Reflections: Haroun and the Sea of Stories

This is my first Rushdie read. I know, how can I call myself a reader without having read Salman Rushdie for so long. Well, I was extremely intimidated by his books, confident that I would never grasp his dense themes. Further, it's in my nature to stay away from books/authors/situations that carry controversy. And finally, I have never completely understood the genre of “magical realism”.  I find it easier to just call it fantasy. Anyway, silly reasons that they are, I finally read a book of his. And I’m happy that I started with this book - a simple, not-so-celebrated book that I could enjoy, appreciate and interpret without much literary pressure.

Haroun is a young lad living in a city so sad and dismal, factories manufacture sadness. His father, Rashid, is a talented story-teller who can craft the most ingeniously imaginative and bizarre stories that burst with optimism and happy-endings. Haroun marvels at his father’s unending imagination to come up with new and creative tales. It seemed like a faucet of ideas were being turned on in his head to gush out all the stories. However, an unfortunate episode soon leaves his father tragically empty of stories. Haroun slowly realizes that there indeed is a vast sea of stories streaming with the world’s collection of all stories, which is facing a crisis. In his quest to return his father’s story-telling ability, Haroun enters a fantastical adventure to save the Ocean of Stories.

On the surface, the story might seem like a children’s fantasy fable. But being a Rushdie book, this is not so. It’s completely allegorical... with most characters and episodes being metaphorical. He provides Hindi/Urdu names to his characters, making it a tad easy (and fun) for Indians to interpret the story and its layered meanings. Despite a layered narrative, the entire book is very fluid, and is actually comical and heart-warming! In addition, Rushdie’s word play is quite clever and witty, and adds to the light-hearted feel of the story. It also gives a unique character to the book.

Although there could be several interpretations of the story, here is my reflection or interpretation. The underlying theme of the story is on the unending potential of the human mind, or rather, on the unending boundaries of human imagination. Our brains are brimming with a vast sea of neurons carrying so many different streams of thoughts (both ours, and that of others). These streams collide, intersect and combine in so many billions of different ways and patterns to give rise to new ideas and creations, that it seems like humans will never ever run out of creativity or new thoughts! The mystery behind such ceaseless creativity is an unknown process (or as Rushdie puts it, it is a P2C2E - A Process Too Complicated To Explain :)). So in essence, we all carry the potential to subscribe, and draw from our inner “Sea” of stories and ideas. But most often, we either struggle to find the “on” switch, or we let depressing circumstances throw a wrench into the waterworks (too many puns, I know :)). We also constantly let the inner streams get polluted by our stringent, non-imaginative side of the brain. As one hemisphere (of the brain) tries to be creative and imaginative and weaves stories and ideas, the other “rational” hemisphere of our brain tries to critique and conform our thoughts to plain, concrete facts. The rational hemisphere believes in austerity and parsimony - encouraging thoughts and words only when necessary, and only when absolutely in line with reality. But just as opposites complement one another, it’s more profitable for both hemispheres to work together, rather than work against, or work separately from each other. In this tale, story-telling ability and speech (freedom of speech) compose one “hemisphere”, while silence, muteness and the curbing of verbal expression is the other “hemisphere”. So, I interpreted freedom of speech to be freedom of expression and imagination.

Rushdie basically states that our fears, negativity, and stipulation to stick to facts fog our imagination, but they are no match to the profound human will, and the bountiful fountain of our imagination! He provides his view that imagination and the ability to look through colored glasses, is as much a necessity for a healthy mind as it is a luxury for dreaming. I was quite impressed that the seemingly simple story was embedded with such depth of meaning! I may have read too much in to the story, but well, my imagination was kindled and it soared and pattern-matched :).

Digested Thoughts: I loved the book - its fantastical story, its deep meanings, and creative narration! I can well understand and agree with why Rushdie is celebrated. His writing is simple, yet very intelligently crafted. This might seem like an endearing story for children, but it teases the adult's mind to break down the clever metaphors. The book spells the necessity for freedom of expression - even at the level of origination of thoughts, and the freedom  we give our thoughts to seek uncharted areas of our imagination. 

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Addendum: My husband read this book on 2/11/2013 and these are his thoughts. 

For most adults, when a conflict arises in the mind between a creative and a rational thought, the rational thought invariably wins. Although the creative thought process can kindle new ideas, the reality of the outcome forces the adult to shun all possibilities of an unlikely thought. In other words, a purely creative thought is "just a story",  and  to quote Haroun, "what is the use of a story". This is a perfectly logical and rational question, and for most adults, once such a question creeps into our minds, we tend to latch on to the logical part of the thought process and go forward on a path that may or may not lead us to the "end". 

