243 replies to this topic

[iwanttogoback]

Quote

There, equal opportunity offense at everyone.

i've always admired your even handed approach to life dd.

[digital drifter]

I'm not racist, i hate everyone equally. W.C Fields.

But a special place in hell for the roadside masala vada chap; I was spot welded to the toilet seat after that fried-in-engine-oil vada. Though, to admit it, it did taste nice.

[billj]

Hi all,

Six weeks and counting down, 12 Mar arrive Delhi with son (private guide and mentor), daughter and her partner. Can't wait!

But books - I think it has been mentioned before, or on IM, but I found purely by chance, amongst the 'Sharpe' books, in the local library a book entitled 'The Great Hedge of India' by Roy Moxham. First published in 2001. Completely misfiled.

Moxham happened to purchase in London a second hand book 'Rambles and Recollections of an Indian Official' by Maj Gen Sir WH Sleeman published in 1893 (which he highly recommends). In the book he relates to customs duties collected and taxes on goods as they entered 'British' India from the Princely States, even tho' the Customs Posts were hundreds of miles from the coast. An appendium noted that.......... 'to secure the levy of a duty on salt there grew up gradually a monstrous system, to which it would be almost impossible to find a parallel in any tolerably civilised country. A Customs line was established which in 1869 extended from Leia on the Indus to Mahanadi in Madras, a distance of 2300 miles, almost down the centre of the country south of Delhi and guarded by 12,000 men living on site or in 'custom forts' every 1 or 2 miles. It consisted of an immense impenetrable high hedge of thorny trees'. Purely to collect taxes.

This was the Great Hedge, this is what sent him off on his quest to find the hedge or its remains. Altho he spent almost 18 months researching it he found very little. No officials either in UK or India had ever heard of it . An 1894 map showed 'the customs line' which he presumed would/might be the same as the hedge. No one in any of the major libraries in London, museums or Nat Geographical Institutes had any records of the hedge. Eventually he found some reports by Commissioner G Barton reporting on the hedge and moving the hedge to run parallel to the new Agra canal when this was opened in 1875ish. He also reported on the labour force and the condition of the hedge.

Anyway he visited India for 4 - 6 weeks twice before he found any trace in the third visit. None of the locals living and farming knew where the hedge was supposed to be (according to his satnav) or knew of any of the forts guarding the openings in the hedge or had even heard of it.

Over three years he gradually unraveled the story behind the hedge and finally found a few remnants.

The book is a cross between a travel book and a historic detective story. It shows that without Moxham's curiosity no one would still know about 'The Hedge'. I wonder how many people know of it now, having read the book! A pretty good read.

[Aishah]

Sounds absolutely fascinating,billj. This is the first I have ever heard of such a thing and I doubt many people would know of it now. Does he mention what the hedge was made of? And how long did the hedge actually last for? How high did it grow? Since it's difficult for me to probably get the book, hence all the questions! I have in my garden a hideously prickly bush that has seeded itself in a couple of places and I think they call it a boor tree - it has round small fruits on it which village people collect. If you didn't cut its lower branches it would make a fantastic, prickly hedge so am wondering if it might have been something like this?

[batistuta]

Blind willow, sleeping woman. Haruki Murakami. This book is a collection of short-stories from the Japanese author. As I am used to reading short-stories with some semblance of an ending ( Or Moral?), this collection, initially, took a bit of getting used to. Criminal Monkeys, Ice men and Kangaroos all share the spot-light here. Murakami is a gifted storyteller.

Next, Everyman by Philip Roth

Edited by batistuta, 21 February 2008 - 03:02 PM.

[kullukid]

Aishah, on Feb 17 2008, 12:29 PM, said:

Sounds absolutely fascinating,billj. This is the first I have ever heard of such a thing and I doubt many people would know of it now. Does he mention what the hedge was made of?

Spiny Indian plum & thorny acacias! See here; KK

http://www.gourmetindia.com/travel/index.p...ic=3751&hl=

[Aishah]

Thanks for those links, Kullukid! I checked them out and from one of the maps it looks like it went more across and up through the north of India passing near Agra. Plenty of spiny thorny trees and bushes out our way, but I don't think it went this far west.
I've now finished Brick Road, Monica Ali - thoroughly enjoyed it and am finally reading Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns (which Shilpa has reviewed previously). Just starting and already it is grabbing my attention!

[batistuta]

Aishah, on Feb 22 2008, 04:13 PM, said:

I've now finished Brick Road, Monica Ali - thoroughly enjoyed it and am finally reading Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns (which Shilpa has reviewed previously). Just starting and already it is grabbing my attention!

Lots of Violence in there, Aishah. Quite Grim. I felt that Kite runner was the better book, but Will wait for your review.

Cheers,

[iwanttogoback]

Quote

am finally reading Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns (which Shilpa has reviewed previously). Just starting and already it is grabbing my attention!

it's a wonderful book but, as batistuta points out, there is a lot of violence. however, that violence is the reality of life in afghanistan. reading something like 'a thousand splendid suns' adds the human, personal details to the stories we see in the news media. whilst they provide a bigger picture, novels like this inform us of what it is actually like to live in the midst of it all.

there are a few pages in the book i never read, and i don't know if i ever will. when you get towards the end of the book and the section on ghasi stadium you might understand why.

a little while before i discovered hosseini my ten year old daughter read a trilogy of books about children living in afghanistan in the same period. the violence was toned down, but she certainly understood from them just how harsh life can be for many children in this world. i read some of them with her so that we could discuss it, it was pretty heavy going, but i appreciated the opportunity to be able to talk with her about the issues raised.

