Book Review: Somnath and Chitralekha

1) Somnath:  This novel is based on the story of Somnath temple of Gujrat and it's intrusion and raid by Mahmud of Ghazni. Somnath was very famous and prosperous temple. It had enormous amount of gold, precious stones and many more valuable things. It is told that the treasure of this temple was more than combined wealth of many kings of India. 

Mahmud Ghazni invaded India 18 times and somnath was his last invasion to India. Mahmud's aim for invasion to India was not only wealth or prosperity but also domination of Hindu religion and demolition of their temples and spread muslim religion. The story starts from Mahmud 's invasion to Indian border and his entire campaign to Somnath till his return to Ghazni.

The story is written so nicely and neatly and all facts and current scenario is bound in such a flow that you will enjoy the whole novels. Novel not only explain the prosperity of somnath or preparation of defense attack by Rajputs but also tells how brave Mamud Ghanzi was. There were a number of peer and fakir, who were sent to India by him years before and to make good relation with Indian kings and make his incoming without opposition free. He applied all the tricks like sympathy, religion, obligation and even force.

Writer also discussed the reason why Rajput on that time could not stop him. What were the drawbacks in their strategies against Mahmud. He explain if Rajput would had been united on that time no intruder could put step in India but their internal disputes and unnecessary extra lavish living style that they could not effort to leave, gave chance to this kind of attacks to India.

It is very good novel and should be read by every Indian and those who are interested to know about Indian historical greatness and importance of temple. 

2) Chitralekha: This novel is written by Bhagwati Charan Verma, who is one of my favorite novelist. Chitralekha is a novel based in the times of Chandragupta Maurya. It discuss about 'sin and virtue' or I should say It define 'sin and virtue'. 

The story starts with a discussion between two scholar Shwetank and Vishaldev, who were discussing and want to learn what is right and what is wrong or what is sin and virtue. Their Guru sent them to two different persons in the same city. One goes to a saint named yogi Kumargiri, who claimed that he has left all the pleasure of life and he is above all the happiness and sorrow, all the desire of life. While another scholar went to Bijgupta, who is wealthy and minister of Chandragupta Maurya and enjoying all the pleasure of life and he has lover named Chitralekha. Chitralekha is beautiful and the great dancer of her time. Kings were ready to die for her one smile.But at the same time she is true by his heart and religious.

Both stayed there for one year and after one year both defined the sin and virtue in totally different manner. Which is sin in one's eye, was virtue in another 's opinion. During the time, Shwetank finds that Kumargiri is doing so many wrong things. And Vishaldev sees that even though Bijgupta enjoys all the pleasure of life but inside by heart he is logical ,generous and true scholar. Final pupils master guru Ratnambar explained them that there is no sin and no virtue in this world. It is the circumstances which define the both. That's why based on situation, even the person who enjoys all the luxury of life can be a great sage and a big yogi may behave as an ordinary people and attracts towards pleasure of world.

This novels has many places and many lines which will force you to think hours. You will think that what Chitralekha said that 's right but Bijgupta was also logical. There were many paragraphs you will enjoying alot. This novel is word by word contemporary to present world. I will say the story is equally valid for all time of human philosophy.

I will just say this three novels Vyam Raksham , Somnath and Chitralekha are the top three novels of my life.

Happy Thinking Naturally..........

Book Review: Vayam Rakshamah

I apologize first for my absentee for such a long time. I was kind of busy in my new life and life style. As now I am PhD Scholar and spending much of time of my life in my small laboratory and playing with PC. But around  one month before I started back reading novels and believe me, when I read novels, I feel I am alive....... peace comes in my mind. Eagerness to read the book at earliest is always there but I feel myself very contempt and satisfied.

Although this time there is a small change in book that I have chosen. As you know I am an Indian and my mother tongue is Hindi. When I started reading novels around 10-12 years back, I started with Hindi novels. I read many authors on that time like Munshi Premchand , Bhagwati Charan Verma, Amrita Pritam  and many more.Then I shifted to English novels. Again after long time I read some hindi novels. And believe me, I considered these novels as the best novels I ever read . So here are the review of one of these books.

I also apologize that due to scarcity of time, I am writing review of vayam rakshamah only but according to me reviews of three books are pending for my blog. Actually I am already reading another novel and I am fully involved in that world and could not resist to write reviews of these novels. So, I assure you that you wil receive other two reviews very soon.

Vayam Rakshamah:
This novel is my all time favorite novel. It is written by Acharya Chatursen Shastri. I felt that this book is novel cum documentary of Hindu and Hindutava. Acharya Chatursen Shastri was scholar of Sanskrit. He is Ayurvedacharya in Ayurveda and Shastri in Sanskrit . He had read all Puranas, and Upanishads of  Hindu religion.

