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">SM:</span> Yes, definitely. At PRH, we do have quite a few already out in audio formats (we have Ruskin Bond’s chapter books narrated in his own voice) and many other audiobooks are in the pipeline. While many parents might be averse to the idea of kids reading on gadgets, audiobooks offer a different experience altogether. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">It is a wonderful way to draw in readers, not just to stories but also to the magical world of storytelling. A good narration can hook a reader and create a reader for a lifetime. This might be especially true in the case of reluctant readers who may not be able to read independently. Audiobooks can be a great tool for them. It also offers a more imaginative and immersive experience.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">LOGIN THIS EVENING</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />How the Onion Got Its Layers will be digitally launched by Shrutkeerti Khurana by Puffin Books and Crossword Bookstores on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Crosswordbookstores" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f81cd; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Crossword</span> <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Bookstores’ FB Page LIVE</span></a> on Thursday, 5.30 pm. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">She will be doing exclusive animated storytelling from this book.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Shrutkeerti Khurana is an independent editor of several fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, and also the Programs Director at Infosys Foundation.</p></div></div></div></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-81692738281637596212020-11-25T19:35:00.001+06:002021-03-12T18:19:21.448+06:00 'The Mughal court was considered an extraordinarily cosmopolitan and polyphonous world': Ira Mukhoty<p> I interviewed Ira Mukhoty for her book Akbar-The Great Mughal. The interview appeared in Sakal Times, now The Bridge Chronicle</p><div class="text-story-m__story-details__274VC" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lora, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: unset;"><div class="author-card-m__author-card-wrapper__n4ZfR author-card-m__leftAligned__12UNV" data-test-id="author-card" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex;"><div class="author-card-m__author-name-share__1d5a1" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font-size: var(--arrow-fs-s); justify-content: center; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1);"><a href="https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/author/ambika-shaligram" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;"><h5 class="author-card-m__multiple-author-style__83yoG author-card-m__dark__QM2sZ" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-s); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></h5><h5 class="author-card-m__multiple-author-style__83yoG author-card-m__dark__QM2sZ" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-s); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ambika Shaligram</h5></a></div></div><div class="arr--story-page-card-wrapper" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><br />Terming Ira Mukhoty's Akbar - The Great Mughal, a fun read, could invite ire of some since it trivialises a piece of history.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CsB-Iw9_uOQ/X75a0sY5DjI/AAAAAAAAWpA/_CL5m-jiIB4H4Dp2Wbu0ApGRukDYfXUVACLcBGAsYHQ/s1870/Akbar-The%2BGreat%2BMughal%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1870" data-original-width="1191" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CsB-Iw9_uOQ/X75a0sY5DjI/AAAAAAAAWpA/_CL5m-jiIB4H4Dp2Wbu0ApGRukDYfXUVACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Akbar-The%2BGreat%2BMughal%2B%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div><p></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">But the definitive biography published by Aleph Book Company is fun. It engages you from the word go and takes you into the world of Akbar which was shaped by the histories of his grandfather Babur, his father Humayun, his many uncles and aunts, his progeny, and the many wars they fought.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">All of us know a smattering of the Mughal history, mostly apocryphal. In Akbar - The Great Mughal, Mukhoty has researched various sources, from the imperial court to his aunt's account, thus giving us a full account of the man who became Akbar. Here's more from the author:</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">You have previously written Daughters of the Sun: Empresses, Queens and Begums of the Mughal Empire. It gives a very different view of the zenana life. Is that when you also thought of exploring the life of Akbar?