[Aishah]

I'd be interested in the titles and author of the books your daughter read , iwanttogoback. I used to work as a teacher-librarian in Oz and children's literature was a great interest for me. Some wonderful children's books now being written - but for 8 yrs living here I've become so out of touch. One of my favourite and very funny series were those written by Rachel Flynn, an Australian author. John Marsden had some very grim stuff in his writing.

[iwanttogoback]

aishah

madam princess is a voracious reader, it's rare to see her without a book in her hand! she's away this weekend, but i will find out from her the names of the books (they were very well written, and finely judged as to how graphic to depict life in afghanistan for young teenagers.) i'll also check out who else she's reading, she seems to find an author she likes, read all their books and then find another and do the same.

it is a joy that she enjoys books, they give so much.

[Aishah]

Thanks, iwanttogoback - I will be back in Oz in April and am making a list of books to borrow from the library while I'm there. Children's and Young Adults' books can be great to read if well written and not taking too much time either. I really want to read 'The Book Thief' and the last 2 of Pat Barker's Trilogy books. Between my visit to NZ (also a great local library) and Oz I will be away 7 weeks, so plenty of time for good reading!
Your daughter sounds vey much how I used to be as a child - read everything by a favourite author then onto another one. Great to hear she's a reader - so many children as they grow older do less reading - sport, music, TV etc. seem to take over. It's a common trend with boys as they get up into 5th and 6th class and into High School.

Edited by Aishah, 23 February 2008 - 06:57 PM.

[billj]

Hi KK

My apologies re the Hedge of India. Sorry - I thought that I had seen the book mentioned previously and did do a quick check, but obviously missed your write up. Which I must admit was more thorough than mine.
Just under 3 weeks and we'll be there, (with son, daughter and her partner) not that I'm counting.
Feeling old age and retired the rucksack in favour of solid made case, with wheels, to drag, and sit on!

[Aishah]

billj - I thought both posts were very interesting - I wouldn't have known about the Hedge, because I haven't had time to read back through all the threads, if you hadn't posted. Off Topic - when I moved a guest's backpack the other day I wondered how on earth they could manage that weight on their back! I use the case with wheels and have been doing so for the last 5 years! It's much easier!

[batistuta]

Video night in Kathmandu by Pico Iyer.

This Travelogue is a bit dated, set as it is in late 80's. Pico Iyer seems to have spent an inordinate amount of time in the various houses of Ill -repute in Bangkok and Manila as his take on these two cities revolves around the 'bar girl' scene. But his take on India, Tibet, Japan and Nepal more than makes up for it. He has a good sense of humour and is also quite prescient with his take on Tibet.

In Xanadu by William Dalrymple.

Dalrymple retraces the path of Marco Polo through Iran, Pakistan and china. He draws a few outladish parallel's between his journey and that of Marco polo. He is, evidently, in love with Islamic Architecture and it shows through in his descriptions. Dalrymple adds a bit it of Historical perspective to his journey and it meshes well with his narrative.

Everyman by Phillip Roth

Roth is a gifter writer and his writing style reminds me of Faulkner. But, this book, which chronciles a man's struggle against death, makes for a regrettable read.

Next, Case for India by Will Durant.

Edited by batistuta, 31 May 2008 - 12:17 AM.

[SHIMLA]

Currently reading "Shimla on Foot - Ten Walks" by Raaja Bhasin. Publisher : Rupa and Co. , Paperback.

The book, written by the noted historian of Shimla; details the various walks one can undertake in the capital of Himachal Pradesh, while describing the many interesting buildings adorning the walks. It has some very good photographs and useful maps too.

A very useful book for those intending to visit Shimla and also for those who have spent just a day or two on a previous visit there, believing that Simla is just "The Mall" and "The Ridge".

[iwanttogoback]

currently devouring rushdie's 'the moor's last sigh'. i don't think i've enjoyed anything of his this much since 'midnight's children'. it is a feast of outstanding writing and luxurious imagery telling a fascinating tale.

[WonderWomanUSA]

I am enjoying ALL THE FISHES COME HOME TO ROOST by Rachel Manija Brown; an account of her growing up years at Meher Baba's ashram. I was always fascinated by Baba, whose motto was "Don't worry - Be happy!" but I never went looking for him.

At this time, what I best recall is that people who stayed there did not get sick -- as opposed to many I met who'd been to see Sai Baba and ended up with hepatitis.

Anyway, the book has some funny bits, and if you ever wondered about the kids dragged to ashrams while their parents pursued some ideal, here's the story!

[KABAARY]

Finished Rohinton Mistry's Such A Long Journey...was not greatly impressed. His A Fine Balance was far better.

[Shilpaks]

kabaary have u already read "family matters"??
http://www.amazon.com/Family-Matters-Rohin...y/dp/0375403736