Wine - The Secret Ingredient

Cooking with Wine. The photo above says it all. Till 26th August, food and wine pairing meant serving wine with food. In fact, in my previous experience of wine tasting, I had learnt that wines could be paired with Indian dishes too, and that was surprising enough. I was invited to a Live Cooking session at Cheri One Qutub at Mehrauli organized by Four Seasons and Team Gingerclaps along with a few fellow bloggers, friends, photoghraphers and wine enthusiasts. What could be a better composition?

With a glass of excellent white wine, we started the event. Mr Shailendra Rahul, General Manager of Cheri introduced Mr Abhay Kewadkar, Business Head of Four Seasons and Chef Raman Kohli. It could be the wine, or the cloudy-breezy atmosphere in the lovely outdoor courtyard of the restaurant, that formalities were done away with. Mr Kewadkar urged us to forget all the showbiz, and "eat what we like and drink what we enjoy"!! 

We gathered around Chef Raman, an incredibly young guy for the experience he has, and he encouraged us to use wine in cooking. With tips coming in from Mr Abhay, we learnt how to deglaze the wine and cook a fabulous preparation of scallops.

The rains were about to play foul, so we shifted indoors, but not before we had gobbled off the scallops. The L- shaped interiors have been designed around the courtyard and looks very classy with its prim, dimly lit look and massive bar. I must say that Cheri is a beautiful place to go, relax and enjoy: the outdoors, including the terrace, is as inviting as the mystical interiors.

We tasted Red Wine with some delicious food coming in from the kitchen. The youngest contestant of Master Chef Australia, Ankita had also joined us. Already tipsy, we were chatting gleefully with each other and we almost missed Raman joining us back again.

This time, he made a chicken preparation with wine and cream - needless to say that it was wonderful.

Last but not the least, we had dessert (yummy cheese cakes) with another red variety, Rose Wine.

I leave you a teaser in the composition, which shows the scallops, empty and filled glasses!

 Next time you have the chance to have a dish prepared by me, you can guess the secret ingredient that has gone into it !!

Photocredits: Arvind Passey, Sushmita Sarkar, V J Sharma (Travellingcamera) and myself. 

When Colours Talk

One of the advantages of reading posts by fellow bloggers is that you come to know a lot of things!! I came to know about this contest called "Capture the Colour", wherein you have to post photos that epitomize a particular colour, in Arti's blog. Maybe I should have waited till someone tagged me, but I fell in love with the idea so much that I took up the challenge straightaway!!

BLUE

This is inside the courtyard of Sarkhez ki Roza, Ahmedabad. If you note the time stamp, this snap was taken at the end of the day when the moon has just come into view. The sky is a serene blue, and the courtyard also seems to have taken up the tinge.

GREEN

We had witnessed Goa in a unique look when we visited in monsoons. We were enthralled by the lush green vegetation, fresh life coming up after the rains.. this snap is taken on a roadside hill on which surreal beauty overlooks the sea. Here you see quite a number of green forms: Grass, Shrubs, Wide and Tall trees. The ambience is quiet, cows graze on one side.. the experience is unforgettable.

YELLOW 

The mighty chandelier on the ceiling of a Durga Puja Pandal in Kolkata. It uses all CFL lights with a yellowish glow that saves energy and symbolizes Purity and Strength at the same time! 

WHITE

I had the maximum difficulty in choosing an image for this colour. I found white buildings, temples, statues, mighty waterfalls, frothing seas, snow capped mountains, etc but this is the photo where the white of the canvas ropes struck me against this dark background. It is such a simple, yet effective barrier - physical, but not visual, so flexible and light. This is a partition used in a restaurant in Kolkata. Can you make out the furniture on the other side?  

RED

A shot taken in a Durga Puja Pandal in Kolkata where the interior lighting is on a red theme. Goddess Durga also wears a red saree that brings Her out as the centre of attraction and enhances Her beauty. Spotlights are used to highlight the faces of the deities. Dont you think the redness of the frame has come out very well?

The contest requires us to nominate five fellow bloggers so as to spread the word. I have chosen them very carefully, and hope they would enjoy participating in this contest!

Sushmita of My Unfinished Life

Santosh Chandran of Lightscapes

Joshi Daniel of Joshi Daniel Photography

Nabhonil Basu of Kamara Syndrome

Abhishek Majumder of Tactile Thoughts

And last but not the least, if this contest interest you, just participate!! The last date of participation is 29th August, 2012 - there's hardly any time left!! Check out their Facebook page too!