Salman has portrayed the entire book in the eyes of Haroun, who being a child has the gift to pursue both the creative and the logical thought processes that stem from his brain. The interpretations that an adult derives from the book are once again logical & rational. Your interpretation of the neurons in the brain serving to ignite several streams of stories is one example. Attempting to decipher which town the different alphabets referred to, which I attempted to do while reading the book, is another example. Being a child, Haroun is not as biased towards a logical inclination as some of us are, thus leaving him to explore a world of imaginations. The end result is that he is able to go beyond his status-quo, and actually "solve" a problem (ie., Rashid running out of stories) by purely using his imagination.

That the occurrences penned in the book were merely a dream is nothing but a mundane rational explanation. That positive experiences encountered by Haroun can actually result in an uplifted mood for an individual who is looking for new avenues in life may potentially present a more colorful interpretation of the book.  

Reflections: Ponniyin Selvan - The Finale

Thoughts on Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5a.

And finally, here are my concluding remarks on this epic series! It feels like I’m back from a time-travel of the past, and have returned with renewed pride and attachment towards my native land! I’m content that I eventually got around to reading and appreciating this series, albeit through English translations. Some day I plan to listen to the Tamil audio narration since I now know the story to fill in any gulfs in my understanding, and can instead dwell on the beauty of the language (as much as I can follow, that is!).

I have to admit - I didn’t expect the finale to contain any more sudden turns of events, but how wrong was I! I thought the finale was just going to be the grand ending that tied up the remaining loose threads in predictable ways. But now I realize that the entire series was spun around that one pivotal historical incident which springs up on us in this final book! It really crowns the magnanimity, nobility, righteousness and generosity of Arulmozhi Varma (King Raja Raja Chozha). I’ll leave it at that, before I spoil the suspense any more, unless of course, you’re well versed in Tamil history and already are aware of how the events turned out.

It’s quite incredulous in some ways that the story has a happy ending - that is, the good parties prevail and the wrong-doers are avenged. Like an old Tamil movie, or a Dickens novel, good and bad were delineated sharply, and the turn of events (many by chance) came together to bless the good! It makes the entire era sound fantastical and mythical - a time where Dharma had a clear meaning and it did prevail in the end! I also appreciated the little discussion on Dharma that was interleaved in this volume.  Of course, the great writer, Kalki has played a key role in defining the characters as good or bad to suit the turn of events. Still reading about how the characters face a turning point of realization, and turn into new leaves, is quite stirring. How often do we desperately wish people would face such turning-point-moments in our own lives, and then sadly accept that such moments are reserved just for great stories and movies! It was nice to be transported to a more pristine and simpler time when people did change! The only down side (just a little) is that it makes some of the characters seem a little inconsistent and fickle... although it’s not Kalki’s fault. But the author does repeatedly mention that human nature is unpredictable and can change drastically from time to time, and thus acknowledges some of the inconsistencies.

What this series manages to do is impart heavy moral lessons, which is why it is hailed as a great epic.

Digested Thoughts - I have run out of words at this point and will only reiterate my thoughts from the 5 other posts I’ve written. This epic surely deserves its recognition and praises. It’s been a long time since I was this addicted to a series. It was engaging, entertaining and was crafted expertly to create multiple dimensions of suspense and mystery. It brings history alive with much welcomed romanticism, and beautifully portrays the essential virtues of the Chozha Kings that need to be emulated by present and future leaders of our land. This is definitely one of the best books (series) I’ve read. 

Reflections: Ponniyin Selvan (Vol.5a) - The Pinnacle of Sacrifice

Thoughts on Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4

Volume 5 is actually split into two parts. In this first part of the finale, the conspirators finally attack, some ignorant characters have their “eyes opened”, and they unite with the “good” forces. Some mishaps and attacks are thwarted, some are implemented, and chaos breaks out. It’s up to the grand finale to now wrap things up. Although I realize who will be crowned, there are still numerous other concerns about other sub-plots, because I am hopelessly invested in the characters. Will there be an unacceptable tragedy? Or a tragical sacrifice, as the title suggests? Is the sacrifice over? What will be the losses and the costs? Which characters will emerge successful?

I know this is partly fiction, yet, it is heartening to read about the strong filial bonds that were respected and upheld. I can never get past the callousness of the Mughal dynasty - how sons, fathers and brothers treated each other inhumanely to seek the throne. It’s nice to know that the Chozha men at least stuck together and battled their common foes. None of the men seem to have had the greed and lust for the throne, especially at the cost of their own family. They were ambitious no doubt, but morality and conscience still hovered in the background. The story explicates many such morals on loyalty, friendship and love. And of course, the Tamil women are glorified sky high for their sacrifices and chastity, some of which are obviously a little irrelevant and unnecessary.

