On the fast lane

His wagon rushed like a wanton thought
etching its own free course, as his
torpid mind stared through drowsy eyes,
dancing from those shots of spirits.

The wagon found its prey, driving over
drooping bodies and dreamy minds
relieving them of poverty and of life
and leaving behind a few orphans.

His mind was still dancing.

This is for all those people who sleep on pavements and beneath flyovers. Where we wake up to sunshine, they are truly lucky to even count another new day -- not run over by careless drivers.

Title - TBD

Harmless lies and unclaimed mistakes
as a flock of birds, similar in anonymity
screaming thoughts in ranting mind
thick as a stacking column of smoke
nameless fancies and fledgling hopes
making separate trips to lotus land
contained anger and pungent humor
hidden behind a mask of muteness
sprouting ideas and simple questions
like potter's clay that never take a mold
unfounded doubts and modicum of hate
that try to flourish and painlessly revive.

Lost in the humdrum of days and weeks
that spread like an unending fabric, and
struggling to decipher the road ahead.
These short emotions go unheeded,
tangled as the yarn that made the web
like a pile of seeds scattered all over
unless one decides to sprout and
touch the purple cloud.

Just a thought on all those fleeting emotions that cross my mind during the day. Nothing stays long enough, it all changes with the situation. Wanted to capture it in words, but I am really not sure if it's conveying what I want to.

Random flower

This is my first drawing on Adobe Photoshop. It started really random and confused, but eventually I managed to give it some shape. I know there are some visible nicks and cuts, but hopefully next image will be better.

Coke Blak

I got a taste of this new drink today. I have no clue how long it's been in the market, but I purchased a few bottles just two days back. The packaging looked neat and the new dark brown and black bottle was a welcome respite. The drink was not. The ad says it's a fusion beverage, but I'd prefer to call it confusion. It tastes of cola, coffee, hazelnut, and something else that I can't place in my mind right away (although the ad claims "Experience the fusion of coke effervescence with coffee essence"). The last thing it did was inspire my mind, not to mention the headache I had thereafter. The quest to increase market share by an infinitesimal percent and outdo the competitors is giving rise to these terrible concoctions. As I write, I wonder what else is brewing!

Inanimate company

Off late whenever I've had to undertake a long journey alone and by bus (I can't afford air or train travel), I find myself occupying my seat as well as the one next to mine. Either I've stretched my legs, or have some of my belongings on the seat, I am simply looking out of the window scared someone might ask if they can sit next to me, or better still, I have a hostile expression on my face. I've seen other people do it too, and this strategy actually works. I want to make my small home in the bus for those few hours and guard it like my territory. In the company of my ipod and laptop, both of which perform for me, I do not see the need for a person nearby. I know others who prefer cell phones and video games. This is the latest commuting protocol that I've learnt.

It's interesting how travel has changed. When my mother used to travel alone a decade back, she invariably came home with stories about someone she met on the train or bus, how they kept chatting all along, food they exchanged, and much more. She even got their phone numbers at times, though she never called them afterwards. But then she met people and had company.

Despite the facilities and frills attached to travel these days, I really don't know how many people look forward to the 'journey' itself. The attitude is to get over with the time commuting, then relax and
enjoy once the destination is reached. And yes, whether the journey is long or short, we are all hooked and wired.

This post is not about how we've changed or how unfriendly we are. Technology has played a pivotal role in making us the kind of travel companions we are today. It's cool to have all your gadgets in grand display, an assertion that 'I am traveling with my troupe'. Well, just wondering how things will be ten years from now. Would the troupe have more members or would it be disbanded?

Note: Books are not included in this category becasue I strongly feel they have life.

Nature and Physics

Nature is harmony and artistry
that kindles this physicist’s curiosity
she speaks not, nor she observes
she acts of her own free desire, but
has a benign heart to let me watch.
To study what she does is hard
to see how she does is formidable
knowing why she does is impossible.

This is part of a poem I wrote on physics and nature for my copoets at NYU. The other stanzas aren't very beautiful, so I decided not to put them here. I am working on making them better. Perhaps I'll use them in some other poem.

What's in a poem

I recently completed a poetry writing course at NYU. It was indeed an exciting eight week period for me. For a change, I had started looking forward to Thursday evenings.

I learnt a host of poetry terms and poetry forms, which is not what I am going to show off here. There was something much more fundamental missing in my earlier poems and my perception of the whole process of
writing was flawed. Here are a few things I learnt/ observed.

