Gaurav Parab's Blog, page 5
January 21, 2016
Sellout
By Gaurav Parab
Another thank god its Friday nightShe dresses up in spitethose songs and pictures in her mindand all that she knew of her kindArtists of sound and prosepreferring crossroads in place of rows
On how she planned to be who she wasAnd not give in to everyone's causeOf them lost girls and the things they doFor pink houses and sunset viewsWhen did she really becameWho she really became?
She thinks of who she wasHow she preferred bottles to straws And conversations with him was all she hadNot made up words on a trend or a fad
This man on the right of her bedCould be cut and bledBut no original thought will ever comeAll his head does his nod and thrumWhile that stranger's ghost to her rightWould explain the world till dark turned light
Its the age of sellouts her mind explainsAll the cars stick to their lanesHe was but a drifterWith soulful words that would lift herSo she saw the world his wayFrom high up, so high up that her mind would swayFrom the fear of the fallInto mediocrity and a world so small
A world so fake and empty like it is nowThe ghost said a goodbye, this man says a ciaoAnd her lips smile, but her soul cringesFor she still prefers broken hingesTo doors, those unpredictable doorsAnd every temptation she dutifully ignores
Her little world is like every little worldPeaceful, honest,and tragically unfurledWhen all she wanted All she wantedWas a mind of wonder and of doubtAnd she wonders, did he too sellout ?
Rustom and the Last Storyteller of Almora by Gaurav Parab [Hachette] was listed by the Times of India and Business Standard as one of 5 weekend reads , The Hindu calls it a Genre bender, The Statesman ‘An Almost Perfect Debut, The Lucknow tribune calls it a debut to remember, The Pioneer calls it Cinematic, The Vistara Air inflight magazine a Good Book on the Shelf, the Sakaal times says its ‘sheer brilliance in storytelling’ while the Bangalore Mirror calls it an unforgettable story. It is available in leading bookstores and online here
January 17, 2016
7 ways to overcome writer's block that don't cost a thing
Image courtesy wikimedia commons
By Gaurav Parab
As you write, so comes writer's block. The writer's way of saying it's not easy putting words to paper. Unlike soldiers who merely avoid bullets, or surgeons where a slight difference between a steady and unsteady hand can change lives, or software coders who do things with doubly linked lists, writers face the mother of all challenges. Writers Block. A condition so difficult that it even has the word block in it.
Scientifically, an inability to do your job
While I know writer's block exists, I dont think it is that big a challenge as it is made out to be. It is but a juiced up way of saying I dont feel like writing probably coined by a talented writer. If anything, it is just life or distractions coming in the way and preventing one from writing and more importantly taking that step towards giving oneself a chance to write. Till a point that sometimes arrives when one feels that one has lost the ability to write. To make word follow word becomes impossible.
Boredom, fear that your work is not going anywhere, or a lack of plain old inspiration are the triggers. Here is how I try to overcome it.
1. Write no matter what side of the bed you got up from: A writer friend once quoted from a book that if you write a target number of words, say 1000 per day even on the difficult days when you just cant put thought to pen, pen to paper- then when you look back fifteen days later you will not even be able to identify the days that were tough for those thousand word are now part of a bigger body of work. So write no matter what. It is who you are.
2. Move around your work: If you are bored following the same linear structure everyday, move around. Write a chapter from later on. Maybe write the end or work on the synopsis.
3. Write something else: One key challenge I faced while writing my book was the character of Jennifer. How does she look like. How does she walk. How does she speak and think. For some of the others, I had made character sketches. Even real sketches. Followed by backstories that were not featured in the book. But I hit a wall with Jennifer. How do you describe a woman who is a girl but is a woman. How do you describe a girl who would not hesitate to kill her man if he strayed?
Writer's block. I just could not get those chapters together. So, I wrote something else. A poem. I called it Smells like Bombay - for Jennifer in my mind had to be a quintessential Mumbai girl like the city herself. Confident, occasionally naughty, a contradiction of some parts, a sum of others. And my god, the temper. That awful temper.
Post the poem, I was strangely able to motor along. As luck would have it later, an independent musician from Mumbai who was following my blog even made a song out of the poem. Added bonus.
4. Do something else: Go for a walk. Don't carry your smartphone with you. Recently, I walked about 15 km to overcome plot related issues. Every time you go for a walk, you see something that will help you out.
Play a sport. Sports make for great dramas condensed to a short time. Paint, if you can. Try you hand at animation. Sing a song aloud. Watch a movie. But whatever you do, make sure you dont forget why you are doing it.
5. Drink: Whatever works for you. Coffee / / fresh fruit juice / hard drinks. But drink in moderation, and make sure you have a pen and paper handy. Most writing ideas are lost for you are too busy checking out strangers in pubs or falling in love with your own thoughts, when you should be making notes. In this case, if you think carrying a pen and paper to a pub is too nerdy - use your smartphone. Everyone else is probably doing the same.
6. Music: I am biased towards country music, for most songs tell a complete story in themselves. But whatever works for you works for you. Ghazals, and classical music works well as well.
7. Flirt Talk with People: People generally are boring. Use this as a last resort. And only speak to people who can hold a conversation. Speak to the oldest person in your family. He or she will be full of stories - for isn't that what life is about? Making stories.
Keep writing. Keep creating. This is what you are meant to do.
Rustom and the Last Storyteller of Almora by Gaurav Parab [Hachette] was listed by the Times of India and Business Standard as one of 5 weekend reads , The Hindu calls it a Genre bender, The Statesman ‘An Almost Perfect Debut, The Lucknow tribune calls it a debut to remember, The Pioneer calls it Cinematic, The Vistara Air inflight magazine a Good Book on the Shelf, the Sakaal times says its ‘sheer brilliance in storytelling’ while the Bangalore Mirror calls it an unforgettable story. It is available in leading bookstores and online here
January 10, 2016
Unleashing the Kraken on your New Year Resolutions
Late 2015, I started planning on my new year resolutions to be finalized on the 31st of December. Previously, something similar would get done on the 31st and would fall by the wayside by Jan 3rd or Jan 4, provided I was very resolute in that year.
Close to ten days in the year, am glad that I have been able to stick to almost every resolution. And I wouldn't be writing this if I was not confident of keeping it going till these resolutions turn to habit. Perhaps you can use some of these ideas to salvage some of your resolutions. That is of course not the real reason behind this blog. The real reason is blogging once every week is one of my resolutions and I have absolutely no clue on what to write about today.
Anyways, this is what is working for me.
1. Goals not resolutions: First of all, I am not treating the whole exercise as resolutions but as goals. Measurable. And even if annoying, using a spreadsheet to keep track. This is so against everything I have believed in so far, but the so called creative, wild, rebel kraken needs to be tamed if anything of significance has to be achieved. Nothing breaks a Mustang like excel.