</span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">A: </span>That's right. While researching on the lives of the Mughal women, I found that while the women of the earlier rulers - Babur and Humayun - had considerable visibility and mobility, somehow during the reign of Akbar, this changed, and the women became pardeh-giyan - hidden behind the veil. At the same time, Akbar was acknowledged as being very sensitive to the plight of women, and progressive in the laws he brought in, such as the law allowing widows to remarry. So there was some sort of dichotomy there that I wanted to explore further and understand how it came about that these irrepressible early Mughal women became slowly constrained within the zenana walls.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">You have studied Akbar's aunt Gulbadan's writings on Babur and Humayun, which were personal and revealing. And then there were the chronicles of Badauni and Abu'l Fazl. As an author, how did you see Akbar, the human being? Why did he appeal to you?</span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">A:</span> By reading all these sources, including also sources in sub-imperial courts such as the Brajbhasha writings of Raja Man Singh's court and Bir Singh Deo's court, I wanted to create a textured and layered understanding of who Akbar was. We all have a preconceived notion of the great man we believe him to have been.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Our subconscious mind is crowded with the myths that encircle him - Jodha-Akbar, Akbar-Birbal amidst others. I wanted readers to walk the journey along with Akbar, to understand the influences he was subject to, and discover the shaping of his personality with all its idiosyncrasies, vulnerabilities, fallibilities and warmth. This very human Akbar, sometimes volatile and angry, and at other times melancholic and uncertain, was something that attracted me and that I wanted to present to the readers within the vibrant and chaotic world of 16th century Mughal India.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">You also chose to write about Birbal, which is a different story from the usual Akbar-Birbal caricature-ish stories that we have grown up reading. Was that because you wanted to give the youngsters something new to think about?</span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">A:</span> Naturally, legends grow around extraordinary figures like Akbar. But when writing historical non-fiction, the job of the writer is to remove some of these filters that the passing centuries obscure the stories with. I wanted to challenge the notion that a reader might have of already 'knowing' Akbar because of these myths. There is usually a core of truth, to some of these legends. So I wanted to show the relationship of Birbal and Akbar organically within the 16th-century setting, as an evolving friendship, so that readers could ascertain for themselves the texture of this very special bond.<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"> </span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">There were inter-faith mingling and sexual relationships; food was celebrated; it was probably a livelier world than what is made out to be now. Did the colonial rule make us forget this world? How different were the Spanish, French and British views of the Indians/Hindustanis?</span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">A:</span> The English began the nefarious process of dividing Indian history into 'phases', and so they called ancient history 'Hindu', medieval history 'Muslim' and modern history 'European'. In this way, they emphasised that the predominant characteristic of each period was religion, over and above all other influences. But as we know, identity in a country like India was always a very complicated business, with regional, clan, culinary, linguistic, community, trade and other relationships being equally important factors.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">The Mughal court, from the time of Akbar, was considered an extraordinarily cosmopolitan and polyphonous world where Persian, Sanskrit, Brajbhasha, and Turkish were patronised. Mughal culture gradually became an exquisite blend of all these influences, but the English did not choose to recognise and promote this. For their purposes, it was much more convenient to speak of a despotic Muslim rule, which it was their duty to overthrow.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">The French, at least in the initial phase, approached India with a greater degree of awareness of its rich cultural past, and once they had lost the war with the British over control of Indian trade, grew more interested in Indian philosophy, art and culture.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Your views on what Akbar did right and where Aurangzeb went wrong. Are you planning a book on Aurangzeb?