The Kite Runner -- Afghan's First English Novel

Afghan’s first novel to be written in English apparently is a most distinguished beginning. Khaled Hosseini, an Afghan and also the son of a diplomat received political asylum in the United States in 1980. He is a physician, at present, practicing in California.

Hosseini is capable of writing very moving, sentimental prose. But I say he is a bit unsentimental, particularly about people struggling to make a life despite gross adversity. He seems to be very capable of melding the global political issues with the local everyday survival of those caught up in horrendous upheavals and the destruction of their country, livelihoods and families… but I would like to reiterate, he is unsentimental.

This powerful novel tells a story of fierce cruelty and fierce yet redeeming love. Both transform the life of Amir, Khaled Hosseini's privy young narrator, who comes of age during the last peaceful days of the monarchy, just before his country's revolution and its invasion by Russian forces. But political events, even as dramatic as the ones that are presented in ''The Kite Runner,'' are only a part of this story. A more personal plot, arising from Amir’s life who is a privileged member of the dominant Pashtun tribe growing up in affluent Kabul in the Seventies. Hassan is his devoted servant and a member of the oppressed Hazara tribe whose first word was the name of his boy-master. The book focuses on the friendship between the two children and the cruel and shameful sacrifice the rich boy makes of his humble, adoring alter ego to buy the love of his own distant father. 'I ran because I was a coward,' Amir realises, as he bolts from the scene that severs his friendship with Hassan, shatters his childhood and haunts him for the rest of his life. Amir's close friendship with Hassan turns out to be the thread that ties the book together. The fragility of this relationship, symbolised by the kites the boys fly together, is tested as they watch their old way of life disappear. When Amir meets his old antagonist, now a powerful Taliban official, the book descends into some plot twists into a dramatic Hindi movie than a modern novel. But in the end we seem to be won over by Amir's compassion and his determination to atone for his youthful cowardice.

Amir's story is simultaneously devastating and inspiring. His world is a patchwork of the beautiful and horrific, and the book a sharp, unforgettable taste of the trauma and tumult experienced by Afghanis as their country clasped. It's an English (Shakespearean, they say) beginning to an epic tale that spans lives lived across two continents amid political commotion, where dreams wilt before they bud and where a search for a child finally makes a coward into a man.

Hosseini gives us a vivid and engaging story that reminds us how long his people have been struggling to triumph over the forces of violence -- forces that continue to threaten them even today, even now. The Kite Runner is shattering as it speaks about the price of peace, both personal and political, and what we knowingly destroy in our hope of achieving that, be it friends, democracy or ourselves.

A Healthy Relationship ...

Read through this story that I received as a forwarded mail:

When I was a little girl, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. She placed a plate of eggs, sausages, and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his toast, smile at my mom, and ask me how my day was at school.

I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that toast and eat every bite! When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the toast. And I'll never forget what he said: 'Baby, I love burned toast.' Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his toast burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, 'Dipali, your mummy put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burnt toast never hurt anyone!' In bed that night, I thought about that scene at dinner and the kindness my daddy showed my mom. To this day, it's a cherished memory from my childhood that I'll never forget. And it's one that came to mind just recently when Anil and I sat down to eat dinner.

I had arrived home late... as usual... and decided we would have breakfast food for dinner. Some things never change, I suppose! To my amazement, I found the ingredients I needed, and quickly began to cook eggs, salami, and buttered toast. Thinking I had things under control, I glanced through the mail for the day. It was a few minutes later that I remembered that I had forgotten to switch off the toaster! Now, had it been any other day,– I would have had more than two pieces of bread in the entire house and I would have started all over. But it was one of those days and I had just used up the last two pieces of bread. So burnt toast it was!

As I set the plate down in front of Anil, I waited for a comment about the toast. But all I got was a 'Thank you!' I watched as he ate bite by bite, all the time waiting for some comment about the toast. But instead, all Anil said was, 'Dipali, this is great. Thanks for cooking tonight. I know you had a hard day.' As I took a bite of my charred toast that night, I thought about my mom and dad... how burnt toast hadn't been a deal-breaker for them. And I quietly thanked God for giving me a marriage where burnt toast wasn't a deal-breaker either!

You know, life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I'm not the best housekeeper or cook. And you might be surprised to find out that Anil isn't the perfect husband! He likes to play his music too loud, he will always find a way to avoid mowing the lawn, and he watches far too many sports. Believe it or not, watching the India-England Test and screaming "Chuk De India" is not my idea of a great night at home!

But somehow in the past 37 years Anil and I have learned to accept the imperfections in each other. Over time, we have stopped trying to make each other in our own mould and have learned to celebrate our differences. You might say that we've learned to love each other for who we really are! We share the same goals. We love the same things. And we are still best friends.

This story is an example to learn! What I've learnt over the years is that learning to accept one's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences: this is the one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

Think... and Apply!

I came across this somewhere and thought that I should share with all of you Readers…

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. A caring teacher can make all the difference in a child’s life. Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.