So, I am going to be losing weight has to be replaced with I will lose 10 kg. And the plan needs to move from a cozy, ignored place in your mind to paper or pixels.
2. The point of it all: I have aligned these individual goals to a greater purpose. Or if you want to look at it from the other way round, I have broken massive blocks of my dreams into the smaller steps I need to take. I now have categories ( so they can be listed in a large font on my spread sheet). like Family, Financial, Mental, Personal and Future.
Basically, now every individual goal rolls up to something more significant without being too complex. And during the planning exercise it helped to double check if my goals would lead towards a better version of myself. If not, I hit delete.
Ask yourself why are you doing it? It makes the daily grind more bearable.
3. Realistic, but stretched: Realistic in the sense that they are based on your capability. And capability is not the motivation pumping in your veins after watching Rocky, but an honest self assessment, and most importantly things you enjoy. Otherwise once again, what is the point of it all?
For example, I don't enjoy running even if I am fortunate enough to be blessed with decent physical stamina. I like walking. So my resolution turned from running a certain distance to walking twice of that distance everyday. It also fits in with my daily routine of walking Joko, so no extra sacrifice in terms of cutting down time from something else is needed.
Stretched, in the sense that once you identify a goal you have to make sure that it is beyond what you can pull off, even if not being too over the top. For example, with walking - i have kept a goal of walking to Lonavala from Pune in the next six months and possibly take it further in the months after that. To achieve this goal, I need to be regular with my daily walks and build up my internal system to do this comfortably.
4. Manage your time, combine goals with your schedule: Now, the biggest challenge that I have is time. Typically, work, including the commute takes up 12 to 14 hours of a given day.
That leaves 10 hours to work on my mission to being a Super Me. If I look at 6 to 7 hours as time for rest (which is healthy), I am left with 4 hours. One of my goals is to finish the second draft of my second book before March end. That will be an hour per day. Which leaves me with 3 hours. Then I need to exercise, do yoga, and mediate - goals with specific targets - leaving me with 2 hours.
Family. Dog. Friends - An hour.
Reading a book. Reading the Gita every day. Give or take another 30 minutes to 1 hour.
A very thin buffer which usually gets eaten up because life is...well life. So, what do we do?
Time with Joko is combined through my walking targets. He gets thinner and female doggies want him. I get fitter and knock out two goals at the same time. Sometimes I ask the missus to join me on the walk. With mom, generally try to have dinner together and discuss books.
Meditation, try to fit it in during work hours - a 10 minute break where I go off to the meditation room instead of the tea stall and try to center myself as life gets hit by waves of disruption.
The point of giving details is you to can identify with your own life and priorities.
5. Cut out all the noise - No television. Even if in my alternate life as a writer, it is not a complete waste of time for me for it helps getting inspired. So, whatever TV I watch- I watch it with the missus. Possibly, a series that we both can enjoy together.
For entertainment, I am a music guy. Which again combined with the writing session saves time and boosts creativity.
5. Make the difficult ones public. Early in the exercise of identifying my new year goals, I realized that working on a completely path breaking novel, or making a targeted amount from the stock markets ( I so want to say 'equity' to sound grown up) in spite of China and commodity something something, or saving an insane amount of money in a short time is not that difficult. The difficult thing would be to lose weight - because I tend to get distracted from exercise easily and I don't see the point of it all. (Tummy = Mojo)
Also, I don't lose weight easily and I need to have my Beer and Scotch. (For again, if not that - what is the point of it all?) . So I need motivation to do this.
So, had close friends tell me very dramatically that I just can't lose 10 KGs in six months.
Again, knowing my strengths (and you will have yours) - I dont need a second invitation. If I am told I cant do anything, then I am a bull in a China shop on steroids with its tail on fire and **** being snapped by Rottweilers and horns being shot at by Panzer tanks. I go nuts.
Even if made up, since they too want the best of me - this image which I have posted on Facebook of friends and random dog mocking me is a reminder enough on what I need to do every single day for the next six months.
But before going that path, make sure you know yourself. If you are those types who dont do things when someone tells you to not do them, then this is clearly not a trick you should have in your bag.
Going by the spirit of this point, here are some goals I know i am really going to struggle with - some not because of a lack of willpower but because of a lack of time.
1. Write a Weekly Blog Here. ( In spite of writing a massive, epic, god awesome, freaking brilliant novel at the same time and a few newspaper columns here and there)
2. Lose 10 KG by July 4. Gulp.
3. Play some sport 2 to 3 times a week - I am really stumped on this one. Very difficult since weekends are my down time but will find a way
4. Read 15 Books this year + 1 self help book - which is the massive massive Gita everyday.
5. Learn a musical instrument. - I DONT KNOW WHEN, WHAT and HOW and I am falling behind on this but need to figure out after reading this blog by my self.
Have a great year ahead. And treat this one as your last one as I am doing so there is a sense of urgency in all that you do.
Warm Regards
Gaurav
Rustom and the Last Storyteller of Almora by Gaurav Parab [Hachette] was listed by the Times of India and Business Standard as one of 5 weekend reads , The Hindu calls it a Genre bender, The Statesman ‘An Almost Perfect Debut, The Lucknow tribune calls it a debut to remember, The Pioneer calls it Cinematic, The Vistara Air inflight magazine a Good Book on the Shelf, the Sakaal times says its ‘sheer brilliance in storytelling’ while the Bangalore Mirror calls it an unforgettable story. It is available in leading bookstores and online here
Close to ten days in the year, am glad that I have been able to stick to almost every resolution. And I wouldn't be writing this if I was not confident of keeping it going till these resolutions turn to habit. Perhaps you can use some of these ideas to salvage some of your resolutions. That is of course not the real reason behind this blog. The real reason is blogging once every week is one of my resolutions and I have absolutely no clue on what to write about today.
Anyways, this is what is working for me.
1. Goals not resolutions: First of all, I am not treating the whole exercise as resolutions but as goals. Measurable. And even if annoying, using a spreadsheet to keep track. This is so against everything I have believed in so far, but the so called creative, wild, rebel kraken needs to be tamed if anything of significance has to be achieved. Nothing breaks a Mustang like excel.
So, I am going to be losing weight has to be replaced with I will lose 10 kg. And the plan needs to move from a cozy, ignored place in your mind to paper or pixels.
2. The point of it all: I have aligned these individual goals to a greater purpose. Or if you want to look at it from the other way round, I have broken massive blocks of my dreams into the smaller steps I need to take. I now have categories ( so they can be listed in a large font on my spread sheet). like Family, Financial, Mental, Personal and Future.
