An Online Book Launch - Our World: A Symphony of Drabbles by Three Generations

Yesterday I attended the online book launch of 'Our World: A Symphony of Drabbles by Three Generations', a collection of drabbles compiled by a grandfather,  his daughter and granddaughter - Bishan Sahai, Dr. Ruchi Ranjan and Ishika Ranjan. If the idea that three generations can collaborate warms your heart then the idea of the drabble - a story contained in exactly one hundred words, no more, no less - is certain to pique your interest. 86 in all, to commemorate their favourite author Ruskin Bond's age, they offer a fascinating insight into the minds of the authors and allow you to fill in the gaps. The date holds importance too - the launch of the book coincides with the birthday of one of the author's, Ishika Ranjan.

Dr Ruchi sent me a copy of the book in advance. I loved the way it was produced by Rupa - hardbound, very readable, lovely cover and illustrations. A perfect book for a quiet read on a rainy day (or any other day) - rainy because it's raining these days. I read the book and enjoyed all the stories and found a clear pattern emerging in the writer's voices, which was fascinating. There's a note by Ruskin Bond, a testimonial from Sachin Tendulkar, one from Shashi Tharoor. The foreword is written by Harinder Sikka author of 'Calling Sehmat' which was made into the hit film 'Raazi'. Mr Sikka was also the Chief Guest for the launch.

Anuj Gurwara, popular RJ hosted the show, and he did a fine job of it as he always does. A decade ago when I was part of some promotional activity for my book or my brother's movie, I remember he had interviewed me on air and I found him a very intelligent and affable person. Anuj invited the audience and played Ruskin Bond's video message. Mr. Bond complimented the author's on writing the book and told them that one book surely leads into another so there were more to come from them. Then Kapish Mehra of Rupa Publications spoke before the book was launched by author Harinder Sikka. He spoke about the book and there was something he said about how 'Calling Sehmat' gives an insight into the fact that there were patriots like her who risked everything for their country and if we understand that, we would not be calling all Kashmiris terrorists. It takes little to understand that, and we try hard not to look at that and instead buy into emotional hogwash.

The Dramatic Club of Hyderabad led by Pranava Singhal read out a few drabbles and di a fine job of it. Then a break as a few speakers spoke - Ishika's teacher from the USA Mrs. Summer Thompson, her Principal at her local school Mrs, Lata Shankar and her teacher Mrs Shikha Nigam. Anuj read out author-politician Shashi Tharoor's message. Some more readings of the drabbles, more messages, from Ishika's uncle and aunt. I spoke a few words too. I mentioned how I was amazed when I read a three-line story written by Manto and could never understand how anyone could write so much in so less and convey it to another person, and how when I read the drabbles, I found the same thing happening to me. I realise now, as I write, the drabbles can form the perfect hook for scripts for movies which always hinge on the 'what if'. So a proliferation of ideas from those who cannot invest time into writing a drawn-out treatment can actually write it as a drabble, which can lead to better choices for stories too. I do wish they appropriate the drabble space and make it bigger and make that a platform - perhaps with Rupa's collaboration. The Ranjans could well nurture, take forward and be the drabble destination in India.

Anuj read out Sachin Tendulkar's message and there was more drabble reading by the members of the DCH. Prof Alka Behari spoke, and so did Pranava Singhal about his association with Bishan Sahai saab and Prof Vijaya Kumar of the HLF spoke about how they reminded him of haikus. 

The authors spoke at the end. Bishan Sahai saab recorded a message about the experience. Ishika spoke about her love for writing and how she would like feedback so she could improve as a writer. My advice, keep writing, keep reading, that's the best way to improve writing, as with anything else. You have the craft, the imagination and the mindset, so you're well on track. Dr. Ruchi Ranjan spoke and said that it was her husband Jayesh Ranjan, who dons many hats as Principal Secretary to the Government of Telangana, as Chair of the Hyderabad Literary Festival, as an avid cricket and literature buff and someone who is always ready to help, who introduced the idea of drabbles to them and prompted them to write. She thanked everyone ad it was a fine evening enjoyed by one and all. 

Dr. Ruchi Ranjan, thanks for inviting me and letting me be a part of this fine event. Hopefully something of a landmark with the introduction of drabbles. Wishing the newborn 'Our World' all the best in its journey into the world.

The Circus - Movie

 1928. Charlie Chaplin.

CC plays a tramp who is mistaken for a pickpocket. While escaping he lands up in a circus and causes some funny moments in an otherwise dreary circus that is losing attendance. He also falls in love with the owner's daughter, is hired for his ability to make people laugh and gets into all kinds of incidents including landing up in the lion's cage and on the tightrope. He conceives the situations brilliantly and somehow pulled it off with all those animals. Ends not too happily, because his love goes off with another guy - the tightrope walker and he quits the circus. Tragi-comic as always.

But brilliant!