Read your poem aloud - I never used to do this, always muttering the lines under my breath. I never heard how the words sounded or whether they rhymed well. But this new habit gives me a completely different
perspective about my poems. Even by reading it aloud to the four walls, I've rid myself of the fear that someone may read what I write.

Be honest about why you wrote a poem - It's not that I wanted to be dishonest intentionally, but I always thought I should give very valid and concrete reasons as to why a poem came to my mind. What the heck.
It's just a poem and you could write it for any silly reason. I've written many poems only because there were certain words I wanted to use.

Every word is not the same - I am a strong believer in equality, but I have to admit that no two words are the same (even if they are synonyms). Some words are melodious and in harmony with others, while
some are not. For e.g., nozzle, fish are not beautiful words. There's something about them that's not pleasing to my ears. I've realized this and try to avoid using those words which I don't like.

That's all I have to say for now. Later.

As a teen

Profanity was my armor as a teen
I heard it in school - it smelt to me
like blood does to a carnivore,
tasted like my choice dish that
I couldn't let go, so as I used it
I felt in control and saw it as
the start of a revolution in me.

My parents hated me the most
and they felt terror as I spoke.
They loved me more than my sibling
Lu, who went to school in Beijing.
My dad was home on Mondays and
my mom was home on Sundays, so I
stayed quiet two consecutive days.

To rid me during holidays, I was
sent to my grandma's place
I threw my cousin into Lammond bay
so she spread rumors without delay
"Su swore and called God gay", which
upset my grandma so she sent me away.
I will show her it wasn't my mistake.

I was with a cute owl that whole night
when I actually saw a black rose bloom.
The owl tried to make some rose-hip jam
I hit him in the head, called him thug.
"Je suis desole, ne chatier pas moi"
he cried, and light, light the night smiled.
Then I fell off the tree with a smash.

My parents promptly arrived to find
my ankle bruised bad as a rainbow -
red, blue, green and indigo - my naive
cousin of deceit watching with regret.
Soon we hugged and smiled like mates,
made up before I left, but she is a bitch
and I cursed her under my breath.

Those words had life, but I used them so
much they are now old and almost dead
that I've laid my weapons to rest.

This is a sad attempt at Jim Simmerman's twenty little poetry projects. It is a challenging task to combine the projects into one poem.

Time to Smile

Seven hundred and odd smiling faces, and why not?Yes. I'm referring to our MPs indeed. Their pay package is increasing!! Doubled pension, doubled daily allowance (for attending parliament), two cell phones, dozen more air trips a year and much more. And the bill gets passed faster than the Embraer jets that carry our VIPs. Another one against sting operations might get passed soon. They're working tirelessly.Parliamentary affairs minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi says --

Indian MPs were the lowest paid in the world although they represent the highest
number of people.

So as India's population spirals out of control (1.6B plus by 2050), our MPs are finally beginning to get the dough they deserve.

"If our house functions well, not only salaries but all their allowances should
also be increased. Look at how the private sector pays and look at how MPs get
paid across the world,"

said Rahul Bajaj, Independent MP.I concur completely. Unlike the corporate world, it takes a lot of effort and time to vegetate. This merits some recognition from our side and I'm glad the taxes we pay are helping sustain the homes of these MPs.And then, some MPs also want compensation to be related to performance which, given their history and other pressing issues, will take a long time to implement.

On Lex

I hear the rhythm beside me
like the faint beat of a drum
it flows with the mild breeze
and abruptly ceases, to free
me from my skein of thoughts.

It resumes in a few seconds
once the white man shines
its evenness stands apart
from all the soft voices,
giggles, and clamor around.

I'm focussing on the beat now
but I fear my curiosity may
kill the constancy it shows.
But she walks ahead, not a step
missed as her blue skirt flows.

Between those few blocks I've
heard the rise and fall of strides
before they fade into the subway.


I was on my way to a subway (metro) on Lexington Ave a few weeks back. There was this lady walking near me with such a rhythm in her stride that I was tempted to swing around and take a look. That I did. A few days later when I remembered it, I just scribbled these few lines.

Mind

My mind just created its twin
and they're playing tug-of-war
how I wish one would just win
they're identical, but never concur.

One is here, other is there
and they are both getting stronger
one is happy and the other gloomy
I can feel the increasing polarity.

