अर्ज किया है.....
उम्र सफर कर रही है
और मै ख्वाहिशें लेकर वही खड़ा हूँ
(Forwarded)
उम्र सफर कर रही है
और मै ख्वाहिशें लेकर वही खड़ा हूँ
(Forwarded)
Saturday, May 27, 2017
http://www.loksatta.com/khau-anandey-news/mumbai-street-food-food-tours-of-mumbai-1462737/
http://www.loksatta.com/khau-anandey-news/cooking-channel-on-social-media-for-foodies-1452880/
http://www.loksatta.com/safar-khadyagranthanchi-news/best-recipe-books-books-of-recipes-recipe-books-cookbook-recipes-1476232/
http://www.loksatta.com/khau-anandey-news/cooking-channel-on-social-media-for-foodies-1452880/
http://www.loksatta.com/safar-khadyagranthanchi-news/best-recipe-books-books-of-recipes-recipe-books-cookbook-recipes-1476232/
The Mahabharata Of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa @ www.sacred-texts.com
Harivamsa @ mahabharata-resources.org/harivamsa
Srimad Bhagavatam @ www.vedabase.net
The Cult Of Draupadi - Volume 1 & 2 - by Alf Hiltebeitel
Yajnaseni - by Pratibha Ray
innertraditions.blogspot.com
joglosemar.co.id/bharatayuda.html
saralamahabharat.blogspot.com
The Lost City Of Dvaraka - by S.R.Rao
Gods, Sages and Kings - Vedic Secrets Of Ancient Civilization - by David Frawley
The Mahabharata - A Modern Rendering - volumes 1 & 2 - by Ramesh Menon
Krishnacharitra - by Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay
Krishnavatara - Volumes 1 to 7 - by K.M. Munshi
Mahabharater Katha/The Book Of Yudhisthir - by Budhhadeva Bose
Pradip Bhattacharya's essay on the Panchakanyas of lore
The Secret Of The Veda - Sri Aurobindo
Mythic Origins Of Menstrual Taboo In Rigveda - by Janet Chawla
The Penguin History Of Early India: From The Origins To 1300 AD - by Romila Thapar
hinduwisdom.info/War_In_Ancient_India.htm
www.hindunet.org/hindu_history/sarasvati
The Mahabharata Chronology - by K.N.S. Patnaik
spokensanskrit.de
sanskrit.inria.fr/sankkrit.html
Harivamsa @ mahabharata-resources.org/harivamsa
Srimad Bhagavatam @ www.vedabase.net
The Cult Of Draupadi - Volume 1 & 2 - by Alf Hiltebeitel
Yajnaseni - by Pratibha Ray
innertraditions.blogspot.com
joglosemar.co.id/bharatayuda.html
saralamahabharat.blogspot.com
The Lost City Of Dvaraka - by S.R.Rao
Gods, Sages and Kings - Vedic Secrets Of Ancient Civilization - by David Frawley
The Mahabharata - A Modern Rendering - volumes 1 & 2 - by Ramesh Menon
Krishnacharitra - by Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay
Krishnavatara - Volumes 1 to 7 - by K.M. Munshi
Mahabharater Katha/The Book Of Yudhisthir - by Budhhadeva Bose
Pradip Bhattacharya's essay on the Panchakanyas of lore
The Secret Of The Veda - Sri Aurobindo
Mythic Origins Of Menstrual Taboo In Rigveda - by Janet Chawla
The Penguin History Of Early India: From The Origins To 1300 AD - by Romila Thapar
hinduwisdom.info/War_In_Ancient_India.htm
www.hindunet.org/hindu_history/sarasvati
The Mahabharata Chronology - by K.N.S. Patnaik
spokensanskrit.de
sanskrit.inria.fr/sankkrit.html
Places to eat @ in Delhi
Nihari @ Haji Sharabati Nihariwale near Jama Masjid
South Indian dishes @ Sagar Ratna and Saravana Bhavan
Parathevali Gali @ Chandani Chowk
Dahi Bhalle @ Natraj Ke Dahi Bhalle @ Chandani Chowk
Chhole Bhature @ Bille Di Hatti
Langar @ Chandani Chowk Gurudwara
Kebabs (especially Chicken Tikka Roll) @ Khan Chacha Kebab Center
Dahi Ke Kebab @ Desi Vibes @ Connaught Place
Ram Laddu
Nihari @ Haji Sharabati Nihariwale near Jama Masjid
South Indian dishes @ Sagar Ratna and Saravana Bhavan
Parathevali Gali @ Chandani Chowk
Dahi Bhalle @ Natraj Ke Dahi Bhalle @ Chandani Chowk
Chhole Bhature @ Bille Di Hatti
Langar @ Chandani Chowk Gurudwara
Kebabs (especially Chicken Tikka Roll) @ Khan Chacha Kebab Center
Dahi Ke Kebab @ Desi Vibes @ Connaught Place
Ram Laddu
Govinda - Krishna Udayasankar
It was a long wait so when I finally laid my hands on the book I hoped that it would be worth it. Well......
