FUN
FOOD
FASHION
FRIENDSHIP
FICTION
Spark Word.world.wisdom November 2011
05 November 2011 Dear Reader, Hope you had a great Diwali! We welcome you into the month of November with an interesting edition themed, ‘Exploring the Five Fs—Food, Fashion, Fiction, Friendship and Fun’. We have three interesting interviews and two guest columns apart from contributions by our team. We earnestly hope you will enjoy this issue. Send us your feedback to feedback@sparkthemagazine.com or leave a comment at www.sparkthemagazine.com. If you aren’t following us on Facebook or Twitter yet, do it right now! We really don’t want you to miss out on our updates. You can find the links to our Facebook and Twitter pages below. We will see you again next month with yet another interesting theme!
SPARK - NOVEMBER 2011
CONTRIBUTORS ANU KARTHIK ANUPAMA KRISHNAKUMAR ANUJ AGARWAL JOHN PTACEK LATHA PREM SAKHYA MAHESWARAN SATHIAMOORTHY NILESH J.BHANGE
God Bless!
PRIYANCA VAISHNAV
Cheers,
VANI VISWANATHAN
Spark Editorial Team
VOICES OF THE MONTH INDIRA CHANDRASEKHAR JASLEEN KAUR GUPTA SAILAJA GUEST COLUMN PRIYA GOPAL VIBHA SHARMA CONCEPT, EDITING AND DESIGN ANUPAMA KRISHNAKUMAR VANI VISWANATHAN
Exploring the Five Fs! NON-FICTION Ten Ways to Bring the Zing Back in Your Life by Anu Karthik No U in Love by John Ptacek
GUEST COLUMN Book Delight by Vibha Sharma Worries Go Down Better with Soup by Priya Gopal
POETRY Magic in the Air by Latha Prem Sakhya Symbiotic by Priyanca Vaishnav Aria by Latha Prem Sakhya
PHOTOGRAPHY The Spirit of Indian Mela by NIlesh J.Bhange Penny Wise by Maheswaran Sathiamoorthy
VOICES OF THE MONTH : INTERVIEWS Indira Chandrasekhar, Editor, Out of Print Sailaja, Food Blogger Jasleen Kaur Gupta, Fashion Blogger
FOOD.FASHION.FICTION.FRIENDSHIP.FUN
The Bike Builder of Jaipur by Anuj Agarwal
Magic in the Air My autumnal dawns Unfurling in oppressive stillness; Stirred nostalgic memories of festal mornings. There was magic in the air once.
I- a child girl Awoke to Nature’s symphony Heralding Aurora. Giving wings to my thoughts, And life to my languidly waking body.
The misty coldness of the fresh dew; The scent of Jasmine pure; Wafting in through windows ajar, Driving me to delve deeper into the warm bed.
And listen half awake To the clanging vessel of the milkman On his early rounds of milking; To listen to “Pattie’s” muffled monologue; Or my “Amma’s” soft instruction to the maid;
Followed by her morning litanies, To the floating notes of Suprabhat, To the early songsters heralding Apollo’s mighty entourage.
Poetry by Latha Prem Sakhya
All- firing me to roll out of my bed; To run down to the tiny pool, To drink with my eyes the crystal clear water; Catching the golden gleam of the snaking sun beam. To partake in the joy of the occasional fish, Surfacing for air. Or waltz with the water snake In his serpentine dance.
But now, nothing happens. All recedes as reality rushes in – And the clock ticks on. Sadly I toss about. Where has it all gone?
The herons and the water fowls Have migrated to marshy fields.
The cuckoos, the swallows, the wagtails, The magpies and the finches have flown away, In search of verdurous greens.
No water, no trees, only parched lands, Marred by edifices of bricks and cement No rambling houses, no cow sheds and hen coops, No yard with gigantic mango trees, Jack trees or tamarind trees.
Not even space for a swing for a little one. Only matchbox houses huddling together, And every village green Turned to dusty, smoky towns.
The sunken eyes of the parched earth, Gaping amidst the cement jungle, Reflected the fear and sorrow gripping my soul Mourning the death, of ceremonious festal dawns. And, in their despairing, unfathomable depth I saw mirrored, my own wistfulnessFor the magical symphony heralding Aurora.
Poetry by Latha Prem Sakhya
GUEST COLUMN BY PRIYA GOPAL
Worries
Go Down
Better With Soup Infosys founder, N.R.Narayan Murthy’s recent statement about the quality of students entering the IITs created quite a stir. In this context, Priya Gopal raises a pertinent question – do school children eat healthy and nutritious food? The unfortunate answer is No. Read on. A recent statement by Infosys founder Mr. N.R Narayana Murthy on the quality of students entering IIT has stirred a hornets’ nest. He said that the quality of students entering Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) has deteriorated over the years due to the coaching classes that prepare engineering aspirants. Student-friendly education, teachers who are facilitators, schools that help develop creativity, radical exam reform: students seem to have it all going their way. But then Mr. Murthy doesn’t seem to be benefitting from this and the IT industry bigwigs support him in this.
Why is it that we are no longer able to create the geniuses that we strive to with all the modern theories of education put into practice? Why is it that the rigorous, old and outdated means to education that were in place earlier seemed to create more hardworking and sincere individuals? Mr. Murthy is rightly concerned about the deteriorating quality of students entering the IITs. While this requires academicians and policy makers to seriously contemplate and design courses and policies accordingly, they should simultaneously spare a thought to tune one discordant note in this cacophony: FOOD. Children often value taste and variety over health and nutrition when it comes to food. Demandsupply patterns followed by organisations lead students into typical Catch 22 situations. Canteens are
usually market driven while choosing the food they stock while students use this easy availability as an excuse to stay away from healthy eating options Surveys show that the educated middle and upper classes in India are churning out an equal number of malnourished kids as the poverty stricken strata of the society. Cities like Mumbai start school as early as seven in the morning. Children leave home in the wee hours of the morning, sometimes as early as six, with only a glass of milk for breakfast. The first break in schools are as late as 10 AM.This means that the student learns on an empty stomach for as long as three hours. As a teacher, I have been witness to a number of growing kids who frequent the canteen and purchase samosas or vada pavs for breakfast. The most frequent excuse would be: Mom came home late last night or nobody was awake when I left home. They leave school at 1 PM
GUEST COLUMN BY PRIYA GOPAL and reach home by 3 in the afternoon. Lunch happens only by 4 PM often, comprising a Frankie purchased from the canteen. Latch key kids have now evolved to become canteen-fed kids. Not many schools are actually worried about what is sold in their canteens. Interestingly many preschools do have a lunch time curriculum. Food timetables are given. Care is taken to ensure that kids avoid junk food and birthdays are planned to ensure that cakes are homemade and no junk food is distributed in class. But this stays as a USP of preschools. 15 to 18 years is the most vulnerable age group. Peer pressure is at its maximum. Competitive exams are of high priority. Moreover, young students don’t want to be seen with a lunch box from home. It’s cool to eat from the canteen .One is part of the ‘in crowd’ depending on how much money one can blow up in the canteen. Yoga classifies food into Satvik, Rajasvic and Tamasik food. The Upanishads say ‘Yatha khadyatennam, tatha nigadyate manaha’, which means the type of food eaten decides the type of mind one develops. Any good food guide, eastern or western, talks about eating wholesome food, free of oil, fats and sugars. Satvik food enhances memory and helps develop a healthy mind and body. It is composed of fresh fruits and vegetables. Rajasvic food has spices and helps build energy while Tamasik food is heavy and causes lethargy. The yogis categorised oily food, potatoes and starch-heavy food to be Tamasik. Research has shown that what the yogis said ages ago holds water even today.