Basically, now every individual goal rolls up to something more significant without being too complex. And during the planning exercise it helped to double check if my goals would lead towards a better version of myself. If not, I hit delete.
Ask yourself why are you doing it? It makes the daily grind more bearable.
3. Realistic, but stretched: Realistic in the sense that they are based on your capability. And capability is not the motivation pumping in your veins after watching Rocky, but an honest self assessment, and most importantly things you enjoy. Otherwise once again, what is the point of it all?
For example, I don't enjoy running even if I am fortunate enough to be blessed with decent physical stamina. I like walking. So my resolution turned from running a certain distance to walking twice of that distance everyday. It also fits in with my daily routine of walking Joko, so no extra sacrifice in terms of cutting down time from something else is needed.
Stretched, in the sense that once you identify a goal you have to make sure that it is beyond what you can pull off, even if not being too over the top. For example, with walking - i have kept a goal of walking to Lonavala from Pune in the next six months and possibly take it further in the months after that. To achieve this goal, I need to be regular with my daily walks and build up my internal system to do this comfortably.
4. Manage your time, combine goals with your schedule: Now, the biggest challenge that I have is time. Typically, work, including the commute takes up 12 to 14 hours of a given day.
That leaves 10 hours to work on my mission to being a Super Me. If I look at 6 to 7 hours as time for rest (which is healthy), I am left with 4 hours. One of my goals is to finish the second draft of my second book before March end. That will be an hour per day. Which leaves me with 3 hours. Then I need to exercise, do yoga, and mediate - goals with specific targets - leaving me with 2 hours.
Family. Dog. Friends - An hour.
Reading a book. Reading the Gita every day. Give or take another 30 minutes to 1 hour.
A very thin buffer which usually gets eaten up because life is...well life. So, what do we do?
Time with Joko is combined through my walking targets. He gets thinner and female doggies want him. I get fitter and knock out two goals at the same time. Sometimes I ask the missus to join me on the walk. With mom, generally try to have dinner together and discuss books.
Meditation, try to fit it in during work hours - a 10 minute break where I go off to the meditation room instead of the tea stall and try to center myself as life gets hit by waves of disruption.
The point of giving details is you to can identify with your own life and priorities.
5. Cut out all the noise - No television. Even if in my alternate life as a writer, it is not a complete waste of time for me for it helps getting inspired. So, whatever TV I watch- I watch it with the missus. Possibly, a series that we both can enjoy together.
For entertainment, I am a music guy. Which again combined with the writing session saves time and boosts creativity.
5. Make the difficult ones public. Early in the exercise of identifying my new year goals, I realized that working on a completely path breaking novel, or making a targeted amount from the stock markets ( I so want to say 'equity' to sound grown up) in spite of China and commodity something something, or saving an insane amount of money in a short time is not that difficult. The difficult thing would be to lose weight - because I tend to get distracted from exercise easily and I don't see the point of it all. (Tummy = Mojo)
Also, I don't lose weight easily and I need to have my Beer and Scotch. (For again, if not that - what is the point of it all?) . So I need motivation to do this.
So, had close friends tell me very dramatically that I just can't lose 10 KGs in six months.
Again, knowing my strengths (and you will have yours) - I dont need a second invitation. If I am told I cant do anything, then I am a bull in a China shop on steroids with its tail on fire and **** being snapped by Rottweilers and horns being shot at by Panzer tanks. I go nuts.
Even if made up, since they too want the best of me - this image which I have posted on Facebook of friends and random dog mocking me is a reminder enough on what I need to do every single day for the next six months.
But before going that path, make sure you know yourself. If you are those types who dont do things when someone tells you to not do them, then this is clearly not a trick you should have in your bag.
Going by the spirit of this point, here are some goals I know i am really going to struggle with - some not because of a lack of willpower but because of a lack of time.
1. Write a Weekly Blog Here. ( In spite of writing a massive, epic, god awesome, freaking brilliant novel at the same time and a few newspaper columns here and there)
2. Lose 10 KG by July 4. Gulp.
3. Play some sport 2 to 3 times a week - I am really stumped on this one. Very difficult since weekends are my down time but will find a way
4. Read 15 Books this year + 1 self help book - which is the massive massive Gita everyday.
5. Learn a musical instrument. - I DONT KNOW WHEN, WHAT and HOW and I am falling behind on this but need to figure out after reading this blog by my self.
Have a great year ahead. And treat this one as your last one as I am doing so there is a sense of urgency in all that you do.
Warm Regards
Gaurav
Rustom and the Last Storyteller of Almora by Gaurav Parab [Hachette] was listed by the Times of India and Business Standard as one of 5 weekend reads , The Hindu calls it a Genre bender, The Statesman ‘An Almost Perfect Debut, The Lucknow tribune calls it a debut to remember, The Pioneer calls it Cinematic, The Vistara Air inflight magazine a Good Book on the Shelf, the Sakaal times says its ‘sheer brilliance in storytelling’ while the Bangalore Mirror calls it an unforgettable story. It is available in leading bookstores and online here
January 1, 2016
One Rant on the Pinnacle of Human Endeavor and One New Year Wish
Anyone who has dealt with a critical medical situation in the family knows that feeling of helplessness that comes with putting your trust in a doctor, usually a stranger, who now controls the fate of all the memories from the past, and the moments you were planning for the future.
Recently, while sitting outside an OT with my insides threatening to explode into a debris of crumbling nerves or whatever gore insides explode to, I noticed this short inspirational sign board.
I am not sure about the origins of this, but don't the lines about a patient can offer you no higher tribute that to entrust you with his life and his health and by implication with the happiness of all his family move you ? Like really move you ?
Now, if you have ever sat next to me on a bar stool you would have heard my loopy rant on what are 'real' jobs and those made up things wise guys in corner offices come up with. The real jobs, ever since division of labor and all that economics 101 jargon got spewed out, in my limited wisdom are
Farming - feeding us allSoldiering and policing - helping us not get pummeled by the biggest guy in the neighborhoodMedical practitioners and researchers - helping us stay alive before we dieFiremen and rescue services - Risking their own lives for the lives of others. Stupid but heroic.Scientists with crazy hairdos - Taking long shots for a better futureThe guys who come up with different types of Beer.I may have missed out on a few, but any other job description, especially the ones that 'add value ' in some important sounding supply chain are largely made up to help things be done more efficiently.
But what about the soul Parab?
As far as artists go, sure they help our souls, elevate our thoughts but when stuck in an island with limited space on a boat and you having to choose between a tiger and a goat, I would rather be my own entertainer and get a farmer dude along with me. Just in case. Or a Victoria Secret model.
Sports ? I know I am being brutal here, but again in the strict sense our lives no longer depend on how fast we run over a 100 meters or how cleverly we cut a ball over third man's head.
