Out of form...what it means

 

Just finished reading Pride, Prejudice and Punditry by Shashi Tharoor. It's a book of collection of his own essays, some fictional work and some non fiction appeared elsewhere earlier with some modifications to make them more relevant with the current times. In some sense this is autobiographical work but not an autobiography. He has taken essays from numerous books he has written and also transcripts of some of his lectures delivered in various forums over decades. What makes the book interesting is that the subjects/topics covered are vast and numerous.. he has devoted chapters to Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Maulana, Bose, Frontier Gandhi and some other freedom fighters, the real and learned people who were responsible for ending centuries old colonial rule in the country to make India a free country. He has talked about the literary prowess of Nehru, all Nehru's critics must read this chapter to know who he was. Today's leadership appear completely illiterate infront of Nehru's knowledge of the country, that of religions and politics. He was indeed a visionary and a true democratic leader who put India on the global platform as a leader of non aligned movement, building friendships across and making India count, bringing it out of  the shadow of 200+ year of colonial rule, in just under two decades that he was at the helm of directing the path of progress.

He talks about his days in school, his days in St Stephen's , his literary activities that started from school days, his contribution to the then popular youth iconic magazine JS and untimely demise of that legendary youth magzine. He has talked about his days in the UN and his rise in the organisation to the level when only fate and global politics snatched the UN top job from him. His "accidental" entry into politics in India and making a mark there and also how he survived the fellow politicians who had little or no connection to literature/ literary activities (he didn't mention that, it's my reading between the lines).

Lots of interesting personal anecdotes from his childhood till now that makes the book interesting and readable.

However, I think reading his books whose excerpts are taken would be much more interesting, I read only  one of his recent books (the battle of belonging) and found that fascinating. But Pride, Prejudice and Punditry gives ideas about his other work and encourages you to read whatever he has written.. you love the description, style of story telling, language. Reading his work takes away your phobia of keeping a dictionary by your side.. even when you don't know a word, it doesn't take away the joy of reading and you learn the meaning and context.

The book has 556 pages, one may find it long, but the hardbound book makes reading a little easy especially when you are doing so not reading sitting in a chair.  

 It's been quite a while, almost six months, since I wrote anything on this blog. Somehow, the reading, writing, cooking all slowed down for me for some reasons... as they say in cricket when a player doesn't perform he is out of form, I never understood, why people in practice and with the same knowlege  and expertise don't perform and go "out of form", I got some idea now that something keeps your "mood" away from giving your best. I should have read twice as much and written about all the books , at least the ones in the picture and a couple of more that I read and enjoyed and wanted to share with you, but didn't. Not sure, if I got my form back and if it is so, I will soon be writing reviews of this pile and more.. all work of geniuses that teaches you lessons of life.

Till we meet again.

Pradeep/May 06, 2022.