Author: Jaya

Entries received for LKNB Contest – II

LKNB Graphic

Entry ID 1110: Aliya by Aasif Shah

Next day, he saw her crossing the gully that was in front of his friend’s house. He went up to her. ‘‘How is the pigeon?”

‘‘What are you doing? People are watching, please go away,” she said. He was taken aback. ‘‘Wait for me at the road,” she whispered. He walked ahead.

—

”She’s fine now, thank you. You are Ajmal’s friend, right?” They’re walking on the road.

”I’m Suhail. We’re roommates in Mumbai. We came down here yesterday. I’ve a project on oranges as my project for third year. I’m majoring in Botany. What’s that in your hand?”

“A Tale of Two Cities. Our classic. BA first year. Have you read this book?”

‘‘Yes. I found it interesting,” he lied lest she should stop talking to him.

‘‘This is my precious book.” It was a hard cover book. They had reached her college. He noticed how different she looked. She was in a yellow floral printed kurti and blue jeans.

‘‘Can we meet again?” he asked.

‘‘Why?”

”I’ll be at the farm in the evening.” She strolled inside without answering.

Entry ID 1111: Love Knows No Bounds by Ankita Ghosh

“Victor Banerjee acted in A Discovery of India.”

“What?”

“You don’t know A Discovery of India is a movie?” asked a pair of bewildered eyes.

“You are talking about A Passage to India. The other is a book by Nehru.”

The same pair of disbelieving eyes looked at Rakshit, “I thought, after adaptation, they can change the name.”

“A Passage to India is by E. M. Forster,” Rakshit explained calmly “while A Discovery of India is Nehru’s.” Almost in the same breath, he continued, “There you are!” as a bespectacled girl carrying heavy notebooks walked in.

The girl with the disbelieving pair of eyes examined the simple dress, the library glasses, and those anorexic hands and protruding collar bones for the umpteenth time. Mrinalini and Mehek were in the same year at Nagpur Law College. Mehek was mostly unwell, dressed plain and hardly had any friends. Rakshit seemed to be completely mesmerized by her presence. In no time, Rakshit got busy telling Mehek about the debate he was having with Mrinalini about the two books and their respective authors. He even took the liberty to jibe at Mrinalini, “You never know, tomorrow she will say that Nehru was the first President of India!” Both, Mehek and Rakshit found this to be hilarious and had a hearty laugh. Mrinalini could only sit in muted agony.

Entries received for LKNB Contest – I

LKNB Graphic

We thought it would be the best if the complete stories are posted after all of them have been received. So, for the time being we are posting excerpts from the various entries received.

Entry ID 1108: Better Late Than Never by Neelam Chandra

As he stood on the railway platform of Nagpur station, Sam was lost in his own thoughts. He had come to Nagpur after a long time. He still could not fathom what had made him come here. He had been working in the US since last 15 years now. He had his own world there. After completing his engineering, he had gone there to complete his M.S. and then continued there. He had a PhD degree now and was a well-known name in the field of optics. He was a senior faculty at M.I.T. and enjoyed his work there.

However, he was lonely. And absolutely alone. He had no one in the world whom he could call his own. His parents had expired long back. He was the only child. He had lost contact with all his other relatives. The only connecting link was the house owned by his parents once upon a time – the house in which he had grown up. It was a two room flat, but it didn’t matter. It served as his only link between his childhood and his present. He had preserved it after his father’s death like his own child. He loved the house and he loved his balcony. It was this balcony from which he would observe Appu from a distance.

Entry ID 1109: When Love Strikes by Sunil Sharma

Love can strike in most cold circumstances and sprout in most odd pairs.

Friends of Imtiaz Ali and Serena never thought the two complete opposites could ever meet, talk and fall in love. They were proved wrong…by Cupid. The two oddballs not only met and talked but also fell in deep love.

Their scandalized friends vowed never to judge people on the basis of the externals. They had anticipated pure hatred and repulsion. Instead, love blossomed. It is like snow falling in Dubai, remarked a surprised friend.

