tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16895455503356611582024-03-13T04:57:11.673-07:00Ratan Kaul's BlogTRAVERSING THE ANNALS OF BRITISH INDIAN HISTORYRatan Kaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850539286848858874noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1689545550335661158.post-75985681858428667682022-04-27T00:35:00.000-07:002022-04-27T00:35:22.843-07:00THE MORNING GLORY-A Book of Poetry<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/PsU3SrKEkAc" frameborder="0"></iframe>Ratan Kaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850539286848858874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1689545550335661158.post-84932100838606589162022-04-18T04:35:00.001-07:002022-04-18T04:41:59.470-07:00The poems that have inspired me in my poetic journey
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I have been a writer of prose, having already published two novels, “Wings of Freedom” and “The Full Circle: A Saga of Unrequited Love”. But since my childhood I have also been an admirer of poetry. I still remember nostalgically the great poets, whose poems had impacted my impressionable mind in school and college.
So, a renewed fondness for poetry and re-reading of the old poems inspired me to pen down some poems on topics dear to my heart and based on my life’s journey. And soon I had a collection of forty odd poems. I thought of sharing them with the readers and that’s how my first book of poetry <b>“The Morning Glory” </b>was born. I have described these thoughts in the Preface to the book.
I bring you a small garland of poems…
joining the multi-hued blooms,
in my life’s garden nurtured,
during my eventful journey of years,
to beget your love and cheers.
By way of this blog, I would like to allude to some poems that have fascinated me since my childhood with a brief write up on the poets or poetesses.
<b>The first poem is Toru Dutt’s “Our Casuarina Tree” that I read in my school. The opening stanza of the poem captures the nostalgia of the poetess for the beauty of the Casuarina Tree near which she used play in her childhood with other children in the family and her friends. It reads as below:</b>
<i>"LIKE a huge Python, winding round and round
The rugged trunk, indented deep with scars,
Up to its very summit near the stars,
A creeper climbs, in whose embraces bound
No other tree could live. But gallantly
The giant wears the scarf, and flowers are hung
In crimson clusters all the boughs among,
Whereon all day are gathered bird and bee;
And oft at nights the garden overflows
With one sweet song that seems to have no close,
Sung darkling from our tree, while men repose."
</i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbD1j6kf6z2-2YUBFFbTC5gA7EMb3mtekNSeMSfOB6oiGtcUQDzrn8YUmPSeMQ1VpGJc9KA2HDySRkn7Y54efPUUbVgbCLk-g3zzKFL_QA7DUIrDoCD2PXHYPGLFtLXbKgebKwZzfVOZWJ-8d7-niSvcvOJTaltsHPG_fCCenBlHdxuh-Upm-9_Nkyg/s2832/Casuarina%20Tree%20iStock-1293259998%20March%2012%202022.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="2832" data-original-width="1884" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbD1j6kf6z2-2YUBFFbTC5gA7EMb3mtekNSeMSfOB6oiGtcUQDzrn8YUmPSeMQ1VpGJc9KA2HDySRkn7Y54efPUUbVgbCLk-g3zzKFL_QA7DUIrDoCD2PXHYPGLFtLXbKgebKwZzfVOZWJ-8d7-niSvcvOJTaltsHPG_fCCenBlHdxuh-Upm-9_Nkyg/s320/Casuarina%20Tree%20iStock-1293259998%20March%2012%202022.jpg"/></a></div>
The imagery of the Casuarina tree (having its leaves as a horse’s mane and known in India as ‘Jungli Jhao’) by the poetess as a majestic giant, gallantly carrying a python-like creeper and wearing the colourful scarf of crimson flowers is quite enchanting. The charm is further accentuated by the depiction of birds and bees sheltered in the tree and the sweet music that flows in its environs in the night while all are sleeping.
Toru Dutt (1856-1877) was a great poetess of India, who with her grooming as a linguist wrote in English and French. Even though she had a short life span, she contributed substantially to literature by her writings in both these languages, some of which were also adaptations from Sanskrit.
More in my forthcoming blogs about other poets who inspired me.