That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on separate sheets of papers, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.

On Monday, she gave each student his / her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" she heard someone whisper. "I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!" and, "I didn't know others liked me so much," and so on were the comments.

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.

Several years later, one of the students was killed in Vietnam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature.

The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin
As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. She nodded: "yes." Then he said: "Mark talked about you a lot."

After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher. "We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognise it."

Opening the bill-fold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him. "Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."

All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home."
Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album."

"I have mine too," Marilyn said. "It's in my diary"

Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. "I carry this with me at all times," Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: "I think we all saved our lists"

That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

The density of people in the society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be. So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late. Never be ‘too busy’ for anything / anybody … would this be the VERY first time you did do that little thing that would make a difference in your relationships? Remember: What goes around comes around.

Essel Karnataka's Best Awards - An Overview

Amidst trials and triumphs, up and downs, the Essel Awards initiative has successfully completed one year and five months in Karnataka, winning accolades from all quarters.

When the Chairman of Essel Group and Zee Network, Subhash Chandra mooted the idea of a monthly award to recognise contributions by individuals and institutions in different fields, many scoffed. Critics declared that the initiative would fall flat. But proving all detractors wrong, the initiative not only took off, but also completed its full cycle.

Launched in January 2007, the first in the series of Awards was dedicated to legislators. Over 100 of the 300 legislators were nominated for the Award, and over 80 thousand votes were recorded. The second best response was recorded in July 2007 when the Ministers of Karnataka were awarded. Considering that a decision to launch the Awards was taken only two months earlier, it was an uphill task to verify the antecedents of all the nominees under all categories before placing them before the Jury.

The Jury headed by Justice M F Saldhana selected five winners under different categories. The final choice was left to the people of Karnataka. Congress MLA Shivananda Patil, who turned the face of the State’s most backward constituency Basavana-Bagewadi was selected by the people as Karnataka’s Best Legislator.

Barely, did the first event end when it was time to begin preparations for the second event. The second Award was devoted to Sports. A new set of Jury headed by a retired judge was appointed, a massive hunt was launched for talent from across the State, and an eminent panel short-listed 15 nominees, of which five winners were selected by the Jury.

This process is repeated month after month—appointment of a Jury comprising well known people from the respective field, a State-wide search for deserving nominees, verification of nominations, scrutiny by the Jury and the final selection by the people. The Awards’ ceremonies are held every month.

“The initial months were tough as I was the only person handling the initiative. In due course, I was joined by Surabhi Shastry, followed by Shruthi Rao and Madhusudan V. and for a short while by Gajanana Hegde. This dedicated team is responsible for the success of the Awards,” says Gautham Machaiah who is spearheading the initiative.

The other award categories were Bureaucrats (March), Social Workers (April), Police (May), Legal service (June), Ministers (July), Entrepreneurs (August), Medicine (September), Media (October), Art and Culture (November) and Television (December). After successfully completing one year, Essel Awards continued to roll on to the year 2008 and again honoured young political leaders in January, Sportsmen in February, Bureaucrats in March, NGOs in April and Legal Services in May.

The selection process is so broad based that the winners are a mix of youth and experience, besides representing urban and rural areas. For instance, the Sports Award went to Savitha Goud, the daughter of a vegetable vendor from rural Jamkandhi who won the National Cycling Championship on a borrowed cycle.

The initiative has drawn appreciation from all sections. “Chairman Subhash Chandra deserves kudos for launching this initiative. This will instil a sense of pride in the youth and help build a strong India,” notes one of the Essel Awardees, Captain G. R. Gopinath, Vice-Chairman of Kingfisher Airlines.

The success of the initiative is gauged from the fact that the ministers award received over five lakh votes, creating a record of sorts in Karnataka, where the people’s apathy towards SMS voting is well known.

“The aim of the Essel Awards is to celebrate significant contributions to the society and thereby act as a catalyst in igniting young minds and awakening dormant senses, in order to motivate them to build a vibrant and resurgent India,” Chairman Subhash Chandra sums up.

KRAZZY 4 - A Review...

KRAZZY 4 is about four men who are obsessed with some thing or the other. The crazy four may not have their heads on their shoulders, but their hearts are intact. And they decide to take on the 'bad boys' in their own crazy way to free their kidnapped doctor (Juhi Chawla).

And in doing so, they discover that the outside world is not much different from their hospital. At best, the movie has only a few flashes of good comedy coupled with a gentle dose of patriotism.They have tried their best to convey a social message but have failed miserably.

Rajpal Yadav is very funny. Arshad Warsi is handsome. Irrfan Khan has acted well and Suresh Menon was OK! It's a short movie (two hours and ten minutes) and I strongly feel there are much more better ways to spend those two hours of your's.

Know your Mobile Manners!

Right now, cell phones are the cigarettes of this decade. It's an addiction. And just like cigarettes are banned from some places, so are cells banned in organisations. I think every organisation should go on a similar and firmer line.

