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Clueless in California
This perspective is influenced by variegated experiences, as well as the characters Prakash encounters wittingly or unwittingly, like Kulwant the driver — the archetypal Punjabi immigrant; or the author’s woman co-passenger on a flight — in which our man is the only one in a formal suit while the plane is loaded with people in shorts and casuals — insists that anti-Christ is out to put a chip under everyone’s skin to control them. And, since the Silicon Valley is in California, the satanic process starts from there — she warns darkly. If this sort of superstitious stuff jolts you then obviously you nurture a rather romantic image of a rational America. Then there are dinnertime debates on the prevailing gun culture, which generate more heat than light. We learn that the youth there seem to be more interested in tai-chi and yoga than things American. The book’s separate sections on diplomats, techies, the diaspora etc, provide us with a kaleidoscopic view of California and yet leave us clueless about this west-coast US state.
Colours of India
Mehta, while comparing the governance here with that of the USA (much to India’s disadvantage), casts a sardonic eye on all these essentially Indian images and does not spare our politicians and the justice system either. While reading this collection of sassy satires you will guffaw, but will be forced to think hard too.
Idealism and positive mindset are essential for the development of a healthy society. Along with other factors, inspirational literature helps in nurturing and sustaining the two qualities, thus contributing to an individual’s all round personality development. Here is a collection of A 100 stories from around the world, which are entertaining as well as thought provoking. These encourage youngsters to develop the qualities of humility, positive action, love and purity of heart. However, stories like Work sharper not harder, Handicap is no barrier to achievement and Develop presence of mind give us practical advice on how to overcome obstacles as well as develop skills for dealing with the real world. This book can be a valuable gift for children.
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TO
paraphrase a former American General’s observation, a diplomat is
someone who can remain silent in several languages. Or, to quote from
this book, a diplomat thinks twice before saying nothing. Prakash, a
career diplomat, obviously does not fit into this stereotype. He loves
to say what he wants to say in a manner that may not be a hilarious
ripsnorter but is funny, but thought-provoking, nevertheless. The smile
stays on one’s face right from the first anecdote to the last, with an
occasional chuckle ballooning out of the mouth. Of course he blames
"the spirit of San Francisco" for his self-expression
resulting in "undiplomatic digressions" in the form of this
volume, providing the author’s perspective on America.
A
nameless diplomat from Holland is quoted in this book as having
described India’s capital city as a garbage dump — very undiplomatic
but close to truth. But this book is not about undiplomatic digressions,
or diplomacy for that matter. It is about India — no, not of the lofty
timeless spiritual variety but the real this-worldly one. This India is
united not just by our Constitution and culture but also by the uniform
spread of water shortage, electricity outage, potholed roads, traffic
jams, stray animals, VVIPs, and of course the ubiquitous garbage and
all-pervasive pollution.
The
World’s Best Inspiring Stories