tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37929600331155583592024-03-29T08:59:28.875+05:30Musings of a Wandering Heart. . .Life's Magic...with a pinch of saltManish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.comBlogger176125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-28573217468558258992016-06-13T18:54:00.000+05:302016-06-13T18:54:16.806+05:30Diwan-e-Ghalib (1) ~ Naqsh Faryadi. . .<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-themecolor: text2;">{1.1}</span></b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">नक़्श</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">फ़रयादी</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">है</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">किस</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">की</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">शोख़ी</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">ए</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">तहरीर</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">का</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">काग़ज़ी</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">है</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">पैरहन</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">हर</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">पैकर</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">ए</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">तस्वीर</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">का<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-themecolor: text2;">{1.2}</span></b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">काव</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">काव</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">ए</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">सख़्त</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">जानीहा</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">ए</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">तंहाई</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">न</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">पूछ</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">सुबह</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">करना</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">शाम</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">का</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">लाना</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">है</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">जू</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">ए</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">शीर</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">का <span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-themecolor: text2;">{1.3}</span></b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">जज़बा</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">ए</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">बे</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">इख़्तियार</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">ए</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">शौक़</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">देखा</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">चाहिये</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">सीना</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">ए</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">शमशीर</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">से</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">बाहर</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">है</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">दम</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">शमशीर</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">का<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-themecolor: text2;">{1.4}</span></b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">आगही</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">दाम</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">ए</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">शनीदन</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">जिस</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">क़दर</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">चाहे</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">बिछाए</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">मुद्दा</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">अंक़ा</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">है</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">अपने</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">आलम</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">ए</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">तक़रीर</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">का</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-themecolor: text2;">{1.5}</span></b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">बसकि</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">हूँ</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">ग़ालिब</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">असीरी</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">में</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">भी</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">आतिश</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">ज़ेर</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">ए</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">पा</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">मू</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">ए</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">आतिश</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">दीदा</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">है</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">हलक़ा</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">मिरी</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">ज़ंजीर</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">का<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Translation, Interpretation & Analysis of the Ghazal</span></u></b><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-themecolor: text2;">{1.1}<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">नक़्श</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">फ़रयादी</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">है</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">किस</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">की</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">शोख़ी</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">-</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ए</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">तहरीर</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">का</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">काग़ज़ी</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">है</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">पैरहन</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">हर</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">पैकर</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">-</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ए</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">तस्वीर</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">का</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"><br />naqsh faryādī hai kis kī sho</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ḳ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">hī-e ta</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ḥ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">rīr kā<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">kāġhazī hai pairahan har paikar-e ta</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ṣ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">vīr kā<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Against whose mischievous writing is the impression of complainant?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Made of paper is the attire of the countenance of every image.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Notes on the Couplet<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Naqsh</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Print, Impression, Expression<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Faryādī</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-themecolor: text2;">:</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"> Pleader, Requester, Complainant <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Sho</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">ḳ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">hī:</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"> Playful, Mischievous<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Ta</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">ḥ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">rīr</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Writing <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Kāġhazī</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Made of Paper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Pairahan</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Attire, Clothes <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Paikar</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Face, Appearance, Portrait <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Ta</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">ṣ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">vīr</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Image, Picture<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This is the <i>matla </i>(first sher / couplet) of first gazal in Ghalib’s diwan, though it’s not the first one created or written by him. Ghalib’s had this knack for creating complex couplets difficult for the people to comprehend. He assumed a great pride in composing the incomprehensible couplets and basis his profound knowledge of Urdu and Persian language and it would not wrong to say that, more often than not, he succeeded in his endeavor of doing so <i>(the instant couplet is a classic example of the same; infact I read somewhere that some of the affluent urdu poets termed this first couplet of Ghalib’s diwan as meaningless as they couldn’t understand the meaning thereof while there were others who hailed it as one of the wonderfully composed verse!!)</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Literal Meaning of the Couplet<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ghalib makes a reference to a commonly prevalent practice in ancient Persian royal courts where the pleader or complainant was required to appear before the king dressed in the attire made up of paper <i>(kagazi pairahan)</i> so as to distinguish himself from the defendant. He says in first line that against whose writings (or deeds) the complainant is dressed or impersonated like this. He further remarks in second line that every face in the painting seems to be wrapped in the papery attire, making a reference that everyone here is a pleader for one reason or the other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Symbolic Meaning of the Couplet</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It’s a commonly known fact that Ghaib was never one of those staunch devotees of God and infact, he had many a times questioned the existence of the ultimate supreme and also his ways. Given his life always remained a struggle for sustenance and recognition, he mocked every living soul as the one assuming the papery attire with helpless face and pleading nature against the will of God. As against the norm of dedicating the opening verses to Almighty, the Ghalib in-turns mocks HIS way of governing and dictating the lives of the people asking against whose writings <i>(read…the will of the God)</i> all these living souls have turned pleader. He further says that wherever he looks he finds every face in the picture <i>(read…every person in the world created by God)</i> assuming the attire of paper and pleading in front of HIM for one thing or the other <i>(comparing with the age old practice in Persian royal courts where the complainants used to appear in paper attire to seek justice from the King).</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-themecolor: text2;">{1.2}</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">काव</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">-</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">काव</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">-</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ए</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">सख़्त</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">-</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">जानीहा</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">-</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ए</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">तंहाई</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">न</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">पूछ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">सुबह</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">करना</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">शाम</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">का</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">लाना</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">है</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">जू</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">-</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ए</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">शीर</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">का</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"><br />kāv-kāv-e sa</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ḳ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ht-jānīhā-e tanhā</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ʾ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-themecolor: text2;">ī</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> nah p</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-themecolor: text2;">ū</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">chh <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ṣ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ub</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ḥ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> karnā shām kā lānā hai jū-e shīr kā<br />Don’t inquire about my forbearance of the constant hammering in isolation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">To turn the night into the day is akin to unearthing a river of milk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Notes on the Couplet<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Kāv-kāv</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Digging, Continuous beating of the stone with sharp object (axe etc.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Sa</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ḳ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ht-jānīhā:</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> State of having a 'tough life', extreme agony hard to kill<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Tanhā</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ʾ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-themecolor: text2;">ī:</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"> Solitude, Isolation, Loneliness <span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Jū-e shīr: </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">River of milk<b><u><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The second couplet of this ghazal is relatively easier to comprehend than the first one, but here too one has to read the full couplet to gaze its meaning <i>(mere reading of first line doesn’t offer anything to the inquisitive mind)</i>. Further, one should also be cognizant of the legend of Shirin – Farhaad to actually understand the intensity Ghalib has woven <i>(and that too wonderfully)</i> in his words <i>(Jū-e shīr)</i>. The legend goes as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Farhad was a stone-mason; he fell desperately in love with the princess Shirin. His helpless passion became the talk of the town. Shirin's husband, Khusrau, decided to mock him by playing a cruel joke. Khusrau invited Farhad to his court, questioned him and then promised to give him Shirin if he removed the Bestoun Mountain from its place as it was blocking a passage to the royal palace. He told Farhad that he could have Shirin if within a fixed time he could cut a channel through the Pillarless Mountain [koh-e be-sutuun] to bring milk for her bath. The sculptor, in a frenzy of passion, actually removed the mountain with his pickaxe, at which the alarmed Khusrau sent an old woman to misinform Farhad that Shirin was dead. When he heard the news, he plunged his own axe into his forehead and died.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Literal Meaning of the Couplet<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In first line of the couplet, the Ghalib says that no one can measure the depth of the misery of his grief stricken life which is constantly hammered by these moments of loneliness. Further, in second line he says that to pass the night and to bring in the morning is like bringing the river of the milk implying that amidst the moments of isolation and loneliness, the journey from night to the morning is as difficult cutting the mountain and carving out the path to bring the milk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Symbolic Meaning of the Couplet</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Here Ghalib tries to express the miseries of life saying that his existence is so much burdened with agony, turmoil and loneliness that every night the wait for the morning appears as much a daunting task as was for Farhaad to cut a channel through the mountains to bring milk for his beloved. While Farhaad did this unimaginable feat only once, for Ghalib this remains the chore of his life which he has to undergo every night. In my understanding, Ghalib also intends to express that eventually only death would be able to absolve him from his miseries, as though Farhaad successfully managed to dig the channel <i>(as does Ghalib successfully overcomes each night for the new day)</i> he could eventually find solace only in the arms of death. Ghalib has beautifully used the phrase <i>‘kāv-kāv’</i> to denote the twin struggle of him digging in the web of life and Farhaad digging the mountains.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-themecolor: text2;">{1.3}</span></b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">जज़बा</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">-</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ए</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">बे</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">-</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">इख़्तियार</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">-</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ए</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">शौक़</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">देखा</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">चाहिये</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">सीना</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">-</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ए</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">शमशीर</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">से</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">बाहर</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">है</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">दम</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">शमशीर</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">का<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">jażbah-e be-i</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ḳ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">htiyār-e shauq dekhā chāhiye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">sīnah-e shamshīr se bāhar hai dam shamshīr kā<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">See the spirit of my uncontrollable desires <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Causing the edge of the sword unfurling from its sheath<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Notes on the Couplet<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Jażbah: </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Passion, Determination, Spirit, Desire<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Shauq: </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Zeal, Enthusiasm<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">I</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ḳ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">htiyār: </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Authority, Power, Control</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Shamshīr: </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Sword</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Dam: </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Breath, Blood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Literal Meaning of the Couplet<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In first line of the couplet, the Ghalib remarks that the spirit of his desires and wants, which are now beyond his control, is worth seeing as they exhibit the strong vividness. He further says in second line that these desires are so strong that they are now causing the sword to come out of its cover to end them to avoid further tribulation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Symbolic Meaning of the Couplet</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ghalib, yet again, demonstrate his un-satiated life which is brimming with unfulfilled wants and unquenched desires which are so intense that these are now beyond his control or authority. To denote their intensity, he makes a reference to the sword which has come out of his cover to slay him to end all his desires. In alternate inference, the couplets aim to reflect the sentiments of the yearning lover whose desire to attain the martyrdom is so intense that even the sword, itself, has come out to grant his wish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The remarkable feature of this couplet is the usage of word ‘Dam’ which denotes the twin meaning of power of the sword and also the breath of the protagonist. Similarly the word ‘Shamshīr <i>(Sword)</i>’ also seem to convey a twin notion of sword and of the expression of the zeal of the protagonist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">आगही</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">दाम</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">-</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ए</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">शनीदन</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">जिस</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">क़दर</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">चाहे</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">बिछाए</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">मुद्दा</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">अंक़ा</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">है</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">अपने</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">आलम</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">-</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ए</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">तक़रीर</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">का</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span></span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"><br />āgahī dām-e shanīdan jis qadar chāhe bichhā</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ʾ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">e<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">mudda</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ʿ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-themecolor: text2;">ā</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ʿ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">anq</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-themecolor: text2;">ā</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> hai apne </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ʿ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-themecolor: text2;">ā</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">lam-e taqrīr kā<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">No matter how much the intelligence lay its trap to listen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">The meaning of my words is non-existent like that bird (anqa)</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Notes on the Couplet<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Agahī: Knowledge, Intelligence, Awareness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Dāam: Net, Trap<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Shanīdan: To hear, To listen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Muddaʿā: Whatever is meant, Matter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Anqā: Legendry bird which doesn’t exist (unicorn)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Alam: World, Universe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Taqrīr: Speech, Discourse<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Another trait of Ghalib was that he always had the highest regard for his writing, which he considered is not in everyone’s might to comprehend. The above verses seem to get its weight from the similar notion. Further, reference to ‘Anqa’ which means an imaginary bird like Unicorn is also made to further strengthen this notion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">ʿ</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">anq</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">ā</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> (the mythical bird in Persian and Urdu literature characterized solely by its unlocatability) has a parallel in the Western tradition: the black swan. The Roman poet Juvenal wrote in despair of finding a wife with all the right qualities that such a woman is “rara avis in terris, nigroque simillima cygno” (in this world a rare bird, very much like a black swan). In his time and for most of the next two millennia, the black swan was presumed by Europeans not to exist. Indeed, “all swans are white” had long been a favorite postulate in philosophy. When black swans were finally discovered in Australia in 1697, many people thought for years afterwards that it was a hoax.*<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">* Sourced from the internet</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Literal Meaning of the Couplet<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In the first line of the couplet, the Ghalib challenges the intelligence to make as much effort as it can and to spread its net in whatsoever manner to understand the meaning of his words. He further goes, in second line, that come what may, his words would remain incomprehensible and non-existent & would not be caught in the net just like that bird which exist but doesn’t exist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Symbolic Meaning of the Couplet</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As mentioned above, Ghalib has this knack of composing the difficult of the verses which the normal Urdu poets of his time were not able to comprehend. His habit seems to arise from the anger within <i>(or may I say the frustration)</i> on the self-proclaimed intellectual lot who were too gifted to understand the worth of his words. In one of the anecdote when he was invited to a mushaira at the court of Bahadur Shah Zafar, he recites this gazal and gets no ‘<i>daad</i>’ <i>(appreciation, which is a common way to acknowledge the poet’s work)</i> as none present there could understand its meaning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Thus Ghalib actually seem to ridicule the wisdom and knowledge of the poets of his times that howsoever their intellect try to comprehend the meaning of his words, the true meaning thereof will elude their trap just like the imaginary bird eludes the trap laid to catch him <i>(in that sense this actually is a snide comment from him to his critics and contemporaries).</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-themecolor: text2;">{1.5}</span></b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">बसकि</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">हूँ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ग़ालिब</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">असीरी</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">में</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">भी</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">आतिश</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ज़ेर</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">-</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ए</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">पा</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">मू</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">-</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ए</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">आतिश</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">-</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">दीदा</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">है</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">हलक़ा</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">मिरी</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ज़ंजीर</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">का</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span></span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;"><br />baskih hūñ ġhālib asīrī meñ bhī ātish zer-e pā<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">mū-e ātish-dīdah hai </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">ḥ</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">alqah mirī zanjīr kā<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Although in captivity, there is still fire underneath my feet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">The chains that bind me are the rings of the damaged (roasted) hair<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Notes on the Couplet<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Baskih:</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Although, Whereas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Asīrī:</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Imprisonment, Captivity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Atish: </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Fire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Zer-e pā:</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Under the feet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Mū-e atish:</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> hair damages (roasted) by the heat <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Dīdah:</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Meeting, Encounter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Halqah:</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Ring, Curls<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This is another difficult but beautiful composition of Ghalib to end this gazal…Maqtaa – the concluding verse. The peculiar point in this one is the comparison of the chains binding the poet with the strands of hair which are damaged with heat / fire. The moment a strand of hair comes in contact with the heat it curls within forming circles and rings, resembling the concatenations of a chain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Literal Meaning of the Couplet<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In first verse, the Ghalib says that although he is in captive bondage of the life there is a constant fire burning under his feet which is making him restless and uneasy. He further says that the chains that are binding me are like the rings of roasted hair – weak in strength, binding but incapable to hold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Symbolic Meaning of the Couplet</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The final verse <i>(or Maqta)</i> of this ghazal makes Ghalib ponder of the bondages and shackles of the life. He remarks that even though he is bonded by the shackles and imprisoned in the captive bondage of life, he retains his restlessness as if there is a constant fire burning under his feet. Just as fire under one’s feet keeps him restless and jumping, the poet’s desires within in keep him bustle despite the shackles. Further, the intensity of his desires and passion can be ascertained by the fact that due to that constant bustle, the chains that bind him appear as weak as curls of the hair damaged by the heat. Alternatively, Ghalib says that no bondage or captivation can restrain him as even in the captivity, his impatience and passion smolders causing his chains to weaken like half burnt hairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">What is interesting to note here is the <i>(again)</i> the twin attribute of the word ‘Aatish <i>(Fire)</i>’ – One, the ever burning desires is keeping the poet restless just like fire beneath his feet & Second, due to this restlessness the shackles around him have grown so weak like hair strands damaged by the heat of the fire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So that was it from the Ghalib’s Diwan for the time being, I will be back again pulling out another gem from the legend’s compilation<i> “. . .</i></span></b> <b><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">kehte haiN ki 'GHalib' ka hai andaaz-e-bayaaN aur”</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Do drop in your comment, feedback or suggestion below </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">~Shubh Life . . . Om Sai Ram<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">© 2016 Manish Purohit (Reserved)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they does manage to form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you </span></i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-62190544884104719422016-06-04T17:51:00.002+05:302016-06-04T17:51:37.098+05:30Diwan-e-Ghalib ~ The Curtain Raiser. . .<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Curtain Raiser - Diwan-e-Ghalib</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">Ghalib, the man and his time were unique in the sense that none could endure the supremacy of the other and there always exist a silent but stiff competition amongst them to outpace each other. While the time surely succeeded in keeping its domination during the major part of his life when the success and recognition elude him, Ghalib managed to stay afloat thereafter as he still remains alive from the versatile verses he left for generations to come. I have written a detailed six-part series on </span><a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2015/05/mirza-ghalib-1.html" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;" target="_blank">the life of the Ghalib</a><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">, which attempts to explore his life and enduring.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Mirza Asadullah Beg Khan ‘Ghalib’ (1797-1869) was a person par excellence. It seems he was destined to be the legend with exceptional command over the languages (Persian and Urdu) and incomparable caliber of composing some of the best verses ever written in the history of literature. It was unfortunate, though, that through-out his life he was, more often than not, on the receiving end. He lost his father at a very young age followed by the loss of his uncle and his seven infant children further followed by two of his adopted sons and later his only brother. As if losing his father, uncle and all his children wasn’t enough, Ghalib found himself into the middle of the serious financial mess after the British stopped his hereditary pension. His struggles with the life continued through-out his tenor and he struggled for sustenance and due recognition. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Ghalib has always been referred to as difficulty loving poet and from whatever little I had read, in his work the traces of dejected life and obsession for death can be easily found. The trajectory of his life very clearly portrays the cause behind his obsession for death. And the more one dwells in it, the more acquainted he becomes of the spiritual aspect of his writings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Read the six-part series on Ghalib here:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Mirza Ghalib Series (All Parts): </span></b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2015/05/mirza-ghalib-1.html" target="_blank">Part (1)</a> │ <a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2015/05/mirza-ghalib-2.html" target="_blank">Part (2)</a> │ <a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2015/06/mirza-ghalib-3.html" target="_blank">Part (3)</a> </span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">│ </span><a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2015/06/mirza-ghalib-4.html" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Part (4)</a> <span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;">│ </span><a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.com/2015/06/mirza-ghalib-518.html" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Part (5)</a> <span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">│ <a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2015/06/mirza-ghalib-6.html">Part (6)</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Ever since I wrote about Ghalib and his life earlier, I had made up my mind to explore further of him by reading through his compilation of ghazals – the Diwan-e-Ghalib. And as expected the procrastination habit took over and the Ghalib’s diwan kept awaiting my acquaintance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Ghalib’s compilation Diwan-e-Ghalib is an assortment of the ghazals by the maestro, the initial version of which was compiled by the legend himself. Ghalib was the perfectionist in the truest of the sense, he was especially a harsh judge of his own composition. While compiling his ‘diwan’, he mercilessly discarded more than 2000 verses which he regarded as sub-standard and not up to the mark. Initially, Ghalib wrote largely in Persian and less in Urdu but later when he found that the takers of Persian couplets were far less, he switched to Urdu for composing his verses. In one of the letters to his friend, he is said to have admitted that the verses composed by him between the age of fifteen and twenty-five were actually abstruse, something which made him discard most of them retaining only a few for his diwan. The first edition of his Urdu diwan was compiled in 1821.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Diwan-e-Ghalib has about 235 ghazals ranging from shortest of them which is one verse long and longest which is seventeen verses long. In many earlier ghazals, Ghalib used the pen-name of ‘Asad’. However, when he discovered that another poet was already using it and composing sub-standard verses, he changed over to ‘Ghalib’. Both pen-names thus appear in the divan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Ghalib never worked or lived for a livelihood, all he aspired and craved for was the recognition of his work and the grant of status which he so rightly deserved. But blame it on the reputation he carried with himself or the equation he had with his counterparts or his reckless attitude or simply his fate, he never received the praise, honour and recognition due to him during his life time. He had himself remarked during his lifetime that although his age had ignored his greatness, it would be recognized by later generations... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">शुहरत</span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">-</span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">ए</span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">-</span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">शैराम</span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">बगीति</span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">बाद</span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">-</span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">ए</span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">-</span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">मन</span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">ख्वाहिद</span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">सूदन</span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">(Shuhrat-e-shaeram bageeti baad-e-man khwahid shudan)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">(The renown of my verse will come after I am gone)</span></i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">His words came true and the fame, recognition and praise did come to him posthumously and it came in what an astounding fashion!!!</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">So come . . . let us start our journey to Ghalib’s Diwan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Let the curtain rise from the "Andaz-e-Bayan" of Ghalib and let the spell of enchantment begin . . . as the magic unveils soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">~Shubh Life . . . Om Sai Ram<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">© 2016 Manish Purohit (Reserved)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they does manage to form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-37961577745649377822016-05-30T23:02:00.000+05:302016-05-30T23:02:38.027+05:30Book Review: Wings of Fire by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Book Review: Wings of Fire by Abdul Kalam</span></td></tr>
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<b style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Book
Details. . .</span></b><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Title</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Wings of Fire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Author</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: A.P.J. Abdul Kalam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Genre: </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Non Fiction<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Publisher</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Universities Press; 1st edition (1999)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">ISBN-10:</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"> 8173711461 (ISBN-13: 978-8173711466)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Pages</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: 180 Pages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rating</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">: 3.5/5</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Behind The Book. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, the son of a
little-educated boat-owner in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, had an unparalleled
career as a defence scientist, culminating in the highest civilian award of
India, the Bharat Ratna. As chief of the country's defence research and
development programme, Kalam demonstrated the great potential for dynamism and
innovation that existed in seemingly moribund research establishments. This is
the story of Kalam's rise from obscurity and his personal and professional
struggles, as well as the story of Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Trishul and
Nag-missiles that have become household names in India and that have raised the
nation to the level of a missile power of international reckoning. This is also
the saga of independent India's struggle for technological self-sufficiency and
defensive autonomy-a story as much about politics, domestic and international,
as it is about science.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Book
Synopsis. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The mere reference to
A.P.J Abdul Kalam fills our heart with utmost honor and admiration. He surely
was respect personified. Just like the lotus doesn’t get stained by the mud
marks despite being blossomed therein, Dr. Kalam managed to grace the canvas of
Indian polity with his simplicity and elegance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">‘Wings of Fire’ is portrayed
as an autobiographical account of the events of Kalam which evolved him to the
person he is (or rather was) today. </span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Avul
Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born to a Tamil family in Rameshwaram. He
inherited the humility and simplicity from his parents, who from his early age
ensured that all pearls of wisdom for ‘simple living and high thinking’ were
imbibed in him right from his childhood. They lived in their ancestral house
which was devoid of any luxuries but took care of all necessities of life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">He traces his early
childhood years when he grew amidst the religion harmony amongst Hindus and
Muslims devoid of any religion differentiation. He </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">worshiped</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> Allah in the
mosque in the same way as he bowed to Shiva in the temple; his bedside stories
included as much tales of Prophet as did the stories from Ramayana. He completed
his initial schooling from Rameshwaram and then moved to Ramanathapuram for
further studies in school and Trichi for doing his graduation. Post his
graduation he got selected in Madras Institute of Technology (MIT).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">The book is divided into
four main sections viz. </span></span><b style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; line-height: 150%;">Orientation</b><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">
(which traces his early years from birth in 1931 to his qualification &
appointment at Directorate of Technical Development and Production (DTDP) at
the Ministry of </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">Defense</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> in Delhi in 1963), </span></span><b style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; line-height: 150%;">Creation</b><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">
(which traces his formative years from 1963 when he went on a six months
training to NASA work centre to his professional evolution layer by layer which
earned him the prestigious Padma Bhushan award in 1981), </span></span><b style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; line-height: 150%;">Propitiation</b><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> (covering his later years in the job from 1981 to 1991
which saw him overcoming the hurdles and challenges in his professional and
personal life and becoming the “Missile Man of India” with the development of
five missiles – Prithvi, Trishul, Akash, Nag and Agni. This section also has
his un-parallel wisdom on leadership and team management) and the last one </span></span><b style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; line-height: 150%;">Contemplation</b><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> (which traces his outer
years from the 1991 till the end of the decade).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Who were the people who
influenced the early years of the young Kalam? Who helped Kalam to pursue the
engineering from MIT despite high fees which he couldn’t afford? Which was
Kalam’s dearest dream which he couldn’t realize before he turned to become the
Missile Man of India? How did Prof. Vikram Sarabhai shape Kalam’s vision and
thinking?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Grab a copy of the book
to unearth the answers to above and experience the snippets from the life of
most loved President of the Republic of India.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My Thoughts.
. .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">“We are all born with a divine fire in us. Our efforts should be
to give wings to this fire and fill the world with the glow of its goodness.”</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Despite all the outcries
and qualms, India is surely a unique country where even a dirt poor boy from a
remote village can become the President, the one which remains the most loved head
of the state in recent times. But this book isn’t about his presidential tenor
but about a boy from a humble beginning who worked hard to carve out a niche
for himself in the rocket dynamics and later making it large in life to become
eligible for the most esteemed position of the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">‘Wings of Fire’ hailed
as the autobiography of Mr. Abdul Kalam is actually a bit more than that. In
addition to provide a deep narration to the events of Kalam’s life, it advocates
and portrays his vision and guidance to the youth of India encompassing his discourse
on the inspirational leadership and collaborative people management. The
chronicles of his stimulating journey emitting brighter rays of success through
the darker clouds of failures and multiple shades of disappointments implants the
sapling of hope to the ailing heart. ‘Forget the failure and search instead for
the true purpose of your existence…surrender yourself to the will of God’, is
what is the gist of Kalam’s advise to the young blood – an important point
being put forward is ‘Believe in yourself and also on HIS inscrutable ways!!!’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The book takes off brilliantly
with the backdrop of Kalam’s village in Rameshwaram providing glimpse of the
time and the people shaping his childhood. It’s really interesting to read
about the religious harmony and cohesiveness amongst people during those days.
