Before you suspect that
I have borrowed J. F. Kennedy’s throat, let me clear why this rephrase of his
famous speech as my heading. It is just that there is so much talk in the air
about the ‘foreign policy PM’ that we have got (I mean elected) since Nehru
that we still are figuring out as to why Modi spoiled the poor Mongolian
ministers’ Sunday by addressing them! Well my fellow Indians have already
started scampering over the maps to locate this new country that they call
“Mangolia”. How fruitish of them! Who said unseasonal rains can’t change
country names?
Now that I am a blogger
(which is what the headline means), allow me the privilege to enlighten you as
to why I’m making you poor folks read all this. My idea behind writing this
piece was just to discuss the two books I have read recently and pay homage to
the authors who have left for their malicious, unboring heaven. They are namely “Lucknow Boy” by Vinod Mehta
and “Truth, Love and a little Malice” by Khushwant Singh. The two books have
more or less the same background that of Journalism while the third
“Civilisation” by Niall Ferguson which I am yet to finish is about the study of
levers that tilted the specter of power and prosperity from the eastern world
to the western half. Needless to say the two memoirs of two eminent journalists
was a breeze read filled with so much of gossip and sleazy talk while the third
book has a relatively somber well researched matter illuminated only by the
efforts of Ferguson.
Vinod Mehta outshone
his academic credentials (BA third class) by his journalistic prowess. Now
that’s a beacon for all the Indian parents out there who think going for anything
less than medicine or engineering as career options is even lowlier than being
illiterate. Mehta as a boy had a fun filled childhood having educated at the
premier school La Martinere in Lucknow where as he says the greatest crime was
to be a bore. Interesting is the description that Mehta narrates about bumping
in the room of famous Hindi poet Raghupati Sahay (who as Mehta says had strong
homosexual tendencies) when the erudite poet was busy enjoying himself! One
decisive moment which compelled Mehta to be well read was when at a dinner at
his British girlfriend’s home in England he proved himself to be a dolt by his
magnificent display of ignorance about world affairs. The book is filled with
many such quirky enjoyable nuggets about the author and his encounters with
many renowned names of the country. Glaring was the section of the book in
which he discloses a part of Nira Radia tapes and the muck which ensued the 2G
scam. Just to quote Mukesh Ambani telling Radia: “….Ab to Congress apni dukaan
hai” (Hey Mukesh no offence meant, If u wanna sue me, sue Mehta first). Nevertheless
we have truly lost a man who bore the brunt of being upright and a prick but at
the same time glorified the very values on which the fourth estate is built.
Coming to the ever interesting Khushwant
Singh, his memoir is full of gossip and his portrayal of life events intriguing
and hilarious. Given his contacts with numerous influential people of their
times his memoir contains spicy tid-bits about their lives. One such insider
account is that of the politics in Indira Gandhi’s family. Throughout his book
he hasn’t even once been secretive about his womanizing overtures. So much so
that I firmly believe that had Nicholas Rowe met Khushwant Singh early during the
writing of his play “The fair penitent”, he would have named the main character
“Khushwant” instead of Lothario. And the English lexicon would have been
something different today (for the uninitiated “lothario” in English means a
lurid womanizer). But all these trinkets aside, he had that art of
story-telling which very few authors in India have been able to master. He was
a raconteur of finesse. His is also a case which inspires young generation to
follow one’s dreams. He left his plum job as a diplomat to start a career in
writing. He himself wrote that he would have made more money being a dhaba
owner than a writer in India. But by running a dhaba he wouldn’t have created
something which would outlive him by ages. So hereby I join every other lover
of literature in paying tribute to the most famous nonagenarian of India. Your
writings will surely amuse and entertain generations of Indians to come. May
you be having your favorite scotch everyday up there…!
Thank you dear readers
for reading (sustaining) till end. You can think of participating in half
marathons given your ability to endure!
For the discussion of “Civilisation” and other things, keep watching this space
Posts
Your writings will surely amuse and entertain generations of Indians to come
ReplyDeleteNice blog bro..!! Interesting thots too..
ReplyDeleteVery well articulated. Eagerly awaiting the next one
ReplyDeleteVery nice blog my dear friend......
ReplyDeleteThank you dear all readers for your comments
ReplyDeleteBhaiyya great one....although i should not have that capability to judge it.....but as a reader i can say simply wow......the content, the tone were portrayed so brilliantly.... You amused me as always
ReplyDeleteBhaiyya great one....although i should not have that capability to judge it.....but as a reader i can say simply wow......the content, the tone were portrayed so brilliantly.... You amused me as always
ReplyDeleteThanx suman for your encouragement. Keep reading dear.
DeleteNow the first link on my favorites bar is this blog !! keep it up....!
ReplyDeleteDiligently written ... Looking for more...
ReplyDelete