In addition, the questions raised in the previous book - on the moral responsibilities of a King etc, are addressed through Buddhist tenets. One needs to be as practical as possible with the knowledge that we can’t control everything. The greatest moral imperative is service to humanity in every form possible. As long as the heart and mind are in their right places, and we embrace tolerance and love, and seek to serve and help humanity, our moral duty upholds.

Finally, one of the major climaxes that featured in this volume was a little unsatisfactory, because I couldn’t fully comprehend the characters’ motivations and ruses. It seemed like the smart people in it could have handled it better. Perhaps it was meant to be so convoluted and the final book will clarify it for me.

However, the most unfortunate thing is - I don’t have the final book yet to put an end to these questions and looming suspense! How cruel. Now I have to twiddle my thumbs and wait. Or I could go on with my life and give myself some sleep, and feed the poor souls at home (which include my fishies). So, until then I will give this space and myself a breather. 

Reflections: Ponniyin Selvan (Vol.4) - The Crown

Thoughts on Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

As is obvious by now, I have been reading like a mad woman who rushes through her day to get back to the series, and remains sticking to the words and the bygone era, oblivious to sleep and other such mild concerns. Anyway, this addiction needs to tone down or the series needs to end soon, whichever comes first!

The fourth volume begins with the Crown Prince Aditya Karikala journeying down south to get to Kadambur, to mainly meet the young Queen, Nandini. The Crown Prince has been trying to atone for a rash act of his. The haunting images of the past and his unyielding conscience turn him into a tortured soul. In this state, he is unsure of whom to trust, and whom not to. Although his trusted messenger Vandiya Devan brings him news and tries to unravel all the mysteries, he still vacillates, unsure of what the truth is. Back in Tanjore, The King Sundara Chozha frets over his sons, unable to understand why he can’t get either of them to come to Tanjore to meet him. The Prime Minister and Princess Kundavai try to ameliorate the King’s distress by attempting to resolve his fears and mysteries from the past, but the poor King is too warped up in the manipulative games of the conspirators, that even he doesn’t acknowledge the truth amidst the overwhelming confusion.

Therefore, this volume shows the true burden and mental anguish that comes with being a member of the royalty - especially being a reigning King or Crown Prince. Kalki brings out the moral predicaments and questions that plague the valiant warriors - at the end of the day, no matter how virtuous one is at heart, isn’t it a crime to murder one’s “enemies” in the name of conquests and territorial hunger? Lives are lost and ruined, and the defeated clan nurtures a blood-thirsty revenge which sets loose another revolt. How will this vicious chain of revenge subside if it continues down the generations, resulting in more violence and vengeance? Trapped within a murky wheel of revenge, pride and territorial-ego, what is right, what is wrong, and what is moral?

This volume is fast-paced and ends with the question of how the truth will ever surface to convince the key players and rescue the Chozha dynasty in time. To add to all the political entanglements, the “love-triangles” between the characters turn into importance as they seem to dangerously impact the turn of events. The words fly past the pages and the characters fully come to life to reenact history. And I am desperately glued to the pages till I see the ending!

Reflections: Ponniyin Selvan (Vol.3) - The Killer Sword

Thoughts on Part 1, and Part 2.

My thoughts are officially now in the Chozha time-period, roaming my ancestral towns and villages, and dreaming of wars and sudden ambushes. I am completely immersed in the story that sometimes it’s disorienting to come back to the real world. In the third part of this historical saga, the fanatic Pandiya association stealthily close in on their revolution to wipe out the Chozhas and claim the throne to avenge the death of their Pandiya King, Veerapandiya. Upon sensing the instability of their governance, the civilians are at unrest, threatening to react violently if their beloved Prince Arulmozhi is ousted. Making matters worse, no one knows if the Prince survived the storm. The witty hero Vandiya Devan shuttles between the royalties, trying to deliver important messages and wriggling out of sticky situations he gets into. The conspirators diplomatically try to trap the Crown Prince Adithya Karikala, with the help of the dangerously bewitching young Queen, Nandini. Things seem to run out of control and the whole Empire is shrouded with an ominous gloom.

I thought this volume dragged a little in terms of the plot. There were plenty of scenes which seemed superfluous, however they definitely contributed to defining the characters, and the extent to which they dictated the fate of the Empire. Stories within stories give shape to the significance of the historical elements, and they help us understand the motivations of the characters.

I was really impressed by the secular attitude that the Chozha Kings and Princes adopted. Sundara Chozha and Arulmozhi Varma are shown to be patrons of Buddhism, in addition to being zealous Siva devotees. Once again, this volume brings out the magnanimous nature of the Chozhas, and their burning ambition to further their Empire. But, even conquests are not shown as ruthless acquisitions of wealth. This is probably the author's romanticized view, but it makes the story interesting. It’s nice to believe that my ancestral place was ruled by brave and benevolent dynasties.