Ratan Kaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850539286848858874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1689545550335661158.post-86624661421281713282022-04-13T09:47:00.000-07:002022-04-13T09:47:00.452-07:00THE MORNING GLORY -A Book of Poetry by Ratan Kaul<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/vztezVTbDs0" frameborder="0"></iframe>Ratan Kaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850539286848858874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1689545550335661158.post-72984080293414217252017-08-30T01:10:00.001-07:002017-08-30T01:10:01.892-07:00Book Review of by Ratan Kaul's new novel "The Full Circle"Excellent Author and Book Review by pebbleinthestillwaters.com for<br /><br />
Ratan Kaul's new novel" The Full Circle":<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #707070; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">"...his latest book, The Full Circle, is out recently and is creating waves all around..."</span><br /><br />
<br /><br />
<a href="http://pebbleinthestillwaters.com/ratan-kaul/">Ratan Kaul – Arbitrator, Management Consultant, And Author</a><br /><br />
<br /><br />
<br />Ratan Kaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850539286848858874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1689545550335661158.post-66775102372179922872014-08-09T00:27:00.002-07:002015-02-20T19:31:26.906-08:00Good governance and justice for the common man<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">The present government’s commitment
to ‘maximum governance with minimum government’ is well known. This has also been
adequately reflected in the ten-point road map set out immediately after the
new government was sworn in. It encompassed matters relating to economy;
infrastructure; people oriented systems; education, health and water. Included
also were transparency in government, building of confidence in bureaucracy,
innovative ideas for governance, resolution of inter-ministerial issues, stability
in government policies and time bound implementation of policies.</span></span></h3>
<div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="background-color: white;">However, while the confidence building in bureaucracy has made
the list, an important point missing is the building of confidence in judiciary,
which is also deeply linked to the justice for the common man.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white;"> So, there is need for a debate about accelerating the measures for restoring
the confidence in the judiciary which, from the advent of civilization has been
of utmost importance as a part of good governance. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 35.45pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt;">To elaborate it further, it
would be pertinent to have a look at the meaning of governance. It simply means “t</span><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">he action or manner of governing a state, organization ...”
and that would obviously include conducting of public affairs in a manner that
would render good justice to the subjects of a state. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It is notable that </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nayef_Al-Rodhan" title="Nayef Al-Rodhan"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Naïf Al-Rodham</span></a><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">, in his 2009 book<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Sustainable History and the Dignity
of Man: a Philosophy of History and Civilisation Triumph</i>, had included
participation, equity, and inclusiveness as well as the rule</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> of law in the
eight minimum criteria for <span style="background: white;">ensuring good
national governance. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">In this
connection, the following quotes from our scriptures, Manu Smriti and Kautilya’s
Arthashastra are also relevant: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 90.0pt;">
<span class="color"><i><span lang="EN-US">Manu Smriti:<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 90.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 90.0pt;">
<span class="color"><i><span lang="EN-US"> Chapter VIII, Para 12: “But
where justice, wounded by injustice, approaches and the judges do not extract
the dart, there (they also) are wounded (by that dart of injustice).”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 90.0pt;">
<span class="color"><i><span lang="EN-US">Chapter VIII, <st1:place w:st="on">Para</st1:place> 15: “Justice,
being violated, destroys; justice, being preserved, preserves: therefore
justice must not be violated, lest violated justice destroy us.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 90.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US"><br />
<b>Kautilya’s Arthashastra</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 90.0pt;">
<i><span lang="EN-US"><br />
<span class="color">Book III, Chapter I:
Concerning Law: "As the duty of a king (and the administrators of
justice) consists in protecting his subjects with justice, its observance leads
him to heaven.”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 90.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span lang="EN-US">Unfortunately, however, the present
Indian legal system, a legacy of the British, is inadequate and needs a lot of fresh
thinking and corrective actions by the government. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><br />
One problem which the government has to address is the acute suffering which
the common man seeking justice in India faces due to inordinate delays, high
costs and limited reach to the judicial forums. This is aggravated by the fact
that there is long pendency of cases in the courts. The figures are
stunning. Pending cases in Supreme Court
are around 65,970 (as on 1.7.2014); in High Courts around 4.5 million and in
district courts over 26 million in 2013.