Prior to the cell phone, the way we dressed communicated who we were in the workplace. Now, what ring tone someone has, how often the cell phone rings, how we respond to it when it rings… These are defining personality types in the office, which makes them harder to regulate than matters that aren't part of our bodies and psyches, says a cell phone etiquette researcher.

The cell phone etiquette problem is a serious issue in the workplace. It’s not only our phones ringing and others having to listen to one-sided conversations, they are also bad mobile manners. Checking for text messages when talking to someone has the same effect as checking your watch or yawning – it implies that you’re bored and don’t have your full attention on the opposite person (whether a co-worker or the boss).

To make sure your mobile habits do not annoy your co-workers, try to implement the following: make sure your cell phone is off or on silent mode during meetings; do not answer calls or send texts or e-mails unless it is strictly necessary; do not choose an annoying ring tone; do not leave your cell phone on the table in vibrate mode; ask your employer or HR department to provide a policy on the appropriate use of mobile devices in your workplace.

It is vital that we make sure mobile devices enhance our working lives without impinging on them

Water -- Simple but important!!

Water is an important structural component of skin cartilage, tissues and organs. For human beings, every part of the body is dependent on water. Our body comprises about 75% water: the brain has 85%, blood is 90%, muscles are 75%, kidney is 82% and bones are 22% water. The functions of our glands and organs will eventually deteriorate if they are not nourished with good, clean water.

The average adult loses about 2.5 litres water daily through perspiration, breathing and elimination. Symptoms of the body’s deterioration begin to appear when the body loses 5% of its total water volume. In a healthy adult, this is seen as fatigue and general discomfort, whereas for an infant, it can be dehydrating. In an elderly person, a 5% water loss causes the body chemistry to become abnormal, especially if the percentage of electrolytes is overbalanced with sodium. One can usually see symptoms of aging, such as wrinkles, lethargy and even disorientation. Continuous water loss over time will speed up aging as well as increase risks of diseases.

If your body is not sufficiently hydrated, the cells will draw water from your bloodstream, which will make your heart work harder. At the same time, the kidneys cannot purify blood effectively. When this happens, some of the kidney's workload is passed on to the liver and other organs, which may cause them to be severely stressed. Additionally, you may develop a number of minor health conditions such as constipation, dry and itchy skin, acne, nosebleeds, urinary tract infection, coughs, sneezing, sinus pressure, and headaches.

So, how much water is enough for you? The minimum amount of water you need depends on your body weight. A more accurate calculation is to drink an ounce of water for every two pounds of body weight.

Vipassana - Everyone should experience it at least once!

The circular from our Chairman, Mr Subhash Chandra sanctioning twelve days of special leave for Esselites desirous of undergoing the Vipassana course could not have come at a more appropriate time for me. I was at the crossroad of life, or so I thought. I imagined many insecurities and was given to temperamental bouts. In short, I was not in peace with myself.

The Chairman’s circular came as boon from the blue. I grabbed the opportunity and enrolled for the course at the Vipassana Meditation and Research Centre in Alur near Bangalore. The Vipassana guidelines did give me the jitters as it clearly said: no talking, no phone calls, no visitors, not even eye contact with anybody. And to top it, the wake up time was at an unearthly 4 am. How am I going to survive this twelve-day ordeal, I wondered.

As the course rolled from one day to another, my apprehensions began to disappear. Waking up at 4 am was no longer a torment. The ‘noble silence’ that we observed was refreshing and prevented distraction. The meditation was rejuvenating. Every evening we looked forward to the recorded discourses of Vipassana Guru Sri Sathyanarayana Goenkaji, which were both thought provoking and enlightening.

The course was a journey of self discovery. We realised that the solutions to all over problems are within ourselves, and not in the outside world. The Vipassana technique focuses on the ‘Know Thyself’ theory. This was something I had not learnt as a student of psychology for three years. I am sure that no psychologist or psychiatrist has done justice to this theory as much as Vipassana has.

One of the major lessons that Vipassana teaches us is to react to every situation with a smile as nothing is permanent. This is called the Universal Law of Impermanence. It teaches how to forget and forgive as human beings are born to commit mistakes.

After the course, I can feel a major change in myself internally which I am certain will reflect externally too. Earlier, I could actually feel the blood boil in me when I was angry, but now, I have learnt to remain calm and take things in my stride. As Vipassana teaches you, “The person on the opposite side is ignorant… ignorant of the reality, ignorant of the truth, and highly ignorant of himself.” The course has exposed me to a completely new perspective of life… to look into myself first.

Having just completed the course, it might be too early to say if I have turned a new person, but I can safely vouch for the fact that I am no longer the old Surabhi.

Vipassana is about the art of living and has nothing to do with any religion or community. The technique does not even try to influence one against his religious beliefs and thoughts. It only speaks about understanding the present truth at a deeper level of mind. I strongly feel that everybody should undergo this course at least once in their lifetime. It can do wonders to you and to the world around you.