'Criti....que not Criti....cize'

The Inevitable by Ashay Abbhi My rating: 3 of 5 stars It often takes just a letter to make or break a word, in its placement within a sentence. Those sentences then get together to tell a story. Having the power or rather the knack of such placements gives a writer the power to conquer the world, by way of words- 'mere' words if they can even be called so! A house on the mountains, amidst acres of tea plantation, the pitter patter of raindrops as they hit the roof and the surroundings, a hot cup of chai (tea) and your thoughts for company- sounds serene and a perfect scene for many. But wait. Think about someone who never liked chai . That is 'The Inevitable' for you. It's about the uncommon (I say 'uncommon' because where I come from, chai is the lifeline for many! ), the less thought about angle that exists albeit silently, yet inevitably. Darkness, Bashir Bhai Ghadi Dega Kya, Kalimpong remain some of my personal favourites from among...

“There was a story etched in each wrinkle on his forehead-the stories any long life can amass but that only a lonely life locks forever.” ― Ashay Abbhi, Chronicles of Urban Nomads  The wait is over. Here's the promised 'Coming Soon'! (http://critiquedontcriticize./2015/04/coming-soon-interview-with-ashay-abbhi.html ) Before we get into the tidbits from the candid chat, let me tell you that Ashay's writings invoke imagination in the reader. Yes, even in the sleepiest being around. To think is to become and with that, we arrive at this destination, at this point in time when our futures don't matter and our pasts have stopped bothering us. We are at 'now' right now! "They speak about long-lost wars and make merry in the name of foregone victories, All that now lies bare is the bleeding heart at the end of despair! And yet they make merry, at the end of the street's turning, with their wide eyes gazing l...

A research analyst in the field of energy studies, a Sufi music lover and a frequent dabbler in the field of prose and poetry, Ashay Abbhi , is out with his latest book, The Inevitable .  He invokes imagination in the reader right from page one. The interviewer thought of delving into Ashay's life, with books and beyond it. The interviewer has tried to get the opinion of the author who has written op-ed articles for international outlets on wide-ranging issues, with respect to the publishing scenario in India, the extent of sales being impacted because of the cover-page of a book and the like. Watch this space for tidbits from a candid chat with Ashay, the author and Ashay, the individual. :) Stay tuned to this blog  for more. The Inevitable  - Divya Nambiar

Hello folks,  The summer has started raising its head but the very next moment I am getting to hear about rains in Jammu and Kashmir and Ernakulam, Kerala. While some are happy that their exams have been postponed and so are their daily PET sessions ( thanks to some interactions with cousins), others are struggling with crop failures, deluged plans and the dismal feeling one has when prayers go unheard or rather, are washed away by unpredictable rains. Keeping the global patterns that have been going for a toss aside, I am here with some cheer for Architects and students of Architecture ( and ofcourse to anyone who loves to gain 'gyaan' from wherever possible! Trust me, it's a lot of fun at times). Yes, to those very people who construct realities for people who can only visualize their dream homes and other structures! At a time when many dreams are being shattered and many more are under process (in the warmth of the home- yes the very home that was once a ...

So Virat got out of the semi-finals with just '1' run to his credit. The entire social media has gone berserk with angry tweets, jokes and what not. Wait a minute. Did we hear Anushka here? Highly possible! Why her? She is in a relationship with him. Okay. She went all the way to Sydney to be with him and if nothing else, then atleast motivate him with a few kind words, and lower the disastrous pressure that the Men in Blue are bound to be facing at such a crucial juncture of the ICC World Cup Championship. It's amusing how we proudly post pictures of our college, office and other little joints where we gather together in Blue T-Shirts and all those paraphernalia that evokes the sportsman spirit in us, whatever that may be and then the moment Virat gets out with a 1, we end up posting hate messages and derogatory statements about those very people whom we idolized till a moment back! It wouldn't be surprising if the very same people who posted "Anushk...

Cafe Latte by Amit Shankar My rating: 4 of 5 stars Caffè Latte, a shot or say two of bold, tasty espresso with fresh, sweet steamed milk over it... seems like heaven, already! Guess the author knew well in advance that this book would leave an impact similar to the title of the book, on its readers. Just like the 'sour' taste from the Tannic acid that occurs naturally in coffee beans, each story leaves behind a lingering thought somewhere in the back of the reader's mind. And yet, when it comes, the sweet steamed milk- the realization when the words of the story fall short just before the full-stop. The letters stop forming a chain of words. They simply leave behind a blank, clear page. That's when the reader's mind starts its own story! Yes, it isn't a novel like his other books but an anthology that contains moments to be crystallized and lessons to be kept in mind for the rest of one's life. I am glad that the author chose ...

An Offbeat Story by Siddharth Srivastava My rating: 1 of 5 stars An Offbeat Story's tragedy according to me is that it isn't offbeat after all. The best part about the book is the amazing way in which the transition of India has been traced by the author. There are articles which were written by the author at certain points in time which have been placed as the story progresses. I don't know if I am doing the right thing by posting a review of this as I could not complete reading the book. I tried many times but there was something about it that made me keep it away. There was something missing, because I wasn't tempted to pick it up again. Since I had promised an honest review of the book to the author, I am keeping it. What I would suggest to the author is that he has a good sense of humour but it seems to have backfired at various instances in the book. I wonder if 'Sex Sells' was taken too seriously while writing the book. I would li...