</span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">A:</span> I am less interested in assigning blame and validation, than in creating the past in such a way that the reader will understand the various riptides at work in the current of history. Akbar's legacy was a complicated product of his times, and his life was an unfolding of a multitude of factors - his illiteracy, his doubts, his self-belief, his charisma, his marriages, the people he encountered and so much more. His legacy, in turn, created shockwaves of reaction, such as the ulema's fury and desire to rectify what they saw as his 'excesses', which people like Aurangzeb then had to contend with. I was interested in studying Akbar because he occupies such a colossal space in our collective memory and because he laid the foundation for a culture whose fragrance still surrounds us. I wanted to better understand the processes that allowed for such a luminous destiny. Aurangzeb doesn't interest me in the same way, and so I have no plans to write a book on him. </p></div></div></div></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4881149883656201598.post-28913917644048879072020-11-25T19:20:00.001+06:002021-03-12T18:19:30.175+06:00Lives Reset, a book on stories set during the pandemic, give us hope<p> </p><div class="text-story-m__header-details__1zfGI" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><h1 class="arrow-component arr--story-headline story-headline-m__headline__1LzaJ story-headline-m__dark__1wPld" data-testid="headline" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-big); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-xs); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-transform: unset;">I wrote this for Sakal Times, now The Bridge Chronicle <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6eCKnsStOl8/X75Z-9Nsz7I/AAAAAAAAWo4/1KuhfG3l2vY5tc4DUz1lDHIYmHpkgPxWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/Lives%2BReset-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6eCKnsStOl8/X75Z-9Nsz7I/AAAAAAAAWo4/1KuhfG3l2vY5tc4DUz1lDHIYmHpkgPxWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Lives%2BReset-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /></h1><div class="p-alt arr--sub-headline arrow-component subheadline-m__subheadline__3H1ig subheadline-m__dark__31XBm" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono4); display: -webkit-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-xs); overflow: hidden; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"></div></div><div class="text-story-m__story-details__274VC" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: unset;"><div class="author-card-m__author-card-wrapper__n4ZfR author-card-m__leftAligned__12UNV" data-test-id="author-card" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font-family: Lora, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div class="author-card-m__author-image-wrapper__m3TF3" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; margin-bottom: var(--arrow-spacing-s); margin-right: var(--arrow-spacing-l);"><a href="https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/author/ambika-shaligram" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;"><div class="author-card-m__author-image__1Vk5A author-card-m__first-author-image__1NL45" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: 0px; overflow: hidden;"></div></a></div><div class="author-card-m__author-name-share__1d5a1" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font-size: var(--arrow-fs-s); justify-content: center; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1);"><a href="https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/author/ambika-shaligram" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;"><h5 class="author-card-m__multiple-author-style__83yoG author-card-m__dark__QM2sZ" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-s); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></h5><h5 class="author-card-m__multiple-author-style__83yoG author-card-m__dark__QM2sZ" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-s); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></h5><h5 class="author-card-m__multiple-author-style__83yoG author-card-m__dark__QM2sZ" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-s); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ambika Shaligram</h5></a></div><div class="author-card-m__author-details-wrapper__PBmm3" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; justify-content: center; margin-left: var(--arrow-spacing-l); padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs) var(--arrow-spacing-xs) var(--arrow-spacing-xs) 0;"></div></div><div class="text-story-m__timestamp-social-share__1X8oT" style="align-items: center; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font-family: Lora, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; justify-content: space-between; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="arrow-component arr-publish-details publish-details-m__timeStamp__2jKln publish-details-m__dark__3LMZX" data-test-id="timeStamp" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono4); font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><div class="publish-details-m__publish-details__3DBdw