This is the first book of The Aryavarta Chronicles. Granted that Mahabharata is a complex tale with many characters - many of them playing too significant a role in the epic to be filtered out of the tale, even during its modern retelling. But frankly, the size of the book, and its tiny font, scared me, despite the fact that I have devoured chunkier books without flinching :-)
Jokes apart, given the book's genre, a fresh take on the ancient saga was a foregone conclusion. To site a few examples, Shikandin is depicted as a male - with a 10-year old son - instead of as a transgender. Bhishma looks at Govinda with suspicion. Panchali is won by Arjuna but becomes legally wedded wife of Yudhisthira only. Ssodhyan (the Kuru prince popularly known as Duryodhan) engages in discussions with Yudhisthira instead of plotting against his cousins.
But then there are some twists which are puzzling like e.g. the tender feelings between Shikandin and Krishna's sister Subhadra and her dismay at being forcefully abducted by Arjuna. Like Rukmawati being daughter (instead of sister) of Crown Prince Rukmi and wife of Govinda's son Pradyumna. Like Govinda without any of his 8 Queens. The tale of Ahilya has an angle that makes it sound not only plausible but downright possible.
And some twists are downright - 'revolting' is perhaps a very strong word - disturbing. Like the mutual attraction between Panchali and Govinda which leads her to pleading with him to marry her. I found it disturbing not because of the notion that Krishna - who is revered all across India - is being maligned this way but because I think that using this twist the author has done a great disservice to the idea that a pure platonic friendly relation can exist between a man and a woman. :-( I hope the author has a concrete reason for depicting this the way that she has and that it will become clear in the other books of the trilogy.
Having said that, I am intrigued about the people who keep getting referred to throughout the narrative - the enigmatic Firewrights. I am not sure if they are a figment of the author's imagination or have any roots in the centuries-old Mahabharata tale. I am almost sure I have read the name Devala Asita somewhere but can't quite remember where. Then there are some questions which are left unanswered e.g. why is Shikandin drawn towards the city of Kashi. Of course, we all know the connection between the two as per the epic but that connection doesn't make sense in the author's version of Mahabharata.
All in all, the author has handled the complex web of characters well - obviously not an easy task. Hats off to her for that! Must say that I am already looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Hope I don't have another long wait in store for me. Keeping fingers crossed.
P.S. Surprisingly, the character that I seem to have liked the most is not that of Govinda but that of Prince Shikandin. :-)
This is the first book of The Aryavarta Chronicles. Granted that Mahabharata is a complex tale with many characters - many of them playing too significant a role in the epic to be filtered out of the tale, even during its modern retelling. But frankly, the size of the book, and its tiny font, scared me, despite the fact that I have devoured chunkier books without flinching :-)
Jokes apart, given the book's genre, a fresh take on the ancient saga was a foregone conclusion. To site a few examples, Shikandin is depicted as a male - with a 10-year old son - instead of as a transgender. Bhishma looks at Govinda with suspicion. Panchali is won by Arjuna but becomes legally wedded wife of Yudhisthira only. Ssodhyan (the Kuru prince popularly known as Duryodhan) engages in discussions with Yudhisthira instead of plotting against his cousins.