It was.

This is how it happened. Love in most unlikely combination.

The consensus was that Imtiaz Ali was of no good and a born drifter but what was not generally known about this tall and wiry post-graduate student of history in the Nagpur University was his sheer perseverance: Once Ali decided to follow his heart, there was no stopping the maverick actor. This trait was known to Ravi Kant Desai, a close friend of Ali. And he made Ali do an impossible task by campus standards—seduce Serena. If you are searching for motive, Desai was brutally rejected by the lady and public humiliation was part of her famous arsenal. Desai was naturally itching for a swift retribution against the arrogant beauty. The answer was Ali.

Have you submitted yours yet?

Introducing the judge for LNKB Contest: Anil Menon

Anil Menon received his Ph.D. from Syracuse University in Computer Science, specializing in evolutionary computation. He spent about nine years working as a research engineer before shifting to writing fiction. His stories have appeared in a variety of magazines and anthologies including Albedo One, Apex Digest, Chiaroscuro, Interzone, Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet, New Genre, Sybil’s Garage and Strange Horizons. His short fiction has been translated into German, French, Chinese and Hebrew. In 2009, he helped organize India’s first three-week, in-residence, spec-fic writing workshop at IIT, Kanpur. His debut novel The Beast With Nine Billion Feet(Zubaan Books, India) was shortlisted for the 2010 Vodafone-Crossword Children’s Fiction Award. Currently, he is working on a second novel, and along with Vandana Singh, editing the Speculative Ramayana anthology (Zubaan Books, August 2012).  He can be reached at iam@anilmenon.com.