Consider this, <i>“The high priest of
Rameswaram temple, Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry, was a very close friend of my
father’s. One of the most vivid memories of my early childhood is of the two
men, each in his traditional attire, discussing spiritual matters.”</i> The
anecdotes which Kalam gives to reflect his early childhood days truly forms one
of the best part of the book revealing to the readers focal point of all the
humility and virtue he possessed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">It is rich in
motivational texture filled with nuggets of positive thinking citing examples
from his own life. There were times when the disappointment and failures bogged
down even someone like Kalam exposing him to risk of breaking down and falling
back. Just when, he was about to collapse, someone or the other was there by his
side to instill confidence and fighting spirit in him which propelled and launched
him with greater intensity towards the success. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Another great thing
which the book does is that it brings forth the contribution of innumerable
silent souls who toil night and day to put India on the high pedestal in the
map of world powers. These unsung heroes spend a major portion of their lives
placing at times the families and relations at the back burner for the
achievement of the sole objective of making India independent and comparable of
the world’s powerful nations. Kalam, in all humility, pays ode to all those
hands which came together for the launch of SLV 3, creation of RCI, Prithvi,
Agni etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The assorted pictures
from his life encompassing various facets and moods add multifold to the charm
of reading. The book reveals multi-dimensional personality of Mr. A.P.J Abdul
Kalam – Kalam, the Scholar; Kalam, the Scientist; Kalam, the Manager; Kalam,
the Leader; Kalam – the Learner and not to forget…Kalam, the Poet. The last one
did actually sweep me off completely for Mr. President did came across as an
eloquent and contemplating poet. The below mentioned powerful verses will vouch
my statement…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">For all your days prepare<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">And meet them ever alike<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">When you are the anvil, bear<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">When you are the hammer, strike</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">While the book has
indeed a lot of positives to offer to the reader, at some junctures it become a
bit more scientific in representation which might break the flow of a normal
reader. I mean while detailing on the professional stint of Kalam, the books
transform like a manual on evolution map of India on the nuclear map enriched
with scientific terminology and milestone…something which might disconnect the
reader from the overall context. Further, some more insights on the personal
life of Mr. Kalam and his people would surely have done wonders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The cover page of the
book shows Mr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam in a contemplative mood. The title of the book
‘Wings of Fire’ perfectly gels with the overall setting of the book which aims
to provide inspiration and motivation to the youth to expand and fly high. The
printing, font and word spacing are decent enough to grant reader a comfortable
read.</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Final
Word. . .</span></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">‘If you want to leave your footprints on the sands of time, do not
drag your feet…’</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"> Wings of Fire do manage to fill your heart with positivity and
hope, scoring high on the simplicity and motivational quotient. It is a ‘straight
from the heart’ offering from the country’s most loved Head of the State embodying
his learning and wisdom from the years and years of hard work, failure and
struggle. Multi facets of Mr. Kalam’s personality and ideology will surely increase
your respect for him multifold…Respect!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Read this book for
rekindling your dreams and adding fuel to their wings to let them expand and fly
in the world of possibilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rating: 3.5/5</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Five
Favorite Quotes. . .</span></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 6.65in;" valign="top" width="638">
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I sat alone for a while in silent
contemplation. The sand and shells of Rameswaram, the care of Iyadurai
Solomon in Ramanathapuram, the guidance of Rev. Father Sequeira in Trichi and
Prof. Pandalai in Madras, the encouragement of Dr Mediratta in Bangalore, the
hovercraft ride with Prof. Menon, the pre-dawn visit to the Tilpat Range with
Prof. Sarabhai, the healing touch of Dr Brahm Prakash on the day of the SLV-3
failure, the national jubilation on the SLV-3 launch, Madam Gandhi's
appreciative smile, the post-SLV-3 simmering at VSSC, Dr Ramanna's faith in
inviting me to DRDO, the IGMDP, the creation of RCI, Prithvi, Agni...a flood
of memories swept over me. Where were all these men now? My father, Prof.
Sarabhai, Dr Brahm Prakash? I wished I could meet them and share my joy with
them. I felt the paternal forces of heaven and the maternal and cosmic forces
of nature embrace me as parents would hug their long-lost child. I scribbled
in my diary: Away! fond thoughts, and vex my soul no more! Work claimed my
wakeful nights, my busy days Albeit brought memories of Rameswaram shore Yet
haunt my dreaming gaze!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The trouble is that we often
merely analyse life instead of dealing with it. People dissect their failures
for causes and effects, but seldom deal with them and gain experience to
master them and thereby avoid their recurrence. This is my belief: that
through difficulties and problems God gives us the opportunity to grow. So
when your hopes and dreams and goals are dashed, search among the wreckage,
you may find a golden opportunity hidden in the ruins.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">My father had always reminded me
of the legendary Abou Ben Adhem who, waking one night from a deep dream of
peace, saw an angel writing in a book of gold the names of those who love the
Lord. Abou asked the Angel if his own name was on the list. The Angel replied
in the negative. Disappointed but still cheerful, Abou said, "Write my
name down as one that loves his fellowmen". The angel wrote, and
vanished. The next night, it came again with a great wakening light, and
showed the names of those whom the love of God had blessed. And Abou's name
was the first on the list.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Stage I performed to perfection.
There was a smooth transition from this stage to the second stage. We were
spellbound to see our hopes flying in the form of the SLV-3. Suddenly, the
spell was broken. The second stage went out of control. The flight was
terminated after 317 seconds and the vehicle's remains, including my
favourite fourth stage with the payload splashed into the sea, 560 km off
Sriharikota. The incident caused us profound disappointment. I felt a strange
mix of anger and frustration. Suddenly, I felt my legs become so stiff that
they ached. The problem was not with my body; some-thing was happening in my
mind. The premature death of my hovercraft Nandi, the abandoning of the RATO,
the abortion of the SLV-Diamont fourth stage—all came alive in a flash, like
a long-buried Phoenix rising from its ashes.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">What makes life in Indian
organizations difficult is the widespread prevalence of this very
contemptuous pride. It stops us from listening to our juniors, subordinates
and people down the line. You cannot expect a person to deliver results if
you humiliate him, nor can you expect him to be creative if you abuse him or
despise him. The line between firmness and harshness, between strong
leadership and bullying, between discipline and vindictiveness is very fine,
but it has to be drawn. Unfortunately, the only line prominently drawn in our
country today is between the 'heroes' and the 'zeros'. On one side are a few
hundred 'heroes' keeping nine hundred and fifty million people down on the
other side. This situation has to be changed.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">About the Author. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">APJ Abdul Kalam is one
of India’s most distinguished scientists. He served as the 11th President of
India, between 2002 and 2007. He was fondly referred to as “The People’s
President” during his term. He has honorary doctorates from over thirty
universities and is the recipient of the country’s three highest civilian
awards – the Padma Bhushan, the Padma Vibhushan and the Bharat Ratna.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Arun Tiwari rose to fame
as an author with his book Wings of Fire, which he co-authored with Dr. A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam. He's a missile scientist who worked under the guidance of Kalam.
Tiwari contributed to the design of the missiles, Akash and Trishul and is the
first Indian who designed a titanium bottle to power missiles. Apart from this,
Tiwari has been the director at the Cardiovascular Technology Institute in
Hyderabad. He received the Defense Technology Spin-Off Award for developing the
Kalam-Raju stent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Where to
grab a copy. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Please click here to buy the book
from <a href="http://www.amazon.in/Wings-Fire-P-J-Abdul-Kalam/dp/8173711461?ie=UTF8&qid=&ref_=tmm_pap_swatch_0&sr=" target="_blank">Amazon</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">~ Shubh Life . . . OM Sai Ram <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">© 2016 Manish
Purohit (Reserved)</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of
the words, what remains to be seen whether they do manage to form a bridge for
you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in
the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)</span></i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" /></span></div>
Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-38607836837126178262016-05-08T17:09:00.000+05:302016-05-25T15:16:50.594+05:30Chronicles of a Solitary Soul – Ubuntu . . . I am because You are !!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7aKB4aYhnD7tMKLhdGeIm-5rSnbYkbleG67jDUahyphenhyphenSRHKyl0uQ88EQtiRZhZaeAaVge9J-ESGZ8-LrV8JTKMBdjLvVWcPh6HH7lmFSEClgLYZEq0qkw6FW1-WmnSB3-hWZnbbw79Kk4/s1600/1.+Chronicles+of+a+Solitary+Soul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7aKB4aYhnD7tMKLhdGeIm-5rSnbYkbleG67jDUahyphenhyphenSRHKyl0uQ88EQtiRZhZaeAaVge9J-ESGZ8-LrV8JTKMBdjLvVWcPh6HH7lmFSEClgLYZEq0qkw6FW1-WmnSB3-hWZnbbw79Kk4/s400/1.+Chronicles+of+a+Solitary+Soul.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Monday mornings are unique in the truest of the sense always offering the contrary admixture of emotions. While they do open door to a brand new start to life leaving aside all the grudges of the past week with a new perspective and new hopes, they also imply the end of the weekend, the most cherished part of the week . . . and no sooner do the realization of <i>‘Thank God Its Friday’</i> creeps in, the revelation of <i>‘Oh God Its Monday’</i> comes knocking – Ding Dong!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Caught in the similar web of motions and emotions, I started my routine commutation to my office with my brother. The joy of having a younger brother entitles you to the luxury of putting him in the driver’s seat with you surrendering to the adjacent seat catching those short naps with your choicest songs being played in the background – a subtle way to respond to the struggles of Monday Mornings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While dangling between the intermittent phases of sleep and awake consciousness, I was experiencing a strange phenomenon. With the sound of dying music soothing my ears, my unconsciousness self was experiencing a fall into a pit, a bottomless pit. I was going down and down and down…it was scary for sure. (Perhaps) just when I was about to hit the ground, my brother called my name to let me know that my dropping point has come. <i>‘Oh…What was that?’</i> I thought in the interim and then shrugged it away in laughter. It was not the first time I had experienced that dream. And what did that signify; I remain more clueless than ever <i>(more on this someday later…I do have this habit of digressing from the topic)</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Khair. . .</span></i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">as I walked towards my office, which was across the road at some distance, I saw one elderly man <i>(he must have been around 60-65 Years old)</i> who was pulling some cycle rickshaw on the busy Gurgaon Road. It was an old cycle rickshaw whose back was covered completely with a temporary structure in a manner that it formed a small compartment behind the rickshaw. The compartment was lavishly decorated with the pictures and imprints of Gods and deities <i>(I could see almost all the colors used in the decoration in one way or the other)</i> and carried the text </span><span style="font-family: "mangal" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">पैदल</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "mangal" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">यात्रा</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> – </span><span style="font-family: "mangal" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">सालासर</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <i>(Walkabout to Salasar, which is a holy abode of Lord Hanuman in Rajasthan)</i>. Just in front of the rickshaw, there was basket meant for keeping things wherein a mid-size idol of Sai Baba was placed – attired with red cloth Baba emitted divinity and that yellow garland added to His mystifying grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The roads in Gurgaon tend to get extremely messy during the morning hours experiencing the screeching rush of people rushing to reach office. There are cabs, privately driven cars, two wheelers, three wheelers, cycle rickshaws and lord knows what else. Each one of these appears to be running so fast and furious that it becomes a daunting task to cross the road amidst the proceedings. The commixture of roads, flyovers and subways further add to the woes. And if you are relatively new to the place, you are bound to get perplexed. The elderly man was in the similar state of impuissance as he was trying to carve out his way amidst the convulsion of traffic and limitations of the governing rules. He was lost on the one-way track, completely oblivious to the way out and needless to say the world out there was too busy in its own struggle to absolve him from his tussle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As our shadows met, his eyes shone with an acute sense of optimism. <i>‘Bhaiyaji zara raasta dikha do, yahan toh kuch bhi samajh nahi aa raha (Brother, kindly show me the way, there's lot of confusion here)’</i>, he said. While talking to him, I came to know that he was going to Salasar in Rajasthan and wanted to be directed to the road towards Jaipur. I took him along with and walked with him to the desired path. Inquisitively, as I explored him further I came to know that there was one more person with him, who was sitting in the compartment. As we walked past the flurry of cars participating in the mad cat race racing fiercely running to bog down each other, I learned that the person sitting inside the compartment is his friend and both of them regularly go to Salasar every year on foot. But this time they were on the verge of canceling the pilgrimage as his friend’s leg got fractured and he didn’t want to go alone, though his friend constantly persuaded to go and carry on his routine visit. And then he thought of about hiring the rickshaw and take his friend along with, <i>‘Itne saalo se jab saath jaa rahe hai toh ab akale gaya toh kya gaya bhaiyaji (we are going together since so many years and now what’s the point in going alone)’.</i> He smiled and thanked me for showing me the way. I smiled back and we both walked on our respective tracks…after walking few steps I stopped and went back to him and handed him my lunch and some money saying, <i>‘aap sahi kah rahe hai baauji, akele mein kya maza (You are right Sir, what’s the fun in being alone).’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As I retraced my final steps to the office, I remembered a forwarded message which I received on my WhatsApp few days back. . . I am reproducing the same below with the English translation <i>(as the one received by me was in Hindi)</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">An anthropologist in Africa was doing a study on the habits and customs of an African tribe. He decided to play a game with the children of the tribe. He got some candies and sweets and decorated a basket with these. He then placed the basket at the foot of the tree and invited the children to play a game. They all had to run a race and whosoever reached the basket first will have the whole basket of candies and sweets. The children were lined up and the signal was made for them to run and complete the feat. What happened next, surprised the anthropologist…Instead of running hard to outpace the other and win the race, the children took each other by the hand, ran together and completed the race. They divided the candies and sweets within themselves and started munching them merrily.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Surprised and astonished, the anthropologist went over to them and asked as to why they ran the race together when any one of them could have easily outpaced others, won the race and thus the whole hamper. The children responded, “Ubuntu – How can one of us be happy when all other are said.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I liked the message a lot and read & re-read that again; it stumped me every time. Was it for real and just another fictional post doing rounds on the social media? I confronted Google Baba and found that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_(philosophy)" target="_blank">Ubuntu philosophy</a> did exist <i>(couldn’t and didn’t ascertained the validity of the story above).</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As a primer for the tyros like me, Ubuntu is a philosophy that can be summed up as <i>“I am what I am because of who we all are.”</i> It is all about human kindness and cohesiveness which finds its root from one of the Bantu dialects of Africa and places thrusts on a common bond between all of us on which we and our survival depends. The more elaborated and candid peep into Ubuntu thought process comes from African Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu, <i>“One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu – the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can’t exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness. You can’t be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality – Ubuntu – you are known for your generosity. We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole World. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source <a href="http://krishk.com/2012/02/christlikeness/" target="_blank">Here</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">When I read about Ubuntu, I did </span>ponder<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> about the whole cycle of human evolution over the centuries from primates to human tribes and then the gradual transformation </span><i style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(both physical and technological)</i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> of tribes to advanced human groups and nations. While the trajectory of these transformations has always hinted towards the positive end with improvement in almost all aspect of human living, it </span><i style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(perhaps unknowingly)</i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> surely has taken us on a backward spree as far as human sentiments and emotional aspects are concerned. I remembered heaving a deep sigh that day wondering whether even the remains of such philosophy is present in today’s world amidst the civilized mass? But today when I confronted that old man, my belief in universal oneness was resurrected once again. I could beam with pride - Yes the doctrine did exist even today, though in fractured fashion but it did </span>exist<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">…And even today, ‘</span><i style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I am because You are.’</i></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">~Shubh Life . . . Om Sai Ram<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">© 2016 Manish Purohit (Reserved)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span><span lang="EN-IN"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they does manage to form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)</span></i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-74624206127675475532016-04-13T17:47:00.000+05:302016-04-13T17:47:04.691+05:30Book Review: Sai Baba is Still Alive by Jaya Wahi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Book Review: Sai Baba is Still Alive</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Book Details. . .<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Title</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Sai Baba is Still Alive<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Author</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Jaya Wahi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Genre: </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Devotional<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Publisher</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Times Group Books (2013)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">ISBN:</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">9382299483 (ISBN-13: 978-9382299486)</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Pages</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: 232 Pages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rating</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">: 3.75/5</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Behind The Book. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“… when I read about Sai Baba and all that He professed, the one thing that comes to my mind is this: Be a fakir and live in bliss.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">– Jackie Shroff<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Sai Baba Is Still Alive is a book of miracles that devotees of Sai Baba have experienced in recent times. Ranging from simple yet heart-rending experiences to astounding life-saving ones, this book affirms the victory of faith over suffering, sorrow and even death, and at the same time reinforces the faith of Baba's devotees in His Eternal Soulful Presence. Interspersed with nuggets of Baba's teachings, excerpts from His life and replete with His quotes, this book is a handbook to everyday living as well as a guide to good karma and a meaningful life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Whether you are a confirmed devotee of Baba Sai or on the path to discovering Him or simply curious, this book will delight and soothe you that in these testing times of uncertainty and stress, Sai Baba is still alive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Book Synopsis. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">In Sri Sai Satcharitra, Baba says, <i>"Believe Me, though I pass away, My bones in My tomb will give you hope and confidence. Not only Myself but My tomb would be speaking, moving and communicating with those who would surrender themselves whole-heartedly to Me. Do not be anxious that I would be absent from you. You will hear My bones speaking and discussing your welfare. But remember Me always, believe in Me heart and soul and then you will be most benefited.”</i> The book ‘Sai Baba is Still Alive’ by Jaya Wahi is a constructive testimonial to the aforesaid assurance of Baba – HE still communicates with HIS children absolving their worries and pains, the only pre-requisite is to stay patient and have faith. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The authoress starts the book by sharing her inspiration to pen down Baba’s leelas and the experience of the devotees so that people at large can be benefitted by the nectar of HIS blessings. Despite having acute inspiration and staunch will, she lacked the courage to go ahead with the venture and then Baba Himself gave her an indication and that final nudge to pursue it further through series of omen and vision in Samadhi Mandir. She also shares her first tryst with Baba and HIS <i>dhaam</i> Shirdi when despite of any plans and intentions she received the call of Baba to come to Shirdi - truly Baba’s calling as HE says, <i>“…not even the leaf of a tree cannot move without my bidding.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Apart of enumerating the personal experiences of the authoress of Baba and HIS grace <i>(which she experienced at various junctures of life)</i>, the book also dwells upon the experiences of other devotees which embodies and thrusts upon Baba’s twin principles of <i>Shradha</i> (Faith) and <i>Saburi</i> (Patience). There is an anecdote of one devotee whose sole child comes back from the jaws of death, thanks to their utmost faith on Baba and HIS words. Then there is one lady in Shirdi going through the most depressing phase of life which refused to go away and even in the hardest of the times her faith remained steadfast; and how Baba moulds her sufferings to blessings with HIS divine ways. Another one relates to a child <i>(and this happens to be one of my favorite)</i> whose sheer innocence and tenderness compelled HIM to come down to earth. And there are innumerable incidents like these in the book which not only bring solace to the reading soul but also affirm HIS teachings and HIS commitment towards HIS children and their well-being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">How does Baba still continues to cherish and benefit the lives of HIS children? How reading Baba’s stories and having faith and devotion in HIM resolves even the toughest of the worries? How does Baba’s Udi prove magical in curing even the incurable of the disease? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Grab a copy of the book to unearth the answers to above and experience HIS stories like never before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My Thoughts. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">“Sai Baba is Still Alive” has been on my reading list since long and for some strange reason, it took a bit long for me to catch hold of this gem. Guess, it was all HIS <i>leela</i> as perhaps HE wanted me to read this on some designated time and phase of my life. HIS ways are truly inscrutable and so are HIS deeds!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">I have been reading ‘Sri Sai Satcharitra’ since many years which incorporates Baba’s stories, teachings and anecdotes to enlighten HIS children even after so many years of HIS being. The book <i>(Sri Sai Satcharitra) </i>assumes greater significance as it was written during Baba’s time by Baba’s consent and infact, Baba himself wrote it through Govindrao Dabholkar <i>(whom Baba used to affectionately call ‘Hemadpant’)</i>. In this book, Baba says, <i>“Anyone who reads My stories shall be on the road to happiness and eternal contentment.” </i>And whosoever reads HIS stores can vouch the truthfulness of the above statement. “Sai Baba is Still Alive” by Jaya Wahi most aptly falls in the aforesaid category, truly leading the reader on the path of happiness and eternal contentment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The beauty of the book lies in the fact that it beautifully chronicles the gems of Sri Sai Satcharitra and weaves around them the miraculous experiences of HIS devotees, the underlying teachings and categorical interpretation of Baba’s words. The authoress has penned the whole piece from her heart and the various facets of human emotions are clearly visible in her writing. One does feel anguished and despaired while reading about the problems and worries of the fellow devotees. The feeling of anguish soon transforms into jubilance and exultancy when Baba’s divine interference absolves all worries waving away all the clouds of despair through the radiant rays of HIS divinity and grace. There are enough poignant moments in the book to give goosebumps to the reader. The immaculate writing can be adjudged from the fact that you smile, cry and long along-with while reading the book. For instance, she has beautifully crafted the experience and magic of Shirdi…each devotee will affirm and relate to the <a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/search/label/Shirdi%20Diary" target="_blank">feeling of exuberance in arrival to Shirdi</a> & the despondency and melancholy one feels when one is about to leave the place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The best outcome of reading this book is that it further strengthens and bolsters our faith lending a silent re-assurance in the heart that <i>“Don’t worry, Baba is here.”</i> I strongly believe that devotion in any form is incomplete until it is substantiated by strong faith and undying perseverance. Faith is a magical potion flowing from the heart emitting an expression of hope and positivity which goes beyond the logical and conscious mind. This book further cements devotee’s faith on Baba and sprinkles the nectar of his divine fragrance negating doubts and conflicts of the conscious mind and the sub-conscious soul. Reading HIS divine leela’s provides assurance to the yearning soul that HIS helping hand is always there over your head, just keep the flames of faith burning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">To be candid, would like to conclude my thoughts with a small confession here . . . at some junctures of the book reading at various anecdotes, I felt a deep sense of longing and yearning of having similar experiences and visions. It did made me ponder as to how blessed are those fortunate children of Baba to have experienced HIS grace and divinity in such a fashion & (more than that) how unfortunate some of the wandering souls remain to wait unceasingly for that moment of absolution!!!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The cover page of the book shows Baba’s kind face smiling silently to the devotees with unbound grace flowing from HIS divine vision. The title of the book ‘Sai Baba is Still Alive’ perfectly gels with the overall setting of the book which encapsulates Baba’s leelas and experiences, re-confirming HIS assurance to the children<i>, “Though I be no more in flesh and blood, I shall ever protect my devotees”</i>. The printing, font and word spacing are decent enough to grant reader a comfortable read.</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Final Word. . .</span></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">‘Sai Baba is Still Alive’ is a must read for all the devotees of Baba for the book (truly) is Baba’s grace personified. Even for those who are not HIS devotees, the book commands a read for the sheer pearls of wisdom it embodies in its crust. It provides a soulful experience which is soothing to the soul and relaxing to the mind and (more importantly) strengthens the inherent faith within. HIS <i>leelas </i>are akin to the perennial flowing stream, it is only up to us as to how deep we can dive to extract the pearls out of it – the deeper the dive, the precious the pearl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Grab your copy, take a dive and unearth the zillion of pearls that lies within!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rating: 3.75/5</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Five Favorite Quotes. . .</span></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Just seeing Baba’s effulgent form in the Samadhi Mandir destroys all our sins. Shedding tears of love cleanses the impact of all negative samskaras and karmas. Merely being in His presence imparts the wisdom drawn from all the scriptures of the world. And then when the eyes meet and the soul connects, there is love, there is joy and there are divine miraculous experiences of Oneness. So, cherish and live to the fullest, every moment of joy spent in the Samadhi Mandir. See Him, feel Him, breathe Him and love Him, for there is no feeling more blissful, no place more sacrosanct than Baba’s Samadhi Mandir.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><br /></span></i></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">So love Him, trust Him and stay prepared at every moment, for you never know when He may walk up to you and say, “Oh Maa, Oh Bapu, may I sit with you and chit-chat for some time?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><br /></span></i></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">One huge unbearable problem in your life could be a small test that Baba is putting you through. And this small test could translate into your big opportunity of proving your unwavering faith in your Sai.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><br /></span></i></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Have you ever thought why is it that when we are happy, nature seems happy too and when we are sad, it feels as though gloom is cast over our entire world? This happens because the Universal Soul rests in all of nature and in each one of us too. Nature feels what we feel and vice versa.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Problems are opportunities to look within and evolve. Each fall should become a reason to rise, and each hurdle a reason to move on.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">About the Author. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Jaya Wahi is an Indian writer. She is an honours graduate from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University. A Reiki master, she heals people around the world and initiates them into the science of healing. She is a devoted follower of Sai Baba and is well-read in the Vedanta. She is also the founder-director of Divatyas, where she combines ancient Indian teachings with Western thought. Visit her website <a href="http://www.divatyas.com/">www.divatyas.com</a> to know more about her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Where to grab a copy. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Please click here to buy the book from <a href="http://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B00DE5YXJM/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?ie=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">Amazon</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Please click here to buy the book from <a href="http://www.flipkart.com/sai-baba-still-alive-english/p/itmdhbfhhatrzg5a" target="_blank">Flipkart</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">~ Shubh Life . . . OM Sai Ram <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">© 2016 Manish Purohit (Reserved)</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span> </i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they do manage to form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)</span></i><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-91025616747825846412016-04-06T09:46:00.001+05:302016-04-06T09:46:07.098+05:30Pensive Reflections. . .April 06 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Each one of us is fighting his own battle against life’s struggle and scramble…Just because we cannot see what the other person is going through doesn’t imply the absence of struggle in his life. Whomsoever, you meet in this journey called life, try to lend some smile to them…show kindness, give compliments and be compassionate. Your gesture can surely make someone’s day and the cognizance of the same can brighten up yours as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Shubh Life. . .Om Sai Ram<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-35439924231612058282016-04-01T17:34:00.001+05:302016-04-01T17:34:26.719+05:30. . . as You turn Two today!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2iEF1BHSl6J5Jq8fbBqw3Enpz37ipLsljcZ5NZaxOlCqIFTsTHa4fWPrmzAJclC_mZoQMMqY4OPajf-C0oNtFxlTvArn7a6l_NABsVoq6enBy3cGuRAM_0AA54fpWxA4xUPgVrVwUGM/s1600/Muse+92_As+You+Turn+Two_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2iEF1BHSl6J5Jq8fbBqw3Enpz37ipLsljcZ5NZaxOlCqIFTsTHa4fWPrmzAJclC_mZoQMMqY4OPajf-C0oNtFxlTvArn7a6l_NABsVoq6enBy3cGuRAM_0AA54fpWxA4xUPgVrVwUGM/s320/Muse+92_As+You+Turn+Two_1.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: Google Images</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Dear Musings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It’s exactly been a year when I last wrote a <a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2015/04/and-thats-how-musings-was-born.html" target="_blank">letter</a> to you. The delay has been somewhat intentional as I have reserved this interaction for an occasion as special as you – and what could be a more special & apt moment than your birthday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Today is surely a special occasion and the morning sun too rose from its slumber in a bit to shine brightly from the sheets of those smoke puffed clouds as (perhaps) if he too wanted to extend his warmth and love to cuddle you up on your second birth anniversary. I have always believed that birthday and anniversary are distinctive moments for they make us realize the importance of the being in our life and (surely) makes us ponder (even if that’s for a moment), <i>“What If, he / she wasn’t born.”</i> And then the whole panorama of those sweet memories of togetherness sprinkled with salt and pepper moments - silent smiles, still tears and battling frustrations - comes alive before eyes, making us exclaim, <i>“Gosh, Thank God…You were there. For where else I could have fathomed for these priceless treasures!!!”</i> A similar admixture of thoughts engulfs me today when I sit to pen down this letter to you in an attempt to weave through my emotions and express my joy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hey…Please don’t deride at me and my emotions. The look on your face says that you think I am just trying to bemuse you by playing with words. No…it isn’t. Do you recall your <a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2015/04/and-thats-how-musings-was-born.html" target="_blank">last birthday</a> when I shared with you <a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2015/04/and-thats-how-musings-was-born.html" target="_blank">the story of your birth</a>? And I am sure you would also be remembering those junctures when I repeatedly told you that every shade of yours has a reminiscence of me - my unfulfilled dreams, unquenched desires and my silent sighs. You are smiling which means . . . Yes, you do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ever since we started our journey together, life has surely shown a change and that change is on a positive side. Your advent in my life has lended the much needed outlet to my emotions and instead of ruminating and brewing the thoughts within, I just have to confront you with them and you like an adorable soul mate absolve me of the worries churning out word after word and relieving me of the burden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I can sense that feel of pride from the way your smile is getting wider and wider. The way the curves and contours of your face are dangling to form a crescent is simply stupendous. Your smile has always been the source of delight to me, the way my delight remains the source of inspiration to you. It is these bouts of smiles, delights and inspirations which has fostered our journey of life into the life. And as those little nuggets of words and writings fell in place the bond amidst us grew strong, stronger and strongest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Our journey has surely been a roller coaster ride and in the hindsight when I contemplate and trace back our imprints on this journey . . . I do feel guilty <i>(yet again)</i> for falling behind on some of the times. While you have been there holding me intact every time I was on the verge of falling apart, <i>(I have no qualms in admitting)</i> there were times when I did fell short of granting you the comfort of being close to me. I know I had been silent on times struggling from within but not taking your help per se to subside the storm when I very well knew that only you are the one who can grant me the absolution. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">No, don’t be sad. I am sorry . . . you were so gleefully drenched in the birthday celebrations and I eclipsed that crescent smile of yours by reminding you of those hard times. What??? You think it was due to your own limitation as perhaps you couldn’t attain the similar stature as I do in your life. No…No…it isn’t like this. Infact, that’s what I am trying to confess to you on your birthday… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">You are special Musings and will always remain so; like a bout of sunshine you entered into my life and then there was no darkness left. There were times when I was too involved with my commitments and despite my utmost desire I couldn’t just come to you. I used to think and convey that the muse is eluding me when in essence I guess it was me who was actually alluding. But post those uneven and enduring times, whenever we came along it was with heightened hope and tightened faith . . . your absence made me realize your presence even more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Just a few days ago when I asked you what you wish to have on your birthday, you replied, <i>“Muser, you are my creator and I exist because you want me to. I understand your commitments, I know your working hours and I realize your responsibilities. It would have been very easier for you to banish me as I sometimes pose a conflict amidst your scheme of things; and post that my existence would have vanished in no time from people’s thoughts and notions. But instead you chose to hang on, to nurture, to foster and to let me survive. I don’t know what more I should ask from you, when my whole existence rests and depends upon you. When life gave you choice, you chose to persist with me and that’s what the best gift for me is. Let this stream of love be perennial and don’t let the heat of the time fade it away.”</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I couldn’t utter anything that day as your words left me mute and I was too numbed to say anything. These little nothings of life, as I always say, indeed make your life worth living and their confrontation all of a sudden tend to overwhelm you. But today when the occasion has finally arrived, I assure you that this stream would, in all probabilities, be perpetual and would flow till eternity & beyond. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Happy Birthday Musings . . . Stay with me and beside me always . . . today, tomorrow and forever!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYOybg966kMo8ij1aqoYneCPqWItMgS39vDk43isuzSIQtdVz1qN6slRsYQsm73xLg_rUKloWqXDbgqlRAROheMU_g4ubxyFNnVoXLVaUjvvIcDIiUAL7OWTXLYOzHzix-BmMiytdK-I/s1600/Muse+92_As+You+Turn+Two_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYOybg966kMo8ij1aqoYneCPqWItMgS39vDk43isuzSIQtdVz1qN6slRsYQsm73xLg_rUKloWqXDbgqlRAROheMU_g4ubxyFNnVoXLVaUjvvIcDIiUAL7OWTXLYOzHzix-BmMiytdK-I/s320/Muse+92_As+You+Turn+Two_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: Google Images</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Your’s Own . . . Muser</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">~Shubh Life . . . Om Sai Ram<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">© 2016 Manish Purohit (Reserved)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they does manage to form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)</span></i></div>
Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-14623628005179870942016-03-19T22:41:00.001+05:302016-03-19T22:41:24.973+05:30Someone Gone…Someone Lost<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mDcEgEL4RKc3RG2clytquBmYr60d2apURFbm9IPBjaPUeCLTqNEAX5yx9MpkBmDaeIXC12Fy94GnO1DyWxQuMyTMirOXLMEgrIWIF1WsmTMIolG-BdWFwaP5lq1AoVZTYHPukyD6hfI/s1600/Muse+91_English+Poem_Someone+Gone+Someone+Lost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mDcEgEL4RKc3RG2clytquBmYr60d2apURFbm9IPBjaPUeCLTqNEAX5yx9MpkBmDaeIXC12Fy94GnO1DyWxQuMyTMirOXLMEgrIWIF1WsmTMIolG-BdWFwaP5lq1AoVZTYHPukyD6hfI/s320/Muse+91_English+Poem_Someone+Gone+Someone+Lost.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source <a href="https://picture2photo.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/love-tacs.jpg" target="_blank">Here</a></td></tr>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: #a6a6a6; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 166;">***Being in Love is surely a blessing only if both the partners are in unison, if one happens to leave the other…the life of the one left behind becomes a curse***<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gone is the soul I love so dear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gone is the voice I long to hear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gone is the face I want to see<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Gone all the things that belonged to me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Too far away from sight or speech<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Too far away for me to reach<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But never too far for thoughts to flow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Neither for the dreams to permeate through<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Flower was she of the heart of mine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Blossomed with love – so pure so divine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Redolent her fragrance musky with myrrh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Her grace so immaculate stupendous her nature<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Filled me with pride the sight of hers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Exultant was I on the evening of Thurs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Lost & intoxicated, I went on rambling<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Smitten with her love singing and dancing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The environ too played jolly with me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Uncovering my secrets as it had to be<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Full of mirth I bonded with nature<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Little nothings of life, my ultimate rapture<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Then came the news of great disaster<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Leaving me trembling over and after<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">After and after, over and after<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Then came the news of great disaster<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">How to start from where to begin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Wounded my heart the words stay bitten<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Vacant remained the soul yearning for desire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My dreams still unfulfilled burning in fire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Someone swept her heart away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I could hardly believe this anyway<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dashing all dreams breaking the hope that bind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There stood she with the glance that turned blind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Mute we stood searching for our selves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Amidst those silent sighs where once we both dwelt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Spaces between us grew loud and louder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Our each approaching step took us farther<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Why did you turn away”, I said<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“After falling in love why you fled”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Abrupt she rose and left the place<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Difficult for me to run and chase<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Please don’t go . . . Please don’t leave”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“There’s no life of mine without your being”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Screamed my voices at the peak of the lungs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Still none reached thee only silence thrummed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The moon shone bright in the starless sky<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Our shadows diverged never to unite<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Frozen I stood unable to move<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Searching for the voice to call the truce<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">With dying sound of her departing steps<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My breath too followed her treacherousness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The final calling came too soon <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My cadaver fell like an autumn frond<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Motionless my body still remain waiting<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Discontent my soul still lay yearning<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The last teardrop lay glued to the lids<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Holding her departing image they still remain separated<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Just come to this juncture once, where you left”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">"Grant me the solace for which I bereft"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">"Let those eyelids stay in unison"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">"With that last teardrop lend me the absolution!!"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">~ Shubh Life . . . OM Sai Ram <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">© 2016 Manish Purohit (Reserved)</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they do manage to form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)</span></i><br />
<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></i>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Linking back to <a href="http://www.threewordwednesday.com/" target="_blank">TWW</a></span></span></div>
Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-77546566488016459772016-02-06T12:56:00.000+05:302016-02-06T12:56:45.676+05:30Kindling the joy with the KINDLE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHf8F1RCkVJj_A6h8iG6gxPpLmsJox4KB7Psac6q4qdSI37hcEtH7io8QR6UlrNJASKhN6Qsyrd88z7UQyohDXEuoK3JvywA8gWsWYTs0iDApK_HRv3xCDCpvZhF2_sT2MBEcOFd4D4GU/s1600/Muse+90_Kindling+joy+with+KINDLE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHf8F1RCkVJj_A6h8iG6gxPpLmsJox4KB7Psac6q4qdSI37hcEtH7io8QR6UlrNJASKhN6Qsyrd88z7UQyohDXEuoK3JvywA8gWsWYTs0iDApK_HRv3xCDCpvZhF2_sT2MBEcOFd4D4GU/s320/Muse+90_Kindling+joy+with+KINDLE.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source of the pic: <a href="http://cache.thephoenix.com/secure/uploadedImages/The_Phoenix/Arts/Books/main_kindle_480.jpg" target="_blank">Here</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">While the world is witnessing the paradigm shift in <i>(almost)</i> each of the technological innovations and the new improved advances are eating away even the imprints of their originals, there do exists people like me who are and would always remain those from ‘old school of thoughts’. When I say paradigm shift, I mean fixed lines paving way for mobile phones which later side-stepped for smartphone revolution which continues to storm the world of possibilities; the audio cassette player gave up its life for the survival of compact discs players which again are thwarted by the emergence of mp3 and other media files options; the good old computers and desktops giving space to laptops and palmtops and more recently to tablets, i-pads and the list goes on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The similar transitional and transformational phase is currently underway in case of our beloved physical books. While the extreme phase of extinction might just remain a fantasy the paradigm has already started shifting towards e-books with the advent of kindle and other e-readers – the fact which I <i>(for some strange reason)</i> hate to own and in which I also seem to be becoming a party. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I love reading books and more than that I love owning them up which makes me a bibliophile in truest sense. My fantasy doesn’t stem from the fact that I am either a voracious reader or own a sizeable fortune good enough to spare a periodical amount over these. Infact, it’s the other way round. I love reading books but I don’t fall amidst those elite classes who guzzle a book a day, on the contrary, I tend to live with the book I am reading. And whenever I finish one book, the hangover of the same remains with me for some days <i>(unless it really a shitty piece of crap)</i> before I harp on to the next journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">There is something magical about the world of books <i>(the physical one, I mean)</i>. Each one in my possession seems to carry a part of me in their pages – amidst the character they house, amongst the story they hold. Strange it sounds...isn’t!!! But that is what explains my equation with the books. It’s not that I have been reading the books since my early childhood or even school days. No, infact I actually started reading pretty late after the school when we shifted the base to Delhi and being an introvert I couldn’t find anyone but these books to turn and befriend. At-least it was far better and easier to bond with these than with many of the sophisticated wandering souls roaming around with their own specific agenda (I wonder if they thought the same about me too).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Yes, it was just me, my books and our silent conversations. So when I first heard about the books in electronic form, the term e-books and all other incidental terminology instantly attracted my genuine dislike. I mean I was flummoxed as to how one can read the book on the computer <i>(or any other electronic media)</i>. Before I could make any peace with the concept, there came ‘Kindles’ with all pomp and show which simply left me scoffing with a sigh, <i>“Ah, Who cares about these, nothing could beat the charm of physical books, come what may. I will never own one.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A couple of month back, I actually got the chance to see a kindle device and it did leave me curious. But my sense of loyalty to the physical books was too deep to get distracted by these momentary curiosities. Then a coincidence happened, it was my birthday few days back and my brother, noticing my love for reading gifted me the kindle. Strangely enough, I was excited but at the same time somewhat unsure too as to whether the kindle reading would give me the same joy as the physical books. I did download some books on the device, something which left me with a feeling of trepidation of being disloyal to my world of physical books </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">L</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> plus the bibliophile in me keeps staring me from one corner with an accusation of changing loyalties and preferences. Did I . . . Really?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Look at me you, and listen. There is nothing in this god damned planet that can really overshadow my love for you. You were there for me, with me when no one was there & you will remain with me till no one is here. I can still sense those characters and junctures in you which clasped many of those silent moments of unfulfilled aspirations and unquenched desires which stir the soul from within every now and then but which gets solace whenever I revisit your pages. The sensation of merely holding you in my hands and fluttering through your ivory leaflets impart a feel of freshness and gratification to the soul nurturing my imagination with dreams of realities that could have been. Your consistency with which you embrace me every time I surrender to you with discontent heart and restless soul always amaze me." </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">"Hey . . . do you remember those lazy mornings we spent in each other’s lap sipping that hot coffee which did left those pastel marks on your face . . . and what about those prolonged afternoons we spent in each other companionship holding hands during a long train journey which did create contours and wrinkles on some of your pages . . . and I am sure those silent midnight hours we spent in each other’s cuddle must be afresh in your memories when we promised to stay awake through-out but unconsciously ended up sleeping while weaving those stories aloud. The smile on your face and the glow in your look convince me that you do remember all. So now tell me my books, be candid . . . Can someone whose morning starts in your lap, afternoon spent in your companionship and night culminated in your cuddle, ever forget you?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">And it is true in depth. The feeling of holding the books in the hands and that misty aromatic smell of its pale brown pages is surely intoxication hard to overcome. I remember there are times when I just open that small book-shelf of mine and keep on gazing the inhabitants that grace the place; arranging and re-arranging & sorting and re-sorting them comprise another activity for spending time with them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I don’t know whether we <i>(me and kindle)</i> will accept each other or not. But even if we do, I guess the kindle would not be a substitution but an addition to the physical books, because I know that there would be titles which I would like to have and read in the physical form. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My world is still incomplete, my dreams are still unfinished and my thirst is still unquenched. These desires would always remain insatiate as they have been fractured and scattered everywhere into tiny pieces. There are and will be the books which would have the stories embracing the junctures and binding the characters that would continue to carry a part of mine with them. And until those fractured parts are collected and glued together to create a complete Me, the tryst with the books would continue and the journey would go on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">What do you think? Were you ever able to get over the aroma and flavor of the physical books?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">~Shubh Life . . . Om Sai Ram<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">© 2016 Manish Purohit (Reserved)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they does manage to form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)</span></i></div>
Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-34322735670054332282016-01-30T23:49:00.000+05:302016-01-30T23:49:21.076+05:30Book Review: Ramayana - The Game of Life: Stolen Hope (Book – 3) by Shubha Vilas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Book Review: Ramayana-The Game of Life</span></td></tr>
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<b style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Book Details. . .</span></b><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Title</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Ramayana-The Game of Life: Stolen Hope (Book – 3)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Author</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Shubha Vilas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Genre: </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Religion & Mythology</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Publisher</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Jaico Publishing House (2016)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">ISBN-10:</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"> 8184958242 (ISBN-13: 9788184958249)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Pages</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: 312 Pages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rating</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">: 4/5</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Behind The Book. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In the evil labyrinths of Dandakaranya forest, human values are put to test. Rama’s righteousness, Lakshmana’s loyalty, and Sita’s endurance reflect our own sense of values and judgment in difficult times. The story unfolds the facets of human life – the conflict and trickery, the praise, the slander and above all, the hope and the despair in the eventful forest life of exiled royals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Stolen Hope is about extreme deception and extreme love. It is about arrogant power and deep devotion. With every twist and turn, Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana find themselves robbed of whatever and whoever they valued the most.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Exploring the dynamics of human relations – between father and son, husband and wife, teacher and disciple – and the complex game of power and greed, Stolen Hope mirrors our own dilemmas in the modern world and teaches us how we must overcome them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Seek courage when everything, including hope, is stolen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Book Synopsis. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Ramayana is one of the most pivotal and revered ancient scriptures in Hinduism depicting the journey of Lord Rama <i>(personifying ‘virtues’)</i> to annihilate the demon king Ravana (personifying ‘vices’). The holy and sacred text contains about 24000 shlokas <i>(verses)</i> embodying the rich values of cultures, moralities and philosophy of life. It is divided into seven kaands <i>(chapters)</i> viz. Bala Kaand, Ayodhya Kaand, Aranya Kaand, Kishkindha Kaand, Sundara Kaand, Yuddha Kaand and Uttara Kaand <i>(these kaands are as per the original Ramayana written by Sage Valmiki; The Ramcharitmanas written by Tulsidas has sixth kaand named as Lanka Kaand as against Yuddha Kaand named by Sage Valmiki)</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Stolen Hope is the third book in Ramayana series by Shubha Vilas narrating the sequences of ‘Aranya Kaand’ (Aranya means forest) of The Ramayana. The first two books of the series viz. ‘Rise of the Sun Prince’ and ‘<a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2015/02/ramayana-2.html" target="_blank">Shattered Dreams</a>’ depicted the ‘Bala Kaand’ and ‘Ayodhya Kaand’ of the sacred book. While I have read and reviewed the <a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2015/02/ramayana-2.html" target="_blank">second book</a> of the series, the first one remains in my ‘to be read’ list <i>(have ordered and just received the copy of the first installment yesterday, hope to read and review it soon)</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Book 3 of the series ‘Stolen Hope’ starts where the <a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2015/02/ramayana-2.html" target="_blank">Book 2</a> culminated with the furtherance of the trio (Rama, Lakshmana and Sita) in the forests and meeting with the revered saints and sages. It furthers dwells into the abduction of Sita by the demon king Ravana and the search Rama and Lakshmana initiates to locate Sita – the hope of His life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The book starts with ‘<b>Ravages of Rage’</b> which explores the trio first tryst with the demons in the forests of ‘Dandaka’. Despite the prevalent peace and tranquility in the atmosphere, the sages in the region reel under severe pressure and scare owing to emerging influence of demons in the region. Rama’s tender heart pains on seeing the plight of revered sages and He vows to annihilate the demons from the earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The next chapter <b>‘The Mountain Tamer’ </b>depicts the stories of grace and glory of Sage Agastya revealing the truest gems of our rich mythology to the readers. Hearing his stories, the Rama, Lakshmana and Sita excitedly set out to meet the dignitary saint and seek his blessings. The sage bestows his blessings and grace on them and also confers boons and gifts to the princes. Basis his advice and guidance, they proceed to go to Panchavati.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Still water runs deep’ </span></b><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">takes us<b> </b>to Panchavati where Lord Rama along with Lakshmana and Sita arrive to spend the last three years of the fourteen years exile. The beauty and serenity of the place, which is truly an abode of solace and tranquility cradled by the holy water of Godavari, grant immediate peace to their heart and soul. However, darkness awaits them as Surpanakha, the demoness, cast her evil eye on them. She makes a futile effort to becharm Rama and Lakshmana to satisfy her lust and eventually ends with her nose and ears cut by Lakshmana. The chapter, most poignantly, also dwells upon the lifestyle of Bharata living who is flogging himself in the form of self-abnegation as he considers himself responsible for Rama’s exile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The injured Surpanakha, then, rushes to her cousins Khara and Dushana in ‘<b>Fourteen Thousand Vices’</b> and induces them to fight with Rama and Lakshmana to take her revenge. The demons along-with trusted generals and fourteen thousand best of the army attacks the brothers only to be slained by the lone warrior Rama after a prolonged battle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The chapter <b>‘Eighteen Curses’ </b>details the past chronicles of Ravana <i>(the demon king)</i> and his deeds which earn him loads of curses. When Khara, Dushana and all of their generals are killed in the battle by Rama, the Surpanakha rushes to his brother <i>(the demon king Ravana)</i> and tempt him about the timeless beauty of Sita, persuading him to kidnap her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In next chapter ‘<b>A Reckless Request’, </b>enamored by the spell of her majestic beauty cast by Surpanakha, the<b> </b>Ravana confronts Maaricha for help to hatch his evil plans to abduct Sita.<b> </b>Accordingly,<b> </b>Maaricha disguises himself as golden deer and befools Rama & Sita taking advantage of which Ravana kidnaps Sita.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But Ravana’s journey back to his kingdom is interrupted by Jatayu <i>(the vulture).</i> The seventh chapter <b>‘A Wounded Witness’ </b>narrates the fierce battle between the two which ends with Jatayu tricked and wounded by the Ravana. Overcoming the vulture bird, the Ravana manages to take Sita to Lanka and try to lure her with the might of his wealth and position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The last two chapters narrate the aftermath of Sita’s abduction on Rama and Lakshmana and the search they trigger to locate her. The penultimate chapter ‘<b>Lakshmana Diary’ </b>is written<b> </b>from Lakshmana’s point of view who recollects the events that lead to the abduction of Sita. His heart pains on seeing Rama losing control of himself in the agony of separation from Sita. As the brothers continue to search her whereabouts they encounter Shabri, who awaits their arrival since eternity. In last chapter <b>‘Selfless Servitude’ </b>the brothers<b> </b>meets Shabri who greets them with enthusiasm and offers them choicest of the fruits and flowers. She also directs them to Kishkinda, the kingdom of vanaras (monkeys) where the monkey king would help them in their further search for mother Sita.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Why the forest of Dandakarnya is named so? What are the stories of Sage Agastya’s glory and might? What is the story behind the advent of river Kaveri? How did Rama brave Khara & Dushana and their army of fourteen thousand soldiers? What were those eighteen curses that decided Ravana’s future course of life? How did Ravana marry Mandodari and why do he hate monkey king Vali despite being friend with him? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Grab a copy of the book to unearth the answers to above and be a part of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita’s journey to forests.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My Thoughts. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I always strongly believe that retelling of our rich mythological texts is very important, for the pearls of wisdom they hold are pivotal to imbibe virtues and develop a value system in the society. Thus, all the genuine efforts <i>(be it in the form of print or electronic media)</i> in this directions should be encouraged and applauded. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Shubha Vilas series on Ramayana is one such honest attempt which is aptly termed as ‘The Game of Life’ as it presents to the reader the glorious story of Rama’s journey enriched in teachings and lessons for an ideal life. This is surely a commendable attempt by the author to present the Ramayana to the readers in the form which principally draws the inference from Valmiki Ramayana and also incorporates the flavors from Kamba Ramayana and Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas. Besides just narrating the story and events of the Ramayana as is, the author also presents the incidental narrations and anecdotes of the characters which are <i>(perhaps)</i> not presented in the original Ramayana. These add to the overall charm of reading in addition to increasing the knowledge base about the tales behind the text and its characters. The depth in the literature only reflects the grand research which has gone into the book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Continuing the traditions of the earlier books in the series, the author gives various snippets of management lessons, ideal behavior and analysis of various events or acts in the story by way explanation in the text boxes at various junctures in the book; these prove immensely helpful in connecting with the characters and the manner in which they act. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The famous ‘footnotes’ also make their way into the present installment too, offering exactly the similar nuggets of wisdom as they did earlier. Some of these footnotes truly offer gems to understand analyze and enrich human behavior. Consider some of the notes re-produced below to grasp what I mean (and remember these are in abundance in each chapter of the book). . .</span></div>
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<li><i style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Nectarine honey is a gift of the flowers to the honeybees in return for their service of cross pollination. Perhaps because honey is a product of such a self-less reciprocation, it is the only item that never becomes spoilt. In giving life and hope, one undoubtedly received nectar.</span></i></li>
<li><i style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In expecting big chunks of happiness at one shot, we forget to relish the little packets of opportunities that come in regularly.</span></i></li>
<li><i style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">W</span></i><i style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">hen you place clarification before action, you are placing a relationship before opinion. When you place action before clarification, you are placing judgment before an opportunity.</span></i></li>
<li><i style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Difficulties are nature’s speed breakers that prevent us from driving too fast in life to be able to gratefully appreciate the beauty it has to offer.</span></i></li>
<li><i style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Words cause mental wounds that don’t heal with time with heal with timely love.</span></i></li>
