It is true that a person’s truest worth is inner. Many younger people and their families today have no idea of the panic and fear that smallpox brings with it.
For some, the very survival of the episode is a miracle.
My new essay on smallpox, titled: A face is something that sticks in mind: Rethinking Smallpox has been accepted into Amazon Shorts program.
My editor Daniel noted, "this is a fantastic, lyrical, and memorable piece".
I think you will like the piece too. I will keep this blog posted when the piece is live on Amazon Shorts.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Independence
This Independence Day, I love to do three things:
1) Crossword Puzzle
I like to sit in a corner and do crossword puzzles….I put up my glasses with long gold-chain hanging on its edges. I like to spread out my millions of dictionaries and translation books. These books are more than the number of boxes in the crossword puzzles. When I look back from that corner, I see a reflection in a mirror…I see a sea of books and a glow on top of my head…. O Boy, I am thinking.
2) Short Walk
I dream to take a strangest walk ever. Walk slowly…take small steps…look at everyone who pass…smile lightly at them…smile widely at those who don’t pass by…buy a pizza…and make one hungry person eat fully…comeback home…and laugh loudly. This is my day.
3) Pest Control
My house in Bangalore is in a very bad condition. Cleaning is required for probably 15 days. Yes…the requirements: do it non-stop…do acid wash, kill all mosquitoes, kill few rats…run behind and catch few rats. One more thing…make sure you don’t trample the black ants. These ants are sadhu-type…always non-violent.
Happy Indian Independence 60th Anniversary.
1) Crossword Puzzle
I like to sit in a corner and do crossword puzzles….I put up my glasses with long gold-chain hanging on its edges. I like to spread out my millions of dictionaries and translation books. These books are more than the number of boxes in the crossword puzzles. When I look back from that corner, I see a reflection in a mirror…I see a sea of books and a glow on top of my head…. O Boy, I am thinking.
2) Short Walk
I dream to take a strangest walk ever. Walk slowly…take small steps…look at everyone who pass…smile lightly at them…smile widely at those who don’t pass by…buy a pizza…and make one hungry person eat fully…comeback home…and laugh loudly. This is my day.
3) Pest Control
My house in Bangalore is in a very bad condition. Cleaning is required for probably 15 days. Yes…the requirements: do it non-stop…do acid wash, kill all mosquitoes, kill few rats…run behind and catch few rats. One more thing…make sure you don’t trample the black ants. These ants are sadhu-type…always non-violent.
Happy Indian Independence 60th Anniversary.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Revelation
Everything I left behind three and half years ago, caught up with me during this trip to India. From packed suitcases to old pants. From old acquaintances to strangers. I retrieved my memories faster than the ticks of the clock. Boy, I was home.
The India trip has been a real revelation. Age has caught up with most of the near and dears. People were morphed into submission. People with good jobs turned into spendthrifts and deeper into credit card debts. People without any jobs moved into bigger role jobs. For some, times have just got much better. Luck smiled heavily on them.
Right in front of my eyes is transforming of Bangalore (almost I could feel it). The roads swelled in cars, buses and dust. Many villagers living on the outskirts became overnight millionaires. The name-tag still belonged to them, but they now sport swanky, luxurious cars. Almost everyday I felt humbled.
There was a deep awe when we visited the Sahayadri mountain ranges for a trip to Triambakeswar. When our taxi raced through the roads shadowed by towering mountain ranges, I retrieved my camera and clicked to capture the pure beauty. Nature was pure genius here.
My initial plan was to spend more time with relatives, especially my parents and in-laws. The schedule was directed to Shirdi and Shani Singanapur. New paths just opened for us, and our taxi driver, like a good friend, showed us new places we never dreamed to see. Time moved up, just as I wound up a cool, four-week vacation.
The most difficult part of the trip was taking the return flight to US. My mind kept turning back. I found it difficult to answer a simple question: “Why do I have to do this? Why am I leaving everyone here? Why am I going back to Seattle?” I had no answers. My planned schedule moved me into the flights and off the flight. I moved like a robot as my mind melted in silence.
The India trip has been a real revelation. Age has caught up with most of the near and dears. People were morphed into submission. People with good jobs turned into spendthrifts and deeper into credit card debts. People without any jobs moved into bigger role jobs. For some, times have just got much better. Luck smiled heavily on them.
Right in front of my eyes is transforming of Bangalore (almost I could feel it). The roads swelled in cars, buses and dust. Many villagers living on the outskirts became overnight millionaires. The name-tag still belonged to them, but they now sport swanky, luxurious cars. Almost everyday I felt humbled.
There was a deep awe when we visited the Sahayadri mountain ranges for a trip to Triambakeswar. When our taxi raced through the roads shadowed by towering mountain ranges, I retrieved my camera and clicked to capture the pure beauty. Nature was pure genius here.