But then there are some twists which are puzzling like e.g. the tender feelings between Shikandin and Krishna's sister Subhadra and her dismay at being forcefully abducted by Arjuna. Like Rukmawati being daughter (instead of sister) of Crown Prince Rukmi and wife of Govinda's son Pradyumna. Like Govinda without any of his 8 Queens. The tale of Ahilya has an angle that makes it sound not only plausible but downright possible.
And some twists are downright - 'revolting' is perhaps a very strong word - disturbing. Like the mutual attraction between Panchali and Govinda which leads her to pleading with him to marry her. I found it disturbing not because of the notion that Krishna - who is revered all across India - is being maligned this way but because I think that using this twist the author has done a great disservice to the idea that a pure platonic friendly relation can exist between a man and a woman. :-( I hope the author has a concrete reason for depicting this the way that she has and that it will become clear in the other books of the trilogy.
Having said that, I am intrigued about the people who keep getting referred to throughout the narrative - the enigmatic Firewrights. I am not sure if they are a figment of the author's imagination or have any roots in the centuries-old Mahabharata tale. I am almost sure I have read the name Devala Asita somewhere but can't quite remember where. Then there are some questions which are left unanswered e.g. why is Shikandin drawn towards the city of Kashi. Of course, we all know the connection between the two as per the epic but that connection doesn't make sense in the author's version of Mahabharata.
All in all, the author has handled the complex web of characters well - obviously not an easy task. Hats off to her for that! Must say that I am already looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Hope I don't have another long wait in store for me. Keeping fingers crossed.
P.S. Surprisingly, the character that I seem to have liked the most is not that of Govinda but that of Prince Shikandin. :-)
Sunday, May 21, 2017
The Better Nature Of Our Angels - Steven Pinker
The Biology Of Belief - Bruce Lipton
The General's Son - Miko Peled
The Biology Of Belief - Bruce Lipton
The General's Son - Miko Peled
Supernatural, S12, E22
Oh, it felt sooooooo good to watch this episode. Let me list the events that gladdened my heart.
One, Ketch is dead - shot by Mary right between his eyes. The look on his face during the last moments was simply...... priceless!
Two, Lady Bevell is dead. I would have preferred a much more painful death for her - she had tortured Sam so much - but this will do.
Three, Hess is dead. Way to go Jody! I almost jumped with joy when Sam said 'Pass'. :-)
Four, all the Winchesters are in one piece and united. I couldn't stop grinning.
Five, Hess told Sam that Crowley is dead and Lucifer is free. That should give him and Dean some head-start. At least they won't go on assuming that Lucifer is in the cage and all is well with the world.
I can only hope that the Season Finale will not dissipate whatever cheer this episode has generated. And that the British Men Of Letters won't be back in Season 13. Alas, I know that the latter is just wishful thinking :-(
One, Ketch is dead - shot by Mary right between his eyes. The look on his face during the last moments was simply...... priceless!
Two, Lady Bevell is dead. I would have preferred a much more painful death for her - she had tortured Sam so much - but this will do.
Three, Hess is dead. Way to go Jody! I almost jumped with joy when Sam said 'Pass'. :-)
Four, all the Winchesters are in one piece and united. I couldn't stop grinning.
Five, Hess told Sam that Crowley is dead and Lucifer is free. That should give him and Dean some head-start. At least they won't go on assuming that Lucifer is in the cage and all is well with the world.
