I never have call waiting turned on. Yesterday, somehow I did. An unknown number was calling me as I spoke to a very dear friend - a landline number. At first, I ignored it. I got another call. I was puzzled. And another. So I took it."Varsha Seshan!" said the voice at the other end. "Ye-es...?"And it was MJ Shubhra from Radio One. I spoke to her, just like that, out of the blue.Did you listen in? … [Read more...]
Radio One!
Tune in to 94.3 FM Radio One - Maximum Music, Maximum Choice!Immediately!Surprise interview about The Story-Catcher and its author! … [Read more...]
On Being Krishna
Watching the Indore video last night reminded me -For the last piece that all of us performed together, my teacher was keen that Krishna use a real flute. So a friend bought a flute for me and I diligently decorated it. I put lovely peacock feather tassels and gold ribbon around Krishna's melodious flute. (My flute, just to make things clear, is not at all melodious. I can make a few harsh sounds. That's all.)I did not really practise with the flute, but it was fun to have a flute, so I used it to my best advantage.Except once. Sitting happily in aramandi, I discovered that the tassels were cheerfully pointing upwards and the holes of the flute were all facing the floor.I winced inwardly. Should I gingerly and inconspicuously turn it around?I decided against it. I can't play it anyway, so might as well let it stay upside down. … [Read more...]
Circus School
Originally, before we left for Chambéry, we were told that we would be taught a bit. We were told we would actually have a real circus lesson. Of course we were excited! Story-books and circus smells ran through my imagination as I thought about it! It was only when we got there that we realised that a lesson was not on the circus school's agenda. The artistes were practising for an upcoming event, so they could not waste time teaching over-excited novices.We were disappointed, naturally. For many of us, I think the whole joy of the circus school was lost. But not for me.Circus acts are like dance. Nothing at the circus school reminded me even remotely of dear Mr Galliano or any of the others in Enid Blyton's circus stories. The artists were sweaty - something that Blyton never thought wise to mention, as far as I can remember. And everything at the school was much cleaner than I had … [Read more...]
What is literature?
I asked my AS Level class, "What is literature?"One by one, students came and wrote on the board what they thought. 'The study of a language.' 'The study of poetry and drama.' 'The study of a language, poetry, prose and drama.'"What about a diary or travelogue?" I hinted. 'Anything that is written.'"What about a story passed down from my grandmother? Is that literature?" 'Anything that has grammar/ words.'Eventually, we came to the next question, "What is poetry?" "Something with lines that rhyme," suggested one student. "Does it have to rhyme?" I asked. "No... Okay, so something that has a set rhythm," said another. "What about blank verse?" I asked."Something that has a deep meaning about nature." "Or emotion." "What about a nursery rhyme or a song?" I asked. "Something that has a deep meaning," insisted one student. "Something that means something," corrected another … [Read more...]
Hyperbole and a Half
LOOK AT MY BOOK. LOOK AT IT. IT IS VERY NICE. I AM VERY IMPORTANT.15 July 2013 at 07:30 I have been told that I need to promote my book so that people will know it exists and maybe some of them will pre-order it. My first inclination was to accomplish this by sitting in my house and wishing really hard, but I'm almost positive that wishing isn't an effective promotional technique. Unfortunately, neither is "pretending I didn't write a book so that I don't have to promote it," "hoping for the best," and "waiting for everyone to accidentally discover my book on their own." So here we are.With a beginning like this, how could I not read further?http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/ … [Read more...]
I can’t quite believe this . . .
The Story-Catcher has been long listed for the Crossword Book Awards!So what if the long list is loooong?If it needs votes, I'm banking on lots of people! … [Read more...]
Krishna and Radha
We had practised, of course we had practised. With our guru, how could we not?Radha and Krishna were to sit together exploring their love during Jayadeva's Ashtapadi Kisalaya. Krishna was to take Radha's hand and press it against his chest. He was to put his arm around Radha's shoulders and draw her close to him.Unfortunately, that was not what happened on stage. Krishna and Radha were not seated comfortably on the floor or on a wooden stool. Krishna tried to move close enough to Radha to put his arm around her, and the plastic stool on which he was seated shook dangerously. He held her hand instead. Radha and Krishna sat far away from each other, each balanced precariously on a shaky stool, too afraid to move one toe out of line.Somehow, the piece got over without the stools breaking or moving further apart. … [Read more...]
Sunday Times, Indore
Press coverage - even if it's just two lines - is press coverage! … [Read more...]
Back from Indore
A magnificent wooden stage - 50 feet long, 30 feet wide ...Infrastructure that allowed us to use lights in a way that we have never done before ... Guru Mythili Raghavan, determined to give her best to Kasturitilakam ... Eleven dancers - all excited, all nervous, all thrilled at the opportunity ... Of course things went wrong, but things went wonderfully right too. We performed at IIM, Indore, and delighted our audience.Photos and stories will come soon!But meanwhile, a view of the campus ... The lapwing is not a chance visitor. We saw it (and its friends/ enemies) everyday and everywhere. The campus is truly inspiring! … [Read more...]