20 (18+2) Writers of Indian interest entering Public Domain this New Year

Every year on 1st of January, works of many authors enter the public domain world over. Public domain consists of works for which copyright has expired and anyone is free to republish, translate, extend and use them in other creative endeavors. Since the copyright laws vary all over the world, this lists varies from country to country.
In India, the copyright extends for 60 years from the date of author’s death. After that all the books published by the author during his lifetime enter the public domain. However it is difficult task to determine precisely which books are now out of copyright since there is no central place to get the required information.
Starting this year, we are making an effort to bridge this gap. Below is a list of 20 Indian authors who died in 1951 and thus their copyrights have expired as of today. We have consulted various sources for compiling this list and have provided links to available books wherever we have found them. If some information reported here is incorrect, please do let us know.
  1. Abanindranath Tagore was the principal artist of the Bengal school and the first major exponent of swadeshi values in Indian art. He was also a noted writer, particularly for children. Popularly known as ‘Aban Thakur’, his books Rajkahini, Budo Angla, Nalak, and Ksheerer Putul are landmarks in Bengali children’s literature.
  2. S. Wajed Ali was a Bengali story writer and nationalist. He wrote novels, short-stories, travelogues and essays. His books include Guldasta, Mashuker Darbar, Bhanga Banshi, Darbesher Doya, Jiboner Shilpo, Bhabishyater Bangalee, Badshahi Galpo and Galper Majlish.
  3. Nirupama Devi  was a Bengali novelist and short story writer. She wrote about a dozen novels including Annapurnar Mandir, Bidhilipi, Shyamali and Didi.
  4. Kalikrishna Bose (Swami Virajananda) was an activist in the Hindu reform movement. Born as the son of Trailokyanath Bose and Nishadkalidevi on 10 June 1873, Virajananda was the first person to join the Ramakrishna Order after the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. In 1897, he was initiated into Sanyasa by Swami Vivekananda. He is the writer of Towards the Goal Supreme, Strive to attain God and The Story of an Epoch. He was the publisher of Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda and The Life of the Swami Vivekananda, by His Eastern and Western Disciples.
  5. Jyoti Prasad Agarwala was a great Assamese playwright, songwriter, poet, writer and film maker from Assam. Jyoti Prasad Agarwala had written around 300 songs, many of which he had set to music himself. His plays include Sonit Kunwori, Karengar Ligiri, Rupalim, Nimati Konya or Rupkonwar, Sonpakhilee, Khanikar, Kanaklata, Sundarknowar and Lobhita. Jyoti Raamaayon and Luitor Paaror Agnixur are his poetry collections.
  6. Kamalananda Bhattacharya was an Assamese actor and playwright. He wrote 4 plays: Nagakowar, Avasan, Chitrangada and Savitri. He was born in Nowgong and was closely associated with Nowgong Dramatics Club.
  7. Homvati Devi was a Hindi short story writer working in Meerut. She has four story collections to her credit. They are titled Dharohar, Swapanbhang, Apna Ghar and Gote Ki Topi. She also wrote two poetry collections, Udgaar and Ardhi.
  8. Cattamanchi Ramalinga Reddy OM, also popularly known as Sir C.R. Reddy, was an educationist and political thinker, essayist and economist, and poet and literary critic. He wrote his works in Telugu and English, which reveal his deep love and learning of classics as well as modernity of his outlook. Reddy was the foremost educationalist who played a major role in shaping the educational policy in India. He was also the recipient of Knighthood by the British crown in honour of his service to the country. He was the founder of Andhra University and also served as its Vice-Chancellor from 1926 to 1931 and in a further second term from 1936 to 1949. His noted works are Arthashastra and Vijnana Chandrika series.
  9. Varyar Eruvayil Chakrapani was a noted Malayalam scholar. He is famous for writing musicals which were popular at that time. His major works are Ganasamghatitamaya Harishchandra Charitam (Harishchandra’s Story), Sangitasakuntalam (Shakuntala – A Musical Play) , Sangitsamghatitamaya Rugmangadacharitam Bhashanatkam (Rugmangada’s Story) and Madhvisekharam Bhashabhanam (Madhvisekharam – A Bhan in Malayalam)
  10. Sikkim Mahinda, commonly known as S. Mahinda, was a Buddhist monk from the state of Sikkim. He was a poet and author, and participated in the Sri Lankan independence movement. Although he was from Sikkim, he identified himself as a Tibetan, presumably because it was more well known in Ceylon. S. Mahinda arrived in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) at a young age and was ordained as a Buddhist monk. Having learned the Sinhala language, he became a poet, creating several literary works inspiring patriotism among the Ceylonese and urging them to fight for their freedom. He is now considered a national hero of Sri Lanka. He has written over 40 books, most of them poems inspiring patriotism. He also wrote a lot for children. His first book was Ova Muthu Dama. His final book is believed to be Sri Pada. His most famous works include Nidahase Dehena, Nidahase Manthraya, Lanka Matha, Jathika Thotilla, Ada Lak Mawage Puttu, Nidahasa, Videshikayakugen Lak Mawata Namaskarayak and Sinhala Jathiya.
  11. Maulana Hasrat Mohani was a romantic poet of Urdu language, journalist, politician, parliamentarian and a fearless freedom fighter of Indian Sub-continent . His real name was Syed Fazl ul Hasan. He was born in 1875 at Mohan in Unnao district of U.P. India. A few of his books are Kulliyat-e-Hasrat Mohani (Collection of Hasrat Mohani’s poetry), Sharh-e-Kalam-e-Ghalib (Explanation of Ghalib’s poetry), Nukaat-e-Sukhan (Important aspects of poetry), Mushahidaat-e-Zindaan (Observations in Prison), etc. He is the writer of the Ghazal “Chupke Chupke raat din” made popular by Ghulam Ali’s rendition of it. Also, the famous slogan of Indian freedom fighters Inquilab Zindabad was coined by him.
  12. Seemab Akbarabadi, born Aashiq Hussain Siddiqui, was a renowned Urdu poet belonging to the Daagh School. He hailed from Agra where his family had lived for nearly three hundred years. His important works include Naistan, Ilhaam-e-manzoom, Kaar-e-imroz, Kaleem-e-ajam, Dastur-ul-islah, Saaz-o-aahang, Krishna Gita, Aalam Aashool, Sadrah almantaha, Sher-e-inqlaab, Loh-e-mahfooz and Wahi -e – manzoom.
  13. Arzu Lakhnavi Sayyed Anwar Hussain was a poet, dramatist and film writer. He was primarily famous for his ghazals. Some noted collections are Fughan-e-Arzu, Jahan-e-Arzu, Nishan-e-Arzu, Surili Bansri and Mizan-ul-Huruf. He also wrote a highly esteemed grammar of Urdu language called Nizam-i-Urdu. (Taken from The Encyclopedia of Indian Literature by Amresh Dutta)
  14. Abu Said Bazmi
  15. Mian Abdul Aziz
  16. Maulavi Mahesh Prasad
  17. Mirza Mohammad Askari
  18. Tajvar Najibabadi

