I am back in Mumbai after a week of heady indulgence in the beauty and the tranquility of my home town at times rudely punctured by the voices of many faiths, reminding the flock to pay obeisance to their master and saviour. Unfortunately, these kind of intrusions have been on the rise of late of course with the acquiescence of the authorities.This brings to my mind the quote of Bertrand Russell: “As soon as we abandon our own reason and are content to rely upon authorities, there is no end to our troubles.”
Having a lot of time at my disposal at the Cochin Airport, on my way back a few nights ago, I, as is my wont, walked into the book shop there and happened to pick up Arguably by Christopher Hitchens, a voluminous and heavy book, a compendium of essays on politics, literature and religion, which perhaps could be used, in diversion, as a kind of dumb-bell, when the brain gets fatigued.
Just going through his introduction to the book has already got me eating out of his hands in a sense, though he is no more. His command of the language is good, profound, witty and of such a level that, being an engineer primarily, I may have to go the extra length to assimilate the inner essence of his book to its fullest extent.
This in a way reminds me of the times when I had read a lot of books of Russian authors. Most of the books were over 800 pages and with a huge cast—great grandfather/grandmother downwards, with all the attendant family members, servants etc. The only solution was to memorize the cast involved; the first half hour of reading was dedicated to this, and thereafter it was smooth sailing. Some kind of a parallel may have to be devised in this instance too.
Zachariah Philip (1975)
Upon recently opening a diary that had been kept for many years, I unexpectedly discovered an old inland letter within its pages. This extensive letter began with a warm greeting, “My dear daughter…” and filled the entire page, ending with the phrase, “Your ever-loving father.” It was a heartfelt correspondence written by my wife’s father in 1985. Unfolding its pages stirred a wide range of emotions, from nostalgia and warmth to exhilaration and happiness.
A period when there were no mobile phones…, A period when the expressions of intellect, affection, and all forms of love were conveyed through the endearing phrases like “my dear” or “your ever-loving”….,A period when letters were cherished for many years….
Significant effort, care, and thoughtfulness went into crafting such letters. The dedication evident in the hand-writing of a letter showcased a degree of simplicity, care, and thoughtfulness. Frequently, handwritten letters carried an emotional weight. This was due to the careful selection of words and the genuine feelings that were inscribed on the pages. Letters from our loved ones served as clear manifestations of personal connection, where the precious time and thoughts of the writer were infused into the pages of correspondence. These letters represented a tender gesture and a tangible reminder of the emotions exchanged between the writer and the recipient…!
T Nanu (1975)