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Cry, The Beloved Country

Taking a short break from routine. Will resume regular messages/responses from August 25, 2026. Regards M G Warrier A Cry, The Beloved Country https://amzn.in/d/0fWakVc8 Cry The Beloved Country is the deeply moving story of the Zulu pastor Stephen Kumalo and his son Absalom, set against the background of a land and a people riven by racial injustice. Remarkable for its contemporaneity, unforgettable for character and incident, Cry the Beloved Country is a classic work of love and hope, courage and endurance, born of the dignity of man. Summary Alan Paton's 1948 novel Cry, the Beloved Country follows Reverend Stephen Kumalo, a Zulu priest who travels to Johannesburg to find his family. He discovers his sister is a sex worker and his son, Absalom, has murdered a white civil rights activist, Arthur Jarvis. The victim's father, James Jarvis, overcomes his prejudices, leading to a poignant reconciliation between the two grieving fathers. The Journey to Johannesburg The Lett...

Independence Day Musings

Independence Day Musings This year also Print Media Houses rolled out rolls of newsprint with advertisements, photo features, stories and news in the ratio 60 : 20 : 10 : 10 as part of Independence Day Celebrations for a week. Some 60 percent of the newsprint consumed will return for recycling through 'Ruddeewallahs". About 100 pages of printed matter was delivered to me also on August 15 & 16. This story is about one page that attracted my attention. The Hindu Sunday Magazine on August 16, 2026 carries a feature titled "The Geography Of Trust" by Navin Paul. Navin has been pedalling on his bicycle which he named Trooper 21000 km with his Nikon D850 camera, tent and clothes, across India. Besides his savings till mid-twenties, he part-financed sustenance during his 5 year adventure with sale proceeds of photo prints (edited on Photoshop and Lightroom) : Navin plans to publish the travelogue as a photobook. Navin's journey (which at some stage became a pr...

Warrier's Friends' Collage, August 2026, Part III

Welcome To Warrier's Friends' COLLAGE, August, 2026 Part III While listening to Prime Minister's Independence Day speech, I remembered how we celebrated Independence Day in school long ago. Reproducing an old blog post. Happy Independence Day M G Warrier A Current Affairs Nostalgia Independence Day 1957 at KRHS, Purameri https://share.google/lztHlYqTKlVnZcRg6 Independence Day, 2026 https://youtu.be/Gg8F8cU50n0?si=jdZvMR0Me5rYhHbq B Book https://amzn.in/d/03Oh7JUs Man's Search For Meaning By Viktor E. Frankl Book Description : In 1942, just months after marrying his wife, Viktor Frankl and his family were sent, first to the Theresienstadt concentration camp, and then to Auschwitz. A prominent Viennese psychiatrist before the war, Frankl was uniquely able to observe the way that he and other inmates coped with the experience of being in in the notorious concentration camp. During his time in the camps, he noticed that those who comforted others a...

Debates should get priority over disruptions

The Editor The Economic Times August 12, 2026 Chat Room* Debates should get priority over disruptions This refers to the report "LS Passes Two More Bills Without Debate" (August 12). While protests in a democracy are part of the process of expressing concerns, in legislative houses down to Municipal Councils, regular business including legislation should get priority over protests. The stakeholders need to jointly arrive at some procedural arrangement to ensure this. Making In-house attendance of some threshold level mandatory for all members, conducting regular business in the first half of the day and fixing accountability for disruptions are some options which can be considered. Treasury bench need to accept the role of opposition in conduct of business and from their side opposition need to co-operate to ensure meaningful debates. M G Warrier Mumbai *A slightly edited version was published on August 13, 2026

Random Reading : August 12, 2026

Random Reading : August 12, 2026 Quote of the day : Adi Shankaracharya : Quote of the day by Adi Shankaracharya: “As gold purified in a furnace loses its impurities and achieves its own true nature, the mind gets rid of the impurities of the attributes of delusion, attachment, and purity through meditation and attains reality.”; What the monk and saint advises on purifying the mind through mindfulness - The Times of India https://share.google/ndzY2qiAesSpJnkgk A Universe is evolving https://share.google/QpXstrhWfPfnFi3lF Synopsis Human life reflects the larger order of the universe, moving through confusion towards balance and growth. By developing self-awareness, regulating the mind, overcoming ego and choosing compassion and wisdom, individuals can consciously participate in their own inner evolution. B Bonus : A very meaningful piece on Dementia* A Neurologist's Letter to His Family : ‘If I Get Dementia One Day’ ​Dr. Sung Shen-chu is a veteran neurologist from Chiayi...

Random Reading : August 11, 2026

Random reading : Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Henry "Henny" Youngman (March 16, 1906 – February 24, 1998) was an American comedian and musician famous for his mastery of the "one liner", his best known being "Take my wife... please". No, I didn't say this. I've copied from website. I was curious to know who thought it was a joke for doctors to give fee-based extension of life every six months to patients. Long ago, one of my colleague took his wife to a renowned specialist for consultation. During first two visits several tests were prescribed and third visit was mainly for collecting prescriptions for medicines and ascertaining future course of treatment. When final discussions were progressing, my colleague received an urgent phone call and with doctor's permission he went out of the consultation room. By the time he returned, his wife was crying and doctor was trying to console her. It turned out that in my colleague's absence, she asked th...

An Inspiring Speech

Responding to a message about cockroaches and Gen Z, today I allowed my thoughts to wander. Sharing unedited : "World doesn't stand still. Opinions and perceptions differ depending on what one is experiencing at the moment. Many of us get newspapers. Our selective reading habit black out 90 percent of world news. On TV several channels are available. But we have our own 'favourite' channels and select timing for watching the favourite content. Exceptions may be there.( I touch the TV remote only when it stops working or for changing cells.) In email and WhatsApp groups, we select our areas of comfort. We, some of us, decide about poverty based on the living standards of casual labourers we engage or the saree our maid wears. Exceptions are there. Many will depend on solid data. If possible, from international bodies. I have reached far away from cockroaches and Gen Z. Cockroaches will return to their original hideous. I believe Gen Z is doing well and will conti...