"An Unsung Love Story" : My entry for the Get Published contest

Its a new initiative from Indiblogger and Harper Collins: Submit your story and you may be published. There's a theme: "Real Love in New India". However exciting it may sound, there is also a catch - Its got to be REAL. That is, you may talk about your own story (are you MAD?) or someone else's (Thank God!!).

We have to submit just our idea about the story, and explain why we want to write about it. We shall get assistance in weaving the final version of our own short story. 

 

So here goes: Plot of a True Story of Love: AN UNSUNG LOVE STORY

Boy and Girl are classmates. Girl gets married right after college - keeps in touch with Boy through letters. [No internet and other technologies at that time]. They realize what they mean to each other when there is a gap in communication. Girl has had twin boys by then but she believes in her love and moves out. She takes up a job, and applies for custody of her kids. Girl’s husband is sceptical of social stigma, and delays the divorce. What happens next? Will Boy and Girl ever be united? Will she get the custody of the kids? Wait for more...

The reason of selecting this story is the Boy is one of my closest friends and I am also a witness of their struggle. I admire their commitment to their relationship, and want the world to know about their story. This shall go a long way to inspire couples who hesitate to take bold steps in crisis situations.

I hope you guys like the story line. I look forward to encouragement from you!

Image Source: here, duly "Photoshopped" by me.

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This is my entry for the HarperCollins–IndiBlogger Get Published contest, which is run with inputs fromYashodhara Lal and HarperCollins India.

Love or Arranged

What? No marks for guessing.. it can be nothing else but marriage. And this debate is ages old, and never ends. So much so, that a serial is being aired on television on this topic!! Now that this topic has cropped up, lets take one by one.

Gals and Guys, Ladies and Gentlemen, please understand marriage, whichever way it happens, is a union of two souls, two families, two cultures and much more. Please don't taint it with issues of caste, dowry, "rules for bahus", and all that scares the young generation at the very idea of marriage.

The Arranged Set Up

The latest protagonist of this story is my very own brother-in-law. The chap is 30, and my parents in law had found a girl who was pretty, well educated, smart, willing to shift anywhere with her would-be husband, of the correct caste, a talented master of all trades-music, dance, painting, poetry. What is more, she said yes to our boy.. we were sure we had found his heaven-made match, when he suddenly turned around and said a firm "No". Our sincere efforts to cajole him to this alliance failed miserably.

My bro-in-law said, "How can I decide in a couple of meetings?", while the girl was apprehensive of going out with an unknown guy. Umm, she perhaps had a point there.

I really wonder how the generation before ours survived with people usually selected by someone other than themselves, sometimes even setting eyes on the other person during marriage!

The Love Affair

Some relationships are made in heaven..but how on earth would you know? How do you know whether the person on the other side is interested in being with you for the person you are or the wealth you would inherit/ your figure or any other reason?

Given the risks, the only advantage in a Love Marriage is that you get some quality time to spend with each other, and do a self evaluation of your compatibility. I mean, isn't that enough??

The flipside of having relationships is of course, loads of mental pressure if anything ever tends to go wrong, let alone happen!

For those who could not find the right partner yourself, the Arranged Marriage idea isnt too bad either, if we are willing to revisit some rules- for example, the girl is not a showpiece. She is not going to dress up and bring tea/ snacks for anybody. Her parents would not give lavish gifts - let the newly wed couple procure them through their own merit. And yes, when you claim "Caste no bar", please mean it. And be open to inter caste, inter religion, inter state, inter country, even inter continental marriages!!! Both sets of inlaws have to adopt the new member in their families, instead of handing them huge responsibilities and expect them to transform into super-humans! Some changes are happening, but its time for a revolution.
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I had a love marriage myself. Given my shy nature, most people doubt this fact even today. :) This contest on Indiblogger is very close to my heart. Photograph courtesy Jaspal Singh, a close friend of mine.

Can you hear me?

Big city people are vociferous against child labour, yet unusually blind to it. When I bring you a glass of tea on the roadside, wipe the tables and clean the utensils, how come I miss your vision without fail?

Years ago, Mohan, our gardener, had kidnapped me from my home on the hills. Grandpa trusted him with not only the garden but also my safety, because I would be running around the garden. My parents used to work in the tea gardens – they returned at the fag end of the day.

