ॐ साई राम
Is there such a thing as space-driven motivation to write?
To find
this I came to a café near my place. Well I have been to other cafes too in Mumbai
– it’s research after all … and coffee.
What did
these spaces have in common? Soft jazz music, crowd that is not chattering away
like its end of the world, solitude in a khopcha (corner) if you’re lucky to
find one 😉
But can this not be found at home? I definitely am lucky to have such a space and blessed with the ability to make good coffee.
Well that and my trusty frother.
My room, my work desk is a place for inspiration.
Why am I
here instead of being at that godly desk which is a true inspiration? Well for
one, any space that is your own, used for your day work tends to be over
utilized. Then you either are doom scrolling or just staring away at nothingness,
or the best (ahem…) of all TV / Netflix.
Let’s just
say “ghar ki murgi dal barabar”. Sometimes, you need some external stimulation
and the extra kharch to ignite your mind. No pain no gain (The walk here was
painful – don’t ask). The money that I spend on coffee – lets call it worth it –
fuel costs, you see. Hehe.
Does it
work? Well, with the costs – It better.
I am here
writing this piece sipping on my fancy pour over medium dark roast iced, not to
take away from the taro bubble tea prior to this.
Conclusion:
Some places carry a spark that inspire you to create something new. But are
they the ultimate motivation – no!
You’re your
own inspiration, where you are and how you act when the inspiration comes
matters.
Spaces
change, Inspiration fades, But if you don’t light the match when the
idea comes, no café, no khopcha, no pour-over can save you.
So now that
I have given my two cents and the place has finally started to feel like a date
place for couples to chatter away, time for me to leave. Ciao!
Side side note: Try the medium dark roast pour over iced at third wave. Thank me later.
I want to cry but my tears come to the fore and dry,
I want to complain but before I can, their complaint reaches me first,
I want to empathize with myself but I can only think of them,
The blow I felt did not break anything but has gotten hold of something,
The attack I made, broke a system in them – I could see it so clearly.
And yet, I am not guilty of where I stand, I somehow knew this was to be, one day maybe.
The one day turned out to be the other day for me.
I am not sure of what I should console myself?
Breaking a heart, but mine was broken too!
Crossing a boundary head high with respect, but my boundary was crossed too with no respect.
I see clearly and yet there is a fog that dampens the heart.
For what should I shed these tears? The question boggles me and stops me from a release.
And here I am writing it down, because I won’t say it out loud – I am not fine, Main theek nahi huin.
Moving to Pune was a culture shock i had not expected.
Being an Indian who grew up outside India, returning here and trying to adjust to new life was not easy.
Surprisingly though, it was not the big things but the little things, everyday things which seemed so out of proportion. It felt like walking a line between being an outsider and an insider all at once.
And then I saw Singham in a theatre near me 😉
The only real reason for me to watch this movie was Ajay Devgan who had previously impressed me with his range in The Legend of Bhagat Singh and of course, Golmaal.
Sitting in that theatre, while the crowd hooted, whistled at the dialogues and clapped at the action scenes. And that climax. First time I was privy to this part of the culture, did not feel alone and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Singham wasn’t just a film. It was a welcome.It was loud, dramatic, unapologetically masala and full of intention. Ajay Devgan’s performance struck a balance between strength and sincerity, and I saw a versatility in him that I hadn’t noticed before. This wasn’t about logic or subtlety, it was about emotion, power, and justice all delivered with raw energy. It was comforting. It made sense that it wasn’t just a film.
People often dismiss masala cinema as brain rot. But when made with heart, these films speak directly to the emotional core. They offer belonging. They let you surrender for two hours and feel part of something familiar. Something deeply Indian.
Give me Singham, Singham Returns, Chennai Express, or Golmaal 3 and you’ll find me seated, popcorn in hand, ready to laugh, cheer, and forget for a while that I ever felt like a stranger here.
Just as I am here now sitting with Mom watching the movie for the umpteenth time.
These films are the stress buster needed when life gets all too real.
Kafka Tamura, the strongest 15-year-old in the world.
