A Suitable Boy- Vikram Seth

Hi All,
When i asked my friend to suggest me a book for light reading, nothing philosophical, she suggested A SUITABLE BOY- Vikram Seth. The name sounded interesting, hence ordered for it. I got my first shock to see its weight and volume. I was reminded of my science books of college days. One thing was decided- it cant be a lie down book- one needs to sit erect to read it. When the opened the first pages, the flow charts of various characters with their families gave me the second shock. Never in my life have i been able to enjoy history as a subject. the Muslim rulers also took a place in my RAM after i left school. I still digested that thinking i'l browse through the pages if i forget who's who. Anyways, while reading it, i had my first meeting with those- mami massi type ladies who talk n gossip those unimportant tales. Anyways, i also met so amny others in the family as it was a wedding. Savita was getting married to Pran. Lata seemed to be the heroine.
Its the longest english novel, its written. The author makes you meet Punjabi family, A bengali family and a family from UP. Kolkata description was good- m sure the author was most familiar with it himself. The places of visit- the life style, all, seemed familiar after one visit to Kolkata. The style of writing was good- the vocabulary of course was also very good, and style was pretty simple. One can easily visualize what the author is wanting to say.
Vikram Seth's style of writing is like that of a movie- Bollywood. He makes you meet some many characters who are actually not needed there. We could have done without them. Afterall, its only a story- y did he do it- to increase the length?
During our journey with him, he takes us to different houses, different cultures and lifestyles, university campus, cricket ground, shoe bazar, muslim villages, hindu temples, post partition riots, houses of whores, the historical monuments, the hindu celebrations, the muslim celebrations, the intercast weddings, the child birth, interviews, inter marital relations, generation gaps, political speeches, melas......etc etc.
Anyways, the biggest mistake i did was reading the last chapter before finishing the book, and knowing that Haresh is going to fit in the character of- A SUITABLE BOY.
But, will i recommend others to read it????? I really dont know. Its abook which some will enjoy, and some wont at all, i m sure. When comparing, i still prefer Chetan Bhagat's books......... But, congratulations, Mr Vikram Seth, The Times calls you the best writer of the generation..............

Thankyou Friend

Hi FRIEND.
Today i am deeply obliged and indebted to you for listening to me. The vibes convey messages. Its not really important that someone answers you back and says goody goody things. Its just important to have someone to hear you. The very feeling- the very knowledge that someone hears you makes a big difference.
We all have to live our own lives- face our own challenges, meet our own fate, take our own store of happiness and sorrows, and we must face it as we are expected to. HE knows what HE has designed for us. And HE does it all with a purpose. But I am thankful that in this finely carved journey by HIM, HE has blessed me with a friend. I am thankful that someone talks to me, someone hears me.
Thankyou Friend
Thankyou God

Some treasured thoughts!

1. Life is no brief candle for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which i have got hold of for the moment, and i want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations- G.B.Shaw
2. Sure i am that this day we are masters of our fate, that the task which has been set before us is not above our strength; that its pangs and toils are not beyond my endurance. As long as we have faith in our cause and an unconquerable will to win, victory will not be denied to us- Churchill
3. Great dreamers' dreams are never fulfilled, they are always transcended- Whitehead
4. I am an artist at living- my work of art is my life- Suzuki
5. Most people live- whether physically, intellectually or morally- in a very restricted circle of their potential being. We all have reservoirs of life to draw upon of which we do not dream- William James
6. The secret of happiness is simple: find out what you truly love to do and then direct all your energy towards doing it. Once you do this, abundance flows into your life and all your desires are filled with ease and grace.
7. Trust yourself. Create the kind of life you will be happy to live all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into the flames of achievement- F.C. McClellan
8. Never forget the importance of living with unbridled exhilaration. never neglect to see the exquisite beauty in all living things. Today, and this very moment, is a gift. Stay focused on your purpose. The Universe will take care of everything else.
9. Good people strengthen themselves ceaselessly- Confucius
10. The Universe favors the brave. When you resolve to lift your life to its highest level, the strength of your soul will guide you to a magical place with magnificent treasures.
    
11. I am more than i appear to be, all the world's strength and power rests inside me
12. Wage war against the weaker thoughts that have crept into the palace of your mind. They will see that they are unwanted and leave like unwelcome visitors.
13. Well arranged time is the surest mark of a well arranged mind- Pitman
14. Time slips through our hands like grains of sand, never to return again. Those who use time wisely from an early age are rewarded with rich, productive and satisfying lives.
15. The most noble thing you can do is to give to others. Start focusing on your higher purpose.
16. We are all here for special reason. Stop being a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of your future.
    

