Chasing the Monsoon ~ Alexander Frater 31 of 25

 

 *Chasing the Monsoon* by Alexander Frater is a vivid travelogue that blends journalism, memoir, and meteorology, chronicling Frater’s journey across India as he follows the southwest monsoon. It’s beautifully written, humorous, and deeply reflective.

Frater's book is not just about chasing rain—it's about chasing life, culture, memory, and meaning in a country where the monsoon is both a hope and a disaster. His writing is immersive, sensitive, and often hilarious, capturing the madness and magic of India during the rains. It’s also deeply personal, tied to his childhood memories in Vanuatu and his fascination with weather.

>

> “I had long loved the monsoon, loved the way it came darkly, swelling the heart with its murky light and sound.”

**Chapter-wise Summary**

(Note: The book doesn’t have formal chapters with names, but here’s a breakdown by sections of the journey.)

**1. Prelude – Childhood and Obsession**

Frater reflects on his boyhood in Vanuatu and how his fascination with tropical storms and rain began. He introduces his dream of following the Indian monsoon from its very start.

**2. Kerala – Where the Monsoon is Born**

Frater begins in Thiruvananthapuram, awaiting the official arrival of the monsoon. He mingles with meteorologists, fishermen, and locals, absorbing the rituals and tension around the first rain.

> “In Kerala, they said, you don’t see the monsoon coming—you hear it.”

**3. Coastal Karnataka & Goa – Joyous Downpour**

As the rains travel north, Frater joins the celebration. There’s music, greenery, and a festive air. He travels by bus and train, soaking in the scenery and madness.

**4. Mumbai – Chaos and Romance**

The monsoon hits Mumbai hard. Streets flood, trains halt, but people adapt. Frater captures the city’s monsoon resilience and the intimacy of its rain-soaked life.

**5. Gujarat & Rajasthan – Drylands Meet the Deluge**

He travels into drier regions, where the arrival of rain is more dramatic. Farmers rejoice. There are also stories of superstition and climate myths.

**6. Delhi – Political Weather**

In Delhi, Frater meets scientists, bureaucrats, and weather experts. The capital's monsoon is less poetic—there’s cynicism, bureaucracy, and frustration.

 **7. Cherrapunji – The Wettest Place on Earth**

His journey ends in Meghalaya’s Cherrapunji. It rains heavily, relentlessly. Frater reflects on memory, longing, and how the monsoon has shaped not just lands but minds.

> “Here, rain is not weather—it is a condition of existence.”

A Grain of Sand ~ Narendra Murty 30 of 25

 

A Grain of Sand : Decoding Images, Rituals and Myt by Narendra Murty is again borrowed courtesy @CochinBookClub and @Harish. It is the tendency of human mind to remain enamoured by the symbols instead of breaking free from them. 

This has been beautifully expressed by Sankara in this manner:

O Lord! Pardon my three sins. I have in contemplation clothed Thee in form. Thee that art formless; I have in praise described Thee; who are ineffable; and in visiting temples, I have often ignored Thy Omnipresence. 

Santana Dharma, though it uses symbols profusely - in its images, in its Rituals and mythology - also urges us to go beyond them so that we obtain that heavenly Amrita to the Divine experience. 

When we try to show a lost/invisible object to a seeker, we guide them through the known path/route. So are the objects used to explain a child in his journey. To cling to it even after ages is mere folly.

This book reminded me of one Achan had got years before titled 'Hindukal Areyendathu'. 

Thanks, Gratitude and Salutation to Sri Aurobindi,  Narendra Murthy, Cochin Book Club and Harish.

Here’s a quick chapter‑wise breakdown of A Grain of Sand based on its structure and known themes (plus the six‑section hint from the publisher):

Section A: Invitation to Symbolism

Chapter 1 introduces the language of sacred symbols—why the veil needs decoding and how image, ritual, and myth form one cohesive symbolic tapestry  .

Section B: Images & Iconography

Chapters 2–3 explore key deity figures:

Nataraja: circle of flames, cosmic dance, Shiva as universal rhythm.

Kali: garland of heads, symbolism of destruction-renewal, her posture and attributes  

Section C: Ritual Practices

Chapters 4–5 decode typical rituals:

Pradakshina (circumambulation): the spiritual geometry of walking around the divine.

Aarti, Visarjan, Yajna: how fire, offering, and immersion carry deeper metaphysical intentions  .

Section D: Mythology as Internal Map

Chapters 6–7 reframe classic myths:

Samudra Manthan, Devas and Asuras, Pandava/Kaurava dilemmas: not just stories, but mirrors to inner transformation and cosmic balance  .

Section E: Upanishadic & Vedic Foundations

Chapters 8–9 connect rituals and images to Om, Agni, Surya, and teachings from the Upanishads and Rig Veda—showing how ancient Sanskritic thought underpins visible forms  .

Section F: Metaphysical Integration

Chapters 10–11 weave it all together:

How symbols across image, ritual, myth and scripture form an integrated path of self-realization.

Reading reality as divine narrative, and reclaiming spiritual depth in everyday worship  

It’s a progressive journey—from seeing (images) to doing (rituals), to knowing (myths & scriptures), to ultimately being (symbolic integration). Each chapter layers new meaning as you move through the sections.

Heart Lamp ~ Banu Mushtaq 29 of 25

 

Lamplight on HeartLamp

Cover reminded me of 'Traveling with Pomegranates' by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor', looks like both are in a way, spiritual journeys. One through short, searing fiction rooted in Kannada women's experiences, and the other through memoir, where a mother and daughter explore identity, faith, and transformation while traveling.

