July 08, 2020
There is a second novel I am thinking
Not directly, but it’s hard to escape the subject of redevelopment if you have
grown up in the city or have family here. About four or five years ago, I
decided to put these characters in Mumbai and the story evolved from there.
There is a second novel I am thinking about, something very different from the
first, but it will be a while before I start writing it. The three protagonists
(Ira, Kartik and Kaiz) and their struggle also developed organically over a
decade. That said, stories can be specific and universal at the same time. I
work at a non-profit research lab that works on Artificial Intelligence
solutions for social good. To some extent, I slid towards engineering and IIT.
But writing about the subject required a fair amount of research. The story
might be a uniquely Mumbai story, but the novel is really about finding your
place in a changing world. I have family members who have been on both sides:
tenants and landlords. The novel is about the three protagonists figuring out
who they are, it’s about middle class society defining and asserting itself in
the 90s. My brother came out to me before Section 377 was scrapped, and for
years I dissuaded him from telling our parents that he was gay.Was Karthik’s
character based on your brother or perhaps influenced by him?You can say that
the character is somewhat based on me but influenced by my brother.This book was
apparently turned down by several publishers before it finally got picked up.
But I chose Stanford very consciously, hoping to follow Vikram Seth’s footsteps
and write my first book while there. For what it’s worth, I sent the same
manuscript to two publishers, and both made me offers. So what compelled you to
study at IIT and then Stanford and get into management after that?I don’t see
those as contradictory choices.You have lived in different cities and moved
homes several times, but you seem to have a strong affinity towards Mumbai, is
that why you choose to base your book here or was it an organic process based on
how your story evolved?Growing up, I lived in four different cities — and one
town, Godhra — but most of my extended family was in Mumbai. One of the reasons
for that, I suspect, is that there’s something about Mumbai’s urbanity that’s
universal. Why do you think that happened? What kind of initial feedback were
you motorcycle
bearing Manufacturers given?The book was turned down by 13 agents. Going
into management consulting was a bit of a mistake though, it didn’t suit my
temperament at all. Also, I wanted to break away from the trend of Indian novels
in English bearing lyrical, poetic names. This was the seed for Kartik’s
character. I simply don’t have that kind of courage, I care too much about what
other people think. The title came much after the line. It’s a different matter
that I wasted my time at Stanford and wrote nothing. When the book was done, I
remember thinking, wait, this is such a small, simple story, why did it take me
almost four years to write it? The truth is that a lot of that time was spent
doing research and letting the facts stew in my head till they began to feel
like lived experience. Not only did he come out to the family, but he also came
out quite publicly on a popular Facebook page. Is it also a reference to the
journey the characters undergo?The phrase appears just once in the novel, in a
passage that refers to the peace after the blasts.You have extensively dealt
with the redevelopment angle and its impact on the residents. It’s not been easy
switching contexts between AI and the world of Milk Teeth for the past month, to
tear my mind away from data and algorithms to talk about literature, cities,
love, and class. There were major problems with the draft I sent to agents. I
spent every summer vacation and winter break there. Much like Kaiz in my novel,
I have been fascinated by Mumbai’s history, its role and form in our
consciousness. I think publishers saw the potential in it and were willing to
place a bet that they could help me fix the parts that were not working. But she
was right (she always is!), this is a Bombay novel: this story, these characters
could not have been located anywhere else, or in another decade. I could not
have done what he did.. I even wrote a paper about the representation of Mumbai
in popular media over the years for a course in college. I am so glad he did not
take my rubbish advice. I loved maths and physics in school, and was also very
good at those subjects.The book is set in a middle-class Mumbai suburb and will
appeal to those who are familiar with the city, but do you think it will have
the same impact on a non Mumbaikar?I hope so! The initial response has been very
positive. Arundhati Roy studied architecture, Vikram Seth economics, and
Amitabha Bagchi is a professor of computer science to this day. Too much of the
tension was buried in the past. Most Indian writers have no formal training in
writing and many have non-literary professions. It was (my publisher) Karthika
who first called it a ‘Bombay novel’ and I pushed back because I thought that
was too narrow. Still, I am the product of my experiences, and this book could
not have been what it is without my years at IIT Bombay and Stanford. It is the
city I know best. One devastating rejection letter stopped short of saying I
should abandon the book. Agents probably did not see the value in investing that
much time and effort in a new writer.You have mentioned that despite your
background in aeronautical engineering, you always wanted to be a writer. I had
the most fun writing his part: the voice in his section is close to my inner
voice, and of all the characters in the book, his personality is closest to
mine. The title conveys a sense of becoming. When it gets overwhelming, I take a
step back and observe how bizarre this situation is and then I feel privileged
that I get to occupy such different worlds. My novel is sharp, contemporary, and
playful, so Milk Teeth was perfect. I am still getting to know the characters.