I read Part 3 of the book published by Macmillan India, and translated by C.V. Karthik Narayanan. This edition has simple illustrations interspersed within the pages, making it fun to envision characters. Speaking of which, here is a lovely illustration of the Chozha Princess Kundavai, by my talented friend. 

 
The translation by Karthik Narayanan was good and the editing was much tighter, although there were a couple of minor lapses. I thought some phrases were getting redundant, but that might just be due to the inadequacy of trying to represent one language through another. But overall, it was well-written. I enjoy reading all the poetic dialogues and references, and every now and then I can see through the translation and realize the actual Tamil lines and I congratulate myself gleefully :). Hopefully the fourth volume continues this trend, but teems with plenty of action!

Reflections: Ponniyin Selvan (Vol.2) - Whirlwind

Thoughts on Part 1.

In this second part of the book, more characters get introduced and are given shape - such as the Ocean Princess, Poonkuzhali, who is a tremendous help to both Vandiya Devan and the young Prince, Arulmozhi Varma. As Sundara Chozha physically deteriorates, his mind plagues him with fears and superstitious beliefs in spells and curses. His past is unraveled and many of the mysteries surrounding the first part of the book come to light. As the plot unfurls, the suspense heightens and brings with it more mysteries. Since India is steeped in its beliefs and fears on witchcraft and sorcery, this story too abounds with it. When elements of supposed black-magic get added to a political drama, the whole story is filled with different dimensions of enigma. But, this volume of the book seems to directly and indirectly point to the truth and the answers to the mysteries. The story by itself doesn’t develop much, but Kalki has taken the time to define the characters in view of their past and present circumstances.

The book begins with the start of Vandiya Devan’s journey to Srilanka to deliver a message to the young Prince. Once in Srilanka, Vandiya Devan and the prince strike a bond of friendship. The story paints Arulmozhi Varma’s generous and virtuous spirit, thus glorifying the young Prince in the reader’s eyes. Once the conspiracies come to the open, the characters jump into action mode. Evading more threats to their lives, the Prince and Vandiya Devan brave a violent storm in the middle of the ocean and try to get to the Tamil shores to meet the dying Emperor and handle the brewing political storm.

I enjoyed reading the second part of the book as well. Indra Neelameggham’s writing is precise and well paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I am sure the third book is packed with more serious turning points to the plot and I can’t wait to read it! The entire story portrays the magnificence of the Chozha time period and makes a Tamilan proud :)

Reflections: Ponniyin Selvan (Vol.1) - New Floods

Ponniyin Selvan (Cauvery’s Beloved Son) is a recreation of the historical epic story of the Chozha Empire’s greatest monarchs (King Raja Raja Chozha). In the 10th and 11th century C.E, the Chozha dynasty was one of the most strongest and longest ruling Tamil empires, spreading from the Tungabadra river in Northern India down to Srilanka. It is also claimed to have had a stronghold over several other parts of South-east Asia. long-lost history of this dynasty has been beautifully refurbished by Kalki Krishnamurthy, a notable Tamil writer and journalist. The literary merit and the historical significance of the story is highly praised. I have heard my mother talk so wistfully about the story, ardently wishing she were part of that romantic era to behold all the happenings. And my dear friend has never recommended any other volume of books higher! Despite all these recommendations, I could never read the book because of my abysmal ability to read Tamil... that too literary Tamil :(. I knew I could never hope to get through all 5 parts of this voluminous and intricate story by reading one script at a time and stringing together words! So I abandoned the hope years back. However, my friend’s wonderful post tantalized me to get hold of the English translations. And I did! I am aware that I am missing out on several literary gems because of reading a translation of the great work, but I have to say, I am still impressed and quite hooked to the series!

Project Madurai has the electronic versions of the first two volumes of the story (New Floods, and Whirlwind), translated by Indra Neelameggham. Although parts of the translation are literal, and some contain the actual Tamil words (like “Akka” (elder sister), “Thambi” (young man, younger brother), “Chee” ( tamil equivalent of “yuck”), etc.), overall the quality is quite good, and the history is well explained. Indra Neelameggham manages to capture the poetic and lyrical nature of the text and delivers it well. I can only imagine how striking the original would be!

As for the plot, Kalki weaves the story around the brave, charming, and heroic young man, Vandiya Devan, who is a trusted messenger of the then Crown Prince Aditya Karikala, and the beloved Princess, Kundavai. The current monarch, Sundara Chozha is in his death-bed, and as always, political conspiracies rage around him to capture the throne. Adding to this, the rival Pandiya men are scheming a dangerous and treacherous plot to overthrow the entire Chozha Empire. Despite all the challenges and dense political plots, Vandiya Devan manages to be a resourceful man to help Princess Kundavai and the monarch. In this first volume, all the characters get introduced and the stage is set for the story to develop. I am amazed at the layers of suspense tied to every character and at every turn of the page! Yet, the tale is not convoluted or difficult to follow. It’s thrilling and immensely entertaining, with elements of suspense, political intrigue, drama, mystery, romance, comedy and adventure! And just like any great epic, the huge jigsaw puzzle is slowly taking shape.

