Reflections

1.5 stars out of 5 from my side; had I not been a Forsyth fan, I would have rated it 2.5 stars, perhaps 3... that rating should explain the book in short and sweet. Simply put, avoid if you are a die-hard Forsyth fan, read it otherwise. It is worth one read - and one read only. It lacks the gel, the pulling power that will make you want to read it again and again. And, for the price, it is just not worth it. At  399/- (330 +/- a few online), it is waaaaay too expensive; at that price, I would much prefer to go in for a book that has a factor that makes me want to return to it. Spending that money for 2 hours is not justified.  To those who have read my book reviews before, the beginning to the review itself would have made it clear how much of a let-down this book has been to me; to be very honest, I regret the purchase. My money was wasted on this; I could have done much better with it. The current book is not what you expect from a Forsyth, straight and simple.  The plot, u

The mere mention of the word Pakistan is enough to drive an Indian to extremes of behavior: ranging from a devout hoping for peace and brotherhood, to outright hatred. This is a subject that is fraught with bitter memories, blood and betrayal; a subject that is extremely hard to deal with sans emotion – at least if you are either an Indian, or a Pakistani. Therefore, for the above reasons, the book under review is a special surprise, a treat and a treasure; an experience to be savoured, a moment to be treasured – and a lesson to be learnt. A book which is head and shoulders above any I have read on this topic… a true delight; a collectors’ item.  This book is a collection of essays by various Indian and Pakistani personalities on this subject. If you were expecting fireworks, think again. The book is singularly devoid of any fireworks; and in fact comprises a remarkably controlled and informed set of essays, which are well thought out, with the subject matter well presented.

To the Naval Officer with whom I had this discussion: If you are reading this, please accept my thanks for your Armed Forces training and job insights and our comparisons with organisational life and trainings; this idea came to me while we were engaged in our discussion, as you will hopefully recall... As previously noted in earlier articles on my blog, corporate India has been shaken to its core by a recent series of scandals and scams that have cut across the entire spectrum almost; with the bad news coming from Mining, Pharmaceuticals, Banking, Telecom, Coal etc. I have previously argued in my blog of the need for introspection within the hallowed corridors of power in Corporate India, and of the need for a re-visit to the the basics to set things right. In the course of this analysis, we looked at the external environment, which has changed quite significantly, with very, very heavy competition and the resultant pressure becoming the norm of the day; I further argued that th

I am not exactly a NaMo fan... read this:  http://reflectionsvvk.blogspot.in/2013/06/upa-gandhi-vs-ndamodi-ek-taraf-uska.html Having said that, a part of me wants him to become PM just to see what the US response will be. It will put them in a pretty pickle... the mere thought of that sets my brain neurons racing with excitement!  The USA - first of all, as of today morning, we were sovereign. Have been with family all day, so have no real idea if USA has annexed India or not. If they have, then NaMo is disqualified since he is not eligible for a US Visa. Sorry, old boy. (PS: If USA has annexed India, can I have my salary in Dollars, please?) Just googled. India Still Sovereign.  (Pity, that... salary in dollars meant... well... U know what I mean) And since we are sovereign as at 8:45 PM today evening 15th September 2013, the question of a US Visa impacting our decisions does not arise.  On a more serious note, the USA is not exactly a paragon of Ju

Someone participates in wanton rape and murder – gangrape at that; and then murders the helpless woman; mercilessly beating and torturing her, and committing unspeakable deeds – and the best our justice system can do is meet out  a punishment of 28 months for one of the most brutal culprits? Is this justice? Just because the most brutal animal of the lot is a few months short of 18, he is let off with a light sentence – a sentence that does a mockery of justice?In 3 years (a little less, actually) this person, this poor excuse for a human being will be let off to roam the streets again. What is the guarantee that this person will be reformed? Where is the guarantee that these 3 years will not harden his resolve to be more careful – and not be caught? 3 years later he will be roaming the streets again – having tasted blood once. 3 short years is what he pays for raping, torturing and killing a young lady in the prime of her life. The victim loses her honour as well as her life; the

Book Review: Young Turks Author: Krishan Partap Singh (This is the first book of the Raisina Hill series. The second part  - Delhi Durbar – has already featured on my blog earlier) THE PLOT This story is about 3 friends – who are as alike as Chalk and Cheese. You are not likely to find a more varied set of best friends than Azim Khan, Karan Nehru and Raj Mehra; three people differing in just about everything to do with life, everything! And yet, somehow, they become friends – a friendship which turns out to be a defining one for India in the fullness of time. The staid, hardworking idealist Azim Khan, the incorrigible & rambunctiously exuberantly aggressive Karan Nehru, and the balanced & smart go-getter Raj Mehra grow up into 3 men, and get into 3 careers as different as their natures. One a financial wizard and business king, one a decorated Army Officer, and one a high-flying international journalist of considerable repute and formidable skills in

From the days of our early schooling, we come across innumerable references to our glorious time of the ancient past; we are subsequently exposed to the Arab and Mughal conquests, and thence to the independence period during the course of our schooling. As we grow into our teens and the early twenties, various external sources also fashion our understanding of our past, which we eventually come to accept as the absolute truth, without questioning anything. Rarely do we question anything; rather, we accept it at face value as more often than not, it comes from sources that we consider above reproach: namely, western sources, school books and Media – international as well as Indian.  Take a look at a few instances of modern distortions that are materially impacting us in some ways – both small and large: 1. Most people in the West consider our distance from them largely due to our pro-Russian tilt, and defend their pro-Pakistan posture due to this. However, the correct historica

We shall look at the 1857 War in greater detail at a later date; in this post, I shall attempt to introduce an aspect of the 1857 that has been left untouched by recorded history, which simply does not do justice to the entire heroic and horrendous affair that was the First War Of Independence. Today, let us take a look at a man honoured by the civilized britishers with the Victoria Cross, and was also knighted by the Queen. This man’s name was Hugh Rose, about whom Captain F. W. Pinkney writes : “The example made at Jhansi will, I have no doubt, have an excellent effect in facilitating the tranquilizing of Bundelkhand”… We in India can refer to him as the Butcher Of Jhansi… He is the same man who choreographed a terrifying dance of death spread over 4 days – a dance of death that is so horrifying in its detail, so brutal in its scope and so evil in its scale, that it ranks as a genocide as far as I am concerned. This was the Genocide of Jhansi… This should also give you

BOOK REVIEW: ASHOK THE GREAT Edited by: Monika Khanna Mahaan Ashok… the Emperor whose name is drilled into our heads, our thoughts and our very being as Indians; Mahaan Ashok – the greatest among Indians; Mahaan Ashok… the only Indian to be honoured with a Title of Mahaan meaning Great; Mahaan Ashok…. Who has now become synonymous with Modern India through the Lion Capital; Mahaan Ashok… the man who first brought India under one yoke; Mahaan Ashok… The Mauryan Emperor of worldwide renown and fame; Mahaan Ashok, or Ashok The Great, the only known emperor (in my knowledge, at least) to renounce war as a state craft during his lifetime, and since…  The current book under review is a collection of facts and articles about this legendary Indian, a name who evokes a tremendous feeling of pride in Indians of all hues and religions. The main scoring point of the book is that It looks extensively at the historical & archeological as well as the literary record, which is crit