In the mad rush to cope with the board as well as innumerable entrance exams, project submissions, lectures et al., where does a student have the time or inclination to figure out what he is eating or should be eating? In a recent interview to the Times of India, the director of IIT, Guwahati, Gautam Barua says, “On entering the IITs after undergoing excessive coaching, the students are almost burnt-out and mentally fatigued.” Students preparing for the multitude of competitive exams shuttle from home to school to classes. They do not care about what, when and how they eat. Food, at this stage, is just anything that can keep the hunger pangs away. Most college-going students survive on a diet of fizzy drinks, pizzas, pasta, noodles, bread, tea and coffee. The brain does need glucose to work and think but a bottle of cola has enough sugar to nourish 15 brains at the same time. Food products that claim they are easy to prepare and still healthy to use are usually devoid of any nutrition. We are developing a generation of unhealthy kids: kids who eat food but do not benefit from it, physically or mentally. Research in food and nutrition shows that in order to sustain a healthy mind in a healthy body one needs to eat nutritious food every two hours. It is scientifically proven that a healthy kid learns better than a hungry one. So Mr.Murthy, I think we need to look beyond coaching classes and the bureaucratic mess that this country is in. You have given us food for thought. Let us give thought to food.
WORRIES GO DOWN BETTER WITH SOUP
VOICES OF THE MONTH
Bringing the Short Story
On Line
Indira Chandrasekhar, editor of Out of Print, talks about writing fiction, the Indian fiction scene and finally, about running Out of Print itself. Anupama Krishnakumar listens in.
INDIRA CHANDRASEKHAR
Indira Chandrasekhar is by training a Ph.D in Biophysics who has studied the dynamics of biological membranes at research institutes across the world. She spent 17 years overseas and upon returning, began to indulge in writing fiction, especially short stories. Last year, she, together with Samhita Arni and daughter Mira Brunner, started Out of Print, an online platform for writers of short fiction with a connection to the subcontinent. She has recently co-edited an Anthology of short stories that will be published shortly.
Firstly, congratulations on completing a year of publishing 'Out of Print'! An online literary magazine exclusively for short stories - how was the concept of 'Out of Print' born? And to you, you two-year-old veterans! Out of Print arose from a combination of things. We felt there is a place in our region for a strong online literary magazine devoted to short fiction, and judging by the number of published authors one sees in book stores, people are writing. There was also the intellectual curiosity for someone like me, a scientist accustomed to extracting patterns: is contemporary fiction connected to the region really informed by our common narratives? Do we still sense the voices of our ancestors given our culturally complex diversity and individuality? Are we being parochial (and I can tell you that none of us on the editorial team is in the least parochial in terms of the literary or intellectual – when it comes to mangoes, perhaps, … ), or is there validity in our mandate of providing a platform for writing from or connected to the subcontinent?
We often hear that writing short stories is perhaps the best first step to approaching writing fiction. Would you agree? I assert that I don’t see short stories as a first step to anything except themselves. Short fiction is a coherent, clearly defined literary form and requires precision and strength of purpose to craft well. A good short story must capture mood, character, storyline in few words. It doesn’t have the luxury of meandering, but cannot give the impression of rushing or being restricted. It’s all about essence. Like any other writing, crafting a short story is a good exercise in understanding word, voice, point of view, character…, which, of course, reinforces any other form a writer may wish to explore.
What are some of the things you look out for in the stories submitted for publication in 'Out of Print'? A good story, with energy and engagement. Lightness and depth. Integrity of voice. Craft is critical – an understanding of how to pace a story, the balance of dialogue and exposition. And then, there is that indefinable aesthetic filter that we all develop, the thing that allows a story from outside to in, permits it past acceptance barriers – bluntly put, do I and my editors, Samhita Arni and Mira Brunner, each like the story, do we all want to have it in Out of Print. I think there is only one time we allowed a story that one of us seriously didn’t like and had to be convinced to accept.
You write short stories yourself. What is it that you choose to focus on in your stories? Or in other words, what can be called the recurring theme in your stories? My writing comes from my own observations, contemporary as well as the ones that emerge from hidden places in memory. And from stories of people and place – for example, my mother, who is a marvellous story-teller, and my aunts, are a fountain of stories that touch upon the sad and tender weirdness of humankind. I draw from these and extend them, morph them into fiction. Ultimately, the thing that drives my writing is probably trying to come to terms with the balance of existence – justice, survival and the factors that influence those long or short correlation times to annihilation.
According to you, what are the some of the wonderful aspects of fiction as a form of literary writing? It almost seems presumptuous for me to be answering this question. For surely no one needs someone else’s answer. If you read, you know the intellectual and emotional stimulation, the soaring of the imagination, the exploration of limits that fiction provides.
Do you think writing fiction could be tricky too? In what ways? Yes of course. There is the question of fiction vs integrity; as a writer you have to balance these. Also, you want to be read, you don’t want to bore your readers, you want to be able to develop the skill to keep their attention, carry them with you, clear them of pre-perceptions and then fill them with something more. You become increasingly aware that you are a commentator on society. Personally I find that in order to honour that position, and not be pompous about it, I need to extricate myself from the ‘self’ view and immerse in the imagination.
