Books

Book Review: Gangster on The Run

Books / By / August 16, 2021

I hardly ever – actually only twice before – read non-fiction books. In fact, of the two I have read so far, I could complete only one and the other one’s still at 20%. That’s why when I was offered to review this book, I was a bit skeptical. However, Gangster on the Run by Puja Changoiwala was a good read and for most part help me in rapt attention.

About the Book

This is “the true story of a reformed criminal”. It is the astonishing tale of an underworld ganglord and a raging alcoholic who left behind his past and emerged victorious to become an ultra-marathoner. From the little boy who feared demons to the feared extortionist and hitman to the man who outran those demons – the book covers the various facets of the life of Rahul Ramakant Jadhav in detail.

The Story of The Gangster “Bhiku Mhatre”

Born in Maharashtra’s Dombivli in the outskirts of the then-Bombay, Rahul loved to draw and paint and write in his diary as a young boy. He was the youngest of 3 siblings in a family of very limited means. The poverty angered him; he couldn’t understand how they always had second-hand things despite his father working so hard. He decided at a very tender age that he would never be the same – he would get or take what he desired.

The young Rahul enjoyed history about warrior lords like Shivaji and Hitler – he adored the fact that their legacies lived beyond their lifetime be it fame or infamy. He too wanted to be remembered. During the 1980s, when Bombay was ruled by the underworld, Rahul followed their tales closely via newspapers and neighborhood gossip; he found their escapades, the battles, the bloodshed to be very thrilling! Thus was born the idea of a criminal life and from this ideology emerged the gangster who fashioned himself as “Bhiku Mhatre” (from the famous Bollywood movie ‘Satya’).

From thereon began the story of Bhiku bhai who slowly rose through the ranks of the underworld through his intelligence, his daring and his knack of collecting friends and followers. He introduced and used VoIP calls to avoid detection, he used the internet to research for numbers of intended extortion victims. He soon became the right-hand man of well-known don Jaidev Reddy. His arrest in 2007 changed everything.

The Story of the Ultra Marathoner Rahul Jadhav

After his arrest, his boss “Anna”, whom he thought of as a brother, abandoned him. At that time he was also a serial alcoholic, barely able to function without his drink. He was accused of multiple crimes across various jurisdictions of Mumbai and Thane; he was beaten and tortured, he suffered alcohol withdrawal reactions and reached his lowest of low.

Gradually he recovered and used his intelligence to fight his own cases and defend himself against all accusations. He was acquitted from some and then released on bail for the others. But after his release he descended into depression as he went back to his alcoholic ways. He went into de-addiction 6 times until he finally conquered his demons and went on to channel his energy and efforts to that of running and participating in marathons.

He turned his life around at the age of the age of 40, he earned & kept a job, married, gave de-addiction counselling and now aims to shatter the national stadium record some day. His greatest achievement to date is his run from Mumbai to Delhi in a fortnight where he covered a distance of about 1400kms (!!) in January 2019.

Rating

4.5 stars

I love how this book chronicles the life of Rahul Jadhav very faithfully, from his childhood to his teenage days to his entrance and then rise in the world of organized crime. The chapters are broken up very well and the style of writing is clean and very detail oriented. In between the story, there are excerpts from newspapers or FIRs in words of the actual event incidence.

The book is very interesting from the aspects of how the underworld operates to how the Indian judicial system operates. It’s an eye-opener.

It is an inspiring story of how one can change and reinvent oneself if given a second chance. Rahul fought for his second chance because of his family who stood by him through thick and thin and helped him out in every way to get that second chance at life.

The only small criticism I have is that, I would have loved to hear more about his journey as the marathoner, his mind’s evolution from utter darkness to a world of dreams and happiness.

Praise for the Book

“A thrilling, unputdownable read from a prolific journalist” – Rakesh Maria, former chief, Maharastra ATS and former Commissioner of Police, Mumbai

“A must-read for true-crime lovers” – Ravi Subramanian, bestselling author

“In this thoroughly enthralling read, Puja provides an insider’s view of the underworld in a kaleidoscopic testimony of crime and punishment, survival and redemption” – Siddharth Roy Kapur, film producer

About The Author

Puja Changoiwala is an award winning journalist and the author of the critically acclaimed true-crime book, The Front Page Murders: Inside the Serial Killings That Shocked India. As a journalist, she writes about the intersections of gender, crime, social justice, human rights and technology.

Rahul Jadhav at age 43

This post was written as part of Blogchatter Half Marathon and it’s Book Review Program.

