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"Knife" by Salman Rushdie

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  “Joseph Anton”, Rushdies’ documentary on his post Fatwa existence was a heavy read, quite different from his long fictional works that one is used to. The book written in 2012, over a decade after the writers’ move to the USA, seemed more like a closure of the traumatic Fatwa event. It is unlikely that Rushdie who lived a free life there, envisaged that the fatwa would be a danger ever. On August 12 2022, however, the fatwa very nearly succeeded when a US citizen of Lebanese parentage, 24 years old pounced on the author on a stage and (in Rushdies’ words) blotched an attempt at murder. Rushdie states that he had no intention of writing about the event or its impact and it was only with the prodding of well-wishers and Agents that he decided to write about it. This is not a documentary and again in his own words is a “love letter to his wife” number 5, Rachel Eliza Griffiths. The short work is fascinating in parts, when he discusses the role of miracles, his unwavering atheism...
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Shakespeare by Bill Bryson

  There are three blurbs on the paperback version of Brysons latest book and I have a comment on all three: The first from the Sunday Times finds the book “ brilliantly funny and gently insightful” . The book is far from being funny, and associating brilliancy with mirth is another conundrum. Bryson is perhaps a pioneer at a new genre of biographies that need to be brief for the publishers’ sake- limited to 40,000 words. He succeeds beyond words. As for insight , they come out ringing, not gently, but with a force of research that is awesome and yes, brilliantly highlighted. The last chapter for instance, is high-powered research thesis stuff, where Bryson takes on the claimants to Shakespeares’ name and concludes: “When we reflect upon the works of William Shakespeare it is of course an amazement to consider that one man could have produced such a sumptuous , wise, varied, thrilling, ever delighting body of work, but that is of course the hallmark of a genius. Only one man had...
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Sanatana and Dengue

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  I did not have to bother Wikipedia for the first word, but I did need validation of my understanding on the second. " Dengue...is a mosquito borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus " says Wiki , and I am relieved that my knowledge has not dimmed. Now what is it in the first word that so concerned an Hon'ble Minister from my State , in his 45th year to blow the bugle on us ignorant citizens on the threat of a dengue type virus? What provoked the hon'ble gentleman to choose this time and place , and not sooner? So many of us would have been saved from the virus!  What I wonder most , is how did the Hon'ble gentleman survive over four decades without being inflicted by the disease? Did he .. ...stay away from friends and teachers in his youth who were ignorant of the threat and rubbed shoulders in their Sanatanic clothes ? ...stay away all the years from visiting the small temple that abutted his grandfathers residence ? ...stay away from the folks in mov...
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Faith and Reality

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  Often we fail to acknowledge the role Faith plays in our daily existence. From crossing a road, to travelling in a plane we are placing faith on factors beyond us and which we are unable to control. When the word crops in dialogues in matters spiritual suddenly another word comes into play- reality. Many deny they have faith in matters or aspects that are essentially spiritual or religious. Yet one is willing to have faith that a drunk driver would not violate a red light when one is crossing a road, or a pilot would not misread a dial. Such instances are numerous in a typical day.    Many a person live their entire lives on this “reality” syndrome and avoid all matters philosophical. This is unfortunate, for acknowledging a “force” beyond ourselves is actually a rational act. This recognition helps in accepting setbacks and also sobering down our joy at successes. Both setbacks and successes have aspects of external forces on which the individual had no control. A ...
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Ahobilam 1

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  The devotees who visit the Matham at Ahobilam daily when the Pontiff ("Jeer" in Tamil) is in the temple town, may be categorized in two . The first category comes from all parts of South India.   These are the bare chested   , dhoti clad men with their foreheads and the torso marked by a sign made with chalk   unique to their community- referred to as   “Naamams”. Their wives are wrapped in a complex saree attire that extends all of 9 yards, known as the “Madisar” and the wearing of which is a code imparted to them when they get married. The Madisar dates back to the 2 nd century BC. Collectively this community is referred to as Iyengars , a subsect of the Brahmin Vaishnavaites. When I joined the secret club of the Freemasons, I recollect the signs and procedures to be adopted to identify another Freemason. Not so in the case of the Iyengars. Their unique attire marks them out anywhere , anytime. And so they are shooed in, right to the   sanctum sancto...
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