What are some of the common mistakes, if I may call them that, that you see aspiring writers make when it comes to writing fiction - based on your experience of the many submissions that you may have received for publication in 'Out of Print'? It’s tough to navigate the path between re-working your writing and having confidence in it. There’s that punch of excitement when you think it’s ready, you want the world to read it, appreciate it, see what you are trying to convey. That’s something aspiring writers should definitely exploit. But they also have to be brutal in their examination of their own writing, clean it up, take out their personal agendas, and more than anything, remove themselves emotionally from it so they can edit it from a literary viewpoint. Of course, this is easier said than done, and if someone can give me a formula for getting it all right, I’d be grateful.
As someone who runs an online literary magazine exclusively for short stories, I can totally understand your love for this form of fiction writing. All the same, I am curious to know your thoughts on novels. What is the sort of edge that you think novels have over short stories?
I don’t really see the different forms as competing with each other. They each have their place in writers’ and readers’ lives. I read both. As a writer my focus is on the short story, but I am working on a longer piece.
While we are talking of novels and short stories, I have a question on the publishing trend in India, with respect to (general) fiction. Do you feel that Indian publishing houses today tend to prefer novels more than a collection of short stories, even from first-time authors? If yes, what do you think could be the reason for this? Do you think this is a healthy trend? I don’t think that tendency among publishing houses is unique to India. As far as I can tell, collections of short stories from a single writer, as also anthologies from various authors are less favoured than novels. Perhaps it’s perceptions about marketability, perhaps it’s the anxiety about consistency – will every story be as good as the other (as every chapter is??!), I really don’t know the reason. On the other hand, there are recent examples of collections and anthologies from Tranquebar, Zubaan, Penguin, and so on. An anthology I am working on with friend and writer Rebecca Lloyd will be brought out by Thames River Press, London, which also has a Delhi branch. Additionally, it is encouraging when awards for fiction recognise a short story collection from among the other forms – Out of Print author, Mridula Koshy’s If it is Sweet won the Shakti Bhatt award, The 2009 Pulitzer went to Elizabeth Strout, the 2010 Pulitzer runner up was Daniyal Mueenuddin...
There are also many Indian bloggers who are now turning into authors. What are your thoughts on this development?
Well, if they are so driven, why not. The immediacy of the blog post does not demand the same stringency perhaps, but that is certainly a hurdle that can be crossed.
Lastly, talking of 'Out of Print' again, do you have any specific goals for the magazine going forward? We'd love to know more about them! We hope to maintain our energy and quality in exploring the short fiction form in English. We get some high-quality submissions and solicited contributions. This issue features U R Ananthamurthy – a great honour – as well as Chandrahas Choudhury and Murzban Shroff, and an edgy story by Sharanya Mannivanan. We are revisited by Nighat Gandhi who submitted a story that she translated from the Urdu by Firdaus Haider. Speaking of revisiting, Kuzhali Manickavel’s work has appeared twice. Our authors include well-known ones such as Anjum Hasan, Devdutt Pattanaik and KR Usha as well as relative unknowns. It includes writers from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the diaspora. So I feel we are off to a strong start. We always seek sponsors so we can get to a position where we can honour our writers by paying them. Right now, one of the focus areas of our blog is our authors – their publications, their thoughts on writing. But it would be great to do more. And finally, to reiterate, to find good stories, and allow them to reach an ever-wider audience, that is our goal.
Picture and theme courtesy : Out of Print
No U in Love
NON-FICTION BY JOHN PTACEK
For most of us, a selfless concept of love is not acceptable – that’s really not fun. We cannot think of love without thinking of ourselves, says John Ptacek, as he goes on to elaborate how true love is one where you are not. Read on to know why he says there should be no ‘you’ in love.
No U in Love
L
ove is where you are not.
It would bomb as a pick up line, but it’s a concept of love worth pondering. They are the words of Jiddu Krishnamurti, a renowned spiritual teacher who travelled the world in the twentieth century extolling the merits of self-inquiry. At first the statement comes across like one of those if-a-tree-falls-in-the-woods Zen mindbenders, but spend a few moments with it and it may dissolve into a valuable insight. Tug on the word ‘you’ and the statement begins to unravel. You, as in ego. Krishnamurti was saying that love can only exist when the ego is not around to muck things up. Few of us would object to such a selfless concept of love. Similar observations by acknowledged subject matter experts like St. Paul and Kahlil Gibran lift our lips into hopeful smiles during wedding ceremonies. In those moments of stillness we contemplate the endlessness of human possibility, but only seconds later we are contemplating the endless flow of free beer at the reception. It’s as if such grand visions of love are too hot to hold, or perhaps too unattainable to sustain our attention. And anyway, who are St. Paul or Kahlil Gibran to lecture anyone about love? The dudes weren’t even married. For better or for worse, we view love as easily acquired treasure. This is because we define it as a feeling, rather than as the shared experience Krishnamurti hints at. We can’t wait to report the news of our surging feelings to friends after a third date
with our latest admirer. And three dates later we want to throw open the window and broadcast our feelings to the world. Something inside us has been switched on, and it’s a marvelous feeling that’s hard to describe. Eventually we all find the same word for it – love. But is a feeling that any randy seventh grader can experience really what the world needs more of? If this is love, it is not of the selfless variety. It is all about us, and hooray for that. But feelings come and go, even the rapturous ones, making this kind of love as easy to fall out of as it is to fall into. Is this ephemeral quality evidence of love’s sublime mystery? Or is love, the feeling, too flimsy a structure to stand on its own? Divorced from feeling, love loses its conventional charm. When it’s not being rented out for wedding ceremonies, the concept of love as a shared state of being is considered the property of ascetics like Gandhi and Mother Teresa. Far from romantic, it is a state in which the ego loses its grip and one’s identity merges with those around them. It is love without a speck of self-gratification; in the absence of ego, there is no self seeking any reward. Love exists, according to Krishnamurti, because we no longer do. As inspiring as this selfless model of love might be, who needs it? The old model works just fine. That is, until it breaks down, which it does most of the time when you consider the hefty divorce rate and then guess at the number of burned out marriages. Add to this the legions of lovers meeting similar fates outside the borders of marriage and we have what might be termed an epidemic if it were a contagious disease. And yet somehow none of this dissuades us from hopping aboard the same rickety
NON-FICTION BY JOHN PTACEK
NON-FICTION BY JOHN PTACEK jalopy for another perilous ride. A more abiding state of love awaits those disillusioned by one too many hapless joyrides. We need not shave our heads or abandon all earthly pleasures to enter this transcendent state, but we must discard the notion that love is a self-fulfilling venture. Love and ego cannot coexist. Like light and shadow, they cancel each other out. For love to appear, you must disappear. You must give yourself so completely that no trace of you remains. Love arises in the space created by your absence. Love is where you are not.
jowiki
No U in Love
THE SPIRIT OF INDIAN MELA
Nilesh J.Bhange
Y H P
A R G
PH
O T O
The Bike Builder of Jaipur
What does heaven look like? Anuj Agarwal, a motorbike fanatic, found his in Jaipur, at a bike builder’s workshop.
