Book Review: Call me Al

After writing the first novel, "The still point of the turning world" which was limited to college campus and terrorism effects on youth, Sheikh takes up the same subject charged with political flavour in his "Call me Al" He goes beyond college students and explores the life of a much mature and older character that he creates. At the surface level, the novel is about a person’s rise to power in his lifetime and all the ways he takes to reach that position. The life of the lead character Al (short for Almataash) is covered through the narratives of George Gary Grefory Jaffar (also called as GGGJ in the text seeing and narrating Al’s past), Almataash himself (narrating his present) and Edwin ‘Ned’ Steinberg (who is seeing and narrating Al’s future).  The interesting fact is that GGGJ and Ned are murdered by Al in the initial stages of the novel and the narrative is told by their spirits. By this, the author cleverly concocts this life and the afterlife.
One of the issues raised are GGGJ, the reporter’s hatred for Almataash as he knew Al was only an evil person. Other issue is Ned’s lonely life and his desire for love and and his death show how consuming one's career and job can be. So much so that they may earn and still they can not fulfill their own desires. Also, the plight of Indians gone to Pakistan after partition and not accepted as Pakistanis is discussed. They are called "second class" citizens, denied jobs and marriage proposals as the author has clearly highlighted. 
The most noticeable is the political tinge and an insight into how dirty and inhuman politics can be. This is most apparent on observing Al and his actions. The fact that he is the mastermind behind everything and yet given charge of taking care of public interest by offering him the most prominent political position makes it ironical. 
Everyone fears him and at the same time is in awe of him. But the reporter GGGJ knew Al was only doing evil and intended to kill him if given an opportunity. This intention of trying to end evil earns him a place in heaven in afterlife. Ned sees the future of Al and realizes his mistake of not protecting himself. But later he does wish for Al to suffer and his suffering comes in the most unexpected forms.
Al is not a round character but still different shades of his personality are visible. That makes him worth being placed in the title. Altamaash is shortened to Al and he tells people to call him Al (also implying Allah). This may mean he thought of himself as God. There are constant references to Al's body being fat and bulky. Perhaps the author suggested that size does not matter when brain is much more active. Massive size without any muscle and just fat can also evoke awe among all. The muscular Ned is one example of that. Politics and terrorism are interrelated. Al may not be a branded terrorist but his acts are no less than that.
Al is a bit selective about loving also. He loves his mother and daughter dearly, but ordered the murdering of his father. He idealized his grandfather but didn't mind his wife being sacrificed even when he was well aware how it would affect his daughter. Also, he is one smart fellow as he ensured his involvement never becomes obvious in all the acts that happen miles away in Pakistan while he is in England in exile. The back cover says he was an entertainer, but there are no instances in the text where he is shown entertaining anyone as such. Despite Al doing all heinous acts to get to the position is he is at, Sheikh develops him in such a way that the reader can not completely hate him or love him. His past and future are clearly shown but the exact reason and the events that led to his exile are not told clearly.
GGGJ and Ned fade away a little in Al's presence as the reader is never able to forget Al or think of what his next move could be. One noticeable thing appeared that GGGJ and Ned are murdered but there is no follow up investigation the readers get to know of. Does that mean that Al manipulated even the England investigation system? And why are there no relatives of either of the victims to inquire? Al did get punished by God for his deeds but that's a moral justification. What about justice at human level? 
The basic theme seems to be the moral lesson of suffering if you do evil. Al commits all atrocities, murders people, orders mass massacre but when it's his turn to suffer, he becomes a pitiable figure. 
The novel has sights of bloodshed and violence. The mob is manipulated and instigated into whatever Al wanted. This instigation and manipulation can be connected to today's incidents of mob lynching. Also, the value of a human's life is questioned through the acts of Al. He ordered the murder of anyone anytime for even slightest contraction. Blind hero-worship is also another interesting aspect of the novel. The case of A.D is one instance in this regard. His nephew's dying and his life's savings gone is not something he's sad about, on the contrary he's proud to have contributed in Al's revolution. Al's reactions to this are also noteworthy. This is relatable to the present scenario where people blindly start following anyone. (Asaram bapu, baba ram rahim) ignoring all the wrong deeds they did.
The women in Al's life are very different. His mother seems to never comment or guide or rebuke her son for all he does. Or perhaps she's completely ignorant of everything. Al's wife is also a bit contradictory as a person. She willingly followed him in exile, got married to him but she didn't want to give birth to his child and has no compassion for him at all.
The novel is a fictional account but the references to cities makes the fictional text seem realistic. Al’s character seems to come to life due to his directly telling  the reader about his thoughts. The coded names that Al keeps of people he knows and the ones in power more or less make the recall the actual political personalities of Pakistan. (1,069 words)

