Iran Awakening - Book Review

I admire the strength and honesty of Shirin Ebadi whose book i read last. Similar i felt a long time ago when i read "Lajja" by Taslima Nasreen. But to be fair it is no way a comparison of two personalities but just a tribute to courage these women have shown under similar circumstances.

What i liked the most about this book is that it conveys quite lucidly what a woman went through under such tremendously trying conditions. She speaks to you as a mother, daughter and a wife. But above all, she speaks to you as a patriot who loves her country but despises only the fundamentalists - which is very noble. I dont find me even mustering half as much courage if i were to imagine myelf under similar conditions. All the attrocities commited in the name of religion was really unbelievable in the beginning. Time and again i kept telling "No... this cant be true!!". Such is the madness that the regime has unleashed on helpless people. What is striking is total lack of respect for women that shows how weak and insecured the men in power would have been.

Not only do i salute these brave women but also wish them all the luck in succeeding in their big fight for equality. Let men understand that by eliminating women from circle of decision making they simply lose out half their intellectual strength!! Let some sense prevail.

Sudha Murthy - Through her books!!

I am quite aware that i have not read all her books but still this benevolent lady has left such a strong impression on me that i cant help but write this blog!!
I recently read two of her books "Wise and Otherwise" and "The Old man and his God". I found them to be extremely simple yet honest account of her day to day experiences. To me she stood out from just being Mr.Narayan Murthy's wife. I felt a certain strength of character through the words she had for what we dismiss as everyday incidents.

There is a clear difference between how a poet sees a flower from how we see it and it is bringing in this fresh perspective that he/she gets applauded for. I felt the same awe reading Ms.Murthy's explanations on the events during her very meaningful work with the Infosys Foundation. I find also some passages where she has responded back to her critics - which i think is absolutely unnecessary. There are always people to criticise - only if they could help others with half that enthusiasm!!