No offense intended. I am guilty of double murder. A marketer (I can't look myself in the mirror) and a writer ( I need longer hair to help me look myself in the mirror)
But here we are. Here we are with our jobs.
Important in our own ways for putting food on the table with the greatness of our purpose being making others look good. These are the cards that have been dealt to us by fate, by circumstance and largely by the choices we make. There is no escape for there are only so many people who are required for the 'real jobs'. And then someone has to do the writing, the coding, the selling, the passing the ball around to make the wheels, the wheels within the wheels go round and round so the world can go around.
Its really not that bad, I figure. A superhero is important for there are so few of him or her.
And so, as I sat outside the OT worrying about family, resigned to fate, and knowing that how badly I could use some distraction. And then those words on the sign board. Brilliant.
Take writing for starters. And while my heart soared when that connection was made, my blood boiled.
For is it not true that a reader while not putting her life in your hands, is putting a few hours of her limited time in reading your work when she can easily give her attention to another book, a movie, or perhaps something else. In that moment, are you not a doctor who can help someone be better? As writers, don't your readers deserve the best that you can put in front of them ?
As an artist, don't you owe it to yourself after you have made a deliberate choice to create? Should you not at least try to raise your work to the highest pinnacle of what you are capable of, if not human endeavor ?
The blood boiled, and it does boil every time I see 'writers' writing a **** all romance for 'it sells'. Every time, as one of the internet forwards go, well meaning trees enjoying their retirement are cut down to print garbage. Every time **** heads claim to be writers, implying by the choice of the self description a bond with men and women from the past who have toiled over hours figuring out how to write, re-write, and re-write till no more word can be made out of a word. And then re-write so if not for an entire length of a book, but for fleeting moments you hit the pinnacle of bloody human capability.
The same with other non real jobs I guess. You may be a techie, a shop floor mechanic, a driver - feel free to lower your tolerance level for the mediocrity around you so in a way, you push yourself in a corner and then push yourself to raise your game to be truly unforgettable. No matter whichever profession you are in.
Ok. Rant over. Happy New Year. Wish over.
Rustom and the Last Storyteller of Almora by Gaurav Parab [Hachette] was listed by the Times of India and Business Standard as one of 5 weekend reads , The Hindu calls it a Genre bender, The Statesman ‘An Almost Perfect Debut, The Lucknow tribune calls it a debut to remember, The Pioneer calls it Cinematic, The Vistara Air inflight magazine a Good Book on the Shelf, the Sakaal times says its ‘sheer brilliance in storytelling’ while the Bangalore Mirror calls it an unforgettable story. It is available in leading bookstores and online here
Recently, while sitting outside an OT with my insides threatening to explode into a debris of crumbling nerves or whatever gore insides explode to, I noticed this short inspirational sign board.
I am not sure about the origins of this, but don't the lines about a patient can offer you no higher tribute that to entrust you with his life and his health and by implication with the happiness of all his family move you ? Like really move you ?
Now, if you have ever sat next to me on a bar stool you would have heard my loopy rant on what are 'real' jobs and those made up things wise guys in corner offices come up with. The real jobs, ever since division of labor and all that economics 101 jargon got spewed out, in my limited wisdom are
Farming - feeding us allSoldiering and policing - helping us not get pummeled by the biggest guy in the neighborhoodMedical practitioners and researchers - helping us stay alive before we dieFiremen and rescue services - Risking their own lives for the lives of others. Stupid but heroic.Scientists with crazy hairdos - Taking long shots for a better futureThe guys who come up with different types of Beer.I may have missed out on a few, but any other job description, especially the ones that 'add value ' in some important sounding supply chain are largely made up to help things be done more efficiently.
But what about the soul Parab?
As far as artists go, sure they help our souls, elevate our thoughts but when stuck in an island with limited space on a boat and you having to choose between a tiger and a goat, I would rather be my own entertainer and get a farmer dude along with me. Just in case. Or a Victoria Secret model.
Sports ? I know I am being brutal here, but again in the strict sense our lives no longer depend on how fast we run over a 100 meters or how cleverly we cut a ball over third man's head.
No offense intended. I am guilty of double murder. A marketer (I can't look myself in the mirror) and a writer ( I need longer hair to help me look myself in the mirror)
But here we are. Here we are with our jobs.
Important in our own ways for putting food on the table with the greatness of our purpose being making others look good. These are the cards that have been dealt to us by fate, by circumstance and largely by the choices we make. There is no escape for there are only so many people who are required for the 'real jobs'. And then someone has to do the writing, the coding, the selling, the passing the ball around to make the wheels, the wheels within the wheels go round and round so the world can go around.
Its really not that bad, I figure. A superhero is important for there are so few of him or her.
And so, as I sat outside the OT worrying about family, resigned to fate, and knowing that how badly I could use some distraction. And then those words on the sign board. Brilliant.
Take writing for starters. And while my heart soared when that connection was made, my blood boiled.
For is it not true that a reader while not putting her life in your hands, is putting a few hours of her limited time in reading your work when she can easily give her attention to another book, a movie, or perhaps something else. In that moment, are you not a doctor who can help someone be better? As writers, don't your readers deserve the best that you can put in front of them ?
As an artist, don't you owe it to yourself after you have made a deliberate choice to create? Should you not at least try to raise your work to the highest pinnacle of what you are capable of, if not human endeavor ?
The blood boiled, and it does boil every time I see 'writers' writing a **** all romance for 'it sells'. Every time, as one of the internet forwards go, well meaning trees enjoying their retirement are cut down to print garbage. Every time **** heads claim to be writers, implying by the choice of the self description a bond with men and women from the past who have toiled over hours figuring out how to write, re-write, and re-write till no more word can be made out of a word. And then re-write so if not for an entire length of a book, but for fleeting moments you hit the pinnacle of bloody human capability.
The same with other non real jobs I guess. You may be a techie, a shop floor mechanic, a driver - feel free to lower your tolerance level for the mediocrity around you so in a way, you push yourself in a corner and then push yourself to raise your game to be truly unforgettable. No matter whichever profession you are in.
Ok. Rant over. Happy New Year. Wish over.
Rustom and the Last Storyteller of Almora by Gaurav Parab [Hachette] was listed by the Times of India and Business Standard as one of 5 weekend reads , The Hindu calls it a Genre bender, The Statesman ‘An Almost Perfect Debut, The Lucknow tribune calls it a debut to remember, The Pioneer calls it Cinematic, The Vistara Air inflight magazine a Good Book on the Shelf, the Sakaal times says its ‘sheer brilliance in storytelling’ while the Bangalore Mirror calls it an unforgettable story. It is available in leading bookstores and online here
December 18, 2015
Pune - The Everywhere City for the Everywhere People - Article in The Hindu Business Line
With life being what it is - work, home and good boy Joko always wanting to go for ghoomi ghoomi - it is a challenge to blog let alone act on requests from newspapers and websites.(Ok. Fine. These are far and few in between since I have no idea on how to make India awesome)
I prefer using whatever little time I can manage to work on the second book, which is shaping into a beast that will leave its mark.
