It was my newly found habitation again- India Habitat Centre in Delhi. But the occasion was cerebral- a book launch of this book I have been raving about. A few classmates made the occasion even better, all Osmaniacs from engineering days, including Huma, the author.
It was well conducted by Zubaan, the publisher represented by Urvashi Butalia and her colleagues, who provided the tea and then kept away, leaving the floor to Huma and to engage her in a talk, Vidya Rao, also a Hyderabadi who does not live there right now. The reason this is important is because the book among other things looks at a Hyderabadi way of life gone by, and maybe that is a microcosm of the world anywhere else. It also speaks of events in the background of the lives of its characters, and though mellow in its criticism of stuff like Babri Masjid and Police action and the Godhra riots, forces us to introspect on where we are headed as humans. The Delhi gang rape that recently took place brought this home forcefully too.
I am happy that the event was housefull, and chairs had to be brought in after a while. The conversation included Huma's views about the characters in the book, and the character of Hyderabad and other places like Lucknow. It centred around something called grace- not sure if many would recognise it today, for it is all too rare. Vidya epitomised it in the way she conversed with the author. Mark Tully was also there.
It was well conducted by Zubaan, the publisher represented by Urvashi Butalia and her colleagues, who provided the tea and then kept away, leaving the floor to Huma and to engage her in a talk, Vidya Rao, also a Hyderabadi who does not live there right now. The reason this is important is because the book among other things looks at a Hyderabadi way of life gone by, and maybe that is a microcosm of the world anywhere else. It also speaks of events in the background of the lives of its characters, and though mellow in its criticism of stuff like Babri Masjid and Police action and the Godhra riots, forces us to introspect on where we are headed as humans. The Delhi gang rape that recently took place brought this home forcefully too.
I am happy that the event was housefull, and chairs had to be brought in after a while. The conversation included Huma's views about the characters in the book, and the character of Hyderabad and other places like Lucknow. It centred around something called grace- not sure if many would recognise it today, for it is all too rare. Vidya epitomised it in the way she conversed with the author. Mark Tully was also there.