Kolkatta holds g8 mysteries

Hi All
I just returned from the beautiful city of Kolkatta. It holds many mysteries. The colonial city houses so many aristocratic buildings that you feel you are centuries back. All houses are mansions. No hotel looks like a hotel, no office looks like an office, no school looks like a school, no bank looks like a bank. All buildings are like the ones made by Britishers. U peep in a city and you get the feel of London, Peep in another u feel its Paris. People are so simple in looks and dress. This city must be having lots of money, as i am told and can also make out from the big mansions, but in general, they are such simple looking people. That is why that superfluous thing, as seen in other big cities is missing there. This city reminds you of classic Hindi cinema. Big mansions converted into hotels have corridors housing rooms on both sides. The roads are jam packed with yellow taxis. But it seems people became conscious of pollution cause u see green trees on all roads. Roads remind me- there are sooooooo many streets with mostly English names. And narrow streets, but so much in use. When at Kolkatta you start wishing you were one of them- all speak Bengali very comfortably- not like back home where there is regional language and we switch over to national language and English with the press of remote buttons. They all- whether on streets, parks, taxis, offices, buses speak their language. I than wished i could speak their language. The Victoria building is amazingly magnificent. Saw the boundary of Eden Gardens, the race course, park street, chowrangee lane, dalhousie, creek road, NS Road, Ganesh chandra Avenue. All such interesting places. And then, also took a ride in the Hoogly. Crossed the Howrah bridge, still narrating millions of stories. SAw the Setu bridge also. And ate rosogullas, gol gappe, and delicious chinese food. The continental breakfast was also good. M forgetting the typical chicken briyani. Coke and Miranda accompanied me everyware. People drink warm water everyware- cud not really understand why. Here we have chilled water. No one seemed to object it there. The city of communists is growing slowly. Even though u see all headoffices of big establishments there, the city is growing so slow, and believe me, it was such a refreshing change to see the slow progress. Simple ppl there- dint mind the pace. The absence of multiplexes made me feel m in home country- no pretensions needed. Is it really a big city of India? The city has class and culture of its own- asw glimpses at Nandan. Tomorrow if anyone from Kolkatta will come this side, i wonder what he'l feel about my city- its so different. I wish to go back again sometime and explore more. The retained architecture adds to the beauty of the city. I hope and wish they retain it for long.
Must go again, sometime

Lets Thank HIM!

Dear Prinha
Today lets thank the supreme power up there who has given us work. HE has also given us the potential to work, the skills to work and determination to work. And, u and i know that we both enjoy work. We are happier working than doing anything else. A day goes well, when there is work(and it gets accomplished). But when there is no work, or less work, its a bad day- such a waste of life. As today, we have so much to do, and we are happy about it.
i just wish it was a bigger group with more people to work, more funding, bigger establishment, and better returns. We could have really made it big- only little more organization, little more money, little more planning and those innovative ideas which someone always has in plenty, and these often erupt out like a volcano. Waiting eagerly for the next volcano eruption. I am ready to take up the lava and get to work.
We have worked pretty hard for a long time now. Will the pace remain the same? Can there be no way in which the angle of the bar graph could change. Pl think and suggest.

Failing again?

Dear Prinha,
Are we failing again? Everytime i promise myself to come upto the expectations of all those around, but i fail. I work harder than i should, i try and make all meticulous plans and well thought decisions- (infact, lot of thoughts go into making them), but still when i am questioned, i fumble for words and there are tears in my eyes, and you, Prinha, you too weep. I than remember my school days when my teacher would question me for anything, and i would have wet eyes. Even when on parents meet, they would point out on my handwriting, or my being shy and quiet, or when ma would say anything, i would weep and weep. After all these years, when i am scolded/ questioned harshly, i again become the same timid MS who hated this world as a child- felt no one loves me. I again hate it all when i am made to feel like that. I wonder if its intentional treatment with me or just a natural one, but it hurts everytime. All that determination to work, to be mentally independent and to be a strong person just melts away, and i become the same old timid MS- whom i hated always. I always had a desire to not to be that MS, who had no friends at school because she was scared to ppl, and their questions. I dont want to go back again. Lets be strong Prinha, lets come out of this. Lets face this world, strongly.

Lets b determined!

Hi Prinha,

Today lets decide to be determined that we shall work so hard that we'l be able to reach our goal.

Today i noticed that if we make up our mind towards achieving our target, and focus all our attention to our much desired goal, we reach much closer. The blocks were not less today, but you kept telling me- lets keep moving, and thats what we did. Someone rightly said in his mail today that dont bother about the results- just dnt lose your focus and do all your efforts. We'v worked almost 20+ hours today. Although we dint achieve all we had planned to, but still we dnt repent not having made necessary efforts.

Be with be like this, always. You have to be my support Prinha. I have to derive my inspiration from you. Be postive always.