Book Review: Love in the time of Affluenza

Fairy tales have taught us in childhood that getting married to the person you love meant a happily ever after. Spenser wrote his Amoretti sonnets in this light and more or less similar were Austen's concerns in her novels. It was implicit that everything would naturally fall in place. Truth is, the real game begins thereafter. How things go about when people play that game is what Shunali Khullar Shroff's maiden fiction "Love in the time of Affluenza" is about. It explores love, relationships and changing nature of marriage through the eyes of the protagonist, Natasha Singh. 
The central issue if the novel is extra marital affairs. The concept is quite in trend in this time in metropolitans. The author examines the question of it being wrong or right.  When discovered as an accomplice, our innocent narrator appears like a Christ figure punished by just everyone. That seemed far too stretched. Her husband's punishing her so much seemed irrational and not completely called for. Whether she is able to reconcile her differences with Nakul or not remains unsaid. 
To a certain extent, the author tries to find out the possible reasons also but not in much depth. Why exactly Trisha and Nakul in the novel become estranged is not told. The uncertainty  of the future of their twins remains unanswered. It is clear that even if one marries for love, relationships can still be complicated. The author harps on "the connection" necessary for a happily ever after. But seeing that as the plot progresses, it seems too ideal and unrealistic. 
In between all this, the author successfully creates 3 vivacious women characters with completely different personalities. They are matched up with their equally lively male counterparts. One is a homemaker who left her career to raise her children (Natasha), another is the unmarried, career-oriented woman, free-spirited woman (Nafisa), and the third who brings in the moral question (Trisha). 
The narrator's husband did not give her time and that clearly is one reason the author gives for these out of wedlock activities. 
The narrator throws and also is a part of the grand page 3 type parties due to the aristocratic and royal background of her husband. Famous Bollywood celebrities and also British royalty appear in these parties. Sometimes the description is elaborate enough to actually see the page 3 come to life.
The language is simple with some touches of wit and sarcasm to make the reader smile. It has lines in hindi here and there to make it sound more Indian than it is. The plot is linear without any digressions or flashbacks and the narrator keeps updating the reader herself. This makes the novel an easy read for an average reader. 
Other issues include the acknowledgment if the importance of the role of a homemaker, the issues with in-laws (predicted in many daily soaps), and most importantly, parenting. How the behavior of parents affects and how the environment at home is important in the upbringing of children remains in the background.

Book Review: Yes, I met maruti

The title makes it amply clear if the book being about a meeting with lord Hanuman, a.k.a Maruti. The story is tightly knit around the protagonist Jay and the events in his life. How his love for someone brings the best out of him and stimulates his desires to achieve his dreams.
The author focuses on the themes of success and sacrifice but at the same time also raises the issues of education, how the Indian education system affects young minds, pressure on children, caste, society, morals and love (of different forms) and above all, friendship.
A definite read for all, the story holds the reader to the very end, even making him/her read the narrative frame of the author and the tourist. This gives him a chance to glorify and praise his home city. The frequent references to Bollywood music and movies shows the importance of cinema for an Indian which connects him more to the plotline. The sacrifice Maruti demands for keeps hold of the reader's imagination till the end of the story. The idea of success at the cost of sacrifice is repeated at the beginning and the end too. Being well aware of some sacrifice to happen, the reader can least guess what it could be about. Since the characterizations involve people of different age groups, it is a good read for all age groups.