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp - Movie

 1943. Among the 100 best all-time movies.

Colonel Blimp tells the story of an Englishman Clive Candy, who fights the Boer war, the first and second world wars. He meets the love of his life while in Berlin but he doesn't realise it and is quite happy when she marries his German foe-turned-friend. But he meets a girl who looks exactly like her and marries her and then she dies and then when he is General in the second world war he hires a girl who looks like her as his assistant. His friend realises how deeply Candy loved the love of his life and how deeply he is wedded to his English principles of playing fair, taking it on the chin and always putting up a happy front to the extent that he doe snot realise his own pain. Poignant.

Loved it. Though it begins rather messily and I couldn't quite get what was happening, once it settled down you realise you can't make movies like these unless you've lived those stories. That good.

Anjali - The Art of Motivating People and Bringing Them Together

 It's an interesting trait and I know I am not the best at it - the art of bringing a bunch of diverse people together and motivating them to participate in a common activity. A few months ago Anjali found this online game Psych and she needed people to play with her. She connected some random cousins of hers,  my nephew Shrinjay who has just finished his MBBS, her cousin Pooja, who has finished her architecture, Shikha, Vajra...all graduates, and some of her own peers like Mansi. I guess those who were available and could easily access the game and were oriented to games was the criteria.

Bringing them together - Pic Satish Nargundkar

Now, they have moved on to another game called Scribbl, which was introduced by Pooja and more people got added to it. Even I played a couple of times, so did Shobha. The games occupy an hour or so each day.

But what I found interesting is that fact that Anjali drives the show - motivating, cajoling, bringing people together, setting up times, energising the group mainly consisting of people much older to her. Gifs, messages, stuff keeps flying by until the whole thing is set up. Pleeaaaase, are you theeeereeee? she goes and pleads, cajoles the group into coming together and playing. When someone cannot come or for some reason no one gets time, there is no rancour. Onwards to the next day or the next game. The space is always welcome, with good fun and cheer, high energy and everyone's welcome. Easy to walk into right?

I realise its a good trait and I also realise how I deal with such things. I ask once and then that's done. I am also wary of bringing people from different groups together. I am certainly wary of playing with people above my weight. Hmm, lessons to learn.

Soul Searchers, The Art of Breathing - Sri Rudrabhayananda (Venugopalan)

 I was searching for a book on the art of breathing for some reason last week and happened upon this book on the shelf. It covers many practices which amalgamate Reiki, Crystal therapy, Pranayama and Marma gyana. He discusses the art of breathing and visualisation for cleansing the body and soul, a method for awakening the Kundalini by which humans can help themselves and be in good health and harmony. Venugopalan or Sri Rudrabhayananda is trained in Tibetan and Indian Tantra and has been awarded for his contributions to Yoga and Kundalini.

Since it is a book about practice, more than theory, I'll just share the topics he has covered. For me, it was perfect that he started on meditation at beginners level and then at an advanced level and it looks highly doable the way he has explained it. Then he explained the chakras and the Kundalini Yoga theory and the path to enlightenment. The actual practice of awakening the Kundalini - through colour meditation, balancing left and right nadis, shakti points, awakening chakras and complete awakening of Kundalini.

Then he discusses how to awaken the Kundalini with the spiritual energy of Reiki, meditational techniques with Reiki (Sandwich energy, Mirror Energy, Distant healing, Healing the dead), Reiki III and Certification. Development of Chi Energy and Advanced techniques for Reiki channels.

Asanas, Pranayama, Aura, Crystals, Marma gyana and Mudras have all been covered.

It's pretty comprehensive and explained in a fashion that a layman can start practising which I found was the best part of the book - just right. There's not too much information nor too less - very practical. If there is some improvement to be done I wish somebody had done a better job with some spellings and proofreading. It's such a shame that such a nice book with such good intent should suffer due to small issues. That apart, I have decided to use it as a guide to begin my meditation and improve my breathing.

  

Lessons Others Taught Me 9 - Brother KM Joseph

Always separate the act, from the person

Brother KM Joseph, our much-loved cricket-Brother from All Saints High School, is a devoted teacher with lots of love for students. He epitomised tough love, always bringing out the best in students while being strict on discipline. On a long journey to Vijayawada, I asked him once, what his biggest learning was as a teacher.

Brother Joseph told me that one of the biggest lessons he had learned from his years as a teacher was that we should never confuse the act for the person. 'It's always the act that may not be acceptable,' he said. 'It's never the person. Many times we make the entire person 'bad' and that label stays with him or her for a lifetime. Always point out the action and tell them how to correct it.'

It was a brilliant lesson and one that I instantly adopted. How often we lazily label people, not thinking how much damage it could do to that person. How wonderful to know that all people are perfectly fine; its only that some of their actions are disagreeable.

Thank you Brother Joseph.

Gunjan Saxena - Movie

 Quite enjoyable. Got to see Kargil from a different perspective.