The White Tiger : a bit unreal, contradictory. Okay.

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The tone of the novel is a bit contradictory. An example : On one hand, the protagonist of the story calls himself a 'half-baked' Indian, like millions of others, who are complicit in their own exploitation, are unaware of the ways of the world and are actually 'boys' in the bodies of full grown 'men'. but this self awareness itself contradicts the claim. I mean you can't be half baked and still be aware that you are.
Also there seems to be a confusion whether the protagonist is speaking from his point of view or the author through him, at many places. So, when the narrator is constantly showing us the parts of India which scream out " Yuck Yuck! this is India ", you start feeling twitchy wondering whether this is the person from the lowest layer of the Indian society, venting out his anger or the author who wants to show the supposedly 'elite' readers, the 'real' society. If it's the former case, you can justify the deliberate exaggeration of the filthiness, but if it's the latter, then it becomes a little problematic. But you can never know for sure, for you never understand whose voice you are listening. Also some portions remind one of the bollywood potboilers of 70's and 80's.

Still overall it is an interesting novel and an enjoyable one with no heavy handing or patronizing the reader and with some really witty and powerful insights into the world of the oppressed. And also bereft of any moral underpinnings.

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हज़ारों ख्वाहिशें ऐसी, कि हर ख़्वाहिश पे दम निकले।

मिर्ज़ा ग़ालिब 

हजारों ख्वाहिशें ऐसी कि हर ख्वाहिश पे दम निकले

बहुत निकले मेरे अरमाँ, लेकिन फिर भी कम निकले


डरे क्यों मेरा कातिल क्या रहेगा उसकी गर्दन पर

वो खून जो चश्म-ऐ-तर से उम्र भर यूं दम-ब-दम निकले


निकलना खुल्द से आदम का सुनते आये हैं लेकिन

बहुत बे-आबरू होकर तेरे कूचे से हम निकले


भ्रम खुल जाये जालीम तेरे कामत कि दराजी का

अगर इस तुर्रा-ए-पुरपेच-ओ-खम का पेच-ओ-खम निकले


मगर लिखवाये कोई उसको खत तो हमसे लिखवाये

हुई सुबह और घर से कान पर रखकर कलम निकले


हुई इस दौर में मनसूब मुझसे बादा-आशामी

फिर आया वो जमाना जो जहाँ से जाम-ए-जम निकले


हुई जिनसे तव्वको खस्तगी की दाद पाने की

वो हमसे भी ज्यादा खस्ता-ए-तेग-ए-सितम निकले


मुहब्बत में नहीं है फ़र्क जीने और मरने का

उसी को देख कर जीते हैं जिस काफिर पे दम निकले


जरा कर जोर सिने पर कि तीर-ऐ-पुरसितम निकले

जो वो निकले तो दिल निकले, जो दिल निकले तो दम निकले


खुदा के वासते पर्दा ना काबे से उठा जालिम

कहीं ऐसा न हो याँ भी वही काफिर सनम निकले


कहाँ मयखाने का दरवाजा 'गालिब' और कहाँ वाइज़

पर इतना जानते हैं, कल वो जाता था के हम निकले


--

चश्म-ऐ-तर - wet eyes

खुल्द - Paradise

कूचे - street

कामत - stature

दराजी - length

तुर्रा - ornamental tassel worn in the turban

पेच-ओ-खम - curls in the hair

मनसूब - association

बादा-आशामी - having to do with drinks

तव्वको - expectation

खस्तगी - injury

खस्ता - broken/sick/injured

तेग - sword

सितम - cruelity

क़ाबे - House Of Allah In Mecca

वाइज़ - preacher

A farewell to arms and roses. My Lolita. My Shrew. My ISM.

________________________________________________

A farewell to arms and a farewell to roses.
A farewell in all different kinds of poses.

A farewell to the battles, a farewell to wars.
A goodbye to goosebumps and a farewell to scars.

A farewell to dreams and a farewell to stars.
A sayonara to substance and a farewell to farce.

A goodbye to love that we lost and we gained.
A farewell to hearts that we won and we pained.

And a farewell, my ISM, my Lolita, my Shrew.
Yes, we had our moments but oh very few.