Text and Pictures by Anuj Agarwal
The Bike Builder of Jaipur Without wanting to delve into the murky waters of religion too much, I would like to think that most of us have some vague notion of what “heaven” would look like. For some, heaven would consist of rolling fields and cooling winds and a refreshing sense of silence and calm. For others, heaven could be a beautiful island where the sun is always pleasant and the sand is always white and the water is so clear that you can see right till the ocean floor. And then there might be some who would think of heaven as a never-ending night at their favorite disco, with the DJ playing their favorite tracks all the time. To each their own, I suppose. How about screaming engines, lovingly crafted monsters-on-two-wheels? Bucket loads of chrome, intricately stitched seats, delicate brake handles and exhaust pipes that sing the sweetest of sounds? Sounds like heaven to me. I got to see a little bit of my heaven a few months ago when I rode into Jaipur. Without taking anything away from the many wonderful sights and sounds of Jaipur (it is a wonderful city in more ways than one), if I could recommend just one thing to do in the Pink City, a visit to Rajputana Custom Motorcycles (“RCM”) would be it. Really. In the basement of a gorgeous old mansion, lies the office-cum-workshop of RCM, makers of some of the most stylish and eye-catching bikes in the country. The day I visited, there was a beautifully styled 1942 BSA (Birmingham Small Arms) bike which had been christened “Lado,” standing right next to RCM’s first, and perhaps most well known creation, OG (short for “Original Gangster”). Lado was a gorgeous little piece, painted in olive military green and standing like a proud officer. An officer of another era but an officer nonetheless.
And right in the thick of things, stands Mr.Vijay Singh. At first glance, Vijay does look more like a racer than a builder of bikes: Leanly built, with tattoos running up the side of his arms and a baseball cap on his head. He certainly does not have any of the bulging biceps of the bike builders they show on the telly. But as he begins to speak, I realise that this man loves his bikes. It is as simple as that. Vijay, the heart and brains behind RCM, is an easy guy to talk to if you like your words free of any bull shit. Ask him about the road-legal status of his bikes and he simply replies: “If the cop begins to ask for the papers, then you are f***ed.” The fact of the matter is that the bikes RCM churns out may not be street-legal; if you do get caught by the cops you will definitely have plenty of explaining to do. Still, this does not seem to deter RCM’s customers; Vijay points to a mint-fresh Harley just lying in the corner. “Owner just dropped over the keys the other day, told me to ‘do what you want’.” It is something that has Vijay pretty excited and he plans to showcase the finished project at next year’s Indian Auto Expo. Bikes came pretty early to Vijay; he rode his first bike when he was just seven years old and has done a fair share of racing and rallying since then. It was simply in a moment of lazy boredom (or so he claims) that the idea of building a bike was born and that is how OG came into being. He decided to build a bike. And so he did. Of course, things were not as simple as that. One of the biggest problems he faced was sourcing the engine itself. He would repeatedly call up the Enfield Office and pester them for an engine. He did not want a bike, just the engine, he would tell them. And every time they would ask what he would do with it, he would calmly reply, “I want to build a bike.” In the end, they decided that it would make much more sense to give him the damn engine than
Text and Pictures by Anuj Agarwal
put up with this pesky fellow! I ask him how he comes up with the designs, the thought process with which he churns these bikes out. I am curious to understand the way in which his mind works. He thinks for a second and then simply shrugs his shoulders; “You can’t put it in words,” he says, the designs just form themselves in his mind. Sometimes, in fact fairly often, he has no clue what the finished project will look like; each day is taken on its own terms. Although Vijay claims that RCM is a “hobby” and something he does in between the regular job, I am not so sure that he was speaking the truth. A maniacal gleam enters his eyes whenever he speaks about his bikes and it is quite evident that petrol flows in this man’s veins. And how much do these things cost? it really depends on what you want to do with the bike. A completely modified bike will cost upwards of a couple
lakhs. He points to a photo of John Abraham and an RCM bike. Apparently Mr. Abraham is just one of RCM’s slowly growing clientele. As I left the RCM workshop, I had a pretty stupid grin on my face. It might be because of the fact that I got to see some really beautiful bikes or perhaps it was because I got to speak with someone who is following his dreams. Or may be it was that aura in the workshop, the air filled with dreams and the faith in following them. I don’t know now and I did not know then. What I do know is that you should drop into RCM’s workshop the next time you are in Jaipur. The palaces, forts and rubies can wait a while. Note: It is best to drop a short e-mail to Vijay regarding your visit. He was more than happy to accommodate my visit despite barely a day’s notice.
Text and Pictures by Anuj Agarwal
Jasleen and Sonu are journalists, bloggers, stylists, personal shoppers and above all, are passionate about fashion. Blogging at Fashion Bombay, the two believe that fashion is a way of celebrating life and want to spread the word about taking fashion in India beyond just dressing up for weddings or special occasions. They recently started their own fashion venture – JSo Style – with an aim at creating fashion that is real, sustainable, honest and affordable.
Spark presents Jasleen of Fashion Bombay, one of India’s top fashion blogs, in conversation with Vani Viswanathan about the Indian designer scene, fashion trends and the local blogging picture.
Sonu and Jasleen of Fashion Bombay India has a variety of colours, styles, designs and fabric that have been around for hundreds of years, and come from varying regions of the country. There is so much to work with, and so much talent too. Why then is our position in the global fashion scene – in terms of successful designers and Indian brands – somewhat minimal? I think the image that the world holds of Indians as designers is that of vibrant colours and flowing silhouettes. However that has changed drastically. We have been lagging behind in terms of tailoring, fits and finishing. Quality has somehow been the larger issue. This also is steadily changing as even Indian consumers are more demanding and understand fashion and its nuances. The likes of Parabal Gurung, Shrivan Naresh, Sabyasachi, Falguni and Shane Peacock have opened a whole new world for Indian fashion. So even though the presence may be minimal, the presence is strong and making an impact very quickly.