The novels starts with the story of Ravana. In this novel Ravana is not a villain while he is a hero. The novels explains the real moto of Ravana's life. What he wants to do. How he has become, so powerful. What is his background. What is his culture. Why he has abducted Sita. It explains many mythological beliefs like does really Hanuman flys or Why Ravana could not marry Sita or how Lakshmana killed Meghnad etc.

In between it also explain about all the Dev, Danav ,Ashur, Barmha and their power and behavior. It describe  with proper logic and facts. According to it, all are kings. It tells you how they ruled, what are the roles of Rishies like Narad, Viswamitra etc. So starting from the first king to till Ravana and after that Rama and their life after Lanka victory, this novel has explained very well.

I will say every person of India and those who want learn hindu culture and hindutav should read this novel. Do not think that , it is another version of Ramayana.  Your perception will change completely about mythological people and culture after reading this book.

Following lines explains the real moto of Ravan.
"रावण, भगवन शिव से कहता है:

'हम रक्षा करते हैं। यही हमारी रक्ष-संस्कृति है। आप देवाधिदेव हैं। आप देखते ही हैं कि आर्यों ने आदित्यों से पृथक् होकर भारतखण्ड में आर्यावर्त बना लिया है। वे निरन्तर आर्यजनों को बहिष्कृत कर दक्षिणारण्य में भेजते रहते हैं। दक्षिणारण्य में इन बहिष्कृत वेद-विहीनव्रात्यों के अनेक जनपद स्थापित हो गये हैं। फिर भारतीय सागर के दक्षिण तट पर अनगिनत द्वीप-समूह हैं, जहां सब आर्य, अनार्य, आगत, समागत, देव, यक्ष, पितर, नाग, दैत्य, दानव, असुर परस्पर वैवाहिक सम्बन्ध करके रहते हैं। फिर भी सबकी संस्कृति भिन्न है, परन्तु हमारा सभी का एक ही नृवंश है और हम सब परस्पर दायाद बान्धव हैं। मैं चाहता हूं कि मेरी रक्ष-संस्कृति में सभी का समावेश हो, सभी की रक्षा हो। इसी से मैंने वेद् का नया संस्करण किया है और उसमें मैंने सभी दैत्यों-दानवों की रीति-परम्पराओं को भी समावेशित किया है, जिससे हमारा सारा ही नृवंश एक वर्ग और एक संस्कृति के अन्तर्गत वृद्घिगत हो। आप देखते हैं कि गत एक सौ वर्षों में तेरह देवासुर-संग्राम हो चुके, जिनमें इन बस दायाद् बान्धवों ने परस्पर लड़कर अपना ही रक्त बहाया। विष्णु ने दैत्यों से कितने छल किए। देवगण अब भी अनीति करते हैं। काश्यप सागर-तट की सारी दैत्यभूमि आदित्यों ने छलद्घबल से छीनी है। अब सुन रहा हूं कि देवराट् इन्द्र चौदहवें देवासुर-संग्राम की योजना बना रहा है। ये सब संघर्ष तथा युद्घ तभी रोके जा सकते हैं, जब सारा नृवंश एक संस्कृति के अधीन हो इसीलिये मैंने अपनी वह रक्ष-संस्कृति प्रतिष्ठित की है।'"

Another interesting fact about Vayam Raksham is the Indian Coast Guard's motto is वयम रक्षामः (Vayam Rakshamah), which translates from Sanskrit as We Protect.

Happy Thinking Naturally..........

Book Review : Revolution 2020 by chetan bhagat

Here is another disaster from chetan bhagat. When a writer writes a novel and a director inspires to make movie on it, that indicates success of novel but when novelist write a novel and expecting somebody (Aamir Khan) will make a movie on it; the garbage will be the output. This is the same scenario for the 'Revolution 2020'.

I have read all other novels of Chetan bhagat (except one night at call center I couldn't finish it  ...even though I tried many times. I liked five point someone, two states and 3 mistake of my life was ok, but revolution 2020 is total failure.I will not recommend anybody.

A good novelist writes a novel based on their area like fiction , non-fiction, sci-fi, romantic etc. They dont target people and write according to people. But I feel Chetan bhagat targets first the readers(obviously his easy catch are engineers and MBA... choice is based on his own connection and reputation to these communities), then writes novel to please those. Another thing is, he not only chooses target (readers) based on popularity and mass but also he chooses the topic too based on popularity like IIT engineers, Call centres, Cricket, Gujrat riots, love marriages and corruption (which is hot topic of India at present) and writes the stories around it. All things are preplanned to make it a huge success. Chetan bhagat is doing another mistakes, he is copying himself. Just like when one actor copies himself again in again in all his movies, people get fed up (good examples are Sharukh Khan, Yash Raj movies.....), same problem is with Chetan bhagat. Many of his novel scenes seem so much repeating, even the dialogues. Sometimes he even gives references to one his character of previous novel. What the hell, are we watching STAR TV daily shops that one TV serials characters are coming into another TV serial to attain one marriage function.

