Fiction, non-fiction: Why I read what I read

Image source: Pixabay

I have always enjoyed fiction. Yet it feels like ages since I last read a novel, to the point that I am embarrassingly out of touch with the latest authors.

The writers who come to my mind are Arthur Hailey, Stephen King, John Grisham, Somerset Maugham, Arthur Conan Doyle, Thomas Hardy, and Indian authors such as Anita Desai, Kamala Das, Shashi Deshpande, R K Narayan, Ruskin Bond, etc.

One of the more recent novelists I read was Paula Hawkins, whose The Girl on the Train I found quite engaging.

CONTEMPORARY RELEVANCE

One reason my fiction reading has reduced over the years is my preoccupation with work, which has largely revolved around real-life events, people, and issues. Naturally, my inclination shifted to reading non-fiction books or watching programmes related to current events or history which provide a context for understanding the present.

What I enjoy most about non-fiction -- like travelogues, biographies, books on contemporary or historical issues -- is its immediate relevance. It adds to my general knowledge and often helps in work-related situations. Whether it’s a book, an article, or a documentary, I value what it teaches me about the world around us.

LEARNING THROUGH FICTION

Fictional stories are often read for relaxation or entertainment. But good fiction can also educate. Though the plot itself might be imaginary, the details through which it unfolds are often grounded in fact.

Take Arthur Hailey, for instance. His novels are among my favourites because he researched extensively before writing. Each of his books is set in a different industry. For example, cars, tourism, finance, media, medicine, and so on. His stories are not only entertaining but also informative, giving readers insights into how different industries operate.

This is what makes storytelling so powerful: even when the theme or plot is fictional, it illuminates the real world.

STORYTELLING: THE COMMON THREAD

Whether fiction or non-fiction, storytelling lies at the heart of it. After all, both forms narrate something that has happened, or could have happened.

That’s why news reports are also called “stories” in journalistic parlance, though they are based on real-life events. Storytelling, in any form, aims to inform, educate, and / or entertain.

Image source: Pixabay

WHAT MAKES ME PICK A BOOK

If I am familiar with the work of a particular author, that makes choosing the book easier. But if it’s the first book, then I tend to be a bit sceptical.

For me, the plot or the theme should be appealing, something that I can relate to. Even if the plot is unreal, really far removed from reality, I should still be able to connect with it at some level. 

However, what matters to me the most is the clarity of narration. Even if the plot is really good, if I am not able to understand the way the story is told, I tend to lose interest. In a crime thriller, for example, one might not even understand what is happening, but if the language is clear and impactful, that’s enough to keep me turning the pages.

THERE IS NO TEMPLATE

Creative works don’t have a template. It’s very difficult to establish why a book or a movie has been liked by a lot of people. It’s difficult to define “a good plot or a good theme”. It’s a lot about emotions, how one relates to the central piece of work. Each person has their own preferences and inclinations.

It would be nice to know what your reading preferences are.

(This post is part of Blogchatter's Blogchatter Blog Hop)

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Real-world lessons from younger folks

Image credit: Pixabay

The other day, we visited a friend. They shared an interesting observation about travelling with their two grown-up children. 

"If the kids are with us, we have no problem finding a good restaurant or booking a hotel while touring," they said. "But without them, we just depend on tour operators. It's so difficult to figure out which places are good; all our time goes into research. These kids just look at their phones and find everything in a jiffy!"

That made me think about the capabilities of younger folks.

*** *** *** 

Another day, a neighbour dropped by. We were discussing social media, disinformation, misinformation, AI-generated videos and so on. 

She shared a story: "My 11-year-old son asked me a question. I had no clue. I then quickly Googled it on my phone and gave him the answer. His immediate reply was: 'You looked that up online. Are you sure what you're saying is correct?'"

The young boy was questioning the reliability of information, from a trusted adult! 

That was a pointer to the sort of digital literacy and critical thinking that people of my generation are still struggling with!

*** *** *** 

Image credit: Pixabay

A few months before my retirement in April, tenth-grade students from a well-known school in Bengaluru visited our media house. I was tasked with giving them a short talk about a typical day in the life of a journalist: how news is gathered, processed, and how the next day's newspaper is brought out.