Mohan took advantage of their absence and your age, Grandpa. On a day when clouds descended in a gentle mist, he slipped out with me on his shoulders... away from you, my family, my roots!!

I am here, Grandpa. Send Papa, please. Tell him to punish all Mohans who rob kids of their childhood. I don’t want to be “Chhotu”.. I am your naughty little brat!!

--

Child labour is rising at an alarming rate, friends. Its time we join hands against it.
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This post is part of the contest A picture can say a thousand words.. on WriteUpCafe.com

Tasting Wine!!!

I still remember the first day I tasted wine ever. My cousin had taken our gang out, and red wine was ordered. I remember wincing at the first sip... but there was something in that sour taste blended with a quaint sweet flavour. I not only finished that glass, but although I am an essentially non alcoholic person, I would love to have a glass or two of wine occassionally. Oops, that's a secret let out!!!

So, when my blogger-and-more buddy, Sushmita invited me for a Wine Tasting event organised by  Four Seasons, I readily agreed ignoring the fact that it was on a Thursday afternoon. The venue was near my office, Fresco Restaurant in Connaught Place, which is famous for exotic Italian food. I was joined by seven fellow bloggers, (left to right in the picture): Rituparna, Pratik, Purba, Deeba, Sushmita, Sangeeta and Rekha.

The bright face you see behind our group is Shamita Singha, Miss Earth Universe. She came across as the girl next door and told us about wines, about Four Seasons and interacted with us freely. Never for once, did she sound like a celebrity. But she sure knew a lot about wines!

I mean, I have consumed wine on various occasions at different restaurants in a number of cities, and used to think myself as quite a  connoisseur. But never had I bothered to think how wine was made, where it got its colour from, etc. Shamita told us all this,and gave us ideas about pairing different types of wine with the type of cuisine. Yes, dont be surprised if I serve you wine with Baingan-ka-bharta (Roasted brinjal, a delicacy from the Indian cuisine) now! We tasted five types of wines over enthralling converstation, and were quite tipsy and gay by the end of the session. All of them were great!!! Two smart representatives from Four Seasons, Jyoti and a handsome young man (sorry, I forgot to ask his name) kept us company enthusiastically over the food and drinks.

We were gifted a complimentary bottle of wine for our friends and family. So come over, if you want to share my newly gained knowledge and taste the wine.

Some of my friends have also blogged about the event, and their posts are far more colourful, informative and exciting!! Read them here, while I leave you a teaser with the snaps above:

Deeba's, Sangeeta's, and Sushmita's .

Photo credits: Group Photo by Four Seasons, Wine Bottle and Glasses: Deeba Rajpal

Rumination!

To you who valued

Money over friendship

Who borrowed … 

Only to cheat!!

Stories of hardship

Weaved so neat!!

Promising to meet me on an evening

To return the debt

Casually marking

A date

With an arrow on the calendar!

But that is a paradise unknown to you!

You sever all connections with me -

Calls rejected,

Emails unanswered !

My faith in friendship stands torn,

Passion awaits you folorn,

Secretly uttering verses of anticipation

That you would return

To

     Restore the pride of associations,

     Tame the snakes of evil doubt

     And sort the riot of emotions………

All but for an amount

How big or small is not the question

It cost me a friend

Who turned into a fiend

Come

Tell me the what went amiss

If all you need is

More time.

But that is a paradise unknown to you.
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P.S.: The poem ends here... and it is a contest entry, as you can make out from the link below; but I cannot close this post without mentioning Ekta of Numerounity. She is the one who encouraged me to try my hand at poetry, fearlessly. I hope you liked reading it too.
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This post is part of the contest Ten words to a Story(or Poem).. on WriteUpCafe.com

Doggie's take on Summer

Hi ! This is Fluffy here, from Chennai.

The other day, I overheard a conversation of a group of giggling girls, planning a day outdoors, that too, in this scorching heat. You know, the weather here is hot and humid? What annoyed me more was that Kyra, my mistress, was also part of this group.

Well girls, while you can change your clothing according to the temperature outside, have you ever thought about the condition of your four-legged friend? I do not have an option!

Kyra and her friends were planning a picnic on the Marina Beach. They would play volleyball on the sandy stretch, have sea food sold in small shops alongside, gulp down the cool drinks and have a great time. I was supposed to be their male escort.

