The Handmaid’s Tale

The Handmaid’s Tale was recommended to be my my good friend Jessica and is simultaneously one of the most beautiful and devastating books I have read recently. I know these two adjectives may not used by everyone who has read this book, but I think it’s important to understand the grace and elegance of Margaret Atwood’s writing, while considering a potentially horrific future.

The story beings in the “Republic of Gilead” which was the former United States of America. A military coup had killed the President and removed Congress of all power. They assure the public it’s only temporary, and new elections are on their way…but the elections are never established. Soon gays, lesbians, atheists, and women who are able to reproduce are being captured and “re-educated.” This book follows the story of Offred, a slave name meaning “Of Fred” indicating to whom the Handmaid belongs to. However, Offred lived in the former U.S. and therefore, can remember how her life was prior to the revolution. The novel jumps from the present narrative to the past to allow the reader to better understand the protagonist. Each month, Offred has to lay on her back and pray the Commander makes her pregnant, otherwise, she can be sent to the Colonies (where the Unwomen are sent).

The beauty of this novel is in the imagery Atwood creates. You can visualize the way this totalitarian government is controlling the populous and the lengths the characters go to in order to feel in control of their lives. The setting and circumstances surrounding this novel pull the reader in, enticing you to read more. The novel is devastating due to the harsh conditions each character faces, despite the fact it may appear men are in control, they too have a story to tell. The ending of the novel to me is the best part…it forced me to think of all the possibilities of Offred’s life since the author does not bring the story to a typical conclusion. You are left wondering what will happen to Offred…is there a sequel…will she survive???? I HIGHLY recommend this book!!

One Hundred Years of Solitude

One Hundred Years of Solitude was written by Nobel-prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez and is considered his magnum opus. The story takes place in a fictional village called Macondo and it’s unclear if the book spans 100 years or longer. Let me preface this blog entry by saying, this is one of the toughest books I have read to date.

The best way for me to describe this book is by saying it’s very mystic. It has incorporated many different writing styles including fantasy, romance, and history. For example, there is a period in the book when the entire town suffers from insomnia and they slowly begin to lose their memory. However, a gypsy is able to help the town by telling them the cure for such a disaster. Also, there is a time when it rains for 4 years straight…causing death and destruction in the town. Another challenging aspect of this book is that many of the male characters are named after their father or grandfather and many of the female characters are named after their mother or grandmother. Thus, it becomes a little difficult to remember the relationship and what generation this child belongs to. If you do not keep track of this the rest of the novel becomes more confusing…so take notes!

At the moment, I am on the fence regarding Marquez. I find this style very unique and interesting, but at the same time he is difficult to follow. This isn’t a book you read half-heartedly, you have to be fully engaged to keep track of the many changes and complex plot line. But, I would recommend everyone to read at least one of his books to get an idea of this unique style.

The Dragon Heir

So I completed the trilogy with The Dragon Heir. After the end of the second book, the entire magical world is turned upside down. No one can be trusted, the Roses (the rival houses) are killing each other off, and the town of Trinity, Ohio is the only safe place left in the world…or is it?

In this last book, most of the plot is dedicated to resolving who will be ruling the magical guilds. Many wizards, enchanters, sorcerers, and seers are flocking to Trinity to claim sanctuary.  However, a few spies and assassins have also crept into the town to eliminate the competition. Safe guards are put in place to protect the city and both sides are recruiting for a battle that can’t be delayed any longer. Who will win…the Roses? or the town of Trinity???

As was the case for the second book, The Dragon Heir spends a good amount of the pages describing the situation. To a certain point it becomes frustrating to read because nothing is progressing. Some of the characters are very hard on themselves and blame all of the problems of the world to their existence…it get’s tiring after a while to keep reading about these characters. The climax of the book is good, but everything leading up to it is not that great. The story moves too slowly for my liking. Overall, I would say read some other book.

The Wizard Heir

The Wizard Heir is the second installment of the series and focuses on Seph, a spoiled child attending the most expensive boarding schools in the world but for some reason or another, is expelled. After a terrible fire in Toronto, Seph is sent to an all boys private school in New Hampshire, but little does he know, most of the students are wizards…just like him.

After discovering the true intentions of the headmaster and his fellow students, Seph tries to do everything to escape, but it’s to no avail. However, after an illegal friendship develops with Jason (a fellow student) he is able to send an email to his legal guardians to ask for his rescue. After what seems like an eternity, Seph is freed from Linda Downey, Jack’s aunt.

Seph is taken to live in the small town of Trinity, Ohio, the city in which the first book took place. Where he is kept out of trouble and begins his wizard training. However, Seph’s former headmaster has plans to rule over all of the wizarding world and created a trap to ensure his superiority. How will this tale end??? Read and find out.