<li><i style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Repentance is the younger sister of acceptance. Only when you accept your mistake does the sincere repentance follow.</span></i></li>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">There would </span><i style="color: #141823; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">(perhaps)</i><span style="color: #141823; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> be none who wouldn’t be aware </span>about<span style="color: #141823; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> the story of Ramayana still the book unearth various facts which are still unknown to most like the deterrence of Rama in killing someone in front of Sita or the suffering & self- ordeal subjected by Bharata to himself during Rama’s exile or the origin of the Tamil language or struggle to attain maximum height between Vindhya and Meru mountain or even the little snippets like birth of </span><i style="color: #141823; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Sitaphal</i><span style="color: #141823; font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> or why the squirrels don’t get hurt even after falling from a great height etc.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A special word of appreciation to the author for the manner in which he has developed each of the characters in the book. Nowhere it appears that Rama or Sita or even Ravana who are main characters of Ramayana are over-shadowing other smaller characters of the story. Even tinier characters like Maaricha or the sages in the forest get their due voice in the story. Even Lakshmana gets space to voice his emotions in the penultimate chapter of the book wherein he shares his thoughts on Sita’s abduction and Rama’s outburst at him. The command on the language assumes great importance especially in the re-telling of mythological text. The craft is beautiful and poetic. Some of the most beautiful and poignant junctures of the book include Bharata’s suffering in the absence of Rama, Rama’s lament for Sita, their moments of togetherness in the forests, the selfless service of Lakshmana to his brother etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While the book details almost all the references it makes to external events in the story, there are some which remain unattended. Like the one which mentions about the sins which led to Shabri’s banishment from her clan or (again) the instance of Kartivirya Arjun taming Ravana . . . little background and insights on these would have further proved enriching.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The cover page of the book shows Lakshmana pointing arrow at Jatayu, the vulture demigod with the forest background. The title of the book ‘The Stolen Hope’, depicts the stealing of Sita who is Rama’s beacon of hope. Special mention about the printing, font and word spacing of the book, which has been meticulously done by the publishing house to grant reader a comfortable read.</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Final Word. . .</span></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">‘Stolen Hope’ further takes the legacy of Ramayana series by Shubha Vilas to another level only to raise the hopes and expectations from the remaining three parts. Meticulously researched, wonderfully crafted and skillfully presented, it remains a must read for all even if one haven’t read the earlier two parts. In words of the author himself, <i>“If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, it doesn’t matter. When you bite into a cake, it hardly matters where you begin. But in order to help the readers get familiar with the story, there is a summary of both the books.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The Ramayana is an ocean brimmed with innumerable pearls of wisdom for every aspect and juncture of life. Every time you take a dip in the ocean, you are bestowed with one of the zillion pearls lying in its womb and the deeper you plunge, the more exquisite the pearl is. Grab your copy and take your chance to unearth some of the pearls from the ocean of pearls called Ramayana.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rating: 4/5</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I thank the author for giving me the opportunity to review the book. A special note of thanks for the personalized message written on the face of the book which is highly appreciated.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Five Favorite Quotes. . .</span></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">By constantly pouring ingredients into the fire, they persistently reminded themselves that their life was to give and not to take & that in giving they would receive grace.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">It would have been easiest for her to take side-steps and avoid these lacerating stones & thorns and instead carefully walk on Rama’s cushion like footprints. But the discomfort of disrespecting HIS footsteps was far worse than the pain from foot punctures along the way. Following her footsteps Lakshmana carefully side stepped both Rama’s and Sita’s footsteps.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Don’t give me independence. Giving me choice is an indication that you want me to become independent of You. And saying that spot should also please me suggest that my pleasure is independent of yours. Even if I am to serve You for 100 years, I would not want any independence. I exit because I depend on You. My happiness lies solely in making You happy. Just as there is no sunshine without sun, no fragrance without flowers and no self without the supreme one, there is no Lakshmana without Rama.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Don’t carry a venomous snake casually in your cloth. You will be bitten and so will your lust. Don’t carry more weight than you can handle. You will be crushed, so will your pride. Don’t test the strength of your teeth by hitting it with stone. You will be broken and so will your ego. Don’t behave like a fish that’s taken the bait and still thinking of escape. You will be ripped ad so will be your desires.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">She lived to serve her guru and the left to serve her guru. Most people use their gurus as a mean to achieve god, but here was someone who served god as a means to achieve her Guru.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">About the Author. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Shubha Vilas is a spiritual seeker, motivational speaker and author of ‘Ramayana – The Game Of Life’ a 6 book series and India’s first self-help book series based on the story of Ramayana. Academically, he is B.E in Electronics and Telecommunications and L.L.B Specializing in Intellectual Property Law (Patent Law). He helps people in dealing with modern-day life situations through the teachings of the ‘Bhagavad Gita’, ‘Ramayana’ and other dharmic traditions. He conducts leadership seminars in premier institutes across the world and inspires deeper human values.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Where to grab a copy. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Please click here to buy the book from <a href="http://www.amazon.in/Ramayana-Game-Life-Book-Stolen/dp/8184958242" target="_blank">Amazon</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Please click here to buy the book from <a href="http://www.flipkart.com/ramayana-game-life-book-3-english/p/itmeevg9zcfc8fgb?pid=9788184958249&ref=L%3A2091950393697848863&srno=p_4&query=ramayana+book+of+life+&otracker=from-search" target="_blank">Flipkart</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">~ Shubh Life . . . OM Sai Ram <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">© 2016 Manish Purohit (Reserved)</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span> </i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they do manage to form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-60710380321788672402016-01-14T12:00:00.000+05:302016-01-14T12:00:01.630+05:30The Phoenix<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: #a6a6a6; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 166;">***The struggle within and tussle outside withers the soul extracting the enthusiasm to move ahead. The result, life lags motivation & comes to stand still and moment by moment it becomes hard to stay afloat***<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Wake up O’ Soul<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Arise from the slumber<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Liberate that thrust<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Let loose the encumber<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Re-kindle that fire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So eager and curious<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Spread those wings & flutter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And experience the brilliance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Unleash those thoughts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Be wild in wanderlust<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Make all the crazy moves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Pursue life’s Trivias & Musts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dive deep within the heart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Explore that which lies asleep<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Unravel the thread layer by layer <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Demystify the enigma that lay so deep<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There’s none but only You <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Who can defy the clouds, dark hued <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Hanging motionless on the thoughts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Searching feeble excuses to elude<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There’s none but only You <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Who can really triumph the world<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Burgeoning ahead amidst ravages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And bloom like a Bud<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The realm of darkness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Glooming within and outside<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Will succumb to the Light<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Of the flame that will ignite<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So come and Wake up O’ Soul<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Let the ashes of the past deride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Surrender to the brushfire ablaze<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Annihilate thy identity and die<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Resurrect again the phoenix within<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Stronger & wiser thou arise<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Cease being a derelict soul<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Proclaim the world “You are Alive!!!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">~ Shubh Life . . . OM Sai Ram <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">© 2016 Manish Purohit (Reserved)</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span><span lang="EN-IN"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they do manage to form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Linking back to Write Tribe</span></div>
Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-43267780158593171952016-01-06T15:56:00.000+05:302016-01-06T15:56:20.102+05:30Book Review - Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India by William Dalrymple<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5jja0ws6TPUaLsrboing9CG0SPaStRRAPtBRw8PgB-IQH_3ZA2Ax62QOAhBbhVfIAVeoOl3W7FDFtrZWqYUTfEs1j9I7D2761YuEnyXnv7OD9eP2hBhgzxDI7lzcRkP1SjZ9vUhugJQ/s1600/Muse+87_Book+Review-Nine+Lives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Book Review: Nine Lives" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5jja0ws6TPUaLsrboing9CG0SPaStRRAPtBRw8PgB-IQH_3ZA2Ax62QOAhBbhVfIAVeoOl3W7FDFtrZWqYUTfEs1j9I7D2761YuEnyXnv7OD9eP2hBhgzxDI7lzcRkP1SjZ9vUhugJQ/s320/Muse+87_Book+Review-Nine+Lives.jpg" title="Book Review: Nine Lives" width="209" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Book Details. . .<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Title</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Author</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: William Dalrymple<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Genre: </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Non Fiction / Travel Writings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Publisher</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Bloomsbury Publishing India Private Limited (2013)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">ISBN:</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"> 1408846144 (ISBN-13: 978-1408846148)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Pages</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: 304 Pages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rating</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">: 3.75/5</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Behind The Book. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A Buddhist monk takes up arms to resist the Chinese invasion of Tibet - then spends the rest of his life trying to atone for the violence by hand printing the best prayer flags in India. A Jain nun tests her powers of detachment as she watches her best friend ritually starve herself to death. Nine people, nine lives; each one taking a different religious path, each one an unforgettable story. William Dalrymple delves deep into the heart of a nation torn between the relentless onslaught of modernity and the continuity of ancient traditions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Book Synopsis. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Nine lives is a compilation of anecdotes of author William Dalrymple’s travel diaries and his deep search of India’s slowly dying traditions and strong uprooted beliefs of its people which are struggling against the onslaught of modernization and current economic growth. These represent the chapters of the India’s rich cultural heritage, deep spiritual customs and hardcore religious practices which reveal the colours of true India to the readers unraveling the thread layer by layer. As per author’s own words, <i>“Nine Lives is conceived as a collection of linked non-fiction short stories, with each life representing a different form of devotion or a different religious path. Each life is intended to act as a keyhole into the way that each specific religious vocation has been caught and transformed in the vortex of India’s metamorphosis during this rapid period of transition, while revealing the extraordinary persistence of faith and ritual in a fast-changing landscape.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">In <i>The Nun’s Tale</i> the author describes his meeting with a nun, Prasannamati Mataji, exploring her journey of transformation from a lively & pampered teenage girl to a revered, renounced nun. The author beautifully pens down his experience while throwing light on various aspects of Jainism leading to the spiritual aspect of the road to salvation. <i>(. . . dwells deep into Jain practices of renunciation and Sallekhana) <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The Dances of Kannur </span></i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">explains the story of Hari Das, a dalit by caste and part-time prison warden by profession. The low caste Dalit, who is derided and dejected for nine months of the year, enjoys the transformation into an omnipotent deity as a theyyam dancer during the balance three months and is respected and worshiped even by the highest of the classes. The dance form ‘theyyam’ (derived from a Sanskrit word <i>daviam</i> meaning God) is a complete inversion of the normal ritualistic structure where God choose to incarnate not in high caste, pure and sanctified Brahmin but into a neglected, shunned low caste Dalit. <i>(. . . a story of one deprived and neglected soul’s escape into art and dream).<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The Daughters of Yellamma</span></i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">, tells the story of devdasis who worships Goddess Yellamma (mother of Parshuram). It narrates the horrifying culture of dedicating daughters to deities and devdasis who are later forced to flesh trade. <i>(. . . explores the lives of devotional prostitutes in and around Karnataka known as Devdasis).</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">In <i>The Singer of Epics</i>, the author shares the story of singer Mohan Bhopa, who recites great Rajasthani medieval poem ‘The Epic of Pabuji’ at Pabusar. He remains one of the last singers of the four thousand lines sacred epic poem which is slowly vanishing like many other epical verses amidst the increasing inclination of people towards Bollywood, movies and television. It poignantly explores the realms of love, faith and strong belief that is devoid of logic and scientific principles of law and solely rests upon the undying trust and belief on the legendary Pabuji.<i> (. . . another of the perfect case of a dying heritage and a person’s deep effort in keeping it alive).<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The Red Fairy</span></i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"> narrates the story about a lady fakir ‘Lal Peri’ who is the native of Bihar in eastern India and ends up at Sufi shrine of Sehwan Sharif at Sindh in Pakistan as the most passionate of the saint’s devotee. The shrine which is the abode of Lal Shahbaz Kalandar bringing in the people of all religions and faiths now struggles with the growing influence of Talibanisation which is destroying the essence & spirit of Sufism. The modern Wahhabis and Talibans strongly condemn the Sufi’s path of music, poetry and dance as a way of remembering & reaching God. <i>(This happens to be one of my favourite stories of the book . . . a heartfelt tale of a Sufi shrine struggling amidst radicalism).</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The Monk’s Tale</span></i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"> tells the story of a Buddhist monk who decided to take up the arms when his monastery came under the pressure from the Chinese invasion of Tibet. As atonement for the violence he committed, the monk lives in exile in Himalayas printing and distributing prayers flags and reciting God’s name. <i>(…another powerful and captivating story which moves you owing to its sheer honesty and realism).<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The Maker of Idols</span></i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"> shares the plight of an idol maker Srikanda Stpathy (the twenty-third in the long hereditary line going back to legendary Chola bronze makers) who is struggling and worried for the continuation of the legacy as his son instead wants to study computers leaving the age long family business into jittery. He regards the creation of idol as the holiest and sacred calling of the God and thus is now struggling to reconcile to the fact of his dying lineage. <i>(. . . talks about the dying profession and father’s dilemma in light of modernization and kids attracted to other professions)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The Lady Twilight</span></i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"> and <i>The Song of the Blind Minstrel</i> shares the lives of souls who were banished from the families, kins and castes & found solace, love and harmony in the band of religious ecstatic. The first story talks about author’s acquaintance with a tantric and devotee of Goddess Tara in Tarapeeth <i>(a shaktipeeth said to be an abode of Devi’s third eye)</i>. The second story dwells into the lives of the various saffron clad wandering minstrels or Bauls (as they are often referred to, meaning mad or possessed in Bengali), who wanders and sings folk songs. <i>(. . . explores the dark world of tantra & tantrics and minstrels)</i></span><i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My Thoughts. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">William Dalrymple has been in my ‘to be read’ list since long and my fascination to read him stemmed from his couple of articles and excerpts which I had read earlier at varied places <i>(one of which being ‘The Dances of Kannur’ featuring in the current compilation)</i>. His travel diaries always offer a thrilling experience to the reader portraying the panorama of his sojourning in such a simple yet captivating manner that one can actually visualize and relate to each juncture in the story, something which makes him one of the best authors of this genre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">‘Nine Lives’ is a hard-hitting attempt by the author deep diving into some of the prestigious legacies and traditions of the country, its people and their struggle to stay afloat amidst the inexorable onslaught of modernization and societal transformation. While the lives of the nine souls are apparently discrete in terms of the backdrop, circumstances and characterization; these are intertwined and connected by a common thread of Faith and Persistence – ‘Faith’ that the constant war they are waging within and outside to let their sole identity remain alive would be successful & ‘Persistence’ to remain afloat despite being displaced by the society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The craft and structure of each of the story are such that the author just works as the initiator of the stories and then the characters themselves steers away the entire tale on their shoulders. The descriptive texts in between regarding the prevalent practices, rituals and customs further add to the charm of the reading, providing that extra detailing about the prevalent customs and practices wherever needed. The manner Dalrymple has spanned through his writing across the length and breadth of the country only reflects the acute research, laboring effort and deep dive he has done into country’s diverse yet rich cultural and topographical heritage. I mean starting from a renounced nun’s life in Shravanabelagola in Karnataka traversing through theyyam dance in Kannur in Kerala, to parched and dusty deserts of Rajasthan, to majestic and mystic peaks of scintillating Himalayas, to dark world of tantra and tantrics & minstrels in Bengal and not to forget the mystifying Sufism across the border in Pakistan…one cannot just help but to wonder in awe and praise about the intricacies of his writings and research.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Each of the stories is a work of non-fiction and undertakes a journey into one of the customary ritual or practice prevalent in India tracing its origin and running across the path of its transformation eventually leading to its current status. In a unique way, it does (in some cases) silently questions about the price the current generation is paying for the urbanization and advancement in life. It is actually startling to think about those innumerable rich cultural heritages which have either extinguished or are on the verge of getting stubbed out – the cost benefit analysis of what are we gaining to lose what we had gained as a rich legacy is something which would surely raise eye-brows of many. Kudos to the author for bringing out that piece of realization in reader’s mind; Dalrymple writing amply brings out the elements of compassion, humanity and poignancy in words which flow effortlessly towards the ultimate destination of self-realization. At rarer of the instances, though, the narration does become a bit more descriptive but the charm of the story and characters that follows next makes up for the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The cover page of the book is captivating in red colour with the half face of what appears as the fully adorned theyyam dancer with big glaring eyes. The title of the book is apt as it dwells into the life of nine different souls which speaks about Indian rituals, customs and practices – hence the tagline, ‘In Search of the Sacred in Modern India’ <i>(though the book does span beyond India as well as there is a story of Sufi shrine across border)</i>. The printing, font and word spacing are decent enough to grant reader a comfortable read.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Final Word. . .</span></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">A perfect blend of travel writing, story-telling and non-fiction, the ‘Nine Lives’ is a literary experience connecting your soul with each of the lives experiencing their struggles and triumph & eventually making you a part of their faith and journey. As a travelogue, it introduces various unseen and unheard realms of country’s topography, people and traditions; as a tale, it introduces heartwarming <i>(and heartbreaking)</i> stories of which stirs your sentiments taking you on a compassionate ride. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">A must read for the lovers of this genre for the sheer brilliant craft and description conferring that mystical experience to the thoughts and for the rest of the mass, a perfect piece of literature to make an exception </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rating: 3.75/5</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Five Favorite Quotes. . .</span></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">But going into an unknown world and confronting it without a single rupee in our pockets means the differences between rich and poor, educated and illiterate, all vanish, and a common humanity emerges.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Truly you are a wise man and well on the path of salvation! But you will never get there unless you understand that all men are deserving of respect and compassion.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The mullahs are always trying to fight a jihad with their swords,' said Sain Fakir, 'without realising that the real jihad is within, fighting yourself, achieving victory over your desires, and the hell that evil can create within the human heart. Fighting with swords is a low kind of jihad. Fighting yourself is the greater jihad. As Latif said, "Don't kill infidels, kill your own ego.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Just as the blind can develop a heightened sense of hearing, smell and touch to compensate for their loss of vision, so it seems that the illiterate have a capacity to remember in a way that the literate simply do not. It was not lack of interest, but literacy itself, that was killing the oral epic.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">For me, that ended forever my identity as a Brahmin. That very day I changed my name. I had been Dev Kumar Bhattacharyya—any Bengali knows that that is a Brahmin name, with all the privileges that go with it. But a Baul has to name himself as a Das—a slave of the Lord—so I became simply Debdas Baul. The Brahmins had rejected me, so I rejected them, just as I rejected their whole horrible idea of caste and the divisions it creates. I wanted freedom from that whole system.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">About the Author. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">William Dalrymple was born in Scotland and brought up on the shores of the Firth of Forth. He wrote the highly acclaimed bestseller In Xanadu when he was twenty-two. City of Djinns won the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award and the Sunday Times Young British Writer of the Year Award. The Age of Kali won the French Prix D'Astrolabe and White Mughals won the Wolfson Prize for History 2003 and the Scottish Book of the Year Prize. The Last Mughal was longlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize and won the Duff Cooper Memorial Prize. His most recent book, Nine Lives, was published in 2009 to huge acclaim. He lives with his wife and three children on a farm outside Delhi. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">To know more about him, visit his official website <a href="http://www.williamdalrymple.uk.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Where to grab a copy. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">~ Shubh Life . . . OM Sai Ram <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">© 2016 Manish Purohit (Reserved)</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-15159600407834715412015-11-19T00:10:00.000+05:302015-11-20T12:47:04.154+05:30Book Review: #IAm16ICanRape by Kirtida Gautam<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Book Review: #IAm16ICanRape</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Book Details. . .<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Title</span></b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">: #IAm16ICanRape<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Author</span></b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">: Kirtida Gautam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Genre: </span></b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Thriller/Social<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Publisher</span></b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">: Read Out Loud Publishing (2015)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">ISBN:</span></b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"> 978-8193136027<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Pages</span></b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">: 593 Pages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";">Rating</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";">: 3.25/5</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Behind The Book. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">To destroy great EVIL, GOOD has to shed tears of blood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rudransh Kashyap is a self-made billionaire and man of high moral fiber. His life is shattered when he returns home one day to find that his prodigy, his 16-year-old grandson, Aarush, has been arrested and accused of a brutal gang rape. It is easy to say, “Kill the Rapist” but what if the accused is your child? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This case takes an unprecedented turn when Aarush’s identity is made public on social media. Rudransh finds himself living a nightmare as he fights against tremendous odds to get justice for Aarush, to save him and to bring him back home… But what if the unthinkable is true? Can Rudransh save his grandson, or will he end up fighting a different battle altogether?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Book Synopsis. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">“Now, should we treat women as independent agents, responsible for themselves? Of course. But being responsible has nothing to do with being raped. Women don’t get raped because they were drinking or took drugs. Women do not get raped because they weren’t careful enough. Women get raped because someone raped them.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"> ~ Jessica Valenti <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">One cannot, perhaps, more aptly describe the irony and agony of the rape victim. The absolute truth as stated above often gets curbed and covered by the misnomers and people actually skirt around the issue without tackling the real cause of one of the most brutal, loathed and <i>(perhaps the most)</i> trivialized act of crime which the mankind <i>(especially the women)</i> is currently struggling with - Rape. Kirtida Gautam’s offering #IAm16ICanRape attempts to explore the same and does much more trying to dwell deep into the psychological aspect of the crime and the criminal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">The book narrates the story of a prestigious but dysfunctional Kashyap family enjoying great stature in the society. The head of the family Rudransh Kashyap is a man of repute and principles who has carved out a name for himself & owns a successful coaching institute. He lives with his wife Gayatri and grandson Aarush in a posh bungalow accompanied by some domestic helpers and maids. Gayatri is a homely and religious lady who considers serving the husband and managing the home as sole motives of life - apart from showering unconditional love on his grandson. His son and daughter in law live in the United States.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Aarush Kashyap, the grandson, is portrayed as the ever captivating and intellect guy with a genius IQ level, someone who can make anyone drool over him basis his demi-god like looks and near perfect intelligence. He has the privilege of having best of the upbringing both in terms of the materialistic pleasures <i>(looks, money and all material comforts)</i> and aesthetic delights <i>(immense love of grandparents, stature in the society and discerning intelligence)</i>. He lives with his grandparents and is the apple of their eye; he doesn’t have much liking for his parents who are settled abroad. His father, Mrigank, is depicted as someone who stays loser throughout the life. He doesn’t have much say in most of the matters that happen in and around him. The people around him, including his father and wife remain unsatisfied with him & he remains playing second fiddle for each of them. Aarush’s mother Ananya, on the contrary, is an intelligent and practical lady who is favored by her father in law for being his brightest student. Aarush’s hate for her mother stems from the fact she wanted to abort Aarush because he was conceived before she married Aarush's father.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Each of the characters in the family has its own sets of apprehensions about the relationships, ideologies and life which become evident as the story proceeds and each of them confronts each other. The family receives the shock of their life when Aarush is accused of brutally raping a girl on the eve of his sixteenth birthday celebration. A teenage girl, Shubhangi Tyagi, accuses Aarush and a bartender, for allegedly raping her. As the family makes an attempt to come to the terms of the case, the events as they unfold stuns each of them with the truth which bare all about the intricacies of this heinous act. The whole of the family find themselves in the fix as it becomes a nightmare for them to believe that their kid can do such a heinous act. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">The dark side of Aarush gradually is revealed when he masterminds and manipulates with almost all of his kins and mates including his grandparents, parents and lawyer. He also takes advantages of the daughter of their domestic maid, Pihu, who loves him from the bottom of her heart. The story finally explores various facets of the crime and the criminal and also stresses high on revisiting and repealing the provisions juvenile law in the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">The book also has spate of other characters as well like domestic maid’s daughter Pihu <i>(who loves Aarush)</i>, Shubhangi’s room-mate and friend Taz, Aarush’s lawyer Meghna, some TV journos covering the case etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Has Aarush really committed the crime? How does Rudransh reconcile with the fact that his ‘champ’ Aarush (that’s what he fondly refers him as) has been involved in such a flagitious crime? Does he stand by his principles and ethics when his own kid is under trial? How does the family reconcile with the fact? Is Aarush able to escape the punishment under the juvenile laws of the country? What happens to Shubhangi, the girl who was raped? What happens to Pihu, the girl who truly loved Aarush? What finally happens to Aarush, the man who commits and manipulates?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Grab a copy of the book to unearth answers of the above and also to be a part of the most vital yet neglected debate about the juvenile provisions of the Indian law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">I have received the copy of this book from the authoress for the feedback / review. I thank her for giving me this opportunity to offer my opinion about the book. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My Thoughts. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Having recently reviewed another piece of literature on <a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2015/05/book-review-slient-scream.html">child abuse</a>, I wasn’t really sceptical when the authoress approached me with a request to review the book. As Kirtida mentioned, <i>‘It's a book that questions the Juvenile Justice System of India and raises the voice against growing rape culture’</i>, I couldn’t arrest my mind and thoughts to ramble back to the horrors and agony of the Nirbhaya case – something which made me ashamed of being a part of the sterner sex!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Before I dwell further on my opinion about the book, I offer my heartiest appreciation and admiration for Kirtida for choosing such a grave and sensitive topic for her first book. It actually would have demanded a great amount of physical and mental toiling on her part to carve out this fictionalized version taking cue from Nirbhaya case – indeed a noble attempt Kirtida, for the intent with which it has been attempted!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Coming back to the book, it is a great piece of psychological thriller penned by the first time authoress highlighting the lapses and loopholes in the current legal provisions of Indian law with regard to rape and juvenile rapist. The story is intriguing with adequate twists and turns to keep the readers completely hooked. Instead on harping on a melodramatic description about the rape victim condition per se, the book goes beyond and explores the psychology of the rapist and people around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Being a psychologist, Kirtida makes an attempt to take this one beyond a normal piece of fiction and offers her reader a piece of the mind of the rapist which prompts him to commit the crime. It also offers advice and insights to some of the vital aspects of parenting. The book has been written in the first person by various characters turn by turn giving it a completely different take on the thriller genre. The meritorious manner in which the chapters have been written aptly reflects the command of the authoress over her principal characters <i>(guess her professional skills helped in her bit)</i>. Each chapter gives the reader an insight into the character’s mind and thoughts, as to what each of them is thinking about a particular juncture in the story. These have been skilfully woven to take the story further so that nowhere the construct of chapters defy the intent of the story teller. The book starts off with Aarush accused of raping a girl and is due for trial and creating a perfect pedestal for the story to move igniting the curiosity meter of the reader with regard to what’s, why’s and how’s of the story. The non-sequential chapter numbering with an interesting flowchart given at the beginning is an innovative way of putting across the story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The book hits hard on the preconceived silos and notions breathing in our society demarking the acts and deeds of the girl responsible for the rape. I don’t think anything can be more obnoxious than the fact that there are people in the society who prefer creating flutter by accusing the victim rather than holding the accused responsible and seek severe punishment for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The best part of the book remains that it does what it is intended to do. It bares all about the ‘rape’ questioning the age-old adages and beliefs while raising grace marks on the legal provisions of our country which allows a juvenile rapist to escape the punishment overlooking the magnitude of the crime he has committed and ignoring the gravity of the intent and mental state with which the crime is committed, giving weight age to only one thing – his age. As the strings of the story are unveiled, the reader is <i>suo moto</i> compelled to look beyond the age of the perpetrator to his acts and deeds. It presents a strong case for the regulator to revisit and reframe the age old laws and make an exception to the provision making the punishment of the crime in consonance with the brutality of the crime. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">However, there were minor glitches which were noticed by me during the course of reading the book. The story boasts of too many characters which didn’t go well with me especially when many of them stay redundant and not keenly developed even till the end of the book. The characterization of the principal characters has been done quite wonderfully but when it comes to some of the secondary ones, I feel it would have been just great if those would have avoided. Alternatively, if the chapters having their ‘point of view’ could be removed, that would have done wonders for the book. Proper editing of the ensuing editions of the book is suggested which will transform this work into a masterpiece.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Another mild observation of mine is regarding the narration of the book which I found quite naïve at places. Maybe it was a deliberate attempt on the part of authoress so that to keep the flow of such a long book intact <i>(something in which she succeeds)</i>, but for me, it would have been great if it had adequate amount description as well which would have provided further thrust to the matter dealt with. There were some minor grammatical / typo errors but these weren’t too scratchy to impact the overall reading experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The cover page of the book is appealing with the picture of the juvenile sitting holding his head as if sitting in distress for the crime he had committed. The title of the book is apt as it conveys and raises the question on the proclaimed affirmation of the juveniles to rape on the pretext of relaxed laws in this regard. In the backdrop, various phrases are written linked directly with the title of the book. A special word of appreciation about the print, font and word spacing in the book which is more than decent to grant a comfortable read.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Final Word. . .</span></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">A commendable task of fictionalizing a non-fictional topic which kindles the strings within to strive for the change which still awaits the dawn of the day. Under the pretext of the fictional thriller, Kirtida Gautam touches some of the most controversial aspects about rape and the rapist and also about the age old stale legal juvenile provisions which instead of curbing and deterring the crime silently protects the criminals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">A brave and well-researched piece of literature which has its heart at the right place. Surely recommended for the sheer intent and the promise of a better world it attempts to create.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";">Rating: 3.25/5</span></b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Five Favorite Quotes. . .</span></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";">It might seem that rape is a feminist issue. It is not, it is a battle for masculine which females are forced to fight against.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";">This is the idiotic judicial system of my country. When a person of a certain age commits a crime, they overlook the nature of the crime and the competence of the criminal to focus only on a single biological fact – age.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";">And I am not a victim, I am a survivor. I was not raped because I am who I am. I was raped because he is who he is.