Girls, you have such wonderful cosmetics in your handbags, such as the Lakme Sun Expert that not only prevent your skins from tanning, but keeps your smooth and soft too! Once you have dabbed on some on the exposed parts of your bodies, you need not worry about the sun anymore! But what about me?

The mercury rising, I am sure to sweat and pant while I'd have to run around you girls! Oh, I'd love to join you in the water, while you take a dip! I'll beckon the ice-cream vendor with gentle woofs and you can select your favorite flavour... he is my friend, and he can differentiate between my barks, when I call him or I try to tell him to keep distance. If you want to have a play in the sun, I'll be your umpire. I'll sit in the shade of a tree and guard your belongings while you take a walk around. Be assured, my alert gaze shall remain on your safety forever.

Comeon Kyra, lets go for our late afternoon jog. While you do rounds of the park, I would follow at your feet, careful not to overatke you. When you rest on the bench, I would pull out the bottle of energy drink from your bag to revitalize you. I know the summer heat doesn't bother you or your beauty regimen; the same is true for me too.

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This is a work of fiction written for The Lakme Diva Blogger Contest on Indiblogger.

Of Internet

“Its Akansha’s birthday today”, a reminder informed me as soon as I opened my mail box.Akansha stays in USA, and I in India. She says our souls connect right through the section of Mother earth. Yet, I was on the verge of forgetting her birthday.. blame it on hectic schedules, or whatever… but I was sure glad to have received this reminder. I dropped in a mail, so that she would receive my wishes when she checks her mail  that morning.

Rewind just about a decade back. It was 1998, a time when internet was a matter of luxury to some. Most did not know such a thing existed. It was a time of booking trunk calls instead of just an ordinary STD call, international calls had to be made through complex procedures across connections plagued with disturbances galore.  On my way to college, I received a pamphlet announcing “Rs 50 for 60 minutes of Surfing” – it seemed such a lucrative offer that I brought it for my classmate, whose boyfriend was in USA. She was excited and thanked me many a time before she went to drop a coveted e-mail to her beloved.

Remember the shady cyber café’s that started in every nook and corner like mushrooms? Then came an age of broadband connections which could be set up at our homes conveniently, followed by wi-fi systems and data cards. Now, connectivity is available on the move on our cellphones, a gadget without which we cannot imagine our lives!

The other day, we had a meeting in a far flung colony near a famous school. None of the team members knew the way. All we had to do was to look up the route on Google Maps in someone’s internet-friendly phone. What is more, the tracker showed us our current location and gave us directions all throughout the journey like a faithful guide.

A friend had launched a website where one could design a saree before buying it. Partly to help him out, and partly because my mother’s birthday was round the corner,  I checked out the site. My ma was very pleasantly surprised when the package arrived!

Today our lives revolve around this technology. We book train and flight tickets, do banking transactions, shop for anything under this sun ranging from clothes to furniture, read, check results of various examinations and draws of lots, research,  communicate and even socialize on the web. A webcam has made it possible to see each other and converse as if it was a face to face discussion. Our reach has increased, yet our world has become small with a few clicks. Albeit there are certain drawbacks or unwritten do’s and don’t’s, but Internet is fun!

If you organize a poll between life with and without internet, your results are guaranteed to be 100 against zero.

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 This post has been written exclusively for the "Internet is fun" contest on Indiblogger. Image courtesy Google images.

The Devotion of Suspect X

 

"2 million people can't be wrong", flaunts the book cover on your left, immediately attracting your attention. The actual cover of the paperback isn't this bold, although it informs that 2 million copies of the Japanese Version has been sold. The count of fascinated readers has just gone up to 2 million plus 1. Myself.

Well, I am glad that this book was ever translated to English, because of which I had the opportunity to read it. I am a person who forms ideas, and get shocked when things do not comply as per them. For example, I always looked upon the Japanese as the race of short people, who were good in gymnastics. I never thought they could be such talented authors as well.

Keigo Higashino has come up with an extraordinary book, and credit must also be given to Alexander O. Smith and Elye J. Alexander, the translators, who have kept the grip of the story intact. The original book has been made into a movie too. Needless to say, with such a strong storyline, the movie must have been a blockbuster.

The book is a very direct book. Murder is committed in the very first chapter, and you know all along who has done it as you progress through the book. Rest of the story is about how the police put together facts, test each theory against the other, and finally close in. On the other hand, the suspect offers a fairly strong alibi. Events keep swinging, and rapid developments compel you to wonder that everything is over. And then comes the bombshell: Things that appear sorted out, aren't that straightjacket either. 

