The Reading Challenge Again.

I thoroughly enjoyed the reading challenge of the  year 2021. It not only opened my eyes to the vast array of absorbing books but also the purpose which I think books serve... to turn you into a thinking person. I found reading to be extremely comforting, it was as if I had found myself a friend, who would stay with me for life. I started spending more time in the world of books than anywhere else and she proved to be a true friend, always holding me. She would rouse passions in me of thoughts and feelings, and take me to places I yearned to visit and meet people I truly admired. 

During the intervening years, I was never away from my books but I read them more intermittently when not participating in the challenge. I decided to take it up again this year and find my self rewarded ! What a blessedness it is to inhabit other worlds while enriching your own! This year, I'm going to record my feelings elaborately, providing me succor and satisfaction of the kind which only my book friends can impart. 

This year I am determined to take up the 52 Book Club’s 2025 Reading Challenge. I have already matched the prompts with my books on my TBR list. I find my self reading all the time, some titles are so absorbing, simply unputdownable. 

Also this year, I plan to meticulously write a detailed review for my blog. Reading them once in a while, makes me really happy! Books have been my constant companions and they are one of a kind- friend, mentor, guide, beloved, all rolled into one! Once every month, I shall add a review each for the four books I finish reading. And so, we get started!

January 

1. Prompt: Set in Winter

Border Crossings: A Journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway by Emma Fick. 

I have just finished reading the book, Border Crossings by Emma Fick. She writes about her journey, during the off season, namely the snow covered winter, on the Trans-Siberian railway which she boarded at Beijing. Her journey took her via Mongolia up to  Moscow in Russia. It was a very interesting personal account, turning the pages felt like reading from the pages of a hand written diary. She has painstakingly illustrated the book, it was colourful with the fonts differing from page to page. It was a delightful account encompassing all aspects of the journey including the description of the landscape outside, the railway carriage inside, the stops and halts, the train personnel and co- passengers and the various interesting places which she visited. It was a truly fascinating account. 

It also helped me understand the true passion of travellers. Emma Fick recounts in detail, what inspired her to undertake this journey, how she prepared for it, the obstacles and changes she had to accommodate and finally, the thrill of the journey itself. Above all, one needs courage, to expect the unexpected and to deal with unplanned uncertainties and challenges. And that comes with travelling often.

2. Prompt: Has short chapters

The Rupa Book of Great Animal Stories edited by Ruskin Bond.

This book consists of several short stories, of  real encounters with animals, some pets, others wild, some startling and some anticipated. Most of them are set in India, and tell of thrilling and exciting encounters from an age gone by. 

All are first person accounts, and are as exciting as any love story, the sense of connection and intimacy between man and animal is palpable. Some stories are very heartwarming but a few are heartbreaking and heart wrenching as well. The stories have been compiled and edited by Ruskin Bond and the book includes three of his published short stories. I was overwhelmed reading each and every story.

3. Prompt: Breaks the fourth wall

Only love is real by Dr. Brian Weiss.

This book lay on my TBR list for sometime. The paperback edition was a gift to my daughter from her friend and I picked it up after fifteen years. By then, my reading list also included books on Hindu Spirituality. I was reading a lot on Karma, Dharma and the afterlife, also the transmigration of the soul. It was in this backdrop, that I finally decided to include this book in my reading challenge.

The first book I read from this genre, Only Love is Real, deals with Past-life regression through therapeutic hypnosis by the expert in the field, Dr. Brian Weiss. Although the author has met with great success, I was not completely convinced that the narrations all belonged to a past life. Could it not have been the work of a fertile or an overactive imagination?? I'm afraid the book did not spur me on to read any more of that genre. Truly, I was unable to crack the glass ceiling. 

4. Prompt: In the public domain

Mrityunjaya - The Death Conquerer, by Shivaji Sawant. 

I have just read the book, Mrityunjaya - The Death Conquerer, The Story of  Karna by  Shivaji Sawant. Written originally in Marathi, it has been translated into English by Nandini Nopany and P Lal.

It is the gripping tale of Karna, one of the protagonists of the Mahabharata War. In the introduction, we learn that Karna comes closest to the idea of a tragic hero. The well known story is narrated in the first person, variously by Karna, his brother Shon, friend Duryodhan, Kunti Mata and finally, Lord Sri Krishna himself.   

It's the great story of a real hero, of how Karna, overcame all odds, from the accident of his birth to his false lineage and how through strength of character, he made his life blessed; the story is told endearingly and with empathy. If fate robbed him of his identity, it gave him a loving home, loving parents and a brother. 