This massive grid-locking at the judiciary needs to be undone by
immediate filling of vacancies, appointment of new judges and adoption of new
technologies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.45pt;">
<span class="color"><span lang="EN-US"> Another is the restoration of trust in the
judiciary, which has been declining of<span style="color: red;"> </span>late. This can be achieved by ensuring the transparency
in the judicial appointments, independence of judiciary, and institutional
checks and balances. Whether the collegium system, which works in a the exclusive
domain of judiciary in a closed environment,
and where one set of judges take decisions about judicial appointments, should be replaced by other systems with a
broader decision making platform is a matter that has to be decided by the
government expeditiously. Same is the
case about strengthening judiciary as an independent institution free from
bureaucratic interference. Otherwise, the democratic fabric of our democracy
would continue to be damaged.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.45pt;">
<span class="color"><span lang="EN-US">There is another important perspective to these
problems, which the new government cannot overlook. By virtue of its
constitution, India is a welfare state and as per the directive principles of
state policy laid down in Part IV, the State has to promote the welfare of
people by securing and procuring effectively a social order in which <i>justice,
social, economic and political, </i>shall inform all the institutions of the
national life (italics mine).<i> </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span lang="EN-US">It is imperative that the government,
judiciary and the entire legal fraternity
rise to the aspirations of the common man and generate a judicial
environment where mass public would be always comforted by a feeling that there
is a fair and unbiased institution to provide speedy justice to him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span lang="EN-US">The author Ratan Kaul can be contacted at: email@ratankaul.in</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span lang="EN-US"> ***</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Ratan Kaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850539286848858874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1689545550335661158.post-659458106381961832012-05-22T10:55:00.000-07:002012-05-22T11:02:36.141-07:00WINGS OF FREEDOM--A HISTORICAL ROMANCE SET IN INDIA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
All are welcome to see a video presentation of WINGS OF FREEDOM<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy_FIp-00FPukIKLIdhndThFNzbMmww8MdVU68YXWkqFp8IjaeQI1a2wi2VZjY8OSouCWwctj-cYkrTuvX4_Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
It can also be viewed on<br />
YOUTUBE <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Su-kU1Wg6s">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Su-kU1Wg6s</a></div>Ratan Kaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850539286848858874noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1689545550335661158.post-24496058648394960322012-05-12T11:27:00.000-07:002012-05-12T11:35:39.505-07:00INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM FOR WINGS OF FREEDOM--A HISTORICAL ROMANCE SET IN INDIA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: cyan;"><b>WINGS OF FREEDOM has received excellent reviews from reviewers across the globe-USA, UK, AUSTRALIA, SCANDINAVIA and INDIA</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DoUfq-hzMsU/T66qJ_YEThI/AAAAAAAAACk/2Y1bnIjphA4/s1600/Plaque--Coronation+of+King+George+V+in+1911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DoUfq-hzMsU/T66qJ_YEThI/AAAAAAAAACk/2Y1bnIjphA4/s400/Plaque--Coronation+of+King+George+V+in+1911.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black;">D</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">epicting<i> </i>a cross-</span> cultural romance<i> </i>in the backdrop<i> </i>of </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-image: initial; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1pt; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;">intense political and social conflicts in turbulent colonial India with the tapestry of of coronation celebration of King George V in India amidst speculations of sabotage, freedom revolution swirling furiously in the country and the ravages of World war I</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 23px;">Blurbs posted by amazon (</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0063C0VT4" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 23px;">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0063C0VT4</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 23px;">)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 23px;">:</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span class="fl"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span class="fl"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">"The story flows with the ease
of cleverly descriptive language. " Juanita Kees | 6
reviewers made a similar statement<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span class="fl"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">"Mr. Kaul should be commmended
for writing a fascinating book about the British Raj in pre-independence India.