publish-details-m__dark__3LMZX" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex;">Published on : <time class="publish-details-m__date__2xi0-" datetime="2020-05-11T13:24:06.000Z" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="2020-05-11 13:24">11 May, 2020 , 6:54 pm</time></div></div><div class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><ul class="social-share-template-m__wrapper__3nSbK" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: row-reverse; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); list-style: none; margin: 0px; max-width: var(--arrow-fs-big); overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; z-index: var(--zIndex-social);"><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M15.843 3.189c-1.478 0-2.689 1.239-2.689 2.75 0 .293.046.58.13.846L8.844 9.31a2.638 2.638 0 00-1.687-.621c-1.477 0-2.688 1.238-2.688 2.75 0 1.51 1.21 2.75 2.688 2.75.638 0 1.224-.231 1.687-.615l4.446 2.525a2.778 2.778 0 00-.136.84c0 1.51 1.211 2.75 2.689 2.75 1.477 0 2.688-1.24 2.688-2.75 0-1.512-1.21-2.75-2.688-2.75-.742 0-1.419.317-1.907.82l-4.323-2.46a2.763 2.763 0 000-2.221l4.317-2.459c.488.506 1.168.82 1.913.82 1.477 0 2.688-1.239 2.688-2.75s-1.21-2.75-2.688-2.75z" fill-rule="evenodd" fill="#0D0D0D"></path></svg></div></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-0" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Flives-reset-book-stories-set-during-pandemic-give-us-hope-49837" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M9.906 20v-7.156H7.5V10h2.406V7.75c0-1.187.334-2.11 1-2.766.667-.656 1.552-.984 2.656-.984.896 0 1.625.042 2.188.125v2.531h-1.5c-.563 0-.948.125-1.156.375-.167.209-.25.542-.25 1V10H15.5l-.375 2.844h-2.281V20H9.906z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="twitter" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Flives-reset-book-stories-set-during-pandemic-give-us-hope-49837&text=Lives%20Reset%2C%20a%20book%20on%20stories%20set%20during%20the%20pandemic%2C%20give%20us%20hope&hashtags=" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M19.137 8.594c.023.094.035.246.035.457 0 1.687-.41 3.316-1.23 4.887-.844 1.664-2.028 2.988-3.551 3.972-1.664 1.102-3.575 1.652-5.73 1.652-2.063 0-3.95-.55-5.661-1.652.258.024.55.035.879.035 1.71 0 3.246-.527 4.605-1.582-.82 0-1.54-.24-2.162-.72a3.673 3.673 0 01-1.283-1.811c.234.023.457.035.668.035.328 0 .656-.035.984-.105a3.724 3.724 0 01-2.109-1.301 3.542 3.542 0 01-.844-2.32v-.07a3.493 3.493 0 001.653.492 4.097 4.097 0 01-1.196-1.336 3.557 3.557 0 01-.457-1.776c0-.644.176-1.26.528-1.845a10.188 10.188 0 003.357 2.742 10.222 10.222 0 004.236 1.125 5.122 5.122 0 01-.07-.844c0-.656.164-1.272.492-1.846a3.615 3.615 0 011.336-1.353 3.568 3.568 0 011.828-.492c.54 0 1.037.105 1.494.316.457.21.862.492 1.213.844a7.479 7.479 0 002.356-.88c-.281.868-.82 1.548-1.617 2.04A7.926 7.926 0 0021 6.66a8.132 8.132 0 01-1.863 1.934z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-2" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="linkedin" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Flives-reset-book-stories-set-during-pandemic-give-us-hope-49837&title=Lives%20Reset%2C%20a%20book%20on%20stories%20set%20during%20the%20pandemic%2C%20give%20us%20hope" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M6.71 19H3.26V7.904h3.45V19zM5.005 6.383a1.926 1.926 0 01-1.41-.594A1.923 1.923 0 013 4.38c0-.544.198-1.014.594-1.41a1.926 1.926 0 011.41-.594c.544 0 1.014.198 1.41.594.396.396.594.866.594 1.41 0 .544-.198 1.014-.594 1.41a1.926 1.926 0 01-1.41.594zM19.625 19h-3.451v-5.418c0-.89-.074-1.534-.223-1.93-.272-.668-.804-1.002-1.596-1.002-.791 0-1.348.297-1.67.891-.247.445-.37 1.1-.37 1.967V19H8.9V7.904h3.303v1.522h.037c.248-.495.643-.903 1.188-1.225.593-.396 1.286-.594 2.078-.594 1.608 0 2.734.508 3.377 1.522.495.816.742 2.078.742 3.785V19z" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li><li class="social-share-template-m__icon__1Gyj9" data-testid="card-share-3" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--primaryFont); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-xs); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-1); margin-right: 0px; padding: var(--arrow-spacing-xs);"><a data-share-icon="whatsapp" href="https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebridgechronicle.com%2Flifestyle%2Flives-reset-book-stories-set-during-pandemic-give-us-hope-49837" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><svg height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M18.404 5.505a9.457 9.457 0 012.02 2.96 8.587 8.587 0 01.715 3.449 8.665 8.665 0 01-1.245 4.53 9.282 9.282 0 01-3.347 3.307 8.894 8.894 0 01-4.552 1.225 8.835 8.835 0 01-4.327-1.102l-4.817 1.265 1.307-4.694a8.775 8.775 0 01-1.225-4.531 8.77 8.77 0 011.225-4.531 9.17 9.17 0 013.306-3.307 8.781 8.781 0 014.531-1.224c1.198 0 2.347.23 3.45.693a9.515 9.515 0 012.959 1.96zm-6.409 13.96c1.36 0 2.626-.34 3.797-1.02a7.75 7.75 0 002.796-2.756 7.202 7.202 0 001.04-3.775c0-.98-.203-1.933-.612-2.858a8.088 8.088 0 00-1.694-2.47 7.565 7.565 0 00-2.449-1.653 