His friendship with Duryodhana is legendary. But in my view, as presented in the book, his friendship with Ashwatthama was selfless . Both were devoted to one another till the very end. What an enviable friend was he!  An ideal family man, a peerless warrior,  an ardent devotee and a man of charity..in the end even Sri Krishna acknowledges the great warrior who fell in the battlefield defending his friend. 

The book is also a treatise on human psychology. It's filled with wise words and life lessons. I quote just three of the many you will find in this book. 

i. Life is nothing but Samskaras. Even the worm that hides in the flower's mouth gets placed at the feet of the idol simply because it happens to be in good company.

ii. Look at that drifting stick! All human life is like that. The real life is that which faces the buffeting waves.

iii. The waters of a lake do not know the fragrance of the pollen of full blown lotuses. It is the distant bee who knows it. (People close to us sometimes do not know us well.)

The book is also a store house of rare information. Karna goes on a conquering mission from the east to the west and north of India. He mentions kingdoms and kings! How rich and grand they appear! Geographically, they seem familiar. I wish we could map our country with ancient names, which are so beautiful. What is the source of all these names? Where do we find them ? I wish the author had stated the sources from where he has gleaned the details presented in the book.

Finally, a word about the publication. I downloaded the book from archives.com. Sadly, it has been uploaded very carelessly, the page numbers are not in order and one required immense patience to locate them and continue with the story. At two very important parts, a page is altogether missing and this filled me with grief. I do not know if a proper printed text exists. 

February 

5. Prompt: Includes a diary entry

Food on the Move by Sharon Hudgins. 

What  interesting topics to write about - food and trains! Food on the Move is wonderfully researched and chronicled on two topics dear to every train traveller - “the attraction of eating well-served food while gazing outside at the passing scenery.” The essays are accompanied by detailed photographs and included are, diary entries of travellers and menu cards and some authentic recipes provided by the Railways themselves. 

The book mentions the iconic luxury trains: The flying Scotsman, The Orient Express, The trans-Siberian railway, Santa Fe Super Chief, Canada's long distance railways, Australia's Ghan Railway, Japan's Bullet Train, The Darjeeling Himalayan Line and South African Luxury Trains.

Personally, another observation worthy of mention is the absence of vegetarian fare. Japan's Bullet trains did have a few Bento options until Western choices were introduced. They proved to be more sustainable as they were a convenient option. 

The book was very engaging and interesting. I enjoyed reading about Canada's long distance trains as it also mentions the landscape one traverses while enjoying the meals . But the one I wished to travel on was Australia's The Ghan. The essay provided a truly mesmerising account of both travel and food on the move! 

However, the purpose of train travel changed over the period of time , from luxury entertainment to travel commute for the common man. But as long as they ran their course, I'm sure the luxury trains provided several thrilling and enjoyable train journeys and interesting travel stories as well. 

6. Prompt: Author’s last name is also a first name

The Land of War Elephants: Travels beyond the Pale Afghanistan, Pakistan and India By Mathew Wilson

Part travelogue, part history, 'The Land of War Elephants' is an immensely absorbing account of the years Mathew Wilson, an officer of the British Army,  spent in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. 

As a traveller, he's a daredevil, telling stories of adventure. He describes landscapes and writes about the place and its people. He recounts his time as an unbiased and objective social / historical observer reporting on political events which shaped the Central Asian countries of Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

One of the interesting experiences he narrates in detail is his visit to Jhansi, twenty one years later, to honour a promise made to a Hindu priest in Central India to seek, find and follow the fleeting shadow of the Rani of Jhansi, one of the heroines of India's 1857 revolt against British rule. 

He pays a tribute to the courageous queen when he writes at the end, " I have a feeling that if India, and the region, is to find a road into the twenty-second century, it will be a woman who will achieve it. Pray, for youth is the only hope for the future, that it will be a young woman." 

He observes and writes about the 'human kinship and its common historic links' of the  countries he writes about. He makes some very astute political observations. "The frontiers drawn were untenable," he writes of the India-Pakistan divide by the British. He is dismayed by the political unrest in the region and prays for the whole of Central Asia, for Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the countries through which he drove on his route from Pakistan to England. The book ends with his fervent prayer, "Lakshmi, if ever the prayers consecrated by the myriad votive lights of Divali are to be answered, let a new age of peace dawn."

7) Features a magician: 

What My Mother Gave Me: Thirty-one Women on the Gifts That Mattered Most  By Elizabeth Benedict (Editor)

What do women remember about their mother?  What is that one unforgettable gift  they received from their mother? The answers were a mixed bag, from objects to observations, and yet each memory was remarkable, each gift, thought provoking. Women express their feelings variously, about their mother's gift; there is love and joy, thankfulness and gratefulness, grief and sadness. There is sympathy and empathy, understanding and support. As I read story after story -a lump would form in my throat and I needed to pause again and again - I was overwhelmed, and many times moved to tears.