This also yet another segment of history that portrays the power wielded by women! As much as the men scheme and fight their wars in the battlefield, the women shrewdly manipulate the game and have a caustic war inside the Palace. Kalki also brings to life the culture, traditions and religious fervor of the era. It’s incredible that the tussle between the Shaivaites and Vaishnavites which was prevalent in that time-period, continues to this day!

This volume ends with Vandiya Devan successfully meeting Princess Kundavai to deliver the message from the Crown Prince, and embarking on another mission to deliver a message to the younger prince, Arulmozhi Varma (later known as Raja Raja Chozha) who is in Srilanka on a political campaign.

Since I am sure to have plenty to prattle about, I thought I would write a little about every volume I read (and hopefully not divulge all the suspense). And of course, the final rating is reserved for the end of the series!

Reflections: Love Among The Chickens

I am a fervent die-hard fan of P.G.Wodehouse. I adore his writing and his unique sense of humor. It doesn’t matter that his books are just satires of silly British aristocrats and idle men. His plots are deceptively simple and deliciously intricate. And I just can’t get enough of his characteristic writing and humor. This addiction runs in my family. With my grandfather, dad, every uncle and aunt passing over their books onto me, it was almost a rite of passage for me as I spent my early teenage years finishing up most of his books. After nearly a decade (yikes am I old!), I’ve discovered all of Wodehouse’s early books in Kindle! God Bless all those benevolent people. So, I am revisiting the master :)

Jeremy Garnet is a budding novelist living his modest, literary life in the city. His rambunctious friend Ukridge pays him an unexpected visit with his newly married wife and announces his intention to start a chicken-farm in the country to make a living. Does he know the first thing about chickens? Not much, but Ukridge believes in his hypothesis  that eggs are fundamental to every-one's existence, and that if the chickens were given the space to run around and roost and peck a few grains, they would diligently lay him plenty of eggs to be sold and bring him a phenomenal profit. Ukridge drags Jeremy with him to the country to help him with his farm. What ensues is a hilarious fumble with the obstinate chickens, and a little romance spicing up Jeremy’s life, although the love of his life has an irritable father whom he needs to temper.

Now be forewarned that Wodehouse’s early books are just a shadow, a mere hint of his later books. This was the time he was honing his skills and nuances. A time before his imagination stumbled on Jeeves, Bertie, Gussie Finknottle, the Glossops, Lord Emsworth and Psmith... and many many more wonderful characters. This book is more of a lighter version of Wodehouse, both in terms of the language and the humor. However the humor picks up and the climax is delivered in his quintessential hilarious, chaotic manner :).

Reading this book after so many years reminded me of the simple age when I used to naively and passionately spend several hours with a dear friend of mine, discussing, dissecting and applauding every brilliant sentence, structure and character of Wodehouse. Anyway, plenty of nostalgia and all that makes this book even better than it actually is.

Digested thoughts: I would recommend this book if you are a Wodehouse fan, or if you want a taste of his style by reading a lighter version. The language is as impeccable as ever, but not as masterful as his later works. Same goes for humor. It is definitely a book to lift your spirits and enter a lighter mood. 

Reflections: The Madman

I am a fan of Kahlil Gibran’s poetry. The Madman contains poems and lyrical fables that are a bit satirical and bitter, as Gibran mocks at our ignorance, prejudices and the ironies of the world.

The poems can be interpreted as Gibran calling himself a madman because his thoughts and ways are so out of tune from “normalcy”.  It's about the number of different contradictory faces we wear in order to be part of society. Gibran talks about removing his “masks” and being liberated to be as he is. Once we try to shed our masks of social propriety, I am sure most of us will be regarded as mad! The stress and strain of having to be artificial and always doing and saying the politically right things really wears me down, and I wonder how so many do it so artfully and manipulatively. Anyway, this book is hence both philosophical and vituperative in its critical views of the world and its prejudiced ways...the world and the people who try to bring in order, justice and peace, seem to be the most contradictory of all. I can’t say I enjoyed reading it... but it was thought-provoking nonetheless.

The book is arranged into themes, and Gibran lyrically concocts a story or a fable to put across his views. They are all allegorical of course. Some, such as Gibran’s views on wars, really hits home and resonates with my thoughts. Another one that I quite liked and that kind of defines the theme of the book is:

“Said the Eye one day, “I see beyond these valleys a mountain veiled with blue mist. Is it not beautiful?"
The Ear listened, and after listening intently awhile said, “But where is any mountain? I do not hear it.”
Then the Hand spoke and said, “I am trying in vain to feel it or touch it, and I can find no mountain.”
And the Nose said, “There is no mountain, I cannot smell it.”
Then the Eye turned the other way, and they all began to talk together about the Eye’s strange delusion. And they said, “Something must be the matter with the Eye.””