Book Review: Beyond Fairy Tales by Deepika & Shalini

Books / By / July 23, 2021

We all have read and heard fairy tales in our childhood in some form or the other – perhaps Mom narrated it to us, or elder sister lent her book or we our self were gifted or bought an illustrated book. For me, I was gifted the “Grimm’s Fairy Tales” at a tender young age. The resplendent red letters-on-white printed on the hardbound cover was so attractive! But not more than the tales themselves. I devoured the pages reciting the stories of Rapunzel, Cinderella, Snow White, Frog Prince etc. Over the years the pages were thumbed through so many times that I knew the stories by heart – it was one of my best and well-loved books.

About the Book

But did I or any of us ever wonder the real meaning behind these stories? What did they mean, why did those characters behave in that way? Did we imbibe the essence of these stories subconsciously? Did our childish minds put their own connotation on them and act accordingly?

This is what Deepika Sharma explores in her book Beyond Fairy Tales. She has researched these fairy tales and given her views on the hidden meanings and significance of these so-called children’s stories. She explains what interpretation can be put on the actions of the lead characters and whether these tales are at all fit to be relayed to children. The book begins with an introductory chapter on what Fairy Tales are. To quote Deepika,

“A fairy tale generally has mythical creatures like dwarfs, elves, fairies, goblins, talking animals, witches, and usually magic.”

Book Cover

Each chapter is about one such fairy tale and is accompanied by poetic verses by Shalini at the end. Strictly speaking, not all the stories are fairy tales; some are fables (The Fox and the Grapes), and some are part of other general children’s stories (Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Aladdin and the Magic Lamp). Some are known tales like the ones I mentioned above but some are stories few of us would have heard of like The Story of Zoulvisia.

Lessons from our Childhood Stories

We know fables are meant to teach us some morals but fairy tales were never meant to do so. They were simply there for entertainment purposes, for the pleasure of reading and listening. However, children are sensitive and impressionable and therefore we must be careful what we let them read and hear.

Throughout these fairy tales, there are some recurring themes which are meant to teach us some lesson. This book looks at all such themes and analyses the teachings behind them.

  • Prince or princesses wander into the forest despite being warned not to; there they meet some evil which aims to harm them. Lesson: listen to your elders when they warn you against something. Thumbs Up
  • The Price or Princess accepts gifts from unknown people and are faced with horrors of some kind. Lesson: Do not talk to strangers. Thumbs Up
  • Princesses marry the handsome prince who rescues them from imprisonment or spell of some other wicked fate. Lesson: Females are obliged to return a favor by handing over their lives. Thumbs Down
  • People are judged on the basis of their looks and are treated accordingly. Thumbs Down.
  • Hard work, knowledge, honesty, loyalty are admirable traits which should be the basis on which relationships are built. Thumbs Up.

These and many such lessons are interwoven in the fairy tales which Deepika skillfully interprets and draws out from each story.

Apart from this, every story is prefaced with its history – its origin, various versions and changes over the ages and finally the modern-day version which we all know.

The Poetic Verses

Shalini breaks down each of the fairy tales/stories into multi-verse poems which partially narrate the whole tale and partially speak of the moral of the story. I am in awe of these poems – to be so creative and write an age-old story in such poetic way is absolutely amazing. And they all rhyme! That astounds me. Some extracts from the poems:

Poetic Verse from Hansel and Gretel
Poetic Verse from Thumbelina
Poetic Verse from Iron Hans

Feedback & Special Mention

I really have no negative criticism for this one except a small one. Sometimes the story and the lesson mingles up and the chapter meanders a bit. And since the stories are mentioned in summary, sometimes there seems to be some sort of de-link. But this is just in some stories and a minor point. The concept of the book is unique and the writing is very enchanting.

Special mention to this poem which I can so relate to!

YOUNG MAN

Hey Pop, what do you know about hip hop!

There’s so much fun and rhyme, the best way to spend time.

And have you ever heard of rap wars, and what they are meant for,

Two bands stand face to face, twisted caps with an open lace, They call out high and loud, and spread a craze in the crowd.

Now that’s what I call entertainment, keeping the abuses in containment.

FATHER WILLIAM

The music in my days, scattered melodious rays

Oh! It touched the soul inside, on the waves of bliss I used to ride.

What’s there in these songs that you like, not a single right chord they strike.

Go! Get those tapes that make all feet tap, and I bet you’ll forget your rap.

In Summary

Sometimes though, a story can be read just for the fun of it and I can vouch for the fact that I had fun reading them as a child. However, when I do read them to my child someday I will perhaps edit the stories based on the analysis mentioned in this book. Read the book and be delighted and learn some valuable lessons. Download the ebook here.

This review was written as part of Blogchatter Book Review Program especially the Ebook Carnival series.

Read my other book reviews here.