" Ron | 3 reviewers made a similar statement<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span class="fl"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">"Any readers of historical
romance will really love this novel. " A Book Vacation | 1
reviewer made a similar statement</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks to all for an overwhelming response to the book.</span>
<br />
</span></div>
</div>Ratan Kaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850539286848858874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1689545550335661158.post-88412139756524447932012-05-05T22:34:00.000-07:002012-05-05T22:37:03.529-07:00PRAISE FOR WINGS OF FREEDOM--A COLONIAL INDIA ROMANCE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 23px;">I'm glad to share the latest 5 star review posted today on amazon:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Prevails</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">,<span class="apple-converted-space"> <nobr></nobr></span><nobr>May 5, 2012</nobr></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1AFY2TLKLFZ05/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp"><b><span style="color: #996633;">BrendaUSA</span></b></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #e47911; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 15px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1NoUFq5SeDU/T6YKE8EFUwI/AAAAAAAAACY/ohyTUe3RSks/s1600/WOF+thumbnail+4+nov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1NoUFq5SeDU/T6YKE8EFUwI/AAAAAAAAACY/ohyTUe3RSks/s1600/WOF+thumbnail+4+nov.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="h3color"><b><span style="color: #e47911; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">This review is from:</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: #e47911; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Wings Of Freedom (Kindle Edition)</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">If
you like a good love story with a historical setting this is a great book to
read. Raj, an Indian college boy and Eileen, the artistic daughter of a British
diplomat meet and fall in love during a tenuous political time in India. The
stirrings of India's struggle for freedom are taking shape and things are
beginning to get dangerous. There's a huge fire in the British camp and an
assasination attempt on King George during his coronation ceremony. Raj and
Eileen are caught up in the fervor of revolution and must also face the
cultural differences between their families. (The British frown upon their
daughters marrying Indian men) In spite of the difficulties, Raj and Eileen
prevail. What I loved most was the glimpse I got into Indian culture through
Raj's family and the overall picture of England's rule and occupation of India
at that time. Raj's interactions with his mother and father, uncle, his
friends, etc. are well portrayed as is Eileen's side - her privileged life as
the daughter of a high ranking British officer. A lot of research went into the
details of the history here and the love story that endured in spite of so much
against trhem was truly heart-warming. Love really does conquer all, especially
in the Wings of Freedom.</span></span><br />
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">http://www.ratankaul.in</span></span></div>
Ratan Kaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850539286848858874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1689545550335661158.post-20261082974188146592012-04-11T10:26:00.004-07:002012-04-11T10:53:06.677-07:00WINGS OF FREEDOM--A BRITISH RAJ ROMANCE NOVEL<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">AUTHOR RATAN KAUL'S INTERVIEW</span> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span>I’m glad to share the great news of <span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">my interview of April 4 on </span></span><a href="http://teazurs.blogspot.in/2012/04/interview-with-ratan-kaul-author-of.html">http://teazurs.blogspot.in/2012/04/interview-with-ratan-kaul-author-of.html</a><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span><b>An excerpt from the interviewer Angie Azur’s comments</b>:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span>“This story is one that needed to be told. Not only does it peak my interest, but I will learn about a culture that I know little about. And what an easy and unexpected way to learn about another culture, through a love story. </span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span><br /></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span>Thank you Ratan for your dedication, and all of your research that went into this book.”</span></span></span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><b>Excerpts from the interview:</b></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(180, 95, 6); ">Q. </span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(180, 95, 6); ">How much research did you do for this book? </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(180, 95, 6); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">And what was the most interesting thing </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">you came across?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "> Ah! It took me over two years of research. It was accomplished in </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">two phases: At the concept stage-in government archives, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">libraries, historical museums and over the internet. </span></span><br style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; "><span><span style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">After I'd </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">worked out the plot, characters and locales, I supplemented the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">research by visiting the heritage sites of British India and the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">exact places where the characters were imagined to have lived. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">That's how I was able to add the flavour of the period into my </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">novel.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">During the research I found several interesting things. One </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">related to a news report in the December 16, 1911 edition of The </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">New York Times with the headline--LONDON HEARD THAT </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">GEORGE V. WAS </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">SLAIN. However, it turned out to be a false alarm.</span></span><br style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">I also came across various technological improvements that took </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">place during the period of novel. You‚ll find the timeline of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">some such developments viz. Kerosene fed street lamps giving way </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">to electric lamps and horse carriages being replaced by trams in </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">the first decade of twentieth century. In fact the novel is dotted </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">all along with references to such innovations.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; font-family: Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(180, 95, 6); ">Q. Why did this novel have to be written?</span></span></span><br style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "> I'm glad you asked this question. As you know, most of the novels </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">on British India like <u>A passage to India</u> by E.M. Forster, <u>The </u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><u>Jewel in the Crown</u> by Paul Scott or <u>The Far Pavilions</u> by M.M.Kaye, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">were written by <i>western authors</i>. Obviously, they represented a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">certain point of view. </span></span><br style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "></span></span><br style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">I was longing to write a novel on British </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">raj with an Indian perspective, adding to it the authentic flavour</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">of emotions, culture, language and traditions as were prevalent a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">hundred years ago in British India.