Sharmishtha Basu's Blog: Sharmishtha Basu writes, page 134

March 20, 2020

Agnijaat Agrahayan 1426, November 2019 critique by Labanya

Agnijaat Agrahayan 1426

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Critique by Labanya


Agnijaat Agrahayan 1426, November 2019

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Indie Author Speaks 7: Agreed with the points of this article too, a good mailing list not only sends your messages to a larger group but you can advertise through your newsletter too! For struggling writers that is a good thing, look at the money good YouTube video makers are making!


Partial: Don’t I agree with these words! Society is funny, weird and sometimes irritating!


Techbabble: Everyone has used one or two electronic gadget that makes one wonder if the designers ever touched these things, forget about using!


Messing with corrupt: Check out the news and you will agree that messing with corrupts is almost like messing with kings of erstwhile era in India.


SOS: Beautiful beings should remember these words, too many got destroyed by envy!


WOW: If only I could let go attachment!


Goa Inquisition: It is sad how men become monsters and then blame imaginary monsters for their evil doings! Power and greed are the only two motivations human beings need to become monsters, again and again since they started piling up things for own profit!


Self righteous: Sad incident, but I would have done the same too! It is irresistible to not try to save a prey from a hunter.


Fun and Frolic section:


OMR by Pat Ritter: Pat is a fantastic author. I am pretty sure this book will be amazing too!


My God how great thou are by Robert Sherriff: Beautiful cover. Have not read anything by Robert yet, will have to check out!


Memoirs of a Pakhtun Resident by Teresa Schanapasky: Great critique and the story sound really interesting. Maybe I will ask Teresa if she will mind sharing the book with me! Agni repeated the interview of last month. That is good for those who have not read the previous month issue I believe. I rather prefer knowing a bit about the author too!


We need movie lovers as critiques: We do, movie lovers with brain I mean!


Critiques of Patreon works August 2019 by Troy: Great critique. Troy is one priceless reader and friend. He certainly possesses a heart of gold!


Indian Raga Now:


Mukesh- One of my “the” favorites, he too died too early!


Rehmaan- Just love him!


Asterix: Loved the cartoon strips and love the movies!


Artworks: Those books must be true treasures!


Youtube channel: Already checked them all out.


Storytime:


The manager: This is one creepy story!


Gita Jayanti: This is a good idea to celebrate our really rich past! A past that is amazing and enviable!


Theme: Mist- Loved the poems and the images that came with them! Mist is so beautiful! It turns the world into dreamland!


The cartoon: My sentiments exactly! I really don’t think anyone will pay huge money for advertisements to a newspaper that will expose him! Sorry!


In the end quite enjoyed the Ezine, and its colourful sketches/paintings!


That is it I guess! See you again in Poush, and thank you Agni/Sharmishtha for translating my works!


Yours sincerely,

Labanya

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Published on March 20, 2020 21:52

March 19, 2020

Agnishatdal Magh 1426, January 2020 critique by Troy David Loy

Agnishatdal Magh 1426 Critique:

Agnishatdal Magh 1426, January 2020

https://gumroad.com/l/RUPvJ

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by

Troy David Loy

https://www.amazon.com/author/troyloy


iravu vanakkam. naandaan Troy. It’s time for Magh’s critique of Agnishatdal, and I’ve such sights to show you – without creepy puzzle-boxes!


Let Us Begin…. Our virtual trip to India Lovely pic this issue, with women carrying jugs atop their heads, from what seems to be near a local well or other watering source. A good selection of colors!


Hemchandra It’s always cool to read of interesting scholars, and this man counts as such. I wonder how his work compares to, say, that of Nagarjuna, and his tetralemma-based logics?


That Strange Circus Show Saptarchi asks a question of the usefulness, or its lacking, of strutting politicians!


Masai: 2 of 4 I’m impressed that the Masai have held onto their culture as they have. Brieuc adds further details to this story of a people little understood by most Westerners!


Vikram aur Betal Part 1: Raghu A wise king is told stories by a quick-witted ghost, and in this tale, an evil ascetic seeks to gain supernatural powers, kill that same king and rule the world! Does the king prevail? I enjoyed this muchly.


