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Sometimes the world feels busy and you feel left out Sometimes everyone seems happy and you are sad, Times when nothing seems to go all right  Those are times to hold on to Hope and Light Sometimes everybody has purpose but you, Sometimes everything has meaning but what you do, Times when things can seem unbearably dull Those are times to reconnect with people Reach out and talk Lend your hand You will regain your faith And find meaning in life

Visited Goa recently on vacation. Expected verdant beaches and laid-back enjoyment, that is so typical of the place. Also expected to glimpse Goa's colourful folk culture and experience first hand the warm hospitality of the locals. Barring the last, i.e. the warmth and friendliness of the locals, all the other experiences remained elusive. The popular beaches were overcrowded and shockingly dirty (for which we tourists are solely to blame). Coconut and palm trees have almost disappeared from most beaches. The plethora of shops selling cola and chips have elbowed out the cocum and green coconut sellers. The refreshing natural drinks are way better than the synthetic soft drinks, but obviously the vendors of the latter have more muscle power. It was also a shock to learn that most seafood was overpriced and unavailable. I was looking forward to sampling local seafood fare, but almost fell off my table to see the prices of the pomphret at INR 550+! Now that's an exorbita...

Today is the 123rd birthday of the grand dame of detective fiction, Dame Agatha Christie . What a wonderful repertoire of detective fiction novels, starting from 'The Mysterious Affair at Styles'! I have always marvelled at her genius in devising and unravelling complex mysteries replete with dramatic and romantic tension. Her quirkily brilliant Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot , and the good old homely, solidly English Jane Marple are two of English literature's greatest fictional detectives. One could not be more different than the other. Poirot is proud, often rude and unapologetically vain about the quality of his " little grey cells ". While one marvels at his genius and unparalleled acumen in solving puzzling cases, his attitude to poor Hastings and other police detectives often put us off. His nose up in the air, he looks down upon all us ordinary mortals, often mocking us for not being able to deduce the "logical conclusion". But hats off ...

All journeys we undertake are journeys of the heart. This statement can sum up the theme of Divakaruni’s latest work Oleander Girl. Mapping the journey of protagonist Karobi (Oleander in English-from which the novel gets its name), the book takes us through her life and the lives of its myriad characters. The journey is both literal as well as internal, a metaphysical journey towards personal growth.  Her cocooned existence shattered by an unexpected revelation, Karobi launches on a search for her mysterious father. This takes her away from her closest people, and pushes her into an unfriendly, hostile America. She discovers the wells of strength and resolve within her after battling the injustices and scars that life deals out to her. Her very foundations of trust are shattered, yet she retains a child-like innocence and basic faith in life. Karobi’s innate goodness shines through and touches all characters positively. She is the touchstone against which each character is...