Enigma - Sadness.

 

 Back then when we were kids or rather teenagers' Enigma was still an enigma. This song would occupy the mainstay of many a audio systems of people, even precisely car audio.

Guess what, there was no internet those days, lesser awareness of western music. How would anyone know this song is by whom, which artist, which language etc. It took me quite a while to figure out the band and song. Now when I see in my playlist, it reminded me of the good old days.

There is a super incident associated with this song which I remember. We used to cycle as kids and even though we were 14-15 we still chose to cycle. But some of the rich kids amongst us had transitioned to motor vehicles (illegally of course). 

One such person, had transitioned not to two wheelers but a four wheeler. Its hard to believe how a 15-16 year old would get hold of a car. But it was true, true because he used to drive around playing this very song.

It was an Hindustan Ambassador which had an engine change from BMC 1.5 L Diesel to an ISUZU 2.0 Diesel or may be a Toyota 2.0 L Diesel. 

Can you imagine a 15-16 year old teenager boasting about a modified car with an upgraded engine back then when I was struggling to find out this specific enigma song.

Even after many years, the aspect of having an engine change for a car is much unheard of in India. It is attempted only by people who have sufficient resources and willing to take up the challenge.

But for a 15-16 year old to do it back then - and know what's under the hood to tell others, it is definitely worth a blog post.

These days kids, teenagers are addicted instagram, food, porn, tobacco other stuffs which sounds silly when you have a look at what our generation did to amuse themselves.

Cheers,

Hail Muse - Teaching old dog new tricks - Muse 3

 There have been quite a few interests which I delved into, in the last couple of years of working from home or hybrid mode or be it from office. This muse is not altogether a different one but a tributary of the main muse of reading.

Whilst the topic of reading, I had mentioned my own enthusiasm to read to entirety - The works of one particular author. I had read Ruskin Bond fairly and was in full gusto to read Kipling works, in the process read, Kim, his autobiography and a couple of poems. 

But along the way my interest in Kipling started wading out, the cause being Kipling writing being so difficult for me to maintain momento and traction or both at the same time. Thus I got badly subdued by the writing of this Imperial giant and had to humbly accept defeat and move on.

Then, one more author caught my attention, one whom I have been reading since a teenager, though bits and pieces. It was none other than the grand old man of Indian literature or rather letters, Khushwant Singh.

It's sad, when Khushwant was alive I never truly appreciated the scholar in him. Khushwant could quote Mir, Ghalib and many a such Urdu couplets, shayaris' as though it was his left hand game. He was an excellant in Urdu poetry, its translations.

Each time, I try to induce sarcasm, whilst conversing with others, much to my own disappointment, because I fail badly, I remember none other than Khushwant and feel jealous that, had I known Urdu, Hindi better, I could have responded to morons in a more literate way than just expressing frustration or disgust.

Recently, three months back had an experience with our organization HR who blatantly lied on my face and accepted the lie. Had I known any of the old Delhi poets' writing, I would have responded with Mir or Ghalib. How I wished, then I remembered Khushwant Singh for his literary prowess, Urdu prowess and felt good at the fact that, though I am bad at Hindi, Urdu, I could boast about the fact that, in the last year or two, I had read much Khushwant writing.

Yes, this is the original intent of the post. Though I failed at comprehending Kipling, I did read Khushwant books to entirety. Many are still pending, but now I am fairly comfortable with Khushwant trivia, much to my own pride.

Guess what, I own rather procured a hard copy of Khushwant Singh autobiography - Truth, malice and little lies. I kind of feel so good about owing it that, when I saw another copy online for Rs 200, I ordered the same. Now I get to boast of two HC autobiography of Khushwant and one paperback, much to others' envy. Its too little a price to spend for a jewel!

I do have plans to read other authors to entirety, Vikram Seth, Nirad C Chaudhari, Vikram Sampath are on my mind, its an uphill task. But one which gives me satisfaction to the core, having fed so much of knowledge to my brains, that I can come back and boast all about it on my blog, which hardly 1-2 people read. Much to my own needed privacy!

Cheers,

PS - Much to my own - phrase has taken a center place, much to my own dislike :)-