Bitter Pill Dose 27: Politics BP discusses the rule by red cadres in Bengal, and a terrifying look at the state’s past, and foreboding vision of the near future of WB!


The authoress reviews the book Logan’s Time and interviews its author Dayna Leigh Chesser this issue! Cool!


Royal Marriage from Agnimalya Patreon A complex romantic situation develops between the kingdom of simians and the kingdom of jackals when the Prince of jackals runs from an arranged marriage and falls for another girl. Who is it that REALLY lives happily ever after in this tale? Got a real tickle out of this one from the ending!


Khola akash I really enjoyed Labanya’s poem from this issue, as well as SB’s Bengali and Hindi poems, particularly the first, “Brishti”


The Authoress’s painting this issue, “Saraswatipuja” shows the Goddess sitting on a lotus attended by a swan. Liked this one a lot!


Republic Day This painting has an ominous message, told with only a few words and a pair of eyes!


Glimpses of Past: Ahmad Shah Abdali He was persistent, I’ll give him that, but there’s something seriously messed up when a man’s hobby is compulsive serial invasions!


Story from Ved and Puran: Wayward Son A pious man falls into arrogance, and is sent to learn from many teachers, each important in his journey, though he grasps it not at first. Does he finally get the meaning behind it all? Amazingly fun to read!


Ponga Pandit 13 The evil teacher plots to train his students in teamwork, but teamwork to do the WRONG thing – coordination in service to evil deeds!


So, here we are! I’ll be back very soon for Falgun’s Twins, and until then, I say, nanri, and bid you… …vanakkam.

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Published on March 19, 2020 19:41

March 18, 2020

Agnijaat Magh 1426, January 2020 critique by Troy David Loy

Agnijaat Magh 1426 Critique


Agnijaat Magh 1426, January 2020

https://gumroad.com/l/bJPEQ

https://shoptly.com/i/nir

by

Troy David Loy

https://www.amazon.com/author/troyloy


Eeek! I’m back! naandaan Troy! Welcome for Magh 1426’s review of Fireborn! Here are a few of the key features this issue!


Indie Author Speaks: Few Tips 10 Some useful advice here on marketing and business suggestions. In particular be very skeptical of those claiming to have life-coach credentials!


From the Quill of Femme Sole: acid Tongues The creator notes that while men often have the edge in sheer upper-body strength, be careful about getting on a woman’s bad side, especially when a woman yourself!


Techbabble: “We Don’t Eavesdrop” Or so protest a wee bit many computer and phone companies! Here, the Authoress notes the pervasiveness, and perverseness, of social media marketing and content tracking algorithms!


India Now: Push Selling Here’s a piece on the sneaky sales tactics and marketing of businesses with sub-par products, who are not only shills, but not adverse to being bribed as well! Caveat Emptor!


My Pen: Preferences Change The Authoress discusses the shift in her views over time, on matters of deep personal import.


10 Silly Questions The creator notes some pretty succinct things to ask when watching a typical sf or horror movie, pointing out the things that are done by characters too stupid for their own (in movie) profession or IQ, things someone with a brain would never do!


INDIAN RAGA NOW: Kishore Kumar Hmmm. Listening to a collection of Kumar’s songs as I type this, and he’s really not that bad. I’m impressed! Here’s the linky I found to the collection on YouTube: https:// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G_UUDdzHiQ


Sweet Memories – Something divine! The Authoress takes us back to a time of taking nectar from flowers, similar in some respects to sampling the honeysuckles here in the States. Fun stuff!


SBPnB from Patreon January Suresh tries to woo a girl with false claims of wealth, claims which catch up with him, destroying any hope of marriage to her. Honesty isn’t just a policy, nor merely a tactic, but a way to avoid embarrassing oneself.


The theme for this month is…Space! Here are seven poems in seven styles on a variety of astronomical and astrophysical topics, from stars being born to worlds dying as their sun sheds its outer layers and consumes its children. Good stuff!