If you know
and are here, chances are you already know him and have read his story OR are
wanting to know about him. If it’s the latter, I would suggest stop here and go
read Kafka on the shore by Haruki Murakami first. I have not read other works
of Murakami yet, however, for this one I can say it is meant to be read and
interpreted with a fresh perspective without external bias.
While the
book in itself is a whole world, I would like to shift my focus and bring my
observation for the three characters I enjoyed very much:
Kafka Tamura – The conscious thinker:
We are
introduced to his world with the boy named Crow (his imaginary friend).
Growing up under his father’s menacing shadow, Kafka lived
with a constant reminder of his supposed fate - a prophecy etched into him from
childhood: that he would fall in love with his mother and sleep with his
sister.
He decides
on running away on turning 15 with his imaginary friend Crow by his side. This
is not just some rebellious fantasy, but a resolve to escape his supposed fate.
Kafka is on
a journey to free himself from this supposed fate, in this journey he meets
Sakura who is older to him and treats him as a younger brother. However, he is
instantly attracted to her and this makes him believe she is his long-lost
sister. Nevertheless, she helps him on his way and provides much needed advice.
He then
meets Oshima at the prestigious library who is perceptive of his situation and
offers him a helping hand.
Kafka
begins living and helping out in Komura Memorial Library which becomes a place
of refuge, introspection and quite transformation for Kafka gradually. Kafka
alternates between the library and Oshimas secluded cabin in the mountains to
avoid too much attention from the police.
He is
intrigued by the dense forest behind it, however, stays away from the entrance
to the forest due to Oshimas warning. When push comes to shove, he decides to
venture in the jungle, ready with necessities.
Kafka in
the middle of the jungle, fighting hard to breathe, to find his way and finally
giving up his material possessions (water canteen, ruck sack, with essential
items) symbolizing his surrender to the jungle becoming a part of it. His
journey to the edge of the world, where time dissolves into abstraction,
becomes a powerful symbol of his inner struggle against deeply buried demons.
Kafka’s
journey to the edge of the world yet being trapped within his mind,
nevertheless the awareness of the action to be taken, this moment is one of
transcendence. To hold onto your sense of self while you have only been groomed
to turn into a monster. This awareness does not erase struggle but illuminates
the path forward.
Kafka at 15 years old is an epitome of a conscious thinker, someone whose outward journey mirrors the journey within, a quite determination of holding onto his sense of self. To recognize right from wrong, to knowingly step into what feels wrong, and still emerge on the other side with a deeper understanding of the change that is needed, this is real awareness.
Mr Hoshino – The unconscious seeker:
One of the
best character development arcs I have come across in a novel. A seemingly
aimless and shady young truck driver who for reasons even he cannot explain,
decides to help this gentle cat talking old man (Mr Nakata) on his strange
journey.
What had
begun as a random act of kindness takes Hoshino on a journey of transformation.
Hoshino who once drifted through life without direction and was an example of
unconscious living. His transformation is subtle, here Murakami’ music
sensibility is revealed when Hoshino comes across Archduke trio in a jazz café,
when he is awakened to the subtle changes within him.
Rather than
being anxious he welcomes the change in his thought, in his action, grateful
even for the awakening due to his acquaintance with Mr Nakata. He decides to
see it through to the end.
His transformation is not loud or heroic - it is subtle,
steady, and deeply human. What Nakata’s educated family could not understand,
Hoshino embraces instinctively. And even after Nakata’s passing, Hoshino
chooses to continue what they started, patiently waiting for a sign, trusting
something beyond reason.
Hoshino
symbolizes you can drift through life without direction just being alive but
not living. However, life at any given opportunity may find you. And when it
does, what matters is you grab the chance and make the most of it.
Sada (Oshima’s elder brother) – The silent
witness, Steady support:
The only
one, apart from Kafka who has experienced the forest for what it truly is, has been
to the edge of the world and returned.
A silent
yet assuring presence, who does not impose any suggestions / ideas. Instead he
provides the space to Kafka to absorb his experiences and find his way through
it. A quite friend, who after his journey to the edge of the world, facing his
demons and has found peace. He chooses to live freely, on his own terms without
explanation or intervention.