I can only hope that the Season Finale will not dissipate whatever cheer this episode has generated. And that the British Men Of Letters won't be back in Season 13. Alas, I know that the latter is just wishful thinking :-(
The 14th Colony - Steve Berry
Well, well, well.....the big bad Russians are back. At least some of them are. And they are mad because Ronald Reagan along with the Pope was instrumental in causing the fall of the erstwhile USSR. The suitcase-sized nukes are ready to be deployed on American soil. At 12 noon on 20th January.
Okay, now if you will pick yourself (or your jaw!) off the floor, let me tell you that the author has woven reality and fantasy in such a fantastic manner in this novel that I had to turn to the internet to separate the fact from the fiction. Don't believe me? Take your pick from the loopholes in the presidential succession act, the US invasion plans for Canada, the burning of the White House by the Brits, an organization called the Society Of Cincinnati, a secret passageway from the White House and the meetings between Reagan and the Pope. The plot thickens to the consistency of a British fog! And it is a delight to wade through it with Cotton Malone, Cassiopeia Witt and Stephanie Nelle.
I can't help but mention that the villain's name Aleksandr comes as a breath of fresh air. I was getting tired of hearing about Viktor, Ivan, Yuri, Sasha and of course, Vladimir. :-)
P. S. Wonder it this novel ever made it to the reading list of the current POTUS. :-)
Okay, now if you will pick yourself (or your jaw!) off the floor, let me tell you that the author has woven reality and fantasy in such a fantastic manner in this novel that I had to turn to the internet to separate the fact from the fiction. Don't believe me? Take your pick from the loopholes in the presidential succession act, the US invasion plans for Canada, the burning of the White House by the Brits, an organization called the Society Of Cincinnati, a secret passageway from the White House and the meetings between Reagan and the Pope. The plot thickens to the consistency of a British fog! And it is a delight to wade through it with Cotton Malone, Cassiopeia Witt and Stephanie Nelle.
I can't help but mention that the villain's name Aleksandr comes as a breath of fresh air. I was getting tired of hearing about Viktor, Ivan, Yuri, Sasha and of course, Vladimir. :-)
P. S. Wonder it this novel ever made it to the reading list of the current POTUS. :-)
Ten Kings - Ashok Banker
I did not know of the tale of the Dasarajna from the Rig-Veda so there was no question of knowing that it has been regarded as a fact by historians and archaeologists alike. I picked up the book simply because I have come to love this genre that retells many of India's mythological tales with a fresh outlook.
This one is about an epic battle - epic not because of the scale of the armies that fought or lives that were lost on both sides. Epic because of its inequality. On one side is the small army of King Sudas, guided well by his Guru Sage Vashistha. One can also say that his side is the just one. So naturally there is the other side, the unjust side - of the Ten powerful kings of the time, all considered as allies by King Sudas. This vast army is led by King Anu and advised by Sage Vishvamitra. At stake is the fertile land that Sudas and his tribe are guarding - all the while dreaming about a united nation called the Bharata. Will the good triumph over the evil? That's a question as old as civilization itself and though we all know the answer, the path leading to it is still interesting.....and definitely worth taking.
On a lighter note though, the idea of Indian kings with rippling muscles is hard to stomach. :-)
Looking forward to the next offering of this series
This one is about an epic battle - epic not because of the scale of the armies that fought or lives that were lost on both sides. Epic because of its inequality. On one side is the small army of King Sudas, guided well by his Guru Sage Vashistha. One can also say that his side is the just one. So naturally there is the other side, the unjust side - of the Ten powerful kings of the time, all considered as allies by King Sudas. This vast army is led by King Anu and advised by Sage Vishvamitra. At stake is the fertile land that Sudas and his tribe are guarding - all the while dreaming about a united nation called the Bharata. Will the good triumph over the evil? That's a question as old as civilization itself and though we all know the answer, the path leading to it is still interesting.....and definitely worth taking.
On a lighter note though, the idea of Indian kings with rippling muscles is hard to stomach. :-)
Looking forward to the next offering of this series
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