Wish to hunt down the time-bird, wish I were a hunter.
To give us more moments, for love and for banter.

Wish we could make love, forever and ever.
But I know you well! You will find some one other!

So, a teary goodbye to your tantrums and snares.
And a farewell to your treasures, your bounty and cares.
_________________________________________________

Last few days at ISM and the thought of separation is tormenting me. O how I wish we could extend this affair. How I wish to re-live and renew the years gone by. So many things left unsaid. So many wishes unfulfilled. Alas! all we got to say is : goodbye.

Asimov's Rest of the Robots : A dud in the Robots series !

Foundation universe # 0.2 

The Rest of the Robots by Isaac Asimov
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

[2.5 * actually.]

Who would have thought that Mr. Asimov would deliver a dud ? Not me, fur sure!

After reading the wonderful 'I, Robot', my expectations had been raised sky high, so it is rather painful to accept that 'The rest of the robots' is nowhere near its predecessor, in fact is a real disappointment with only the 'Susan Calvin' stories showing some promise.

I guess if someone has written more than 500(!) books, you ought to give him some leeway, for he is bound to falter at some point. And mind you, I sincerely believe that my disappointment with this book is more because of having gone through 'I, Robot' first. I am pretty sure that if this had been my first book in the Robots series, I would have enjoyed it much more. So that is how it stands.

That is why, I would suggest anyone willing to start Robots series, to begin with this one only, and then move onto 'I, Robots' and the rest. For that is the best way to enjoy this book, I suppose.

Anyway, hope that the 3rd installment of the Robots series will live up to the expectations.

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दास्तान-ए-ताहिर...छोटी सी नुमाइश

( शायरी # 3 )


ग़ज़ल ~ 1

तू ख्वाब है, मैं ख्याल हूँ, तू है संग-दिल तो तराश दूँ॰
तुझे चाँद-तारों में ले चलूँ, तुझे चाँदनी का लिबास दूँ॰

यूँ मेरी नज़र से नज़र मिला, कि मेरी नज़र में नज़र भी आ.
तुझे आज तक ये खबर नहीं, मैं तेरी नज़र के ही पास हूँ.

तेरी जुस्तजू, तेरी आरजू, मेरे दिल में तू, मेरे रूबरू.
कभी घट गयी, कभी बढ़ गयी, जो बुझी नहीं, वही प्यास हूँ.

जिसे चाहा था, उसे माँगा था, वो मिला नहीं, तो गिला नहीं.
जो भटक रहा है, इधर-उधर, उसी हमसफ़र की, तलाश हूँ.

तू भी कम नहीं, कोई ग़म नहीं, मेरी आँख "ताहिर", नम नहीं.
ये ख़ुशी के मोती, उभर रहे, तुझे वहम है, मैं उदास हूँ.
_______________________________________________

दिल में हूँ, नज़रों से बहुत दूर नहीं हूँ.
ग़म के गलीचों में भी,  रंजूर नहीं हूँ.

महफिलों को छोड़ना, मेरा नसीब था.
मशरूफ हूँ ज़रूर, पर मगरूर नहीं हूँ.
___________________________________________

तेरी हसरत, मेरी उलफ़त, का सबब बन बैठी.
मेरी फितरत, तेरी नफरत, का सबब बन बैठी.

मैं भी शैदाई था तेरा, मगर था मुफलिस भी.
मेरी ग़ुरबत, मेरी तुरबत, का सबब बन बैठी.
_______________________________________

गलियों में भौंकने वाले, दरबार सजाये बैठे हैं.

दर-दर फिरने वाले, व्यापार जमाये बैठे हैं.

थी जिनके पास, खुद्दारी, ज़मीर की दौलत.

कितने अहमक थे, घर-वार गँवाए बैठे हैं.

_________________________________

ग़ज़ल ~ 2

वो इश्क फरमाने की बात करते हैं.
और दुनिया-ज़माने की बात करते हैं.

फितरत में वफ़ा का कोई वजूद नहीं.
और दिल लगाने की बात करते हैं.

चूड़ियों का बोझ संभाला नहीं जाता.
और ग़म उठाने की बात करते हैं.