INTERVIEW BY VANI VISWANATHAN
What do you think of the various fashion weeks in India? Any particular favourites? How would you rate these compared to others in Asia, say those in Shanghai, Japan or Hong Kong? The Lakme Fashion Week in Bombay and the Wills Fashion Week in Delhi are the more dominant ones. Unfortunately, our fashion weeks focus on weddings and wedding galmour mostly, limiting talent and fashion to a large extent. Fashion Weeks abroad are huge events and a melting pot for a lot of creative minds and people who are passionate about fashion. Here, it is still about being 'seen' at the fashion week or spotting celebs. I think New York, London are so much more crazy, out there, experimental in terms of makeup, themes, presentation and clothes. You can spot clear trends. So in terms of Fashion Weeks, we have a lot of growing up to do.
What’s your opinion on the fashion sense among young Indian men and women today? Are we seeing interesting innovations, bold experiments and original accessorizing? Definitely. The scene is rapidly upgrading itself with more and more people investing time and money to look god overall. The purchasing power is high, the youth want to spend today and live their lives along with smart investments. The only-saving mentality is passé. Brands are appreciated, designer wear invested in for special occasions by those who can't afford them in their daily wear. Of course as compared to a London or New York, we still have to see people dressed up on the streets. However in pockets, posh suburbs and nicer localities you see a world of a difference and everyone is making an effort to be well turned out.
Which city do you think tops in terms of its fashion sense? :) London, Milan, NYC are the usual suspects but a lot of rich Middle Eastern countries wear some fabulous fashion. Simply in terms of colours and inspirations all countries are a great representation of something unique; like Africa is gorgeous in terms of colours and prints and even silhouettes.
Global luxury brands are only just making their way into Indian malls and people’s wardrobes. Do you see more and more Indians buying these brands in the near future? Or do you think niche Indian brands will get more spotlight from consumers? There is money in the market and people are aware, they travel more, they know brands and appreciate their value. Even the ones that don’t really appreciate brand value want to own it as a status symbol and that may not be a bad beginning for the seller's market. Niche Indian brands also have a place in the market but like I said earlier, it's unfortunately mostly to do with Indian wear.
Journalists, fashion bloggers, stylists and recently-turned designers too. How are Jasleen and Sonu able to handle it all? We have our crazy days! But we usually divide work and it helps that we are totally in sync creatively. One knows what the other's thinking so it all just falls into place.
You guys started your own range of accessories recently. What prompted this? What are your plans for the brand?
We believe that clothes can be basic but it’s your accessories that can dress a look up or down. Hence the scarves line that doubles up as accessories. These are ready, comfortable materials, need no ironing, and they represent our personalities: we are big fans of comfort.
What do you think of the fashion blogging scene in India? Only in the past two years the number of blogs has tripled. When we started out there were 3-4 Indian bloggers. This change means blogging is growing and we can grow together as an industry, so it’s fabulous.
What’s the latest fashion trend in India that’s caught your eye? We don't know if this is Indian per say because Sonu and I follow our own minds and keep abreast with global fashion and it’s obvious that it influences us. Neons, satchel bags, shirts and collars are things we're totally digging.
And maybe, some dressing tips for the coming winter? :) http://fashion-bombay.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/ Fashion-Bombay/113073002109729
Pictures Courtesy : Fashion Bombay
It's always summer in Bombay but for winter we love to layer instead of wearing just a bulky sweater. Use nice silk blouses with button-up cardiagans and overcoats. Or boyfriend blazers and capes are great for not so cold regions.
NON-FICTION BY ANU KARTHIK
Ten Ways
Ten Ways
to bring the zing back in your life
Chill. Yes, that’s perhaps the watch word for this generation, which is living a life that is stuck in a perpetual, (well almost), cycle of existence. Where has ‘fun’ sneaked away in this chaotic life? It’s time to bring the zing back in our lives and mind you, it’s not rocket science, as Anu Karthik tells us. Here are ten ways that she recommends to win fun back into the contours of our lives – all tried and tested!
Having fun is generally associated with being and staying happy. In a world where we are striving to be successful, where most families have both parents working, sometimes it can be a challenge to even think how one can have fun amidst all this. Well, In fact, I would say it is easier than one can imagine. And crucial too, so that one can excel in all other aspects of one’s life. Here are some things you can do to raise the fun quotient in your lives – guaranteed because they are tried and tested. Pick the ones that suit your lifestyle and your mindset and you’ll be surprised how much can change with how little effort. Here we go!
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Lose Control - Well, I don’t mean literally but in some sense, yes. I think the generation we belong to is convinced that we control a lot about our existence, about how things happen, about how to procure that ideal house or snag that promotion or even lose those 10 pounds. As a result we set unrealistic expectations and beat ourselves to death trying to meet it. I feel a much simpler and easier approach to life is to perhaps just step back and realise that we don’t control many things in our lives. After all, who can be in control say, when you are walking on the road as the pedestrian light is green but a truck rams into you without stopping at the red light? Or you could win the lottery on the positive side. A bit dramatic but you get the picture. Each of us have our own belief systems – some believe in karma, some in fate, and some in God. Whatever it is that you believe in, remember, our universe, the solar system, our galaxy and everything in it work like a well-oiled cog. We are just miniscule pieces of this humungous puzzle. How can it be that just our lives don’t have any predetermined path? So don’t worry about what you cannot control or change and that will automatically add a spring to your step and keep you happy.
Set Goals, Work towards them – Quite the opposite of what we said in the first point, but there are many things that you do control in your life and nothing gives more satisfaction than actually setting a goal and working towards it. It can be as simple as ticking things off your to-do list or buying a home. The magnitude does not matter, the regularity does. I deliberately say ‘Set Goals’, ‘work towards them’ and NOT ‘meet them’ because it is the adrenaline rush from the change in attitude when working towards a concrete goal that matters. And if you work hard enough you will eventually meet it no matter how hard the goal!
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Know your priorities – Very often we are unhappy or not having fun every day because we don’t sit down to think what is important to us. We are caught in the everyday cycle doing something because that is what we are qualified for or because we think we are meant to do it. If you are someone who is happy spending a lot of time with your kids or needing time for your hobbies you are not going to be thrilled in a job that offers no flexibility. At the same time, if you are a go-getter and achieve great satisfaction from working competitively, then staying at home is not going to cut it for you. So know what makes you tick and try to do more of that.
