KIDDY STORIES | hguy.blogspot.com

I don't know how but I remember my kiddy class English stories as though it happened yesterday. This one must be as old as class I.

There is this simpleton in the village who takes his sick granny to a doctor. 

A week later they go back to doc - no relief to granny. 

Third week same story. Then the doc asks are you following all the instructions.

Simpleton says yes, doc. Its written shake well before use. 

and I shake my granny well before giving her her medicine - 3 times a day.

THE DAY OF THE JACKAL [a book review] | hguy.blogspot.com

 

Why does a man set out to kill another man? Is it just for the money? Na, it should be more. The thrill of doing something dangerous. Doing a job you know no one else in the world can.

Well, that’s what you get in Frederick Forsyth’s The Day of the Jackal.

The novel opens with tense action scene, setting the mood for the rest of the book. The book follows two main characters. So much like the cat and the mouse. The morose detective trying his best but to produce results he will have to pull a needle from the haystack.

Then we have the Jackal itself. Cool as a cucumber. Whether it is killing a blackmailer or seducing an heiress. With every step the Jackal is moving closer to his target - the best-protected man in the world.


The novel travels across Europe. But what stands out is the beautiful countryside France. To readers who have had a dose of Paris and the Eiffel Tower. This is a welcome change.


The plot itself is simple but ingenious. It’s the execution that shows the writer’s brilliance.

And the nerve-racking climax.


Read the thriller. It has, as they always do, much more than the movie. People are not sure if this was something that really happened or is it fiction. Even after decade of it being published.

MEETING MY UNDERWORLD CONTACT | hguy.blogspot.com

My in-progress novel has a major underworld component. Now, the story is coming out great. In my head. You will see in due course. But I suddenly felt something missing. I needed some real life input. And as you all know I don’t have any real underworld experience.

So I decided to get one. No no. Only interview a member. So I spread the word. And sure as hell, I soon got to meet one.

This person was 60ish. From Mangalore. About twenty years ago, he was shot in the head and survived. But they couldn’t remove the bullet so they left it in. Doctors gave him 6 months to live but. He is alive even today.


So I met him. I expected it to be in the nearby bar. But na. He wanted a meet at the nearby temple. Oh.

So I met him. He was not what I expected. A baba type. True, all babas are criminals but still. Then we sat under a tree and he started. Told one story. Pause. Then repeated the story. Pause. The told the same story again. Pause.

Its then I realised that the poor fellow has lost his memory. He remembers only that one story.

But that’s not the point.

If anyone of you have any underworld contacts – or even a chota-mota thug- please pass that contact to me. In exchange for an evening at a bar or tiffin center. Or a temple.


#seriousresearch

My previous novel

HEMANT SINGH VISITS BANGALORE LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2019 | #blrlitfest - hguy.blogspot.com

Bangalore Literature festival is a yearly do organised by a bunch or crazy folks who still believe India can be saved by books. God bless them. I managed to visit this place this year 2019 and it was a great feeling.

On the way to the venue, I had to pass the Chitrakala Parishat and this is what I saw peering at me. 

Ok, The program started dot at 10 with OMG Pankaj Kaput taking the stand. He is here to promote his book Dopehri.

The lady in the photo took the mike to ask Pankaj Kapur a question. She started in a foreign accented English. The bang she jumped to chaste Hindi giving everyone a shock. Including Pankaj who let out a chuckle. And, later, as I was walking about , bang, Pankaj Kapur was in front of me. I extend my hand which he very graciously shook.

Oh man, I too have the same problem with my pants.

Ok, this is a tree in the hotel lawn. It says Gandhiji visited this place in 1927 and sat under this tree and spoke to peeps. Its relevant especially coz this is the day of the Babri verdict. Those judges.

The Kids section. Total masti.

That guy decided to sweep right in the middle of the act. These are the guys who add spice to our life. Somebody should get his life on book.

This big lady had a tiny book and insisted on reading it.

This was some fun thing. A cam captures you and places you beside van Gogh. This gave me kicks and I kept revisiting the stall.

The most frightful pic of the day. Look at the prices. The lunch menu went even higher.

Ya, Rajat Gupta was here. And I thought he was behind bars.

Believe me, It was green. All around

And if you are tired, they has some bean bags for you.

This girl was with a typewriter. You heard me - a type writer. They were writing poetry or something. I thought they will ask me for money and I ran.

These four are doctor trying to revive a dead patient. The Indian economy. No one asks me. The solution. Get Congress back and live with their corruption.

As I said, Green. Love you Bangalore.

Look at this man. Giving me that dirty look. I was just taking pic of things I so want.

I dont know why my pic have all landed at the bottom.

The video of the proceeding. Watch it.

This is Pankaj Kapur's book Buy it.

The #blrlitfest 2019 was very well organised. Except for cables of all thicknesses running here and there . I nearly tripped.

Water and paper cups everywhere. Thank u. 

And on the way back to the metro station, I saw an old dilapidated weather beaten sign above  an old dilapidated weather beaten gate - it said this is one of the six ashrams of Acharya Vinoba Bhave. Bangalore never ceases to  surprise.


Pics and words : Hemant Singh