लिबास तौबा! जिस्म की नुमाइश है.
और मुँह छुपाने की बात करते हैं.

काँच के पर्दों में क़ैद नशीली आँखें.
और जाम पिलाने की बात करते हैं.

उठ के जाना कुबूल नहीं पहलू से.
और हाथ छुड़ाने की बात करते हैं.

हासिल है शौहरत रकीबों में "ताहिर"
और साथ निभाने की बात करते हैं.

______________________________

ग़ज़ल ~ 3

तन्हाई में जब उसने, ख़त मेरा पढ़ा होगा.
दिल उसका भला कैसे, काबू में रहा होगा?

जब मेरी मुहब्बत में, दिल उसका जला होगा.
बहती हुयी आँखों से, काजल ना बचा होगा.

सखियों ने बहुत उसको, मजबूर किया होगा.
तब नाम मेरा उसने, शरमा के लिए होगा.

लुटने का मेरे उसको, जब इल्म हुआ होगा.
माथे पे हसीं आँचल, शायद ही रुका होगा.

जिस वक़्त किताबों में, ख़त मेरा मिला होगा.
सीने से लगाकर फिर, होठों से छुआ होगा.

मिलने की तड़प उसको, बेचैन किये होगी.
मजबूरी में फिर तकिया, बाहों में लिया होगा.

यादों में मेरी उसने, कुछ शेर लिखे होंगे.
और नामे-ग़ज़ल उसने, "ताहिर" ही रखा होगा.
____________________________________

( Disclaimer : All works above are creations of Mr. R.Tahir Khan )

The end of eternity...and the end of a 'good sci-fi' drought

My first pleasant encounter with Asimov

The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! I am still reeling from the effect of finishing this one. This is just my second Asimov novel, which I picked purely because it was unconnected to any of his other series ( viz. the Foundation and the Robots ), and what a treat it turned out to be! Such an intriguing story full of every bit of concept and paradox possible within the purvey of time-travel and such delightful flights of speculations( which mind you are very logical ) into the human future! Truly Amazing!


Although I agree, to an extent, to the common criticisms leveled against Asimov's works such as the characters being caricatures and not very fleshed out and the story being plot-driven only. But I enjoyed so much and it was so stimulating to read this that I hardly noticed the above mentioned 'pitfalls'. I mean, does it really matter if the time-traveler guy behaves like a comic book character when you are travelling up-when to 30,000 centuries in the future or are pondering over such delicious questions as in what were the 'reality changes' induced due to your last visit to 275th century ? or what would be the minimum necessary change required to be effected in the space-time fabric of 95th century so as to prevent an imminent war ?
There is just so much to enjoy as well as to ponder over here : dilemmas like whether the opening of an 'eternity' channel and insistence on 'correcting' the past in order to get the best possible future will stifle the evolution of man as a species ? Whether the advent of time-travel totally undermine human advances into exploring the universe and colonizing the galaxy! Heady stuff.

Though I admit that I haven't read a lot of quality science fiction to boast about, but surely this is the best I have had so far.

And so this last query to Mr. Asimov, if he doesn't mind : Where have you been so far ? Why on earth and time had I not discovered you earlier ?
'Guess it's never too late', I can hear him whisper this reply. :)

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The legend of Chhath Puja

Abridged notes on its possible origin

• Is only practiced in those areas where there was the rule of Chero tribes in the past.
• The worship of Surya takes place twice a year on the 6th Chaitra Sudi and 6th Kartika Sudi. Every caste participates in it, even muslims in UP, Bihar. So there is no caste based allegiance, hints at tribal origin.
• 'Chatth' is derived from 'Shashthi', the date of worship.
• Brahmans have no role to play in the puja, almost, except for determining the tithi. ----> means non-Brahmanic origin of the worship.
• Cheros were a group of tribes that had power over eastern UP and Bihar, belonged to the lower castes at one time. However, converted to higher caste by Brahman collusion. Later when they lost power ----> again to low castes, but some were able to retain power, hence high status (caste).
• But the worship practice was retained, as it was something that the tribe indulged in and was independent of whether the tribe came or went out of power.