Nov 3 2020

Zero Bridge & The Hanging River : Book Review

Zero Bridge & The Hanging River is a story of a teenager who is smitten by a charming girl in her class. His repeated efforts to come close to her are so simple and adorable. They fill the heart of readers with warmth and affection.

As story progress, abrupt events of destiny adds new dimensions to his journey.

Reader’s get connected immediately with the protagonist. They will start breathing the life of the young teenager, and may often see a reflection of themselves in him.

It is an emotive roller coaster bumpy ride with romantic, dreamy, heartwarming and intense soul searching moments

Zero Bridge and the Jhelum river have been beautifully used as metaphors to give depth and meaning into the contemporary life of the characters.

It’s a true reflection of the fact that all of us are connected with our past traditions. We need to understand and recognise them to understand our present.

It’s heartening to see the protagonist finding the answers of his complex problems while getting connected with Zero Bridge and looking into the river Jhelum.

Author has been successful in talking the readers into an inward journey and ask questions. Some of them may get answerd and some may remain hung, to be answered by the destiny.

Grab your copy now !

Link is here

About Author

Dinkar Chopra is a good friend, and amazing human being. Science graduate from Delhi University with vast experience in corporate world at different managerial positions. An energetic, upbeat leader with excellent verbal, written and presentation skills.

Oct 23 2020

Mutual Possession of the Ten Worlds

A Beautiful story that will touch and warm up your heart.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqT7Y5GDOyX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

A man who has gone out of his town comes back and finds that his house is on fire.

It was one of the most beautiful houses in the town, and the man loved the house the most. Many were ready to give double price for the house, but he had never agreed for any price and now it is just burning before his eyes.

And thousands of people have gathered, but nothing can be done, the fire has spread so far that even if you try to put it out, nothing will be saved. So he becomes very sad.

His son comes running and whispers something in his ear:

“Don’t be worried. I sold it yesterday and at a very good price ― three times.

The offer was so good I could not wait for you. Forgive me.”

Father said, “thank God, it’s not ours now!” Then the father is relaxed and became a silent watcher, just like 1000s of other watchers.

Please think about it!

Just a moment before he was not a watcher, he was attached.

It is the same house….the same fire…. everything is the same…but now he is not concerned. In fact started enjoying it just as everybody else in the crowd.

Then the second son comes running, and he says to the father, “What are you doing? You are smiling ― and the house is on fire?” The father said, “Don’t you know, your brother has sold it.”

He said, “We have taken only advance amount, not settled fully. I doubt now that the man is going to purchase it now.”

Again, everything changes!!

Tears which had disappeared, have come back to the father’s eyes, his smile is no more there, his heart is beating fast. The ‘watcher’ is gone. He is again attached.

And then the third son comes, and he says, “That man is a man of his word. I have just come from him. He said, ‘It doesn’t matter whether the house is burnt or not, it is mine. And I am going to pay the price that I have settled for. Neither you knew, nor I knew that the house would catch on fire.'”

Again the joy is back and family became ‘watchers’! The attachment is no more there.

Actually nothing is changing!

Just the feeling that “I am the owner! I am not the owner of the house!” makes the whole difference.

The Moral

This simple methodology of watching the mind, That you have nothing to do with it.

Everything starts with a Thought!

Most of the thoughts are not yours but from your parents, your teachers, your friends, the books, the movies, the television, the newspapers.

Just count how many thoughts are your own, and you will be surprised that not a single thought is your own. All are from other sources, all are borrowed ― either dumped by others on you, or foolishly dumped by yourself upon yourself, but nothing is yours.

Sow a thought, you reap an action.

Sow an act, you reap a habit.

Sow a habit, you reap a character.

Sow a character, you reap a destiny.

Stay Blessed ❤️

Oct 2 2020

Letting Go of the Past : Monk and the Burden

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlCyWuagvCQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Two MONKS were walking from their monastery to another one nearby. One was an old wise monk and the other was a novice, an apprentice monk. As they walked in silence, they came across a river. Unseasonal rains had caused the river to run high. On the banks of the river was a young lady in a kimono, not sure whether it was safe for her to cross. When she saw the two monks, she looked relived and asked for help.

The young monk was aghast. He exclaimed, ‘Don’t you see that I am a monk? I took a vow of chastity.’ ‘I require nothing from you that could impede your vow, but simply a little help to cross the river,’ the young woman replied with a smile. ‘I will not . . . I can . . . do nothing for you,’ said the embarrassed young monk.

At this point, the elderly monk stepped forward and said, ‘Climb on to my back and I’ll help you cross.’ Upon reaching the other side, the old monk put the lady down. She thanked him and he responded with a ‘welcome’. With that, he started walking towards his destination.

The young apprentice was agitated. ‘How could you do this? This is against our order. You are supposed to be my mentor. You are supposed to show me the way. When we return, I am going to ask them to change my mentor.’

The young monk went on and on till they reached the next monastery.

On reaching the gate, the old monk paused, looked at the young monk and said, ‘I did carry the lady, but I put her down on the banks of the river. It seems like you are still carrying her.’

The empathy of the old monk to put the needs of the maiden before his own spiritual practice, and his spiritual ability to then let go of the fact that he had strayed from the path of his spiritual commitment, without feeling guilty, is a lesson for all of us.

We mustn’t allow our past actions to affect our current life, because letting go of the past is necessary to truly thrive our future.