The work of following two writers would have gone out of copyright if they were published during their life time. But since they were published post-posthumously, we have to wait for 60 years from the date of publication for them to go out of copyright.

  1. Advaita Mallabarmana was a Bengali writer born near the Titas River in the Brahmanbaria District of Bengal. He is famous for his novel Titash Ekti Nadir Naam (English: A River Called Titash) which was published five years after his death.
  2. Bahinabai Chaudhari was a noted Marathi poetess. Though Bahinabai was totally illiterate, she was an accomplished poetess. She verbally composed her poems in ovi (ओवी) metre, and her son Sopandev Chaudhari wrote them down on paper. Her poems in Leva Ganboli language reflected her minute observations of nature and human life around her. They displayed her sense of subtle humor and much wisdom. The poems were published by G. P. Parchure Prakashan Mandir, Mumbai under the title Bahinaichi Gani in 1952.

Here are an assorted set of links we discovered for the books of these authors. Some are available for purchase, some for free download.

  1. Abanindranath Tagore
    1. Bengali Children’s Books at Flipkart
    2. English Translations of Books (Not out of copyright)
  2. Kalikrishna Bose (Swami Virajananda)
    1. Books on Flipkart
    2. Books on Vedanta Press
    3. Downloads on Vivekananda.net
  3. Cattamanchi Ramalinga Reddy OM
    1. Downloads on archive.org
  4. Maulana Hasrat Mohani
    1. Kulliyat-e-Hasrat Mohani, Selected Poems in English with Translation (himself), Mushahidat-e-Zindaan for download on Hasrat Mohani Trust Website. More information available on the website.
    2. Books on Abebooks
    3. The famous Ghazal, Chupke Chupke Raat Din Aansoon Bahana Yaad Hai
  5. Tajvar Najibabadi
    1. Downloads on archive.org

If you have links to any other work of theirs for download or for purchase, please leave a comment. And yes – you are now free to digitize their out of copyright works in India! 🙂


Pothi.com Books: Biographies & Memoirs

Letting Go of My Father’s Soul – Rajan Prasad Pradhan

Letting Go of My Father's Soul - CoverThis is a touching memoir that evokes certain emotions to those who choose to read it. It acquaints the reader with the harsh reality of loosing one’s parent. The author has portrayed his feellings as diary entries written over a couple of years. He has included several quotes and references from great people and books like the Gita. The language is simple yet very deep. There are many realistic references to occurences that manifest the honesty with which the author wishes to deal with his grief and convey his innermost feelings to the readers through this book.

My Experiences in Uniform – Dinesh Hukmani

My Experiences in Uniform - CoverThis biography is an interesting account of the author’s experience as a soldier. It gives some useful information to those who wish to join the Indian Defence Forces. The sense of patriotism is encouraging and most welcome in these changing times. The book is written in a simple language making it more realistic and akin to anyone who can relate to the army. The manuscript is descriptive making the reader feel like he was there in person. The emotions and feelings one goes through as a soldier are well portrayed.