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Enjoy your work – Reality check: there are very few of us who have the luxury of doing what we truly love. For most others it is a way to pay the bills or something we are ok doing but not totally thrilled about. So, how does one add some zing to such a life? Find something you love to do in your frame of work responsibilities and try doing more of it – it can be interacting with your co-workers, working more on presentations or talks maybe, or on technical projects, or even an exercise class or gym session that your workplace may provide. Something that motivates you to want to come to work every day. If you can find absolutely nothing that you love about your job/co-workers/team maybe then, it’s time to think of a change!
Find your Passion – OK your job sucks, you hate it and can’t change due to so many reasons. So how can you still have fun and be happy? That is where your passion comes in. I think each of us as an individual is so unique and have so many talents and personal interests. Find what you love doing and make some time to do it regularly. You will be amazed how much that can change your mood. Love to read - take out 10 minutes before you hit the bed daily or in the loo even! Love to travel – how about travelling once a month or even once a year? Love to watch a movie - how about watching one when you are eating dinner or while folding clothes? Believe me if you love it enough, you will find a way. More so when you see the positive impact it has on you.
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Quality time with loved ones – It’s also important to make time for people your care about and spend it with them - it can be your kids, friends, family, pets anyone. But consciously make time for those phone calls or e-mails and stay connected. You will be happy and you will make another person also happy.
Play a sport/Join a Class/Happy Club – Have you ever realised why kids are happy – because they play a lot without worrying too much. So a lesson from them – for the few hours you play a sport or take a class, immerse yourself in what you are doing, enjoy it. Consciously surround yourself with people who have a positive upbeat attitude whenever possible, or better still if you can be that person no matter where you are, how much more wonderful!
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Give – Easier said than done you say, but I don’t mean just monetarily. Give to others what you can – your time, your talent or your skill also. Volunteer when you can and as often as you can. At work, at your kid’s school or in the community. At your local library or even to so many websites online. Use your talent to contribute in a way only you can. There are more ways to give than we realise. And this is another situation where the giver gains much more than the receiver any time.
Smile – Always and at everyone. Well, if you are taken to be a little crazy, that’s OK. Let’s face it, who isn’t? J Not only will you cheer someone else up, you might just make a new friend. A smile opens the door to so many opportunities. Nothing adds more beauty positively than a full smile. And it costs nothing, zilch. Some of my close friends today have been made from a smile shared in the gym locker room, at the grocery store and in the elevator. You’ll be surprised how many people remember a smiling face and how many favours you can get!
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Live every day as if it were your last, then some day you will be right – What a better time to quote this and live by it than now, when we have a great example in Steve Jobs. This does not literally mean that you stop going to work, take the day off and just lie in bed all day but it means that you need to NOT put away things that matter to you and you really want to do. Things that you have been evading with the excuse that you don’t have the right time, or the right opportunity. Just give in to your instinct and truly live each day of yours to your fullest potential, without holding back and you’ll see that even YOU can’t hold back the fun and happiness that is bound to flow spontaneously.
to bring the zing back in your life
Symbiotic where trees lie mobbed together: Sometimes, a veil of shower at times, just peek-a-boo.
Her games are an open secret, like a burqa that covers beauty and intrigues the onlooker too.
She dances on the ledge and climbs in through the window. When the winds chase her elusive arrival, she gushes through tiny by-lanes And beckons all on the way— The myna to sing, The grass to beam, The walls to mould, And lovers to dream.
Dreams shatter as she lashes about, Mould makes way for more mould, The grass sinks, stamped upon, but the myna wades through—
A fog that threatens to blind and labyrinths that could puzzle; she weathers a prick or two – but, the friend catches up, at last.
POETRY by Priyanca Vaishnav
She plays hide and seek
AN INTERVIEW WITH FOOD BLOGGER, SAILAJA
Sailaja is a food enthusiast who specializes in Indian and Andhra cuisine but dabbles in others too, and shares her passion with others on her blog http://www.sailusfood.com. She enjoys cooking simple meals that she has watched her mother and grandmother prepare; blogging has enabled her to try out Western dishes. She boasts a huge fan following and also blogs about the recipes she prepares for her 8-year-old son at Kidszone at http://kidszone.sailusfood.com/
DELIGHTFUL KITCHEN
Interview by Anupama Krishnakumar
Let's start with some history. How did you get interested in cooking and what makes you love it? I grew up watching my grandmother, aunts and mother cook elaborate meals especially during festival times when family members came together to celebrate. As a teenager, I would lend them a helping hand doing preparatory work like chopping vegetables, rolling out puris, crushing spices in a mortar and pestle or grating fresh coconut. I am passionate about Indian food, traditional recipes handed down by the elders of the family and have been documenting family recipes since my college years. When I gave up my government job to be a full time mother, I spent time in the kitchen like never before. I enjoy my visit to the farmer’s market to buy fresh vegetables, cooking with seasonal fresh ingredients and discovering new flavors especially regional Indian cuisines (thanks to the Internet and cookbooks). My family enjoys good food and that motivates me to bring healthy and tasty food to the table each day.
Sailaja, a popular Indian food blogger, speaks to Anupama Krishnakumar about cooking, healthy meals and recent trends in terms of food preferences.
According to you, what are the defining aspects of a good cook? A good cook is one who is able to whip up a meal with the available ingredients on hand, using the freshest of ingredients, without compromising on cooking techniques and adds a lot of love to the dish.
Talking of your own cooking, what are some dishes that you love to prepare? I love to prepare dishes that my family enjoys. Simple every day subzis that go with roti and rice. Our mid-day meal is a typical Andhra thali, 5 days a week. I use fresh vegetables (from my local farmer’s market), a lot of greens, lentils and whole grains including millet, oats and barley in my everyday cooking. I enjoy baking, preparing tiffin items and quick healthy snacks for my son.
I am sure you will be trying out recipes from cook books and from other bloggers; How much of experimenting do you do with these recipes? What is the sort of experimentation that you do with such recipes? I do not experiment with traditional authentic recipes and I follow them the way they have been passed on by the elders in my family. I follow the same rule with authentic recipes of other cuisines too. I mostly try out baking recipes, cakes, cookies, chocolates, western desserts, salads and soups from cookbooks and other blogs. I follow the recipe to the T but sometimes deviate to give an Indian twist by using Indian flavours and herbs like coriander, mint, methi in place of thyme, rosemary or dill. There are many ingredients that are unavailable in our parts of the country which non-Indian cuisines call for and hence I substitute and experiment. Many a time they work out while sometimes it is a disaster!
