The Luminous Sparks - APJ Abdul Kalam

'A biography in verse and colors' is a collection of 8 poems. The book is a visual treat. It is printed as a Deluxe Edition on art paper. The cover design and illustrations are beautifully created by 7 prominent artists ! No wonder the book has won prizes for excellence in  book production and outfit. This volume can be read as his life in verse. And these poems too are written to ignite lazy minds. Be it fond memories or agonies, the underlying theme is to unite people of India , to work hard for peace and harmony and to transform our country from a developing nation into a developed nation.

The best part is the conversation between a toddler bud and its mother. Just imagine..! Such spontaneity, simplicity, transparency and innocence, coming from a scientist and an ex-president is quite phenomenal.

Salaam Kalam Saab...

Ignited minds - APJ Abdul Kalam

Ding-dong ! Here is a book dedicated to the Indian youths. The aim of this book is to turn India to a developed country by the year 2020. Dr. Kalam shares his personal and professional experiences, his visits to different places and states , his interaction with school children and college students and meetings with sadhus and eminent personalities. He often asserts the important role of parents and elementary school teachers as role models to ignite young minds. He not only advocates the Gandhian principle of  rural  development but also has got a foolproof strategy for the same. The chapter on role models, esp on ancient mathematicians and astronomers of India is quite educational and inspiring .


                APJ has added many questions and his answers for sound effects. One student has asked an important question, '' Why Indians, particularly educated Indians excel when they go to the USA and Europe. They become rich also''.Kalam's answer is teamwork and willingness to take risks. That's all? Ha ! In a foreign land, away from one's own people, an expatriate is  scared stiff but ironically works hard to the core to prove his worth. Anyhow, its high time and this book is a gentle but alarming wake up call for all Indians - patriots and expatriates.


               Chak de India !!

The great incomplete novel of Franz Kafka

I'm a big fan of Jainco Publisher's omnibus editions. Easy n economic access to the known n unknown works of great writers - all in one big ominous bus. Forget about the paper n printing quality. Also ignore the jumbled pages. But don't you think these great works deserve a proper introduction?

Great works of Franz Kafka?! The title should be 'The Great Incomplete Works of Franz Kafka'. This omnibus contains his 3 incomplete novels - America, The Castle and The trial.

America - Franz Kafka

Published posthumously, Amerika i s the first incomplete novel of Kafka. It annals the meaningless yet adventurous  American experiences of an immigrant European teenager, Karl Rosmann,  painfully vivid and utterly humorous. What's he? A cross breed of Oliver Twist n David Copperfield. That's it. Dickensian influence is extremely pronounced in this work. Though Karl is disoriented and helpless under the bureaucratic shackles n chains, they fail to destroy or change his innate innocence and stupefying faith in the future. Of course he is very young. And so he goes to Oklahoma with renewed hope...  Thus the incomplete novel ends in an optimistic knot.

Holy Moly for trying to anchor me in wastelands along with her

This post is dedicated to my best chum. You help me to grow. You show me almost everything in a new prospective. I'm learning.

This is also to my worst chum. Friendship won't thrive upon gossip, recipe exchange and  home remedies.  I've no hot news to deliver.  I'm a horrible cook and I believe in modern medicines.  Don't you preachify me about maintaining the ship.  Feel free to ditch me.  You are killing me with all the dead weights  you are throwing around. Goog bye !

boy vs girls

Mirchi's onion plant

girl power

Pepper going to Kalari !!

Pinky starts her schooling. She hasn't been to any play school . She gets up late in the morning. She is a fussy eater. She still needs diaper at night. She is a bit of a cleanliness maniac. She doesn't approve the school toilet. She doesn't like the school uniform. She is not at all excited !! She never showed any interest before also. I'm worried. I pray her class teacher be nice with her and me.

Ain't she lucky? She goes to school carrying her pink school bag, pink tiffin box , pink pencil box, along with her mother n siblings !