Find your patronus charm

Many times children’s books can give you amazing life insights. I am a big fan of recommendations from both my daughters and have learned from them . Of course Harry Potter does not require recommendations - I am on my Book 3.

I did not know there was something called a Harry Potter wiki (https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Main_Page ) . This is what it says about the charm

The Patronus Charm (Expecto Patronum) was the most famous and one of the most powerful defensive charms known to wizardkind.[4] It was an immensely complicated and extremely difficult spell, that channeled the caster's positive emotions into a powerful protection and evoked a partially-tangible positive energy force known as a Patronus (pl. Patronuses)[5] or spirit guardian.[3] It was the primary protection against Dementors and Lethifolds, against which there were no other defenses.

Yesterday, as I was reading the passage where Harry was trying to learn the same from Prof Lupin and as I closed the particular chapter and was mulling over it I realized that this was such a nice insight - When we are faced with worries and stress which is the dementors in Harry Potter language the simple thing is to remember your good time and envelope yourself with positive feelings. As you glow in the  beautiful feeling of warmth all your worries will disappear. 

I think all kids and adults will identify with this insight and we all should practise it.

I tried, Unlike Harry I am 52 years old and the moments which came were the days I spent with Baba just before his death. Of course there was a lot of despair and pain because of his condition but there was also this unique & rare tenderness which I will always treasure & remember.   

Day 26: 200 words/day challenge (294 words)

Does the environment change you ? On Reading

I have been listening to a lot of authors and journalists discuss how the milieu in which they grew shaped them. And I was reflecting on my own growing up days in cantonment areas which are like a township away from town. 

When I used to stay in Hakimpet, one of the Air Force stations where baba was posted. The main gate of our quarters was almost 2 - 3 km from the last bus stop and there was a semi broken road which we had to traverse to reach. We were asked not to cycle that path after dark. This was the 70's so cycles were the default mode of travel or walk.

I remember just after the gate there was a gurdwara, a masjid and a mandir - done in typical defence style, Of course we were regulars in langars and times when prasad was given in the mandir. Religion was not even in our radar - our introduction to religion at that age was food. Of course teasing a sikh person for their pug was a common prank we played without any malice.

My love for reading came from my father who was a voracious reader of Bangla novels and books - more than that he was a wonderful storyteller. With no TV or mobiles - most of the time was spent outdoors playing something or the other. 

Our school library was stocked with the basics - Hardy Boys, Famous Five etc. Apart from that it was all based on exchange between friends. 

There was an Air Force Library which had a fiction section - but what I liked the most were books on UFO & fascination for the unknown. There were no external / govt libraries which I could visit.

Train journeys spread over 5- 6 days were time for persuading your parents to buy some books. I think I had read some Col Ranjeet (Hindi) books and James Hadley Chase (in hindi) - which I had to hide from my parents. 

Another big factor was personal - being the only child I could burrow myself in a corner and be lost in my own world. Which is even the case now - with the kids out to make their own life, I have gone back in time to relive my childhood.

I am mostly what I am because of what I have experienced through reading, whether it is philosophy of Ayan Rand or the travelogue book on Siberia & Japan I read or Murakami. I am tempted to say that Rand, Stephen Covey & Sri Sri Ravi Shankar are 3 people who had a huge influence on my outlook & it’s true - This probably will be a stock answer in an interview, but when I look back I attribute it to a phase of my life - youth - work - emotional setback.

We don’t in general give importance to the fiction we read - it’s a story to be read and forgotten but a lot of my understanding of society and its effect on people comes from these books, especially those which are steeped in history, regional translations - Indian & international. Many times I would read the book and learn about the country or state / region about its history and culture or an event like the Vietnam war (for Vietnamese) or slavery. 

My choice of books is governed a lot by those like Persepolis & Vanni, both graphic novels which gave me an understanding of Iran & the Tamil conflict in Sri Lanka. I also crave for Bangla translations which helps me understand the Kolkata of the past.

Day 25: 200 words/day challenge: 582 words

Postscript: https://bit.ly/3cw2i8Y Blossoms in Bangalore is one of the places for book lovers across Bangalore (past n present) to congregate, it’s a labyrinth of books mostly second hand. Last time I picked a book which was bought in 19 72. Click the link to read about Square books and how it’s nurtured readers and writers. The New Yorker publishes a few of the best articles which I have ever read. Enjoy.