I got an opportunity to ask Sam Miller, the author of famous book on Delhi ‘Delhi: Adventures in a Megacity’, some questions on our common favourite subject ‘Delhi’. His candid answers show the clarity he has on Delhi and his relationship with the city. 1. You have seen and researched many aspects of Delhi, both past and present. Which aspect of Delhi fascinates you the most and why? I’m ultimately most interested in the future of Delhi – in [...]
Stories of Indian homes, where live some very common men and women in the most mundane ways. Somewhere among them are the people who we know are there, but never stop by to see them and listen their stories. Nighat Gandhi has picked up people from around us, and showed us a day in their lives, a day sometimes usual and sometimes not so usual. Stories take you through a day in the life of a Christian girl working in [...]
A bibliophile’s dream is a room full of books. Books from floor to the ceiling, the smell of paper, some light to read, if you think that is all they need, you may not be right. They can go to any extent to collect books that they need, sometimes even criminal. How about a book about book? If you love books, you would probably look forward to one. Till I got my hands on this book, I was not aware [...]
The biographies of all great artists would tell you that they could pursue their creativity only because someone else was shouldering all the burdens for them, someone else was sacrificing their lives for them and they were shamelessly and insensitively taking from these pillars through their lives. Interestingly enough they also get these people in their lives on a platter who were more than willing to do anything to see them succeed. I am not sure if author had this [...]
When you pick up the biography of a musician like Zubin Mehta, you not only want to know about his craft but also about his extraordinary journey of life, as many of us expect it to be unusual and filled with lessons for life. Zubin Mehta has definitely lead a high profile life, living all over the world and conducting music for wide variety of people. Coming from India, the kind of musical career he chose to pursue and pursue [...]
Monologues from the life of a 13-year-old boy, growing up with his parents in a small town in India, give you his complete worldview. The core is the thoughts and actions of the boy living his day-to-day life. Character actors are a pregnant mother, a busy father who happens to be the deputy collector of the town, a media savvy city dweller Masi, the teachers who give assignments that are sometimes interesting, friends who keep coming and going and a [...]