My initial plan was to spend more time with relatives, especially my parents and in-laws. The schedule was directed to Shirdi and Shani Singanapur. New paths just opened for us, and our taxi driver, like a good friend, showed us new places we never dreamed to see. Time moved up, just as I wound up a cool, four-week vacation.
The most difficult part of the trip was taking the return flight to US. My mind kept turning back. I found it difficult to answer a simple question: “Why do I have to do this? Why am I leaving everyone here? Why am I going back to Seattle?” I had no answers. My planned schedule moved me into the flights and off the flight. I moved like a robot as my mind melted in silence.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Vacation Time
Home is where the heart is. My heart is in India. I miss the smells, sounds, and all that is Indian. I miss my home.
I am going home.
I am going home.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Quartets – Friendship thing
Well, I like being friends with everyone. Good thing about being friends is that we can always share those personal quotes/quartets/anecdotes – even those silly ones we hide deep inside us. Here are a few I want to share. Some of the words make me think more than I am supposed to... but then I can't help. I cannot keep them with me anymore. So, they are tangentially thrown out now... :-)
1)Gods must be sloe-eyed
at the pace we wash dirt-
weeds, algae and arabidopsis-
taps of mud on our bodies.
2)My efforts aren't reaping fruits
I aspired. Oh God
I've reached a wrong avenue
with no pocket revenue.
3)The pen writes on the moribund paper:
Each the helpmate and the amanuensis.
The paper dries what the pen writes,
Form what is today the written word.
4)Men crow croak, puff smoke.
The air's gloom.
The breath choked.
The heart expands like a balloon.
5)The night howls sleep.
The day howls awake.
Each day a visual treat
Each night a genre late.
6)A huge cupboard wobbles
behind me. If it falls,
I will be on holiday
For the rest of my days.
7)The world is a university-
bodes peace, serenity
and fate for those sweeteners,
pettifoggers. We, the dwellers.
8)You may be rich.
I'm not.
I'm still the blind beggar
You had last business with.
9)Leaders are those who rise
And rise, and make the wise
Feel ashamed at themselves
And others, and rule.
10)The rose is red.
The prose is bred.
My nose is a tap.
Poor watery chap.
1)Gods must be sloe-eyed
at the pace we wash dirt-
weeds, algae and arabidopsis-
taps of mud on our bodies.
2)My efforts aren't reaping fruits
I aspired. Oh God
I've reached a wrong avenue
with no pocket revenue.
3)The pen writes on the moribund paper:
Each the helpmate and the amanuensis.
The paper dries what the pen writes,
Form what is today the written word.
4)Men crow croak, puff smoke.
The air's gloom.
The breath choked.
The heart expands like a balloon.
5)The night howls sleep.
The day howls awake.
Each day a visual treat
Each night a genre late.
6)A huge cupboard wobbles
behind me. If it falls,
I will be on holiday
For the rest of my days.
7)The world is a university-
bodes peace, serenity
and fate for those sweeteners,
pettifoggers. We, the dwellers.
8)You may be rich.
I'm not.
I'm still the blind beggar
You had last business with.
9)Leaders are those who rise
And rise, and make the wise
Feel ashamed at themselves
And others, and rule.
10)The rose is red.
The prose is bred.
My nose is a tap.
Poor watery chap.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Edgar Allen Poe
Edgar Allen Poe caught my attention in my childhood. I liked 'The Raven’ the best. Then I started writing first and began experimenting in poems. I am not perfect at the poems, though. But here are few lines I wrote sometime back:
I've grown wise to make syllables dance
in twos, or in fours at a mere glance.
I was sorry, I'd said no to compose a theme.
O boy, the air, I knew, would no longer be clean.
I've grown wise to make syllables dance
in twos, or in fours at a mere glance.
I was sorry, I'd said no to compose a theme.
O boy, the air, I knew, would no longer be clean.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Marriage Day
Marriage is the most solemn event in our life. Marriage Day brings to fore all the memories randomly packed during the special moments of marriage. Small patches of happiness often punctuate our life. The most important is marriage anniversary. It’s as important as any bright sunny day. Some say, it is another station during our long journey of life. Read on…a small poem I wrote eleven years ago.…
For my Wife
Where you were shy at
The place you sat eye-
Down, aimed
At an angle to the floor.
Dreams, aliform, jumped all-up
To our marriage, agog, turn true
Just like waves in a sea
Approach from far in leaps.
For my Wife
Where you were shy at
The place you sat eye-
Down, aimed
At an angle to the floor.
Dreams, aliform, jumped all-up
To our marriage, agog, turn true
Just like waves in a sea
Approach from far in leaps.
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