The Kite Runner

Hello,

There has been a pause in my blog for some time now. The pause is not intended, but circumstantial. After many days I am here again to write something rubbish and pose it off as a masterpiece.  Actually, I write when I get something to write, and this time I’ve got one thing to write, one film actually–Kite Runner.

I have had an oppurtunity to read “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini, but did not utilize it as the book seemed outside my zone of interest. Few days ago, I was browsing through the TV, and there was this film showing “The Kite Runner”, and the film appealed to me visually and thematically so much that I started watching it. The movie is about a boy, rather you can say its about two boys from Afghanistan. Amir and Hassan are two friends, very good friends at that. As children they were great buddies, who used to spend their time learning stories, watching movies and flying kites. Amir is a rich boy with not-so-daring kind of attitude, he gives up easily and is defended by Hassan. Hassan works in Amir’s house along with his father. Hassan is a person who never gives up, standing up for what he believes is right. Amir starts to avoid Hassan after some time because of some reasons  and hatches a plan to send him away from his home. And Hassan’s father not bearing the insult of Amir goes away from the house with his family.

Then there is this war in Afghanistan when Soviets tear apart the land with their visible tyranny. Amir then is transported to US by his father, there he lives happily, marries and then one day he receives a call from Pakistan. The caller asks him to come visit his dad’s friend in Pakistan whose health was declining. He goes to Pakistan only to find out from his father’s friend that Hassan is killed and left him a letter. The letter  of Hassan asks Amir for a better future for his(Hassan’s) son. Then Amir travels to the Talibanised Afghanistan to get the boy and adventure ensues. And for  the rest of the story you should watch on the screen or read the book.

The movie is very deep. The characters are very rich in dimensions and look very believable. The cinematography is awesome. There was never a moment I felt like turning my eyes away from the screen.

P.S: I have changed my opinion about this book, I now have much respect for the book and Khaled Hosseini as its author.

An Interesting Conversation

I happen to go to “Hyderabad Book Fair” at Necklace road. If you guys are really interested in books then its a must visit place for you. It is until 28th of december(I guess).

The book fair was more impressive than I had expected it to be. Grand entrance reminded me of exhibition, ah, those good old days when I used to visit exhibition with my family. The entry for students was free(although I had to show my identity card)but, for others it was 5 Rs. There were many shops(or more precisely “stalls”), and by the look of it I figured out that they were full of exciting(and costly) books. Oh, I forgot to tell you that I went there with my mother. She immediately rushed to a stall of Telugu Novels, and started examining various books. Igave her some suggestions, and finally she bought two books. I had to pay from my pocket for them(160 Rs).

Then it was my turn to hunt for books, I checked out Scholastic stall, then Yogoda stall, etc etc. I saw ISKCON stall and subconsciously decided that I wont visit it( I have some reservations against ISKCON), but when I came near that stall I visited it. There I encountered two three boys of my age group. They wore Namam on their foreheads, and showed me Bhagavat Gita which costed some 110 Rs. And they started saying the greatness of Bhagavad Gita.

Truly Bhagavad Gita is a great book, so great that if you read it once, then your life will becom better, and there will be peace and happiness. I daresay that Bhagavad Gita is the greatest book ever.

And then they started saying about Srila Prabhupada, and other ISKCON members. I said I know about ISKCON, then I asked few questions about ISKCON to them. Mainly I have asked why do ISKCON people treat Shiva as Demigod. He answered by saying that Shiva is the greatest Devotee of Vishnu, and that they Respect Shiva very much. I retorted back by saying that God is a spirit, and calling spirit by any name does not matter, so we can cal God as Shiva, Vishnu or any name. They agreed with me.  Is it not foolish to limit Spirit(God) to a name and form? Krishna is not limitable by form or name, he is everything.

Then we went into other topics, they said me few things. They asked me to come to ISKCON temple, as there many activities were conducted, and those activities would benefit me. They said thatISKCON temple is being visited by many young people like me, and that I can have great many friends over there. While they were saying this, I observed that they were also chanting Krishna Mantra while not talking with me. They seemed so pure to me, that I felt energised in their company.

Two completed engineering thisJune, and one was a lawyer. So young, and yet so wise people. Then I took their leave with a calm mind. And found my mother standing near a pole with a fatigued face. I couldn’t help but laugh. Then we went home with a happy mind, and lighter purse.