But I have also learnt more about myself as a mother and how my thoughts, words and actions have had a profound impact on my daughters. Some stories, reminded me of my quirky habits as a mother. In each and every story, I found a little of myself. But It's wonderful to note that all mothers are the same, yet every mother is different.  And this unique legacy of motherhood, no less than magic, continues to be the most powerful gift women inherit.

8. Prompt: A Pun in the Title

The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russel

The book begins interestingly, in the sense, one really wants to know what 'Living Danishly' is all about as it is considered the world’s happiest nation! The author, Helen Russell, provides us a glimpse of life as lived in Denmark, linking her experiences to the twelve months in the year. 

It is definitely Interesting in parts, when it does not read like a research paper. There is no change of style or pace, hence it tends to get repetitive and monotonous in parts. The kind of self effacing humour each and every time surely does not contribute to readability.

I did expect a lot more and I was disappointed. However, at the end she lists ten points which makes Denmark the Happiness Capital of the world. I think those ten pointers are necessary for a happy life anywhere.

Top ten tips for living Danishly

OK, so I can’t drag everyone to Denmark and none of us have control over our chromosomal make-up (yet). But there are a few things Danes do differently that can be put into practice wherever you are.

i. Trust (more): This is the number one reason the Danes are so damned happy – so try it. You’ll feel better and save yourself unnecessary stress, and trusting the people around you can make them behave better, so it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

ii. Get hygge: Remember the simple pleasures in life – light a candle, make yourself a cup of coffee, eat some pastries. See? You’re feeling better already.

iii. Use your body: Cycle, run, jump, dance, have sex. Shake whatever you’ve got. Using your body not only releases get-happy endorphins, it’ll also make you look hotter, Danish-style.

iv. Address the aesthetics: Make your environment as beautiful as you can. Danes do, and it engenders a respect for design, art and their everyday surroundings. Remember the broken window syndrome, where places that look uncared for just get worse? The reverse also applies.

v. Streamline your options: If living in Sticksville has taught me one thing, it’s that cutting down on choice can take some of the hassle out of modern life. Too many options for things to do, places to eat (ha!) or what to wear (hello London wardrobe) can feel like a burden rather than a benefit. Danes specialise in stress-free simplicity and freedom within boundaries.

vi. Be proud: Find something that you, or folk from your home town, are really good at and Own It. Celebrate success, from football to tiddlywinks (or crab racing). Wave flags and sing at every available opportunity.

vii. Value family: National holidays become bonding bootcamps in Denmark and family comes first in all aspects of Danish living. Reaching out to relatives and regular rituals can make you happier, so give both a go. Your family not much cop? Start your own with friends.

viii. Equal respect for equal work: Remember, there isn’t ‘women’s work’ and ‘men’s work’, there’s just ‘work’. Caregivers are just as crucial as breadwinners and neither could survive without the other. Both types of labour are hard, brilliant and important, all at the same time.

ix. Play: Danes love an activity for its own sake, and in the land of Lego, playing is considered a worthwhile occupation at any age. So get building. Create, bake, even draw your own Noel Edmonds caricature. Just do and make things as often as possible (the messier the better).

x. Share: Life’s easier this way, honest, and you’ll be happier too according to studies. Can’t influence government policy to wangle a Danish-style welfare state? Take some of your cake round to a neighbour’s, or invite someone over to share your hygge and let the warm, fuzzy feelings flow.

FIRST MINI CHALLENGE 

1. Set in a country that celebrates Lunar New year - Across Many Mountains by Yangzom Brauen. 

As I continued reading this book, the following saying came to my mind: 'I complained that I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet'.--Arabic saying.

I had been desperate to visit my native land and I got the opportunity at the age of sixty five. My native land is in the Southernmost part of India and I have grown up and spent most of the formative years of my life in Jamshedpur, an industrial township in the East of India. And here, was the story of the Tibetans,  who had escaped political persecution, to seek asylum in India and lead a life of refugees. 

The author writes in great detail and with sensitivity on the difficult journey from Tibet to India and then onward, to where their destiny takes them. It is a poignant tale one that needs to be read as it narrates in detail the ordeal faced by these displaced people. 

For me, it was a timely read especially since I have returned after visiting my native land. I felt an indescribable calm and peace after my visit. Hence, I was able to empathise with the author and her family's angst in this regard.

This book also had several other take aways for me - those associated with karma and dharma. It is so important in life to have faith and keep faith, for only this will see you through the toughest moments in life. 

Secondly, what I loved about this book was the strong bond between mother and daughter,  which in my opinion, contributes greatly to women empowerment. That  mothers and daughters clash is a concept which needs a rethink, a correction. There is no doubt that mothers and daughters benefit from mutual love, respect and affection. It is important for both to understand and work towards it.