Jun 16 2019

Dhanushkodi – The Ghost Town

“For those fortunate souls who constantly and directly see the beautiful form of Rama , crores of holy rivers are present at Dhanushkoti (the tip of Rama’s bow) itself, rivers like Ganga with its sources at the Lord’s feet and the Kaveri deriving its glory from shri Ranganatha; why should one wander from place to place (on tirtha yatra)?”

Dhanushkodi, a place 20 km away from the main town of Rameshwaram, is the place where you can see the Ram Setu. Dhanushkodi is the place where the wonders of nature and man become one. A place surrounded with mystery, ghost stories and myths.

Way to Dhanuskodi from Rameshwaram

Meeting point of Bay Of Bengal & Indian Ocean

The town is stark and empty – stripped of life and the barrenness. It was the 21st of December, 1964. 55 years ago, a disaster hit the little port town of Dhanushkodi swallowing the town and taking many lives. The Pamban Dhanushkodi Passenger train which left Pamban with 110 passengers and 5 members of the railway staff was hit by the high tidal waves and the whole train got submerged under water killing all 115 passengers. As a result, the little town which was once a tourist spot with several pilgrims and fishermen, was reduced to ruins. Skeletal remains of a church and a temple along with some crumbled walls of homes lie scattered on the sands. There is hardly any ruin in the town – just some broken and fragmented bricks.

Mar 29 2015

Road to Leh – Kargil War Memorial, Dras

kargil

The then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared Operation Vijay (Kargil War) a success and by July 26, 1999 Kargil War officially came to an end as the Indian Army announced complete eviction of Pakistani intruders.

Every year, special functions are organised at Kargil and Drass in Jammu and Kashmir to pay tribute and homage to the 527 slain Indian soldiers, the Kargil War’s heroes.

The special thing about the War memorial is that it has been built on the theme of the India Gate.

The briefing at the Kargil War Memorial. Listening to the stories about operation Vijay and the brave Army men one wants to be a solider right away. A must stop when traveling from Srinagar to Leh. Do stop and pay your respects. …

kargil

mig

With : Harish Bhargava, Letsleh

Mar 28 2015

Road to Leh – Lamayuru

Lamayuru, the first view as you approach from Kargil on NH1 towards Leh.

While Manali Leh highway is adventurous. The Srinagar to Leh road is scenic, has a better support system, great stay options and is easier in terms of acclimatize.

With : Harish Bhargava & LetsLeh

Mar 25 2015

Finalists announced for The Man Booker International Prize 2015

The Man Booker International Prize recognises one writer for his or her achievement in fiction. Worth £60,000 to the winner, the prize is awarded every two years to a living author who has published fiction either originally in English or whose work is generally available in translation in the English language.
The ten authors under consideration for this 2015 prize are:

César Aira (Argentina)
Hoda Barakat (Lebanon)
Maryse Condé (Guadeloupe)
Mia Couto (Mozambique)
Amitav Ghosh (India)
Fanny Howe (United States of America)
Ibrahim al-Koni (Libya)
László Krasznahorkai (Hungary)
Alain Mabanckou (Republic of Congo)
Marlene van Niekerk (South Africa)

The finalists were announced at the University of Cape Town in South Africa by the chair of judges, Professor Marina Warner, who commented:
‘The judges have had an exhilarating experience reading for this prize; we have ranged across the world and entered the vision of writers who offer an extraordinary variety of experiences. Fiction can enlarge the world for us all and stretch our understanding and our sympathy. The novel today is in fine form: as a field of inquiry, a tribunal of history, a map of the heart, a probe of the psyche, a stimulus to thought, a well of pleasure and a laboratory of language. Truly, we feel closer to the tree of knowledge.’
Previous winners have been Lydia Davis (2013), Philip Roth (2011), Alice Munro (2009), Chinua Achebe (2007) and Ismail Kadare (2005).

The 2015 winner will be announced in London on 19 May.

Feb 23 2015

Restaurant Review: Tesoro Mio, Preet Vihar, New Delhi – 4.5/5 Star

Hidden Gem.. really .. if you disagree.. read more than 200 positive reviews and more than 400 votes.
After long time I have seen such a peaceful place to eat. ( because there is no Bar ) Each nick and corner is decorated with passion and tastefully. Seating is comfortable and staff is humble and attentive.
They serve not only Italian but also serve Chinese, Mexican and Indian. I ordered several veg dishes and surprised with the authenticity of the taste.

Credit goes to the management who are so passionate about food business. Thumps Up !!

Writing a good review is not my cup of tea , but my photos speaks better than words 🙂 because I only shoot Tasty Food ….

Reply from Management of Tesoro Mio

Thru ur lens .. One can capture ur intense study of each dish n drink *Red never seemed so redder when seen in a berry cool drink *Salsa looked tangier in that dip dish *Never seen people thru caribbean sunrise glass even *the straws were twisting and turning at the click of your camera *all shades of bell pepper in the salad and paprika on hummus seemed to come alive you even did justice to our dressings the best is you evn captured our diya kept in a corner.. Thnxzs sir ..it was a pleasure sitting with you n seeing you click random pics ..they have come out real well.. Hats off sir

– Nandini Narula

Location : G 13, Top Floor, Opposite Metro Pillar 106, Preet Vihar, Vikas Marg, New Delhi