Book Review: Bloggers Unplugged

Books / By / July 20, 2021

A blog is very frequently referred to as an individual’s online diary. While the essence of this statement is true, it’s not all that easy going – speaking from experience of doing both. I have been writing a diary since I was a child, scribbling away every night about my day, about the highlights of my life and about my wants and desires. I used to write as if I was chatting to my best friend! Gradually, the nightly ritual diminished to few days a week, which turned into months (when I had too much built up and just had to spill!) and now it has completely stopped. Time seems to fall short always.

Blogging is all the above and much, much more. One must create fresh content on a regular basis which may or may not be inspired from their own life. Then there are the technicalities which sometimes seem like a burden – “Can’t I just write and the rest will work out eventually?”. Well, not really – there’s a lot to look out for and take care of if you aim to be a serious blogger. This is what author Ruchi Verma explains in her book Bloggers Unplugged – “a sneak peek into bloggers’ life”.

About the Book

The book contains “26 Lessons from Bloggers Life” (from the book cover) where blogger Ruchi Verma explains all there is to know about being a successful blogger. Ruchi is a multiple award-winning blogger who’s been in this field for 7 years. So, she speaks entirely from her experience when she enlists 26 ways to help a blogger; giving an idea of what goes into creating and maintaining a blog.

Book Cover

A Wellspring of Information

“There are many budding bloggers, new bloggers who love to put in their hard work but still not aware of some or many terms. This book will give them a ray of guidance to work better in their blogging journey.”

I am a new blogger – just started out last year. And I am the perfect model of what Ruchi says in her preface as quoted above. I work hard at creating content, trying to make each post look interesting, taking part in campaigns to increase exposure but I barely know most of the terms and what they stand for that I, as a blogger, should be aware of.

Each chapter of this book is about a term – technical or generic or commercial – which a blogger needs to know about. It explains about what the term stands for, why it is important and how a blogger needs to go about executing it AND a secret tip at the end of each chapter.

There’s a fountain of information in each chapter, and all of it’s related to a) how to write better content and why it’s necessary, b) how to promote a blog, or) how to keep track of how well the blog’s doing and then take steps to improve on it. There’s also DOs and DONTs which every blogger must follow.

There are terms I know about but don’t always follow, but after this book I plan to explore them and incorporate them, like:

  • Google Analytics, Domain Authority and Page Authority (from Growth chapter)
  • Adding keywords – long tail, short and medium (she explains with example in Keywords chapter)
  • Media Kit

The Illustrations

Every chapter is accompanied by her illustration which I adore – they are cute, funny and to-point. They demonstrate how a blogger’s mind work vis-à-vis a normal person. I like the effort and thought that has gone behind these pictures.

  • Illustration 1
  • Illustration 2
  • Illustration 3

I would also have liked…

Some small measure of feedback: Not all chapters have examples to drive home the point of those terms and that is something I would have liked in the book. And, for the Themes chapter, a step by step guide would have helped better for newcomers and to-be bloggers. Additionally, an introductory chapter on how to start the blog, from setup to first post would have been a superb help.

To Conclude…

The book is a mine of knowledge which any blogger will be happy to use as a guide. So, definitely go check out the book if you are a blogger or aim to be one (secretly or otherwise!). Download the book here.

This review was written as part of Blogchatter Book Review Program especially the Ebook Carnival series.

Book Review: Incredible India Bucket List by Aditya Sathe

Books, India, Travel / By / June 20, 2021

India is a land of such diverse topography and natural beauty, of rich heritage and culture, of ancient history and mythology – that one need never step out of the country to explore and satisfy their travel lust. And that is what author Aditya Sathe describes with ample evidence in his book Incredible India Bucket List.

“At very beginning I want to thank my motherland, India for being so Incredible with such a variety of attractions that made the choice of these 26 places so difficult!” says Aditya at the beginning of his acknowledgment. So true is this!

Book Cover

What’s in the Book

The book enlists and elaborates on 26 places of attractions pan-India, covering places of historical importance, religious significance, architectural marvels, or natural wonders. Majority of the attractions are hidden gems which a lot of us are unaware of, of the fact that these deeply interesting and important places even exist in our own backyard sometimes! The list includes temples like Sun Temple and Airavatesvara Temple, monuments like Warangal Fort and India Gate, scenic destinations like Ziro Valley and Loktak Lake. The index of names itself whets up your appetite for forging ahead with your reading super quick. And, to immediately set out for that destination! Sigh, if only we could.

What I Love…

Each chapter is about one destination – beginning with each letter of the alphabet. What I love about this book is the way each chapter is broken up into 3 segments – a background story, the noteworthy features of the place and what we should check out or look for when we visit these attractions. Each segment contains a wealth of information about India’s past, her culture or about her inherent landscape and scenery. For example, how Vikramshila grew to be a prominent center of learning during the Pala Empire, at par with Nalanda is a very interesting read and a highly engaging chapter. The Edakkal caves have a connection dating back to The Ramayana.