Perhaps, creating a difficult problem is tougher than solving it. And the murderer has set such a problem: it is not as simple as it appears, and it may be an algebra problem although it appears like a geometry one. As the police sort their thought processes, the reader, who is a quiet witness of the true course of events, hopes that the true murderer should not be punished. Everytime the noose tightens, the author brings forward an independent line of thought which stalls inevitable doom.

In the story, Keigo has brought forward how human beings react in different situations, how relationships prosper, how emotions swing, how deep can passion for a subject or person be.. its amazing. The truth finally is brought out, but it takes all by surprise. The end is too deep to expect, and one gets moved by it.

Written in absolutely lucid English, it is bound to get you hooked.

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This review is a part of the Book Review Programme at Blogadda.com.

You drive, I'll ride

This is about Mr R. He is related to me through a complex chain: he is my sister-in law's brother in law. However, this post is not about explaining relations. 

The otherday I received a mail urging to explain what biking means to me or recount the experience of a passionate biker. I am a die-hard biker (oops, bike-rider) myself, but I would like to grab this opportunity to share an interaction with Mr R, one of the most passionate bikers I have met.

We were invited to Modi Nagar, a suburb of Delhi in the month of August. The weather at this time of the year is particularly unpredictable: the sun scorches you,  it rains for few minutes drenching you, causing traffic jams and stops all of a sudden. Although the distance to be covered was about 60 km, we were sceptical about our choice of mode. Finally we hired a car.

On the way, we crossed a Honda City carrying two lovely children, and driven by their mother. It was Mr R's wife. And there he was, little ahead, on his monstrous bike. It was a Thunderbird (by Royal Enfield). A majestic machine, it is every biker's dream. Given his passion for biking, it was almost obvious that Mr R would be riding his Thunderbird, and let his family enjoy the car ride.

"Isn't it too strenuous to ride a bike for such a long distance?", I asked.

"No way! I can drive endlessly, as long as the fuel permits", replied Mr R.

-"This heat?"

- "No issues"
-"If it rains?"
- "Its exciting to ride in the rain"
-"Isn't a car more comfortable?"
- "Riding this baby (his bike) is anyday more lucrative!"
- "But... ", I am not to be convinced easily.
-"See, I love biking", [my husband nods in agreement in the background as Mr R continues,] "Rarely do we get the oportunity to go for long bike rides in cities. So when the opportunity has come, I let my wife drive with the children, while I rode"

I was about to ask something further, but he told me that he had gone into the Himalayan ranges from Delhi on his bike with his biker-friends, and the sheer joy of riding a good bike eggs him on.   

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This is an entry for a contest organized by Castrol on Indiblogger.

How can we be a developed country?

It happened yesterday morning.

A brand new Honda City stopped beside a traffic island. An young copule were inside, apparently going to a wedding or some function, because they were dressed very brightly. Her phone was glued to her ear - maybe she was asking for directions. He looked bored to death.

Suddenly, the window pane came down. She tossed out a polybag containing some garbage casually, without noticing where it went. It landed right in the middle of the walkway. I was approaching from the opposite direction; I was so shocked that I stopped in front of the car, giving them critical looks.

I had just finished a call and was still holding my cellphone. I pulled it out and pretended to take a snap. She got out of the car and asked me what was wrong!! (Imagine!!) ....Of course, she could follow my line of sight and knew what was not ok. Her companion had started the car by then, so she jumped back and they left without any further word or action.

If the educated and rich behave like this, how can we expect more civil behaviour from others?

Its time for some introspection... take a look at ourselves and wonder if we are fulfilling our roles as responsible citizens. How can we condemn others? Its not as if others should behave properly while we can do whatever we criticize them for doing.

There are so many similar things that we do, knowing fully well that we shouldn't be doing them.

CHANGE...or we shall always remain a "developing" nation, instead of a "developed" one.

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This is a part of contest titled "Time to Change!" on Indiblogger.

Tag-a-Thon

I’ve been tagged by Rahul of Cognitive Amalgamation. Thanks dear!!

I have taken some time to respond, 'coz this one is a bit different. I have to answer questions asked of me and ask further set of questions to anybody I wish to tag. (Thats Rule #2, btw)
Here are rest of the Rules:

Rule#1: Put the rules on your blog.