What is your idea of a good and complete meal? Use of at least 3-4 fresh vegetables, one leafy green and a lentil dish, with whole grains like brown or white rice/chapati and a bowl of yogurt or thick buttermilk.
You share a lot of Indian recipes on your blog. Which is your favourite non-Indian cuisine? I have a lot of favorites and in recent past I have been relishing Mediterranean cuisine. My all-time favorite non-Indian cuisines are Italian and Mexican.
Presentation of food is as important as the food itself. Can you share some tips on presenting food attractively?
My approach to presentation of food is simple. I love the simple garnish of fresh curry leaves or fresh coriander or topping a chutney with tempered spices and curry leaves (without mixing it) for visual appeal.
You seem to be doing food photography too. What are some of the things you focus on when capturing food through photographs? Food photography is an ongoing learning process and I am still taking baby steps. I intend upgrading to a DSLR from a point and shoot that I presently use for my food photographs. I am working on improving my food photography skills. I take pictures only in natural light and never shoot after 3-4 PM.
There's much talk about vegetarianism these days. What are your thoughts on vegetarianism? 90% of our family diet is vegetarian with an occasional bit of meat or fish thrown in. I believe that lean meat and fish when incorporated with a diet of fiber, grains, vegetables and fruits is good. It’s a personal lifestyle choice.
There are a huge number of food blogs on the Internet today. What do you feel sets you apart in this space? I am an early entry to the food blogging space and that is the only thing that sets me apart from majority of the Indian food bloggers. I have been reasonably consistent in updating my blog on a regular basis. I try my best to meet the expectations of my loyal readers. They are the ones who keep me going and motivated.
Sailaja’s Food blog : http:// www.sailusfood.com Facebook : http:// www.facebook.com/SailusKitchen
Guest column by Vibha Sharma
Book delight TEN MUST-READ WORKS OF FICTION
There’s nothing that could be more delightful for a book lover than curling up with a good work of fiction. Vibha Sharma lists and reviews ten must-read novels that captured her interest and imagination for various reasons. It’s story time, folks!
Guest column by Vibha Sharma
TIME FLIES BY BILL COSBY Witticism is Bill Cosby's (of Cosby Show fame) hallmark and in ‘Time Flies', he brilliantly manages to bring up some issues associated with senility usually a very sombre subject. The declining physical and mental abilities are brought into picture, highlighted by his own experiences. The book achieves this in an enjoyable way, making it a delightful read. The book does not preach or recommend anything; it is in fact an anecdotal description of dealing with old age. Cosby narrates his own day-to-day failings in managing weight increase, growing waist size, dimming eye-sight, and much more in self-mocking humour. Personally, I feel it is that kind of book which imparts the wisdom of seeing things in right perspective and learning the art of being positive in every phase of life. The language of the book is simple, easy to follow and lucid.
TWO STATES BY CHETAN BHAGAT Some people may find it satirical, sarcastic or even insulting to the two communities mentioned in the story but the fun value that this book offers cannot be negated. '2 States' is Chetan Bhagat’s autobiographical take on intercommunity marriages. The book starts with a typical scene at IIM -A where Krish, a Punjabi boy falls for Ananya, a "Madrasi" Iyer girl. Matters seem to be under control till the time they are in college but everything starts slipping out of their hands when they decide to take the next step of getting married. The insurmountable task of convincing the families to like the new relationship forms the rest of the book. The novel highlights the point that marriages in India are not just restricted to the boy and the girl involved, but is rather a family affair. Parts of the novel where the cultural differences and dissimilarities are pointed out are hilarious and if you have some idea about the two communities, you can easily relate to the proceedings and can nod your head along. Some comparisons are really witty and very neatly put. It is one of those, feel good, funny books that have value for serious readers too - to bring in that perfect siesta kind of breaks from serious reading.
FOR ONE MORE DAY BY MITCH ALBOM ‘For One More Day’ is the story of a mother and a son and their relationship which spans a lifetime and even beyond that. The book tries to explore and find an answer to the question - What would you do if you get one more day to spend with your lost loved one? After a suicide attempt, Charles Benetto encounters his dead mother, Pauline’s ghost. Together, the mother and son revisit the trials and tribulations of Pauline, a single mother, after Charles father abandoned them. Through this book, Mitch Albom pays tribute to mother’s love, affection, dedication and patience. As you read this story, you are in for a very sensitive and emotional adventure of their lives and will be compelled to introspect. Mitch Albom has many other bestsellers to his credit - Tuesdays with Morrie, The Five People You Meet in Heaven and Have a Little Faith.
BY THE WATER COOLER BY PARUL SHARMA A perfect chick-lit. 'By the Water Cooler' is the story of two friends - Mini and Tanya, who studied together, left their previous jobs in an ad agency and are about to commence a new phase of their careers in a fashion house. Mini is the more ambitious of the two and Tanya is a little strange and is more focused on her upcoming marriage with her beau. Readers are put on a roller coaster ride with Mini and Tanya and the funny incidents they encounter. Parul Sharma offers a whole pot-pourri in this book –right from office gossip to office politics, friendship to back stabbing, office romance to treachery, management basics to self-coined management principles - typical 'all masala' corporate culture and how the water cooler becomes an integral part of this culture. Just as a right proportion of all ingredients is the key to having a delicious meal, so is the perfect mix of wit, humour and engaging story to have an enthralling and amusing page turner. 'By The Water Cooler' successfully manages to offer this lovely mélange.
CONTACT BY CARL SAGAN When I am writing about 'must read' novels, how can I miss the great fiction of all times, the scientific thriller – ‘Contact’ by Carl Sagan? This is perhaps the only work of fiction written by an esteemed astronomer himself; the authenticity and realism of the events, incidents, details and descriptions, therefore, are simply awe inspiring. Elle, the main protagonist, with her knowledge, wisdom, unparalleled belief, passion and determination comes across as a strong character and will surely leave a deep impression in the minds of readers. In December 1999, a team of international scientists decide to take up the most exciting adventure in the history of humankind. They commence this task following some signs from the galaxy, which make them believe that there is indeed some intelligent source out there. Carl Sagan brilliantly narrates the story which seamlessly transcends the boundaries of science, religion, politics and social aspects. A truly exciting and engaging story and one that is superbly narrated.
