An Atlas of Impossible Longing

One of those books I wished would never end.......

it was like being on a trip, and one so beautiful that nothing could mar it.... one of those that stays lingering in the heart long after the last page is turned.

Anuradha Roy seems to tune into people and their relationships, not as much with other people as also with their houses, the houses themselves become like significant characters. I love that about her.

At a personal level, I get attached to houses, and I like that my house symbolizes and reflects me in every way, and that's an added connect into her writing.

The characters and how their lives intertwine is so intricate that I am wary of even taking a shot at storyline....but suffice it to say it's a story that spans three generations set in the early 1900's of India, in small towns near Calcutta....through it's partition, and restoration.

More than story review, here's something on the book from The Washington Post that's worth a read:

"Every once in a great while, a novel comes along to remind you why you rummage through shelves in the first place. Why you peck like a magpie past the bright glitter of publishers’ promises. Why you read.

No “news hook” will have brought you to it. No famous name on the spine will suggest what’s in store. But as you slip into the book’s pages, you sense you are entering a singular creation, a richly populated world. Curiosity overcomes you. Before long, you are surrendering to the voice of a confident narrator, the arc of an unfamiliar story. And then, suddenly, you are swept away in a tale that is bristling with incident, steeped in the human condition, buffeted by winds of fate. This, you think, is the feeling you had as you read “Great Expectations” or “Sophie’s Choice” or “The Kite Runner.” This is why you read fiction at all."

I so agree. While I never fully moved away from fiction, she's definitely brought me fully back in.

And this line from the  New York times touched a poignant note

Some longings really do remain impossible, and on its best pages, though not its final ones, this book knows it.

Colour and Cuteness

That's what got added to my walk at kbr today;

this lovely splattering of purple flowers

same bunch taken from the other side

there are actually ten peacocks in this single frame, and one dancing too, sadly with it's back to the camera

this was the best....three little owls on a branch

And what's more, today I bumped into an old friend just as I was starting on my walk and that's the reason I walked the inner circuit. So must say, thanks Musharaf, not just for that invigorating conversation....but also, as you can see from the pictures, it became more than worthwhile, ought to have gotten one of you as well :)

My latest crush

Anuradha Roy

While I usually pick up books based on recommendations or reviews, this one was a casual pick up at the airport.

And I was hooked right from the first sentence. Actually, no, I think from the very title. But like they say 'don't judge a book by it's cover'. With Anuradha Roy, I feel you can. She seems to give so much thought to title and book cover.

And the nuances and feel of the story to come seem visible right from the very start.

It's the varying nuances and her ability to dive in and out of layers and layers of human emotion that I found so endearing....a writer of great intelligence and subtlety. 

At a larger level, it can be said to be a period drama, as it is set in the background of World War I, and then you see this personal story unfold. It's told through the memories of an older Myshkin as he relives his love and loss of his mother ....... his mother, the beautiful and free spirited gayatri, who was in search of herself.

Through the narrative we see Myshkin trying to understand why his mother made the choices she did......and even as told by Myshkin, if you choose to, you can hear her voice independent of his understanding, spaces he chooses to not see. Exquisite.

She also interweaves her characters with some well known names of the times, like Rabindranath Tagore, Begum Akthar, Walter Spies and Beryl de Zoete (the latter two I didn't know but read up about after). 

I was so taken in by her, that yest I bought all her books, she has four to her credit, and I'm so looking forward to an Anuradha Roy immersion. Did say crush didn't I :)

Meet Kavati Jayashree.......

What could have been a casual and indulgent three hours turned into a deep and inspirational three hours......true for Jayashree, and true for me.

Last week was my first experience with 'urban clap', I've been hearing so much about it, I decided to open out of curiosity. It is such a neat and beautiful interface, evidently well designed, as I ended with booking a 'salon at home', which was by no means my intention when I started. 

Two days later, at exactly the allotted time of 3 pm, in walks this petite looking lady, in urban clap uniform, a huge backpack and suitcase in tow.

She set about her business rather professionally and I was quite impressed.