While one is loving, but despaired
the other loathes, but is inspired.
I know not which one lies, I see
not which one is a friend of mine.

The game goes on and on
can't they sing the same song
be of the same stripe and kind
oh, the ambivalence of my mind.


Contradiction and chaos are integral part of my life. I built this poem around the first two lines because I liked the idea of twin and tug-of-war applied to my mind.

Complete publicity makes it absolutely impossible to govern

Soren Kierkegaard was a famous nineteenth century existentialist philosopher. I understand that much of his works relate to religion, ethics, theology etc. I have not much idea about the political system in Denmark in the nineteenth century or the context in which Kierkegaard made this statement -

Complete publicity makes it absolutely impossible to govern.

However, I feel these few words render themselves very apt in today's politics and governance.
Publicity as I interpret here is the condition of making known or aware, rather than advertising or promoting something. Post self-promotion phase (manifestos, campaigning), any new government usually falls silent abruptly - as if stupefied by their own victory. Anyway, on a more serious note, a governing body needs privacy during various stages of their functioning, which is available to them. They have no obligation to make public their day-to-day discussions, and all those brain-storming en route to any final decision (it would show them in a very bad light). But there is a host of information a governing body receives at various levels, in varied forms classified as social, legal, economic, political etc. This is presented to the public in a suitable way on a need to know basis, which is justified. For instance, any confidential information they receive on an impending terrorist attack or a similar event is best handled by cautioning rather than declare openly and struggle to handle the chaos it creates, along with averting the disaster in waiting. Any nuclear test conducted is best kept a secret until completed. These are just two instances that come to my mind, concerning security. A host of other less critical news reaches the public after a lag.

There is another side to this discussion, albeit slightly out of context. Unfortunately, our government is not very discerning on this front - which news to leak and which one to conceal. There's also a tinge of indifference here. That's why Satyendra Dubey was brutally assassinated when he blew the whistle on the Golden Quadrilateral corruption. Apart from security of the state, the government should also be keen enough not to leak any information which puts a civilian in jeopardy. It's time to consider implementing some form of Whistleblower Law, because an individual citizen's security is also a foremost responsibility of the state.

To conclude, in today's situation, the government reserves every right to keep certain information confidential. At the same time, they need to apply keen judgement to determine when and how something of classified nature is headlined, which is equally important.

Violent peace

Over the last few months, I have been volunteering with this lady who conducts music workshops for children aged between ten and fifteen. She has a modest grant of $500 from Manhattan Cultural Council and is required to conduct workshops on peace. While it was real fun to work with kids and peek into their creative minds, it also brought forth a picture I had been missing – maybe because I seldom interact with children.

Some of the songs/ poems the groups of kids had come up with were amazing. There was home peace, animal peace, brain peace and so on. However, there was this group which came up with a song, whose first two lines ran thus –

This world will see peace
when Bin Laden is beheaded
…

Needless to say, I choose not to quote further. This is sample good enough. Obviously, we ended up not using the song for the concert. However, I kept thinking why they came up with this song, despite our repeated emphasis that this was a peace workshop. Do they not understand what peace is? Perhaps they don’t. The media blares from all fronts about the Iraq peace process, Middle East Peace process, South East Asian Peace Process and also attributes numerous deaths and civilian casualties to these. Thanks to the Internet, children have access to all news and events in their entirety.

When I think carefully, it’s not surprising they came up with a song like this. At this impressionable age, we are setting such a bad example for them. They have come to believe that violence uproots violence, death is paid back with death, and life is not valuable at all. And it’s not their fault. We need to pause and think what we’re doing. Besides ruining the present, we are sending terribly wrong signals to the next generation. If this goes on, in a few decades there will be nothing left to salvage. It is our responsibility to leave for them a world that is tolerant and peaceful. If you interact with children, I request you to take a few minutes to tell them what peace is, give them a broader picture of what’s going on in this world and why certain things are not right. I don’t have to elaborate and it’s never too late.

Strangers

The world without strangers
would indeed be a strange place
recognize every single face
shake every hand and yes,
pass infinite smiles.

You’ll never reach where you
set out to go, because of
numerous stops in between.
You’ll never get home because
good byes will never cease.

You’ll never say excuse me,
never make new friends.
You’ll always try placing
names and events and you’ll
hardly be in peace.

This is a tribute to all the strangers around me. Thanks for being one.
Inspired by the word "Strangers" on someone's t-shirt.

