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varghese k

varghese k

Ever since I was a child I have been in love with words. Words in fact fascinate me and I adore anyone who can shape words into beautiful sentences. It's also amazing to watch words becoming sentences and then acquiring a life of their own. So here I toast to words.
I love a good book, and the best thing about books is that they can induce a... more »
  • Kochin/Muscat, Ke, India/Oman
  • member since November 3 2007

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Public Notes

  • Raksha D

    Raksha D says

    can u tell me the name of the book of calvino?? i have forgotten the name!!

    posted 5 months ago. ( send a note )
  • reena singh

    reena singh says

    Hi Varghese.....wonder if you are still in Muscat? Happy New Year!

    posted 12 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Prabhath P

    Prabhath P says

    Happy New Year

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • Theresa B

    Theresa B says

    Hello there - Happy New Year! I see that you have read The Audacity of Hope. What did you think? I recently listened to it, and am considering reading Dreams of my Father. Also I see that Jhumpra has a new book out: have you read it yet?

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • Gabriela

    Gabriela says

    Hi Varghese,

    thank you for your message...i am fine thanks
    yes, i guess the summer was here and i did not have too much time to check the site. Now it is rainy and cold so the time is better for staying inside.
    how are things for you?
    take care,
    Gabi

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • scarlett w

    scarlett w says

    hi varghese k,how are you,these days I have read the book The Crescent Moon, I like it very much ,Do you like the poem written by Rabindranath Tagore

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • Fereshteh p

    Fereshteh p says

    It's not always that easy to distinguish the good guys from the bad guys. Sinners can surprise you, and the same is true for saints.
    Why do we try to define people as simply good or simply evil?
    Because no one wants to admit the compassion and cruelty can live side by side in one heart. and that anyone is capable of anything!

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • Laura

    Laura says

    actually, dear friend, I am doing quite well. I'm back at home, enjoying the remainder of my vacation with my parents and my little brother. I was delighted to hear from you, please forgive for not answering, I've more or less cut off my ties with the rest of the world when things became a little hectic during my last exam week. in fact, I intended to get back to you today. I liked the poem a lot. it fits my mood right now. I am feeling content with ymself and the world outside and fter all, I still have a little time left for myself until college starts again.

    however, I am thinking more and more about myself and the world around me. I've watched a lot of movies and read a lot of books that put my mind to work recently. the last one, "When we were orphans", especially enraged me. the action takes place shortly before and during the 2nd World War, in the far east and it includes some of the more unsavoury aspects, such as the opium trade and the misery and terror that made the rise of the communists in China possible. it made me realise two things: first of all, that my konwledge of modern history is very very poor, which is a huge setback, since it doesn't allow me to fully comprehend the implications and causes of certain events and, secondly, that I feel personally responsible. although I am not a Westerner as such, my outlook on life is disticntly Western, after years of Russian domination we look to the West as our one chance of redeeming ourselves as a country. I know, of course, that not all that glitters is gold, but I was appalled by the people's attitude toward the suffering of the Chinese. ow can someone who considers himself civilised be so indifferent to what's going on around? and yet we are doing the same. it's ridiculous, but I've only now become aware of the horrors of the civil wars raging in several African countries. it's a mystery to me why the international press is so silent on these issues. I'm convinced that I'm not the only one from my age group who simply never heard of any such events. why do I find out immediatley whether Britney Spears wore underpants the other day, but I am ignorant of such important issues.

    needless to say, I am growing more and more depressed as I get a better picture of the Middle East by means of Judith Miller's account of it in "God Has 99 Names", a very interesting book about the origins of militant Islam, but it's not featured on Shelfari. the most intriguing part of it is that the events she recounts took place over 20 years ago, in the late 80s and the early 90 (the book was first pulbished in '96). the Americans and the local governments were well aware of what was going on, but they did nothing to stop it (although, to be honest, I don't see what can be done to put an end to this madness short of completely eradicating poverty in those countries, which just can't be done). but at least they shouldn't have encouraged it, obsessed as they were of the communist threat (which ceased long ago to be a threat). the utter ignorance I'm confessing to may surprise you, I really don't see an excuse for it myself, but the fact is, the more knowledgeable I try to become, the more I see just how little I know about what's going on around me.

    but setting aside such depressing thoughts, tell me, what do you think of Islam (the militant as well as the more moderate one-though the author of the book implies that there's no such thing as moderate in such cases). my view of it is certainly prejudiced, both by recent events and the ideas, the values I was borught up with, but the one thing that makes it impossible for me to remain impartial is the fact that I am a girl (woman sounds somewhat unnatural, besides, I don't think I'm wise enough to call myself one). to be fair, the more or less equal rights I am now enjoying were attained only a century ago at most. and there are many things in need of improvement, both concerning women's rights and discrimination. but still, it is very very hard for me to keep calm when I heat and whitness half the population of those countries treated like some kind of ugly desease that you don't talk about and try your best to hide. I also know that not all muslims share those lines of thought, but, sadly, whenever anything happens, whether major upheavals or just minor incidents, it is always those with such views that turn up. what is perhaps even more infuraiting is that all or most of themajor figures on the scene aren't, at least in my view, true believers. they only pretend to have faith in order to gain power. they misuse religion for their own goals, very pragmatic at that, because what else do they want but come to power? they don't care about the people, not even about their own men. everyone is just a pawn to be sacrificed for them to reahc their goals.

    all I've said sounds quite depressing. and the fact is, I have an acute feeling of powerlessness, but the truth is, all that has no influence on my daily life. perhaps it should. but, like most human beings, I have become quite good at blocking out all those annoying thoughts. maybe it does help our survival. you could hardly go on living light-heartedly if you're aware of all the suffering around you. but still i feel like I should act on them. isn't it my responsibility to do something? and if so, what can I do? please give me some of your good advice. I know yo've probably thought aobut such things yourself. how did you manage to make peace with your conscience?


    love,
    Laura

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • Natalka

    Natalka says

    Oh well, must have been some misunderstanding :)My fault. Good to know we're in touch again! I have gmail address as well, chating there would be nice! Only we have to arrange the time somehow, calculate the time zones :) (I'm leaving right now for a couple of days again, so won't be here for some time again, I'll write to you as soon as I come back, ok?).
    Don't mention it. I feel terribly upset about that war (just imagine yourself in the place of people over there! the world ceased to be a safe place to me during the first minutes of the news report). I'll write to you how the news are dished here, interesting to know your opinion on it.
    So, I have to go,
    take care, Varghese!