And one more favorite:
“Said a blade of grass to an autumn leaf, “You make such a noise falling! You scatter all my winter dreams.”
Said the leaf indignant, “Low-born and low-dwelling! Songless, peevish thing! You live not in the upper air and you cannot tell the sound of singing.”
Then the autumn leaf lay down upon the earth and slept. And when spring came she waked  again - and she was a blade of grass.
And when it was autumn and her winter sleep was upon her, and above her through all the air the leaves were falling, she muttered to herself, “O these autumn leaves! They make such noise! They scatter all my winter dreams.””

Some allegories are simple like the above, and some a little more involved. In all, this is an interesting  thought-provoking, and quick read. 

Reflections: Eros, Philia, Agape

I was so enamored by Rachel Swirky’s writing that I started reading another book of hers. From the title, I expected this to be another book on Greek mythology, but that was not to be! It’s a science-fiction that looks into the nature of love.

The story takes place in a time way into the future when Artificial Intelligence and Robotics have progressed to a state where one can place a customized order for an Android (down to choosing his/her body parts, brain composition, required aptitudes, interests etc.). Adriana is facing a difficult time in her life and decides to order an Android as her companion and care-taker. Lucian, the android (oh-so-similar to Endhiran ;)) arrives at Adriana’s home and slowly learns to adapt himself and his ways to Adriana’s liking. His consciousness pieces together information like an infant, his neural network strengthens and he finally achieves a level of consciousness and self-awareness to call himself as an individual, who is not merely a machine. But he still doesn’t comprehend who he truly is, and what love truly is. Is he staying with Adriana because that’s what his core system is programmed to be? Is he really in love with her? How is his love for her different than his love for roses or Nature? Is her love towards him different than his? If so, in what ways? He is riddled with all these questions and he decides to find answers to them and to his plaguing question on what is the Self, on his own terms.

Within a few pages into the book, I was pleasantly surprised and was glad to be reading it.  The question of whether machines are capable of achieving a state of consciousness which allows them to attain the self-awareness to know who they are, is a popular question that intrigues AI and Cognitive Scientists. I was impressed that within this short book, Swirsky explores a murky topic from the perspective of  a robot.  The story tackles a host of issues - is “love” or companionship meaningful if mates and companions can be custom-ordered to match our preferences? Is such a companionship long-lasting? Can humans and androids ever be companions?

I really liked the succinct approach Swirsky takes to explore these issues - nothing is overdone or underdone. The story stays together on its own and hints at the answers without the heavy, esoteric arguments which usually clog up such  topics. It was light, yet deep. Her writing was clear and insightful, but it wasn’t as beautiful or poignant as “A Memory of Wind”.

Digested thoughts: I loved the premise of an android who is custom-made as a woman’s companion, slowly evolving in his “thoughts” to wonder what love, companionship and the Self means. It is a short, but an interesting, deep read. 

Reflections: A Memory of Wind

When the ravishing half-Goddess Helen was seduced by Paris and was taken to Troy, her husband, King Menelaus was thirsting for war to avenge the infidelity. King Agamenmnon, Helen’s sister Clymnestra’s husband, offers his allegiance to support the war. The troops arrive at the harbor at Aulis and prepare to sail to Troy. But there was one major obstacle - the Goddess of Wind refused to provide the winds to set sail. The priest of Artemis opines that the Goddess needs to be appeased by sacrificing King Agamenmnon’s eldest daughter, Iphigenia. Agamenmnon didn’t want to lose his facade of bravery in front of Menelaus and hence agrees to it. Rachel Swirsky gives voice to the poor young girl who was cruelly treated as a sacrificial goat in this popular segment of Greek mythology.

Mythological stories such as the Trojan War of Troy have focused on the many romantic and heroic aspects of the story. But there are so many countless characters that usually get pushed to the side because of their apparent triviality in the grand scheme of the epic. However, these seemingly “insignificant” characters play a pivotal role in the story’s major turning points. I appreciated that Rachel Swirsky focused on one such a character. She poignantly portrays the girl’s frame of wind and thoughts, and presents the story and its popular characters from the standpoint of this young girl and her terrible fate. Swirsky’s sensitive and beautiful writing transcends Iphigenia’s character to a memorable place in the epic. She also presents Agamenmnon as a confused warrior and father, torn between understanding where his duties lie. And contrary to the glorification heaped on Helen, Swirsky shows a possible darker side to her.

It was a very short, but touching read. The romanticism surrounding Helen and the war is disillusioned in the light of such innocent victims. 