A day for Pi

There’s a day dedicated to Pi, you may
ask me why – maybe because it’s
irrational and an infinite decimal.
The celebrations on the day before
the Ides of March may mean eating
a pie, playing a piano, or simply
drinking Pina Colada. What a way
to celebrate the rare constancy
and honor our very own sweet pie.

I love math. Particularly because I'm not good at it. When I was writing a poem on physics, I got to know that there was a day for Pi. Thus "A day for Pi" was born.

Thoughts

My thoughts have drifted
away, far and remote, like
a dandelion clock blown
by a five year old.
But then I realize that my
thoughts have reached home.
It’s me who is still drifting
away, far and remote.

I don't want to say too much about this poem. Just want to go home.

Nineteen Eleven

When I was in my bold twenties
many, several moonshines back
the world was prepared for war
and I was moonshining in the dark.
On those rugged Appalachians
we were about fourteen men
making firebox to bury the blaze,
getting liquor from the mash, as
smoke and steam rose sky-high.
Those nights were always fun
making whiskey and rum, selling
them for prices so low, in clay
jugs signed with symbols obscure.
A silvery twilight in nineteen eleven
the revenuers arrived quickly, we
deserted our distillery, fires burning,
still working, and coats hanging.
I never took to moonshining again,
but many, several moonshines later
I know the shine always tasted better
than all the gin and rum I’ve ever tried
and I was a shiner with pride.

War in the name of Lord

Mumbai blasts: for those who call it holy war - Terrorism in any form in not justified. Holy is a very inappropriate adjective for this dastardly act and I'm sure the Lord himself is grieving this day.

While He is busy mending the earth
In which for war there is no dearth
He thinks His name is called out loud
And learns it's "War in the name of Lord"

He is shocked and surprised
And strains to find if He heard it right
Alas! He has made no mistake, for
He'll now not even our prayers take

Puppy in a bag

Carried by a dainty heiress
in a beautiful velvet satchel.

Peeking through perforation
with plain look of consternation.

No need for perambulation because
swinging in a royal procession.

Great sense of repletion with
slight sense of suffocation.

Enjoying all the attention
while vying for liberation.

I borrowed

Green from spring's first leaf
Red from rose's velvet petal
Yellow from the sun's morning ray.

Blue from the ocean's mighty wave
And Black from the darkest night
To paint your perfect portrait.

You took a glimpse and smiled a
smile so dainty and nice I marvel
what color can capture that shine?

Suicide by farmers: families may get relief

There has been so much research and numerous committees formed to study and abate the suicide plight of farmers in India, but nothing concrete has been done. Panels are yet to submit their report and a new National Agricultural Policy seems a distant dream.

Much has also been said and written on this topic and I learn from latest reports that 143 farmers committed suicide in 2005 - 2006.

http://www.indiatogether.org/agriculture/opeds.htm has some interesting insights.

For a change, here's my post in the form of a poem.

Laughter and songs are not rare
in our lives filled with peace
barn is teeming and the well full
plenty to eat and more to give.

Yellow wheat dances in the breeze
house is filled with niceties
rains make the wet ground sing
birds and cattle joining in.

Somewhere my mind moves to and fro
tells me it's not true, not verity
startled, I wake to a moving cry
yes, it is a dream, was a reality.

As transit of Venus, nimbus is rare
which has driven us to abjection
there's a graft amidst sun and rain
one ever to stay, other never seen.

This land betrayed me and my brethren
earth allover, not a blade of grass
we beseech and pray, only to move
from peace of Gods to wrath of Gods.

My child's wails sound far away
my own stomach grumbles loudly -
disrupts all my senses instantly
and benumbs emotions gradually.

Eyes are dry like the arid land
on which, I can barely stand.
weighed down by debt and hunger
I kneel and kiss it one last time.

We've eaten rats and eaten mice
but this last supper is contrary
a potion in the guise of Atmit
that I've culled with grief.

I hate to weigh my harsh measure
my family, too spent to ask or heed.
I have no choice left, but to
give us all that eternal rest.

Their eyes gleam as they indulge
mine quietly shut to fend my guilt.
I secretly wait for the inevitable
hoping I'd fall before the rest.

The Magician's daughter

Bring paper to flower and fur
And move towering manors around
Turn spherule to velvet and water
And change things that surround.

She was angelic than my sorcery
My seraph, my priceless treasure
While I beguiled all the gallery
Death clipped me in a juncture.

