Agnijaat Chaitra, March critique by Troy David Loy@kestalusrealm.wordpress.com

Agnijaat Chaitra Critique by Troy David Loy (https://kestalusrealm.wordpress.com)

Indian Raga Now:
Manoj Bajpayee, Rahul Bose, Pooja Bhatt, three of the more fortunate actors where roles played are concerned. I must see their movies!

Spotlight on Milind Tulankar:
I’m listening to Tulankar’s online performances, as I write this. I must say, as instrumental music, they’re brilliant. Jaltarang is not an instrument I’m used to hearing, but I like these even from the first listen. I’ve found a link to a playlist of his music here:

Chandbibi:
A woman who stood up to the might of the Mughal empire, and successfully at that, until her death during a siege in 1599. I doff my hat to her!

Demonic?
There are strange ways available for espionage and unethical surveillance, by the most simple means, even by teenagers, much less more experienced hackers. Things like this will keep a person up at night, especially with the computer running the whole time, like mine when rendering large fractals!

Pain is their cocaine:
This is a commentary on the contagiousness of gloominess, in both demeanor and worldview when morose people try to live it!

Bhakti Saints: Nimbaraka
Here is a man who had some fascinating ideas. Theologically there were his five methods of salvation, and philosophically there was his concept of Bhedabheda, which bears a closer look.

A New Dawn:
An upcoming book by the authoress, here is the tale of the family life of Ronit and Raina Rai, and their daughter Chaiti. There are ups and downs throughout, including the early days of Ronit and Raina’s marriage. Here and there there is tragedy, as with the accident that kills Asim and maims his widow Preeti. Preeti plays a substantial role in the story as it progresses, though I’m uncertain as to her relation to Ronit and Raina. Still, this bears a good read when it comes out!

Soul Devourers:
Introduced in the Agrahayan issue of Agnijaat, this is a story of fearsome events and sinister cults. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up when reading this excerpt. Here is an account of a young woman’s encounter with terrifying forces and her attempts to survive with her mind and soul intact.

The College Trip:
I love a good vampire story, and having read the novelization of the movie Life Force, I prefer this
one, more supernaturally based, with a sort of creepy psychic parasite who latches onto a young student named Prema.

Basantipuja:
Interesting, this celebration. Hindu festivals fascinate me, with the colorful and personable Gods they honor, the stories behind them (We humans are story-telling beings, after all!), the fun to be had, and the spirit of community in organizing and attending these events.

Verses:
Good poems this month, with my favorites being Distant Star and Lost treasure. The cadence for all of these is quite evocative.

Few cartoons for you: Chameleons:
These are fun! I love the tricky chameleons here, and their clever means of bagging a meal of gullible butterflies.