FROM THE MOTHER OF YAJNASENI

This was sometime in 2012. I had read Chitra Divakaruni’s “The Palace of Illusions” a few months ago and was spell bound. I don’t recall the last time an Indian author had held me in such thrall. I could not get the book out of my mind. The freshness with which she dealt with the tale of The Mahabharata, a story that we had grown up listening to, was amazing. I could go on and on, endlessly about the different facets of the book that made such an indelible impression on my mind.

That is when I came across Dr.Pratibha Ray’s novel- Yajnaseni. She, who is born out of the fire of the sacred Yagna- Draupadi. I was mesmerized. After other book, I lost my heart once again. Perhaps it is the character of Draupadi who refuses to leave the reader. She is strong yet vulnerable, perfect in all ways possible, yet is not above weaknesses. She is real. She is you or me.

Though I have served in Odisha for several years, I did not have the opportunity to meet its author, the Janpeeth laureate and Padmashri, Dr.Pratibha Ray. However, when my second book and maiden novel was to be launched in Bhubaneswar, I thought to myself, how nice it would be to get the blessings of Dr.Ray for my effort to turn into a novelist.

Man proposes but God disposes. His ways are at times beyond comprehension. So though Dr.Ray could not join the book launch function, she sent a video recorded message that is one of the most precious gifts I have ever received. And if you do not believe me, hear her wonderful blessings yourself.

 

 

 

 

Featured by Indian Mandarins

 Shubha Sarma is back with her 2nd work of fiction. 

Music to my ears because sometimes I felt I'd never be able to complete the book. At other times, I despaired of finding a good publisher who would take it to readers across the country. 

But finally, its here.

The Awasthis of Aamnagri. 

BOOK LAUNCH AT BAKUL LIBRARY, BHUBANESWAR

 I stumbled upon Bakul Library in Bhubaneswar in 2007. I was a young mother with two small children looking for a good library from where they could borrow books. It led me to Bakul.

More than a decade later, I'm back there with books. But this time, its for the launch of my second book and novella- The Awasthis of Aamnagri. 

It is an honour to have Dr.Pratibha Ray and Dr,Debasis Panigrahi, both eminent authors at the launch. The vibrant live-wire Tanaya Patnaik would be speaking at the event and moderating it.

More on this, after the launch.

GIVING BACK- SALSAA SPEAKERS

 All my life I have been blessed to receive the love and affection of my teachers. In the formative years of my life, I studied in a small school in small Lucknow, or at least that is how the City of the Nawabs used to be in the 1980s and early 1990s. the school was run by Irish nuns and was part of the Loreto family. But we were akin to the poorer country cousins and never received the recognition of our better off sisters in posh Gautampalli area.

Years passed. I had the opportunity to study in many other institutions. But St. Agnes’ Loreto Day School continues to occupy a special place in my heart. It was my first school- Where I made friends for life, where I made my mistakes, learnt from them and gathered the courage and strength to move to bigger challenges.

So I was pleasantly surprised when a classmate sent a message one day asking if I’d agree to a mentorship webinar for the young students who might be interested in civil services as a career option. I jumped at the chance to connect with my alma mater. A few days after this conversation, The Awasthis of Aamnagri was ready for its launch. Incidentally, the book is set in the same locality as my school. So it seemed perfect that my book launch and the SALSAA Talk should happen on the same day.

Here is a recording of the discussion. It was beautifully moderated and well attended. In fact, I was surprised that so many people turned up on a Saturday evening. Or as my son, ever determined to keep me grounded and humble, remarked, perhaps they had nothing better to do in these strange times!  

LOSING YOURSELF IN THE VALLEY OF WORDS

In the last few years, Literary festivals have sprouted faster than mushrooms in the rains. But the Valley of Words is one festival with a difference. Curated with care, it provides an unmatched platform to talented writers, authors and poets to share their creations.

Therefore, when I received the offer to launch by second book, the Awasthis of Aamnagri, at the next edition of the VoW, I was extremely excited. And I was not disappointed. Right from the technical team, that made it possible for the festival to be organized online, to the moderator, Ms.Madhulika, everything was picture perfect. As one would expect in beautiful Mussoorie.

It was also the 1^st launch of my book and I replied to all the questions with brutal honesty. In hindsight perhaps a little bit of diplomacy might have worked better!

Here is a short recording of the book launch programme.

