Amazing Grace

Steven Spielberg has a knack of producing movies on historical sagas. Schindler List, Munich, Amistad are few gems in that list. Amistad (1997) is a movie based on a story of few slaves who changed the way the West lives now. Eventually it led to the American Civil War and finally to the abolition of slavery. Mr. Obama is the final result of that court case that was fought in the supreme court in 1839-1840 by James Quincy Adams (6th President of USA) for the freedom of few slaves captured by the US marines when they tried to escape their masters "The Spaniards" from their home in Siera Leone. Its a great movie and i can say that few steps ahead of Amazing Grace. Amazing Grace is based on the crusade for the abolition of slavery in British Colonies. I will give this 8 points out of 10. Must watch movie. The scene when slaves were chained and drowned with rocks were truly shocking. Once can break down in tears, it is such a scene.

Yesterday my brother left for Pune after having a grand shopping assisted superbly by Anumeha. Lastly i am reproducing the poem Amazing Grace by John Newton. This peom has inspired a lot of people in their anti-slavery struggle.

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound!)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ'd!

Thro' many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis'd good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

This earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be for ever mine.

Diwali at Chinnaswami

Folks, got a rare chance to watch few CLT 20 matches at Chinnaswami, Bangalore on Diwali and RCB justified that by caging the Delhi Daredevils. It was an awesome crowd and i, joined by my brother and colleague Zakir and Nagakiran enjoyed it fully. The first match got delayed and it was a match between non-Indians but its catalytic fervor could only be felt in the match of the day. Dravid, Kumble, Merwe, Sehwag and above all Taylor played superbly. Delhi was undone by the duo of Merwe and Kumble and they catipulated after a terrific start by Sehwag. Delhi had its only chance when it knocked out the RCB's openers by Mr. Dependable and Mr. Cracker were there to see bangalore home. This endeth the scene.

This week i also started shopping for my soon to be wedded life and spent a princely sum of 23 K on bare minimum necessity of a married life. Here starts the lesson. My brother Tinku is with me and i am enjoying each and every bit of his stay.
Happy belated Diwali to all of you and wish you a very happy Bhaiya Dooj :). My little sister is few thousand kms away from me and i am looking forward to meer her on 15 Nov. Amen.

Book Review [26] : Dragon Fire - a seminal book

I started reading Dragon Fire by Humphrey Hawksley at around 0:10 AM and by 05:05 AM it was over. Its a quite enthralling and thrilling account of a fictious nuclear war between Pakistan-China collaboration and India. It all started when exiled Tibetan soldiers some how managed to attack Lhasa to free their political and religious leader. China blames India for the attack and then starts 5 days of terrible killings. Pakistan political establishment was ousted by a military coup and their General invades India with much ferocity. India manages to hold out and ultimately Pakistan becomes a defunct state.

Indo-China war ends with the nuclear bombing of New Delhi and Bombay killing millions of Indians. Indian PM and his cabinet were also killed but Indian PM refused to nuke the population centers in China. he only nukes the military establishment there. In the end China becomes a superpower and India a nation with no worry of Pakistan.

Its a great book written almost 7 years back but it gives a good account of possible war in the subcontinent. Indians are shown as heroes in this book and Indian leadership with a lot of political will. We definitely need both. 

Highly Recommended (8/10)

Movies this week

Another weekend well spent in reading, talking and watching movies. Did not sleep well, just had 8 hours sleep in last 48 hours.

1. Rio Bravo (1959)
I was not a fan of John Wayne but have become one after this movie. Nice story well directed and very well acted. 7/10.
2. El Dorado (1966)
Another very good John Wayne movie. 7/10.
3. The Hangover (2009)
This a high speed comedy thriller. I was laughing like hell throughout this movie, Tiger in bathroom was such a good scene. This movie is as fresh as sunday morning. 8/10.
4. High Plains Drifter (1973)
A stranger with no name comes to a ghost town, kills few guys, rapes the prettiest lady and then get rid of the bad guys for the town's sake. Clint Eastwood did again like all his western flicks. 7/10.