But when The Hindu asks you to write about your home town, and when you look at the list of distinguished writers who have contributed to this monthly column, you stay up one night and write. Here is my column on Pune, and how places make us who we are.
Do read more about Pune and Life in the Liminal City Here.
I prefer using whatever little time I can manage to work on the second book, which is shaping into a beast that will leave its mark.
But when The Hindu asks you to write about your home town, and when you look at the list of distinguished writers who have contributed to this monthly column, you stay up one night and write. Here is my column on Pune, and how places make us who we are.
Do read more about Pune and Life in the Liminal City Here.
November 24, 2015
Hodor Reacts to Amir Khan and suggests places better than India for his wife and kids
By Gaurav Parab
Amir Khan's statement on concerns regarding the missus wanting to leave India is so low, and so sickening that it can make even Hodor go, Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor WTF ? What was that fine actor smoking?
Hodor apart, the reported comments were so off the mark, so ill timed and are so dangerous that we should drop the charade and buy whichever movie, T.V serial or Snap Deal sale the talented Amir is promoting to avoid him the trouble of such manipulative PR stunts in the future.
This is what Amir and team are counting on to happen. This is the week that is to come and dominate the headlines.Geniuses.
Day 1. Someone from the Right will respond. Asking AK to go to Pakistan, reportedly a peaceful, tolerant country.
Day 2. To respond to the response, some clever marketing person in AK's team will make Amir say, "See I told you so?'
Day 3. Some other actor / writer will respond to the situation saying ' See I told you. You did not even spare Amir Khan only because he is....
Day 4 Some other wise guy will say if he had been a Hindu actor then he would have got a Bharat Ratna, Param Vir Chakra, Victoria Cross, Purple Heart, Noble Prize, Ig Noble Prize, Oscar, Raspberry and what not.
Day 5 Some motormouth from the right will respond. AIB will do a brilliant comedy sketch. (The only thing to look forward to)
Day 6 There will be an unrelated tragic incident which will be hashtagged #communal.
Every writer will say, See I told you so. Conveniently ignoring the play of mathematics, and intolerance that has been a part of us as well as other societies (cliche about time immemorial alert) since time immemorial.
Day 7 Movie/TV Serial/ Sale announced.
But I am not going to be critical of Amir. In fact, I am going to be constructive, tolerant and suggest some options where if the need arises - Amir's family can move with the child since they are so concerned.
USA - Good place. But since we want the kids to be safe, heard of the 14 year old Muslim boy who was thrown in jail for being a terrorist since he had a Muslim name and had built a clock. Very tolerant.
Afghanistan - Job security guaranteed for kids. The only way to not being killed is to become a child soldier. Free National Geographic cover guaranteed
Bangladesh - Kid can do anything, as long as it is not blogging. And hopefully not Hindu.
Belgium - Nice chocolates. But you need to be careful. The city of brussels don't like anyone from Molenbeek . And your skin color and second name by default makes you a trouble maker.
Canada - Otherwise very brilliant and has a great looking Prime Minister. But advise the kid to not to join the defense forces. Where a minority Defence Minister was racially abused by an officer.
Denmark - Not too welcoming of immigrants, Lions , your religion and very very cold
Egypt - Extremely, extremely tolerant of brotherhoods, religions and kids will enjoy all the Mummies. But has a gigantic religion and crime problem.
Germany: Sometimes you might have to run through the town for being an Indian after being chased by mobs. Make sure your kid runs well and knows someone who owns a Pizzeria
Hungary : Among other things, your kid may not be able to marry a Roma. Just saying since you and your wife are a perfect example of inter-religious marriage;
Iceland: If the cold does not get you, the bullying might. Avoid.
Nigeria: Got two words for you. Boko Haram
North Korea - Very tolerant of everything, as long as you have one of these state approved haircuts.
Pakistan: LOL
Qatar: Good work opportunity. Indian - Check. Kid - Check. Can work on Football stadium for World Cup- Check
Spain: Very nice, but you might want to revisit the kid's clubbing plans.
Turkey; You are fine as long as you are not from Africa, China, India and other non-Turkey countries
Okay, I am tired. The examples from around the world run into the thousands, and are much more severe and tragic than the incidents listed or what has happened over a long time in India. Was really not expecting Amir Khan to stoop this low. Had planned to stop writing on this issue post this but had to say something as Amir's statement was annoying, lame, ill timed, loaded, selfish, nasty, untrue, meant to provoke, poorly crafted, reminded me of flat beer, toilet skid mark, nail noise on blackboard, that single nail some men grow really long for some reason- and what not. Beyond a point in time, these so called intelligentsia have to stop being childish to say things designed only to provoke a response, a response that is further listed as an example on intolerance to keep the so called issue burning.
Call me intolerant about this, but I have had enough of these folks calling India intolerant.
Amir Khan's statement on concerns regarding the missus wanting to leave India is so low, and so sickening that it can make even Hodor go, Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor WTF ? What was that fine actor smoking?
Hodor apart, the reported comments were so off the mark, so ill timed and are so dangerous that we should drop the charade and buy whichever movie, T.V serial or Snap Deal sale the talented Amir is promoting to avoid him the trouble of such manipulative PR stunts in the future.
This is what Amir and team are counting on to happen. This is the week that is to come and dominate the headlines.Geniuses.
Day 1. Someone from the Right will respond. Asking AK to go to Pakistan, reportedly a peaceful, tolerant country.
Day 2. To respond to the response, some clever marketing person in AK's team will make Amir say, "See I told you so?'
Day 3. Some other actor / writer will respond to the situation saying ' See I told you. You did not even spare Amir Khan only because he is....
Day 4 Some other wise guy will say if he had been a Hindu actor then he would have got a Bharat Ratna, Param Vir Chakra, Victoria Cross, Purple Heart, Noble Prize, Ig Noble Prize, Oscar, Raspberry and what not.
Day 5 Some motormouth from the right will respond. AIB will do a brilliant comedy sketch. (The only thing to look forward to)
Day 6 There will be an unrelated tragic incident which will be hashtagged #communal.
Every writer will say, See I told you so. Conveniently ignoring the play of mathematics, and intolerance that has been a part of us as well as other societies (cliche about time immemorial alert) since time immemorial.
Day 7 Movie/TV Serial/ Sale announced.
