So I naturally gravitated towards Two Years, Eight Months and Twenty-eight Nights by Salman Rushdie. (Hamish Hamilton), the latest book by the Master, as befits a diehard fan and one who has avidly read all the pre-release breathless prose about how Rushdie had tweaked the ancient and eternally fascinating tale of One Thousand and One Nights […]
“It’s a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you’re ready. I have this feeling now that actually no one is ever ready to do anything. There is almost no such thing as ready. There is only now. And you may as well do it now. Generally speaking, now is as good […]
A couple of months ago, on a stormy night, I packed my bags, held Boo’s leash, and boarded an auto, after walking out of a life which I thought would get better. To my dismay, the life that I had lived for a decade had just disintegrated. I was torn between taking another big leap of faith, […]
I’m back after a long break! It feels great to be blogging again but I am happy that I decided to take a break from all kinds of social networking media. It has been a refreshing two-month break from Facebook and I do not plan to return. I have had enough of people- watching and […]
I write because of an innate need to connect. I love it when someone relates to what I have written and they go, “That’s exactly how I feel!” Or shake their head and think, “Oh dear! That’s so true.” I love this unseen bond you make with the reader. It is exciting, exhilarating and addictive. Be […]
My recent posts after I moved to Chennai from America had one thing in common. Misery. Where was the hope? Where was the inspiration? It was there buried somewhere but you really had to look for it. So much for being the “enlightened” one, who dabbles in yoga, reiki and all the new age mumbo jumbo and then […]
‘I always think I should have a good discussion with you but can’t figure out..about what.’ Radhika looked up to see the man who spoke. He must have been close to 27, medium height, decent looking. She noticed his discomfort after having said those words and wondered how many times he might have rehearsed, to utter them […]
Nisha Madhulika looks like the aunt whose kitchen was your favourite haunt during your holidays. Yes, the one who had a warm, kind manner and knew how to satiate your soul’s cravings with meals that you will not find in any restaurant just because no chef can cook the way she can. She is in […]
A few weeks ago, I met author Shashi Deshpande to interview her in the wake of her resignation from the Sahitya Akademi Council. She spoke about her reasons to quit in a pragmatic, matter-of-fact way.She is not on Twitter or Facebook and unlike the best-selling authors of this generation, does not feel the need to […]
Writer’s note : This post was published first in The New Indian Express, Bengaluru on October 12 In a tranquil home that is over 35 years old but is as timelessly evocative as a piece of great literature, author and Padma Shri awardee Shashi Deshpande is nursing a cup of tea. She is grateful that the […]
Do art and religion have a connection deep enough to keep our minds calm and rooted? This is a question that has crossed my mind very often lately. The human mind is probably the most complex to decipher despite it being the supposed vessel of logical reasoning. Somehow, this very basic virtue of logical reasoning is […]
As you turn a young 82, am writing this, dear Amma, to celebrate eight decades of your life and to wish you many more years of good health, happiness and peace. To acknowledge the rich experience and wisdom that you have gained from the joys and sorrows, laughter and tears, successes and failures that came your way and […]