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • CLAUDETTE D

    CLAUDETTE D says

    Hello Varghese,nice words for a friend,thank you.I'm still in Beirut,busy watching the Olympic Games my country is doing well in the Athletics.

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • Natalka

    Natalka says

    Take care and have a nice time during these last days of summer!

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • Natalka

    Natalka says

    Hello, Varghese! It's been a while since I've last wrote you (I replied to you last post here via e-mail to that new mailbox you've given me), but it seems to me that you haven't received my mail - or why then are you silent? :) Anyway, how are you? I came across "the Zahir" by Coello and "Souls & Bodies" by Lodge on your shelf - what do you think about the first one (I'm reading it now) and is the second worth reading?

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • A.Gh

    A.Gh says

    The past is unchangable, the future is unknown
    And now is a gift, that's why it's called the present !

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • Natalka

    Natalka says

    Ha-ha :)) No, I meant I'd love to have such a big house.... Eh, it is hot at my place too - near 30 degrees - and this time of year. But it is also raining, so we seem to have kind of balance here ;)And lushing vegetation! Everything green, blooming!

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • Lord M

    Lord M says

    I'm so sorry! I hope you were not offended. It just happens so much that I am at a loss for things to say. I admit I am not the inquisitve type- I just take in and observe. I'm more of a listener than a conversation starter. It's a sad position, I know.
    I appreciate what you shared about Oman, though. It's certainly stone's throw away from the notions of Arabs that I have in mind, but I suppose material wealth changes almost everybody and their priorities. The oppressed and stricken in poverty are often those that love their country the most- as well as those who can remember.

    I'm sorry for not replying for a long time. Now you see, I often blab out irrelevant thoughts. But the length and breadth of conversations are not trustworthy gauges- for me- of the worth of friendship I hope you understand, even if I only see your avatar in my friends' category, I very very much appreciate it.
    But I am open to any questions you will ask. I refrain from asking any only because I would not want to intrude on anything personal. In the meantime, take care.
    Thank you for following up our conversation.

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • Bibliophile!

    Bibliophile! says

    I just finished the graphic novel Watchmen by Alan Moore. Loved it. Do you read graphic novels?

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • Lord M

    Lord M says

    Dear Varghese,

    Shall we launch a Socratic dialogue? If so, I must confess from the very start that I have only muddled ideas about the term 'culture' myself, and I must have used it too generally :) Thank you for inviting me to explain what I meant with the term. By Middle Eastern culture I try to evoke a (rather vague) picture I have in mind, of Arabian music, long-robed bearded men, narrow, noisy bazaars selling all sorts of rugs and dyes, camels passing ordinarily through tight lanes of people, the mosque and the muezzin calling to prayer, the remnants of Byzantine history, mosaics and gardens in former harems, the elegant Arabic script- if you have watched the movie adaptation of Hosseini's The Kite Runner, the first scenes of Afghanistan, then that is what I meant. Not exactly, of course- Afghanistan is not strictly in the Middle East- but the notion is near, something about the very dust and air of the country itself that says, Ah, this is Arabia, this is not what we find in the West, this is solely and distinctly Arabia.

    That is what amazes me when I say I find Arabian culture fascinating. Of course, I might form an altogether wrong picture, utterly shameful and romantic, that might be nothing like what the real Arabia- and Oman- is; which would be unfair to the country, really, crediting it for the gifts it does not possess and consequently ignoring the real gifts of culture it has; which is why, yes, I do hope to learn more about the region, and maybe even visit the country if I get the opportunity.
    Though I hope that real-life Oman is not purely industrialized cities and oil magnates..

    You say you aimed 'to search a way out' when you came to Oman. That is a statement I cannot figure out.. would you like to expound on it? And by "like" I mean it literally.. All discourse is entirely at your discretion, I ask you no favor to reveal anything about yourself that you feel the slightest dislike to, for after all you did not press me about my name either. But this one trivial question, I hope you will not be bothered to answer at all: What are your impressions of the Filipinos you find in that country? Spare nothing, please; though I trust that we would pass all standards :)For I believe in my homeland.

    Thank you for replying to my previous post :) It was kindness and not duty that led you to. I hope you find Oman renewed in your eyes. Take care always.

    Regards.
    Lord M

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • Lord M

    Lord M says

    Dear Varghese,
    For cyberspace purposes I just go by Lord M. I hope you won't think it's a matter of pride with me, it was a nickname, if you will, that I had since years before and got stuck, and now I have an unwillingness to part with it and the years of identity that came with it. I'm from the Philippines- and you're from India and Oman! I've always been fascinated by the Middle East, such an amazing culture, don't you think?

    Anyways, you have such a wonderful profile description. So do books best serve as a means to friendship, rather than ends to themselves, and doing what books regularly serve for- enjoyment, intellectual stimulation? I would welcome your opinion earnestly.

    I hope you are doing well. :)

    Take care.
    Lord M

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )


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