But I am not going to be critical of Amir. In fact, I am going to be constructive, tolerant and suggest some options where if the need arises - Amir's family can move with the child since they are so concerned.
USA - Good place. But since we want the kids to be safe, heard of the 14 year old Muslim boy who was thrown in jail for being a terrorist since he had a Muslim name and had built a clock. Very tolerant.
Afghanistan - Job security guaranteed for kids. The only way to not being killed is to become a child soldier. Free National Geographic cover guaranteed
Bangladesh - Kid can do anything, as long as it is not blogging. And hopefully not Hindu.
Belgium - Nice chocolates. But you need to be careful. The city of brussels don't like anyone from Molenbeek . And your skin color and second name by default makes you a trouble maker.
Canada - Otherwise very brilliant and has a great looking Prime Minister. But advise the kid to not to join the defense forces. Where a minority Defence Minister was racially abused by an officer.
Denmark - Not too welcoming of immigrants, Lions , your religion and very very cold
Egypt - Extremely, extremely tolerant of brotherhoods, religions and kids will enjoy all the Mummies. But has a gigantic religion and crime problem.
Germany: Sometimes you might have to run through the town for being an Indian after being chased by mobs. Make sure your kid runs well and knows someone who owns a Pizzeria
Hungary : Among other things, your kid may not be able to marry a Roma. Just saying since you and your wife are a perfect example of inter-religious marriage;
Iceland: If the cold does not get you, the bullying might. Avoid.
Nigeria: Got two words for you. Boko Haram
North Korea - Very tolerant of everything, as long as you have one of these state approved haircuts.
Pakistan: LOL
Qatar: Good work opportunity. Indian - Check. Kid - Check. Can work on Football stadium for World Cup- Check
Spain: Very nice, but you might want to revisit the kid's clubbing plans.
Turkey; You are fine as long as you are not from Africa, China, India and other non-Turkey countries
Okay, I am tired. The examples from around the world run into the thousands, and are much more severe and tragic than the incidents listed or what has happened over a long time in India. Was really not expecting Amir Khan to stoop this low. Had planned to stop writing on this issue post this but had to say something as Amir's statement was annoying, lame, ill timed, loaded, selfish, nasty, untrue, meant to provoke, poorly crafted, reminded me of flat beer, toilet skid mark, nail noise on blackboard, that single nail some men grow really long for some reason- and what not. Beyond a point in time, these so called intelligentsia have to stop being childish to say things designed only to provoke a response, a response that is further listed as an example on intolerance to keep the so called issue burning.
Call me intolerant about this, but I have had enough of these folks calling India intolerant.
November 21, 2015
Phantom Sweet Cigarettes - The Best Time Machine Ever
This blog was first published here
By Gaurav Parab
As children, we always believed that we will stay kids forever. The timelessness of every single day floated lightly , existence effortlessly swinging between the playground and classroom. We were fine as long as we cleared those pesky exams and did not bust our heads open while tearing down the slopes on our BSA cycles. Elders took care of everything else. That was the deal life handed to us.
Then adolescence peeked from around an unmarked corner and a thought that it just might be brilliant to grow up took shape. We needed to change and so we started looking around. For the first time we noticed those cool older kids from out of town, mostly visiting cousins of friends. Some wore red bandannas. Some wore smug looks brought on by the fact that their reckless fathers did not mind them taking the rickety Bajaj Chetak for a swing . And some plain delightful badasses who smoked behind the badminton court; waiting for a younger kid to see them, so they could coolly throw the butt on the ground; and crush it under their Action shoes. Slowly. Deliberately. Far off look in their eyes. Like only crazy cats can do.
Cigarettes. We were told they were bad. Smoking gave you every disease ever given, and put you on a one way trip through the darkest, fiercest, most foul smelling hell that even Skeletor would avoid.
Was there an easy way to do this as a twelve year old?
Enter Phantom Sweet Cigarettes. My god, those beautiful Phantom Sweet Cigarettes. With that cool goggle wearing dude, with a beard that only God could have thought of. What was the matter with that stranger on the packet? Was there a jungle to be saved? Was he worried that he did not feed Devil in time?
Phantom. A sweet ride that took you from being a scrawny, shy kid to a cool gangster with a blonde by his arm. Let it hang loosely on your lower lip, Parab. Yeah. Thats the way.
Today, as not so young adults, with the shadow of middle age growing longer every moment the tables have turned. Now, we do many things that help us be kids again. With ignorance no longer an ally, and realization of growing old strong and steady; some of our attempts to be young are forced and well…clichéd. Expensive trips to ocean resorts to ‘let our hair down’, weekend sessions of cricket wearing fancy gear, gliding down early morning roads on our alloy Schwinn cycles, and playing Monopoly while being sloshed with expensive liquor.
These things may make life as grownups more enjoyable, but they can never truly make us fee like kids again.
Recently, I chanced upon them holy as god Phantom Sweet Cigarettes again, thanks to the missus who could never get over them (Maybe that is the secret to her almost inexhaustible childlike joy). Sure, every now and then one comes across sweets from our childhood. Those gorgeous Kismi Toffee bars, those heavenly Lactokings, the no-nonsense dollars, and the really timeless Melody Chocolates– but there is something unique about a Phantom Sweet Cigarette. There really is something about it. Sigh.
As I write this, I am a picture of contradiction, a glass of the finest Scotch in my left hand, a pack of Sweet Cigarette in my right. And sure like clockwork, after I flip open the pack and put one in my mouth - I am moved to moments and memories from far far ago. And a child long long dead, awakes.
When we were kids, Phantom made us feel like adults; brow knit and mouth puckered; thinking about big grown up problems. And today, as adults – it reminds me of what it was like to be a kid once. Taking on the wind on , playing carefree with ghosts from that past, eating what only a mother can make, and living heaven all over again. All over again.
Phantom, you beauty. A time machine. That’s what you are.
Gaurav Parab is the author of Rustom and the Last Storyteller of Almora , the story of a man child on the run. Rustom and the Last Storyteller of Almora by Gaurav Parab [Hachette] was listed by the Times of India and Business Standard as one of 5 weekend reads , The Hindu calls it a Genre bender, The Statesman ‘An Almost Perfect Debut, The Lucknow tribune calls it a debut to remember, The Pioneer calls it Cinematic, The Vistara Air inflight magazine a Good Book on the Shelf, the Sakaal times says its ‘sheer brilliance in storytelling’ while the Bangalore Mirror calls it an unforgettable story. It is available in leading bookstores and online here
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November 13, 2015
Tolerance and Intolerance - A non award winning (but extremely good looking) writer's perspective
Image Courtesy Wikipedia commons. Two perfectly tolerant citizens of Jokoland
I remember an evening from back in school when a bhaiya called our class to share some ragda.(Seniors in school were called bhaiyas. No stereotyping intended and no award wapsi requested). While the rest of the class were asked to take 'murga' position, my stiff back came in the way of an elegant murga (Again, pure medical reasons. Not to be confused with right wing vegetarian preferences) So I softly asked if push ups in lieu would work. Please ?
