Of course we know that language is peculiar. And English? Any new speaker finds it ridiculously bewildering. I'm reading a book by Rachel Anderson called Asylum. More about that will come in a book-review soon, but it brought me to laugh aloud at the ridiculous English language. We learned similes in school. As fresh as a? Daisy! (Never mind if none of us really knew what a daisy was) As cool as a? Cucumber! (I always thought of the vendors all the way up to Sinhagad, and imagined them calling out 'as cool as a cucumber, as cool as a cucumber, as cool as a cucumber'.) I remember all these comparisons that we cheerfully chanted in school. Rosa, a young immigrant in Asylum, loves figurative language. She picks up expressions like a magpie picks up anything that shines. As pretty as a picture. As sharp as a needle. As light as a feather. Of course, all of that is understandable. But … [Read more...]
Happy Birthday, Harry Potter
How can I let this day go by without wishing one of my favourite fictional characters of all time? I don't have the books in front of me, but phrases flash through my mind - 'emotional range of a teaspoon' 'Gred and Forge' I can see Harry at school, praying not to get to into Slytherin. I can see him thinking about what 'Wood' Prof McGonagall could mean. I can see the glint in his eyes when he thinks of the fact that the Dursleys don't know that he is not permitted to use magic at home. Ah, Harry, Harry. My friends know how fond I am of writing letters to them on their birthdays. This is, perhaps, my letter (though in peculiar third-person) to Harry. Happy birthday. Love, Varsha (A writer who loves to think of fictional characters as real people) … [Read more...]
The Decimal System
I was just thinking about how glad I was that the decimal system was in place. With the wonderful zero, 10 mm conveniently make a cm, 100 cm make a metre and all of that - how beautifully easy. No more thoughts of 12 inches to a foot, and complicated measurements for yards and miles. Coming to weight - no pounds and ounces. Only grams and kilograms. Count in tens; everybody's happy. Leave all the peculiar twelves and other such-likes out. Sure, the world is a simpler place with the decimal system, but there's one thing that had better stay old-fashioned and not become happily divisible by ten. And that's a week. Unless I get a five-day week and a five-day weekend, I'm happy with an odd, non-decimal, seven-day week, thank you very much. … [Read more...]
Guess what I received today!
A very dear, thoughtful friend of mine sent this to me! I know it's unclear! But aren't telegrams supposed to be? (Clicking on the picture does open a clearer image) … [Read more...]
The Haunting of Hiram
Yesterday, when MJ Shubhra asked me to recommend books at the 'Book Club' show, I was tongue-tied, somehow. I could think of nothing. On my desk lay an Eva Ibbotson, so I said 'Eva Ibbotson'. My favourite by her remains Journey to the River Sea, but I've enjoyed everything I've read by her. The Haunting of Hiram was no different. It's a wacky book about a Scottish castle, bought by an American millionaire, and transported to Texas. The millionaire has a daughter who has polio, and predictably, the millionaire (the Hiram of the title) wants to protect and mollycoddle her. So, the Scottish castle must, at all costs, be freed of all ghosts. The book was a light, joyful read. It made me laugh; what more does a fun book need? Ibbotson's imagination always impresses me. It takes courage to write something utterly unbelievable and be willing to be as silly as you like. The … [Read more...]
Surprise Interview
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...]
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