This book  also helped me understand the difference in attitudes between me and my daughter. I felt as if the author was echoing my thoughts, "I found it easier to accept so many things in my life, and yet caught in changing cultures where I'm able to find peace with my children's changed beliefs, but my daughter would definitely question and fight for justice. They are readily able to perceive the good in all cultures as they are not deeply rooted to theirs."

I belong to a family of migrants and although my grandfather migrated decades ago, their dislocation had a profound effect on me. I was unsure of which culture to follow, there  was nothing fixed I could hold on to and this sense of rootlessness plagued me all my life. This made my life harder, gaining acceptance in either culture was not easy, but somehow it mattered a lot to me. I took consolation in the fact that I had provided a loving and nurturing home for my daughters but remained unaware of their struggles in finding a foothold. Comparatively, better educational and job opportunities are no substitute for emotional and social anchors. But it has been only through my daughters that I found emotional and social well being. Now I need to find ways to become an anchor for them.

2. A wise character- Leave Out the Tragic Parts. A grandfather's search for a boy lost to addiction. By Dave Kindred.

This book speaks of an addiction which I hadn't heard of before- of riding freight trains for the sheer joy of freedom. Known as Road dogs, these young boys and girls, spend their time jumping trains to different parts of the country which gives them a high along with their addiction to either booze or drugs. This motley family of Road dogs, have no home, their worldly possessions packed into their backpack, as they criss cross the country chasing this dangerous and risky thrill.

What do the tragic parts contain? In the words of the author, the sports journalist, Dave Kindred, "this is a story about a boy I knew from the week of his birth and a young man I never knew at all. The boy was my grandson, Jared Glenn Kindred". It is the story of the transformation of Jared into Goblin, the road dog. It is the grandfather's attempt, after the death of his young grandson, at trying to understand the addiction of a Road dog,  from the family he formed with other road dogs. 

It is an answer to the question posed to him by the cop. "Let me ask another question,” the cop said. “You don’t have to answer. You look like good people. But .... your grandson, what happened that he was out here?” It speaks of the challenges of parenting and the importance of family in raising a family. 

The grandfather regrets having said "nothing when I should have said everything.....I asked nothing, not a single damned question". The father, Jeff laments, he couldn't control his anger and abusive language. It also speaks of the nightmare of parents when a child goes astray or wayward, and the regrets of parents and grandparents.

He also delves into the history of his family, he pays a tribute to his parents, it is at once, all a story of indomitable courage and resilience.  The author explains how, along with learning to read and write, it is important to learn to talk, especially in times of distress.  He is of the opinion that "Addiction is not a character flaw, not a moral failing. It’s an illness and it can be treated. Ask for help.” 

3. By an Asian author. - Rediscovering India by Dharampal. 

Is a collection of essays and speeches by Dharampal, an accomplished researcher,  writer, thinker, sociologist, historian and philosopher.

It was a different kind of read altogether. Based on intensive research, it was a read which I undertook willingly, to learn if there was any truth to so many emerging views on the factors responsible for the present condition of my beloved country. It took a while to read. But it was an eye opener. I was sad and enraged at the same time as the facts presented showed a definitive lack of right leadership in the formative years of our nation building. I wish this book would occupy an exalted position in the Parliament Library and made compulsory reading for all  bureaucrats, politicians and nation builders.

Dharampal undertook intensive archival work on the period at the beginning of the British domination of India, for glimpses of India before the arrival of the British. He delved deep into the late 18th and early 19th century British archival records, did research in London at the India Office Library and the British Library. His research also included British archives in Scotland, Oxford, Leeds, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester.

British archival records on India contain important material pertaining to determining of British policy in India, which is not available in India as only the final decisions of the government were conveyed here. 

Apart from this there are our private papers,  writings of private British individuals including travellers, businessman or Specialists. They provide glimpses of India before the arrival of the British. The present India is the outcome of not only the immediate past but also of the thousands of years of long history.

Some of the following facts gleaned from his research and which  led to pauperization of Bharat:

Indian rulers spent little on themselves, personal pomp and show, instead took care of their citizens, This irked the British. They brought in new land reforms and farmers of Bihar and UP reeled under them as they were unable to surrender so much of their produce. Today's condition is certainly a legacy of the British Raj.

Differences in salaries and remuneration resulted in different eating habits which had hitherto been unknown. Forced labour was another way of breaking up people. These led to pauperization of India. So the British started portraying India as backward economically and socially ie divided on caste lines

However, A different pic emerges from writings and records not publicly available. It portrays India as a rich land, in each and every parameter. 

 

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