Journey Down The Memory Lane – Chander Mohan

Journey Down The Memory Lane - CoverThis biography is the portrayal of the writer’s life. It gives us an insight in to the pre independent India, its people and their struggle. The book is very detailed and descriptive. The author’s journey is not only interesting but also informative. A lot has been written about the India just before and just after its freedom. The soceity, the culture, the life per se is well explained giving the reader a fair understanding of the India that was. Albeit the book is written entirely from the author’s perspective, it can surely be considered as a good reference to anyone who wants to learn more about the nation.

A Witness to Terror – Dinesh Hukmani

A Witness to Terror - CoverThe author has researched in depth and written a book that provides the reader with some fine details that may have been overlooked by the mass media. The person wise account of the witnesses is commendable and shows that the author has taken a lot of efforts to put them together. This book certainly deserves a read if one is curious about what exactly happened on that 2008 November night. It also serves as an genuine tribute to those who lost their lives or the lives of their near and dear ones and most importantly to those who saw it all and escaped death by a cat’s whisker – by the grace of God.

Bangalore Book Festival 2011

Bangalore Book FesitvalPothi.com will participate in Bangalore Book Festival 2011, which is being held from November 18-27, 2011. All the books that are in Extended Online Distribution will be taken to the festival.

If you are an author, who wants to participate and has not ordered the Extended Online Distribution yet, please do so before October 31, 2011.

If your books are published using Print on Demand at Pothi.com, please check out the details of Extended Online Distribution on our website and order according to the procedure mentioned here.

If your book has been published elsewhere, you need to first list it on our site. Then you can order Extended Online Distribution and participate in Bangalore Book Festival. The information for listing the book on Pothi.com is available in our FAQ – I have published a book of mine and already have printed copies. Can I sell these through your online store? How?

Our stall number will be known by November 15, 2011. Keep checking this space for further details.

Pothi.com Books: Short Story Collections

Tinku’s Tooth and other stories by R. Mahesh

The stories are about a little boy called Tinku and his experiences. It is written in a very simple language and certainly will appeal to children. The stories have a moral at the end which teaches the readers good things about life. The book is well written and will surely appeal to young children who may be able to read and to parents who wish to read out stories with values to their children. The collection qualifies for bedtime stories as well.

Just So Stories…  by Sibnath Mazumdar

This collection of stories is a series of tales that are relevant to various beliefs and aspects of culture. There is a message that the author is trying to manifest. The story lines are intriguing and tend to capture the interest of the reader. The language is situational and simple. The theme of the stories is captivating. The imagination of the author is well conveyed in the stories. There is a definite depiction manifested in them that educate the readers about certain aspects of some uncommon occurrences.

The Five Gems – Stories From Daddy by Narayanan P Iyer

This collection is mainly for children to read as it comes with morals that instill values in young minds. Having mentioned this, it is also a good read for adults who can relate to the child in them. The stories are rare and the inferences are special. The language is simple and would most certainly appeal to those with innocent minds. Overall, the message the author intends to give the reader is vivid and his efforts are commendable.

Book Fairs Around the World – III (August – December 2011)

Book Fairs Around the World – II (April-July 2011)

Book FairsIf you’re interested in participating in important book fairs around the world, it’s helpful to know the schedule of fairs. Here’s our final listing of international book fairs planned from August to December 2011.

  1. Bogotá International Book Fair, Bogotá, Colombia: 4—16 May 2011

    This is said to be the largest and most important cultural and industrial event in the Latin American region. Started in 1988, the fair sees visitors and participants from the Andean region, Central America, the Caribbean region and the United States. Last year, there were 90 exhibitors and 4,00,000 visitors. The fair is open to trade visitors as well as the general public. Website: http://www.feriadellibro.com (in Spanish, no English option available)

  2. Beijing International Book Fair, Beijing, China: 31 August—4 September 2011

    Started in 1986, the principle of the Beijing International Book Fair is to introduce “excellent books from around the world into China and leading Chinese books to the world”. The previous event was held in an area spread across 43,000 square metres and had 1840 exhibitors. This year, its 18th event will be held in a new venue, China International Exhibition, which is said to be more advanced, modern and user-friendly and covers 53,600 square meters. The Netherlands will be the Country of Honour. The fair is open to trade visitors and the general public. Website: http://www.bibf.net

