Book Review: The Shadow of the Dark Soul by Sukhmani Gandhi

Sukhmani Gandhi's The Shadow of the Dark Soul is an effective piece honestly showcasing the time we live in. It’s a bold initiative to bring a change in societal perception towards women as well as men.

Dedicated to Jyoti Singh, this novel unveiled the hypocrisy engrained everywhere and the whole idea of 'victim' being associated with women, thereby distant from its actual meaning.

Zayesha, the protagonist of the novel, is a journalist by profession and a character with whom every woman can instantly relate to. Her thoughts and queries are the same that pop up in many minds, for instance, the whole idea of separation of victims of sexual violence, thus debarring a particular population from living a normal life. The debate between good and evil was artistically put up as well. The heart-warming love story restored our faith in happy endings.

Coming to the title of the novel, it's ambiguously reflective of the mental impact left in the soul of an individual who suffered violence of any sort, at any time of his/her life. The shadows symbolize the bad memories that keep chasing the individual, like the scars that never heal. But despite everything, the human tendency to move on instils hope. The novel ends on a positive note with a powerful message that we must spread around: ‘Humanity is within us. Don’t search for it in other people. Just be human.’

The author took a laudable initiative of addressing the evils of our society, like marital rape, issues of identity, violence against women and men, and the bizarre idea that says 'men don't cry'. She gave a vivid image of reality, with a plethora of relative incidents.

I congratulate her as a young forerunner of change and recommend this book to everyone, for a brighter & better world that we can create together.

Channelizing Anger into Creativity

We all belong to the amazing human race and are prone to anger just as much as hunger, love, emotions, etc. The only thing that makes a difference is how we take it: whether we make it or break it. Just imagine a man discovering a great hidden secret in a fit of rage. How interesting it would be. Unfortunately, many of us end up breaking things in anger (Bollywood style) or splattering away harsh, unintended words that are hurtful to those whom we love.

Once, in my carefree school days, I was punished harshly for not bringing a particular text book to school. The reason was that I was completely absorbed in reading it seriously and just forgot to pack it in my bag. After that unpleasant experience I was burning with rage and wanted to get out of my misery. I tore the pages of my notebook when the exams ended. The result was a paper house that looked cute. The crushed paper attained greater beauty than ever before.

The quest for beauty is an incredible task, for beauty lies in almost everything, but is veiled. Life is a unique race where disappointments chase us and anger is its by-product. You wait for people. They seem less caring. At times, waiting becomes suffocating. At that very instant if someone reads you four lines of heart-rending poetry, wouldn't that be amazing? If you are promised something and at the very next moment your expectations are thwarted, bitterness alone remains in your heart. At that moment, if a drawing is scribbled, mirroring your state of mind, won’t it be exciting?

The worst experiences of human life include losing one’s loved ones. The burning and exploding lava of anger and devastation is extremely hard to overcome. The truth in fact is that nothing is impossible. The theory of ‘Never say I can’t. Strive and achieve what you want’ can be helpful. The act worth respecting in such a situation would be to create something long lasting, that will become an emblem of our emotions and will be equally relevant in other’s lives as well. A metaphorical Taj Mahal can be constructed anywhere, anytime.

So tomorrow if your bus comes late, or something happens, use the tool of creativity to comfort yourself. Capture images, draw lines, write songs, crush the paper and create. Don’t forget to take a deep breath or drink cool water. Well, this applies to us equally. Let’s beat this anger together since we’re here in these conflicting times and need to do something constructive.

Photocapturasis Syndrome

Photocapturasis Syndrome is a serious disorder spreading its wings and conquering the minds. The patients are concerned boundlessly with clicking photographs and even forget to enjoy that particular moment. The sole aim becomes to capture the moment and further upload it on social-networking sites for the world to see and feel jealous.

But in such cases, enjoyment is brutally murdered and confined to an invisible cage. Once while visiting a museum, I felt a powerful urge to keep on clicking photographs and later that evening the realization came that I missed the sole pleasure of observation and focus on delicate beauties, for the mind was bent on extinguishing endless cravings of photography.

The cure of this ailment lies in reducing the magnetic effects of photography by using the God-gifted eyes. For a photograph once clicked and seen a few times loses its worth and is thrown mercilessly in the storehouse of memories. But the sights, most of them, are preserved in the deep ocean like pearls in oyster shells.

And, how wonderful are human eyes that no camera can compete or capture as efficiently.

We see the sea, the ebb and flow,

But a camera copies, not with as natural a glow.  

Tarang 2015

A three-day fest at Lady Shri Ram College was worth attending with multi-colored events and a collage of rainbow like felicity. 16th, 17th and 18th January were the dates engraved in the heart’s history of unforgettable memories. The fun activities included skateboarding, cane and bamboo workshops, beg-borrow-steal, treasure hunt, nukkad natak, quizzes, creative writing, elocution competitions along with the melodious events, art, dance and singing, etc. Adding glamour to evening events arrived Zaeden, Nucleya, Raeth and Raghu Dixit, who painted the atmosphere with fun unbounded and limitless.