It was only when I was on draft number four that the words jumped out at me: it
hit me that this was the perfect title. Every rejection letter said that the
writing was very good, but there were many complaints — the most common ones
being that there was too little plot and no international hook. It’s about what
happens when people fail to do that and the ways in which they hurt each
other.Now that your book is out, where do you go from here?I started a new job
soon after I submitted my final draft to my publisher.An aeronautical engineer,
who harboured the dream to write a book and persisted despite rejections from
publishers, Amrita Mahale’s debut novel is a fascinating read into the world of
middle class Mumbai, its people and their lives. Did this come from personal
exposure to such situations as your insight into the subject is pretty deep. And
it might seem hard to imagine now, but there was no redevelopment subplot in
that version.The title Milk Teeth is intriguing and I gather you are referring
to the peace post the Mumbai blasts. It was interesting to distill some of my
own anxieties and dissatisfactions through a male character, to build in some
male entitlement. My own family moved every couple of years, so Bombay (and
later Mumbai) became a fixed point of sorts in my itinerant childhood
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June 17, 2020
No action has been taken to arrest the decline
No action has been taken to arrest the decline of fish population."A few decades
ago, Odisha rivers had more than 1,500 native fish species. Fresh water catch
has declined by 80 per cent during the past two decades, prominent among them is
Hilsa, which breeds only in fresh water of rivers. They now sell above Rs 500
per kg. A majority of them are also migrating to other states in search of
livelihood."For 17 years now, WSO has been demanding a ban on river and lake
fishing during the breeding season, but to no avail.Investigations revealed that
a large number of fishermen now put up nets at the gates of barrages at Naraj
and Mundali and Jobra on the Kathjodi and Mahanadi rivers to catch migrating
fish the year round.Experts feel there is an urgent need to ensure unhindered
fish migration in Odisha’s rivers such as Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani rivers,
which are dotted with barrages and dams."The fisheries department may issue
necessary directions to the water resources department for implementing this.
Jena, a river water expert. It is facing near extinction, while hundreds of
other species have disappeared. The egg-bearing or gravid fish are caught in
large numbers at the barrages, dam gates, canal locks and anicuts.Native species
of shrimp caught in Balasore. Carps of more than 2 to 3 kg have become uncommon
in the rivers as there is fishing round the year. Most of them are almost
extinct now. Fishing should be banned at least up to 200 metres on either side
of the fish ladders to save the migrating fish,"said Dr P. Massive use of
pesticides in the farm fields has taken a toll on these small fish varieties.6
lakh fishermen, which is forcing them to take up other vocations.Bhubaneswar:
Rivers in Odisha are fast becoming poisonous and inhabitable for native fish
species.Assessment of fish catch in distributaries of Mahanadi river such as
Luna, Chitrotpala, Birupa, Kathjodi, Devi, Kandal and Paika has revealed a major
fall in the earnings of fishermen.During the monsoon floods, the fish move
upstream for spawning purposes. As a result, due to lack of spawning, Hilsa
population is declining rapidly. The nets are put up as traps throughout the
year and the fishermen regularly haul up the nets using ropes and catch fish of
all sizes, including juveniles.Due to shortage of river fish, the prices in the
markets have jumped to as much as Rs 400 per kg which was sold at less than Rs
200 per kg a few years ago.Recently, Wildlife Society of Odisha (WSO), a
development organisation, in a letter to state fisheries and animal resources
department (FARD) demanded the need to conserve the motorcycle bearing
Manufacturers rapidly dwindling native fish species of the state.K.Depletion
of a number of native fish species has led to a sharp decline in income of 6.The
fishermen can easily catch the fish once they cross the gates where they are
vulnerable. Some of them such as Pohola, Kerandi and Mahurali are soon going to
be extinct in the near future.Hilsa, one of the most sought-after fish species,
has almost disappeared from Odisha rivers since the entry into the rivers from
sea in the rainy season is being checked at the river mouths. It is tragic the
government is apathetic to this problem that is impacting the livelihood of
fishermen of the state," Dr Biswajit Mohanty, secretary, WSO, said. Experts
suggest that fish ladders can address this problem. As a result, the price for
these fish has more than doubled from less than Rs 100 a few years ago," experts
said..The catch size of freshwater carps has undergone a huge decline.Use of
dangerous chemical poison to catch shrimp in the river banks has lead to a
decline in fresh water shrimp
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May 19, 2020
Advertisement The Hitler sculpture
Advertisement The Hitler sculpture is one of about 80 figures, including
world leaders and celebrities, at the wax and visual effects centre.In January,
a controversial Nazi-themed cafe in the western Javanese city of Bandung
closed.1 million people were killed.The venue, which featured swastika-bearing
walls and photos of Hitler, sparked global uproar when reports about the unusual
venue surfaced several years ago.De ARCA Statue Art Museum in the Javanese city
of Jogjakarta drew swift condemnation from rights groups after details of the
controversial display were published in foreign media.Misbah said he thought it
was "normal for visitors to take photos in front of displays, but said the
museum respected the exhibit had upset people from around the world."We dont
want to attract outrage," Misbah told AFP.The museums operations manager, Jamie
Misbah, said the the wax sculpture had been removed after the building was
alerted to criticism from prominent Jewish human rights organisation the Simon
Wiesenthal Center.The exhibit features a sure-footed Hitler standing in front of
a huge photo of the gates of Auschwitz - the largest Nazi concentration camp
where more than 1.The Nazi-themed exhibit was a popular attraction for visitors
to take selfies, and photos circulating on social media show customers -
including children - posing with Hitler and in some cases non-standard
bearing using the Nazi salute.Historians have blamed poor schooling for the
lack of awareness and sensitivity about the Holocaust in Indonesia, which is
home to the worlds biggest Muslim population and a small number of Jews."Our
purpose to display the Hitler figure in the museum is to educate.An Indonesian
museum that allowed visitors to take selfies with a life-size wax sculpture of
Hitler against a backdrop of Auschwitz concentration camp has removed the
exhibit following international outrage, the manager said Saturday (Nov 11)
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