  3. Rio de Janeiro International Book Fair, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 1—11 September 2011

    The Rio de Janeiro International Book Fair, called Bienal Do Livero Rio in Spanish, is the most important literary event in Brazil. It is held every alternate year, so the 28-year-old fair will hold its 15th event this year. The venue is the huge Riocentro, with a total floor area of 5,71,000 square metres. There are several regular events. ‘Literary Café’ conducts informal and intimate chats with international as well as Brazilian authors, where they discuss the creative process, ideas, books, genres and more. In ‘Books on the Scene,’ famous people from cinema, theatre and television are invited to read selected excerpts from the works of important Brazilian writers. The ‘Book Forest’ is set up in an imaginative setting that covers 800 square metres and offers children the opportunity of being immersed and transported by books and narratives. Another interesting and unique section is called ‘Women Only,’ where women writers, journalists and literary celebrities gather to discuss a wide variety of topics (new topics each day) from the female perspective. Unlike many other book fairs, which are formal, the Rio de Janeiro International Book Fair exudes a warm, lively and cheerful atmosphere. It is open to trade as well as the general public. Website: http://www.bienaldolivro.com.br/

  4. Göteborg Book Fair, Göteborg, Sweden: 22—25 September 2011

    The Göteborg Book Fair is said to be the biggest meeting place for the book trade in the Nordic countries. This 27th edition of the fair will be held at the Swedish Exhibition Centre with a total exhibition area of 13,257 square metres. The German language, with countries Germany, Austria and Switzerland, will be in focus. Thirty authors have been invited to participate in seminars and other programmes related to the German language theme, including Nobel Prize winner Herta Müller, Felicitas Hoppe, award-winning member of the German Academy for Language and Literature, and Austrian Doron Rabinovici. The fair will conduct activities in three sections simultaneously: a programme of seminars and events, numerous exhibition halls with related activities and special stages, and the International Rights Centre for professionals buying and selling rights. Last year, the fair saw 97,053 visitors. There were 920 exhibitors and 441 seminars. The balance is 30% trade and 70% general public. Website: http://www.bok-bibliotek.se/en/

  5. Nairobi International Book Fair, Nairobi, Kenya: 28 September—2 October 2011

    The 14th Nairobi International Book Fair, organized by the Kenya Publishers Association, will be held at the Sarit Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. The theme for the fair this year is ‘Read for Empowerment’. The website explains the theme thus: “Books, whether creative works or factual texts, serve as a reflection of the society from which the writers are drawn. It is therefore our duty to ensure that society is able to communicate effectively on issues that confront it and do so through books.” The Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature Award will be presented at the fair. Workshops and seminars are planned, as are activities for children and new writers. There will be a big book sale with heavy discounts. The fair will showcase books in various genres in their book exhibition and is open to the general public as well as to trade visitors. Website: http://www.kenyapublishers.org/nairobi_bookfair.html

  6. LIBER Madrid International Book Fair, Madrid, Spain: 5—7 October 2011

    LIBER is said to be the leading professional event of the publishing industry in Spain and Latin America and one of the most important in the world. Started in 1983, the fair is held every year, in Madrid and Barcelona alternately, so the 2010 LIBER was in Barcelona and the previous LIBER Madrid was in 2009. The Reading Promotion Awards, given to the communications media in the categories of Radio, Television and Press, is “the Liber Tribute to an institution or person in recognition of their work in favour of books”. The other awards given during the fair are the Boixareu Ginesta Award to the bookseller of the year and the Award for Promoting Reading in Public Libraries. The fair is open to trade visitors only. In 2009, there were 257 exhibitors and 20,325 visitors. The 2010 edition saw about 15,000 business visitors. Website: http://www.ifema.es/web/ferias/liber/default.html