Rule#2: Every person tagged should answer the 11 questions asked by the one that tagged you, tag 11 other people and ask them 11 different questions.

Rule#3: Let the people whom you tagged know you've done so.

Rule#4: Don't tag anyone who's been tagged before.

Rule#5: Really do tag 11 others; don't go all ''if you want to take this tag''. [Yikes!!]

Here are answers to questions Rahul asked:

1. What are you passionate about?
Love.

2. Cinema and Politics. What do they mean to you?
Cinema implies recreation. I love purely commercial Bollywood flings, because you go in expecting nothing, and come out thinking how idiotic people can be. :)
Unfortunately, Politics mean nothing.

3. One good thing you want to happen in India, for people – Long term?
100% literacy

4. One good thing you want to happen for yourself – Long term?
It's maybe obvious... I wish people would stop calling me fat.
5. One good thing you want to happen for yourself – Short term?
I am too blissful a person to want anything like this.

6. A frank thing you want to say about one of the bloggers here?
Here.. where? I love the works of most bloggers I come across in blogosphere. I detest technology blogs, 'coz I cannot relate to them.

7. Belief in God?
Only in times of crisis. You can call me Agnostic.

8. One thing you would surely do to uplift this poor country?
Kill certain politicians, if I could.
On a serious note, I inspire people not to cheat.

9. One secret about you?
Secrets should better remain secrets, isn't it?

10. Do you hold any regrets in your life?
There have been disappointments,but I havent held them as 'regrets'.

11. Adventure if any in life…lets count:
Starts right from school days. Countless.
Here are 11 questions you have to answer:
1. What does blogging mean to you?
2. Name the person who influenced you most.
3. Which is the last book you read?
4. Which are the subjects you hated most in school and college?
5. If you were to become a sports celebrity overnight, who would you choose and why?
6. Name your dream travel destinations- India and Abroad.
7. Describe your job briefly.
8. What is your alternative career option?
9. Do you really think the world will come to an end after December 2012?
10. What are the things you would like to do before you die?
11. Your views on television soaps?

I hope, those named below take this tag:
1. Sushmita of My Unfinished life
2. Ashok of ashokism...
3. Ramesh of Global Madrasi
4. Arvind of Simple Stories
5. Rachna of Rachna Says
6. Sulagna of pink n black
7. Sandipan of Sandi's Musings
8. SRK of KIRUKU
9. Deepika of Words as a Form of Life
10. Rupa of Quest for the UNKNOWN
11. Upasna of Someplace Else.

And if you like to answer these questions, and I could not include you here; consider yourself tagged and take it on!!!

The Land of the Wilted Rose

Having enrolled in the Book Reviews Programme by Blogadda.com, this is the first time I have been selected to review a book. The book is titled "The Land of the Wilted Rose", by Anand Ranganathan. The cover, as you can see from the image on the left, has only an almost-dry rose on a yellow-ochre background. I felt very excited when I received the book... and when I opened it, I was in for more surprises.

There was a handwritten note from the author (Anand Ranganathan) which added a personal touch. And a welcome note from the website, personally signed by Founder and CEO, made me feel very good.

Now the book.

The Land of the Wilted Rose is the first of a quartet - a four book series. And whatever is written as a synopsis of the book on the back cover does not really tell you what the series of books, or this book in particular, is all about. Just a vague idea is all you will get.

And the surprise element is right at the start. It gives you such a jolt that you are hooked on to the book right away. So long, in school and elsewhere, we have heard about how tyrannic the British were during their rule in India. The plot of the book is set at a time when the English have conceded ground, and Indians are gaining power. So much so that the tables are reversed completely: the Indians abuse the English and oppress them. 

A prominent character is the Maharaja, who is all but seventeen years old. Yet, he is the ruler of 73 provinces, as good as ruler of the World. So much power, wealth and luxury at this young age has indeed spoilt him to the core. What is more, the subjects and officers of this Indian maharaja are all English.

The book excels in its detailing and tongue-in-cheek humour. The characterization is just mind blowing. The author has brought forward the finer traits of each human being, be it the king or the common man.

