good read

JRD's 1982 reenactment flight - Can you guess his age?

Recently read two books, nice ones

First one - Beyond the Last Blue Mountain - Biography of JRD Tata written by his R. M. Lala -published by Penguin - I must say, JRD's personality is inspiring for any Indian.


Some excerpts -
...At eighty-seven he [JRD] is as particular as ever. 'I know that aiming at perfection has its drawbacks. It makes you go into details you can avoid. It takes a lot of energy but that is the only way you can achieve excellence. So, in that sense, being finicky, is essential.'..

...The thunderstorm hit them and it was dark. Captain Vishvnath says, 'Usually pilots fight this force of nature. J.R.D. flies by his brains - a natural pilot who becomes a part of the machine. He let the small plane he flies go up and down like a piece of paper in the wind. He did not "fight the controls" or put the plane under the slightest stress for under a stress a plane can break up.' He adds, ' There was no panic in J.R.D. at the controls.'

The second book is मराठी.
'त्या वर्षी' - शांता गोखले - मौज प्रकाशन

I felt as if i'm watching some movie while reading this one. It's a novel about a group of friends, belonging to different professions, namely -music, painting, journalism. Background is of religious violence (is that even an appropriate word?). The author is somewhat old by age - but the writing is amazingly young. The book has some pages that will make you experience a music concert, drawing of a painting, in short it is not only a book to read but to listen and see too. Nice read. Know more about the writer at http://www.indiaplaza.in/goldenquill/goldenquill_jury-shanta.aspx
बऱ्याच दिवसानी चांगली कादंबरी वाचली.