As for myself, I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I thought I would. The story is dedicated to describing Seph’s awful situation at the school and once he is rescued, the story becomes a bit stagnant. The characters from the first book, The Warrior Heir, are incorporated into the book once Seph is rescued, which I believe was a good move on the authors part. In the end there is a little bit of action, but not worth reading 300 -400 pages for 50 pages of excitement. I expected their to be more fantasy and fight scenes due to the nature and genre of the book, but I was wrong. However, I would like to see if anyone has other thoughts on this book…especially if they are contrary to mine.

Amritsar: The Holy City

 

The Golden Temple at 4AM

There was once a very arrogant king who believed he was more powerful than God, however, his daughter constantly told him no one can compete with God. The princess’s words did not sit well with the king, so he married her off to a crippled man and said, “here is your husband, let’s see how powerful your God is.” The princess married the crippled and took care of him to the best of her ability. She would carry him in a basket and set him down near the “sarovar” (pool of holy water) of the Golden Temple while she went to look for work in the city.

 

One day, the princess’s husband was sitting near the sarovar and saw a black crow enter the water and emerge as a beautiful white dove. The crippled man was shocked at what he saw and was curious to see if he could achieve the same results. He slowly, slowly crawled to the water and dipped his hand into the sarovar which was instantly cured. He decided he would submerge his entire body, except for one of his hands to show his wife proof he still the man she married. When the princess returned, she asked the handsome man standing before her if she has seen her husband, who sits in basket under this tree. The handsome man responded, “I am your husband.” The princess did not believe the “stranger,” but her husband was prepared for this reaction. He then said, “Look at my hand. The sarovar cured me!” The princess was shocked to hear the story but after seeing her husband’s one crippled hand she was convinced he was telling the truth.

Post-Bath under Dukh Bhanjanee Beri

To this day, most all Sikhs and several non-Sikhs who visit the Golden Temple bathe under this tree, known as Dukh Bhanjanee Beri (which translates to Pain/Suffering Removal Spot). If you bathe at this spot it is recommended to submerge your entire body 5 times, each time saying “Satnam Wahe Guru” (One True God). The number 5 is used in many instances in the Sikh religion and I don’t have the energy to give the several hundred examples when the number 5 is used…so just go with it…thanks!

The seat of the Sikh religion resides in Amritsar (Holy Nectar) and is the sight of the Golden Temple. The temple is surrounded by a large body of water called the “Sarovar” (tank of holy water). Despite the fact there were several hundred Sikhs at the temple at 4AM (many spend the entire night at the temple and sleep on the marble floor), I found a serenity in sanctuary. There are close to 30 rooms dedicated to prayers being conducted 24 hours/7 days-a-week. The main prayers of the day are broadcasted via load speakers so there are heard to everyone. The Golden Temple has a calming effect that helped me relax and forget about my worries. I do consider myself religious but never have had the temple create such an effect on me. If you do ever go to India, take the time to visit the Golden Temple. It isn’t as popular as the Taj Mahal, but it is well worth multiple visits.

Matribhumi Sewa Mission – M.S.M

The MSM is a spiritually inspired volunteer service organization that works with the youth in the city of Kurukshetra. Currently, there are approximately 80 million children in India who are forced to live in misery and hatred due to the lack of fundamental necessities including education, health, government support, etc. The goal of MSM is to provide “education, etiquette, and social protection to all these helpless and homeless children.” It also tries to promote spirituality, psychological health, intelligence, and physical development to make the children self-dependent as well as self-respected.

My family and I decided to volunteer at this orphanage where approximately 55 boys reside (no girls), provide them with a meal of their choice, and candy as dessert! It’s nice to know children everywhere LOVE candy. We played with the children, talked to them, helped them with their studies (not that they needed our help). One student in particular, named Rishikas (at the age of 5) knew his times tables up to 20 and was helping a 7 year old student memorize the 19-times-table, he quickly became my mom’s favorite. How many American children can do this???? It’s safe to say we were all very impressed.

The Children of Matribhumi Sewa Mission (MSM)

In addition to be amazing students, all of the boys work together to make their breakfast, lunch, and dinners. They also are assigned chores that must be completed efficiently and thoroughly. The purpose being to teach them how to be self-sufficient and gain the skills necessary to be able to live life on their own.

The younger children stay at MSM for their schooling and are taught by 3 hired teachers. In addition, the older children go into the city for their schooling. Furthermore, the government can pay the school fees for the children, but the founder of MSM has decided not to accept this offer because he does not want the children to feel inferior to their peers. Therefore, he funds their education via donations, community sponsorships, and his personal financial means.

