Wednesday, January 01, 2020

Hits and misses in 2019


2019 was less than an average year for reading and writing. I did not read much and hardly wrote in my personal capacity. I'd be embarrassed to put a number to either. I have a folder titled 'My Writing Projects' that I have been visiting whenever the mood has suited me. While I did not read a lot, I did buy a few books and watched plenty of films, mostly on Netflix. I also travelled a bit, especially towards the end of the year. I continue to remain active on social media, as many of you know, which is partly responsible for the downside to my reading and writing. I will have to do something about it in the new year.

On a more positive and happy note, my daughter, a post-graduate and a chartered accountant by profession, got engaged and married all within a span of three months. My son, a graduate, enrolled for an MBA programme with specialisation in finance. Both are brilliant in Math and Accounts. I count on my fingers. In October, I rejoined a yoga class, which was a big plus for me, though I'm light years away from doing Shirshasana (the headstand) and having a fresh perspective on life. I needed to slow down and de-stress. Now I wake up at 5 am, bathe and shave, do yoga from 6 to 7 am on most days, come home for a quick breakfast, change into formals, and head to work by 7.30 am. 

I'm going to make sure 2020 is different and productive. I have a few unwritten goals that include reading and writing, contributing meaningful essays and articles to magazines and websites, and reviewing books and interviewing authors on my blog. I have missed the last. Hopefully, this is a start.

Coming back to the new and secondhand books I acquired in 2019, I look forward to reading the ones I received as Christmas gifts from my family—India: From Curzon to Nehru and After, a 550-page book on Indian history by Durga Das (1901-1974), a well-known journalist and historian, and Batman: The Killing Joke, a 1988 DC graphic novel written by Alan Moore and featuring Batman and the Joker. History and comic-books have been my favourite genres since I was in school.

At another time, a serious errand ended in a treasure hunt among the old book haunts of King's Circle in central Mumbai and a rare find—an early Coronet edition of P.G. Wodehouse. A welcome addition to my wife's collection of mostly Penguin PGs.


I will leave you with a story in 50 words—a Dribble—I wrote on Facebook; clearly, the influence of yoga.

I sat on the mat, legs folded under me, eyes closed lightly, hands resting on my thighs, the tips of my index finger and thumb touching gently, in Gyana Mudra. I took a deep breath and exhaled, once, twice, thrice, and instantly found balance—in a dusty old secondhand bookshop.

Happy New Year!



Images: Prashant C. Trikannad

12 comments:

  1. Look forward to hearing more from you in 2020 Prashant! I had a sabbatical from blogging in the autumn, but hope to do more posting this year.

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    1. Moira, it's good to be back. I'm going to make a serious effort to read and review more books on the blog.

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  2. Happy New Year, Prashant! And congratulations to your family, too - you've had some real joy. It's funny you would mention yoga. I've been doing yoga for a couple of years now, and I really do enjoy it. It's good for me on several levels, even if there are plenty of poses I haven't come close to mastering. That's the whole point, isn't it - the journey. Wishing you a good year and lots of good reading.

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    1. Happy New Year to you too, Margot! Thank you for your kind wishes. Yes, 2019 was a good year.

      I have been doing yoga off and on over the past two decades. Then, in September last year, I decided to do it with more dedication. I can't do a lot of poses (asanas) either but the fun is in doing them anyway and slowly mastering each one. The benefits of yoga, for mind, body and spirit, cannot be emphasised enough.

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  3. Thanks for this update on your last year, Prashant. Hope 2020 is good to you. That is a lovely Dribble you shared with us.

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    1. Tracy, Happy New Year to you too!

      I started penning drabbles (100 words) and dribbles (50 words) after participating in a couple of challenges on Margot's blog. This was some years ago. Till then I'd not even heard of the concept. Neither flash fiction is easy, though.

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  4. Congratulations on the good news involving your children. We need to celebrate happy events.

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    1. Thank you for your kind wishes, Bill. I wish you and your family a wonderful 2020!

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  5. May 2020 be a great reading and family year for you

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    1. Ditto, Mel! Best wishes to you and your loved ones too.

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  6. Happy new year to you and yours, Prashant (somewhat belatedly). I look forward to enjoying your reading reviews, blog posts and whatever you choose to share with us from your writing.

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