He couldn't care less as he fondly looked at the hockey stick in his hand and measured the arc he will have to take to land it perfectly on the asses* from Rajasthan in the first row. (* Bums of my best buddies, primarily from Rajasthan. No award wapsi please. Dibakar Banerjee, you especially. You brilliant creative genius and otherwise idiot, please do not return someone else's award)
I was young and push ups were easy. So while I continued, pleased with myself, the Oohs and Aahs from my classmates dealing with their personal Murga situation started bothering me. It is after all a difficult position. Legs straight. Body bent at the waist. Hands through the legs holding the ears.
I was getting off easy. We were in it together. This would not do. I felt guilty.
And so to share the pain I started doing push ups on my knuckles. When my turn to get introduced to the hockey stick came, Bhaiya cocked his head as he tried to figure out the whole knuckle thing. He had the wisdom one develops after getting ragda for years- so he understood that I was escalating my own punishment out of a sense of camaraderie. Visibly impressed, he whacked me harder for trying to be a wise guy.
My limited point is that some of us love to feel guilty. Satyameva Jayete, but nothing Jayetes like an apology.
I have had it with the whole apology situation.
If you like to feel sorry for evil done by fellow citizens, don't feel sorry on my behalf. If it is shit I haven't done, I am not going to be claiming the stink. Behind the cries of intolerance is condescending behavior towards the minorities and apologies for what a few hotheads and crazies have done or said. Count me out.
No Muslim should bear the burden of responsibility for what fundamental groups do. He should not be feeling sorry for the next outrageous stunt that a Taliban or an ISIS pulls out, and no one should ask them to introspect and move towards a moderate version of their religion. Each person is responsible for his own life. Similarly, behind the clever word play about the country becoming intolerant - is the accusation that Hindus are intolerant. There I said it. Secular. Communal. You do not fool me. I am not sorry, for I am who I was a year ago. You do your own murga. I will do the push ups if I feel like doing them.
Now, that is out of the way, I do have a blog to fill and apart from my first limited point about collective responsibility, I have other points on the intolerance issue that I would like to share. (Feel free to skip them and directly buy my book - the ultimate point of it all for artists)
Point 1: Yes, we are a messed up intolerant country.
No denying it. I agree. I will be the first to do a murga if someone claims otherwise.
Point 2: So is every other country in the world.
Except for Jokoland - a country made up of fanatic face licking labradors.
For every news article and shrill debate on television about how messed up we are, almost every person in every country- deals with intolerance of varying degrees.
Arree Bacha log, give India some credit. This is a wonderful country. Every one in six humans is Indian. We are not a sub-continent. We are a sub-world. Mathematically, a whole lot of the good and the bad that will happen around the world will have an Indian connection. As my maths teacher would always say before hitting me with that darn Camlin ruler, HIPS MATHS DONT LIE.
Smaller countries, countries with populations that will fit into a Mumbai local train with space left for the dabbawallas have registered far more intolerance, ethnic divides, riots, massacres, Justin Beibers than India has or perhaps ever will. Right wing neo nazis still pull off a massacre or two in those ball freezing peaceful Nordics. Every smiling picture below the Eiffel tower has folks in the background mistrusting the immigrants, or mistrusting the French spellings. Remember Australia, America, UK, Russia? The middle east is the middle east . South Africa can't stand knockout games in ICC trophies. Those laughing Buddhists from Burma are not as cute like you expect them to be when their tummies are rubbed.
We are not a monster country. In spite of being monstrously large and complex. Period.
In fact, we are much better off than the rest of the five non Indian folks on the planet. If every ridiculous comment or even the most deplorable violence is thought of as a sum of parts - as opposed to cases of humans being evil humans then you are doing a great disservice to what has been created here. I will not bore you with the number of dialects, religions, casts, subcasts, types of dosas as you are likely aware of the complexity at play in India.
If you are going to be taking these looneys seriously, link everything out of proportion, write petitions out of convenience, shout vague accusations and zero solutions from rooftops - then you should know there is no place in the world without an intolerance problem. We can all move to Mordor. Nice and peaceful, surrounded by mountains, a place where only rings are burnt.
Point 3: The country is no way at its intolerant peak
I understand that this is a loaded statement. There is both hope and danger in this observation. But truth be told, we are no more intolerant in our own history today than we were yesterday.I respect the fact that some artists and folks who say we are getting intolerant are worried about the future while extrapolating recent incidents. This sentiment is fine by me. But if the past is anything to go by, we always find a way. Worst case, we will have to send back Make in India desi terminators in 2030 to fix things.
Examples from the past have been provided ad-nauseum. You know them. So if you are so particular about tolerance, how did you overlook them then? Something does not add up. Maths don't lie.
Point 4: Confession. I like to make numbered bullet lists.
Point 5: People are up to mischief. Everyone. Right Wing. Left Wing. Fuselage.
This is good in a strange sort of forward looking way, but bad in a very nasty way.
I did say that we are no less or more tolerant than anyplace else, which brings me to an important point supporting what I hope is the bigger sentiment behind the protests.
We have a reason to protect what we have.
To the credit of all these writers, this whole hue and cry strangely helps because the right wing (across religions) now know that even if politically motivated, foreign fund driven, due to eating Chinese noodles or whatever - the country does not take shit if we try hanky panky. The voice that we have found protects the future and can be thought of as a pre-emptive strike to stop any misguided escallations.
So, then you confused writer. Shouldn't we be protesting harder? Parab, I notice you have an Arab in your name.
No, everything in the world should have a balance to it. This disproportionate response from leftist, rightist, center forwards from football will and has sharply divided the country. It is like digging a finger into wounds long closed. The Hindus think 'Oh My God. Nothing has changed but they are calling us ISS and the Muslims say Here we go again. Why is it always us?
Our intolerant response to the intolerance has brought the fault lines in the open. Those who think it is a good thing, lets talk about it, put up a tent and do an aman ki aasha samelan - it is NOT. Fault lines always exist. Civilizations have dealt with it for thousands of years. Conflict across eras burns bright like the Sun. Peace is the morning dew. Fleeting, transitional, temporary.
Put two people together, similar or different - they will have issues. Anywhere in the world. People are messed up. Remember that real real people like you and like me made Prem Ratan Dhan Payo.
Peace is achieved by talking about how brilliant the weather is not about faint lip stick stains on a collar. You did this. You did that. Sure, lets talk about it. But also talk about other important things happening around. Big Boss 9. Kohli Anushka. ISRO ke rocket. Stuff flying out of Arnab Goswami's nose. Balance.