The beg-borrow-stealers were busy asking for biscuits, rings, mobile cover, etc. and the treasure hunters ran from one place to another in search of clues. The skateboarding workshop was an amazing thing for many, and even though each fall was painful it taught the importance of learning by falling. The contagious zeal and passion of the Nukkad-Natak performers was worth noticing. The rock-stars with musical instruments added to the atmosphere a sense of universality of music. Despite Delhi winters, the weather was superfine for the occasion and the sunshine was seen in the attire of the students gathered to celebrate.

Both the Hindi and English creative writing events were great and poetry recitations touched the heart. The diverse flavors were representative of rainbow-like varieties and richness of the mind of each participant. All the events showcased the talent of today’s youth and willingness to make the world a better, much better place.

The dreams of youth, when they support the truth,
Miracles happen and the world is changed.

The celebrations ended but with the fresh hopes of welcoming Tarang 2016. The end is inevitable, and so is hope.

Are You Free?

Freedom? Let’s explore it. Does it allow you to kill your neighbor or rape anyone? No, your freedom ought not to hurt other’s sentiments. Freedom is discipline. It comes through equality and is comprised of morality. In today’s context, you are free, if a thousand expensive brands do not magnetically attract you, your friend’s opinion comes below your own, and none can stop you from following the right path of truth. You’re not bound or enslaved through your desires and wishes. And you do not consider money above human life.

The birds in the sky are free to pick up food for their survival. But some of us confine them to a cage and render their wings useless. And just so, in today’s world, many children and young girls are trafficked and dehumanized. Many childhoods are lost and burnt by the evil predators of our world, snatching away the freedom of others.

There are borders everywhere, human-constructed walls restricting humanity itself. Be it between nations, states, cities, houses, etc. We ought to realize that as humans, we must be united to be free. Caste, class, race and religion boundaries ought to dissolve to help ourselves attain freedom from selfish leaders who strive only for individual prosperity.

Freedom comes when we equally respect and value others, when we refuse to judge others or stay aloof within the four walls talking to ourselves. It comes through participation in community. A woman who is fully clothed can still enjoy freedom just as others do. We don’t have to impress others by our choices. We can’t be perfect in life but we can strive to know the art of living. Freedom is when a person’s abilities become more important than his/her clothing or gender, when we learn to react patiently to others’ opinion and when life becomes meaningful through hard work and not just in making money.

In conclusion, I’d like to say that we can talk endlessly of what freedom is and what it means to each of us, but there is no point to such discussions if we do not try to realize this state within this world in general and our lives in particular. So take that first step, look within yourself to understand where you unknowingly restrict yourself and move beyond your own boundaries to be free!

Why Literature?

It was a simple day, same sun, same roads, same traffic and same fear of getting late for the first lecture. The only unique event was a guest lecture by Ashok Vajpeyi, a poet, essayist, remarkable cultural and arts administrator and a former civil servant. He was also a Sahitya Academy Award winner. The lecture was titled ‘Sahitya Kyun?’, ‘Why Literature?’

   It was imbued with meaning as well as humour. He talked about this race where we go on and on without realizing our purpose. Days and nights and days and nights, as if we are all lost in a dream. We talk and keep blabbering about anything and everything. While encountering the silent people we wonder whether they have some problem or are secretly engaged in evil planning. A famous phrase lighted our faces ‘Bole bahaut magar kaha kya?’, ‘Spoke a lot but said what?’ He went on that we have so many varieties and brands nowadays that we remain confused. Houses have been converted to storehouses with abundant items, not values and homely feelings. Truth has shrunken and lies are expanding each day. The level of success depends on how confidently we can tell a lie and deceive others. In every election politicians just talk about materialistic development and advancement instead of solving the cultural and social problems. Each day we encounter violence against women, minorities, north-east Indians, children, etc. We see and see but seem to have lost the courage to speak up against evil and to do something. Big lies of politicians have disastrous effects. Iraq was destroyed on the pretext of having weapons of mass destruction. ‘Love Jihad’ has been coined to keep the fire bubbling in the hearts of two communities and never let them unite. Art is needed to unify mankind and remove all barriers. The process of ‘othering’ can be only nullified by thinking mankind as a whole and not fragmented pieces. We have started distinguishing people of different sex, race, class, community, nations as ‘others’ but we ought to reconsider our views. He went on saying that in today’s time we have lost the valour to stand alone. Gandhi ji walked alone and so did all great men who brought revolutions. He cracked several jokes centred on him as a common man and knew the art of an artist who can laugh at himself to ease the load of life. An hour passed in minutes. His lecture ended with Ghalib’s two bright lines

   ‘Bas ke dushwar har kaam ka aasan hona,

    Aadmi ko bhi mayassar nahi insaan hona’

Though it’s not easy to be a true human being but we can at least try to be better.   

The charm of hearing a voice of truth ended as he finished but his words kept twinkling in my mind establishing a link between all humans and the power of literature.