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Published on March 18, 2020 19:41

March 17, 2020

Agnishatdal Poush 1426, December 2019 critique by Troy David Loy

Agnishatdal Poush 1426 Critique:


Agnishatdal Poush 1426, December 2019

https://gumroad.com/l/umPGr

https://shoptly.com/i/mon


by

Troy David Loy

https://www.amazon.com/author/troyloy


iravu vanakkam. naandaan Troy. Welcome to the Poush 1426 review of Agnishatdal! Here are a few of the outstanding features for this issue… First there’s… …


Let us Begin… Our Virtual Trip to India This painting shows a young woman leaning, her back to a tree, while a small fishing boat travels past on the river in the background.


Bharatendu Harishchandra So, here is one whose linguistic influence was deep and far-reaching. I must look for any published works of his that remain in print, and I suspect that these are more than a few sources I can look on.


Rupjibi and Kalambiji Saptarchi criticizes the intellectual failures of modern Indian movies made for money, not the writer’s craft.


Masai 1 of 4 Brieuc begins this series on the Masai people of Kenya and Tanzania, with tidbits on their traditional culture, spiritual beliefs, and relationship between they and “all cattle on earth,” including those of other tribes!


Games Ghosts Play 3 Raghu concludes the story with a humorous end, when the protagonist’s deceased friend is not the only ghost in town, but friend’s father as well, and just after cheerfully chatting him up on the phone!


A Dwelling for Within Dom’s verse touches both mind and heart with this piece. Very good.


Bitter Pill Dose 26: Politics 1 BP discusses the toxic brew that is Indian politics, and a tendency, not unknown elsewhere, to hide ones’ true colors if such those were from the start!


The Drover Harry gets an opportunity to learn the ropes as a drover, the tough way, sharing the title “boss drover” with his father.


Aqson by Koel Sreejib The creator critiques a book, this one of God and the Devil making sport with with Indian politics as the playing field. Following is an interview with Koel on her fantasy novel and other matters.


Special thanks go out to the Authoress for this issue’s review of my newsletter!


YouTubia: Hammer house of Mystery Good that the Authoress has pointed me in the direction of this channel! I love Hammer films, especially featuring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, two of my favorite actors! Woohoo!


True Treasures: Pebbles Parrots can be hilarious, real ones, that is, and this piece reminds me of an old friend’s African Grey parrot, Bela, who had quite the mouth!


Agnimalya Patreon November Story Chandra has a job as a typist, but something is not right at work. After the boss fires an allegedly pregnant co-worker, the rotten facade of a business starts to crumble as the blackmailing rings it truly is is revealed!


This month’s Bengali and Hindi poems were very enjoyable, and brought forth a sense of deja vu not felt since first moving to Florida a couple of months back.


Balukabela Labanya’s poem here is quite good too, with a final line that’s often good advice and evokes what almost seems to be memories of the future – Think of it like ordinary remembering, but in the wrong direction!


Poush Shukranti This painting shows kites being flown outside, while an indoor kitchen table holds sweets, like pithes, waiting to be eaten!


Christmas This combines digital painting and photo, to commemorate its celebration in India as a revelry in general, and as a religious holiday by Indian Christians.


Story from Ved and Puran: Garuda Fascinating that this being, the King of Birds was as enormous as he was in these writings. That lends a feeling of the fantastic to the stories.


Well, that’s it for this time! Please join me again for Magh’s critique, and in abbreviated Soruggon… …Tf. Tk. Tts!

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Published on March 17, 2020 19:41

March 16, 2020

Agnijaat Poush 1426, December 2019 critique by Troy David Loy

Agnijaat Poush 1426 Critique:

Agnijaat Poush 1426, December 2019

https://gumroad.com/l/jKvWy

https://shoptly.com/i/mom

by

Troy David Loy

https://www.amazon.com/author/troyloy


iravu vanakkam. naandaan Troy. Welcome to the Poush 1426 review of Fireborn! There is much to see here! We have this issue…


Indie Author Speaks – A Few Tips 9 Here the creator shares notes on being one’s own mentor, driven by courage and perseverance to success.


From the Quill of Femme Sole: One Boat Please! Here, the Authoress offers a suggestion to women desiring both genuine liberalism and social orthodoxy – take one or the other, not both!


Techbabble: Shove it! The Authoress notes the all-too frequent inconveniences of so-called updates to software.


