Blood Sanders : The Great Forest Heist

 

A racing thriller in spirit and a pulsating tale to remember. That's what I can say about this book which described a set of  real time moving incidents of Red Sanders smuggling. The journo turned author Sudhakar Reddy Udumula came out with his experiences of investigation regarding the racket of most precious wood Red sanders or Erra chandanam in Telugu. He exposed the dreadful nexus of politicians and the mafia of the concerned to spin the crores of bucks and how these kingpins would operate the whole game being in the safe havens while the lives of common woodcutters are at the stake. Across Sehachalam hills, the dangerous and most daring attempt keep going on in the form of cutting down the Red sanders trees to sell it in the international market. The chief buyers are China and Japan. This golden wood has much prominence among their societies for a variety of reasons.

Dawood Sahul Hamid, the key player who resides in Dubai is a Tamil origin by birth and he got strong hold on the international market of Red sanders. Kollam Gangi Reddy is anther one from Andhra to tackle the ground level operations. Both have strong ties with some politicians and concerned officials and by that the smuggling became possible with the recruits of henchmen. Hamid was not extradited as Dubai laws in favor of him though our government has asked UAE to hand over. There are multiple smugglers like Kandaswamy Parthiban,AT Maideen,Reddy Narayana,Lakshman and others to name. Every one has their own style of confrontation and smuggling.       

How People of Burma bazar of Chennai got turned into the nefarious business were an interesting story and perhaps, hither to not known to many. Modes operandi was explained in detail. Author all the way has gone into the deep forests to know the ground level situation. We would be surprised to have known about the amassed wealth of the smugglers and legal battles are nothing for them due to their money power. Politicians too work hand in gloves. What you lack when you have plenty of money..? Author recorded many instances regarding game changing attitudes of police officers and the smugglers as well. Pretty excited all they are. 

 there are many things in the book that makes the reader to flip through. To grab your copy call: 70134 13504

----- Murthy Kvvs

Bonding over Ruskin Bond

There are many reasons to have a special interest in reading Ruskin Bond's writings. Mostly people say that he is a writer for children but in my opinion he is a writer for all ages who have a heart for relishing childhood memories. Who hates one's own childhood and its enchanting hues of experiences..? None, I think. In fact, Ruskin Bond came my way in the phase of grown up, accidentally. The first book I read is a paperback titled "Great stories for kids". Wondered at his crafting of tale telling process. But at the same time ,thrilled being transported into my childhood. 

In our surroundings, we have some colonial buildings in dilapidated condition with variety of trees, plants and insects around. Whenever visited the place, we felt a chill in the spine. Of course, haunting spirits were always there to get scared of. The same things I found in one of the stories of Ruskin Bond. On the hill top with such old building having lived by a mysterious Anglo-Indian woman. And a small girl tryst with her still makes me imaging like anything.

And the way the writer portrays every insect, plant, tree and other animals is spellbinding and how badly we ignore sometimes nature's bounty though it stands in front of our own eyes. I started observing flora and fauna of our location soon after finishing this book. It made me a new human being in terms of exploring the nature at its best. Now I knew the names of many kinds of insects and its behaviours. And grew interested in whatever the plant come my way. I became nature sensitive in brief.

After that, the book I read was " Our trees still grow in Dehra".  Escape from Java is the mesmerizing story. It sounds like the first hand experience. An exodus from South East Asia let know us many issues of  bygone years. In this book, stories like "The bent double beggar, Coming home to Dehra and other ones attracted me for different reasons. I am planning to read many more of his books in the days to come and my best wishes to the e-magazine, running by the lovers of Ruskin Bond.

(Written for E-Magazine dedicated to Bond's writings)

Telugu stories got translated

 

"Noteworthy", a translation work of Telugu stories gave me immense pleasure when I received it a couple of days back. Ramesh Rachaputi is already noted for his translation skills through Vipula monthly. This time he has translated 21 Telugu stories into English for a wide spectrum of readers.