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(180, 95, 6); font-family: Helvetica; ">Q. Do you see this novel being a tool used in colleges?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; font-family: Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">A similar question came up in various forums of social networking </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">websites, and there has been a general consensus that historical novels </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">have immense educational value as they not only encourage critical </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">thinking about events of the past in contrast with a plain reading of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">history, but also enrich the students‚ mind about other social science </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">subjects like anthropology, archaeology, political science and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">sociology.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "> I take the liberty of giving an excerpt from a pre-publishing review </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">on</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><a href="http://authonomy.com/" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(119, 17, 0); ">authonomy.com</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">that will support this view:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "> "<u>Wings of Freedom</u> is a compelling historical account. I like your </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">extensive footnotes which help guide the reader and make this work so </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">educational. I didn‚t know much about the history of India prior to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">reading this book. You succeed in taking the reader back in time and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">you describe the setting so vividly that it makes it easy to imagine </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; ">the events which unfold."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span><b><br /></b></span></p>Ratan Kaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850539286848858874noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1689545550335661158.post-5734870763197152132012-03-30T09:36:00.001-07:002012-03-30T09:36:55.119-07:00Indie Book Review: Wings of Freedom by Ratan Kaul<a href="http://indiepublishers.blogspot.com/2012/03/wings-of-freedom-by-ratan-kaul.html?spref=bl">Indie Book Review: Wings of Freedom by Ratan Kaul</a>: A cross-cultural romance set during the fury of British imperialism and the social-cultural divide in early twentieth-century turbulent Bri...Ratan Kaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850539286848858874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1689545550335661158.post-34677935067999905052012-03-18T04:04:00.004-07:002012-03-18T04:15:10.063-07:00AN ODE TO SPRING<p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">At dawn when I open my doors, windows<br /></span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> I am</span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">greeted by my regular</span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">companions<br /></span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Flocks of</span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">tiny, playful and lively sparrows<br /></span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> with</span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">spirited mynas, bulbuls, and pigeons,</span></p> <p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Who come gliding</span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">from their night shelters</span></p><p style="margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size: 100%; "> in the Kachnar, Champa, Harsingar, Neem<br /></span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">And</span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Gulmohar trees, shrubs and creepers<br /></span><span style="font-size: 100%; "></span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> adjoining and touching balcony of my room</span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">They come looking for their daily feeds<br /></span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> with friendly tapping on my window sills<br /></span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">For jowar, bajra, corn and other seeds<br /></span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> even rice, wheat puffs, nuts and biscuits</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Squirrels watchfully spy the bird rations<br /></span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> and it is a sight to see how they pick the</span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">nut<br /></span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Clasp and gnaw on</span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">it with swift actions<br /></span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> hiding in the small openings in the parapet</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Bird experts say sparrows are getting extinct</span><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> and no longer dwell in concrete jungles<br /></span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">But I am blessed with the idyllic mornings<br /></span><span style="font-size: 100%; "></span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> with my little friends providing jingles</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 100%; ">The</span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">sweet sound of sparrows chirping<br /></span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> their calls of mobbing,</span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">duets and mating</span><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Make my</span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">idyllic and cheerful</span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">morning<br /></span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> as my mind is enchanted in </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">their playing</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 100%; ">But it</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 100%; ">is now time to bid adieu to my lovable pals<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 100%; "> For getting prepared</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 100%; ">for my</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 100%; ">share of earthly tasks<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 100%; ">And face the day’s targets, meetings and mobile calls<br /></span><span style="font-size: 100%; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "> With</span><span style="font-size: 100%; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "> </span><span style="font-size: 100%; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">the polluted air, din of horns and</span><span style="font-size: 100%; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "> </span><span style="font-size: 100%; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">traffic jams</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 100%; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "> ***</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p></p>Ratan Kaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850539286848858874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1689545550335661158.post-84041333210498934922012-02-14T21:22:00.000-08:002012-05-12T21:33:46.314-07:00Great Reviews of kindle book WINGS OF FREEDOM--HISTORICAL ROMANCE FICTION<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #fff9ee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m thankful for the <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>reviews of my historical romance novel</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #7030a0; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, </span></b></span><b style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #7030a0; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0063C0VT4"><span style="color: #7030a0;">WINGS OF FREEDOM</span></a></span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #002060; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">set in early twentieth –century British India. I feel honored and inspired.