 

Bidding Adieu!

 

“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet"

When I first started a blog, my goal was to share: share my thoughts about my debut book, share excerpts, entice readers to take a peek into the book and come back to tell me what they thought about it; share my baby with the world like a proud young mother.

After a lot of deliberation, I named it after the first story in the book- Fly on the Wall. And then because there were twelve other stories, I decided to call it Fly on the Wall & Other Stories. That was simple and easy. Surprisingly, the name was also available and thus, was born my blog by this name.

It helped that there were other interpretations to the name that added to its mystique. Every writer, somewhere, is a fly, sitting on the wall, the furniture, your shoulder, silently observing what people say, do or sometimes think. The writer has access to the inner most happenings and developments because he/ she has the chameleon like capacity to remain unobserved herself.

Many fellow writers agreed with my take on the much-hated fly. You could observe and write at will, but a crushing blow from your audience (the readers here!) and you were history. Or Flystory. A lot of readers also reached out to me saying they liked the title as it reminded them that as readers, they were silent observers too; partaking of other’s lives quietly and unobtrusively.  

Since 2013, when I first started the blog, it has come a long way. It is an outlet for me to write about something that concerns me deeply, though I have restricted my self to the field of literature. To go back and write my blog was one of the most relaxing and comforting feelings.

Thus, when I launched my second book- The Awasthis of Aamnagri, I was in a quandry. Should I start a new blog for this book? I did not want to as I loved my current blog. The only alternative was to modify the name. and that is when it struck me how attached one can become to inanimate, irrelevant things such as the name of the blog. It might sound silly, but the day I changed its name to reflect my identity as an author and not my debut book, was an emotional one. I don’t think most readers would notice or realise the change but I KNEW and it mattered to me.

So here is my ode to my debut book that has given me so much- my blog, my identity as an author, my passion of writing and so many more emotions that cannot be expressed here.

The Fly on the Wall has moved on. To make space for her newer sibling.

The fly on the wall has arrived.

Featured by Indian Masterminds

The last few months have been different. 

For many reasons; with each of us developing our own coping mechanism and trying to make the best of the situation- the proverb of life, lemons, lemonades and all.

In the midst of this, I was getting phone calls from complete strangers who seemed to know all about my spouse and son and wanted to offer admissions in all kinds of courses in some wonderful places. Lakes, Hills, Forests, Cities were proudly mentioned as locales. They seemed fabulous at least as far as their names went. Initially, I felt rewarded. Due to his hard work, all these wonderful people were CALLING us, some of them repeatedly, and literally pursuing us for admissions. Wow! Then, as the naivety wore off, reality struck. It was a marketing exercise and we were literally rupiahs in their eyes. 

I went into Sherlock Holmes mode. Who shared my mobile number? My name? My husband's name? My son's name? His class scores? etc etc. Was it the examination conducting authorities and Boards? Was it the school?

The unsuspecting callers were happy to tell. 

The transformation from chirpy, grateful mother to suspicious, not-too-happy-to-be-disturbed angry old woman was quick. 

Hence, one evening when there was a stranger on the line, I assumed the worst. It turned out to be Ms.Bhakti Kothari from Indian Masterminds. She was the recipient of a full blast of my wariness, as I interrogated her on how she found me, my number, etc. While her answers were not very satisfactory (You see, dear Watson, the dots simply did not connect!) I found the website to be authentic. Their efforts to show civil servants as normal women and men with hobbies, interests and facets other than the common image in public- a nameless, cold, plodding, red-tape-trapped robot- came as a refreshing change.  

Here is a gist of my interaction with them. Article by Indian Masterminds

The timing was perfect, almost pre-ordained as I get ready for the launch of my 2nd book- The Awasthis of Aamnagri. 😊

You can read the article here:

Review by RP Singh

Some readers are looking to flip the pages. Then there are others who are sensitive to every nuance. I had the privilege of receiving one such review from a fellow officer. 

As I've said in the past, civil servants are the sharpest critics. You simply cannot hoodwink them. Yet they are also generous in their praise. Thank you RP for writing so beautifully. Better than I could ever have!

I got this wonderful collection of short stories few days back and was lucky to get it autographed by the author herself. 

Having lived at Lucknow and studied at Delhi University, I was inclined to read the stories Dinner at Bukhara and Rain first. It was sheer pleasure reading them. They take you to the places and the culture, however what goes on in the minds of the actors, is what people go through in everyday life – anxieties, insecurities, accidents and so on. 