 

Do you want to know whose stories got translated, well, it's none other than SasiSree (Sk. Rahmatullah), Palagiri Viswaprasad, Geo Lakshaman, TSA Krishna Murthy, Ranganadha Ramachandra Rao, Jillella Balaji, Adoni Basha, MR Arunakumari, Gannavarapu Narasimha Murthy, Anisetty Rajitha, K.Vijayaprasad(Viyogi), Peruri Balasubrahmanyam, Simhaprasad, Ambala Janardhan, Dr Lakshmi Raghava, Mohammed Khadeerbabu, MV RamiReddy, InduRamana, Dr Mallemala VenugopalaReddy and of course a story of translator himself.

It's an exceptional attempt to have the hues of Telugu stories into English and the translator has done an excellent job. A passionate translation is  no way inferior to the original work and I am sure it will create a Buzz among the reading folks. For Copies, please call: 98667 27042

Or follow the link https://notionpress.com/read/noteworthy

LIFE LINE, a debut novel from Chetan Maheshwari

I am happy to announce that I have started a Youtube Channel a few days back. it's sole objective is to review the books which I have read. Hmm...it would rather be said my opinion or take on them. Right. It encompasses both English and Telugu versions. For the first time, for English version, I have taken up the debut novel of Chetan Maheshwari ji. Please watch it and subscribe for my future videos. Blogger friends, if you want me to review your books, send them to me. No e-books please. For more details : godavari333@gmail.com

LIFELINE- a novella by Chetan Maheshwari

 

This is a new age novella written by Chetan Maheshwari. A mechanical engineer by profession and a writer by passion. This is all about a start-up firm. At the same time, this is more than that and you could ask me how it was different from the rest of all. Yes, in many ways. Plot was woven around corporate office politics, ambitious battle for success and human relations. The way he portrayed characters with balance indicated his craftmanship. 

 Well, Akhil was working in Newark Consultancy, an automobile company in Pune. An young and energetic engineer with workaholic nature. His immediate boss Raghav who turned egoistic caused the resignation of Akhil as the latter was novice of in-house battle. Teesha , an ambitious marketing executive and independent girl was, once, his school mate and she was also a victim of dirty games of her superior at the office. They became good friends and eventually lovers.

Rati, a single mother with a myriad hopes of her skill in app making. She was Akhil's sister and they have been leading their lives well  though their parents were dead in their childhood. Rati was anxious about her son's future. These three people had to start their own firm for their livelihood. For their success, they struggled a lot  and they had been taught many good lessons in their journey of business.

Reader would get immersed in the story. Because it's a story of present age problems and struggle to succeed. All the circumstances writer portrayed were nearer to factual and existential situation. App making details and its intricacies described very well. And working ambiance at corporate offices made reader enthusiastic. And at the same time , importance of human relations and emotions portrayed in an interesting way. Chetan Maheshwari maintained the magical precision of suspense, thrilling and corporate in-things all through the novella, it's his neck of woods as he worked for several automobile companies, no boring at all. He can be a promising writer in future, with a little more effort.

       Buy the Book HERE

----Reviewed by Murthy Kvvs

Trincomalee Beach and Some pictures

Trincomale beach (Sri Lanka) , Fort of Frederick is also seen among the trees

Part of the town and beach

Rock wall in front of the beach

Boats at rest

Sky and Water- a never ending romance

Beach road

Yours Sincerely

Submitted to Our World Tuesday, Click here

Sri Lanka tour and some more pics

I have already written about my Sri Lanka tour in my previous posts but there were plenty of pictures that I have taken there remained with me unpublished.  So I am all out now with some of them to share here.  

A Budhist pagoda under renovation work at Anuradha Pura.

A miniature elephant statue at our hotel.

A scenic beauty in front of Heritage hotel,around Anuradha Pura outskirts.

On the way to Nugara walia.

Heritage hotel one of the finest hotels.

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Colombo-a street with its bustle

Cloudy sky