This book, being a part of a series of books, only creates the prelude for the rise of the White Mahatma, who would eventually rise to fight for the right of Englishmen. But I felt that all four parts of the story should have been published together, in a big fat novel instead of part books. The reason is that one may lose track if he picks up a book that is intermediate in the series... and moreover, lot of text has to be devoted to refer to past incidents if separate volumes are used. You know what I mean? For example, the Harry Potter books also form a series... the characters grow and the plot thickens in each book, but even if you pick one up randomly, you would enjoy it as an independent novel. This was what I found missing in this book.

The overview of the following books in this series has been provided to ensure that your eyes remain on your bookstore till you get hold of the final novel.

 

This review is a part of the Book Review Programme at Blogadda.com. 

Anupama in Bhopal

I have been in Bhopal for long stretches in the past two months because of official purposes, but have discovered a beautiful city that lies undiscovered in the heart of the country. Name Bhopal, and the first thing you can relate to it is a Gas Tragedy, an incident that happened more than quarter of a century ago. Such a blemish it has been to the city’s reputation, that it is not known as a possible tourist destination.

Much to the surprise of my colleagues, I was adamant that the city be explored in between work. We went to Van Vihar one late evening, an artificial animal reserve, where animals move around freely in secluded spaces.

One day when I was on my regular rounds, I had to get into the Core City. The architect in me could not but notice two large domes amidst the urban fabric.

“Whassat?”, I enquired of the driver.

“That’s Moti Masjid, Madam; but I can show you a bigger mosque if you wish”, he offered innocently.

The building I needed to visit was in itself an architectural wonder – it was a Nizam’s palace, now taken over by the State Government. I did not have a camera with me, but my phone came in handy. The staff watched me curiously as I went around clicking happily.

The driver took me to Taj-ul-Masjid, Asia’s largest mosque. The entry is indeed grand.. the building is perched on a huge flight of steps and you step in to a massive courtyard. The central waterbody soothes your psyche as you wonder at the architectural brilliance. You may be lucky to see some Art students sketching in a corner or Architecture students trying to measure each moulding. Contrary to popular belief, girls are allowed inside the main mosque – only one is requested not to disturb the people praying in there.

I also explored Moti Masjid on the way back. The main mosque is in white, in stark contrast to the red sandstone all around. There are small waterbodies in the corners of the courtyard, and the ripples create an interesting play of light and shade on the surrounding structures.

The next day was Saturday… and we were free by lunch time. So long I had been watching the various lakes in Bhopal. Did you know Bhopal was also known as the “City of Lakes”? The Upper and Lower lakes, Shahpura lake and some smaller lakes are assets of the quiet town. Our driver took us for enjoying a boat ride in the Upper Lake. Much to my surprise, one was offered lots of options between paddle boats, steamers, speed boats and also conventional boats. We chose the conventional boat first.. and I actually tried my hand at rowing!! Did you know I was in the School Rowing Team? Those boats were different, of course.

Sunday is stricty no-work day, I had declared. We went to Sanchi, a World Heritage site, just 50 km from Bhopal. We crossed Tropic of Cancer on the way. Sanchi was thrilling, bringing back memories from my B. Arch days.

At the very next opportunity, we visited Bhimbedka, another World Heritage site. Cave paintings from the earliest known human civilization can be seen here. This site is also a Geologist’s delight, as various formations of sedimentary rocks can be seen here.

We also checked out various dams in Bhopal - Kerwa and Keliasot are small dams and fail to excite you with their current water levels. But Kolar Dam stuns you altogether. If you are in Bhopal, do not miss this for anything.

Although I may be sounding overworked in the previous post, I actuallly made the most of this opportunity!!

Photographs: Yashwant Namasani, Anupama

7-11-2-9-5-6-1-8

You may be wondering what those numbers mean.

Thats my schedule since January; and the reason why I have been absconding from blogosphere of late.

Barely through the first week of the new year, I went to Bhopal, the site of my current project on 8th January. My responsibility was client interaction and supervision of the site work. I was scheduled to return on 13th, but as it always happens with outstation trips, my stay got extended till  19th.

The story behind my return was that I had applied for leave for a week, so after two days, I went to Calcutta to attend a wedding, a puja at home, and of course, relax!

Back on 30th, I was hoping I would stay in Delhi sometime and sort out things which have been pending during my absence. But that was not to be. There was a crisis at site, and I had to be in Bhopal once again. But the hitch was that my cousin's wedding was round the corner, and I had to be in Calcutta once again. So I stayed in Bhopal from 5th to 10th, came back for a night, went to Calcutta on 11th and finally, am back!!!!!!!!!!