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Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Photo - Barren Tree

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It's a long, hot, scorching summer. The monsoons are supposed to be here. It is supposed to be raining. It's supposed to be cool...
Sunday, June 8, 2014

Accidental India, by Shankkar Aiyar

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My review of Shankkar Aiyar's book, " Accidental India ", was published in the DNA on May 22nd, 2014. Except for the review...
Sunday, May 11, 2014

Mahabharata, Vol 8

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Mahabharata - Volume 8, Translated by Bibek Debroy I wrote a short review of Dr. Bibek Debroy's volume 8 of the translation of the ...
Sunday, February 23, 2014

Indus Valley (Smart Green Civilizations)

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Indus Valley: Key stage 2 (Smart Green Civilizations) Kid-friendly introduction, but marred by selective omissions. Also leaves out the ...
Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Motilal Banarsidas, Bangalore

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I had reason to be in Jayanagar a few months back, with 15 odd minutes to spare. I was across the road from the Motilal Banarsidas booksto...
Sunday, December 29, 2013

Mahabharata Ch 61-65, Adi Parva, Sambhava Parva

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[ Ch 59-60  «  Ch 61-65   »  Ch 66-70 ] Parva:Adi; Upa-parva:Sambhava; Chapter: 61 ; Shlokas:102 Janamejaya now wanted to hear from Vais...

Mahabharata Ch 59-60, Adi Parva, Sambhava Parva

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[ Ch 57-58  «  Ch 59-60   »  Ch 61-65 ] This chapter marks the start of the Sambhava Parva. This parva contains 2394 shlokas and 65 chapte...

Mahabharata Ch 57-58, Adi Parva, Adi-vamshavatarana Parva

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[ Ch 54-56  «  Ch 57-58   »  Ch 59-60 ] Parva:Adi; Upa-parva:Adi-vamshavatarana; Chapter: 57 ; Shlokas:106 In this chapter Vaishampayan...
Saturday, December 28, 2013

The Blood Telegram, by Gary Bass

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The Blood Telegram: Nixon, Kissinger, and a Forgotten Genocide, by Gary Bass Warning: graphic language. Reader discretion advised. O...
Sunday, December 15, 2013

Canada, US, India - Indulging a passion for photography

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Three photos, three countries, same year. The first is from the Canadian city of Fredericton, which also happens to be the capital of th...
Friday, December 13, 2013

The Best of 2013 - Reading and Reviewing Recap

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I list here the ten best books that I read and, or, reviewed in 2013. Along the way, I have also mentioned some other books that I read an...
Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of the Ramayana, by Devdutt Pattanaik

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Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of the Ramayana, by Devdutt Pattanaik Note: since I first wrote this and other reviews of Devdutt Pat...
Sunday, November 17, 2013

India's Iron Man - Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, by Balraj Krishna

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Sardar Vallabhabhai Patel: India's Iron Man (India's Bismarck: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel), by Balraj Krishna One-line review: His...
Monday, November 11, 2013

Photos from Diwali 2013

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Diwali - the festival of lights. Some photos of firecrackers taken over two days.
Saturday, October 26, 2013

Mahabharata Ch 54-56, Adi Parva, Adi-vamshavatarana Parva

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[ Ch 51-53  «  Ch 54-56   »  Ch 57-58 ] This parva tells the story of the "partial incarnations" (from "vansha" and ...
Monday, October 21, 2013

Doctor Sleep, by Stephen King

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Doctor Sleep, by Stephen King One-line review : Ghastly ghosts and a Good Old Western Shootout Review : (minor spoilers) One of the...
Sunday, October 13, 2013

Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn

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Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn One-line review : Girl gone, be gone, bygones be bygones? Review (minor spoilers) : Amy goes missing on ...

Mahabharata Ch 51-53, Adi Parva, Astika Parva

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[Ch  41-50  «  Ch 51-53   »  Ch 54-56 ] Parva:Adi; Upa-parva:Astika; Chapter: 51 ; Shlokas:23 Janamejaya was impressed with Astika, who, ...

Mahabharata Ch 41-50, Adi Parva, Astika Parva

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[Ch  36-40  «  Ch 41-50   »  Ch 51-60 ] Parva:Adi; Upa-parva:Astika; Chapter: 41 ; Shlokas:30 The story now returned to Jaratkaru. He had...
Monday, October 7, 2013

Mahabharata Ch 36-40, Adi Parva, Astika Parva

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[ Ch  31,32,33,34,35  «  Ch 36,37,38,39,40  »  Ch 41,42,43,44,45 ] Parva:Adi; Upa-parva:Astika; Chapter: 36 ; Shlokas:26 Shounaka now wan...