A Fable

Many stories from the Holy Bible are read and recollected all over. There's one very beautiful parable in Bible (John 2:1-11) that goes like-

"When Jesus reached to the sea shore, sea turned into red wine."

Many writers and critics round the globe have written their views relating this line. There are numerous books written to explain this sweet, simple parable. Probably, there is no any other parable, in the Holy Bible itself, as imagery and concise yet complete and aesthetically beautiful as this one. As a matter of fact, in Vatican City- the landmark epitome to Christianity, one whole section of library has been dedicated to store books written round the globe that describe this parable; to elaborate and accredit variety of meanings to this line.

Once long ago, a teacher in Britain shared this very parable to her pupils of early primary class, probably grade two or three, and asked them to write something- anything that strikes their mind after listening this line. Amongst the class, a baby boy sat down, scribbled something very quickly onto papers and handed it to his teacher, within minutes.

Before disclosing what was written, let me share you a piece of information. If you don't know, in English language/literature, 'sea' is a feminine gender whereas 'ocean' is masculine. Most languages- both written and spoken possess such variation for enrichment of expressions.

Back to the point.

The boy handed back his paper to the teacher and she found that her student had written a single-line response to the single-line parable. He'd written-

"The sea saw her master and blushed."

Till today, the world believes, no other line has been written- so simple yet so powerful that describes the parable aforementioned.

And the 12 year old boy who wrote it first hand, the English literary world commemorates now as one of the greatest poet Lord Byron for masterpieces like "Promethus" and "She Walks in Beauty". He passed away at a tender age of 36 on 19th April, 1824, some two hundred years before today. 

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P.S: Its April 23rd today, #WorldBookDay- Keep reading, writing and sharing!

The Hate Poem

While I was using Twitter today, (which I mostly do these days) I came to read a prompt that asked "to write a hate poem for someone you love." And I ended up writing one that's below.

I Hate You!

Utter silence

that raging

burning

heart stiffening

ear deafening

painful silence

is all I hear!

When I’m on my cloud-nine

wishing to share the day’s tidbits

and busy sometimes

(But mostly neglected)

when all my messages

Facebook, Viber, Whatsapp

attain martyrdom

Then, I can’t keep myself from hating you!

When ears be hungry to hear your voice

Calls unattended, I’ve no choice

Your busy schedule,

My lonely life

Occupied with own world

Least known ‘bout mine

Rendered clouds and this miscommunication!

Makes me feel this world’s a desert

And your love is the oasis

I’ve been searching

To own all way

I hate you for all the care you didn’t give

For forgetting my birthday

and promises you didn’t keep

For being so distant

For being so silent

Yet, I can’t complain,

I don’t disturb

As I always wish

This world to revolve you around 

And not end with me- bound

But still a chill runs through my spine

Thinking-

I may get used to your silence

I might forget those bright eyes & your smile

What if I end up forgetting how your voice sounds!

or, what if my throat gets choked with the words

when I try to let them out!

I hate you with all my strengths [dearest]

But then,

I hate myself more

I hate that I love you so much from my heart’s core

I hate that we’re so aloof, and I can’t confess my love to you!

April 6, 2016

The God of Small Things

Spoiler Alert first, I'm not a avid reader (well, not a careful one for sure) and I've never written a book review before (school assignments don't count!) and so this ain't one.

The God of Small Things

As the title itself suggests, this book demonstrates how small things can have multiple major consequences in life. This is a phenomenal, heart-rending yet lyrical and mysterious tale of misunderstanding and pain echoing through the years written by Arundhati Roy. This is a story of how things fall apart and prosperous family ruin; but many things in between.

The story begins with the funeral of young Sophie Mol, the cousin of the novel's protagonists, Rahel and her fraternal twin brother, Estha. It is set in Ayemenem, Kerala in between the intervals of 1969 (when the twins were seven years old) and 23 years after when they returned family home. In the suspenseful narrative, Roy reveals the family tensions that led to the twins' behavior on the fateful night that Sophie drowned and alongside, sheds light on the deep rooted prejudices around.

The narrative switches periods time and again while the story unfolds and things start being clearer. Against the backdrop of family tragedy there stand stories of local politics, plight of accused Naxalites, social taboos and the tide of history which cumulatively results and a family is irreparably shattered. Unexpected things happen when Ammu falls in love with Velutha, the untouchable factory worker or when Estha is molested outside the theatre or later when theses twins sleep together after their union.

There are violent relationships, broken relationships and unrequited love, but it is, of course, the children who suffer most. The children's candid observations clouded by the adults' complex emotional lives- plangent with sad wisdom is well captured. The hypocrisy about the power relations, different level of sexual freedom permitted for men and women and the harshness of the rural family code for women are displayed. (even Oedipus Complex)

Caste, communism, Conrad's "Heart of Darkness", "The Sound of Music", whom to love (and how), and insects (especially moths) are common threads. The plot moves around space and time with masterful ease and one can't help but experience a vague sense of foreboding, a prickly fear in the back of your neck.

I liked the non-linear storytelling and I find that that's true to life in many ways. Remembrances often aren't linear, and with each chapter more of the mystery is revealed and I find that to be an interesting metaphor in our own lives. The short sentences made me thinking at all directions despite their lengths.

In my opinion, the story is not just about “some godforsaken tribe” but about love and cruelty, time and disintegration. It is frightening, beautiful, unrelenting. With narrative of many layers and a dazzling style of prose it demonstrates about how the Really Big Things often seep into the Small Things, like tea from a teabag.