7.405 7.405 0 00-2.878-.571c-1.36 0-2.62.34-3.776 1.02a7.646 7.646 0 00-2.755 2.756 7.316 7.316 0 00-1.02 3.776c0 1.442.394 2.775 1.183 4l.164.286-.776 2.775 2.857-.734.286.163a7.275 7.275 0 003.837 1.061zm4.123-5.674l.123.082c.19.082.299.15.326.204.027.054.034.19.02.408a2.11 2.11 0 01-.163.674c-.095.231-.313.462-.653.694-.34.231-.633.36-.878.388-.38.054-.748.054-1.102 0-.408-.082-.952-.273-1.632-.572-1.388-.599-2.654-1.714-3.797-3.347l-.081-.082c-.6-.843-.898-1.62-.898-2.327 0-.707.244-1.32.734-1.837l.041-.04c.19-.19.395-.286.612-.286h.49c.11 0 .198.02.266.061.068.041.129.143.183.306l.694 1.674c.082.163.095.3.041.408a2.832 2.832 0 01-.53.735.917.917 0 00-.205.265c-.027.068 0 .143.082.225.38.707.83 1.265 1.347 1.673.381.3.952.64 1.714 1.02.218.11.381.096.49-.04.354-.408.599-.707.735-.898.054-.109.123-.163.204-.163.082 0 .177.013.286.04.218.082.735.327 1.551.735z" fill-rule="evenodd" fill="#333333"></path></svg></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="arr--story-page-card-wrapper" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lora, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">The nationwide lockdown has affected us in ways that we could never fathom. It has made us vulnerable, afraid, weak, but it is also showed us how we could respond by bringing a change in our mindset. All we need is a little hope to heal. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">An anthology of tales and poems, Lives Reset <span id="docs-internal-guid-5bf2b8df-7fff-87b6-dc13-293bed695f8d" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">– </span>Stories of Hope, Heart, Healing and (Un) distancing in Pandemic Times — tells you how to look at the silver lining.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Written by The Lightweaver Writing Group of 2017<span id="docs-internal-guid-5bf2b8df-7fff-87b6-dc13-293bed695f8d" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">- </span>2020, the stories and poems seem to be a slice of life, yours and mine, as we make sense of the changing world around us, looking for, and offering support, solace and warmth.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">The book has been edited by Dr Bhavana Nissima, an NLP trainer and Writing Coach.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">We talk to Arunlekha Sengupta and Mubida Rohman, who have contributed to Lives Reset.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><h3 dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-l); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: normal;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-8b6a0988-7fff-55ed-86e5-348be64e8af0" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Accept your sorrows and sufferings</span></h3></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Mubida Rohman manages the 'Languages and Intercultural training' portfolio at a luxury automative giant.<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"> </span>Rohman has contributed the story titled Things That Happen in Spring.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red;">When did you begin writing?</span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">During my college days, I used to write poems and some short stories. However, once I started working 9 to 5, I hardly continued with it. After many years, when frequent travels and working with people from different parts of the world became a part of my job, I felt an urge to document and write down my experiences. I started with a personal blog and at the work-front, I began documenting stories, editing newsletters, blogs and website content etc. It was the guidance from my mentor and writing coach, dr Bhavana Nissima that helped me continue with my writing journey.<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"> </span>Last year, I became a lot more disciplined with my writing and it helped shorten the long time gaps in my writing. I completed a coffee-table book for a child development organisation in India and many other stories for their newsletters and other publications.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red;">How did you meet the character of Zaynah and Evan?</span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">In 2013, I was travelling to Germany for work. On the flight from Dubai to Düsseldorf, seated next to me was a gentleman from Afghanistan. The icebreaker was some pistachios he offered, we began talking and sharing stories. He showed me pictures of Afghanistan, his brother’s wedding, and a lot more about life in that country. We began discussing the political turmoil and the people who had to flee the country to avoid persecution and war, the helpless little refugee children and how often they fell prey to abuse and human trafficking.I guess, since then Zaynah and many other children alike have always been on my mind, and I wanted to write about her and them. In the story Things That Happen in Spring, I began writing about Zaynah and alongside the character of Evan developed as an embodiment of hope. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red;">How does your personal and professional world deal with suffering, sorrow and hope? Where do you sight your spring?</span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">In my world, I deal with suffering, sorrow and hope through acceptance, that life is not fair to everyone and that there is suffering and pain in the world. It took me quite a while to reach this stage and what helped along the way was stories, stories I read in books and other mediums, stories I heard from people of their journeys and their contribution towards easing someone’s pain, uplifting someone’s life, and helping someone heal. My spring lies in such stories and every time they manage to stir something inside me, making me believe in the power of compassion and change.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-l); font-stretch: normal; font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-bold); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-3); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: normal;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">‘While writing, I am a god’</span></h3></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Arunlekkha Sengupta is a full-time writer, a Hyderabadi, who loves her food. She has written Sunflowers in the Moonlight for the anthology.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red;">Tell us how you thought of the characters, Aisha and Zeeshan.</span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Aisha and Zeeshan are my two parts. My moods are affected from time to time in the way theirs was in the story. I imagined myself during lockdown, if my moods swayed to an extreme and there was no outlet for all that energy, what would happen was Aisha. And if I had no energy at all, there’s Zeeshan for you. I came up with their character in one sitting. In fact, I finished the story in two sittings. The dominant theme of the entire collection is hope and also of people who have suffered (loss, grief, mental illness) in the past. </p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red;">How do you see suffering and how has it changed you?</span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">I grapple with mental illness myself. Sometimes it makes me very productive and at other times it makes me a zombie. I have learnt to be extremely conscious of my mood. I can feel a shift in my mood at the very onset. I can also see other people and sense their moods. Usually, I can intuite with very little help, what others are feeling. It has made me a more sensitive human being who is prone to introspection. I am filled with gratitude for the good days and the knowledge that the bad days will pass. I am able to see the bigger picture.</p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: red;">Is it difficult to write optimistic stories knowing that it’s not always going to be happy ending for some people?</span></p></div></div><div class="arr--element-container story-element-card-m__element-container__2FlLS story-element-card-m__dark__3JiDc" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--arrow-c-mono2); margin: var(--arrow-spacing-xl) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--text-element text-m__text-element__12-Tp text-m__dark__2GgRK " data-test-id="text" id="text-element" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-secondary); font-size: var(--arrow-fs-m); font-stretch: normal; line-height: var(--arrow-lh-5); margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">My favourite genre is mystery and horror. Even in those, I look for a happy ending. It’s very important to me, as a creator, to make it all happy in the end. For this collection, I was very sure that I was going to write a sweet love story. It seemed the most hopeful and beautiful given the times we are living in. I wanted to soothe my readers. While writing, I am a god and I can write the story the way I want to, real life doesn’t come into the picture. I can safely ignore what is happening in real life and make a sweet story and give it a happy ending.</p><div><br /></div></div></div></div><div class="text-story-m__story-tags__3NPdL" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lora, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: var(--arrow-spacing-l) 0;"><div class="arrow-component arr--story-tags" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--arrow-typeface-primary); font-weight: var(--arrow-fw-normal); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"></div></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Lora, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div class="story-footer-module__ad__1Rbe-" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden; text-align: center; width: 752px;"><div class="adunitContainer" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div></div></div></div>Ambikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16155706435786855522noreply@blogger.com0