All my conjury was in vain
Magic couldn't keep her alive
As she writhed and cried in pain
Darkness kissed her out of life.

Was she just another illusion
That darted past a charmer's vision?

Transit

Carriage filled with hundred faces
Each with its spring and station
And going a hundred places
With a tiny span in unison.

As the transit abruptly ceases
They spill like peas from a skin
It was a chance togetherness
that may never happen again.

Voice

As Ocean's song is its waves
As Forest speaks through its winds
As Fire's tone is its flames
Find your voice before its late.

Feel strongly for some issues
On others try to find your call
Be it right or be it false
It's better than having none at all.

Stars

They bristle and blaze within
And they abidingly collapse
But on a clear night welkin
As they wink, shine and dance
Stars are the numerals of repose.

Oh, Leaf

These lines on my palm
Those veins on your face
Where do they meet?
Do these stripes rule my life?
Do those seams vote your fate?

Angel face

My hands are numb and so is my heart
Eyes long for tears there never are
As you lie like a fading star
Can't I take your grief and ache
Return you to your blissful state

I regret to think of your wrong
Was it because you played too long
On a road meant for a bomb
That tore through your tender form
But aren't you very strong?

I wonder what was on your mind
As you whirled and fell on the side
Was it terror or fear or pain
I know God is more than kind
Will let my sunshine last in time

Lose not hope nor lose faith
For you have your part to play
Though you war might far away take
Peace needs you for peace's sake
So come back my angel face

Reservation

What better way to demoralize tens of thousands of teenagers who are about to set foot in the real world? Reservations, reservations and more reservations. Not towards “Education for students” but towards “Power for Politicians”. There are several better and tested ways to educate youngsters.First, implement mandatory education at primary level. There is no reason why two students who go to school and work hard should be treated differently at undergraduate/ graduate/ employment stages.Second, the government can consider a subsidized education scheme for the first child. Perhaps this will also tackle population issue at a very small level.Finally, it is critical to assert the overarching importance of education itself, without which the first two avenues above will not yield much result.Unfortunately, the politicians will encourage none of the above. Simply because, education translates into better awareness, and well informed people. This would mean all their rundown acts and un-kept promises coming under intense scrutiny, eventually resulting in the loss of power. That reminds me of John Steinbeck’s famous quote –

“Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power”

All the processes outlined above are tedious and long drawn, and require much more effort and time than just implementing a reservation scheme. But the politicians cannot even afford they begin. At the end of all this, we have no right to lament about brain-drain. Students go where there is reward and recognition for their merit and hard work, and rightfully so. The British followed “Divide and Rule” and the Indian politicians are working overtime to keep the tradition alive.

What is more important – current social issue(s) or long-term research?

During my recent visit to the Kennedy Space Center at Florida, I gathered a lot of information about future Mars Missions, next trip to the moon, and sending essentials to the International Space Station. I could sense immense excitement among the employees as they outlined the plans and shared the history with pride.

Spread over an area of over five hundred sq. kilometers, the place itself seems to be totally cut-off from the rest of the world. It is a complex machinery with seventeen thousand employees working relentlessly towards the next launch. Despite all the doubts and uncertainities associated with these complex space programs, there was a current of optimism and accomplishment.

As I headed back from KSC, I had a feeling of returning to the real world. There were people returning from work, kids from school and vehicles rushing to their destinations. As one trail of thought led to another, I thought of all those people without a home, without education and other social ills plaguing this world. Should all the funds and energy that go into such a grand space program be re-channeled? Is it a waste of time and money to dream of settling down in Mars? The answer is a resounding NO.

Problems fall into different categories. Issues like population explosion, illiteracy, crime, and poverty are inter-related and have prevailed always. They have reduced/increased at different rates based on the inter-dependence amongst each other. There are governments, many NGOs, and non-profit organizations that are working towards decreasing these. Then there are man-made and natural calamities. Natural calamities like tsunamis, earthquakes etc are not totally foreseeable yet. However, there are scientists working round the clock to make them more predictable and hence less calamitous. Lastly, man has contributed his fair share in keeping terrorism and warfare prevalent on the face of earth.