Movie Review: Manto

Having read Saadat Hassan Manto as a teenager, he always fascinated me as a writer. As I dug deeper in his life, I found out that he was an out of the world writer. Hence, a movie by his name was to be watched for sure.

After watching the movie, I definitely did understand the essentiallity of freedom of expression. Watching the headstrong personality of Manto, brilliantly portrayed by the lead actor, one can recall writers like Blake or Dostoevsky.
Also, the partition of India goes on in the background and how common life was affected is visible in some places. The fact is reinforced that not everyone wanted the partition. The partition also caused religious tension (which is also a little visible) which terrorised people.
Alongside, the glimpses of his short stories show the social issues of the time (which to some extent continue to be the issues today too).
For Manto fans and who have the courage to face the stark realities (which Manto wrote), this is a must watch.

Movie Review: Sanju

The movie is a biopic yet, it teaches a lot of things; could be called a set of dos and don'ts which we should keep in mind while making choices in our lives. First and foremost is choosing our company wisely. Company matters because company affects. Second thing is for both parents and children, to stay close to family and the fragility of human relations (can be broken in a second). Third, have no fear, stand up for yourself, if need be, take a bullet and die a hero's death (hero of real life). Fourth, ignorance can be very fatal. The movie contains an appropriate example. Fifth, the effects of someone's death can be devastating. So all members of the family should stick together like pillars having each other's back.
Other issues from an observer's perspective I found are the fact that this could be the story of any star kid. Parental legacy can be a burden for the young blooming child. People in power need to take extra care of their children because they will always remain in the limelight. Also, there are definite cautionary parenting tips clearly given.
Dutt seemed to be a kid until his father did not actually become his friend. Death of the mother and support of the father made him grow as a person, the character growth is clearly visible as the movie progresses. The brilliant acting of the actors added to the marvels of the flick. And ofcourse, how important writers are, everyone must know by now.
Last but not the least, anyone's life can teach but the question is, from whose life are we willing to learn?

Dedication to grandmother

On a tensed Monday morning I got to know,
My grandmother was not around, not anymore.
Raced all memories, right from the first memory I had of her,
Clad in blue, with a smile to cheer.
Wished on all birthdays, festivals and new year's,
None could be complete without a blessing of hers.
Phone calls on landlines were an early connection,
Mobile phones revolutionised and brought us more near.
Difficult to accept she has gone,
Wish she could come back and stay along.
Now that she has gone,
I can only think of the time we had all along.
Life is such, it gives heart and breaks it,
But living with that is the only way to make it.
Did a lot of hardwork throughout her life,
Gave love and just love to everyone when alive.
I will miss her forever and seek her blessing on every occasion,
Every big event of my life would be incomplete without her invocation.
I wish she would make her presence felt somehow,
I desperately want her to be around.
I may grow old but I will never let go the few things I have left of her,
That is all to remind me she is still here.

Movie Review: Hichki

Had already heard it's a movie for teachers.  But it is slightly flawed. Being an educator myself, I couldn't help but agree to this being next teacher's favourite after "Chalk and duster". And flaws? Where?
With some really good dialogues commenting on the education system altogether, this movie is more about faith, brilliance, opportunity and hope. Faith in terms of the unwavering faith the teacher (in the movie) has in the potential of the children and chanellizing it in the right direction.
The fact that every student has potential and a brilliant mind is another aspect of the movie. With the right guidance, wonders can happen.
Another issue brought to the forefront is of the class divide which doesn't let the students have opportunities; resultant of which, they are rebellious and ready to battle. Clearly observed by the teacher herself, there's a reason behind everything. Also, those who do get the opportunity misuse it is also given by the example in towards the end.
The parents of these kids have hope for the betterment of their children and the teacher too is hopeful of the right results despite criticism for her students.
An important point of focus in the movie is the tourette syndrome. The fact that everyone should be accepted with whatever they have because they never acquired it by choice. Parental support for any child is repeatedly harped upon throughout the movie.