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">4.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";">I want people to know that I am a real person who exists in a real world. I am not a raped girl or victim. I had a life before that evening and I will continue to have a life. What happened with me that night will stay with me but if it has not killed me, it has made me stronger.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">5.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";">Whatever I fed to his mind, thinking it was nutrition was, in fact, poison. No matter how much a person likes or craves sugar, he should not be raised on the diet of only sugar.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">About the Author. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Kirtida is a clinical psychologist turned screenplay writer who completed her education from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, India. Her passion for psychology and writing inspired her into writing psychological thrillers. While the readers are reading this introduction, the next thriller is in the making. You can explore he world more by visiting her website </span><a href="http://www.kirtidagautam.com/"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";">http://www.kirtidagautam.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Where to grab a copy. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";">Please click here to buy the book from <a href="http://www.amazon.in/IAm16ICanRape-Kirtida-Gautam/dp/8193136020/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1447586874&sr=1-1&keywords=kirtida+gautam">Amazon</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif";">Please click here to buy the book from <a href="http://www.flipkart.com/iam16icanrape-english/p/itmeakzwh3r9rzgk?pid=9788193136027&ref=L%3A-5225311320083119065&srno=p_1&query=kirtida+gautam&otracker=from-search">Flipkart</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">~ Shubh Life . . . OM Sai Ram <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">© 2015 Manish Purohit (Reserved)</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span> </i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they do manage to form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: grey; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">Linking back to Write Tribe</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-44563082381720514722015-11-14T01:18:00.000+05:302015-11-14T01:18:16.884+05:30Chronicles of a Solitary Soul – Missing the Lakshya (Aim) of Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZgPS34axuCgF_nH2lMKcuY2gKRgg52d74fVteGYMxAqWjIw39BbgiMFcVFzK7aAZ8p7FiSBqGOpOA2FRf8nOEvqmhEqT2pFT8RcahyphenhyphencYbIuT8mpS73mT6L631os4xUiiyOWMQLjCBwI/s1600/1.+Chronicles+of+a+Solitary+Soul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Aim of Life" border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZgPS34axuCgF_nH2lMKcuY2gKRgg52d74fVteGYMxAqWjIw39BbgiMFcVFzK7aAZ8p7FiSBqGOpOA2FRf8nOEvqmhEqT2pFT8RcahyphenhyphencYbIuT8mpS73mT6L631os4xUiiyOWMQLjCBwI/s320/1.+Chronicles+of+a+Solitary+Soul.jpg" title="Aim of life" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><b>How strange these dreams actually are – there are some which don’t let us awake while there are others which don’t let us sleep. </b>Caught in the web of these the solitary soul lay hung, suspended and restless completely unaware of what to do and what not to. As the clock is striking past midnight hour, the similar admixture of thoughts and emotions are attempting to engulf me, to overtake me in their stride in the same manner as does the fog outside is making an attempt to capture the world out there. This, I guess, perfectly sums up my current state of mind as the chaos and haziness blooming outside mystifies my inner self as well. What is awaited is that stroke of air, that bout of sunshine which clears away these clouds for a clearer vision and a brighter path.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">My bout of insanity evident from the words above stems from the cruel fact the world despite being a beautiful place suffers from grave distinctions amidst the people that live therein. In one of my earlier <a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2015/02/twentyrupeenote.html">post</a>, I recall pondering about the differentiation in this beautiful world, <i>“. . . There are some who have the luxury of residing in the lavish homes, while there are others who find their haven beneath the shadow of starry sky; there are some who are served with the choicest of the delicacies, while there are others who find their hunger sated from the leftovers; there are some who are adorned with the branded apparels of highest grade, while there are others who just manage to cover themselves with whatever they get. Some may refer it the outcome of past birth deeds, some may call it the culmination of karma philosophy and some might just shrug & move ahead saying there are indeed better things to look and ponder about.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">I am sure it would have happened with many of us to wake up in the morning and walk away numb with a feeling of some void or something missing altogether or some strong urge to have a deep rooted motive or connection to do something which can elate the spirit and uplift the soul. Lost in the momentary busyness of life, we might find that nagging feeling of void a bit unnatural especially as the life is going in full swing per se but it surely isn’t a misnomer. It’s just that owing to the circle of imperfections, apprehensions or incapableness which we create around ourselves, we choose / tend to overlook it completely. The irony of the whole thing is that though we manage to shrug them off <i>(at least momentarily)</i> by covering ourselves in the false veil of understanding and <i>(so called)</i> choices we choose to make that yearn, longing and void persists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Does it happen with you as well . . .?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Well, it does happen with me sporadically. I say sporadically because, though the realization remains alive perennially within, the sensation aggravates intermittently every now and then. Just a glance around reveals the truer picture of the world and its people suffering and yearning for their share of love, compassion and assistance. Almost on a daily basis, I wake up with that cringing feeling of leading the most mechanical life <i>(like many of us)</i> which doesn’t spare us even the slightest chance to halt and ponder. As that alarm scream at the peak of its lungs, trying hard to wake me up from the slumber, I most hesitatingly retire from my couch to get ready for my daily chores <i>(the alarm outside manages to wake me up from the physical sleep I was in but the wake-up call that’s constantly ringing within still await my conscious submission).</i> And then as the day unfolds that cringe grows heavier and heavier. The life moves on and along-with, me too in the motion that it carves out for me, through the turns it takes me to, accepting or negating the things it throws back to me, perhaps leading all by default and missing the <i>‘Lakshya’</i> (aim) of life altogether or rather not following the <i>‘Lakshya’</i> (aim) of life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">More often than not amidst the stillness of the dark night, the silence echoes and seeks answers of many impending questions for which I too search for an appropriate answer. . . . . .<i>Why do I exist on this planet??? What is that I am supposed to do??? What am I literally doing??? What good my daily acts doing to the life of millions of the destitute and inflicted souls??? What is the justification of this life it's materialistic pleasures when every single day your soul witness impoverished and abandoned souls striving for the bare necessities of the life??? Is it not worthwhile to give it back to the society which has fostered us the way we today are???</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I have been nurturing some silent beliefs in my heart since long – beliefs to give something back to the society </span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">which has evolved me into the person I am. These beliefs were planted as seeds beneath my heart during my teens, incubating in deep thoughts, nourished by desires & hopes before sprouting into the saplings of the dreams</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> which subsequently were maneuvered to blossom into a tree of life in whose branches and arms lay hanging the fruits of those tomorrow which still await its final efflorescence. Poor little fruits, how hard they try to protect themselves from the gusty winds of reality only to find themselves falling prey to these. And I am, yet again, left to ponder as to whose fault was that – my beliefs which were not adequately nurtured before planting or my dreams which were not sufficiently nourished before sprouting or my tree of life which was not amply competent to sustain the weight of fruits of tomorrow or it was the fault of the outside world which prevented the fruits to abloom</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">. The fault, perhaps, lies both with the tree (within) and the wind (outside). Confusion, confusion and confusion!!!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">You must have seen a horse. A horse’s freedom is to run and that is what he is meant to do, taming and domesticating him doesn’t do any benefit. On the contrary, it absolves him from his capabilities and potential & one fine day when the time ripens and he is given the ground, the arena and the freedom to run – he finds the will missing. The damage has already been done the infliction has already been inflicted. The similar thing holds good for us as well, it’s imperative to wake just in time before the body gives away to the slumber and life itself become ‘used to’ to the shell in which we have carved it into. But then it’s not always that easy to break the shell. Even our utmost aspirations backed by the cognizance and convictions don’t see the light of the day. There are so many things which the heart wants to do, so many lives which the soul wants to touch but don’t know why despite all the efforts, sometimes things fall apart and they fall so discretely that it becomes impossible to re-assimilate and re-start. But then again the choice remains to let the life take its course or do your own bit amidst the adversities around. I choose to do the later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source; Google Images</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">All said and done, to summarize, we all have bountiful compassion, fathomless love and enough kindness in our heart and these are such commodities which multiply when shared. Let your treasuries </span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">of love and compassion grow boundless by touching a life of someone in need. In addition to the material things which you bestow to the people in need, give them your time and concern – free in cost but beyond measure in value. That’s what the joy of giving is all about. There is an old story which I read somewhere which speaks about the joy of giving and the happiness it emanates – </span><i style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“A woman who was traveling alone in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveller who was hungry; the woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveller saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveller left, rejoicing in his great fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But few days later he came back, to return the stone to the woman. “I’ve been thinking,” He said, “I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone.” The woman smiled and said, “The joy of giving!”</i></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">As Gibran also puts it. . . <i>“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Perhaps, it turned out to be a complex and confused post, but trust me that’s not it was intended to be. It was actually an innocent attempt to seek opinion, guidance and answers on some of the matters which disturb me and my soul every now and then . . . If you have the answer or the insight, do offer your words below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">~Shubh Life . . . Om Sai Ram</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">© 2015 Manish Purohit (Reserved)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span><span lang="EN-IN"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they does manage to form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Linking Back to <a href="http://writetribe.com/write-tribe-pro-blogger-challenge/">Write Tribe</a></span></div>
Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-18422749317584557052015-11-04T21:47:00.000+05:302015-11-04T21:47:25.490+05:30Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: Google Images</td></tr>
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<b style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Book Details. . .</span></b><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Title</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: The Fault in Our Stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Author</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: John Green<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Genre: </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Fiction<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Publisher</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Penguin Books Ltd (2013)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">ISBN: </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">9780141345659<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Pages</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: 316 Pages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rating</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">: 3.5/5</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Behind The Book. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Book Synopsis. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">“. . .but it is the nature of stars to cross, and never was Shakespeare more wrong than when he has Cassius note, ‘The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">I do wonder what Shakespeare must have been pondering when he pronounced the legendary statement that <i>‘The fault is not in our stars but in ourselves’</i>. . . it’s awfully true at one hand and a fallacy at the other. John Green’s book takes a cue from this and embodies the story of the lives of Hazel Grace and Augustus Walters intervened and interfered by the fault in their stars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">‘The Fault in Our Stars’ shares the story of sixteen year old cancer ridden Hazel who is struggling for a motivation and drive in life & a seventeen year old amputee Augustus, who is a cancer survivor and walks on the artificial limb. While Hazel is an introvert and silent soul interested in poetry and longing for solitude; Augustus, on the other hand, is an extrovert, ex-basketball player who is war game frenzy and sci-fi novel reader, always up to some adventure and excitement. They meet in the weekly support group work shop, which is meant for inducing positivity and will in the heart and spirits of cancer ridden patients. Their chemistry cracks immediately and their contrasting nature provides a perfect pedestal for a tender relationship ahead <i>(remember…Opposite Attracts!!!)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Hazel has this tingling desire to meet Peter Van Housten, the author of her favorite book ‘An Imperial Affliction’, a book regarding a cancer ridden girl Anna and her experiences in life which happens to draw close resemblance to her own life. There remain some unanswered questions in Hazel’s mind with regard to Anna’s life and people therein, the answer of which she longs to learn from the author. Augustus manages to track down author’s correspondence and the two starts e-mail correspondence with his assistant during which the author invites the two for a meeting in his home at Amsterdam to talk about the unanswered parts of the book. Hazel and her family cannot afford a trip to Amsterdam to meet the author, which upsets her. Augustus once again surprises her with tickets to Amsterdam to meet Peter Van Houten, the author.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">However, in Amsterdam, the meeting with the author turns out to be a bitter affair with the author, being a shrewd and cunning drunkard who insults the duo compelling them to leave his place. Amidst all the junctures, the relationship between the two evolves and Augustus confesses his love for Hazel, who affirm and the two undertake to support each other in thick and thin. While Hazel continues her struggle with the cancer, August too finds his health deteriorating. The two, however, continue to stand for each other as the circumstances proceed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">How did Augustus manage to arrange for the trip to Amsterdam? What causes Augustus health to deteriorate? What surprise does Augustus plan for Hazel that she would cherish throughout? Do Augustus and Hazel finally manage to stay afloat despite their health issues? How does the fault in their stars affect their lives?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Grab a copy of the book to be a part of Augustus and Hazel’s life and cherish the little nothings they share amidst themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My Thoughts. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">I had not read any of the John Green’s work earlier and being privy to the praises and kudos this book has garnered, I purchased this one hoping that it does hold true to all the praises. My initial thoughts about the book were of being skeptical as it dealt with cancer suffering characters and I thought, would have the usual story line unnecessary baking up the sentimental stuff in an attempt to forcibly touch the emotional chord of the reader <i>(that’s why it perhaps remained in my ‘to read’ list for long)</i>. However, now when I have read the book, it did not really disappoint me per se.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">‘The Fault in our Stars’ is a typical teenage romance where a boy meets girl, fall in love and then spends his life exploring answers to quench girl’s quest for the ending of a fictional story she adores. Despite being so predictive, there’s something in the book which connects with the reader the instant one starts reading the same. It’s actually a beautifully narrated human story of a cancer survivor boy and a cancer ridden girl that encompasses all the human emotions of love, longingness and affliction. Though it’s about the cancer suffering / surviving characters, this book is neither about the disease nor about the final fate it leads to but about the life that remains in between. As the story matures and characters evolve, the reader feels to be the one in Hazel & Augustus world, experiencing their ecstasy, pains and longings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The book paints the story of Hazel Grace who despite struggling to live lives out her struggle to survive, it is about Augustus Walters who despite being an amputee infuses enthusiasm and positivity in the life of people around, it is about Isaac who despite losing his eyes to the cancer manage to stay afloat and it is about many other lives which are intervened and tangled in their affairs. The plot of the book is simple and doesn’t really have that edge of the seat twists and turn & tend to flow effortlessly with the story, the high point of the book, however, is the dialogues. The manner in which the author effortlessly strings his words together to form sentences which are simple and uncomplicated yet deep and impactful is simply great. The inherent humour amidst the conversation and the ease with which the same has been crafted further add to the pleasure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">However, at some junctures the book and the language thereof did appear ostentatious and far from being true. I specifically disliked the character of Peter Van Housten and the subplot of the story involving him. His character never really fit in the whole scheme of events and right of the beginning it appeared the odd one in the bunch. Infact, his character has been portrayed in a sketchy and shabby manner that all the scenes involving him actually appear sluggish and would have been better, if avoided.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The cover page of the book is simple with blue ground its name written on a black patch<i>.</i> The title of the book is apt as it reflects the ironies in the lives of its characters which the contours of their hands structure. The printing, font and word spacing are decent enough to grant reader a comfortable read. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Final Word. . .</span></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">‘The Fault in Our Stars’ isn’t completely path breaking and remarkable but it does have its moments and phases which touch the chord. High on wit and humor & rich in emotional quotient, this one has been written beautifully with some amazing quotes providing an enthralling reading experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Nothing life changing stuff here but the book surely moves you in bits telling you that even the most mediocre and short life can make a difference to the one around them. Recommended to be read & experienced for the wonderful quotes and statements and nuggets it offers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rating: 3.5/5</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Five Favorite Quotes. . .</span></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I almost felt like he was there in my room with me, but in a way it was better, like I was not in my room and he was not in his, but instead we were together in some invisible and tenuous third space that could only be visited on the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I tried to tell myself that it could be worse, that the world was not a wish-granting factory, that I was living with cancer not dying of it, that I mustn't let it kill me before it kills me and then I just started muttering stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid over and over again until the sound unhinged from its meaning.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">That's the thing about pain. It demands to be felt.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">You don't get to choose if you get hurt in this world... but you do have some say in who hurts you.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I'm grateful.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">About the Author. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">John Green is an American author and educator.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">A few other books authored by him are Paper Towns, An Abundance of Katherines and Looking For Alaska.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Green was born on August 24, 1977, in Indianapolis. He spent his growing years in Orlando, Florida, and completed his schooling from Indian Springs School, after which he graduated with a double major in English and Religious Studies from Kenyon College in 2000. He and his brother host VidCon, a yearly conference dedicated to the online video community. In addition, they also founded the Project for Awesome, a project aimed at creating videos that promote charities or non-profit organizations. Green also hosts a video blog, VlogBrothers. He currently lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, with his wife and children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Where to grab a copy. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; line-height: 150%;">Please click here to buy the book from <a href="http://www.amazon.in/The-Fault-Stars-John-Green/dp/0141345659">Amazon</a></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; line-height: 150%;">Please click here to buy the book from <a href="http://www.flipkart.com/fault-our-stars/p/itme9xyy5vgcq85c">Flipkart</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">~ Shubh Life . . . OM Sai Ram <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">© 2015 Manish Purohit (Reserved)</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span> </i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they do manage to form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="color: grey; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: grey; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">Linking back to Write Tribe</span></div>
Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-63391739347888537542015-10-30T22:27:00.001+05:302015-10-30T22:28:53.417+05:30एक रात, कुछ सपने...और मैं (Ek Raat, Kuch Sapne...aur Main)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJK4zzg9qDJ5BR3tBJ-VB4UVIH0gwkaIY8lvD0jD0F9V5UGVhlAzc9QXOInhYI60wFzqivGWUyfRpDYONJxY1IESPDzLbzXNHfZtFp18ZSIVPZfTSy_2Qztu4xByq2AdvJyViA85oE7pg/s1600/Muse+83_Hindi+Poem_Me+and+My+Dreams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Dreams" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJK4zzg9qDJ5BR3tBJ-VB4UVIH0gwkaIY8lvD0jD0F9V5UGVhlAzc9QXOInhYI60wFzqivGWUyfRpDYONJxY1IESPDzLbzXNHfZtFp18ZSIVPZfTSy_2Qztu4xByq2AdvJyViA85oE7pg/s400/Muse+83_Hindi+Poem_Me+and+My+Dreams.jpg" title="Dreams" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Source: Google Images</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">इक</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">रात</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">लिए</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">मैं</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">अपने</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सपनो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">को</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">यूँ</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">निकल</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">पड़ा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">फिर</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">लेकर</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">अपनों</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">को</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ख्वाब</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ही</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">थे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">जो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">मेरे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">थे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">अपने</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">कुछ</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">नए</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">पुराने</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">जाने</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">अनजाने</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वह</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">दूर</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">गगन</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">में</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">जगमग</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">थे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">तारे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">चंदा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">के</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">संग</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">संग</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">गीत</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">थे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">गारे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">हर</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">तरफ</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">था</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">जैसे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">फैला</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">उजियारा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">चांदी</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">आलौकिक</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">आलम</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">दुधियारा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">गीत</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">जो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">था</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">बस</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">लगता</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">था</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">अपना</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">मेरे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ख्वाबो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">का</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">कह</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">रहा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">फ़साना</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">झर</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">-</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">झर</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">बहता</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">पानी</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">का</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">दरिया</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">थे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">उस</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">पर</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">बसाये</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">कुछ</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">पंछी</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">डेरा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">पंछी</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वह</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">क्या</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">थे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">मेरे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सपने</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">थे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">जो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ढूंढे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">दरिया</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">में</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">कुछ</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सीप</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">-</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">मोती</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">थे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वह</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सपना</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">मेरा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">किस</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सीप</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">में</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">खोया</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ढूँढू</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">मैं</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">उसको</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">जागा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">और</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सोया</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">शाख़</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">दरख़्त</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">की</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">कुछ</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">झुकी</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">झुकी</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सी</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">बस</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सुना</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">रही</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">थी</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">उन</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">फलो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">को</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">लोरी</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">फ़ल</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वह</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">क्या</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">थे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">मेरे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सपने</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">थे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">पकने</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">की</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">थी</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">आस</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">और</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सिमट</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">रहे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">थे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">मेरा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सपना</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">कुछ</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">पनप</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">रहा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">था</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ख्याली</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">शाख़ों</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">पे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">झूल</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">रहा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">था</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">पर्वत</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">पे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">जब</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">छायी</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">घोर</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">घटाएं</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">काले</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">थे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">बादल</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सन</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सनन</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">हवाएं</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">बादल</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">क्या</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">थे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">मेरे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सपने</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">थे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सावन</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">की</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">चाह</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">में</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वह</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">भटक</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">रहे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">थे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">फिर</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">एक</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">हवा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">का</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">जब</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">झोंका</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">आया</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">डाली</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">अठखेली</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">बादल</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">को</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">रिझाया</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">मदमस्त</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">हुआ</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">और</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">जम</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">के</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">बरसा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">तृप्त</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">हुआ</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ये</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">जो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">बरसो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">तरसा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सावन</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">क्या</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">था</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">मेरे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सपने</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">थे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">बरसो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">से</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">प्यासे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">जो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">भटक</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">रहे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">थे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">कब</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">आएगा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">इक</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">हवा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">का</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">झोंका</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">पागल</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">मतवाला</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">किसने</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">है</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">रोका</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ये</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सपने</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">भी</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">है</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">कुछ</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">अजब</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">निराले</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