Despite all this, one cannot dispute that life today is far better than it was a few decades ago. There are always two kinds of innovations or research that take place – One, addresses current problem(s) and second, in pursuit of a grander dream with no correlation to the current situation. However, on closer look, even the first category comes about due to the curiosity of human mind. Fleming’s discovery of penicillin and Pasteur’s discovery of vaccines were a direct result of mind’s inclination to explore and find new things. I would put Wright Brothers’ invention of airplanes into the second category. If they had been restricted to mitigating social problems, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Better still, there would be no KSC.

All the research that leads to these inventions and discoveries provides immense learning along the way, which is applied to making better, the present life. In the end, it’s not just the end, but the means too.

Human mind is too complex, and brilliant. To curtail its enthusiasm and arrest its wonder would be a bane to mankind. In research, it is amazing how grown up people can sustain the mind of an eight or nine year old. To ask them to go slow on grand projects and not tread un-chartered territories is to deny them freedom. I cannot emphasize the importance of research enough. Hats off to all those beautiful minds and good luck to all the research that is going on in this world.

Censorship

Censorship typically refers to deleting parts of a movie, play or written material to prevent it from reaching public eyes. Before going on to discuss if censorship in any form is justified or not, it helps to look at how the same has evolved over the last few decades.

During this period, censoring and censorship have continuously assumed new meanings. Roughly thirty years back, it was film censorship, which was predominant. There was occasionally a furor about editing or removing scenes from films. Or, sometimes the rating for the movie changed. When I think carefully, it was usually because of some sexual content that was inappropriate for the mass audience. The censor board must have felt that the material was not suited for children of certain ages. It was a straightforward case few years ago. I don't remember too many controversies about written material in papers or magazines.

In today's context, censorship is a complicated matter. It has assumed a new and more important role in print media, movies and plays and for that matter in any medium of expression. One has to admit that while globalization has brought us closer to diverse communities, it has also made us intolerant, oversensitive and critical. No community or country is isolated and hence is prone to comments and criticisms from all fronts. Having said that it is not hard to see why censorships today are not necessarily for explicit sexual content.

One cannot sufficiently emphasize the importance of the freedom of speech and expression. Any curb on this would reduce us to living corpses. I am almost tempted to say that censorship in any form, under any context and anywhere is totally unjustified. However, a second look at recent happenings over the cartoons of Prophet Mohammad published in a Danish daily makes me cautious. While this incident assumed global proportions, I know of numerous such incidents at regional and national levels. The loss of hundreds of innocent and intolerant lives over petty cartoons clearly shows that we as a society are still not mature to handle comments in a positive frame, and creative ideas in lighter vein. I do not know these people who called for processions or protested outside offices and embassies. Perhaps they were unemployed youth who had nothing worthwhile to do. They thought it was best to express their unhappiness and anger by torching lives. It's strange that something like a cartoon strip, which is meant to amuse people, becomes responsible for loss of lives.

Despite out tremendous advancements in science, education and technology, humans are still emotionally immature. We do not have the capacity to laugh at brickbats and thrusts. The lack of emotional maturity presents itself in the form of extremely volatile situations. A small group of immature rebels are able to mobilize individuals to form a gang, and fight for a completely trivial issue.

Unfortunately, censorship in some form is needed today. But only as a medium to evaluate and edit, if needed, contents that are provocative. The board should include representatives from diverse fields - writers, painters, movies, theater, and others. The board could work within a well-defined framework on how to handle contents that are provocative. This will ensure fairness because the board would be a balanced representation from all these fields and the members would be qualified enough to judge the content, while still ensuring freedom of speech and opinion.

Royal Shakespeare Company's "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby"

It took me a while to get started on this series. Perhaps because I had never watched a stage show captured for television. I expected it to be a series of exhausting conversations in a dismal setting that seldom changed. But, I was wrong on all accounts. The ‘Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby’ is a classic and outstanding show. Every character from Nicholas and Smike to Ralph and Crummles has done tremendous justice to their roles. The display of emotions, clarity of dialogues, and intensity of expressions are astonishing. I assume there must have been thirty to thirty-five actors in the show. The number of characters in the play is definitely higher. The dexterity with which actors have played multiple roles is phenomenal. Despite the limited resources and space constraints inherent in such shows, the setting changed swiftly and fittingly. Not once did I feel the dreariness of a stagnant location. The sound effects, from the knock of doors to Newman Noggs’s snapping fingers, are very natural. This is a magnificent rendering of Dickens’s novel and a must-watch. I suggest watching one part a day, because it gives sufficient break to chew over that episode, and absorb the performances in their entirety.