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UNDER THE COVER

Book Reviews
By NITISH S. RELE - editor@khaasbaat.com



 

“The Lotus Blooms,” by Ramsundar Persad; published by AuthorHouse (www.authorhouse.com); 46 pages; $10.49.

It wasn’t till after his death in 2002 that Ramsundar Persad’s family discovered 36 typewritten poems in a brown folder by his bedside table. The poems about faith, trust, gratitude, struggle, love, were published posthumously in a book form.

Of course, this wasn’t Persad’s first book. He previous wrote four books, including “Rites, Rituals and Customs,” as well as several English transliterations. He also penned the annual Diwali addresses to the nation by the then-president of Trinidad and Tobago, Noor Mohamed Hassanali.

A magistrate for 34 years, Persad writes poems in a simple and straightforward language that anyone can read and comprehend. Here’s one of his gems:

“I Lost My Heart To You”

You are my only love

The only one I love so true

Since the day your face I had seen

I lost my heart to you

The night I find is long and lonely

The day so quickly through

This is because I love you truly

Since I love my heart to you

I always dream your lovely face

Throughout the day I think of you

I imagine you in my embrace

As I lost my heart to you

Let me be far from you no longer

Be with me all life through

Let my heart no longer hunger

For I have lost my heart to you



 

“Buddha’s Wife,” by Gabriel Constans; published by Robert D. Reed Publishers (www.rdrpublishers.com); 192 pages; $14.94.

Everyone knows the story of Siddhartha Gautama (later to become the Buddha), how he left his wife Yasodhara and 2-year-old son Rahula, in the middle of the night to seek enlightenment. But how many of us are aware of the trials and tribulations of Yasodhara? That is what Constans, a freelance journalist, writes about but as seen through the eyes of Yasodhara. It’s a fascinating story that Constans could have told in a captivating manner. Unfortunately, his storytelling lacks depth and interest to engage the reader for hours. We had a tough time turning page after page. The spark just wasn’t there.  



 

“Delhi Noir,” edited by Hirsh Sawhney; published by Akashic Books (www.akashicbooks.com); 300 pages. $15.95.

Things aren’t as wonderful and prosperous in the capital of the world’s largest democracy. That’s according to 14 stories in “Delhi Noir” by Irwin Allan Sealy, Omair Ahmad, Radhika Jha, Ruchir Joshi, Nalinaksha Bhattacharya, Meera Nair, Siddharth Chowdhury, Mohan Sikka, Palash K. Mehrotra, Hartosh Singh Bal, Hirsh Sawhney, Tabish Khair, Uday Prakash and Manjula Padmanabhan.

The book, a continuation of the original noir anthologies, takes a bleak look at Delhi’s uncomfortable underside. There are stories of corrupt police officers, sex in parks, male prostitution, vigilante rickshaw drivers, religious riots, soulless corporate dons and murderous servants. And all the stories, written brilliantly, are divided into three parts: Part I: “With You, For You, Always” (motto of the Delhi Police); Part II: “Youngistan” (land of the youth); and Part III: “Walled City, World City” (a Times of India campaign). 



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