To conclude, keep the peace in these super charged times and don't you go joining your own mobs. Like a friend of mine ( A Muslim, if you insist) mentioned on Facebook - I see NEWS channels. I see India intolerant and burning. I see social media. I see India on fire and fuming. I step out of my house and I see all friendly faces and smiles. Wondering where is the GAP?
Then someone responded to his post saying, your info is limited to yourself and open your eyes and you will see lot more than smiles (This was a Hindu by the way)
Two statements which are both correct in this nation of contradictions. Two wonderful thoughts with the speakers reversed from what you would expect in any other society or country. This is what makes us wonderful. This is our twisted, ancient, brilliant, tolerant, open minded culture. This, and I look towards the sky dramatically before kicking the air and shouting, THIS IS INDIA.
Have your own opinion. Do not be influenced. Remember, everyone has an axe to grind. The media, the politicians, the artists. Especially the artists. Give yourself and your country some credit. Agree or disagree - but make that choice using your own wisdom and not what is the flavor of the season. Do not trust anyone. Do not trust me. I may not have an award to return, but I may have a book to sell ? Ok ?
Rustom and the Last Storyteller of Almora by Gaurav Parab [Hachette] was listed by the Times of India and Business Standard as one of 5 weekend reads , The Hindu calls it a Genre bender, The Statesman ‘An Almost Perfect Debut, The Lucknow tribune calls it a debut to remember, The Pioneer calls it Cinematic, The Vistara Air inflight magazine a Good Book on the Shelf, the Sakaal times says its ‘sheer brilliance in storytelling’ while the Bangalore Mirror calls it an unforgettable story. It is available in leading bookstores and online here
October 4, 2015
Tata Crucible We Meet Again
My dad would always come to Tata Crucible every time I participated. He would sit at the back and at the end of the prelims would tell how many answers he got right ( And he was as brilliant as anyone on the stage).When I won the Campus Edition twice at Pune with an old friend, Dad had even come to Mumbai to watch the finals from his chair at the back. Last year, I could not participate in Crucible as I was on an overseas trip during the Pune edition and I had to cut the trip short and return for he was no more.Correction. He is always with me. Sitting there at the back.Early this year in January, I made two promises to myself. One was around the book, and the other was winning Crucible Pune this year for him. The book came out, and in September won Crucible's Pune with a fantastic, rockstar quizzer Mehul Jain. I had worn my dad's watch as a good luck charm ( a fastrack which I had gifted to him after winning crucibles in the past) and wrote his name at the corner of the sheet once we were on stage.As it became clear that we were going to win (deep inside, it was evident to me before we even started) i saw him again at the back of the room and had to control myself and avoid breaking down on national television.One of the reasons I enjoy quizzing, apart from the money it brings in, is that strange feeling one gets when the folks in the crowd encourage you. I have been fortunate enough to have a lot of friends, who even if they find quizzing boring, turn up to encourage me and enjoy the free snacks. I hope you can make it as I take another shot at the elusive National crown. Next Sunday, me, Mehul and my dad will be competing in the Zonal Round at Taj Lands End in Mumbai at 4 pm. I hope to see you there. And if the right me turns up (Mehul is always fantastic) we might return for the Nationals the week after.
This is a quick blog from 3 years ago on my search for redemption at Tata Crucible.
August 13, 2015
Being at Cornell University and Bagdora airport at the same time
Thanks to Kunal Raj for this image
Being at Cornell University and Bagdora airport at the same time How writing a book let my mind transcend By Gaurav Parab
I recently learned that the Cornell University Library has Rustom and the Last Storyteller of Almora now available as part of the English literature catalogue in the iconic Kroch Asia collection. Imagine that, I told myself.
While I will like to believe that this is because the book is good and the librarian has great taste – the reason behind its presence on a shelf at such a historic place could be something more mundane – like a donation, or maybe a good salesman that pushed it across with more significant work. Who knows or who cares? What really blows my mind and fascinates me to no end is how art allows the mind to travel. This discovery also gives an answer to questions I have struggled with ever since Rustom and all those horses in my mind bolted. ‘How does it feel? What really inspired me to write? Why did I put myself through this?’
Typically, I reply with a shrug. A smug ‘I really don’t care’ look. Not because of a supersized ego, or any poetic reason a better writer can string together, but because it really feels like nothing. The sales. The feedback. The reviews. The newspapers. The excitement in some voices when they discuss the book or diss it. I shrug. The physical translation of an emotion, any emotion to be more precise, that does not exist inside of me.
Why this lack of a response? Maybe a part of me knew that the book will work out and this is but an anti-climax, the playing of situations already played out in my mind. Or maybe the way I am wired lets me call upon only limited set of emotions. Who knows? But the Cornell discovery, and insignificant things like a friend reading an inflight magazine review, and I running into the book in a hotel someplace, and when a reader shared a picture of a Rustom sticker on the New York Public Library’s currently reading wall – these are the things that thrill me. Move me in ways I cannot describe. It’s the travel I guess. The splitting of my mind into little sheets, bound together with a fancy cover that lets me exist beyond wherever I am. The distances the book moves, taking my soul with it when my body cannot. Its mere existence – celebrated or ignored in the homes of strangers. That’s where the kick lies. That’s when no in the nothing is erased. That’s when a disinterested shrug dies, and a shiver running across my mind is born. When that complete stranger, a pretty brunette with thick glasses I would like to imagine, picks up a copy of the book in a university or airport somewhere and for a brief moment of time we share the same mind and thoughts.
I know I have written about this earlier, but I can still not get over how writing or any act of creation provides us the opportunity to transcend physical distances and time. To have your own thoughts, brilliant or otherwise - spawned originally in one place now finding rebirth across oceans is what the creative journey is all about. A song that comes to your mind late at night, now being sung by someone else in another pin code.
Do art. Seriously, go create. It makes it all worthwhile. This ability to have your work take wings is why one should write, sing, paint and mould shapes out of thin air. The one simple cure to live beyond your years.
You can pick a copy of Rustom and the Last Storyteller of Almora here.
Rustom and the Last Storyteller of Almora by Gaurav Parab [Hachette] was listed by the Times of India and Business Standard as one of 5 weekend reads , The Hindu calls it a Genre bender, The Statesman ‘An Almost Perfect Debut, The Lucknow tribune calls it a debut to remember, The Pioneer calls it Cinematic, The Vistara Air inflight magazine a Good Book on the Shelf, the Sakaal times says its ‘sheer brilliance in storytelling’ while the Bangalore Mirror calls it an unforgettable story. It is available in leading bookstores and online here
