Dass

  Well, I will have my first book out next week and it should be available online from Amazon and other online stores soon. Here's the first peek of the cover. Just for the curious, you can either buy a hardback (Rs 500) or a paperback (Rs 250), or an eBook (Kindle) at  just Rs 100. Here's a review from a previewer: “At first glance, you wonder whether the author knew what he was doing with the title “Become the Better You” when the content (seems) is in direct contrast. We have conversations between varied people painting a picture of their profession and what it means to normal life. But by the end of the book, I was wondering about my life, my education, and my work and how it made a difference to me. Perhaps the author wanted this and then I decided, perhaps the title was not far off the mark. True, I learned that languages are important – I wish I knew more! – I learned a little about Philosophy and want to know more about Indian philosophies. Yes, there is a possibility ...

  To be a good writer you need to read good books. And write. Both of which I started quite early in life. Good books. The first book I read was an Enid Blyton book – Five Go to Demon’s Rock. Damn, the title was spooky and the tale was not but it got me hooked. All the books, or most of them. Five Find-Outers. Then came The Three Investigators with an intro by Alfred Hitchcock. In between I was fortunate to land on Sherlock Holmes; Valley of Fear and then rounded up with all the stories including The Lost World and more. I was lucky to have Three Musketeers as also R L Stevens’ Kidnapped, Treasure Island. There was the Count of Monte Christo… which was allowed by Shakespeare and Dante… I read through the whole Bible – for kids! I read poetry and then I read through all the books I could lay my hand on… Books I wasn’t supposed to read, but I did. And I am still alive. And sane. They all taught me one thing. Words are pure magic. The tales you can spin!   Now, I hardly read pape...

There you go. Finally a few words on a day made memorable by Shakespeare in Julius Caesar. Of course, there are other important things to remember but this one, every year makes me contemplate. Why not ides of April or June? It can be after all, it is the first new moon of the month which the internet tells me falls between 13 and 15th. That is doubtful. Then again, it should fall in every month. But then every month is not a new year. Before you doubt; did you know this was the first month of the year: when we had only 10 months. Or so I think. January and February came later. Either way, the ides of March was always a bad men. For Caesar it was. There was a Hollywood movie too by the same name and it dealt with politics too. For me, it means nothing. Just 15th of March. A memorable day just because it is called the ides of March.  I wanted to write something about it. I did. There!

 Yesterday I attended another wedding, a friend's sister's son got married. The point of interest was that I had attended the mother's wedding some 30 years back and it was a full circle. I met her daughter too. who incidentally had married a couple of years back. So here I was, at another wedding. The mother had been a young girl then but now she was all grown up and proud as could be. Life does go around in circles. But the circles are different...   

 All off 5 months since I wrote anything here. Today is special as a friend of mine celebrates his birthday and also a house warming ceremony of his second house. He is a good man and deserves the best in his life. Wishes to him. Today is also tinged with sadness for we lost the inimitable Lata Mangeshkar. Here is a short note I wrote to my friends. "A short note which I feel like sharing. Today Lata Mangeshkar passed away. A legend like her deserves accolades and a tinge of sadness. On the other side, yesterday I saw a movie called "Cry Macho" (On Amazon Prime) and Clint Eastwood, all of 90 (now 92) when he directed and acted in the movie. He was old true, but but the legend that he is, he could pull it off.  The movie itself is not a western or good but stands out only because it has Eastwood.  At 90 if you can do that, you must be really fantastic and have the passion to do something worthwhile. So here's a message to you all. Live a full life and never think of y...

 Today is my sister's birthday. Today is also Janmashtami. Lord Krishna's birth day. In the north, they are busy making human pyramids trying to break the dahi-handa (a vessel filled with curd) which is one of the rituals of the festival. The pandemic has created a phobia but the devotees are adamant on celebrating.

 A couple of days ago (It's more like four days ago) I went out of my home. Travelling first 140 kilometres away. I missed my train but never told anyone. I took a bus instead and reached anyway and later took a flight out finishing all the procedures and had a face shield on in the flight. Some had a protective coat minus the face shield. On the return flight I decided not to wear the face shield. It had been very uncomfortable the first time. Back in our home state I stayed back at the friend's house. It was very homely. We had a few drinks and talked into the night. With good friends, that is the thing. It is therapeutic and  healing. It's just what you need. I slept well and in the morning woke a tad late but still it was just 8 AM. But  I felt at home. It was a night rather a few days and nights I lived as myself. With no worries, no thoughts but me myself and my friend. And now back home I am etching this here because it is lesson for all.  Take a break. Meet a...