THE IMMORTALS OF MELUHA BY AMISH TRIPATHI This is the first book of the Shiva trilogy, which swept readers of mythology and fiction off their feet and I am no exception. I have many good things to say about this book - complete originality of plot, many euphoric moments to keep the interest alive till the very last page, meticulous handling of subplots and supporting characters, and brilliant amalgamation of mythology, history and fiction, being just a few of them. The book is based on a fundamental belief that perhaps actions, deeds and karma are the only deciding factors in transforming an ordinary mortal into Mahadev - God of Gods. The story begins with a tribal leader Shiva responding to the call of destiny to be the sole saviour, the Neelkanth of Suryavanshis. He embarks on a journey to find evil and fight against it. But is he up against evil? Who is evil? Who is he along with the Suryavanshis fighting against? These are some of the questions which Shiva gradually comes face to face with and tries to find answers to. A true page turner which captures the attention of readers from the first page till the last page.
FRINDLE BY ANDREW CLEMENTS Frindle is one of the best children's books that I have read so far. Ten-year old Nick Allen is a smart kid who is always in pursuit of devising innovative ideas to distract the teachers of his class. But Mrs. Granger in fifth-grade is not an easy prey. Nick's attempts land him in more trouble - he is supposed to write an extra report on how the words get added to a dictionary. Incidentally, this new project sparks another brilliant idea in Nick's mind and he decides to coin his own new word for pen - Frindle. The new word spreads among students like wild fire to the very annoyance of school authorities and specifically Mrs. Granger. Besides being a very interesting story, this book subtly highlights much more - an endearing student-teacher relationship, effective learning and power of self-belief. A perfect gift to a young reader.
THE PALACE OF ILLUSIONS BY CHITRA DIVAKARUNI ’The Palace of Illusions’ is a retelling of the age-old epic poem, Mahabharata, but with a difference. The novel is the voice of the female protagonist - Panchaali, and how she views and interprets the situations she gets to confront in her far from usual life. The book offers readers flavours of mythology, history and imagination, all rolled in one. Born out of fire with a purpose, married to five royal husbands, having the charismatic Krishna by her side in all difficult phases of life, shouldering the burden of being one of the reasons for the great war between cousins, Panchaali finds herself a puppet in the hands of fate. Through this book, Divakaruni has brought a unique perspective to the proceedings of the great epic. A must-read if you haven’t read it yet!
FATHERS AND SONS BY IVAN TURGENEV I may perhaps be running the risk of not keeping up with times by choosing this book. With a deluge of new books by budding authors in the market, the classics are not very preferred picks, or are they? Can classics lose their sheen? To me, a reading list is incomplete without classics. ‘Fathers and Sons’ gave the literary world its first Nihilist (believing in nothing) hero. The novel covers a wide range of emotions, issues, multiple layers of characters, bonds and much more - the timeless generational conflict, ideologies of 19th century Russia, the transitioning Russian society, the friendship between two young men, the transformed relationship between two sets of fathers and sons. By the time the last page is turned, the story manages to leave its indelible mark on the minds of readers. A very emotional and powerful piece of literature, and hence a must-read.
THE SCHOOL OF ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS BY ERICA BAUERMEISTER The story begins as "Lillian had been four years old when her father left them, and her mother, stunned, had slid into books like a seal into water". Lillian accepts her destiny, compensating for the neglect of her mother by taking charge of household chores and in the process, discovers her deep passion for cooking. The array of spices, their aromas, stainless steel skillets, wooden magic wands and the art of cooking mesmerise her. She abhors following any written word to cook, her instincts guiding her through the process. Later Lillian applies this magical sense of cooking to open and operate a restaurant and to conduct cooking classes on Monday nights, called 'The School of Essential Ingredients'. Each subsequent chapter explores one class and the lives of the students of a particular session - a long married couple, a mother reconciling with her new identity as a mother, a kitchen designer, a widower, a lawyer, a software engineer and a woman who is finding herself in alien territory as she goes through phases of dementia. A must read for those who love to cook!
ARIA Strains of a once familiar song, Lapping on the shores of my memory. Tantalized and teased me to pursue Its haunting, yet evading, elusive lines.
In hot pursuit I crashed Through the labyrinthine maze of my mind, Stacked high with neatly packed caskets Containing variegated experiences of my life.
In varied colors and shapes, The gazing memory caskets mocked me. For, in the haste of living I had forgotten To label them neatly for future reference.
The glazed, blank look of the unlabelled caskets, Unnerved me, with their still, icy silence. I had forgotten the content of most of them; And an urge to open and reminisce mastered me.
But I deliberately ignored that wanton desire, My soul’s undivided aim- to trace the source Of that familiar song, haunting me relentlessly, Coerced my mind to reveal the recurring melody.
Poetry by Latha Prem Sakhya
The intense quest of my soul seared and scorched me; My agonized being vibrated with the mounting tempoOf the reverberating echoes of the haunting notes. And in a blue flash of light I saw YOU-framed in my inner eyes.
Like a roaring wave from an alien shore, The Lydian measure came rushing to my earsThe aria celebrating our idyllic friendship, For a brief span of ten years.
The recaptured song, from the sea of oblivionCreated by the “sick hurry, and fret of living�; Flooded and environed my being with your memories, Fluttering like homing pigeons.
Our friendship transcended the earthly barriers, As if we had been friends for eons. Our shared thoughts, feelings, attitudes, experiences, And our identical visions of life strengthened our bond.
Yet you lived in a plain sublime; Your faith and absolute trust in God, Made you a source of inspiration, To all, who came into close contact with you.
ARIA
A unique incarnation of loveYou accepted, forgave and patiently boreUncomplainingly, the undeserving yoke in your lifeA real model of human virtues.
Oft, I had enjoyed your care and concern; Your loving presence and letters of consolation, Had often restored my bruised and injured soul, Wafting me to serene shores of peace and happiness.
When the relentless Reaper brought to naughtYour hard won spiritual and earthly honours, Destroying forever your intense desire to live.
Un-reconciled to the reality of loss, I see you Immaculately dressed in starched saree, hurrying to your classes With an arm-load of books, and your bespectacled eyes, Dancing and smiling greetings to your friends and students.
I see you again immersed in your post-doctoral studies, And guiding your students, or bustling about Attending to your never ending chores As wife, daughter-in-law, friend and teacher.
All these images instill in me a fond hopeThe hope of meeting you soon...as though I need only to put aside my daily chores And make a surprise visit as in yester years.
Poetry by Latha Prem Sakhya
You had bowed helplessly to your fate,
PENNY WISE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MAHESWARAN SATHIAMOORTHY
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