India Now: poverty Here’s a look at history, to one of the leading figures of the Maurya dynasty, and a quote attributed to him, one that could apply just as it did then, today! Be careful who you make enemies with.


Kolkata in Poush The creator notes the instability of local weather, within the last year. When weather plays games, something is undeniably going on!


Sweet Memories Poush – Divine! We’re treated here to news of a butterfly, just out of the chrysalis, fresh to open its wings and soar! Butterflies are cool, as is their metamorphosis from caterpillar to adult!


SBPnB Piece from December: Red Roses A young woman finds a suitor to free her from bondage to her lecherous master! Will the suitor succeed in his heart’s desire and win her freedom?


Festival of Month: Poush Shukranti The Authoress gives her perspective on spiritual teachings and their value regardless of specific religion.


Theme for Poush: Forest One: Cinqku and painting on the mystery and beauty of the realm of trees. Two: Haiku, with painting of a forest spirit with her deer companion. Three: cinquain and painting, of a heartbreakingly lovely forest scene. Four: quintilla and painting on a hut deep within the wood. Five: quintain and painting of trees and rode winding between them. Six: Diamond and painting of life in the forest, the life of the creatures within! Seven: seventeen verse and painting of an Autumn wood and sky.


Fir Milenge A young woman dressed in fiery colors, perhaps beholding a young suitor!


Media4Sale – Bikau–Available for Buying A strong case for books over video-based media, more informative than captivating and addictive!


And so it ends for Poush 1426! I’ll return in Magh for next issue’s fine points, and in Soruggon, Talotaa frang. Talotaa kas. Talotaa tranga suulaat.

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Published on March 16, 2020 19:41

March 15, 2020

Agnishatdal Agrahayan 1426, November 2019 critique by Troy David Loy

Agnishatdal Agrahayan 1426 Critique


Agnishatdal Agrahayan 1426, November 2019

https://gumroad.com/l/QYloB

https://shoptly.com/i/kjc


by

Troy David Loy

https://www.amazon.com/author/troyloy


iravu vanakkam. naandaan Troy. Let’s get straight to this issue’s critique! There are things that need noting, and so shall they be!


Let us Begin… Our Virtual Trip to India This month’s piece shows a young woman in what could be mourning, or sadness for some reason.


Debendranath Tagore An interesting man, he, as an Indian rationalist, and with little doubt neither the first nor the last. It would have been an illuminating experience to have studied under him were our eras not so separate.


Farce in Name of Justice 2 Saptarchi relates a recent lynching, of all things, of a Muslim youth, and his resulting death from – ahem – “cardiac arrest.” Words fail me.


Berlin 2, Part 2.8 Brieuc concludes his mother’s story, with a bit of the research background for the tale’s points of interest concerning two French commanders. I sympathize with him on the red tape issue!


Games Ghosts Play 2 Raghu’s story continues, with the ghost oddly unaware he’s a ghost – that’s not uncommon in ghost lore, but this instance stood out. Excellent!


Truth Sticks I enjoyed Dom’s verse, here. While the subject matter takes some thinking to parce out properly, his execution gets two thumbs up!


Bitter Pill Dose 24: Religion 8 BP concludes their discussion on religious belief and critics of it, believers of other religions and skeptics alike!


The Drover Pat’s story continues, as Harry reaches his 17th birthday, to receive…what? Find out in this neat little story!


YouTubia: Kevin Richardson The creator tells us of the channel of an animal caretaker, and the fierce creatures he tends, apparently without harm. Bonding with animals when they are still young is very effective for that.


Shambu Maharaj: Here, we are informed of a dance instructor and student/teacher of classical music (Indian) with a life cut far too short. I’ll have to look him up, if for little else but to find videos of his performance style!


Allaudin Khan, Sarod Legend Here we learn of a man who mastered an astonishing array of instruments, and even worked in service to an actual king!


Agnimalya November Story Rajat is a serial groom with a suspicious history of deceased wives. What befalls him, and who, or what, is responsible? Find out in full, for this and other stories, on Sharmishtha Basu’s Patreon page! The Authoress’s Bengali and Hindi poems struck a chord with me as I read them. I’m almost certain that they are even more effective in the original tongues!