</span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #fff9ee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Have a look at a recent review <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wings-Of-Freedom-ebook/product-reviews/B0063C0VT4">posted on amazon </a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13328722-wings-of-freedom" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #7030a0;">Goodreads.com</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">Book Review: </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">WINGS OF FREEDOM</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">By</span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A13DHT9IJA4J13/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="color: #996633;">A Book Vacation</span></b></a></h1>
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<b><span style="color: #e47911; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This review is from: </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wings Of Freedom (Kindle Edition)</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Any readers of historical romance will really love this novel. Kaul has created a wonderful story dealing with amazing fictional characters during the British occupation of India in during the early 1900s. It's a story of forbidden love, society ideals, betrayal, and danger as Raju and Eileen fall deeply in love and begin a love affair that could easily end in Raju's death and Eileen's banishment. What I thoroughly enjoyed about this novel is that there is so much character building and background information given that it's like the reader is a part of the story. Though the novel is a bit long, it weaves together a very powerful historical romance, following the characters throughout the years as they grow and mature, fighting for what they believe.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Kaul is a fabulous writer, engrossing the reader in his story as the beautiful descriptions, the gripping action, and the sweeping romance all come together to create a wonderful novel that I couldn't put down. I am not usually a reader of historical novels, yet Kaul's historical fiction is fabulous and I would recommend it to anyone.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 7.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Any readers of historical romance will really love this novel. Kaul has created a wonderful story dealing with amazing fictional characters during the British occupation of India in during the early 1900s. It's a story of forbidden love, society ideals, betrayal, and danger as Raju and Eileen fall deeply in love and begin a love affair that could easily end in Raju's death and Eileen's banishment. What I thoroughly enjoyed about this novel is that there is so much character building and background information given that it's like the reader is a part of the story. Though the novel is a bit long, it weaves together a very powerful historical romance, following the characters throughout the years as they grow and mature, fighting for what they believe.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Kaul is a fabulous writer, engrossing the reader in his story as the beautiful descriptions, the gripping action, and the sweeping romance all come together to create a wonderful novel that I couldn't put down. I am not usually a reader of historical novels, yet Kaul's historical fiction is fabulous and I would recommend it to anyone.</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>Ratan Kaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850539286848858874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1689545550335661158.post-21513214357083859922011-12-08T21:27:00.000-08:002011-12-08T21:27:40.641-08:00Passionate Romance Set in Turbulent British India<a href="http://mmdnewswire.com/ratan-kaul-wings-of-freedom-77765.html">Passionate Romance Set in Turbulent British India</a>Ratan Kaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850539286848858874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1689545550335661158.post-74208990101383427682011-10-10T21:40:00.000-07:002011-10-11T07:37:49.681-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m excited. I want to announce to the world that my novel “Wings of Freedom” will be published soon, coinciding with the year-long centenary (1911 -2011) celebrations of Delhi as the capital. December 12, 1911 was the day when King George V announced, during his coronation celebrations, the shifting of capital from Calcutta (now Kolkata) to Delhi. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First, an introduction to my profile picture above. That is Lahore Gate of the Red Fort, built by Emperor Shah Jahan three hundred and fifty years ago, from where the State Entry procession of King George V and Queen Mary started on December 7, 1911, on their arrival from Bombay (Now Mumbai) for the coronation celebrations.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Now</span>, something to share with the readers about <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>seeding of the story. There had been a churning of ideas from my younger days when I had my roots in old parts of Delhi, that is Indraprastha--the Delhi of Pandavas;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shajahanabad, the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Delhi built by Emperor Shahjahan, and the Delhi of legendary poets<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ghalib and Mir Taqi Mir. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">An author with a history mind-set <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>often gets influenced by <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>visits to the historical <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>places and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>monuments and that may<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>start the thought process of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>writing a story,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>adding his or her imagination<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to the events that have taken place around those places. But, the ideas may remain dormant in one’s <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>mind, till a certain material around inspires him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In my case the <span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">serendipitous</span> moment came on<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a day when I happened to visit the Coronation Park in Delhi, commemorating the coronation of King George V.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking around the tapering tower and statue of the king, it struck me that I have to tell a story. </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Seeds of the plot<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>flowered and the saga of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the romance of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eileen, a teenage British girl with Raju, an Indian, in the backdrop of British imperialism and Indian freedom movement emerged.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">That is what gave birth to “Wings of Freedom”...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> o</span>f course, after an extensive digging into the documents of British India in the government archives--many a time worm-eaten or torn, followed by numerous hiccups, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> recurring </span>writer’s blocks and procrastination blues.</span></span></span></div>
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Ratan Kaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08850539286848858874noreply@blogger.com3