The unpredictability of life is beautifully captured in different stories, though tragic, but at the same time they bring thrill and tell how life doesn’t stop.

In a humorous and interesting way, the author has also captured social problems like corruption and poverty. The story of Panchei Nani in ‘The Buda’ is unique which in a humorous fashion, captures grave human circumstances arising out of poverty. 

One is also not disappointed reading the stories with supernatural tinge. The excitement and thrill is retained in the ‘A Chance Encounter’ and the ‘Demons within’ till the last minute. Rather, the latter is how a psychoanalyst would peep into a troubled mind. 

Simply written, the stories take you completely into the circumstances of the protagonists. Rather, it is like going through full circle of life. Thoughts and feelings of a child, a bride, a married woman or the old man who come in different stories bring with them a flavor of different stages of life. 

A mix of everything one would expect from a good collection. Difficult to resist going through all of them at one go once you start reading. Hope to see the new collection coming from the author soon.- Ravindra Pratap Singh, IAS

Review by Dr.Kinny Singh

Nothing is more encouraging than to connect with readers who enjoy reading The Fly on the Wall & Other Stories. Here is DC, Siang, Dr.Kinny Singh's opinion: 
"Found this in my District Library and as I was reading and marvelling about the impeccable sense of narrative and gripping stories...”The buda” made me laugh and cry at the same time..immediately wanted to convey my appreciation @Shubha_Sarma Ma’am! you are an inspiration!!"
Thank you Kinny for your generosity.

The Bare Necessities

My son who is all of eleven years old has forayed into the world of blogging.
His blog talks about his experiences with different things- music, pets, vacations, etc.
Take a look at it here and give your valuable feedback in his comments section:
The Bare Necessities

A Garden Without Roots.....

My Bonsai plants have been my own garden, moving across the length and breadth of Orissa, sometimes with ease and sometimes with consternation. Plants that have kept me company when none else has, through the highs and lows in the last 14 years. Begun as a hobby, rearing bonsai has become a part of my life. Fortunately, they have been more generous than most friends and have tolerated my silences or absences with magnanimity. 

As author of Fly on the Wall & Other Stories, I was recently interviewed by the 'Bangalore Mirror'. The final article was a revelation- my book had been overshadowed by my bonsai. It was a mixed feeling to see a long-neglected comrade basking in the limelight of a celebrity cousin. 

P.S. Thanks to Rajesh Rai who took this fabulous photo.

Read more in the Bangalore Mirror, 16 April 2014 

Seeking out the Essence of Life- Book Review in PBD, Cuttack

Another newspaper- The Political-Business Daily- has carried a review of the book in it's Cuttack (Odisha) edition on April 6, 2014. A beautifully written article that captures the essence of the stories with considerable sensitivity. I particularly liked the choice of ending in the piece- it has used one of my favorite sections of the story "Flesh & Blood".
Read more

Interview published in The Statesman

In its supplement published on 20 March 2014 The Statesman has carried an article by Shalini Mitra, renowned travel and lifestyle writer.
The reviews of Fly on the Wall ….. have been extremely encouraging. Read the article on
The Statesman (Reflecting Life)

An interview on YouTube

In this interview, I have expressed my reasons for writing short stories and the story behind the title of the book.
Hope you enjoy watching it on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVT-GgGh0Lc

Discussion on Language Diversity at the World Book Fair

New Delhi's cultural scene is buzzing with life. There are theatre shows, cultural performances and literary festivals, all taking place at a frenetic pace. It might throw some of us off-balance but there is definitely beauty in the chaos, especially if one has a ring-side view of the happenings.

One such event, the World Book Fair, has different connotations for people. Personally, I enjoy being enveloped by the smell, sight and feel of tomes. So, I welcomed an invitation to participate in a session titled "Language Diversity" in which I was asked to address the oft-debated strife between English and Hindi.

The event was graced by the presence of the recently awarded Ganesh Devy, who received the Padma Award and who is one of the most knowledgable Indian linguists walking the earth today. As someone mentioned in an aside, this was one award that was richly deserved.  We had Prof. Avadhesh Kumar Singh from IGNOU in the chair, Prof. Asha Sarangi from JNU, Dr. Vibha Chauhan from Delhi University and Dr. Suraj Rao from Sukhadia College, Udaipur. 