There are detailed notes on each of the places which helps you form a picture of the places being described. The author gives you helpful tips about when to visit and why, for example: during the festivals of Ziro Valley; and which particular facet of the place you should definitely visit and take a note of. The pictures themselves are borrowed and Aditya gives the requisite credit wherever due.

Trivia

I have been to a few of the places detailed in Aditya’s book but I still did not a few of these very interesting trivia/facts. Did you know that Gir Forest has over 300 species of birds and 37 species of reptiles? Or, did you know that the Marina Beach emerged as a result of construction of wave breakers of the harbour? We all know about the change of guards ritual in London’s Buckingham Palace, but were you aware that you can witness a Change of Guards ceremony held every Saturday at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi? All these and much, much more can be found in Aditya Sathe’s book. Download the ebook here.

Minor criticism

There’s not much to dislike about this book. Only couple of extra things which I would have liked – references to where this information is gathered from and indication of the current location of each these sights because it’s not always clear where we have to head to. But these are minor, there’s a whole host of things to absolutely love about this book.

Fascinating Encyclopedia of Indian Heritage

Once this pandemic is over or atleast in control and it’s possible to travel again, when you are planning your next trip, do refer to this book to help influence and guide your travel plans. I assure you, you will not be disappointed. Aditya Sathe is a travel fanatic like me and hopes to visit these places himself soon.

Image sourced from i.pinimg.com

This review was written as part of Blogchatter Book Review Program especially the Ebook Carnival series.

Blogchatter Reading Challenge 2021

Books / By / July 19, 2021
Book stack

I have been a bookworm all my life; ever since the time I have a memory of, I have had a book in my hand. Nothing gave me more happiness than curling up with a book and getting lost in the world of fiction; it still does. Be it Enid Blyton or Nancy Drew or Robin Cook or Nora Roberts – I just gobbled up those books and was always hungry for more.

As a child, most of my free time was taken up by reading. Once I started reading, I got so lost in a book that everyday chores were forgotten. What was food and sleep when you could read? I remember finishing Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix in 2.5 days flat!

Reading helped me build up my vocabulary, know about the world and its people, live and travel vicariously…

However, adult life and its vagaries sometimes leave little time for such simple pleasures. I keep meaning to read a particular book but somehow cannot seem to make time for it. Also, sadly, the advent of OTT platforms have cut into my reading time.

In a bid to do more reading, I’m participating in the #TBRChallenge by Blogchatter. My goal this year is to read 15 books. I hope I can live up to this target and rekindle my friendship with books.

Follow this space for book reviews of some of the books I will be reading this year. Happy Reading!

Book Review: Love, Loss, Life, Laughter and More by Ritu Kakar

Books / By / July 22, 2021
Book review Ritu Kakar

Written as part of Blogchatter Book Review Program

Everyday Life Stories With A Twist

Love, Loss, Life, Laughter and More is a collection of 10 short stories by Ritu Kakar. The blurb about the author says “she tries to keep her stories as real as she can”. That is exactly what these stories are – real, everyday and identifiable to each of us.

They are about struggles and triumphs, about loss and victory but overall they are about a new beginning – the start of something promising. Though there is a common trend among the stories, there is something unique about each of them – a twist, a turn, a facet unexpected but welcome. Some stories are quirky meet cute, some are about emergence of a new life while some are hopeful new beginnings. I like the author’s grasp on emotions, how she builds up a story and her description of characters.

My favorite ones are Blind Date, My Beautiful Thief and Second Chance. Blind Date is about how love can be found in unlikely places – Vidhyut and Mishika’s interactions are witty and fun. Second Chance is how a woman throws off the shackles of tradition and society and stands up to her abusive in laws to begin a new chapter in her life. My Beautiful Thief is the standout, unexpected – you must read to find out more.

There are a few things which I did not like about the book. They were such that they took away from the enjoyment of the book to a large degree. A lot of the stories are too similar; it felt to me that they need not have been part of the same book. “Love Me Before You” bears striking resemblance to “Second Chances” and “B.O.B” is very similar to “Sex in the City”. Again, “One Memorable Night” is on the same tone as “Stolen Moments”. They are based against different backdrops but are too close to each other on the main theme. Secondly, the language. There are quite a few grammatical errors in this book. Bad english annoys me a great deal – there are tense issues, passive/active voice issues and mostly the “person” of the story. One line is in the third person while the next is in first person. That put me off a bit.

But all said, I do like the book and the stories themselves – these slice of life stories. Because, that is what life is – mostly same but one small thing which makes it unique for the individual. Do read for feel-good factor!