Sunday, February 24, 2013

Chanakya's New Manifesto - Book Review

Chanakya's New Manifesto - To resolve the crisis within India

When I first got hold of this book, the beauty blogger inside me noticed an eye catching cover and loved the inner maroon colored paper. I had truly forgotten that what I had in my hands was no work of fiction.



I started reading the Prologue and found it interesting. For a person like me who has forgotten my history lessons, it was a reminder of Chanakya and the way he had overthrown an entire kingdom  with his clear and sharp mind. I was reminded off the great intellect that “Bharatvarsh” once had. In the prologue I met Chanakya through the words of Pavan K. Varma.

As I stepped into the book I soon realized this was not a mere reading that I had in my hands, but a thought provoking book that had to be grasped page by page. Pavan K. Varma makes you take a hard hitting look at our present. He does not shy away from pointing out exact issues that face the country today and the reasons why we are at such cross roads today. His uninhibited fact presentation, points out the political mishap that is facing our economy. He presents the five main culprits that we need to tackle if we really want to grow as a nation.

Pavan K Varma presents through each section of the book a solution, from Chanakya's teachings in the Arthashastra, to improve Governance, Democracy, tackle Corruption, and provide security in order to create an inclusive society - a society that is undeterred, honest and capable of spotting and growing true talent.

For people living in oblivion this book presents all the main issues that have been faced by our country since Independence and also those that persist even in today’s day and age. Chanakya's New Manifesto is a book I would recommend all people in power to read at-least once. Maybe we should mandate this as a prerequisite to any position in power.

For those who keep track of the daily news and follow closely what all corrupt dealings are poisoning our country this book might come only as a recap of what they already know. But each one of us can take back one important learning and that is that the responsibility of a ‘golden’ nation lies in our own hands. Through Chanakya’s New Manifesto: To resolve the Crisis within India, Pavan K. Varma opens our eyes to a world we have been taking for granted for over 65 years after Independence. He provokes you to sit up and think, think and take charge of things that are happening around us.

About the author: Pavan K. Varma

Pavan K. Varma, is a well read person himself. He is diplomat turned writer and has published 17 books in the past. They mostly revolve around India and its people. "Ghalib: The Man, The Times", "Krishna: The Playful Divine", "The Great Indian Middle Class", "Being Indian: The Truth About Why the 21st Century Will be India's", "Becoming Indian: The Unfinished Revolution and Culture and Identity" and "When Loss is Gain" are all part of his writing legacy. Pavan K.Varma’s writing style shows his knowledge of the subject he is talking about.


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Thursday, February 14, 2013

फिर वही शाम

फिर वही  शाम  है
फिर वही प्रश्नों का समुन्दर
फिर उसी भवर में ज़िन्दगी

फिर वही जाम है
फिर वही अनचाहा सा जश्न
फिर उसी सन्नाटे में ज़िन्दगी

फिर वही चाँद है
फिर वही रात का बंजारापन
फिर उसी लम्हे को थामे ज़िन्दगी
image source: liberatingchoices.com


Phir vahi shaam hai
Phir vahi prashno ke samundar
Phir ussi bhavar mein zindagi

Phir vahi jaam hai
Phir vahi unchaha sa jashn
Phir ussi sannate mein zindagi

Phir vahi chaand hai
Phir vahi raat ka banjarapan
Phir ussi lamhe ko thaame zindagi

बिखरी हुई ज़िन्दगी

बिखरी  हुई ज़िन्दगी को समेटूं कैसे 
अपने ही हाथों से छूटे अपनों को ढूँढूं कैसे 
प्यार की खोज में जिस ज़िन्दगी को अपनाया था 
नफरत भरे लम्हों में उसी को भिगो दूँ कैसे 

जिस राह पर विश्वास की चाह थी 
धोके भरे क़दमों को उस्सी राह पर चलते हुए सहूँ कैसे 
दिल को भरोसे से किया था जिसके हवाले 
उसी के आक्रोश से अपने दिल को टूटने से बचाऊं कैसे 

बिखरी हुई इस ज़िन्दगी को अब जियूं कैसे !
image src: freehdphotogallery.blogspot.com