The discussion was enriching and informative. As speaker after speaker pointed out, the hegemony of Hindi and the deliberate attempt by the British to play the politics of language are clearly evident in documented history. There were numerous references to Mahatma Gandhi and his stand on the declaration of Hindi as the language of the Nation, followed by the huge controversy on the adoption of a uniform script. 

Amidst this research-laden academic discourse, my voice chafed by bringing the harsh and unmitigated truth from the heat and dust of India to the opulence of ivory towers. In my brief address, I chose to highlight the following points-

• The symbolism associated with English today as a tool for upward mobility. Even the most economically backward family aspires to educate their children in English medium schools, regardless of the capacity of either the teachers or the pupils. 
• The perception that Hindi was an unwanted imposition upon the large, non-Hindi speaking population of the country. Hindi can claim hegemony not through official diktats but when it appeals to readers and users.
• The politics of language that has been conveniently used by the ruling class and the reformers, whether it was the Reform movements of the 6th century B.C. or the British policy of linguistic segregation. The conflict is more concocted than real. If you ask the 'Aam Aadmi' (meaning as it was prior to Mr.Kejriwal and his party's arrival), it matters little whether something is articulated in English or Hindi. It is the content that is relevant. 
• The economics of linguistics, whether it is the alleged push to English writing from the Publication industry, the literary awards to ensnare readership from one of the most populous country's or the intrinsic surge in growth of a language that enables India to build bridges with the world. 
• Above all, the ability of a language, be it English or Hindi, to re-invent itself to survive. There is incredible diversity in India, and yet, today, multeity is shrinking across sectors- whether it is bio-diversity, handicrafts, festivals or cuisines. Heterogeneity is swamped by a curious similarity in the way we speak, dress or eat. Inevitably, linguistic multiplicity is also declining and there are frequent instances of inter-mingling and assimilation. When Charles Darwin spoke of survival of the fittest species and he might as well have been speaking of languages. To remain relevant, Hindi or English will require to adapt to the dynamic environment. in this endeavor, both are aided by technology, especially the universal appeal of television and Bollywood. 

My apprehension at being so boldly unequivocal about English being an undeniable part of modern India that cannot be obliterated, even if one is foolhardy enough to try, soon turned to relief. Not only did the Chairperson of the session, Mr.Avadhesh Kumar, support my heart-felt pitch for accepting the inevitable, but was blasphemous enough to suggest that Academia needs a reality-check. And soon the entire assembly was discussing not English vs Hindi but English & Hindi.

Photos of the Panel Discussion at Delhi Lit Fest 2014

Sangeeta Gupta, Shubha Sarma and Bhaskar Ghose enjoying Vandana Jena's remarks.

The panel discussion in full flow.

What have I said to bring a smile on the faces of the other panelists?

Bina Biswas, eminent author, asks a question about Fly on the Wall & Other Stories.

 Sharing a light moment with Bhaskar Ghose, Retired Secretary to Govt. Of India.

Thrilled to share the stage with Mrs.Vandana Kumari Jena, Secretary to Govt. of India

 All the panelists together. (L-R) Bhaskar Ghose, Sangeeta Gupta, Vandana Kumari Jena and Shubha Sarma.