While I was spending time at MSM, I couldn’t help feel extremely happy and sad. I felt happy because these kids were in a loving environment and being offered a chance to make something of themselves. But sad because there are so many children in India that are in worse situations and have nothing of this sort to equip them with the resources to become productive citizens. However, there was a common thread amongst these children: not a single child thought he was poor. They loved being at MSM and loved their brothers. They inspired me to appreciate what I have in life and I hope to go back to Kurukshetra in a few years to see the progress of these amazing children.

Baba Bakala

There was once a very successful merchant named Makhan Shah Lubana who was bringing back supplies to India. However, there was a great storm approaching the sea, destined to destroy everything in its path. The merchant prayed to the the 9th Guru, Tegh Bhadur Ji to please help save his ship. However, at the time, no one knew who the 9th Guru was. There was many posers claiming they were the Guru in order to be worshipped and make money. But, Makhan Shah was very intelligent. In his prayer he told the Guru Tegh Bhadur Ji that if his ship is saved then  he will give 500 pieces of gold coins to him, in order to pay the Guru back for his help.

The storm approached the sea and destroyed everything in it’s path, except for one ship. Makhan Shah was grateful beyond belief that his prayer was answered. So the merchant went back to Bakala, the city where he prayed for help from the Guru. However, he ran into a problem. There were so many people posing as the Guru, he had no idea who to give the 500 gold coins. The merchant decided he would give 5 pieces to each Guru, hoping for a sign along the way. Once he was almost done distributing the gold, he stumbled upon a man in mediation who he offered 5 gold coins to. The man responded, “You promised me 500 pieces, where is the rest? I am still so tired from saving your ship.” Instantly, the merchant knew he had found the true Guru. He climbed to the top of the house of the Guru and shouted “I have found the true Guru, all of you other men are frauds!!!!” This is the story of the temple of Baba Bakala. It is said, that anyone who enters the temple and prays with all of their heart gets their prayer answered.

On this trip, my family and I had an “Akhand Path” (3-day prayer session). We were at Baba Bakala on the first day to help establish the prayers and get holy food. We returned on the last day to listen to the prayers and help finish the praying session. It is very difficult to be able to get an akhand path done at Baba Bakala because of the vast number of people waiting but my mom said he prayed to God to be able to have the akhand path at this temple while in India and he answered her prayers.

India vs. Pakistan: The Flag Ceremony

Today we got to go to Indian/Pakistani Border Ceremony, but it felt more like a passive-aggressive competition between the two nations. I travelled with my two gunman (who cared some sort of A.K.-47 type gun) and driver.

When you reach the border, which is called Wagah Border every individual has to park his/her car and walk about a quarter of a mile to the security check point. However, due to the fact we were being escorted by the police, we got to take our cars to the gate. Of course, everyone was looking at us and wondering who we were to have such special treatment. When we got out of our car, our gunman flanked us to the VIP section. We weren’t on the list to be seated in VIP but due to my family we were able to walk right by the VIP check-in and were able cut in line to get past the metal-detectors. Once again, everyone was looking at us and wondering who we were to be able to get such special attention. We got some of the best seats in the house and were able to see the entire ceremony.

India VS. Pakistan

 

 

The ceremony itself can best be described as a competition between the two nations. While the crowds are filling in, both sides have music blaring and each song is boasting about its respective nation. Around 5:30, the announcements are made (in unison from both countries in their national languages) to remain in their seats, turn-off their cell phones, etc. Of course, neither country will wait for one side to make its announcements and then make their own, thus ensuring every hears the rules. Also, the announcers would hold chant sessions: the Indian side regaling “Hindustan Zindabad” (which means Long Live India), “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” (which means Victory to the Motherland), and Wande Matram (which is used to encourage people during war time and basically means Victory). I, having a rush of pride joined in with my fellow Indians in the chants, which was a lot of fun! On the other side of an elaborately decorated fence, the Pakistan side sang “Jiyo Jiyo Pakistan” (literally meaning Live Live Pakistan) and “Allah Ho Akbar” (Long Live God). I must say, although there were probably twice as many people on the India side, the Pakistan side was much louder and more unified (sorry Indians everywhere, but it’s true). In addition, the men and women sat in separate areas, but on the India side everyone is mixed, which shows another fundamental difference in ideology of the two nations.

After the elaborate 45 minute long ceremony to take down the flags, the crowds dispersed but the VIPs were able to stay behind to take pictures at the gate and with the special guards. However, the rest of the public was barricaded behind a wall of security guards and a very strong metal fence. Once we were ready to leave, my police escort came to the gate, loaded us in, and took off flying back home with the sirens on to get people out of the way. It is safe to say that this was one of the best experiences of my life.

