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Impractical Dreamer

~ Dr Sweety Shinde: As a butterfly flits; so does the mind waltz in innumerable flights. Mine hovers over books, spirituality ,humor and random gems from everyday life.

Impractical Dreamer

Monthly Archives: December 2013

Complexity of ideas and Simplicity of words: Rise of Sun Prince, Book Review

24 Tuesday Dec 2013

Posted by dr sweetyshinde in Constructive Criticism: Book reviews, Debutante Authors, Mythology

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

book review, ISKON, Jaico, mythology, Rama, Ramayana, shubh vilas, Sun Prince

…in my view, the above combination makes for rich literature.

The author, Shubha Vilas Prabhu forces your eyes to read laterally and vertically at the same time. Every incident has its parallel interpretation and insight as a footnote.

The narrative ,in a non-linear sequence goes through Rama’s childhood up to his marriage. Delightfully , the latter half focuses on Vishwamitra. His repeated attempts, failures and sheer perseverance to become Brahmarishi is a beacon of hope for every person who loses heart at failure in life.

There are slivers of refreshing details: like Ayodhya following the rainwater harvest system; why Ayodhya means unconquerable; how Saraswati tongue-twisted Kumbhakarna into deep slumber; why Kaam dev is called Ananga( thus implying that Lust is merely a state of mind). Why Rama snapped the Shiva bow instead of merely stringing it; there is a lucid clarification for it too.

There are nuggets of sharp one-liners in the footnote:

Personal favorites include 1. To make mistakes implies lack of foresight; not repeating mistakes is a sign of intelligence 2.The mind is a connoisseur in converting trivial puddles into bottomless oceans. 3. A good leader knows the art of delegation. He himself carries the most demanding role- of being Inspiration 4. Most people want a mentor who will tell them exactly what they want to hear. The process of mentoring the mentor 5. The most vulnerable time to commit mistakes is when victory is close at hand 6. The degree of insult is inversely proportional to the size of the entity causing it.

Such countless gems scattered across the book warrant encores and re-re-rereads. Sun Prince

My only grudge would be making the marriage age of Rama as 12 years. Especially as there is love at first sight and Sita’s feverish feelings for Rama’s broad shoulders. At age 12?

A few questions: If Parshuram, Rama and Krishn were all reincarnations of Vishnu;

1. How did Parshuram coexist with the latter two? Parshuram was a Brahmin who annihilated Kshatriyas, while Rama & Krishn were Kshatriyas.

2. If Rama gave up Sita to uphold his citizens’ doubts over her purity; Krishn married 16,000 women to uphold their doubtful purity. Isn’t that a study in contrasts?

I am confident the author will take up the gauntlet and provide us with lucid clarifications in his coming series. I have attended his sessions on Bhagwad Gita. He is extremely eloquent and articulate.Sun Prince

That aside, Book 1 makes one anticipate Book 2 for more interwoven tales, fresh perspectives, well-researched details and of course, that treasure trove of insightful footnotes.Congratulations!

Here is Book 2 review link!

‘Selfie’ moments of renowned authors

20 Friday Dec 2013

Posted by dr sweetyshinde in World of Books & I

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

Agatha Christie, Arundhati Roy, atlas shrugged, author, authors, Ayn Rand, books, fiction, novels, poirot, selfie

A la Alfred Hitchcock who peeped into a frame every film, there are authors who couldn’t resist giving us a peek-a-boo flash of themselves in their books.

1. Ayn Rand: in Atlas Shrugged.

as Galt takes Dagny around his world, they encounter ‘A young woman stretched out . At the sound of their car,she leaped to her feet in a single swift moment. She had dark, disheveled hair and large,piercing eyes. ayn

‘She is a writer. The kind who believes that when one deals with words,one deals with the mind.’ says Galt. Continue reading →

First Love- ACK, Chandoba, Kishor

08 Sunday Dec 2013

Posted by dr sweetyshinde in World of Books & I

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Amar Chitra Katha, Anand Pai, books, Chandoba, childhood, comics, Kishor, memories, nostalgia, reading

Wednesday was my private Hell. The dentist visited our colony every Wednesday. I was a perennial victim to his drills . Martyred, bloodied and deeply wounded, I found joy and consolation in the colorful book my Father gently pushed into my hands. And I fell irrevocably in love!

Chandoba (little Moon). A delight filled with short stories, mythology, moral tales Continue reading →

Queries

05 Thursday Dec 2013

Posted by dr sweetyshinde in My cars- my chariots, Random Musings, Social Causes

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

car, driver, driving, orange light, pedestrian, road crossing, road rage, rules, traffic

1. The orange light. Press accelerator or press brake? The blinking orange is that alluring last-chance warning to escape the red. How many of us slow down on an orange light? Unless… see point 2…

2. Do you modify your decision according to presence of traffic personnel? I do. What seems right on an unpatrolled road suddenly seems forbidden otherwise. And forbidden fruit is so tempting!

3. Blood Alcohol test on the victim? Is it ever done? I know nobody in a sane mind would sacrifice life /limb  to end up as a road-accident -victim. But then, neither would any sane mind want to be an accident-maker. Think of suspended license, penalty , loss of face,  a lifetime of survivor guilt…

4. Why does the mobile-addicted cool dude sauntering across the road think his life is my duty?

5. Why does every group of women need to join hands and create a human chain , simply to cross a road?

6. Why is spitting on the road easier than just swallowing it,  for certain people?

Power of bloom vs gloom

02 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by dr sweetyshinde in Spirituality

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

mind, peace, positive attitude

He narrated a hilarious joke to an assembly. They broke into laughter, reveling in the novelty of it.

He repeated the joke after 5 minutes. They smiled indulgently.

He repeated the joke after 10 minutes. Their lips curved up, their eyebrows slashed down.

He repeated the joke after 15 minutes. There was impatient shuffle.

He repeated the joke after 20 minutes. There was stony silence.

He repeated the joke after 25 minutes. Frank irritation sliced through the air.

He sensed the unrest and smiled, “A happy incident has the power to bring a smile. It loses that power on repetition.

Then why? Why? Why does a slight/an insult/a misfortune/a reversal not lose its power to make you gloomy in spite of repeatedly dwelling on it?”

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Shyam chi Aai: Sane Guruji, Book Review
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