A(NU) Thought

Background: Varun N Rao's Spring Art Collection Suryavamshi: The Sun Kings of Rajasthan , authored by Late Abanindranath Tagore and translated by Sandipan Deb is published by Juggernaut .  The book traces the lineage of Suryavamshi dynasty based in Rajasthan. The stories, include – generations and generations of kings and their tales of protecting and ruling over their regions and people.  The author (and the translator) have woven the tales of generations with blend of human emotions such as love, ego, sacrifice, courage, anger, jealousy, fear and treachery, very common to any of us. 

 Have you ever faced writer’s block? I am sure most of us have. Not just limited to writing, but this ‘block’ troubles everyone irrespective of field, interest, and profession, at some point in life.  You could be a writer, painter, photographer, singer, film-maker, crafter, content creator, working in any profession, or just a simple human, who can think, you have certainly faced this block at one or the other point in your life. How do you overcome it? What do you do to let this block go or disappear? Do you read, write, watch your favorite shows, just talk about it to peers; or keep your work aside and focus on something else. Well, to me it feels as if this writer’s block has been consistent with me forever now. Alright, there are a few phases, when I am able to put down my thoughts on paper (and then key it in the system) and sometimes, even record them for my podcast. But I miss those days when I used to think and write so fluently that I would surprise myself. It has be...

Book : Honey, I Lost All Our Money! Author : Anil Rego Publication: CNBC TV 18 In today’s time, we believe in earning money (and a lot of it) and spending it (most of all) lavishly, unlike our parents’ generation which believed in saving for the rainy day. Most of us today are either unaware of various saving schemes and the tax benefits they provide or disinterested in pursuing it at early stages in life. When we eventually realize the importance of saving, we do so hastily by investing in schemes that we don’t understand. There is a lot of information on the internet with respect to saving money through debt and equity related instruments. Almost all the information are represented in a monotonous manner and evokes little interest among the readers.

Pic Credit:  Varun N Rao Book : Sniper’s Eye Author : Mainak Dhar Publication: 4 Hour Press “Are you sure the one whom you trust the most is worthy of it?” In midst of umpteen thrillers based on terrorism, Indo-Pak issue etc. Sniper’s Eye is a fast-paced, high on adrenaline, short and a refreshing action thriller.   I have always been a fan of this genre and never feel like putting a book down at the end of the day.   The adrenaline rush it pumps is worth missing out on your sleep for few hours. Well known writers such as Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum etc. fuelled my thirst for fast-paced, action thrillers before and Mainak Dhar is topping my list with Sniper’s Eye.

Book: Dev Saab - A journey with the legend Dev Anand Author: Vijay Kumar Publication: Notion Press   In his wonderfully articulated book, 'Dev Saab', Actor/TV Presenter/Author Vijay Kumar has chronicled his entire experience and cherishable moments with the legendary actor, Dev Anand. Vijay makes us look at Dev Anand through his eyes and takes us through his upbringing and circumstances that led him to dream of becoming an actor in Bollywood. Like million other die-hard fans of Dev Anand, he too is mesmerized by his mannerisms, charisma, style and his unparalleled acting skills that in turn fuels his acting dream.

Book: Waterboarding Author:  Bragadeesh Prasanna Publisher: Self Published Waterboarding takes you to the life of the main character, Ved, who loses a part of his memory in a bike accident. Life isn't the same anymore for Ved, as he slowly discovers what his past looked like and how he ended up in this state. Bits and pieces of information come to him through his friends and family, however it still remains a distant puzzle that cannot be solved.  If he endured physical pain to the fullest, he also has to face distant reality about loving a woman who is no longer with him and another woman who wants to be with him. Maya is from her past whom he is curious about and don't remember much about the relationship they had. Sara is the only bridge between him and his past, but memory-loss can be a manipulative tool to play with emotions and instill new memories that are unreal in order to achieve something. In this case, Ved's togetherness and love.  ...

Image Credit Book: Unlawful Justice Author: Vish Dhamija Publication: HarperCollins India This is the first book that I have read of Vish Dhamija. After reading this book, I am now tempted to go back and read all his earlier books. Vish has beautifully described the plot and moves from one scenario to another with fluid grace. His language is simple, yet it carries the weight of the story, the emotion and tension between the characters with ease. He doesn't attempt to overdo things, be it explaining the characters, or a particular scene and keeps the suspense well-hidden within the story. The book has the potential to become a Bollywood potboiler. As you read the book, the pre-murder, murder scenarios and the court-room saga becomes a visual scene inside your head and you do not want to put the book down. Not even for a moment.

Book: Letters from Kargil Author: Diksha Dwivedi Publication: Juggernaut Letters from Kargil takes you through an emotional rollercoaster where every word, every sentence leaves you tear-jerked and with a big lump in the throat. Diksha Dwivedi takes you through the lives of those brave warriors and their families who fought in the 1999 Kargil War and emerged triumphant. She beautifully balances the Kargil war narration throughout the book and the personal moments of each soldier who fought that war. Diksha lets us into her little world through various letters exchanged between her and her beloved father. She explains the fear that she, her sister and mother felt at each moment when her father was busy fighting the invading enemy at all times. The loving letters dripping in extreme affection and care, made her feel that he was not at the border but sitting next to her, sharing life lessons with her. She makes us feel the excruciating pain that she and her family had to g...