Revolution 2020 has a very normal story. As taken from the book back cover page 'Once upon a time, in small-town India, there lived two intelligent boys. One wanted to use his intelligence to make money. One wanted to use his intelligence to create a revolution. The problem was, they both loved the same girl. A story about childhood friends Gopal, Raghav and Aarti who struggle to find success and love in Varanasi.However, it isn’t easy to achieve this in an unfair society that rewards the corrupt. As Gopal gives in to the system, and Raghav fights it, who will win? ' Revolution 2020 is nothing but the name of newsletter/newspaper. Which is already been stopped publishing in the mid of story. So you may even forget, why the novel titled as 'Revolution 2020'. Another thing is what targeted people (readers) want in novel - easy English/vocabulary, high end drama, love, sex, money...... Chetan bhagat's  novels never fails to fulfill these desires. The simple motto of him is 'Jo mangta hain wahi milega tum ko (we will provide only things which you want)'
 

So from my side it big thumb down novel. I expect in future we will get something good like two states or five point someone.

Happy Thinking Naturally..........

Google Plus: A Giant Social Networking Site

 

Recently I too became the member of Google+, the another social networking site launched (unofficial launch) by Google. Here is the article/blog post I have written in my another blog.

Google Plus: Be social through Google


The article is written in very simple manner, by considering the common user needs  not the for the geeks.For query related to Google+, just ask , you 'll get your answers ASAP.


Happy Thinking Naturally..........

Trip to paradise in Chhatisgarh

Last weekend we; the whole family along with some relatives and friends visited the place which I call heavens in chhatisgarh. We have made the whole plan in one day, fortunately everybody was ready. (as it is very difficult to arrange a tour for 4 families together... ;) )

We just had heard the name of the places Jatmai and Ghatarani, nobody visited ever there. Everybody was curious to see what is there !!!!. It was a one day trip and journey of around 200 kms in to and fro from my place. The trip was so good, places where so superb, that I was regretting a lot that why I didn't come these places earlier. I thought like I wasted my previous years, being so near to this but did come to see the amazing beauty of nature.

If you are planning to visit any natural beatiful place in Chhattisgarh, you must think about Jatmai & Ghatarani. These are two different places having beautiful water fall & forest area. Here you can bath under Waterfalls and travel the rock montains.There is also a temple called Jatmai Dham. Beginning to Ghatarani falls is not easy by any stretch of the imagination though there is enough tourist infrastructure to make the falls accessible to nature lovers without breaking the bank or unreasonably running a risk your life. But I will suggest take foods with you.

Jatmai is Located in the South East Highlands of Chhattisgarh situated around 85 km from Raipur towards Gariaband (Rajim). Jatmai is 25 Kms from Ghatarani. There is a temple called Jatmai Dham. Both the places has superb waterfalls. "Best time to Visit - September to December" (You will get water fall during this period after December there is no water available).

This trip refreshed me and whole trip member, specially my mother; after a very long time she got to chance visit the places something like this.

There are some photos I am uploading for you, enjoy the visit.

Location in google map


on the way to jatmai


Jatmai 1



Jatmai 2
Jatmai 3


Jatmai 4


Ghatarani 1

Ghatarani 2

Ghatarani 3

Ghatarani 4

Ghatarani 5



Happy naturally thinking !!!!!!

Book Review: The Lost Symbol

I just finished reading Lost Symbol, author Dan Brown. Although from last few couple of months due to some family related issues I rarely got time to read novels or even for writing blogs. For reading this book I took more days than usual, which was definitely not acceptable, but I was suffering from many diseases like busy for nothing, procrastination, lost of reading habit etc. Finally I completed this book like playing Age OF Empire, fighting against another empire and decided I have to win at any cost ;)

Now we’ll talk something about the novel. I sincerely felt this book as inferior than two other drama of Prof. Robert Langdon. The whole plot is of Washington DC , where Langdon unveiled so many Masonic architecture including US Capitol Building, Washington monument, White House, Smithsonian Institute etc. and tell the hidden Masonic relations with this building, while helping unwillingly the villain of the novel who is in search of the LOST WORD, which will give him greatest power and complete his transformation to almost like GOD. Author also discuss various Masonic ritual’s which considered to be dark side of life but author explains its noblest aspects of those initiations like from first to 33^rd degree of initiations, Chamber of Reflection, etc.

The Lost Symbol, discuss various ancient cultures and their philosophies and discoveries Egyptian, Pythagorean, Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Judeo-Christian, Pythagoras, alchemy, mysticism, magic etc. Sadly Dan Brown claims the invention of the number zero is done by Arabs, but the world know this greatest gift in number system is given by Hindu culture.