">नाज़ो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">से</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">हमने</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">है</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">इनको</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">पाले</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">मासूमियत</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">है</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">इक</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">बच्चे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">जैसी</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">पर</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">दूर</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">हकीकत</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">है</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">इनसे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ऐसी</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">यथार्थ</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">समय</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">में</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">जब</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">इनको</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">तोला</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">हुआ</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">क्षीण</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">मर्म</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">हर</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सपना</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">बोला</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">चला</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">बिख़र</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">के</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">छोड़ा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">इक</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">एहसास</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">आँखों</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">में</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">अश्रु</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">होंठो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">पे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">इक</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">प्यास</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">चलता</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">हूँ</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">मैं</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">तो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">मुझको</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">है</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">चलना</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">है</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">जीवन</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">क्या</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">बस</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सपनो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">को</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">बुनना</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">फिर</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">आस</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">उठी</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">इक</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">और</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">छाई</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ख़ुमारी</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">पलकों</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">की</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">कैद</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">से</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">निकली</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">इक</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">क्यारी</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">था</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">गर्भ</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">में</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">जिसके</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ख्याल</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">अजन्मा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">फिर</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">नया</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वह</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">जोश</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">फिर</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">नया</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वह</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सपना</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">हूँ</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">अनजान</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">मैं</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">न</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">इसके</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">अंजाम</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">से</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">फिर</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">भी</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">चलता</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">हूँ</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">लिए</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">इसे</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">शान</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">से</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">है</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">मन</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">में</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">भरोसा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">है</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">दिल</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">को</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">यकीं</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">उस</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">खुदा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">की</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">नेमत</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">न</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">कभी</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">रुकीं</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">आएगा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">इक</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">दिन</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">जब</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">होगा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सवेरा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सपनो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">की</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">हक़ीक़त</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">…</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ख्वाबो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">का</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">डेरा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">तब</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">तक</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">चलता</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">हूँ</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">लिए</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">सपनो</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">को</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">यूँ</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">निकल</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">पड़ा</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">फिर</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">लेकर</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">अपनों</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">को</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">वो ख्वाब ही है जो...मेरे है अपने <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">कुछ नए पुराने...जाने अनजाने</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">~Shubh Life . . . Om Sai Ram</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">© 2015 Manish Purohit (Reserved)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span><span lang="EN-IN"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While the thoughts are woven with
the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they do manage to
form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop
in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)</span></i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Linking back to <a href="http://writetribe.com/write-tribe-pro-blogger-challenge/">Write Tribe</a></span></div>
Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-43866021320717913652015-10-16T23:54:00.000+05:302015-10-16T23:54:08.899+05:30Chronicles of a Solitary Soul – A Lesson Learnt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLc7THMjXtLElqf5ML-07S1C0RaA6hL_ZZMqwiXNAkbNaKFBYRi1IGSyxpOyaCa-FEI4CYQKahhXYqqu-w6O7qKkGumtFTNWpdjPVscM3_OXpz68Sf56mafyZRtt1gWQ39mW5kXyMzS-g/s1600/1.+Chronicles+of+a+Solitary+Soul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLc7THMjXtLElqf5ML-07S1C0RaA6hL_ZZMqwiXNAkbNaKFBYRi1IGSyxpOyaCa-FEI4CYQKahhXYqqu-w6O7qKkGumtFTNWpdjPVscM3_OXpz68Sf56mafyZRtt1gWQ39mW5kXyMzS-g/s320/1.+Chronicles+of+a+Solitary+Soul.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Standing there at the traffic signal waiting for the lights to turn green, my eyes impatiently stared at the digital display showing the time remaining for the signal to change. As the countdown started, I could hear the engines of the vehicles gearing up fiercely to rush ahead of the masses. How strangely our lives have transformed into a racing track. While the struggle for survival continues, this race never lets our soul take a breath and respite & even if you don’t want to be a part of it, you find yourself amidst the rush leaving you wondering what was it supposed to be and what it actually is!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">My ramble down the pensive lane was interrupted by a knock on the window pane. It was a eunuch who was knocking repeatedly and clapping together her hands asking for the money. I turned away my head grumbling about the increasing number of eunuchs in the city to my brother. You name any major or minor signal and you will, more often than not, find these begging and asking for the money, at times making lewd remarks to the person denying the demand. The problem with the ever increasing number of these is that amidst the flurry of requests at times <a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2015/02/twentyrupeenote.html">the genuine ask goes unattended</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">However, as an after-thought, I think I am wrong in using the word ‘begging’ for their ‘asking of money’. There is no denial that these as a section of society are always given a raw deal and are being considered as unsocial. Those sophisticated genres of the society <i>(to which, unfortunately, we too belong)</i> have always ostracized them shunning them off from the very society they live in. At times, I do wonder whether<i> </i>we have given them a fair deal, a fair share to lead a normal life? Be it the opportunity for an equal employment or a chance for fitment in the social cadre, they have always found themselves struggling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Now when I am scribbling all these, I realise that to a great extent I am also to be accused of being too judgemental at times . . . the incident which forms the soul of this post, further accentuate this feeling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">As the car moved on to the next signal which again was red <i>(there is some peculiar thing about the traffic signal, if the first signal you counter in your journey is red, the probability of finding green signals ahead is low),</i> I saw one more eunuch seeking money from various four wheelers and two wheelers in the similar fashion. Needless to say, most of them didn’t oblige and for a change, she was neither rude nor dissenting. Further, few cars away there was a small girl who was also making repeated unsuccessful attempts of asking money from the people around. . .the disappointment of the refusal was easily visible on her face. It was a depressing sight for anyone, more than that it reflected the differentiation that demarcated the society and the people dwelling into it. I am sure at times, the God <i>(up there)</i> would also find </span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px;">himself</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">wondering about the state of affairs of the wonderful world HE once created. HE created HIS best creation of all – the human. Then HE created the land so that HIS human never starves for the food to eat, next came the streams which HE created so that HIS human never thirst for water, then came shelter to give home and so on. Little did HE realized then that all HIS effort would go in vain and this very human would create layers amongst themselves to deprive his own kith and kin off the food, the water, and other basic necessities. Something, for which we owe an apology to the Lord!!!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">I made up my mind to give some money to the little girl and pulled out a currency note from my pocket. Suddenly the signal turned green and the cars started honking badly in a bid to outsmart each other. As they started moving, I noticed that eunuch holding the little girl’s hand, taking her to the footpath; and for some strange reason, I was scared and concerned. However, what I saw next left me bemused and perplexed. The eunuch cuddled the little girl and gave her one currency note from the little money she could get from the people, something which cheered the little girl and made her smile. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The incident remained afresh in my memories even after I reached the home. I kept on thinking about the whole thing and the urge to meet that eunuch once again to offer her my words of apology, a note of thanks and to be compassionate on my part, persistently burnt inside. In a bid to quench that burning desire, I went through the same route for next two days, crawling my way slowly and slowly through that signal in a bid to catch hold of her. But I couldn’t find her again. The panoramic smile on both of their faces is still alive in my eyes emitting two distinct emotions converging into one universal joy – The Joy of Giving!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Life is strange and stranger are its ways as it throws back the lesson at you when you least expect it. The similar thing happened with me that day. While I was pre-occupied with my own fears and apprehensions about what the eunuch would do to that little girl, she <i>(the eunuch)</i> taught me the important lesson of life - the lesson of being compassionate. We, in the normal course of our life, don’t realise the power and impact of touching others’ lives through small gestures like lending them smile or ears, extending a helping hand, giving that warm promising touch or doing that small bit which will change their life. And the big part remains - You don’t need the means but the intent to be compassionate and it helps you more than it helps others. As Dalai Lama says, <i>“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion . . . If you want to be happy, practice compassion”.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">~Shubh Life . . . Om Sai Ram<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">© 2015 Manish Purohit (Reserved)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span><span lang="EN-IN"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they does manage to form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Linking Back to <a href="http://writetribe.com/write-tribe-pro-blogger-challenge/">Write Tribe</a></span></div>
Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-22512305797628117642015-10-08T23:45:00.001+05:302015-10-08T23:45:03.101+05:30Movie Review: Talvar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Movie Details. . .</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Title</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Talvar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Director</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Meghna Gulzar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Script</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Vishal Bhardwaj<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Music</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Vishal Bhardwaj<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Genre: </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Documentary Thriller</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Running Time</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: 132 Minutes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Language</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Hindi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rating</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">: 3.5/5</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Plot Summary. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Talvar, is a fictionalized version of the infamous 2008 double murder case of Noida involving Talwar family, wherein 14 year old Aarushi Talwar and family’s 45 year old servant Hemraj were found murdered. After a prolonged investigation, Aarushi’s parents were convicted in the case basis the circumstantial evidence and they remain imprisoned while their appeal is pending before the Hon’ble High Court.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The film starts off with the senior officers of CDI <i>(Central Department of Investigation, based on Central Bureau of Investigation)</i> handing over the dubious double murder case to one of its most capable office Ashwin Kumar <i>(character based on CBI Investigating Office Arun Kumar, played by Irfan Khan)</i>. The film then traces the events leading to the murder and critical junctures of the interim investigation done by UP Police. A 14 Year old girl Shruti Tandon <i>(character based on Aarushi Talwar)</i> is found murdered in her room one morning by her parents Ramesh Tandon <i>(character based on Aarushi Talwar’s father Rajesh Talwar, played by Neeraj Kabi)</i> and Nutan Tandon <i>(character based on Aarushi Talwar’s mother Nupur Talwar, played by Konkona Sen Sharma)</i>. As the local police start the investigation, they presume it as an open and shut case with the missing servant Khempal <i>(character based on Talwar family’s servant Hemraj)</i> being the prime suspect of the murder. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">However, with the discovery of Khempal’s half decomposed body later on the terrace of the building, the police are left in a lurch with a jumble of packs to solve and decipher. In a series of questioning, they interrogate Kanahiya, Ramesh Tandon’s assistant, who motor mouths self-made facts about Talwar’s and their daughter Shruti. As the pressure mounts, the police declare the murders as a case of Honour Killing and charge Ramesh Tandon with the crime. As the public outrage about the declaration rises, the case is handed over to CDI for further investigation and report submission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The CDI team led by Ashwin Kumar and team investigates the case thoroughly and consequently unearth the anomalies and lapses in initial investigation by local police, which caused the contamination of almost all the evidences and thereby devoiding them of any probable leads to solve the case. As the probe and examination proceeds, Ashwin Kumar develops a belief that Shruti parents might actually be innocent and brick by brick builds up a case against their assistance and his accomplices. However, just when Ashwin Kumar is about to conclude the investigation, the old CDI chief retires, and a new one takes over who tricks Ashwin's assistant in the greed of power to work against him. Consequently, a new team takes over and conducts the investigation in a pre-decided manner, carving out a story justifying initial investigations holding Tandon’s as guilty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Does Tandons finally manage to prove their innocence? Why does their assistant conspire against them? What are the circumstances that cause the murders of Shruti and Khempal?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Watch the movie to unknot the thread and know the answers of the above.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My Thoughts. . .<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The Aarushi murder case has been one of the most unfortunate and disturbing crime mystery in recent times which still await its resolution. And going by years’ long impasse the case witnessed and also its underlying events, it might always remain a mystery ever. <b>‘Talvar’ representing the dramatized version of the murder case is actually shocking and outrageous – ‘shocking’ as it so clearly portrays the incompetency of our current legal system <i>(and investigating agencies)</i> which beetles over the edge & ‘outrageous’ as it puts all – the ever judgmental society, the never diligent impatient media and the sluggish legal system – under the scanner for being so tolerant.</b> And in that sense, I feel the movie succeeds in doing what it was expected to do. It truly reveals that the truth can at times be stranger than the fiction. Without drawing hard conclusions, it presents various viewpoints to the viewers before finally leaving it to their best judgment to decide and conclude.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Though, the movie does appear to be titled towards the parents showcasing them as innocent, framed up and the victim of a botched up investigation, still if there’s even an iota of truth in the way the facts have been presented herein, it surely has been a catastrophic experience for the couple – convicted with the murder of their only child, in the web of events which defamed the departed soul and also their own worthiness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Direction, Script & Story<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Scripting and directing a documentary thriller which is based upon the real events is a daunting task as one need to be perfect in narration and more than perfect in its execution. ‘Talvar’ scores heavily on this front. <b>While Vishal Bhardwaj has penned a perfect script, Meghna Gulzar has executed the same in almost similar fashion.</b> The makers say a lot of research has gone into the script, but the same do at places appear to be inclined towards the parents and that, somewhat, make the script a bit far from being unbiased <i>(the caveat remains that since the truth is yet unknown both sides of the story exist)</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Vishal Bhardwaj has a knack of helming his creations in a perfect manner. Almost all his directorial ventures speak heavily of his caliber as a writer and director, and in each of his films the script remains a real hero. He continues his finesse in this one too and is complimented well by the director Meghna Gulzar. It’s her first movie which I have watched <i>(though I wanted to watch Filhaal as well)</i> and was well contented with the outcome. The movie starts off well but somehow loses a bit of its steam in between before the intermission and appears to drag at places in the first half. On the contrary, the second half blazes across a bit too well in such a riveting manner that it does make up for the lapses. <b>More importantly, kudos to the team for picking up such a dubious case and present the same chronologically to the viewers for assessment and ascertainment.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Music<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Vishal Bhardwaj and Gulzar make up a deadly combo with former weaving a perfect melody for the unusual lyrics of the later. As one would expect, the music of Talvar is different, scoring high with its soulful melodies and melancholic symphony. As the script does not really demands the space for any songs therein, songs are kept to the minimum in the movie. Though there are four songs in the film, none of them appear full-fledged in the movie – only couple of lines of them plays in the background at various junctures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Insaaf</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"> rendered by the Pakistani singer Arooj Aftab is a haunting number sung beautifully by the singer crying with the hope that justice will prevail one day. The piano & strings slowly played in the background and low – high notes of the song <b>make it a beautiful number</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Sukhwinder Singh has sung <i>Patli Gali</i> in his traditional style which reminds of many of his past renditions like <i>‘Ibn Batuta pehan ke joota’,</i> the music has the essence of folk blended well into it. There is nothing extraordinary about the song but it is still <b>hummable and fits well into overall album setting.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Zinda</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"> sung beautifully by Rekha Bhardwaj, is perhaps <b>the best number of the album</b>. It is again a slow number which slowly croons and rises on the listener’s imagination and has that feeling of pain and longing aesthetically rendered, in all the department viz. music, lyrics and singing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Shaam ke saaye</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"> again continues with the melody and finesse of <i>Zinda</i> with Arijit Singh whispering the melancholic vocals amidst the silent music running in the background. Not the usual Arijit Singh number though, <b>this haunting melody will surely find its place listener’s mind after few hearings</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Acting & Other Aspects<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">While Vishal Bhardwaj’s brilliantly penned script wins half of the battle, the other half is won by the stupendous performance of its actors – not just the lead actors but almost each one of them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Needless to say, <b>Irfan Khan is effortless and immaculate</b> in his rendering of CDI investigation officer, Ashwin Kumar. He is surely one of the best actors we currently have and his acting skills by no manner need credentials. The ease and fluency with which he carries on the role giving varied expressions in different scenes, adding his trademark style in each of them, is marvelous. </span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Konkona Sen Sharma and Neeraj Kabi do justice to their respective roles and manage to carry that sad and dubious look expected from their character. The pathos, the scare, and the uncertainty show well on their faces. However, they do appear a bit under-utilized at some places, given the kind of actors they are, the director couldn’t draw a superlative performance from them holistically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Tabu, in a special appearance, looks as graceful as ever but unfortunately, her role has nothing to offer to the overall script and thus she does appear redundant at places.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Another high point of the performances comes up from the second line actors who deliver commendable performances</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">. Gajraj Rao as Inspector Dhaniram (local police officer doing investigations), Prakash Belawadi as retiring CDI chief, Sohum Shah as investigating office Vedant (assisting Irfan Khan) and Atul Kumar as rival investigating officer Paul, are all so powerful in their respective roles (especially Gajraj Rao) that their combined performances makes up for all the minor lapses in other areas of the movie making.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Final Word. . .<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Talvar is a riveting account of the Aarushi murder case which evokes shock, anger and shame in the viewer and puts the ever-judgmental society, the never-diligent & impatient media, and the sluggish legal system into a scanner. It hits hard and makes us think about the various ‘What If’ scenarios which could have been but for the botching investigation and sluggish trial – <i>What If</i>, the parents have not murdered their only child. . .<i>What If</i>, it was not the case of Honor Killing but a revenge murder saga. . .<i>What If</i>, there was no sexual angle involved in the murder as alleged by the investigating agencies thereby defaming the little soul. . .<i>What If</i>, the deceased servant did actually consider her as his daughter. . .<i>What If</i>, the assistant and his accomplices who were freed devoid of any conclusive evidence, had actually killed the girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Talvar needs to be watched for the justice which needs to prevail. The long forgotten memory needs to be scratched and the unexplored strings needs to be discovered from the oblivion for if there had been lapses in the investigation <i>(which, as it appears, surely were)</i>, these should be adequately cured.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rating</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">: 3.5/5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Watch The Trailer. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Watch the trailer of the movie <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQNMsw8Ljjc">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">~Shubh Life . . . Om Sai Ram<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">© 2015 Manish Purohit (Reserved)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they does manage to form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Linking back to <a href="http://writetribe.com/write-tribe-pro-blogger-challenge/">Write Tribe</a></span></div>
Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-41688154205296652062015-10-04T23:48:00.001+05:302015-10-04T23:48:55.360+05:30Book Review: A Mirrored Life: The Rumi Novel by Rabisankar Bal <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Book Details. . .<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Title</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: A Mirrored Life: The Rumi Novel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Author</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Rabisankar Bal (Author), Arunava Sinha (Translator)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Genre: </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Fiction</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Publisher</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Random House India (January 2015)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">ISBN</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: 9788184006155<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Pages</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: 224 Pages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rating</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">: 4/5</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Behind The Book. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">On his way from Tangiers to China, the medieval Moorish traveller Ibn Battuta arrives in Konya, Turkey where the legendary dervish Rumi had lived, danced and died. More than half a century may have passed since his death, but his poetry remains alive, inscribed in every stone and tree and pathway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rumi’s followers entrust Ibn Battuta with a manuscript of his life stories to spread word of the mystic on his travels. As Battuta reads and recites these tales, his listeners discover their own lives reflected in these stories—fate has bound them, and perhaps you, to Rumi. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A Mirrored Life reaffirms the magical powers of storytelling, making us find Rumi in each of our hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Book Synopsis. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">‘A Mirrored Life’ truly stands true to the second half of its name – ‘The Rumi Novel’ as it takes us to the lanes and by lanes of the city of Konya – where Maulana Jalaluddin Muhammad Balkhi dwelt and evolved to what we revere and refer to as ‘The Rumi’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The book starts with Sheikh Ibn Battuta sharing his experiences of travel <i>(or Pilgrimage, as he refers them)</i>, when during one of his sojourn he learns about Maulana and soon a spark within ignites making him yearn to know and learn more about him. Spurred by that spark he arrives in Anatolia – the city of Konya, the Maulana’s playground and the place where the amazing ‘whirling dance’ was born. The city and his stay there enriches him with many of the mystical experiences and make him more & more enchanted by Maulana, his ways and his life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">As he explores the city further, he meets Al Mustasimi <i>(who is working upon a manuscript of a book about Maulana)</i>. While Al Mustasimi works upon a copy of the manuscript for him to take it further with him on his travel, he shares with Sheikh, the stories and treasures about the Maulana and his teachings. The book then proceeds towards the life of Maulana Jalaluddin Muhammad Balkhi who was born in 1207 in Hijri to Sheikh Bahauddin Walad, who himself was a holy soul and a revered figure among religious scholars) and how he evolved & transformed into Maulana Rumi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The beautiful story of the life of Rumi remains incomplete without the mention of Shamsuddin Tabrizi (Shams), the mad ascetic and divine soil. As a prophecy both await meeting each other and when they finally do for the first time, each one is left wondering whether the other is one they were waiting since long. And when they eventually discover each other, their love, penance and solitude stirs the ever-toiling soul-churning process which finally separates the Sufi saint into Rumi and Jalaluddin and as the churning continues the former prevails and remains. Their platonic relationship remains the talk of the town and Maulana finds himself so much involved that once Shams leaves, he is left sad, dejected and distressed with the void which grows with the each passing day until they re-unite again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Then there are the two main disciples of Rumi amongst many others viz. Hussam <i>(who was to be bestowed with the prerogative to be the writer of the great Masnavi)</i> and Sultan Wahad <i>(the favorite son and ardent disciple of Rumi)</i>. The book explores the sufi saint’s relationship of Maulana with each of these characters and the journey which entails his transformation from a religious scholar to a mystifying Sufi saint.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">How did Jalaluddin Muhammad transform to Maulana Rumi? How he met Shamsuddin Tabrizi who groomed Maulana? What peculiar relationship they shared amongst themselves? How was ‘the whirling dance’ born? Why did Rumi immerse himself in dance, song and music all day? How did ‘the Masnavi’ the greatest work of Maulana came into existence?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Grab a copy of the book to unearth the answers to above and to be a part of the world of stories within the stories & mysticism they unearth which is so soothing to the soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My Thoughts. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">There are times when some book enchants you so completely that you find yourself short of words to write anything about it. You know you are touched, mystified and soothed but to comprehend how again remains an enigmatic mystery to unravel. Even though there are so many wonderful things you want to scribble about the same, the vicious circle of how, what and when bowls you over and again. The similar lurch of thoughts is currently withholding my fingers from running into the keyboard of my laptop . . . Where I should start and how should I begin. This, probably, would be one of the difficult reviews for me to write and <i>(may be)</i> one of the peculiar one for you to adjudge!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">As someone who has always been enamored by Rumi’s writings and philosophy, ‘A Mirrored Life – The Rumi Novel’ was more than a welcome piece of literature. And with the blurb like <i>“My learned readers, you know that there are stories even before there are stories, but some stories are bound by fate“</i> this became all the more compelling ‘pick-me-up-now’ read for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Rumi remains an eternal sea of intervening thoughts and philosophy for the interested readers, creating ripple of powerful bouts of emotions which stirs you from within, sending you in a ‘self-contemplating’ or ‘self-introspection’ mode, every time you read something about him. No, it doesn’t really matter whether you follow his writing or are completely indifferent about the Sufi saint, once you read this book you just can’t escape from drenching from the waves of this eternal sea of bliss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The book exquisitely paints the world of stories within the stories each one woven beautifully tied by mystical strings of Rumi’s philosophy. It offers such a soothing experience to the reader that one just cannot escape from being charmed by its sheer poetic prose and rich narrative experience. Yes, though it’s a piece of prose but the narratives are no less than a poetic journey which the reader undertakes across the streets and by lanes of Konya. The city of Konya, which has served Rumi’s playground where the Maulana has observed the <i>Chillah (</i>the days of penance and solitude), comes alive . . .<i> </i>in every rock and every tree of the vicinity singing the soulful verses of Maulana Rumi which entices the reader’s mind . . . in the description of various sights of potters and blacksmiths producing the music of the wheels and hammers which soothes the reader’s ears . . . in the smells of various kebabs and delicacies like ‘Hanim Gobegi’ <i>(meaning a lady’s navel) </i>the aroma<i> </i>of which tickles the reader’s appetite . . . in the symphony of the whirling dance of the Maulana the melody of which spell bind the reader’s soul. