Monday, August 21, 2006

Shed a Tear!!

The Cabinet's given its nod for the reservation for the OBCs in IIMs,IITs,AIIMS etc. It is so sad to see that there is no single political party, who can stand up against the reservation bill! Shed a Tear! it is a Black day for India!

Friday, August 11, 2006

The Motorcycle Diaries

What made Ernesto Guevara de la Serna Che Guevara? What made a MD student specializing in Leprosy a Revolutionary? Che Guevara denotes a popular icon symbolyzing revolution and left wing political ideals throughtout the world. Was Che born a hero, a legend, a revolutionary?

A 13,240Km journey lasting eight months from Argentina through Chile, Peru and Columbia to Venezuela on 500cc a Motorcycle (named La Poderosa - The Mighty One), hitch hiking, trekking and on a raft! Thats what made Che Guevara.

The Motorcycle Diaries (Diarios de motocicleta in Spanish) is an autobiographical book by Che Guevara about his travels through South America with his friend Alberto Granado on a 1939 Norton 500 motorcycle. Born into an aristocratic family, this was Guevara's first expedition around Latin America. In the book, he details the role and life of the indigenous peasantry throughout Latin America, including mine workers and persecuted communists fleeing their homes.

Based on the above the movie (of the same title) has been a facinating watch. Having read about Che and his history, his role in Cuban Revolution and later exploits in Bolivia and Congo, it was a wonderful experience to get a glimpse of Ernasto "Fuser" Guevara. The movie rather being political, sticks to the journey and Guevara and Alberto's experience. It brings out the the emotions which they must have felt as the saw the rift between the rich and the poor, poverty and sickness of lower classes, exploitation of Mine Workers, the plight of leprosy patients and their segragation from society by placing them on other side of river. The tagline of the movie Let the world change you and you can change the world is so apt.

The wonderful screenplay depicting the beauty of Latin America or the excitement of a great travel or a Che fan! You can have any or all the reasons to watch this beautiful movie.

Trivia: Cuba's National newspaper Granma is named after the yatch used to transport Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries to Cuba, named Granma!

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

A Thin Dark Line

She has discovered the brutal murder of her friend Pam Bichon. She is a Sheriff's Deputy, Annie Brussard. The accused, whom the whole town believes to be the murderer, is released by the court on a technical legality. After the trial when the victim's father Hunter Davidson loses his control and tries to take a shot at the accused Marcus Renard, Annie overpowers Davidson and prevents him from killing Renard.

He is the detective in-charge of the case, with a in-famous past who has been accused of planting evidence. Detective Nick Fourcade has one too many that night and is not able to control his rage. He believes that he is right and Renard is the murderer, stalks Renard and beats him up as Renard is leaving his office. Annie just happens to be there and stops Fourcade from killing Renard and arrests him.

A partner in an architectural firm, a man described as shy and one to keep to himself, Marcus Renard takes a fancy for Annie. She calls her his angel who has saved his life twice in a day. A brother who suffers from autism, a mother who

Having arrested one of their own, broken the unwritten, unspoken but clearly understood code of Brotherhood among the Law officials, Annie now has to face the wrath of all her colleagues including the sheriff. She is taken off from Patrol duty. She has no one to turn to!

Pam was her friend! She had discovered her body. She had promised Pam's daughter Josie that she will find her mother's murderer. Now off the case and off Patrol duty, she is despondent. An unexpected ally in Nick Fourcade, against whom she has to testify, an unwanted admirer Marcus Renard, who starts giving her presents and meeting her the way he did with Pam, Annie needs to stay focused and solve the case on her own. A series of Rapes occur within a week. Who is this Rapist and is he Pam's murderer? Donnie, Pam's husband whom Pam was going to divorce is a suspect too!

It is a A Thin Dark Line. If she crosses it, there is no turning back. A novel full of mystery and suspense, it has you gripped till the last chapter where you have an unexpected surprise. Enjoy Reading :)