The Chef

Photo Prompt by JustStoryTeller

What is this procession papa?", asked Akash. Both of them had to halt their services as their customers rushed towards the pompous procession. There were huge speakers blaring bollywood numbers and a pretty girl with a mike saying something in English. Cameras were following the rich looking people in colourful clothes and dark sun glasses who had reluctantly stepped out of their air-conditioned cars. There were large screens displaying videos of expensive looking hotels.

Zeenat Mahal

Day 26 of #AtoZChallenge

I found this amazing author just last year and can’t stop thanking Google and Amazon since then. I was so in love with her books, that I knew the last letter of this #AtoZChallenge has to be reserved for her. I picked one of her books, Haveli, as a light read after a particularly hectic day at work and finished it in one go, smiling and enjoying myself throughout. After Haveli, I read four of her books back to back. I think that explains a lot.

Yugandhar by Shivaji Sawant

Day 25 of #AtoZChallenge

Yugandhar is yet another masterpiece by the author of Mrintunjay, Shivaji Sawant. Based on the life of Krishna, it has a very different perspective than conventional books that praise Krishna unconditionally.

The X-Files

 Day 24 of #AtoZChallenge

If you are 80s kid, there is no way you could have missed the X-files TV series. During that time, only two kinds of kids existed-one who were die-hard X-files fan and the other who were friends with the first set and ended up listening to X-files narration in class rooms.

When the Moon is low-Book Review

Day 23 of #AtoZChallenge

I get instantaneously drawn toward stories with a war background.Wars have a gruesome impact on people; people who are not a part of that war, people who do not want that war but are made to bear the brunt only because they happen to be in that part of the land at that time. As a sincere Khaled Hosseini fan, I have developed a deep sympathy towards the men, women, and children in those regions. I had high hopes from Nadia Hashimi and “When the Moon is low”. And I was not disappointed.

7 Best Places in Kerala Famous for Hydel Tourism

By Rohit Agrawal

Hydel tourism is a new concept in the tourism industry with an initiative to conserve environment. This is a project undertaken by the initiative of Kerala state electricity board. Various small and big hydel projects are associated with such tourism in the state of tourism. Today, many people are interested to visit such sites that has hydel power projects. Tourists will be able to have a view of the panoramic landscapes of such area. Let us find out some of the places in Kerala that is famous for hydel tourism.

Shriman Yogi by Ranjit Desai

Day 19 of #AtoZChallenge

Shriman Yogi is not a book. It’s a treasure. It’s a torrent of emotions that lifts you up in the air, twists you in a whirlwind, makes you cry like a baby and leaves you in a state of awe. And this happens every time you read it. When I read this book for the first time at the age of 20, I knew I would come back to this book many times. 8 was the number when I last counted, I lost count after that. I know people who have read it a dozen times and still want to read it again. 

Ruskin Bond

Everybody who has had anything to do with books in their life has heard this name. And those who like to read must have read at least one of his books. Ruskin Bond is a name that needs no introduction. With 100s of stories for children and adults, Bond’s pen has created magic every time it touched paper. At 82 years of age, Ruskin Bond still manages to churn out a great tale when he writes.

Handloom Heritage - Pride of India

Image Courtesy: Jharonka

Nothing defines an Indian woman better than an elegant saree. The colorful fabric augments her beauty and enhances her charisma. A woman is always proud of her collection of sarees with an eternal yearning to have more. A saree is not just a 5-meter piece of fabric –it can be a prized possession or an emotional connection or a souvenir.

03:02 by Mainak Dhar

Day 15 of #AtoZChallenge

Can you imagine a life without the basic comforts of life like electricity, mobile phones or laptops, cars, bikes, television and even water? Can you think of growing your own food and fetch your own water to survive? What if your status and bank balances do not provide you any privilege? Are you prepared to fight with forces that threaten your existence? If you can’t imagine yourself in any of such situations, it’s time for you to read 03:02.

Nadia Hashimi

Day 14 of #AtoZChallenge

This thing called internet is amazing. And the way marketers use it to subtly influence customers’ buying preferences is phenomenal. Although sometimes it’s just creepy when google ads pop up an advert on the basis of your last google search, it does serve the purpose of cleverly navigating the customer to his or her next purchase.

Mritunjay by Shivaji Sawant

Day 13 of #AtoZChallenge

If words in book were a colourful picture where every emotion is a colour, Mritunjay would be one of the best portraits ever. And if words could play the strings of a violin or keys of a piano, Mrintunjay would be the best symphony ever written.

Looking Into the Sun- Soon to be a motion Picture

Looking Into the Sun will soon be a motion picture. Sincerest thanks to the author, Todd Tavolazzi,  for sharing details about the project and highlighting  the cause.

Day 12 of #AtoZChallenge

“Small battles are won and lost every day by all sides. But the consistent losers are the people of Syria who must live, sacrifice and die in the horror created by people who claim to be fighting for their best interests.” 