Over the next few hours we got talking, and somewhere along I found not just an interesting, but an intrinsically courageous story starting to unfold. Until towards the end I was surprised and touched when she says "I don't think I've spoken so much to anybody else.....you must know more about my life in two hours than anybody else does"

A story worth knowing.

While it was no formal interview, and I was in no position to take notes, what with masks on my face and cream on my arms.... I'm still going to present it as one from memory, as it was actually a way longer chat than any formal interviews I've done.

Me: So Jayashree, since when are you with Urban Clap?

KJ: Two months, this is my second month. 

Me: Aah..still new....is it working well for you? 

KJ: Very well. 

Me: Were you working elsewhere before? have you quit? how does it work?

KJ: I have my own salon at home, and before that I have worked in four to five salons.

Me: How did you hear about Urban Clap?

KJ: Urban Clap also has house cleaning services, and one of my relatives works with them, he told me about it.

Me: What is the process? Do they have many eligibility criteria?

KJ: Yes, they have an interview, with a long and detailed demo. Plus they need ten years experience. Actually, before the interview, there was a death in the family and I could not go, I missed the interview date and they said I can't join. I kept going and meeting them, saying please please please, give me an opportunity. Finally they agreed, and during the training, they called me aside as an example to others saying "look at her persistence, this is the attitude we need"

Me: Wow, that's wonderful, that you got in through sheer persistence.

KJ: Yes, and then they have training, where we have to take our own clients and practice on them,  and that was also very difficult, to find people who are willing to be demo clients........and then they also have an exam. It is quite tough.

Me: So, getting in itself sounds like quite an achievement. And what you're wearing is their uniform? It's very smart. Do you like it?

KJ: Madam, the first day that I wore the uniform I cried. I cried a lot.....because I felt so proud to be wearing a uniform. I always wanted to join something which has a uniform, and this was my way of reaching there. 

I had to drop out of college because my father passed away early, and that's when my sister made me do this beautician course. I didn't like it then, I didn't want to do this job.

After I got married I did a lot of jobs but it wasn't working out. That's when I decided to go back to this, but it was many years and I was out of touch.  I started by practicing on people at home, then gradually started doing it for neighbors at half price. Over two years, I saved up money and then did the course again. That's how I restarted. I faced a lot of opposition to going into this line,  but I was determined, and now I enjoy it a lot.  And now I am also earning very well.

Me: Wow, that's sounds like a long journey...one that's touching and impressive. You must have a lot of courage to do what you wanted despite opposition. And persistence, to have saved money yourself and done the course. And now with urbanclap....this sounds like it has pretty much changed your life.

KJ: That is true madam, it has changed my life. But it was very difficult madam, and I was also very scared sometimes. I was not allowed to take the training at Urban Clap, but I still went and did it. Within one month I have earned so much that I was able to help people at home through some difficult situations. But still people get angry. They say I have become arrogant because I am earning well.

Tell me madam, I have told you so much about me....I don't know how..,,,but tell me, how do we handle such situations....

Me: So Jayashree, first tell me, did you ever think you would be earning so much in life?

KJ: Never madam, not even in my dreams could I think I will earn so much (I could see the tears brimming in her eyes as she seemed to look right into my soul as she said it)

Me: Jayashree, what you have become because you are earning well....... is confident, independent, courageous.....not arrogant. So say 'yes, I have changed, not just because of money, but because of all that...the growth, the exposure, the confidence, the independence....that's a lot of new things in life...... accept it, own the change, don't get defensive about it. You've earned it and you deserve it. 

And I'm so happy to have met you, and to be sitting here and listening to your story of grit, courage......and success. 

You can be an inspiration to many others Jayashree

( I was so amazed at how keenly she asked, listened and absorbed)

The feel had become so heavy that even I had tears in my eyes, and needed to quickly lighten space...."so, how do you move around with so much luggage?"

KJ: I use Ola ma'am, in one month I spent ten thousand on Ola.

O Wow....Congratulations and Good luck Jayashree...... and keep that smile and that courage going !!

Also, a huge kudos to UrbanClap and Ola for enabling this level of empowerment to so many people, especially women !!