Tushar Mangl

Plenty of books have been written on Indira Gandhi, one of the most powerful and ambitious politicians modern India has witnessed. Veteran journalist, Sagarika Ghose in her attempt at another biography scripts an interesting tale of the former Prime Minister. Born to an illustrious family, Indira Gandhi no doubt had an eventful life and an eventful career as a politician. The book comes across a well researched,detailed text on Mrs. Gandhi's time and life. The chapters have an addition in forms of open letters kinda concept wherein the author pens a letter to the late leader, perhaps in hopes of better questions and answers, relevant to those periods of time. Publisher - Juggernaut Genre - Biography/History Price - Rs. 499 Pages - 342

This one is a guidebook for people dealing with heartbreak. Dr. Shyam Bhat explores this seemingly significant issue effecting mental health of so many around us. While we keep giving or receiving random gyan on the subject, Dr. Bhat brings in professional expertise and years of experience as a practicing psychiatrist to answer some important questions about heartbreak. It is a short and precise book, 147 pages in all but the subject matter is well explained and the addition of stories and anecdotes does help. The book has been published by Juggernaut. Its not just for those who are dealing with a heartbreak. Its also helpful for those whose closed ones are dealing with one. It gives us a level of wisdom and understanding to realize what the other person is going through. Price - 250 Genre - Self Help/Non-Fiction

Its been a while since I last blogged and readers have been inquiring as to whats happening. I last posted here in September, but their had been trouble in life since August. Things peaked up in October and are finally setting down.  This time has given me more space to introspect as to how easy it is for people to disappoint you. You sometimes don't even expect anything great out of them, and it turns out that they still manage to disappoint you. With their negativism, insecurities, they still manage to scratch your soul and try to harm your inner peace. I have long believed that its during time such as these you see the real faces of people around you. How many would be happy to be at your side and how many will jump ship, gives you a clarity of what is happening around you. I seldom expect from people. Humans have a predictable tendency to betray and be thankless for what they gain. I am a positive person who portrays an awful indifference to abuse or hurt....

Its so easy to turn things sour in a relationship. In the society I see around me, trust deficit is rampant, communication, meaningful communication that is, almost scarce and ego larger than ever before.  No wonder than, it takes very little to ruin a friendship, a relationship or any association with a few words of bitterness. But I was thinking last evening, how stupid it sounds, if I see the larger picture. Consider P & R. Lovers from past few years. Live in together. Had a horrible fight the other day, compelling R to move out of the apartment. You and I will on surface, think of it as a routine lovers tiff or some misunderstanding or an ego clash. It turns out that P shouted at R and one thing led to another and hell broke lose. Happens all the time. Even would be happening in some corner of the World as I write this. What we never are able to see the larger picture. The larger picture contains the circumstances around which both individuals are evolving. The ci...

I have been staring at this blank screen for some time now, thinking what to write. Words usually come to me, quite easily but off late their has been a drought. I am yet stuck on what story to write next, even though I have several ideas stuck in some unknown part of my heart. My health has taken a big beating in 2018 and off late, I have really gotten weak and frail for unknown reasons. My vitals are healthy and my diet reflects how I am in pink of health.  Looks like I am going to miss both my books targets. Reading 100 books a year and writing at least 1. But the good part is, we still have a few months left in 2018 and lot of life in me, to achieve my targets.  The good part of being down, and I love this part, is to see the people around you, lifting you up, motivating you, cheering you up. Its as if the dark phases have an unusual glory to them. When you know, someone has been your side., you know they will be their when light comes in. Those who didn't give a...

I was talking to a colleague the other day, B, about how love and friendships are best done at school. Their is a certain level of pureness, a simplicity, a lack of awareness about the other person. You just click, with another person. I feel, its like a jigsaw puzzle thing. Two pieces just join and if they don't fit, easily separate away. Growing up, people start accumulating baggage. We start becoming more aware about the society, perceptions and most importantly the importance of having a stereotype of a friend. Like, someone who is good for my career, or someone to vent out, or someone to share liquor with. We start forming our friendships (its an over abused word, friendship if you ask me but that we will discuss another day) according to set parameters. Like its good to have a rich friend and not good to have a too poor friend. Sudama and Krishna do not happen in 2018.  Slowly as we grow and ease into our society, parameters keep piling up. Even in educated, wel...

                                            Coffee Musings   Musing about my morning coffee the other day, I realized, the right balance of flavors, companionship & conversations can make the simple coffee taste great. I mean we all know that, but still the thought struck me the other day as I had a delightful cup of coffee. I like morning coffee for its fuel like effect. My typical workday starts with a cup of coffee. I was discussing this with my cousin, some years ago who was on a trip to India. We were discussing our work over coffee and he remarked how he likes to have a cup of coffee before starting his work day. Ditto, I remarked. A cup of good coffee just sets the right mood. In my present workplace, we have this nice Coffee Machine, way better than the powder mix coffee machines so prevalent these days. It uses real coffee beans and mil...