After my presentation, I took questions from the students. Here are just two of the questions: 

"Why do news reports say 'according to a source'? Why don't you tell us who the source is?"

"I was watching news about the Ukraine war on TV. Isn't it risky for journalists to be in war zones? How do they manage to get there amid all the firing and shelling?"

I was left wondering if I am talking to 10-grade students or J-School students! 

The questions revealed not just curiosity, but also an understanding of journalism which took me by surprise.

DISPELLING MYTHS ABOUT YOUTH

These examples run contrary to some common assumptions about the younger folks: that they lack understanding, they are disorganised, or they aren't ready for life's challenges. 

On the contrary, I think, there are a lot of things we can learn from them. 

Their curiosity, confidence, and ability to work around ever-evolving technology are quite remarkable. More importantly, they know new ways of doing things and they are determined to follow their passions.

NO EXPERIENCE? NO PROBLEM

We traditionally associate wisdom with experience. True, younger folks lack that. But they have plenty to make up for it.

Their engagement with technology is an eye-opener. 

The typical older generation response is often: "Oh! We managed perfectly well without these modern gadgets." 

As a senior citizen myself, I've had similar thoughts.

While that may be true, it's neither progressive nor positive. 

What strikes me most about younger minds is their curiosity and willingness to experiment without the baggage of the past.

Unlike my generation, they don't spend too much time planning. They begin with a rough sketch of their path forward, then tackle challenges, improvise, and course-correct in real-time.

QUESTIONING STATUS QUO

Even with traditional social norms, they look for newer methods. They have the conviction to prioritise convenience and adaptability over restrictive conformity.

A mother once told me about her teenage daughter's response to being asked to do housework: 

"Why are you only asking me? Why aren't you asking my brother to do the same?" 

The typical older generation argument is: "This is how it has always been done."

The younger generation responds: "Why should it still be done that way?" 

They don't just question; they often propose alternatives.

They're more conscious of equity (not just equality, which a college student once told me is outdated), as well as saving time, using resources efficiently, and achieving better outcomes.

REAL-TIME ADAPTATION

Young people are like natural innovators! 

Look at how they start YouTube channels with nothing but phone cameras, or launch philanthropic or community programmes through social media accounts. 

One example is Shraddha Jain who moved from coding (in information technology) to comedy. This is her YouTube channel.

As she says in this 2022 interview with ET Now's Brand Equity, it wasn’t an easy transformation at all.

 SHOULD WE WORRY ABOUT YOUNGER FOLKS?

I don't think there's anything to worry. 

Just as we expected our previous generations to have faith in us when we were young, we need to pass the baton and place that same confidence in the next generation.

However, there is one legitimate concern. It is not about them. It is about us: the absence of enough good role models among elders.

Are we setting the right examples, at home and outside? What about public servants like politicians who are always in the public domain dominating news programmes? 

REAL TEACHERS

This post is part of
Blogchatter Blog Hop

Learning is a two-way process. 

While we focus on teaching young people about life, they're quietly showing us ways and means to live that many of us have forgotten or never developed.

They grow with their curiosity. They display honesty with their questions. This uncertain world finds a way forward with their adaptability.

While we wonder whether they are ready for the world, the moot question is: are we ready to learn from them?

Independence Day: What freedom means after 78 years

Today is the 78th anniversary of our Independence. There’s a celebratory air all around, with “freedom” at the heart of it.

In our apartment complex, we just had the hoisting of the national flag by a resident who was 10 years old on August 15, 1947. She recalled the excitement of those days, and said she didn’t know exactly what was meant by freedom. She exhorted all of us to unitedly work for the progress of our nation.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH FREEDOM

As we celebrate Independence Day 2025, it’s important to remember that we have enjoyed this liberty for a long time now. 

In the years immediately after 1947, the celebrations were all about “winning this freedom”. It made sense.

But, today, these celebrations should be about “what we have done with this freedom”.

THE PLUSES … 

Achievements? Plenty of them. 

We’ve grown over the decades and transformed as a nation.

We are no longer dependent on others for our survival. The extent of our dependence on other countries is only as much as we have to in today’s interconnected, multipolar world.

 …. AND THE MINUSES

Alongside the celebrations, we also need to figure out where we have fallen short, and what more needs to be done.

