I've always tried to be adventurous with food, but to be honest, I am completely unadventurous. I try, I swallow, I sometimes even appreciate. But I also suffer from an overactive imagination.I remember the time a teacher of my sister's took us for a French meal. She took us to a beautiful, typical, arty place - with strict instructions not to look at the prices while ordering. That was difficult. But anyway, I cheerfully chose what I wanted - the one vegetarian dish that was typical of the region. I was happy; everyone was happy.And then, I was told, quite firmly, that a tarte tatin à la tomate was too small to be sufficient. Yes, it would be ordered, but I must have something else. Finally, I chose a souris d'agneau. My reasoning was this: it's lamb cooked slowly over the course of six or seven hours; surely it would be less meat-textured and my imagination less active. I … [Read more...]
Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard
Why does 'easy to read' somehow strike me as a slightly negative comment in the context of this book?Yet, I would not say I disliked the book. The gentle humour made me chuckle time and time again. The paradox of unbelievable believable characters was wonderful. Each character was more than just a character. The characters came alive despite being so exaggerated and unreal. Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard did not end one page too early or one page too late.I think what made the book seem deserving of moderate praise rather than great praise was simply the fact that I find it forgettable. The fact that even though I just finished the book, I choose to write 'Each character was more than just a character' not 'Each character is more than just a character'. It's not one of those haunting stories that stays with you and makes you feel as if the character is a dear friend you want to … [Read more...]
Sylvie and the Songman
What a crazy book.And that's a compliment.There were parts of the book that I read only because I wanted to finish the book. I pushed myself to read, page after page, completing each chapter before putting the book down. So I simply can't give it those overused compliments - 'page-turner' and 'unputdownable'.When imagination is truly beautiful, there's such a strong semblance to life that there's no need to understand each detail. The world is like that. There are so many questions that we ignore. We don't feel the need to answer or even understand the questions. Why do fiction writers so often feel the need to explain everything?Sylvie and the Songman made me think. I did not need to understand everything. I needed to accept and marvel. The ideas were magnificent. The concept of music was thrilling, frightening, enlivening.And like all good books, it made me ask why we create. … [Read more...]
My Camera Journey
Somehow, digital cameras have turned me away from photography. It is, somehow, I don't know... Too technical? Too easy to get a good shot? Or perhaps a part of me loved the exclusivity of photography that no longer exists.I remember the first camera my father gave me when I was ten years old. A Hot Shot camera that had a cartridge, not a regular reel of film. How gloriously exciting it was! I photographed my family and my teddy-bears. One particularly interesting photo on the balcony shows how hasty ten-year-old Varsha was too excited about photography to notice a highly unpicturesque pair of bathroom slippers in the same frame as her dolls.Around that time, my grandfather also gave me a camera - one that I could not use because film was no longer available for that one. You sling the camera around the neck and look down into it to see what's ahead. Truly fascinating - particularly … [Read more...]
A Note of Music
Everything is made out of notes, vibrations. Many people think the universe started with a great big bang. What's that if it isn't a note, albeit a rather loud one? Somewhere there's probably a note that brings the whole universe together... Goodness knows what will happen if anyone finds it... We'll probably be blown up; either that or we'd find ourselves in another universe. - from Sylvie and the Songman by Tim Binding That, succinctly put, is the power of music. … [Read more...]
Opening my Eyes
At our refectory, things are beautifully, thoughtfully organised. Little children eat in one hall; older children in another. There's no discrimination involved. The wash-basins attached to the hall for the little ones are lower, the trays are designed for children and everything is child-height.One day, a tiny girl was rummaging amongst the spoons of the 'big' zone."What happened?" I asked. "What are you looking for?"There was no response. The little girl continued her search."Can I help?" I asked. The little girl was standing on tiptoe, hunting.She looked up at me. "I want a spoon with a design."I couldn't help smiling. I found two for her and held them out. She chose the design she liked more. "Thank you."I took the other. It had such a pretty design.Now, I don't choose my spoon (I don't want to deprive anyone of a pretty spoon), but I do notice. … [Read more...]
Exam Gems III
Asked to 'write a commentary' on a poem, students write:'...one thing where I felt that it is wrong is that he did not divide the last line properly, the last line's word is going in the next paragraph.' 'The name given to the poem is very good' 'The poem does not start with a boy sleeping but we can imagine this because the situation will be like that only.' 'I don't understand why does he just start to talk about his own self instead of ending it in a good way. I just did not like the ending because it was confusing but the rest of the poem from the starting was wrote in a decent manner... it was rhyming also when it was needed except the last part' 'The short sentences create a great mood of reading the extract, as their is less to read and more to understand.' 'The tone of the narrator is in a very appreciable fashion.' '[The poet] has a great critical thinking power.'We asked for … [Read more...]
Exam Gems II
Attempting to create pathos and anger: 'Reaching hospital it was looking like messy type' 'I got him into the last point of insultation'Attempting - um - I don't know what: 'And if the film is ya some actors take more many if they don't hard work' (Mm? Can you say that again?)Imaginative writing: 'Their colour was blue as dark blue in the ocean, just as ocean their body was made of ocean.'Arguing for equality: 'The removal of Girls and a huge unrespect for girls is seen in the parts of India.'Innovative spelling:buque (Say it aloud; you may understand) masculur paniced humguous maintedLet's make up words and phrases! fightings unequality By mistakely step on your own feet … [Read more...]
Exam Gems
Correcting papers is a crazy experience. There are some things each teacher in the staff room feels compelled to share with the others.Commenting on a poem's language and style, students write... 'This heart-touching poem...', or better still - 'This tear-dropping poem...'Commenting on the expected audience, a student has a bewildering response - 'The language used is abit complex probably not aiming for audience but for readers who are mature.'Describing a forest, a student wants to create rich imagery, so talks about 'barked densed trees'The students are also tested on their ability to empathise. One exercise was a letter written by Theo to his famous brother, the painter, Vincent Van Gogh. A student writes - 'You have to treat such problems as a video game'Spelling is the most exciting - use your imagination here. Be warned, students cheerfully invent … [Read more...]
‘Shiva’
Last evening's performance at Bal Shikshan was a visual treat. Of course there were things I did not like. I did not like the opening piece or the concluding peace. I found them most peculiar. Yet, there is something about the perfection of classical dance well performed that cannot be compared to anything else.Vaibhav Arekar and his troupe performed a beautiful collection of dances - united by the theme of Shiv. There were some pieces I'd watched before. There's one that brings tears to my eyes every time - the story of an untouchable devotee of Shiva who wants a glimpse of the shivalingam inside the temple.Spurned by the higher castes, Nandan hides, crouches, apologetic about his very existence. When higher caste women see him, they recoil in disgust. He cringes, almost trying to become invisible. Yet, when everyone else finishes the prescribed rituals and has gone, Nandan goes … [Read more...]