Reflections: The Unicorn Expedition and Other Fantastic Tales of India

I had no idea Satyajit Ray had written fiction until I was recommended this book last year. It instantly featured in every book hunt of mine, but was quite hard to find in this country. But I spotted it when I least expected, and enjoyed my time reading it.

This book is a collection of short stories very reminiscent of Roald Dahl’s stories - they all explore human oddities, and the bizarre realm of the supernatural. I loved that Ray concentrated on India’s mysticism. Every story explores the ambiguities and mysteries surrounding our traditions, beliefs and numerous mythological occurrences. Starting from Ayurveda to our fascination with holy men, the deification of King Cobras, to the mythologies and mysteries fogging the surreal Manasarovar, Ray handles every story from both a rational (i.e., scientific) as well as a super-natural perspective. Through these stories, he reminds us of how richly intricate India is, and how it teems with so many mysteries that all boil down to life’s fundamental questions. Ray’s characters are simple, yet very memorable, especially the recurrent character, Professor Shonku.  Professor Shonku is an ingenious scientist whose diary contains his fabulous and incredulous scientific innovations and adventures. I absolutely loved the scientific explorations of the supernatural (such as embarking on an expedition to find Unicorns!), as well as the future directions of science and Artificial Intelligence.

Satyajit Ray was most definitely ahead of his time. His movies demonstrate his imagination, creativity and insight into the human-psyche, and his stories reflect the depth of his thoughts, and the wisdom in them. For example, I have recently been hearing and reading quite a lot about the intelligence of crows! Yes, crows! Not chimps, but birds that have been paid the least attention in regards to their possible intelligence. To those of you who are interested, here is a short TED video of the pioneer crow-intelligence researcher :). Reminds me of the old story about a crow trying to drink water from the bottom of a pitcher! Yet, one of Ray’s stories written decades before, is on Professor Shonku’s experiments on training a crow to be intelligent!

Ray’s prose is very lucid and precise. The content of the stories were well oiled, so to speak, because of the impeccable and clear writing.

Digested thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ray’s imaginative, diverse and mystical stories. I particularly liked Professor Shonku’s science-fiction adventures. The stories are well-written, and although they were written for children and young-adults, I think they will appeal to adults as well. 

Reflections: The Namesake

I may just be one of the last few people on this planet, especially among Indians, who is reading this book now. I usually don’t pick up books that are causing the current wave of hysteria. I tend to go with great expectations and a very critical pair of eyes, so I have learned it’s best to wait for the hype to subside before curiosity eventually leads me to the book. With The Namesake, there is an additional reason why I consciously stayed away from both the book and the movie. I went through this phase of aversion until last year regarding all topics related to immigration woes, the culture shock and the rift between the first and second generation immigrants. Wherever I turned within family or friends, I saw this topic being beaten to death with the innumerable (often closed-minded) discussions and vociferous arguments. Yes, I understand the crux of the issue, but I resent the exaggerated perspectives of both sides of the argument. I also get tired of the stereotypical portraits that are repeatedly perpetuated in movies and books - they seem to turn the issue into a satire, and a mockery.

Anyway, I eventually drifted to the book to see what the fuss is all about. The synopsis is probably all too familiar. Gogol Ganguli is a second generation Indian American, born to traditional Bengali parents. His father is the quintessential Indian academic - a professor of Electrical Engineering, and his mother is the perennially home-sick and lost stay-at-home wife and mother. Starting from his name, everything about his culture, his family and his roots are unfathomable to Gogol. The story is about Gogol’s tussle to break-free of his stringent family and how he gradually learns his way through his heritage and comes to identify with his roots.

It was heartening that Jhumpa Lahiri did not stereotype the characters. She manages to bring out the very subtle aspects of being an Indian family and how drastically different those aspects are in contrast to the Western families. And I appreciated the fact that she made the distinction between which of these aspects are endearing and make us unique, and which aspects are not necessarily healthy to keep practicing down the generations. In most movies, the stark differences are either shown as acute embarrassments or glorified to unnecessary heights, and I hate either approach.

It was also a refreshing relief to me that the culture battles didn’t take centre stage and dominate the book. The core of the book is on one’s search for identity. Lahiri dwells on how the second generation leads bitter and confused lives because of their ceaseless need to rebel almost all through their life, even when their parents no longer present the stifling circumstances for it. The constant subconscious pressure to seek the forbidden and make a statement is shown to take precedence over leading a normal life. She shows that the search for one’s identity intensifies, especially after they break-free from their family.