Sometimes, it feels as if for many people, freedom has come to mean freedom to disregard rules; the absence of a healthy fear of law is all too apparent at times.

While we sing paeans to those who made sacrifices, we need to ask ourselves, are we making (or at least willing to make) any sacrifices to build the nation the freedom struggle gave us?

WHAT FREEDOM MEANS TO ME

The right to vote, to express my opinion, or to question authority are all of course vital pillars of democracy, but they are not the full picture. 

This post is part of the weekly
Blogchatter Blog Hop 

True freedom, more realistically, is about our daily life. 

It is the ability to choose where I live, what work I do, the people I associate with, and the values I cherish -- without fear or coercion.

Freedom for me is also the liberty to decide how I spend my time, and the liberty to pursue my passions.

WHAT NOT TO DO

For me, freedom is also not just the liberty to do what I want; it is also about what I should not do. 

Because, freedom comes with responsibility.

Safeguarding our hard-won freedom calls for restraint, self-discipline, and respect for the common good.

When we disregard laws, exploit loopholes, or act without concern for others (we see a lot of these in our daily lives, just look around!) we only weaken the structure of our nation that protects our freedom.

There is true freedom only when people exercise that liberty responsibly. Or in other words, there is a need to balance personal desires with collective well-being.

Freedom is not measured by how much we can get away with. It is measured by how we behave in ways that strengthen, rather than erode, our values and systems that keep us free.

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The Oval epic: India's six-run thriller

Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna after the victory today.
Photo credit: ESPNCricInfo / AFP / Getty Images

Sometimes, the most probable, is not what happens.

No one -- barring perhaps the wildest optimist -- would have ever given India a chance of winning the Oval Test today.

No one -- barring perhaps the most depressing pessimist -- would have thought England, who needed just 35 runs with four wickets in hand and a full final day’s play remaining, would lose the match.

To say that the six-run win that India pulled off was dramatic would be an understatement.

England, chasing 374 runs, had reached 339 for six by stumps on Day 4.

HOW THE LAST DAY UNFOLDED

At the start of the final day’s play: 339 for 6; 35 needed for win

Seventh wicket falls at 347; 27 needed for win

Jamie Smith nicked one from Mohammed Siraj that was moving away and keeper Dhruv Jurel took it. Though everyone knew that the ball went off the bat, and the catch was taken clean, umpire Kumar Dharmasena asked everyone to wait and referred it to the third umpire for a video-replay review.

Eighth wicket falls at 354; 20 runs needed for win

Mohammed Siraj struck again, trapping Jamie Overton LBW with a delivery that would have clipped leg stump. Overton reviewed but lost.

Ninth wicket falls at 357; 17 needed for win

Prasidh Krishna bowled a full-length delivery, which Josh Tongue couldn't play, hitting his two stumps dislodging both the bails.

Chris Woakes, who suffered a dislocated shoulder, was forced to come out to bat, with his left arm in a sling and wrapped under his jacket. He received huge cheers from the crowd who applauded his guts and resilience.

Gus Atkinson kept scoring ones and twos and threes but, more importantly, retained the strike even during the change of overs, to keep the injured Woakes at the non-striker’s end. 

Woakes was visibly in pain as he kept running between the wickets. 

Last wicket falls at 367; seven runs to win

But Atkinson’s luck ran out when England needed just seven runs to win. Siraj delivered the knock-out blow sending one crashing into the stumps.

HIGHLIGHTS OF DRAMATIC DAY

A WELL-CONTESTED 5-TEST SERIES

Test matches were once dismissed as five boring days of cricket that almost always ended in a draw. But of late many have bucked that trend and this one was definitely one of the most gripping, fiercely contested ones. The first and the third Tests were won by England; the second and the fifth by India; the fourth was drawn.

For Shubhman Gill this was his debut series as captain, a stint well begun.

MEMORIES OF THE GABBA WIN

This victory was being compared to India successfully chasing 328 runs in the 4th Test match of the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, played in Brisbane on 19 January 2021. This victory ended Australia's 32-year undefeated streak at the Gabba, their fortress, and India secured a historic 2-1 series win in Australia.