There are through description and analysis of various architecture and theories in this book I liked a lot is like importance of cornerstone, Washington monument, the Unfinished Pyramid in one-dollar bill, America’s “thirteen” conspiracy theories it means exactly thirteen storage rooms buried beneath the U.S. Capitol, the Great Seal of the United States had thirteen stars, thirteen arrows, thirteen pyramid steps, thirteen shield stripes, thirteen olive leaves, thirteen olives, thirteen letters in “annuit coeptis”, thirteen letters in “e pluribus unum”.

Overall I feel it 's worth to read if you wish to know something about freemasonry and relation of ancient America with masonic concept. According to me I will give this 4.5 points out of 10.

I am now thinking to read my long time awaited book The Story of My Experiments with Truth is the autobiography of Mohandas Karamchand Gandh.

Happy Thinking Naturally..........

Real men program in C

A very good article on C. A quite good comparative study of various famous programming languages with C. This is an article from "Embedded.com" so the article is based around embedded systems. Here is this Real men program in C.

Hope you will enjoy it.

From Unreality Magzine...

I was just stumbling through various sites and got this article. And felt that I should shares with you. The article is named as :

The 10 Most Visually Stunning Movies of the Last 10 Years

According to Publisher these are the movies which change the way we view movies. These movies are visually unforgettable with their heavily loaded graphics magics.

And from video codec point of view also, the movies listed here are great test vectors for video compression encoder tools. Specially like 300, The Matrix Reloaded, Transformer.


Just check this article and see the movie list .... with some movie snaps...
If you didn't watch those...update your 'must watching movie' list.. ;)

And on this list ... I want to add some more movies like
1) The Lord Of The Rings
2) The Fountain (it is in my 'must watching movie' list, I saw it's trailer and that's awesome )

What's your views say........
Want to add some more movies ...

White Tiger is Black...

One month back when I went to Crossword, just to feel fresh n happy. As I already told in my previous post library or book shops are my favorite place. And there is no other good place in Bangalore than Crossword. As soon as I entered there was bulk amount of one book only, lying everywhere, came under new arrival and also as Crossword recommended section. Why will not somebody recommend you the book, which has shortlisted for "Man Booker Prize". Yea I am talking about "The White Tiger", author Arvind Adiga.


And I got more anxious to read that too when my close friend bought that book. Final 2-3 days before I stole some time from my schedule and just yesterday I finished reading the novel. And I have only one sentence in review for this novel. And the sentence is: "What a ****** joke"

It is a story about Balram Halwai aka munna aka white Tigher aka Country Mouse aka Ashok Sharma born in a village, son of ricksaw puller. In his journey from working in Tea shop to Owner of Taxi Company having 26 Toyata Qualis, he started his life as servant ,then philosopher, then driver, then cook, then gardener, then murderer and then entrepreneur(as author says). He says all his story in seven night starting from Laxmangarh (berth place) to Bangalore (current location) to Wen Jiabao from Beijiing by writing a letter to him.

I really felt cheated after reading that book. I didn't like the concept at all. According to me author insulted India, it's culture, hindu gods and also at the same time he compared everything with China, what he wanted to show us I didn't get. Author pointed out all the problems we have in India. He even added corruption till president level...that's shame. I don't think for any kind of corruption/illegal work you have to go till president of India, our ministers are much capable for all those thing. Author shown how landlord in village behave with villagers or with their servants. He also told so many bad stuffs about Delhi, Gurgaon, it's hotels. Author did lots of research by going all those dark area in village and even dark side of Delhi kind of city. According to him all drives who work/drive car for rich people are highly dangerous, according to him, you should not trust a single driver in India. According to him, even if a good person become driver, the whole drive community will force him to convert into Bad one.


I feel nowadays everybody wants to gain fame or money by ripping off the band-aid of India. You write/show movie with all dirty stuff about India and you will become famous. It's upto you how much famous you want to see yourself, just show that deep India's bad stuff. And I request you Mr. Author don't tell a murderer an Entrepreneur, you are unknowingly increasing the Entrepreneur number in India I don't know by twice, thrice or 10 or 100 times from actual Entrepreneur number. Even I am thinking all actual Entrepreneur are now looking for new English word. And dear Mr. Author I do accept there are lot many problems in India, things should change but for all these good things, people should educate, they should read first. According to me even novel is a good source of knowledge, as I learned many things after I started reading novels but one thing is for sure Mr. Author this book is worst and I learned nothing from this . Your novel forced me to write a proper review on it. I will never ever recommend this book to anybody.


And one more thing Mr. Author, we Hindus have 36,000,000 gods, you know why? Because we count/treat every kind of species in this world as GODs, and one way or other almost all kind of creature in this world has it's own role in nature and we worship nature, it's not that Human has copyright to be treated as GOD.