  7. Frankfurt Book Fair, Frankfurt, Germany: 12—16 October 2011 

    The Frankfurt Book Fair, held annually in October, is the most important marketplace for books, media, rights and licences worldwide. The history of the fair dates back to the 15th century. Every year the fair sees about 7,300 exhibitors from 100 countries, and 2,99,000 visitors. The guest of honour this year is Iceland. Frankfurt SPARKS is a new section that focuses on digital publishing and looks at the union of publishing with technology and the associated opportunities, partnerships and ideas. In the outdoor area is the traditional Spiegel marquee, where readers get to spend some time with their favourite authors through readings and book signings. Apart from all the offerings at the indoor fair, the 30-year-old Art & Creativity Market outside offers visitors handicraft products like jewellery, leather goods and books made of stone from about 100 stands. The Frankfurt Book Fair is open to trade visitors as well as the general public. Website: http://www.buchmesse.de/en/fbf/

Book Review: Six Months in India – Yoga in its Original Context

Six Months in IndiaSix Months in India – Yoga in its Original Context
by Vik Vad

Type: Print Book
Genre: Biographies & Memoirs, Religion & Spirituality
Language: English
Price: Rs.350.00 + shipping

“Six Months in India – Yoga in its Original Context “ is written by Vik Vad, who teaches yoga in Austin, Texas in the US. Six Months is a blog-to-book conversion and retains its journal-like writing format. Vad, an Indian brought up in the US, comes to India to discover his roots and to learn about yoga from the place of its origin and blogs/writes about his time in India.

Quote: “Some things I want to explore for study are: reading more books on yoga and tantra; learning mantra; basic Sanskrit; exploring jyotish (astrology); doing japa (mantra repetition) to various gods and goddesses and learning what energies they represent and why; puja (ritual); pilgrimages to holy sites; and visiting with spiritual people of different backgrounds. I am also going to take in the culture and not plan things too much, just let them unfold.”

In this neat, professional-looking book, he details the Hindu customs he encounters, the culture, the filth as well as the beauty of India as he sees it, in his decidedly American way. He travels to different parts of India including Chennai (south), Nasik (west) and Agra (north) and visits cities, villages, temples and ashrams.

The author writes in such a casual, conversational manner that you can almost hear him talking.  It is a very personal book with Vad’s opinions colouring the entire tome, but one does discover some interesting information (about gods, mantra, visiting various temples, and so on). It would have been a better work if the author had compiled the content keeping in mind a readership and organised the content to flow better.

On the one hand he shows a strong hunger and respect for gods and goddesses and then, there’s a personal domestication of the gods: “Shiva’s actually a wandering yoga dude that does whatever he wants.” (Note the colloquial American “that” while referring to a person.)

He stays at the Aurobindo Ashram and recommends it thus: “The ashram seems to kind of be run by senior citizens, these people are like parents or something, but at least there’s discipline here, it’s definitely not a bunch of partying foreigners like some ashrams are.”

Sometimes the author writes in a juvenile fashion. He says “Fuck India!” when he is upset about an infected ear piercing. He then blames Indians for India’s poverty and rants about the filth and the power cuts, arranged marriages, the works. After all this, he says that now he has got all this out, he can be calm and sensible once more.

Vik Vad hates the acronym ABCD (American Born Confused Desi) but Vad is baffled by India: “It’s not that people in India are unhappy, though, or that this is really some bad place or something. If that were the case, I’d leave tomorrow and come back home. Indians are actually quite happy on the whole, in fact sometimes I think they’re actually generally happier than we are, somehow.” There is that tone of surprise, as you can see, that such a place and people can be touched by something as positive and profound as happiness.

Also, for a yoga practitioner who came to discover his Indian (Hindu) roots, he says towards the end of the book that if he could make a choice for his next birth, he’d pick the US for his birthplace and Christianity as his religion. Oh, well. But the book is a fun read, even funny in parts (“When you spend a lot of time walking near the road, at the end of the day you blow these nasty black boogers out of your nose”).

He gets sentimental about India once he returns to the US, however, and swears he will remember everyone and the kindness they showed him with gratitude.

– Hasmita Chander