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Intrigued as my words above, the reader is left with the experience he garners. The language so effortlessly flows that one completely surrenders himself to the flow of the stories and the stories within the stories & let them enamored by its velvety texture of the poetic prose and its inherent softness. Consider this, for instance, when the Sheikh contemplates “<i>all that is raw must be made delicious and digestible through the process of cooking. The Lord will cook you with his own hands, for only then can he savor you”</i> or this one, <i>“Do you know why the flute weeps? - It wants to return to the wood of reeds from which it was taken”. </i>I am not, by any measure, exaggerating the gracious blissful experience of reading the book, my trusted readers. In fact, I still recall reaching the last few pages of the book and then leaving them unread for few days as I <i>(strangely)</i> didn’t want the book to end lest I should lose the perfect ecstasy it delivered. How wrong was I to forget that the fragrance of the flower or the sandalwood remains even after those are crushed or chopped!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The book might demand some patience and persistence from some of the readers but in the end the worth would all be more than these. The cover page of the book shows a dervish wearing a long robe and engrossed in the whirling dance connecting him directly with the Lord. The printing, font and word spacing are decent enough to grant the reader a comfortable read.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Final Word. . .</span></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">‘A Mirrored Life – The Rumi Novel’ offers a unique bouquet of soulful verses dipped in artful prose and rich narrative, all peppered by amusing story telling skills which remain with you long after the book is completed. It is one of those books that needs to have a permanent space in your book-shelf so that you can re-read and re-re-read them again and again so as to cut through layer by layer the deep quilts of knowledge it houses. As the book culminates with <i>“Shut your eyes, all of you. If the Lord so wills it, you may be able to hear Maulana’s voice”</i> . . . I did and I am sure so will you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Don’t miss this masterpiece at any cost!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rating: 4/5</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Five Favorite Quotes. . .</span></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Do you know what snow tells itself? I want to melt, I will become a torrent and then my journey to the sea begins, that is where my home lies. I cannot take this lonely, hard, dense existence anymore. When will the sword of the sun slice me up?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">If I close my eyes I can see the waiting love, my learned readers, the glow and anxiety on his face, his eyes lit up with the desire for union and tinged by the agony of the separation, as magical as sunset.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Dance, now that you have been torn apart…Dance, now that you have ripped the bandage off…Dance, in the middle of the battle…Dance, within your blood…Dance, now that you’re a free soul.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The entire world and even whatever lies outside it, is a story. The Lord has written all our stories with his own quill.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">There is no friend more intimate than the road. It's the kind of friendship that holds back nothing, only taking you from one mystery of life to another.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">About the Author. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Rabisankar Bal, the author, is a Bengali novelist and short-story writer credited with over fifteen novels, five short story collections, one volume of poetry and one volume of literary essays. Born in 1962 he has been writing for thirty years, predominantly in Bengali. He lives in Kolkata and pursues journalism, apart from being a writer. He zealously follows literature, painting, and also world cinema. His novel <i>The Biography of Midnight </i>won the West Bengal government’s Sutapa Roychowdhury Memorial Prize. <i>Dozakhnama</i> acknowledged by the late doyen of Bengali literature Sunil Gangopadhyay, as the finest novel of 2010, won the West Bengal government’s Bankimchandra Smriti Puraskar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Aunava Sinha, the translator, translates classic, modern and contemporary Bengali fiction and nonfiction into English. Thirty-one of his translations have been published so far. Twice the winner of the Crossword translation award, for Sankar’s Chowringhee (2007) and Anita Agnihotri’s Seventeen (2011), respectively, and the winner of the Muse India translation award (2013) for Buddhadeva Bose’s When The Time Is Right, he has also been shortlisted for The Independent Foreign Fiction prize (2009) for his translation of Chowringhee. Besides India, his translations have been published in the UK and the US in English, and in several European and Asian countries through further translation. He was born and grew up in Kolkata, and lives and writes in New Delhi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Where to grab a copy. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; line-height: 150%;">Please click here to buy the book from <a href="http://www.amazon.in/Mirrored-Life-The-Rumi-Novel/dp/8184006152">Amazon</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; line-height: 150%;">Please click here to buy the book from <a href="http://www.flipkart.com/mirrored-life-rumi-novel-english/p/itme2rn6wessfrwy">Flipkart</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">~ Shubh Life . . . OM Sai Ram <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">© 2015 Manish Purohit (Reserved)</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span> </i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they do manage to form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: grey; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">Linking back to <a href="http://writetribe.com/write-tribe-pro-blogger-challenge/">Write Tribe</a></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></div>
Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-21486009288833806462015-09-06T13:25:00.001+05:302015-10-19T09:14:22.617+05:30Zindagi Connects: Floras & Weeds in the Garden of your Heart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The world is a beautiful place for sure and the thing that makes it beautiful is we, its inhabitants. The ideal scenario where everyone lives happily devoid of any negativity is surely a fantasy <i>(or is it not!!!)</i>. And in actual, we do get carried away by our limitations, insecurity and ego resorting to spreading anguish and hatred around which certainly creates void and differences in the hearts. It’s all so frustrating to witness that. There are already so many layers and lines demarcating the hearts of the people <i>(in the name of religion, caste, creed, race and lord knows what else)</i>, let’s strive not to add further to these. What the world and its inhabitants need is more of love and compassion – spread these and then this would be a more beautiful world with more beautiful people. Theoretic, it may sound… but in actual it isn’t one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent1;">The beautiful world is not exactly a myth in itself though a bit distant reality but something which can surely be bridged and converged with today provided one strives for it. And there is no need to traverse a lot in search of those beautiful people who make the world beautiful, because they are right here – YOU and ME!!</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Life is indeed too short for the people to love the ones around with all their might then how on the earth do they gather time to nail them down – I don’t know and understand. It’s a simple yet not so ordinary piece of mind, <i>“Treat others in the manner you would want yourself to be treated.”</i> There is no dearth of hatred or the negativity in the world out there, why do we need to spread more. People want love and compassion & they are more than eager to reciprocate it with all their zest, but each one is just waiting for that first step – and the big question remains, Who should make the beginning? Who should take that first step? Who should initiate that gesture? Life gets intervened in the vicious circles of these questions and when the realisation dwells upon, it’s a bit too late!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">It feels bad and a part of mine pains when I witness people quarrelling with each other and that too for things which are momentary. In fact, I feel that it’s not those momentary things which make them fight or argue it’s their ever-lasting ego which refuses to subside causing all the mess. They fail to appreciate the simple fact that the relation and compassion which they have relinquished under the intoxication of their ego was hard earned after devoting a major portion of their lifetime and efforts. I bet you ask any of them and they will hurl it all back on their self-respect and dignity…only if they could realize that there is a thin line of consciousness demarcating the self-respect and the ego. The ones who are conscious never cross that line because on the other side the life is alone. The logic is simple, in the sheer madness for self we become so obsessed that we end up losing others too who love us and what’s worse is that we turn blind to the loss we suffer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent1;">I firmly believe that people come into our life for a reason and there exist some deep connection which brings soul to connect with each other – this may be for some cherished memories of love, friendship and compassion or some hard earned experience of hardships, sufferings and lessons.</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">This, however, in no way means or implies that those toxic souls that exhausts you to the bottom and impute negativity by obstructing your forward momentum should be nurtured. On the contrary, there needs to be a periodical weeding out exercise which should be done just the way we do for our garden upkeep. While working in our garden, we come across many unwanted weeds and shrubs which have come into existence on their own. These are constantly sucking out the nutrients, manure, water and also space we intend to shower on our dear planted flowers. And as a matter of hygiene, we weed out those unwanted entrants to our garden to keep the garden afresh and anew, so that the plants and flora we cherish can blossom in the best of the environment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The case with the garden of our heart is also exactly similar. There are flowers of our near and dear ones which blossom on the soil of our heart nurtured with care, attention, time and effort. These in turn emit fragrance which is clearly visible in our positive thoughts, worthy actions and righteous deeds. However, unknowingly, some unwarranted shrubs also make their way in our heart consuming our precious time, care and attention, which was actually meant for our flowers. These unwanted people consume all our love and attention and in turn impart darkness, negativity and stress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent1;">Visit the garden of your heart sporadically and pluck out those 'unwarranted weeds' which are exhausting your love, care and attention at the cost of those 'fragrant floras' which are consequently withering for the want of the same. The process is, no doubt, wearing and filthy but in the end it’s worth the effort.</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Though to ascertain as to which of the plant in our heart’s garden belongs to ‘fragrant floras’ category and which one are those ‘unwarranted weeds’, is something that require great tact and prudence. There are times when the circumstances outside and within (read our own self) makes us commit a blooper mistaking floras for weeds and vice versa . . . beware!! Try not to be the one imparting negativity and hatred in the world making you one of the ‘Weeds’ in someone’s life and cherish the people (Floras) in your life by nurturing them with love and care & never let your self come in the way of your relationship. </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I recall, the Holy Bible saying, <i>“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath”.</i> The first part of the statement simply implies that if one ever be angry that should not be against the person but against the sins, one’s own sins or the sins of others – let there be anger which is not sinful. The second part of statement implies that one’s anger should not be continuous and thus, it should not last at the furthest more than one day i.e. beyond the sunset. One’s shouldn’t sleep over with the heat of anger inside the heart, which should cease as the heat of the sun ceases at the sunset. </span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Amidst all the foregoing the key remains. . .</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent1;">“Don’t ever let go your ‘Floras’ under the pretext of your ‘Weeds’ . . .”</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">~Shubh Life . . . Om Sai Ram<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">© 2015 Manish Purohit (Reserved)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span><span lang="EN-IN"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they does manage to form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)</span></i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-48399181171124394242015-09-01T22:32:00.001+05:302015-09-01T22:32:49.548+05:30Book Review: Dongri To Dubai: Six Decades of The Mumbai Mafia by S Hussain Zaidi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Title</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Dongri To Dubai: Six Decades of The Mumbai Mafia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Author</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: S Hussain Zaidi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Genre: </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Crime Thriller / Non Fiction</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Publisher</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Roli Books (2012)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Pages</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: 408 Pages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rating</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">: 3.75/5</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Behind The Book. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dongri to Dubai is the first ever attempt to chronicle
the history of the Mumbai mafia. It is the story of notorious gangsters like
Haji Mastan, Karim Lala, Varadarajan Mudaliar, Chhota Rajan, Abu Salem, but
above all, it is the story of a young man who went astray despite having a
father in the police force. Dawood Ibrahim was initiated into crime as a pawn
in the hands of the Mumbai police and went on to wipe out the competition and
eventually became the Mumbai police’s own nemesis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The narrative encompasses several milestones in the
history of crime in India, from the rise of the Pathans, formation of the
Dawood gang, the first ever supari, mafia’s nefarious role in Bollywood,
Dawood’s move to Karachi, and Pakistan’s subsequent alleged role in sheltering
one of the most wanted persons in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This story is primarily about how a boy from Dongri
became a don in Dubai, and captures his bravado, focus, ambition, and lust for
power in a gripping narrative. The meticulously researched book provides an
in-depth and comprehensive account of the mafia’s games of supremacy and
internecine warfare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Book
Synopsis. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Ever since the beginning,
the Mafiadom and Mumbai have become synonymous to each other. The dark shadow
of crime and criminals has never really left the city. Though the beacon has
changed the hands time & again, the fire remained burning and along-with
burnt the city and its dwellers. While the erstwhile gangsters did follow some
rules and ethics even amidst the non-ethical of the crimes, the next generation
of gang lords comprising Dawood, Abu Salem surpassed all boundaries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Dongri to Dubai
chronicles the history of Mumbai mafia tracing its emergence from the early
1950s when many small gangs like Allahabadi gang, Jhonny gang struggled to
establish their supremacy before finally vanishing in the fire of inter – intra
rivalry to 1990s when the Mumbai mafia evolved to D-Company with Dawood as its
supreme.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The early period of
Mumbai mafia was marred by small time gangster groups emerging and vanishing in
the by-lanes of the city. However, it was with the emergence of Haji Mastan in
late 50s / early 60s, the Mumbai mafia actually saw its upsurge. Mastan had a
humble beginning as a son of a cycle mechanic before rising to the fame riding
on the waves of the ocean doing illegal import of good. His honesty, integrity
and ethical means gave him repute taking him at the pinnacle of Mumbai
mafiadom. As he expanded his footprints in the city, he realized that in
addition to mind and money power he also needed muscle power to exercise full
control over the city. This, perhaps, led him to join hands with two local
goons – Varadarajan and Karim Lala; while Haji Mastan provided brains and these
two provided brawns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">When Haji Mastan was
establishing his reins on the waters of the Mumbai, somewhere else in the city
a child was born to Ibrahim Kaskar, who was named as Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar.
Ibrahim Kaskar was an honest, god-fearing head constable in Mumbai Police and
commended a lot of respect amidst both police and goons owing to his integrity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Dawood started off his
childhood well in a good school and in a congenial environment before finally
diverging to his rough means, slowly and steadily climbing ladder to mafiadom.
His petty crimes and acts gave way to an unknowing bank robbery which resulted
in the birth of the man that would one day become Dawood Ibrahim, the Don. The
future course of events saw him fostered by Mumbai police as a weapon to uproot
and eradicate the gang of Pathans who were creating havoc in the city. While
the Mumbai police thought that they are using Dawood to accomplish their
purpose of freeing the city from Pathans, the later heedfully used them to clear
his arch rivals and the struggle that followed saw the emergence of what the
world would say – a stronger Dawood. The Mumbai police nurtured one outlaw to
tackle many others which were present in the city thinking that it would be
easier to tackle one rather dealing with the bunch of them – the time only
proved, how dubious and faulty their perception was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">As the Mumbai underworld
evolved, the gang wars and the bloodshed became more and more prominent between
the Dawood and Pathan gang. While Haji Mastan temporarily called truce between
both, the subsequent killing of Dawood’s elder brother by Pathans opened a new
chapter of blood and gore, revenge and broad light killing. The phase that
arrived dethroned all rules, ethics or humanity. Dawood not only turned
vengeful but also intensely motivated and driven, propelling him out of the
small league of Mumbai pool and pushing him into a big sea of ruthless crime.
And when post charges against grew in number, the boy from Dongri left Mumbai
and escaped to Dubai, though his fiefdom continued to remain in the city.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Despite being forced to
exit the city forever, Dawood continued to control the strings of Mumbai mafia
while sitting in Dubai. Whosoever went against him or tried to overshadow him on
the pretext of him not present in the city, was either staged or killed. The
increasing influence of Dawood and his D-Company in crime and terrorism led him
notoriously climb up the ladder of most wanted criminals. Consequently, the
Indian government constantly pushed for his extradition to India at various
international forums. The notorious and catastrophic Mumbai bomb blasts nailed
him badly as (perhaps) he didn’t expected such a grave magnitude, intensity and
impact of the blast, post which he shifted his base to Karachi in Pakistan. Simultaneously,
the underworld witnessed the rise of many new names as well like Chota Rajan,
Chota Shakeel and Abu Salem, much to the ire of Mumbai Police.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Amidst the rising crime
and criminals, the criticism of Mumbai Police stood at its pinnacle as all its
attempts to capture criminals or abort their operations were thrashed and
foiled. However, with the killing of Gulshan Kumar, the Mumbai Police
rejuvenated its strategy and assailed the mafia world with renewed rigor and
zeal – their ‘bullet for bullet’ and ‘life for life’ plan is said to have freed
the city from most of the mafia and goons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The book also explores
the Bollywood connections of the underworld and also unexecuted attempt of
Indian agencies to nab Dawood at his daughter reception with Javed Mianadad in
Dubai, which the whole world kept an eye on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">How did Haji Mastan’s
integrity and honesty help him to become the first king of Mumbai mafia? How
did Dawood turned towards mafia despite having affluent upbringing in the
beginning and having an honest, god fearing father? How did the Mumbai police
pawn Dawood eventually became its nemesis making them dance to his tunes? How
did the topography of Mumbai mafia changed with the emergence of D-Company and
its supreme, Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar? How did Dawood manage to exercise full
control over the Mumbai despite being away therefrom? What was his role in
Mumbai blasts?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Grab a copy of the book
to unearth the answers to above and also to know complete details of the rise
and falls of the underworld in Mumbai & also the transformation of a local
Dongri goon to the world’s most wanted criminal – Dawood Ibrahim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My Thoughts.
. .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">What could be more
paradoxical than the fact that the Mumbai, our own city of dreams<i> </i>has become synonymous with the terms
like mafia, crime and criminals. Perhaps, that’s what you call the real world
which is far from being a fantasy – you have roses & you have thorns, you
have angels & you have devils, you have dreams & you have nightmares.
While the city has been the safe haven for those innumerable dreams which did
manage to see the dawn of the reality, it has also been notoriously subjected
to be the home for the underworld which became the country’s most dreaded
mafia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">I have never been
an avid reader of the crime genre, still there always remain a desire to know
and read about the advent & rise of the underworld fiefdom in India. Though
much has been written and said about the rise and fall of gangs and goons in
Mumbai, the information remains all scattered across the print and electronic
media. Unfortunately, a single book covering the genesis of the underworld in a
chronological manner was long awaited. That’s where ‘Dongri to Dubai’ fits the
bill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The author <i>(being a crime reporter himself for the last
twenty years)</i> has skilfully and meticulously penned down his research,
findings and knowledge about the evolution of the gangs and mafias in Mumbai.
It starts with the minor incidents of pick-pocketing and petty gang wars amidst
small time self-proclaimed gangs when crime itself was at its infancy &
progresses through the rise of organized crime syndicates taking the crime and
criminals at the next level. To say, that the book completely shocks you and
bowls you over with a revelation would be an overstatement as, thanks to
Bollywood and media, the people do have tits and bits of knowledge of the crime
facts and activities. But it does chronologically brick by brick let the reader
understand how once discrete and all scattered crime transformed into organized
corporate like syndicate – the journey that spanned across six decades since
independence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The subject matter
of the book is engaging and thus even though being a non-fiction it manages to
hold onto reader’s attention in most of the places. The result is a page
turning piece of non-fiction which has more thrills and plot twists than the
fiction itself. The author’s research and command over the subject matter is
visible in the wide span of period and ganglords he covers and also in detailed
account of the operations, penetrations and anecdotes of various lingos and
incidents in underworld. Per se, it covers the biography of many gangsters who
reigned Mumbai in one form or the other viz. Haji Mastan, Karim Lala,
Varadarajan Mudaliar, Chhota Rajan, Chota Shakeel, Abu Salem and last but not the
least – Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">However, having
said so, at some places the narration and subject matter appear repetitive and
the language also loses a bit sounding more like a newspaper report <i>(though that’s understandable as the book is
a non-fictional account and not a fiction in itself & the author is also a
crime reporter and not a story teller)</i>. Some amount of editing would have
done more wonders to the book. Further, I personally felt that though the book
starts of well right from 1950s and gradually progresses further step by step,
the moment Dawood and his D-Company comes into prominence all other characters
take a back seat. For instance, not much detail has been given about the outer
years of Haji Mastan or Karim Lala and many other notable mafia dons. As the
narration progresses, it tends to be more and more Dawood centric and his
D-Company. At other places, even the narration about Dawood seem to be
glorified giving him a larger than the life imagery. The author also appear to
be convinced that world’s most wanted criminal Dawood didn’t have any direct
role in the catastrophic Mumbai blasts and he wasn’t aware about the ultimate
usage of logistical support provided by him to ISI – something which didn’t
sound too logical given the sharp and acute bent of mind the don is said to
possess. It would also have been great had further insight was given about
Dawood’s father in his outer years as during the course of reading we come to
know that he was a pious and honest policeman who was completely against the
means and profession of his sons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The cover page of the
book has a traditional photograph of Dawood with sun glasses and glimpses of
the Mumbai city visible through the lenses. The book cover also boasts of the
endorsement by actor Anil Kapoor and director Sanjay Gupta <i>(who is said to have based his film ‘Shootout at Wadala’ on this
novel).</i> The title of the book is perfect as it conveys the transformation
and transgression of a local goon of Dongri in Mumbai to the world’s most
wanted criminal in Dubai. The printing, font and word spacing are decent enough
to grant reader a comfortable read.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Final
Word. . .</span></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">‘Six decades of the
Mumbai Mafia’ the book says and delivers all in this scintillating thriller of
over four hundred pages. It offers the bang for the buck and surely commands a
read especially for those who are interested in knowing the story behind the
advent and rise of mafiadom in Mumbai and also about the man himself – Dawood Ibrahim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Excruciatingly
researched and meticulously penned, it explores the atrocities which the city
of dreams suffered and attempts to unravel the realms of mafia world constructing
a brick by brick transformation of underworld from a </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">discrete all
scattered </span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">disjointed
crime to a well-organized corporate like crime syndicate </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">–
the journey that spanned across six decades since independence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rating: 3.75/5</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Five
Favorite Quotes. . .</span></b><b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">As Napoleon Hill said, necessity
may be the mother of invention but it is also the father of crime.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Offence is the best form of defense
and the best way to take revenge is to hit where it hurts most.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Man's most dangerous enemy is the
one he was once closest to.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">But all the wealth in the world
cannot guarantee you a good night’s sleep. Dawood is an insomniac; he drags
himself home only in the wee hours of the day if he has not brought the party
home already. He sleeps during the day and works in the evening.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The Rampuri gang—before beating a
hasty retreat from the Mumbai crime scene—left behind a relic: a long
foldable knife with sharp edges on one side. The knife could be folded and
hidden in the trouser pockets and it was meant to be thrust in the rib cage
to savagely tear apart the innards of the stomach from one end to another.
This lethal knife became known as ‘Rampuri Chaaku’. And to date, the Rampuri
Chaaku is the first weapon of the neophyte gangster in Mumbai<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">About the Author. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">S. Hussain Zaidi is an
Indian crime reporter and author. He has written books like Mafia Queens Of Mumbai:
Stories Of Women From The Ganglands and Black Friday: The True Story Of The
Bombay Bomb Blasts and Headley And I.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Zaidi was born to a
tailor, and grew up in the Mumbai suburb of Vikhroli. He studied commerce from
Chetna College, and later went on to work for newspapers like the Indian
Express, Asian Age, Mid-day, and Mumbai Mirror. He has been working as a
journalist and covering the Mumbai mafia for twenty years. Zaidi is an
associate producer for an HBO movie which is based on the 26/11 terrorist
attacks. This author also conducted the last ever published interview of Dawood
Ibrahim. He is married to crime reporter Velly Thevar, and they live in Mumbai.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Where to
grab a copy. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Please click here to buy the book
from <a href="http://www.flipkart.com/dongri-dubai-six-decades-mumbai-mafia-english/p/itmdx5hfyqzsb5ek?q=Dongri+To+Dubai%3A+Six+Decades+of+The+Mumbai+Mafia+%28English%29&as=on&as-show=on&otracker=start&as-pos=p_1_dongri+to&pid=9788174368942">Flipkart</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Please click here to buy the book
from <a href="http://www.amazon.in/Dongri-Dubai-Decades-Mumbai-Mafia/dp/8174368949">Amazon</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">~ Shubh Life . . . OM Sai Ram <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">© 2015 Manish
Purohit (Reserved)</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Heartfelt
thanks for visiting here. . .</span> </i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what
remains to be seen whether they do manage to form a bridge for you to cross and
listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box
. . . it always feels great to hear from you :)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: grey; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">Linking back to <a href="http://writetribe.com/write-tribe-pro-blogger-challenge/">Write Tribe</a></span></div>
Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-81384370403214670422015-08-20T21:24:00.000+05:302015-08-20T21:24:06.835+05:30Shirdi Diary . . . July 2015 (II)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqte0mzOlBdpJbjgF3bUHt06kKHS-o3nI7w9wJLxq9FOPFkoIYf6xtnFt9-X_uy3OzYO7a6TyY7RaWA8DLy3hWvD6qh6qjvYnmX5VRUm6on0XyFzx5bgPMYsvmxOQVTTv6s33CNBqtsE/s1600/Muse+77_Shirdi+Diary-Part+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Shirdi Diary" border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqte0mzOlBdpJbjgF3bUHt06kKHS-o3nI7w9wJLxq9FOPFkoIYf6xtnFt9-X_uy3OzYO7a6TyY7RaWA8DLy3hWvD6qh6qjvYnmX5VRUm6on0XyFzx5bgPMYsvmxOQVTTv6s33CNBqtsE/s320/Muse+77_Shirdi+Diary-Part+II.jpg" title="Shirdi Diary" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: Google Images</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There is no dearth of devotees’ experiences to re-affirm the belief that Baba is truly a <i>‘karuna-avtaar’</i> <i>(abode of grace)</i> and <i>‘bhakta-paradheen’</i> <i>(slave to the devotees)</i>. After hearing the experience of <i>Amma (<a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2015/08/shirdi-diary-july-2015-part-i.html">shared in my previous post</a>),</i> Baba’s words echoed in my years as I debarked from the train, <b>“If you take one step towards Me, I will take ten steps towards you.”</b> Every time I read or hear the experiences of the devotees recollecting Baba’s grace, I get goose bumps. A strange mix of feeling overtakes me making me restless, envious and wishful <i>(all at the same time)</i> & I aspire to be the one of many souls to experience similar miracles so as to feel further closer to HIM <i>(is it what we call being human – the tendency to crave for things a bit more, I don’t know)</i>. Reading and listening to HIS divine <i>leelas</i> are always soothing to the soul, calming even the ever fickle heart by sprinkling fresh droplets of HIS name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Debarking from the train, I walked out of the station towards the flurry of auto rickshaws standing outside. After speaking to a couple of auto drivers, I managed to get a seat in one of them. It was already dark outside, as the train was running late by about 4-5 hours it reached Kopargaon at about ten in the night. Baba’s <i>Shej Aarti</i> <i>(night prayers)</i> is held every night at 2230 hours, subsequent to which curtains are drawn and Baba goes to sleep. Hence, Baba’s darshan that night appeared improbable. Thus, I decided to attend the <i>Kakad Aarti</i> <i>(morning prayers)</i> next day and have early morning darshan of Baba.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It was about eleven or so when I finally reached Shirdi. There is surely something magical about the place and the moment one steps in on this pious land, the feeling of peace and serenity engulfs the soul and you feel a step closer to HIM. As I was tracing my random steps on the partly silent roads of Shirdi, my mind was racing back to Baba and HIS times - wondering this must be the path where HE would have kept HIS lotus feet, this must be the wall where HE would have rested HIS back, this must be the place where HE would have halted for some time, this must be the home from where HE would have asked for the alms, this must be air HE would have breathed once upon a time. . . and so on and so forth. The thoughts and notions thrilled me while filling my heart with the longing if I would have been fortunate enough to have witnessed HIS grace in the mortal self. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As I crossed the temple building <i>(booti wada)</i> which houses Baba’s idol and HIS <i>Samadhi</i>, I prostrated. After roaming for some time, I checked in one of the budget hotels and rented a room. As the midnight hour approached, my eyes felt heavy with sleep and at first I thought about taking a short nap before getting ready for the morning darshan of Baba. But the next very moment the realization dwelt upon me about my good old ‘wake-up call apathy syndrome’ and I decided against it. After taking some rest for about half an hour, I took a shower and headed towards the temple to join the queue for the ‘<i>Kakad Aarti’ </i>along-with many other devotees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While I entered the darshan hall, I saw some familiar faces waving at me and signaling me to join them. They were about three - four people who were my fellow mates in the auto rickshaw while coming to Shirdi from Kopargaon. After exchanging initial pleasantries, we all sat at the floor waiting for the time to wake Baba up. The waiting hall was filled to its capacity with enthusiastic devotees who were waiting eagerly for the morning time. The exuberant feeling was easily visible on their faces that were lit up with the realization that they would actually be witnessing Baba’s morning aarti. As the time passed by one by one most of the devotees started dozing off – some sitting on the benches, some sitting on the floor and some lying thereon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Suddenly a person amongst us spoke, <i>“Baba rightly says, <b>‘However distant my people may be, I draw them to me just as we pull a bird to us with a string tied to its foot.’</b>”</i> He smiled and continued, <i>“You know when last time I came to Shirdi, which was about a year back, I had Baba’s darshan in the temple and went to cloak room to get my belongings (mobile etc.). There was a heavy rush in the temple that day and darshan queue was also very long. When I came out of the cloak room, I saw a charging point outside and thought of charging my phone for ten – fifteen minutes. As I connected the charger, I sat there with my eyes closed and being exhausted fully, I snoozed. Perhaps I was half slept when suddenly I saw one big idol of Baba cooking something in a big vessel and I suddenly woke up in a jittery. I plucked out the charger and started walking. I didn’t know nor did I realize where I was going. And I also didn’t bother to find out as there some divine energy which was guiding me and my steps. About fifteen – twenty minutes of walking, I found myself standing infront of a large idol of Baba which was exactly similar to what I saw in my vision – it was the Prasadalaya building outside which that idol rests. I just can’t narrate how I felt. I am still getting goose bumps as I am narrating those moments.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The idol which the person saw in his vision is actually situated in the Prasadalaya premises, an eatery located few minutes from the temple, where food is served as Baba’s Prasad to the devotees. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Really”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> I was bemused, as I always am whenever I hear such divine experiences, <i>“I mean you didn’t know about the place before! You were blessed, for sure.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes I didn’t know about the place before and I am sure I was blessed. Before that point of time, nothing of this sort ever happened to me”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> he smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You are right brother. I can also vouch for it. Baba’s assurances and statements are always true and fair. As HE says, <b>‘My people do not come to me of their own accord; it is I who seek and bring them to me’</b>”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> spoke another person sitting near us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I also had a similar experience sometime back. Actually I was never an ardent follower of Baba unlike my wife who is HIS staunch devotee. This was when I was going to Mussoorie with my wife and we halted in Dehradun for a night with some of our relatives. When we woke up in the morning to continue our journey to Mussoorie, my wife shared with me a dream she saw in the night. She had the vision of Baba calling her to HIS temple. She persuaded me to look for Baba’s temple in Dehradun so that both of us can go there. I ignored her saying that it was nothing but a dream and we should hurry lest we would be late”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> he stopped in between and drank some water from the bottle. All of us were eagerly waiting for him to resume the narration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">He resumed, <i>“And thus, dissuading her completely, we started our journey to Mussoorie and just when we were about to cross Dehradun our car broke down. I was aghast. I came out of the car asked about some mechanic from shops around. Fortunately, there was a car repair shop just nearby and we were able to arrange for the mechanic soon. As he was checking the car, my wife showed me a board just across the road which read ‘Sai Mandir – 1 Km’. While I was still contemplating, the mechanic said that there is no issue in the car per se, everything seems fine. He asked me to start it once again and when I tried to my utter surprise it started. The mechanic told me that at times it happens due to engine becoming hot and left. I sat there inside the car for about five minutes thinking hard about whatever just transpired and turned it towards the temple. We had a blissful darshan of Baba and post that we continued our journey to Mussoorie.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">“I don’t know whether breaking of car just near the temple road was a mere coincidence or HIS unique way of calling me to HIM. I am still baffled as to how can the engine become hot so quickly, considering we started just a while back when the car broke. But post that day, I had stopped searching for logic in HIS inscrutable ways.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">We all smiled and then everyone went silent, perhaps the drowsiness was overtaking each one of us. My mind was rushing towards both these incidents and also towards Amma’s story <i>(<a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2015/08/shirdi-diary-july-2015-part-i.html">which I had narrated in the first part of the post</a>)</i>. Those all seem unbelievable, but as they say faith make it possible – HIS ways are truly inscrutable, especially for the simple beings like us. The person who just narrated his experience was right we should cease to see logic in God’s way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">At about four or so in the morning, suddenly the lights were switched on and the whole hall was filled with the chants of <i>‘Om Sai Ram’ ‘Sai Baba Ki Jai’</i>. The environment which was moments ago dull and silent was suddenly oozing with chants and activities. The devotees who moments ago laid half cautious being conquered by the sleep queen were suddenly defying all lousiness and singing Baba’s slogan. The exuberance and enthusiasm overtook each of the soul present and everyone stood onto their feet waiting for the moment when they all would be before Baba’s idol waking HIM up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">And then the most awaited moment arrived and the queue started moving and just in few minutes we were inside the sanctum that house Baba’s idol and HIS Samadhi. Inside the temple the preference is given to the VIP pass holders and once they are accommodated the turn for general devotees like us comes. Since, we didn’t have any passes, we were seated in the hall just before Baba’s idol and as luck would have it, I managed to sit just in front of Baba. While there were people with paid passes standing on either side of the idol, there stood we with Baba’s pass sitting exactly in front of HIM. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The priest then started the <i>Kakad Aarti (morning prayers)</i> and it appeared that the whole premise was immersed into the aura of devotion and veneration. The verses of morning aarti are indeed soothing to the ears depicting the emotions of devotees attempting to wake Baba up from the sleep. The environment during aarti <i>(prayer)</i> time in Shirdi is beyond explanation. Though, the verses are predominantly in Marathi, which most of the devotees are not acquainted with; each one of them still enjoyed the same to the maximum. No matter where you see, everyone seems to be absorbed fully clapping and swinging his body. That’s what the language of love and devotion is all about. No matter what dialect you speak which manner you use the message does creep in the soul. <b>Close your eyes and imagine amongst the one in that hall and see how people from all casts, races and creeds are ceasing their self, bound by that one string of love and devotion.</b> The irony, however, is that the moment they step out in the outer world that string lays buried inside and cloaks of casts, races and creeds once again assumes supremacy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The aarti was followed by bathing of Baba’s idol which was surely a sight for anyone to watch for. Shortly after that, the darshan resumed and devotees like me flocked in enthusiasm to offer their prayers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">After offering prayers, I headed to Nandadeep <i>(which is one of my favorite places in Sai Dhaam Shirdi)</i>, wherein there is a small temple type structure under a need tree which houses a perpetually burning lamp. This is known as ‘Nandadeep’ <i>(the lamp of bliss)</i> or Akhanda Deep – the perpetually burning lamp. Baba Himself is said to have lit this lamp & later instructed Abdul Baba to see that it’s burning through-out. HE enjoyed spending time here meditating without preferring any interference. It is said that Baba liked to sit here in contemplation & introspection and was often seeing talking loudly with HIS face pointing towards the sky as if having conversation with someone up above the sky. Sitting below this tree and taking circumambulation around the tree gives inexplicable peace to the soul. </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">After spending some time in Baba’s dwarkamai, I returned to my room. As there was about an hour left for me to leave for the station. I thought of taking some rest. But yet again that wake-up call apathy syndrome struck me and my incautiousness broke just five minutes before the time I thought to leave for the station. Hurriedly I packed my luggage and ran to catch an auto for Kopargaon. Luckily I (yet again) reached station in time and boarded the train back with a silent pray to Baba to continue to shower HIS grace upon HIS devotees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">~ Shubh Life . . . OM Sai Ram <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">© 2015 Manish Purohit (Reserved)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span> </i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they do manage to form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Linking back to <a href="http://writetribe.com/write-tribe-pro-blogger-challenge/">Write Tribe</a></span></div>
Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-88936914455692215702015-08-13T15:40:00.000+05:302015-08-13T15:40:18.595+05:30Micro Fiction – The Wait<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: Google Images</span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The dawning dusk always makes her pensive about life’s cherished moments and each swing of that rocking chair makes her smile, remembering those enchanting memories of him. She has lost count of the hours she has been sitting there waiting for his return, remembering those passionate and sensuous moments of togetherness when his caressing fingers would explore every curve of her body, discovering those erotic zones where he would eventually lose himself – the soul-searching sojourn which would begin with the physical pleasure and culminate into the ultimate platonic ecstasy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While she continues to seek solace in those past moments of love and belonging, the sound of the ringing doorbell disrupts her thoughts whilst elating her spirits, for her prolonged wait would soon end reuniting her with the love of her life, who will not only complete her but will also transform her yearning desires to tender loving memories – afresh and anew. However, the elation soon melts as she opens the door and the presence of those red lipstick marks on his neck yet again acquaints her with that melancholic realization that her wait is far from being over as yet and there exist some more dusks before the dawn finally dwells upon her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">She feels a strong urge to take him in her arms and embrace so that none could come in between but those deriding lipstick marks ridicule her and she instead re-unites with that swinging chair amidst those dangling thoughts with a firm belief in her heart that her wait will be over, one fine day and he will return to her, one fine day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">~Shubh Life . . . Om Sai Ram<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">© 2015 Manish Purohit (Reserved)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span><span lang="EN-IN"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they do manage to form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)</span></i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Linking back to <a href="http://writetribe.com/write-tribe-pro-blogger-challenge/">Write Tribe</a> & <a href="http://lilliemcferrin.com/">FSF</a></span></div>
Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-44346153151505209642015-08-09T18:13:00.000+05:302016-04-01T18:16:41.901+05:30Shirdi Diary . . . July 2015 (Part I)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: Google Images</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">The last time I took on to words to share my blissful experience of visiting <a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2013/09/muse-6-trip-to-sai-dhaam-shirdi-part-i.html">Sai Dhaam Shirdi</a> was almost a year back. Baba’s grace has been showering upon allowing me to visit and have his darshan every month…His grace, in that sense, is truly boundless. Consequently, every month on the third Friday </span><i style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">(almost)</i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">, the tiresome week signs off bidding </span>good bye<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"> to the hard toiled days & opening its arms to welcome and embrace the weekend with a silent wish and hope that Baba’s divine vision continue to grace my trip with eternal bliss and contentment. As an afterthought, as I am reliving those moments of the month writing them down, I just remembered that I had reserved the full description of Sai Dhaam Shirdi to some other occasion and </span><i style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">(strangely enough)</i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"> that occasion is still waiting to see the dawn of the day </span><i style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">(guess it’s high time to get rid of this procrastination stuff!!).</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The trip to Sai Dhaam Shirdi is always mesmerizing and now it has become so much a part of life that no sooner does one of the trips completes, the anticipation of the forthcoming starts to hover. So on the designated day, I started from my office in the evening and accompanied one of my friends till metro station with a plan to catch Airport Express Metro therefrom. The day was tiring and fatigued <i>(as all Fridays and Mondays surprisingly are)</i>. To avoid last minute rush, we started from the office well in time, however, as luck would have it, the moment we hit the national highway, a massive traffic jam awaited our arrival. Even after spending almost half an hour, the car </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">just managed to </span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">cover a very small distance. As the clock was ticking, there were a flurry of thoughts rambling in my mind and soul moving me at the edge of my seat. I couldn’t help myself thinking and wondering about the outcome of this race against the time. Somewhere at the back of the mind the “What If” scenarios were also being worked out along-with a silent prayer to Baba to let me reach on time and not to miss the train, which at that moment appeared quite probable. But, fortunately, our crawling managed to take us past the jam and with exactly fifty minutes left for the train departure, I was dropped at the metro station. Without wasting much time, I took the ticket and harped on the first available metro to avoid further loss of time. By a fluke, I made to the station just in time as the clock still displayed ten minutes for the train to start. That indeed appeared a positive start - a good omen, as Paulo Coelho puts in <a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2014/09/muse-19-book-review-alchemist-by-paulo.html">The Alchemist</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The irony of being a lone traveller accompanied me this time too and no sooner did I sank to my seat (which was lower berth), pairs of prying eyes of the fellow passengers scanned me from top to bottom. The look on their faces and the glance they shared amongst themselves made me mindful of the probable proposal which would be hurled to me at any time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And the next few minutes proved me right when one of those pairs of eyes widened up into a smiling face and supplicating tone, <i>“Are you travelling alone?”</i> That familiar question took me to the flashback of many requests of a similar kind to which I succumbed despite my innate desire to refuse. That’s commonly when the request is to exchange the lower berth with some other seat and whenever such proposal is made, I realize that the child in me wakes up incredulously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Anyways, quite reluctantly, I consented for the seat swap with a consolation that the exchanged seat was also a lower berth albeit side lower. Life is a strange mix of events and sometimes tends to surprise us with its déjà vu element. My arrival to the new seat was again welcomed by another pair of meddling eyes but this time the glance was soothing rather than disturbing and the smile that accompanied was warming rather than conspiring. There was an old lady who was already sitting on that berth and there was some instant association with her that kicked within me. The sight of her instantly reminded me of my grandmother whom I miss badly even now. Thus, when she asked for another seat swap, I couldn’t refuse and instantly moved to her seat, even though that was an upper berth. And before moving, I don’t know why, the innermost part of my heart nudged me hard to touch her feet and needless to say I did and got her blessings in return. There are no reasons for some of your acts in life and the joy that these deliver eventually absolve you from searching them anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">These rounds of seat swapping landed me to the seat near the exit door as against my original berth which was in the middle of the coach. As it was already late night, I retired to sleep in my couch with some long forgotten visions of my good old days with grandmother that lay afresh and anew cloaked under the layers of time and tide. I don’t remember when while dabbling with those bouts of anamnesis did the sleep queen actually overtook me in her stride. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The <i>(not so)</i> lyrical tone of the tea – coffee vendor brought me back in the morning from the scintillating world of dreams. Lousily I laid there for another fifteen – twenty minutes before finally waking up and coming down to the seat <i>(when I realized that the train is running late by about four hours…phew!!!)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Strangely enough I discovered that rest of my mates in the coupe were a part of the same (big) group who were coming from Kaashi Vishwanaath, going back to their home in the south. And unfortunately, most of them were ladies constantly chatting in their regional tongue <i>(perhaps Tamil or Telugu in either case, alien to me)</i> and giggling throughout. Poor fellow, me, could only manage to pop up my head occasionally from the book I was reading and smile meekly still trying to figure in my mind as to who was their subject of constant laughing!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Just before an hour or so of my scheduled disembarkment at Kopargaon, that same old lady with whom I had swapped my seat, came to our coupe. Coincidentally, she was the part of the group coming from Kaashi Vishwanaath. She looked at me with a smile gesturing, <i>“hope you were fine and comfortable”</i>. When I affirmed by nodding my head with a smile, she joined the conversation of the other passengers before again coming back to me, <i>“We are coming from Kaashi Vishwanaath darshan in Banaras.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I smiled and said, <i>“That’s wonderful Amma, hope you had a great darshan there.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes…”</span></i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> She said and then stopped in between for few moments before resuming, <i>“the trip was wonderful.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Amma you seem to be lost a bit. Hope all’s well?”</span></i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">She smiled, <i>“Yes son, it was just that I wanted to make an offering to Baba before culminating the trip. I am a devotee of Sai Baba and when we started for the trip, I requested Him to give me a chance to make an offering to Him during the trip as a token of His blessings. He has been guiding me through-out but my ill luck, I didn’t get any chance of making the offering to Him, which is making me restless a bit.”</i> She showed me some currency notes and a coin tied in a rubber band which she had kept aside to be offered to Baba when she had started for the trip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Amma, I am going to Shirdi. If you wish, I can offer these to Baba’s holy feet on your behalf”</span></i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My mention of Shirdi brought tears to her eyes. She touched her pendent which has Baba’s picture on it and murmured something in her regional language. I was surprised and puzzled. She handed me over the money and caressed my hair saying, <i>“I was foolish to doubt Baba’s ways. See how kind is He to send you as His messenger to collect the offering. Now I am content and satisfied that my trip is actually blessed by Baba. Baba rightly says,<b> Have faith and patience. Then I will be always with you wherever you are.”</b></i><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">She then narrated one incident when she got lost from her group in Banaras and despite her hardest of the effort, she couldn’t find even one group member. Even after re-entering the darshan queue many a times in a bid to spot any of her kins and mates she couldn’t find anyone. She remembered her hotel / lodge name and thus prudently hired an auto for Ganga Hotel but again, to her utter surprise, there were spate of hotels and lodging homes with the name ‘Ganga’. This terrified her gravely and she started crying in the auto only calling Baba’s name. When even after doing rounds and rounds across the area in the auto she couldn’t find anyone, she uttered a prayer to Baba crying and holding the same pendent, <i>“Baba I came here at Your behest only. Infact everything I do in my life, I do after due prostration to your lotus feet. At the start of this trip too, I asked for your darshan but you didn’t obliged me and now you have abandoned me here in this distant place amidst unknown people who don’t even understand my language. I don’t know I want my people in next five minutes else I will feel that you have indeed abandoned me. I am Your responsibility and You have to relocate me to my people. You just cannot be angry with me without any reasons”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Baba always assures HIS children, <b>"If one devotes their entire time to me and rests in me, need fear nothing for body and soul”</b>. And as the next set of events unfolded, I became all the more affirmed as to how true HIS assurances and words always are. No sooner did Amma complete her prayer, one of her group member held her from behind smiling and asking, <i>“Where have you gone, we were all looking for you since long”</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">She was smiling all the way while narrating the incident with moist eyes. <i>“I am a foolish woman son,”</i> She said, “<i>To think that Baba has abandoned me when infact HE has always been there to take care of me is nothing but ignorance and foolishness. Ever since we started from the Banaras for our home, I was restless with the feeling that I couldn’t make an offering to Baba. And see, HE has sent you to do the needful and absolve me of my restlessness. That’s what the Guru does – take extra steps to remove the child’s anxiety and anxiousness.”</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I was speechless. I took the money from her assuring that I will place them at Baba’s lotus feet and bid her good bye. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As I debarked the train at Kopargaon, the whole thing was still running in my mind. Was it a mere coincidence that Amma who was travelling with me for more than twenty four hours actually befriended me during that last hour sharing her story with me? Or it was Baba’s unique way of blessing her and re-affirming her belief in Him via me. I don’t know and I didn’t dwell deep too . . . as I said earlier, there are certain things in life which are beyond logics and reasons perhaps this was also one of them. As I traced my steps towards the auto rickshaws standing outside the station, Baba’s words were ringing in my mind, <b>“I get angry with none. Will a mother get angry with her children? Will the ocean send back the waters to the several rivers?”</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">~*~*~ . . . <a href="http://musingsofawanderingheart.blogspot.in/2015/08/shirdi-diary-july-2015-ii.html" target="_blank">Read Part (II) >>> Here</a> ~*~*~</span></b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">~ Shubh Life . . . OM Sai Ram <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">© 2015 Manish Purohit (Reserved)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: red; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span> </i><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they do manage to form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Linking back to <a href="http://writetribe.com/write-tribe-pro-blogger-challenge/">Write Tribe</a></span></div>
Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3792960033115558359.post-56891281119426684832015-08-02T12:15:00.001+05:302015-08-02T12:15:57.640+05:30Movie Review: Bahubali: The Beginning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bahubali Movie Review (Image Source: Google)</span></td></tr>
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<b style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Movie Details. . .</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Title</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Bahubali: The Beginning<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Director</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: S. S. Rajamouli<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Music</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: M. M. Keeravani<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Genre: </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Period</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Running Time</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: 158 Minutes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Language</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">: Hindi (Dubbed)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rating</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">: 4/5</span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Plot Summary. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The first installment of the two-part epic fantasy, Bahubali – The Beginning depicts the mythical tale of an ancient kingdom of Mahishmati in India. The kingdom which has been usurped with its legal heir displaced amidst the dramatic events which unfold somewhat as the story progresses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The movie starts with Shiva (Prabhas) trying to climb a big waterfall whose unseen top always fascinates and entice him to win it over. Despite repeated failed attempts, his zest and zeal to conquer it goads him to re-attempt the unconquerable task until he succeeds. Following the vision and imprints of a mystical girl (Tamannah) whose mask accidently bumps upon him, Shiva finally manages to reach to the top of the waterfall defying all the obstacles and hurdles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The top of the waterfall eventually reveals him the girl behind the mask who turns out to be a part of rebellious warrior group fighting to free their queen Devasena (Anushka Shetty) and regain the magnanimous kingdom of Mahishmati from evil king Bhallala Deva (Rana Daggubati). Shiva tries to woo the girl Avanthika, who post initial doubts and uncertainty also fall for him. She is, however, refrained and restricted to go further in the relationship owing to her loyalty towards the warrior group which has only one goal to free their queen and regain the kingdom. Shiva takes on the task of rescuing the queen upon himself, to absolve all barriers estopping her from listening to her heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As he makes a foray inside the majestic palace the silent strings of royal lineage are pulled, the symphony of which takes him back to the times when his father Bahubali (Prabhas) and uncle Bhallala Deva (Rana Daggubati) grow into a well-trained and well-groomed candidate for the successor of the royal throne of Mahishmati. The events as they unfold later tell Shiva of his father’s succession to the royal throne and his eventual killing. The flashback story is narrated by the royal guard Kattappa (Sathyaraj) who owns his loyalty and duty to the royal throne. The first installment ends here making a way for the much-anticipated sequel which is due to release early next year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Why does the royal prince Shiva grows as a local village boy rather than a prince? Why is he fascinated by the top of the waterfall right from his childhood? Does Shiva manage to free the queen Devasena? Is Shiva able to get back the honor of the prince of Mahishmati? Who kills Shiva’s father Bahubali?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Watch the epic movie to explore the answers to above and to experience the journey to the kingdom of Mahishmati.</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My Thoughts. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The period films have their inherent charms in terms of the vision and perspective with which they are made and also by virtue of the sheer grandeur they are expected to offer to the watching eyes. Bahubali, the beginning, does all that and more. It’s breathtaking, it’s stupendous and it’s colossal!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Bahubali celebrates the true spirit of Tollywood / Bollywood in a big way delivering a top class entertainment throughout the length and breadth of the movie, with some brilliant acting performances by some of the key actors and not to forget the par excellence musical rendition of the great M. M. Keeravani (M. M. Kreem). But what makes this one stands out is the directorial and technological brilliance which takes the beacon of Indian cinema a notch further.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Direction, Script & Story<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">S. S. Rajamouli requires no introduction in the field of movie making. His earlier work like Eega (Makhi in Hindi), Magadheera etc. have already won him the accolades. From whatever I could manage to see of him, he appeared to me as a perfectionist who spares a lot of time and effort in conceptualizing and conceiving the story (which surprisingly is not extraordinarily but the treatment of which makes it an experience to watch). If one has even the slightest of the doubt on this, watch Bahubali and I am sure all the doubts and apprehensions would be washed away forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">To be candid, there is virtually nothing new in the story or the script which isn’t extraordinarily new or fabulous. It is the same old story of treachery, destiny and justice – a kingdom usurped by an evil confidant imprisoning the royal king / queen whose revenge is taken by the prince grown in a local village amidst deep forests . . . sounds familiar, isn’t it? Seems like our good old fables from Amar Chitra Katha or the ones from the grand ma’s bag of story? And that is what makes Rajamouli’s effort a bit more commendable as he manages to weave a scintillating magic from the age old story; something he did with Makhi earlier and now repeats here with Bahubali too, and with more perfection and precision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">In a bit to create an intense visual effect, the director no-where compromises with the story treatment and quite remarkably introduces various twists and turns right till the end to let viewer glued to their seat. The movie offers many whistling moments to the audience though some of the scenes do appear to be inspired from the Hollywood movies like 300 but then taking inspiration is not a crime but an artist’s way of evolving himself; however, simply replicating is surely an offence. For instance, the climax boasts of a prolonged war scene which extends for about 25 to 30 minutes brilliantly inspired and not shamelessly replicated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The time, effort (and money) invested in the movie and its conception is evident and visible in every frame which doesn’t allow watching eyes to be taken off, lest you miss something. However, a couple of songs in the movie do appear to be forced-fed and seems unnecessary but the musical brilliance of M. M. Kreem covers up the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Music<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Some has rightly said, <i>“Where words fail, music lives.”</i> that’s (why) perhaps this section remains the most favorite of mine. There is something magical about the music which does take the listener to an altogether different world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Bahubali has seven tracks meticulously composed by the great M. M. Kreem with near poetic lyrics penned by Manoj Muntashir. Infact, M. M. Kreem quite splendidly creates a masterpiece which compliments perfectly to the overall grandeur of this extravaganza. The best parts of the album are the mix of instruments and strings used in line with the period with which the movie pertains and also the wonderful use of chorus more often which compliments so well to the songs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The album opens with <i>‘Mamta Se Bhari’</i> sung by Bombay Jayshri which is a powerful number which opens subtly in a soothing fashion and then slowly climbs up the beat on the back of varied orchestration and handful of strings which pace up the spirit of the song along-with the brilliant use of chorus. Jayshri’s voice fits in perfectly in between offering a soothing subtleness amidst the powerful musical arrangement <i>(reminded me of Azeemo Shan Shahenshah in Jodha Akbar) </i>and<i> </i>enthralling chorus<i> </i>rendition. This is surely one of the best compositions of the album which is like an anthem of the album.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">‘Jal Rahin hai’</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"> by Kailash Kher is sensitive number depicting aftermath of the war typical to the backdrop of the period film. The chorus once again binds the whole of the song amidst the blowing trumpets and strings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">While the above two songs offers opulence and admixture of musical instruments and chorus rendition,<i> ‘Swapn Sunehere’</i> is a short melancholic expression rendered superbly and hauntingly by Bombay Jaishri and Shwetha Raj. This is a pure vocal brilliance sung soulfully with violin playing in the background. The song leaves the listener asking for more (would have been great if it was a bit long than its current length of about one and half minutes).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">‘Khoya hai’</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"> comes in next rendered by Neeti Mohan complimented well by co-singer Kaala Bhairava is again a captivating number which starts with a vocal only and drum beating at the backdrop. With limited number of instruments used, it makes it easy to feel the individual beat. The regular chorus in between takes this to different level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">‘Kaun hai woh’</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"> takes off with some of the great drum beats followed by soulful chants of Sanskrit shlokas. The vocals of Kailash Kher are evocative and song does appear as a ‘Shiva-Strota’ and has that edge of the seat feel attached to it. Here too the chorus does a faultless job making it a stand out number.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">‘Panchhi bole’</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"> is a romantic composition sung by the composer M. M. Kreem and Palak Muchhal which offers deep melody to the listener. Being a romantic number with perfect mix of lead singers’ contrasting voices, this remains a hummable song.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The final song of the album <i>‘Manohari’ </i>sung by Neeti Mohan and Divya Kumar which is essentially akin to an item number which has arabic flavor to it. This is a light and funny number, which is an average number and marginally falls short as compared to other tracks.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Acting & Other Aspects<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">In terms of star performances, Prabhas is a perfect star cast with rippling muscles and well carved abs displaying the aura, charm and intensity with equal ease. The varied shades in the character are delivered well by the actor. If there is an inherent charm in Prabhas, Rana Daggubati is as menacing as it gets. He is a perfect villain with that trademark evil grin which distinguishes the negativity in the character from the rest of the class.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">However, the best of the performances comes from the supporting casts from Sathyaraj (Kattappa) who plays a loyal guard to the royal throne and Ramya Krishnan (Sivagami) as the queen of the kingdom Mahishmati. Ramya, in particular, delivers a powerful performance despite a shorter role but with the meatier dialogues. Rest of the cast including the lead actress Tamannah were quite average in their performance and enactment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">The technical aspect of Bahubali differentiates it with the other movies attempted in this genre. Each and every frame of the movie is shot aesthetically offering a picturesque canvas and with such coordination that no-where the film appears to be falling apart; kudos to the technicians for the brilliant work in almost all the areas of the movie making. The special effects have also been used to such a finesse that almost no where it really appears to be a work of digitization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Final Word. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Bahubali deserves a watch for the sheer imaginative admixture of an epical grandeur and magnanimity of scale with which it has been directed. With the tag of being the costliest film ever churned out in Indian film industry, the movie creates a spell bound impact on the viewer, leaving him asking for more. The towering scale and vision it offers yields perfect bang for your buck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Watch it for an experience that takes the scale of Indian movie making a notch further with a leap that offers a near-perfect mix of entertainment, entertainment and pure entertainment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rating</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">: 4/5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Watch The Trailer. . .</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Watch the trailer of the movie <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdafjyFK3ko">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">~Shubh Life . . . Om Sai Ram</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">© 2015 Manish Purohit (Reserved)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Heartfelt thanks for visiting here. . .</span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="color: red; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">While the thoughts are woven with the strings of the words, what remains to be seen whether they does manage to form a bridge for you to cross and listen to the beating. And if it does, do drop in your beat in the comment box . . . it always feels great to hear from you :)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Linking back to <a href="http://writetribe.com/write-tribe-pro-blogger-challenge/">Write Tribe</a></span></div>
Manish Purohithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10772106929601575213noreply@blogger.com0