                                                                                                                               -Pg 221

Looking into the Sun is war-fiction based on Syrian civil war. Todd Tavalozzi’s maiden attempt, this book has already been acknowledged as one of the best works in the genre` and will soon be a Hollywood motion picture. There are multiple reasons why I liked the book and read it in just 2 sittings.

8 Things I Do to Keep My Child Safe Outside the House

World is beautiful. There is so much around us to admire. But the World outside is also a scary place. There are dangers all around us. It was extremely difficult for me to decide whether to protect my child from the worldly perils to let him be free to enjoy the beautiful world in his own way. It was a tough decision.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Day 11 of #AtoZChallenge

Kite flying, a humble sport, is nothing short of a festival in Afghanistan. Irrespective of age and social status, it was a favourite pastime in pre-war years. Kite runners had an important role in this activity as they were bestowed upon the responsibility of collecting kites which go astray after being detached from the strings. Kite runners and kite flyers work as a team. Kite runners are supposed to be fast and proficient at acquiring as many kites as possible. Amir and Hassan is one such team, Hassan being the loyal kite runner.

Jeffrey Archer- The Master Storyteller

Day 10 of #AtoZChallenge

No discussion about thrillers and drama novels is complete without the mention of Jeffrey Archer. Having read some of is best novels such as Kane and Abel, The Prodigal Daughter, First Among Equals and Only Time will Tell, I can vouch that he is the master of thrillers and completely deserves the “unputdownable” adjective for his books.

It was Five Past Midnight in Bhopal by Dominique Lapierre & Javier Moro

Day 9 of #AtoZChallenge

Bhopal, a prominent city of central India, will never forget the night of December 3, 1984. The night marred lives of thousands of unsuspecting dwellers of the city. Union Carbide’s chemical plant at Bhopal which had promised employment and development to the city ended up taking lives and maiming many more when the poisonous Methyl Isocyanate leaked from its plant at midnight. Dominique Lapierre’s book traces the lives of people who were a victim of the tragedy and lived to bear the aftermath and share their stories.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Day 8 of #AtoZChallenge

Unabashedly honest, courageous, considerate, truthful- These are the adjectives I would use to define The Help by Katheryn Stockett. It is one of those books which make you angry, sad and compassionate, all at the same time. It is definitely in the list of my all-time favourite books and one of those rare books which also turned out awesome on silverscreen.

Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore

Image Courtesy:Scoopnest.com

You don’t belong to planet Earth if you have not heard about the legend called Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. One of the greatest poets/writers/artists, Gurudev has a special place in every art lover’s heart everywhere in the world. Writer, poet, painter, philosopher and nationalist are just a few hats he adorned gracefully. The first Asian to win a Nobel Prize, Tagore also had strong views about the country’s independence during the British rule. Though it is impossible to describe his contribution to the world in a few words, here are 7 facts that demonstrated his prominence.

The Firm by John Grisham

Day 6 of #AtoZChallenge2017

John Grisham is undoubtedly the master of thrillers. With bestsellers like The Chamber, The Client, The Pelican Brief and many more to his credit, Grisham seems the exact formula to keep his readers completely hooked. Other than being packed with extreme levels of thrill and suspense, his books are well-researched and intelligent. The plots are always invigorating with no loopholes for doubt. The Firm by Grisham is by far one of my favourite thrillers so far in the list (and the list includes big names like that of Arthur Hailey, Sydney Sheldon, James Patterson etc.)

Devdutt Pattnaik - Retelling Mythology

Day of #AtoZChallenge2017  

Mythology is a tricky subject. It often hinders with your notion of modernism. As Indians, we are culturally wired to accept mythology as an important part of our lives. But when infused with scientific reasoning, there is a strong repulsion to the thought process that has been conditioned otherwise. And then begins the enormous confusion.

Chetan Bhagat - Wow or Eww?

Day 3 of #AtoZChallenge2017

You can love Chetan Bhagat. You may also choose to hate him. But there is no way you could ignore him. To call him the flag-bearer of new generation of Indian authors and crediting him with reintroducing fiction to young Indians wouldn't be completely wrong. In spite of receiving tremendous criticism for a number of reasons, CB soared higher with every consecutive book. I can't say I have loved any of his books, but I also have to confess that I didn't completely dislike them either. Although I have stopped picking up his books now, I do read his articles once in a while. Whether I agree with him or not, doesn’t need a mention here.

A Thousand Splendid Suns- A Literary Masterpiece

"One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs,

or a thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls."

People who love, really love, books know how difficult it is to pick one book that you can call your favourite. I had faced a similar predicament until I read A Thousand Splendid Suns. Having read The Kite Runner by the same author earlier, I was assured of no disappointment. But after reading A Thousand Splendid Suns, I was sure that I have found of the answer of that eternal question, “Which is your favourite book?”