With one of the organizers: Supriya Suri

Discussion at the Delhi Lit Fest 2014

The 2nd Edition of the Delhi Literary Festival, popularly known as Delhi Lit Fest (DLF), was recently held in Delhi. There were several discussions devoted to a wide variety of subjects. Given the large number of civil servants who have taken to writing, one session was devoted to the "Creative Pursuits of Civil Servants". The moderator was Mr.Bhaskar Ghose, who retired as Secretary to Government of India. I was part of the panel that also included Mrs.Vandana Kumari Jena, Secretary to Govt of India, Department of Land Records and Mrs.Sangeeta Gupta, Commissioner, Department of Income tax .
The session started at 11 am on 8 February, 2014 and despite it being a cold, overcast day, I was amazed to find a large number of people present in the auditorium. There were several others milling outside on the lawns, admiring the exhibits and book stalls.
The preliminary introductions were an eye opener. Mrs. Jena is a prolific writer, having penned more than 300 middles and a novel. Mrs. Gupta is a painter, writer and poetess, while Mr.Ghose has used his time after retirement to pen several books. Sharing the dais with such distinguished people made me feel extremely honoured.
Mr.Ghose flagged off the session by observing that there are 2 categories of civil servants. On a jocular note, he mentioned that after spending more than 30 years formulating categories and types for various government schemes, he could hardly desist from doing so today! Category A are those who write while in service, treading the fine line between work and passion, writing because one must and without compromising on the quality of work. And category B, are those who on attaining retirement, first write memoirs and then prescriptive books which express outrage against the system of which they are or were a part for several decades. My hunch is that he chose this line to open a discussion since all the other panelists were of category A and we would have bristled with anger if he had said anything else.
The discussion that followed felt decidedly au fait. Laments of being type-cast, branded or stereo-typed were heard from all speakers. The fear of being seen as a non-serious officer (since you preferred to write humorous middles, as Mrs.Jena did) or being seen as non-performing because you were not married to your work but had other interests, resulting in one trying to achieve double what others did (as Mrs.Gupta stated) were some of the observations.
An interesting nugget was shared by Mrs.Jena. She told the audience that as impressionable probationers, some well-meaning officer had advised them that with the passage of time, they should avoid metamorphosing into those driven to gasconade. Such persons are prone to starting every sentence with "When I was a DM/Collector…". To remain down-to-earth, it was suggested that one should cultivate and develop a hobby that one enjoys. Mrs.Jena modestly stated that since other art forms such as dance or music require some inherent talent, most people in her batch took to writing, since that was one skill that they were naturally adept at. And that is how she started on her voyage as an author.
As for my part, I happily admitted that for more than a decade I had remained a closet writer for fear of ridicule and being branded as the dreamy, writing-sorts. For in the IAS, writing is no longer considered the gold-dust that it used to be under its harbinger, the ICS. I remember that as a young officer, I found the earliest records of a district in the Gazetteers published by the British. Almost all of these were written by ICS officers. Apart from being treasure troves of information, these are delightful reads. Yet today, one thinks twice before disclosing one's alternate identity of being a cultural pretender.
On the whole, it was a delightful session where we took an unsuspecting audience by surprise and unburdened our heavy hearts on the travails of being a creative Civil Servant!

Review in Kashmir Times

Fly on the Wall and Other Stories

Author: Shubha Sarma

Publisher: Lifi Publications, New Delhi, India

Year of Publication: 2013

Price: Rs 240                                 Pages: 208

ISBN: 9789382536406

Reviewed by Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander

Writing Short Stories needs a different craft, hold on language and treatment of the subject. Not everybody can write a short story. Writing meaningful and interesting stories requires grasp and expertise of both the plot and language. Unlike writing novels, the genre of short stories is difficult because one’s canvass is small, hence economical use of prose and brevity become inevitable. Inspite of the hardwork and seriousness this craft and genre of writing deserves a lot of writers have proved their mettle while crafting beautiful stories. Shubha Sarma is one such writer whose collection of short stories is under review.

In his foreword to the collection K Satchidanandan writers, “Characters etched lucidly as on ivory, situations that look so real in their contexts, strategies that enhance the fascination of the unfolding narratives, subtle ways of critiquing society’s cant and the hidden greed and violence in human beings, the nuanced condemnation of patriarchy in its various crippling incarnations, styles and modes that perfectly suit the stories being told: all these make this an enchanting collection of highly readable short stories”. (P-xiii)

The collection derives its name from the lead story that describes the dark sexual and lustful character of a doctor whose death causes many people whom he had hurt, brutalized and even deceived to turn nostalgic but each one of them pays rich tributes to him at his funeral. The manner in which these well guarded secrets are remembered and the lip service paid to the deceased, portray a dichotomy, wherein lie the epitome of the story.

The violence that accompanies political ideologies, patriotism and patriarchy has been lucidly described in stories like Flesh and Blood and No Mans Land, where in tussle between loyalty and love ensures. The depiction of human qualities of love and empathy that sometimes over ride one’s loyalty towards an ideology and worldview make readers pause to introspect. The triumph of love over loyalty accompanied by violence conveys a strong message.   

Dinner at Bukhara gives a peep into the life of three friends who meet after a long time with their lives in turmoil. Infidelity, Disloyalty, sexual preferences are discussed among them.