Since we do
not have a backstory for him, we can interpret his journey as once a
unconscious human who dared to break through the dense forest of his inner
demons and journey to the edge of his world coming out the other side.
The closure conundrum:
While there
are many questions remain unanswered by the end of the book, you do not feel
the need for closure. Because in life may not everything offers a closure,
instead you learn to work your way through its inconsistencies and create your own sense of
closure.
If you have
read Kafka on the shore by Haruki Murakami, I would love to hear your thoughts
and interpretations. The book is rich with content to be interpreted and reads
like an incomplete poem.
I just finished reading “Why I Am an
Atheist” by Shaheed Bhagat Singh.
When writing this, I feel at the time many would have thought the personality of this man is so very different from his name “Bhagat”.
The name Bhagat typically evokes the image of a
devoted soul—one who serves God with deep emotion and unwavering faith. However, there is this very contrasting
personality of Bhagat Singh, questioning the very existence of God and a view
point rooted in clarity, courage and integrity, often hard earned through
doubt.
Essence of Bhagat:
To me, if you look closely, he represents what
the name “Bhagat” truly stands for. Devotion, Servitude and courage.
Devotion to the cause of freedom which best termed
as “Swaraj”. Servitude to the people of the country and Courage to fight for
their rights.
A true devotee who sacrificed his life to ignite
revolution in the minds of the masses.
Revolution, not just freedom:
“Swaraj” an idea rooted in the
legacy of great leaders like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj; was given a radical
and revolutionary edge by Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his comrades, who envisioned
not just political freedom but a complete transformation of society. At a time
when many within the Congress were negotiating for Dominion Status, they called
for true independence - of both thought and nation.
Greats such as Bhagat Singh (I put his name in
front as he is the inspiration for this article), Shaheed Shivaram Rajguru, Shaheed
Sukhdev Thapar, Shaheed Chandrashekhar Azad (most commonly known names) worked
hard to promote revolutionary ideals among the youth of the time and encourage
the idea of “Swaraj”.
Atheism and Clarity:
Bhagat Singh calls himself an atheist through
out the essay, after all Atheism finds freedom in questioning, in doubting and
finding the answers yourself, it is a lonely, however, a clear-sighted path as
he describes.
My Letter to Shaheed Bhagat Singh:
Dear Sir, allow me to refute you on this point
and put forth my argument. This is my personal view only based on the limited
understanding of history, politics and religion that I hold.
To me, despite the claims of being an atheist,
you are a theist in his truest form.
Theism signifies comfort through belonging to a
tradition, a god, exploring the mystery of the universe. A theist believes in
their god and works tirelessly to appease their beloved deity.
Your devotion to the revolution:
Tell me, is there a greater devotion than the
devotion to your motherland, a greater emotion of service than the will to
serve all your people without discrimination and courage to stand upon your
belief come what may. The only difference – their belief in God while you
believed in a bright future of our great nation and worked tirelessly for your
ideal.
My final argument:
You sir were a believer and a strong proponent
of Swaraj. Swaraj to you was not just passing on the baton from the British
imperialists to Indian elites, you championed the ideas of a socialist economy
and equality for all.
It was this belief for which you put forth your
life and attained martyrdom. Your struggles whilst in Jail, in the face of
adversity to stand true to your ideals is this not truly a “Bhagat’s” duty?
So dear sir, forgive me for saying so but in my
eyes, you are the essence of the name Bhagat and its meaning.
As a person who identifies as a theist, I believe
we can learn a lot from your life and the devotion to achieve your goals. It is
my sincere wish that we as an individual and as a country we can one day truly
be worthy of you and your comrades sacrifice.
A Revolution, a Hope within:
To me Shaheed Bhagat Singh symbolizes the revolution
needed within, a radical change for personal growth to achieve one’s goal. Only
through individual hard work and integrity can we expect to contribute to the
collective consciousness and
Inquilaab Zindabad!