Banshpati Labanya has a good one here, her poem on a species of bird, the Green Bee Eater, and their clever camouflage and song, definitely interesting fauna!


Story from Ved and Puran: Vajrang, Tarakasur, and Indra Here are are treated to a story that touches on the complicated interactions of gods and giants, a thing that makes reading these stories so fascinating!


Words: Forgetting sometimes Good advice not heeded often enough, especially when precisely scheduling one’s week to the minute of each waking hour!


Ponga Pandit This issue, the Evil Teacher plots to gain, in the words of Emperor Palpatine of Star Wars, “Unlimited power!!” The two could learn from each other’s villainy.


That’s it for this critique, so join me next time, when I take us through a look at Agnishatdal Poush, 1426! Tf. Tk. Tts.

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Published on March 15, 2020 19:41

March 14, 2020

Agnijaat Agrahayan 1426, November 2019 critique by Troy David Loy

Agnijaat Agrahayan 1426 Critique


Agnijaat Agrahayan 1426, November 2019

https://gumroad.com/l/uIAlLA

https://shoptly.com/i/kjo

by

Troy David Loy

https://www.amazon.com/author/troyloy


iravu vanakkam. naandaan Troy. Here, I give my review of agrahayan 1426’s issue, and here is what really stood out!


Indie Author Speaks: Few Tips 8 I agree with the creator on this, on the usefulness of a good newsletter and mailing list, and on the effectiveness of social media sharing!


From the Quill of Femme Sole: Partial The Authoress comments here on bias and favoritism of society and, unfortunately, the modern legal system in the treatment of women.


Techbabble: Electrocution Here, are noted the problems of tablet computers, and the issues that often make them less than ideal for certain tasks!


India Now: Messing with Corrupt Here’s a discussion of the dangers of fighting corruption in India. Without comparing countries, because that’s just rude and ignorant, these dangers can apply anywhere the regional state leadership relies on a culture of criminality, lies, and disinformation in its power structure.


My Pen: self-righteous What’s the divide between righteousness and self-righteousness? It’s thin, porous, and there’s no simple dividing line as the Authoress notes here! I liked this one in particular.


We Really Need Movie Lovers Here’s a call for more YouTube users to review movies that get overlooked by the critics!


INDIAN RAGA NOW: Mukesh Very cool! I’m listening to Chandan sa badan now, and for a while at least, it may be found at this URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_ZFtaonBPQ


Spotlight On: Rehmaan Wow! I’ve put one of this actor’s movies on my viewing list, on either of Apple TV or YouTube, whichever I find it on first. I like sophisticated villains, as they’re so much more interesting and just fun to watch in a movie! Did I mention that the Doctor Who villain The Master is played in Season 12 of the show by someone, I think, of Indian descent? Yep, he’s Sacha Dhawan and he plays the role brilliantly!


Window to West: Asterix I remember many years ago reading the Ingles version of this comic strip, and thoroughly enjoyed it, though have yet to see any of the movies.


Sweet Memories – Artworks The Authoress tells us of her days collecting artwork books, back when they were cheap, yet still worth purchasing, with works by the legends of art, the true Renaissance men, and literally so!


SBPnB from patreon November Mr. Dwivedi is in deep trouble, but can a tricky bargain involving a young woman posing as his niece rescue him from a stay in prison? This starts off well, and could end in a manner involving “interesting times” as the apocryphal curse goes!


Festival of Month: Gita Jayanti Interesting! Considering that the Gita is considered a classic of world religious literature, it deserves to have a festival of its own. I’m tempted to pick up an English copy and read it cover-to-cover.


Media for sale: Bikau–Available for buying A cool cartoon on how politicians buy a supposedly objective and truthful media outlet – money greases palms and makes weak candidates look the strong.


Circle… it never ends.. A cool little digital painting showing a bungalow shrouded in an early winter morning’s mist. A similar thing happens here in Florida as the subtropical winter heads into February! Lovely!


So, it’s away for me once again, but I’ll join you for next month’s critique, and in my sadly amateurish Thamizh: …naan pooyittu varaenga (I shall go and return)

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Published on March 14, 2020 19:41

Sharmishtha Basu writes

Sharmishtha Basu
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