However, there is one aspect of the first generation immigrants that I never fully comprehend or empathize with. True, living in a country that in no way resembles home is daunting. And I can imagine how acute it must have been in the 70s and 80s when there was no technology to help us stay connected with family, hardly any Indian stores or restaurants to resort to authentic dishes etc. But the class of highly qualified professionals have a very clear choice - they don’t have to suffer the misery and can go back home. Lahiri calls these people brave and courageous to continue to stay away from home and make a living abroad. I definitely don’t agree with the adjectives, “brave”, or “courageous” , or to even call it a sacrifice!

All of us make a clear, deliberate, conscious decision between the two choices - return home or live abroad. A professor of Electrical Engineering can lead a very comfortable life in India, but if he chooses to stay in a country that helps him advance in his career much better and promises a greater standard of living for his family, then his choice doesn’t stem out of anything noble or brave! We all make this choice time and again to fulfill our selfish goals. We choose to compromise, and according to me, when the compromise turns into an unbearable sacrifice, then nobody is stopping us from making the move. But to put on a facade of constant suffering and sacrifice to live in this country with the implication that they are somehow tied to the place out of no other choice, is unfair. It’s not like we are refugees who can’t return to our own country, or our country is so impoverished or war-torn and filled with political conflict that we can’t set up a secure home. There are many immigrants who are unfortunately driven away from their countries - I sympathize with them, not with those of us who are assured a decent life in either countries. And that is why I don’t like the drama surrounding the Indian Diaspora's “dilemma”. Those who complain the most and talk of being home-sick all the time, are the first ones to wonder if they will be able to cope with the traffic and cows on the road if they are to go back. It’s hypocritical.

I also resent the fact that even after spending two decades in a country away from home, some immigrants still refuse to see the place as their home (away from home) or mingle with people other than one’s own nationality or community. Pockets of Indians, no matter how long they have lived here, continue to mix and mingle only with each other. If we decide to isolate ourselves from a community we choose to live in and which is clearly helping us reach our ambitions, then we can’t complain of being treated as aliens.

Anyway, that’s my rambling two cents on the issue. The compromises are clear, but I see us making the same choices and mistakes over and over again, and then complaining about them. Also, the false, rosy expectations of second generation children never seem to change.

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Digested thoughts: Rerouting my derailed thoughts back to the book, I definitely found it an interesting read. I appreciated that Lahiri explored much subtler and deeper issues about the clash between first and second generation Indian Americans. Her characters were realistically drawn out and were not stereotypical caricatures. Her writing was simple; it was mostly insightful, but sometimes I found her sentences to be stilted in their construction. In all, I would give it a favorable rating. 

Reflections: Ceremony

Tayo is a Native-American war veteran who stumbles into his present life after experiencing the horrors of war as a Japanese prisoner during World War II. The violence and morbidness of being in war has left him hanging on the edges of his sanity. His past haunts him relentlessly, and his bitterness grows towards the Army and the Americans who still racially segregate and exploit his people. His family in the Laguna Pueblo reservation try to help him get back on his life through a mystic medicine man. This is a grim narration of Tayo’s journey of healing as he resorts to age-old superstitious rituals and reconnects with himself by establishing his own ceremony to cure his weathered spirit.

The book started off powerfully, but the momentum faltered somewhere in the middle and didn’t pick up pace for me. The tone is morose, and adds to the weight of the subject. Although I was captivated by the writing at first, it became increasingly abstract and disconnected. Silko shifts rapidly between time periods, contexts and characters that half the time it seems like we are in one of Tayo’s disturbed dreams. Silko' s disconnected style of writing, in terms of flashes of memories and threads from the past, doesn’t work well all the time, especially when the narration shifts into the present. The rituals and myths also did not sink into me.... they were far too mystical, abstract and cryptic for me to see how they related to Tayo, or his heritage or healing. In the end, I feel like I haven’t grasped as much as what the author intended to convey, and that’s a disappointment.

I made sense out of Tayo’s main “ceremony” as his way of completing what he had left behind when he had joined the Army. A part of him seemed focused on assuaging his guilt as one way of making peace with his past and facing the present. Silko’s underlying thread throughout the story is the unfairness, hypocrisy and selfishness of the Army and the “white” people, who stoke internal conflicts and misery within isolated Native-American communities, using them when needed and ignoring them and not hesitating to trample on them to meet their ruthless ends.

It’s a powerful theme that could have been fleshed out better if the writing didn’t hover over fleeting boundaries of poetry, and enigmatic mysticism. But as I said, I have perhaps not been sharp enough to pick up on something significant.

 
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Digested thoughts: I am starting this new addition to save readers from the misery of parsing through my review-like-non-review, and wonder what the bottom line is and if it’s worth their time to read this book. So.... I would give this book the following smiley/rating (an elaborated rating scheme is on the side-bar):

 This book did not leave a strong enough impression on me - neither positive nor negative. I liked it for its powerful themes, but the writing, the ancient rituals and allusions to witch-craft were too abstract to hold me down and let me savor the story.