Escorts Pediatric Surgery

Let me first preface this blog with a little bit about my health. I got the worst case of food poisoning on the flight to London (thank you United Airlines). I “purged” 3 times in a 5 hour span at my grandma’s house and then twice on the flight to New Delhi. On the flight, all of the air hostess where very concerned and very accommodating. THANK YOU JET AIRLINES!!!!! Therefore, I was not well the first couple of a days of my visit which prevented me from doing as much as I wanted but I was still able to do several amazing things.

Now, to the good stuff! On my first day in Delhi, I was fortunate enough to have a private tour of Escorts Hospital, the nation’s premier hospital for a multitude of services. This hospital rivals many American hospitals in terms of cleanliness & organizations, and does a far better job in terms of patient care and costs.

The director of the Pediatric Cardio-Thoracic Surgery department is a famous physician named Rajesh Sharma, who has been heavily recruited by Harvard Medical, Johns Hopkins, Stanford University, and many others to practice in America. However, to these various invitations he says, “there are many great physicians in America, my country needs me.” I can only admire Dr. Sharma’s dedication and service to his patients.  Dr. Sharma works 7 days/week, and spends close to 16-18 hours per day at the hospital. He is highly concerned about all of this patients and refuses to let any other physician care for his patients. I have never met a more devoted physician. Oh, did I mention Dr. Sharma is my uncle??? ;-D

I was able to scrub into the operating room to observe in a 3 hour surgery of a VSD and tricuspid valve replacement surgery of an 8 year old patient from South India. After about 20 minutes I needed to sit down so I left the O.R. to get some food, thank god I was surrounded by doctors and nurses who gave me concentrated protein (or at least that’s what I think it was) to give me some energy. After a few minutes, I was able to return to the operating room to finish watching the procedure.

Post-Surgery at Escorts Hospital

Once we were done with the operating room, Dr. Sharma and I visited all of the patients in the ICU, who ranged from 2 weeks to 18 years old. A few of them came from Pakistan and neighboring states of Delhi. Each patient’s diagnosis was presented and the treatment courses was described in detail to me. It seemed as if each patient needed a VSD, which basically means blood is getting diverted from the right side to the left side when it is not supposed to.

Next, we went to speak to two concerned parents. The first was a lady from Pakistan who has a 42 day old son in the ICU. The patient in the simplest sense has his heart’s blood vessels crossed, which is causing blood be sent to the complete opposite side. It is recommended to have the surgery within 15 days of the child’s life if this condition arises, which is the primary concern from this case, the age of the patient. Hopefully, he will be able to adapt and make a full recovery. The second parent was the patient who Dr. Sharma had just operated on. The father had a few questions and was offered housing by the hospital so he can stay close to his son.

After speaking with the parents, we made one more round to the ICU and then went to see Dr. Sharma’s post-op patients. All of the parents and patients worshipped Dr. Sharma for this dedication and commitment to his patients. After rounds, I was EXHAUSTED and tired, due to the fact I was on a liquid diet for 20 hours. So we met up with mom, Kabir (my friend who is also traveling with us) and my aunt. After dinner we were planning to go home to sleep, but Dr. Sharma decided to go back to the hospital to check on his patients once more. I should have expected this, but was shocked he wanted to go back to the hospital after spending close to 15/16 hours there. I hope I can have half the drive he possesses because I know it will last me my entire career!

ESurance Tennis Classic

If you know me even a little, you know how much I LOVE tennis. I play tennis, I teach tennis, I am a tennis official, I watch tennis matches (on TV and in person), and I hope to see all 4 majors in my life-time. This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to be able to officiate at the ESurance Tennis Classic Tournament in Harbor Point, CA.

Picture from my iPhone of Steffi and Andre

A number of past tennis greats where in attendance including: Michael Chang, Tracy Austin, Rick Leech, Conchita Martinez, the Jensen Brothers, Corina Morariu, and of course Andre Agassi & Steffi Graf (who are two of my all-time favorites). I was calling lines for the weekend and on Sunday was able to officiate for both Andre & Steffi when they played Michael Chang and his wife Amber Chang, a former Stanford tennis player who had a very successful career. As a matter of fact, I was able to hand Steffi two of the six balls that would be used in play, which was simply AWESOME!!!!!! Of course, she smiled and thanked me…always being so classy.

The match itself was great. Both Andre and Michael had a lot of fun on the court and were giving the crowd something to laugh about. Steffi of course was playing well, and why wouldn’t she since she has won 22 major tournaments. But in the end, Michael and Amber beat Steffi and Andre 5-3 (world-team tennis rules where in effect).

The ESurance Classic ended up raising several thousand dollars for breast and prostate cancer, which was the purpose of the tournament and the reason it’s held in the month of October (cancer awareness month). Overall, I had a blast working this tournament and hope to come back next year…I wonder who will be attendance???