Love appears to be a permanent theme and feature of Shubha’s stories. Sunset Surprise describes lovers who desire to fall in love and who come across each other at a meeting arranged by their parents. The Tabla’s Refrain describes the love of two siblings for their elder brother who has a penchant for music. The father refuses to buy Tabla for his son, so his two little siblings start to sell vegetables to collect money for buying the Tabla. These gestures and sacrifices for love make the reader aware about the belief of Shubha in love. While on one hand we have stories depicting love, Shubha doesn’t seem oblivious about the lack of love in society too. The story The Buda is a testimony of the same. How the old people are considered as burden, even their own family members want them dead. The character in the story mixes death with religious pilgrimage but survives and coincidentally brings money too. That changes the attitude of the family towards the oldie.

Being a civil servant the red tapism, corruption and flaws of the system become manifest in Shubha’s stories like Human(s) Matter, Bitter Sweet and Case No. 33/08. These stories depict how the system ousts those who try to work for its reform. How only the low level clerks meet the disciplinary action while the big fish go scot free. Plus in many cases the enquiries against the erring officials are conducted by other civil servants who subvert the process of justice and reinforce the belief that justice can’t be dispensed by the government.

The collection also contains other stories like Rain where the story weaves multi dimensionally involving multiple plots and characters. It imaginatively depicts what can happen in rain. A Chance Encounter deals with the subject of paranormal activity involving a spirit of a dead man. It is creepy. The Demons Within is a suspense filled mystery dealing with a blind double murder case.

Thus this collection has a story for reader of every taste. It has got no general theme, but it has stories that cater with different plots and characters. The reader finds it easy to be associated with any of these characters and the plots are drawn from day to day affairs. The storyline can be nicely comprehended. The collection is a recommended read as Shubha weaves her stories with human emotions and dedicated honesty of an emphatic soul that leaves an indelible imprint on the mind of her readers. I hope Shubha will continue to write lyrical prose with strong plots and characters in future too. I will look forward towards her next collection.  

M.H.A.Sikander is Writer-Activist based in Srinagar, Kashmir and can be reached at sikandarmushtaq@gmail.com

Coverage of the Book Discussion on DD News

The book, Fly on the Wall & Other Stories has received an overwhelming response from readers. After the last book discussion organized by the Civil Services Officers' Institute, New Delhi, another discussion was held in Oxford Book Depot, New Delhi on 28 December 2013. Some of the photos of the panelists, Shri Jawhar Sircar, Dr.Yashodhara Mishra and Dr.Asaduddin and other guests are available for viewing on the blog. The event was also covered by DD News and one can view the video on the link below:

http://youtu.be/Eh-e_2z37Iw

Some Photographs of the Book Discussion

A book discussion was organized on 28 December 2013 at Oxford Book Depot, New Delhi. The panel comprised of eminent persons from the field of literature- (from Left) Dr.Yashodhara Mishra, Guest Editor, Indian Literature; Dr.Mohd. Asaduddin, Head, Department of English, Jamia Milia Islamia and Shri Jawhar Sircar, Chief Executive Officer, Prasar Bharati and educationist. Here are the panelists and the author, Shubha Sarma.

The evening began with a short reading of excerpts from two stories from the book. The idea was to give the audience a flavour of the book. 

This was followed by comments from the panelists. Dr.Yashodhara Mishra also played the role of the Moderator of the session. Here Dr.Asaduddin is seen making a point.

A large number of friends and well-wishers turned up for the book discussion. Scholars such as Shri Nirmal Kanti Bhattacharjee and Mr.Sreenivas Rao, Secretary of the Sahitya Akademi graced the occasion.

Thank you Allhadini for making an effort to read the book, sharing your views on it and joining us for the book discussion.

Shri Jawhar Sircar, CEO, Prasar Bharati, listening to the other panelists.

Dr.Yashodhara Mishra, Guest Editor, Indian Literature, enthralled the audience with her incisive comments.

The publisher, Mr.Mittal, and his entire team was there to lend support.

Bhaskar, Anu, Sandeep, Mrinmayee and Kausalya were all ears for the discussion. Thank you for coming and above all, giving me your honest feedback about the book.

Mr.Jawhar Sircar's wit and energy was the highlight of the day. His comments were sharp and oh so true!

During the course of the discussion, Dr.Yashodhara Mishra wanted a particular phrase from the story, The Buda. Here, we are trying to find the exact reference.

My husband, Bhaskar, in deep thought.

Fly on the Wall & Other Stories on sale at Oxford Book Depot.