HIGHTLIGHTS OF THE LAST DAY OF THE GABBA TEST

Kerala in monsoon: A road trip

We returned to Bengaluru on Saturday, the 26th of July, after a two-week road trip through Kerala. It was the first time I undertook such a long journey by car.

That was possible, of course, thanks to the flexibility of retired life and the luxury of not having to worry about work schedules or reporting back to an office.

Bright side of monsoon travel

This isn’t exactly peak tourist season. It’s the time of the southwest monsoon. But Kerala is known for what is called "Monsoon Tourism".

The state experiences two monsoons: Southwest Monsoon (Edavappathi in Malayalam), from June to August, and Northeast Monsoon (Thulavarsham), from October to November.

One advantage of travelling during this time is the breath-taking scenery. The landscape is far greener than usual, and the moist horizons exude a quiet charm.

Many people visit the state during this time for Ayurvedic treatments too. It is a favourable time thanks to the cool, humid climate, and the abundance of medicinal herbs. Many wellness centres offer special monsoon packages.

And, since this is traditionally the off-season, hotels, homestays, and tour packages often come at discounted rates.

Kerala: An urban continuum

Kerala is unlike most other Indian states. It's essentially an urban continuum. You don’t encounter vast stretches of uninhabited land separating villages, common in many other states of India.

Kerala doesn't have the typical villages; they are all small towns equipped with good infrastructure: roads, schools, colleges, medical centres, and more. These towns are contiguous, and people are spread evenly across the state.

Aren't there cities in Kerala? There are. Each district capital is a city. Kochi is the largest and most cosmopolitan, though it doesn't match the scale of Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, or Delhi. Thiruvananthapuram is the capital.

Our route

We left Bengaluru early on the morning of the 12th and reached Guruvayur by evening. 

Considering the rainy season, we took the longer but better route via Coimbatore. Distance = ~ 500 km (~ 300 miles) Time = around 12 hours, including multiple breaks.

The next morning, on the 13th, we drove to my cousin’s home in Ernakulam, a distance of about 100 km (about 60 miles) which took roughly 3 hours.

After four days of quality family time and outings at Ernakulam, we headed to Thiruvananthapuram on the 17th.

NH66: A highway in transition

I consulted Google Maps to figure out the best route from Ernakulam to Thiruvanthapuram, a distance of around 230 km (140 miles).

The coastal route via Alappuzha is shorter (by about 15 to 30 minutes), but there are frequent diversions due to roadworks.

The roadwork is part of the six-laning of National Highway 66, which will enhance connectivity along India’s western coast.

NH66 (formerly NH17 and NH47) runs 1,640 km (1,020 miles) from Panvel in Maharashtra to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. 

Once completed, travel time will be cut by nearly half.

Scenic detour

Instead of the shorter coastal route (which would entail diversions), I opted for the one via Kottayam, taking the Mini Bypass, MC Road, and NH183.

It lacked the coastal views, but that was more than compensated with better roads and lush greenery and expansive water-filled fields.

We weren’t in a hurry, so after a relaxed breakfast, we set off at 10.30 am. It was drizzling. It was raining throughout our stay in Ernakulam, though its intensity was milder than what northern Kerala was experiencing.

Google Maps can be tricky

Google Maps is, no doubt, immensely helpful but not without problems. It always selects the fastest route, even if the time saved is just five or ten minutes. Even if one consciously selects a longer route, it may quietly switch back to the shorter one.

To avoid being redirected through Alappuzha, I first set Kottayam as the destination. Once we reached there, I set the final destination of Thiruvananthapuram.

Along the way, we stopped every hour or so — for lunch, for tea, and to just stretch our legs.

Reaching Thiruvananthapuram

We arrived in Thiruvananthapuram around 6:15 pm and another cousin of mine hosted us.

It was a heart-warming family reunion. This was the first time I spent so many days (five days, to be precise) with the entire family: my cousin, her husband, her daughter, her son-in-law and two children. 

In fact, it was the first time I was meeting my cousin's son-in-law, more than a decade after their wedding! Earlier visits never lasted more than a day, and on most occasions some of them won't be at home, having gone to office.  

Thiruvananthapuram is where I was born and spent the first 23 years of my life, before moving to Bhopal for my first job.

It always feels like homecoming when I’m back in this city, the capital of Kerala. 

A city that hasn't changed much a even after several decades.