Layered, bold, and rooted in rich cultural soil. Banu Mushtaq's stories are known for exploring identity, womanhood, and resistance with quiet fire, and Deepa Bhasthi’s translation likely preserves that depth and dignity beautifully.

The pomegranate becomes this shared metaphor across cultures and genres—a fruit of memory, fertility, hidden complexity, and resilience. One book holds it like a symbol of womanhood across generations, the other as a lamp of layered inner lives.

 While it is a critique of patriarchy, gender dynamics, poverty and inequality, the stories are leavened with a generous sprinkling of humour. The quirky characters like the Arabic teacher who loves cauliflower manjuri, the drunken painter Nisar and the little boy who plies his grandmother with Pepsi in the guise of the drink of heaven........

Reminds me of my feelings about much of contemporary fiction, that characters are often unidimensional. Banu Mushtaq is in another league with exquisitely drawn characters.

Much has already been said about the masterly translation, the effortless use of Kannada/Urdu words without italics. Masterly.

The last story.....here I have to quote - 

Ultimately, Be a Woman, Once, O Lord is not just a poem—it is a protest. It calls for the dismantling of systems that normalize female suffering and demands that both the divine and society confront the reality of what it means to be a woman. Through this bold appeal, Mushtaq asserts the need for empathy, equality, and divine justice.

"Some of us step on the cindering balls of coal and carve a space for ourselves. Some of us learn to exist too close to the fire. None of us are left unscarred."

With piercing insight and a storyteller’s grace, Banu Mushtaq lays bare the raw, unspoken truths of womanhood in this relatable collection. Her characters are not just fictional—they are reflections, echoes, and realities drawn from every corner of the world. Written in an intimate, colloquial style, these stories resonate deeply, making them feel less like tales and more like shared experiences.

I read the book in a single sitting, not because it was easy, but because it was impossible to look away. Mushtaq’s background as a journalist, lawyer, and activist pulses through each page, infusing her narratives with authenticity, empathy, and power. Her sharp observations on human nature and emotional resilience make this collection unforgettable—both in its pain and its quiet triumphs.

🌟 **Heart Lamp – Discussion Guide**

#### 📚 General Themes to Explore:

* **Identity & Belonging:** How do the characters grapple with gender, religion, caste, or class?

* **Resistance & Silence:** What does resistance look like in the world of these stories—loud or quiet? Internal or external?

* **Body & Desire:** How is the body portrayed—as sacred, political, trapped, or liberated?

* **Women’s Inner Lives:** Do you notice moments when the characters' inner worlds speak louder than the plot?

#### 💬 Conversation Starters:

1. **Which story struck you most so far—and why?**

2. **Do you feel the translation carries the emotion and context well?**

   *(This is a good way to appreciate Deepa Bhasthi’s work too.)*

3. **Did any story remind you of someone you know—or yourself?**

   *(Personal reflections often lead to great conversations.)*

4. **How does the author portray faith or religion—personal, cultural, or critical?**

5. **What emotions did the stories leave you with—anger, tenderness, guilt, hope?**

#### 🕯️ Symbolism Clues:

* **The Pomegranate (cover)** – Might stand for the heart, secrets, or seeds of many stories. .

* **“Heart Lamp”** – What does it mean? Is it about keeping love, memory, or identity.

Am lucky—discussing books sounds like a rare treat.

Basics of Investing

*CA S Srinivasa Raghavan*

Founder, HappyMentor.com

*This session is for educational and awareness purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice.*

 Don't try to second guess the market.

Have an advisor. Like a driver.

Have three things:

Insure first, invest next.

Have 3 investment:

1. Life Insurance

2. Medical Insurance

3. SIP

Ditto Insurance advisors.

Work for something better,but be grateful for what you have.

Key to success:

ACR. Accept the Unchangable. Remove yourself from totally unacceptable situation.

 Get out of people who can drain your energy.  Somepeople can drain and you cannot avoid. Use mudras.

 Happiness is in small things, Success is in big things, Meditation in nothing,  God is in everything.

8 Pillar Approach he would take in next session.

Inspiring Woman

 Koneru Humpy

Leena Nair

Justice Leila Sath

Indira Nooyi

Neena Gupta

 

In an industry that often shuts doors on women who don’t fit the mold,

Neena Gupta stood tall against society, judgement, and even loneliness.

In the 90s, she made a bold choice.

To raise her daughter Masaba as a single mother—without a husband, without validation, and without apology.It wasn’t just uncommon… it was unforgivable in the eyes of many.

She faced whispers.

She faced rejections from filmmakers who said:

“You’re too bold, too different, too much.”

Yet, behind those silences and slammed doors,

She was building a life full of truth, courage, and quiet love

Years later, she posted on Instagram:

“I live in Mumbai and work in good Hindi films. Looking for good parts to play.”

That one honest post opened a thousand hearts.

Today, she’s not just a star, she’s a symbol of second chances, of women rewriting their own stories 🌸

This isn’t just Neena Gupta’s journey.

It’s a message to every woman who chose herself, even when the world didn’t.

#NeenaGupta #SingleMotherStrong #RealLifeHeroine #WomenWhoInspire #MasabaMasaba

(Neena Gupta, struggle, single mother, bold choices, Masaba, rejection, strength, motherhood, Indian cinema, women empowerment, courage, second chances)

Future of Leadership