Prem Rao : Stories from a Story Teller

This is the first part of a short story for the Christmas season called, "A Day In The Mall".  An engineer by profession but a dreamer by choice, Shalini loves to hang out in Bangalore's biggest mall. She liked going there with her friends but was as happy even if she was there all by herself. There were people there and they drew her there like a magnet. She loved watching others and wondering who they were, what brought them there, and what they were like as people. 

This particular visit to the mall proves to be quite eventful. 

Who are the authors you admire? I shall speak of a few of the ones that I admire in a series of podcasts. The first is Ian Fleming (1908-1964), the creator of James Bond, Special Agent 007 of MI6. It is fascinating how authors put -consciously or otherwise - some  part of themselves into their characters. Fleming is no exception. Bond got his love for adventure, fast cars, and fast women from him. 

His books have sold over 60 million copies and made into 13 movies. After his death, others have continued the Bond saga with books and films but, in my view, there can never be another Ian Fleming. Just as, I believe, no actor came close to being James Bond on screen, after Sean Connery!! 

An informative and educative book about the Goddesses who figure prominently in Hinduism, the religion of some 1.6 billion people all over the world. In this scholarly collection of essays, different Goddesses and places and events associated with them are described by different authors.

The beauty about this book is that each essay can be read separately and there is no compulsion to read the book at one go. Indeed it is best if you read each essay at your convenience and at your own pace, depending of course on how familiar you are with the Hindu religion.  

The book is edited by two eminent scholars. It is recommended both for those who know India and Hinduism as well as those who wish to learn something about the vast Indian sub-continent with it's huge population. Here, even today ancient traditions are followed as closely as modern trends.  

This timeless classic - "Black Beauty" the autobiography of a horse- will appeal to all lovers of animals. Amazing that it was written over 140 years ago and yet holds interest. It is the story of a horse in Victorian England. Of how the horse copes with the ups and downs that present themselves in his life, as he passes from one owner to another. The story brings out the cruelty in men as also their compassion. 

Published in 1877, this book by Anna Sewell is said to have sold over 50 million copies in 50 different languages. There is a tinge of sadness that this was her first- and last book, as she passed away barely six months after it was first published. Many believe her book did a lot to influence people to be more kind to horses and contributed towards the removal of some extremely painful practices for the horse such as the use of the bearing rein. 

This is the fourth and last part of a short story I wrote some years ago called, "Malini Vs.Melanie". I have presented this once again in this new medium over four episodes- giving the old story a new lease of life! 

The story is set in Bengaluru, India where I live. It is about a young lady struggling to balance the conflicting demands of her conservative family on one hand, and her love affair on the other. 

This is the third episode in a series podcasting a short story called, "Malini Vs Melanie" which started with Season 2 Episode 12. I had written this short story a few years ago. Through this medium, it gets a new lease of life! 

It is a story of a young lady torn between two identities. She has to deal with a conservative family on one hand and her own love affair on the other. 

The story is set in the city of Bengaluru, where I live. 

This is the second part of a short story called, "Malini Vs. Melanie" 

I am podcasting this short story that I wrote some years ago in several episodes.

The story is set in Bengaluru, India where I live.

It's about a girl called Malini or hey wait a minutes, isn't she Melanie???

So, here we go with ........Part 2 of Malini vs Melanie

A fast paced interesting book in which the two authors, who know the Mossad and the world of espionage so well, share their stories of Israel's Secret Service. They cover some of Mossad's great successes over the decades, some carried out against overwhelming odds. Many of the incidents described in this book are being revealed for the first time to the wider world.

Interestingly, the authors also touch upon a few failed missions. They point out that missions get botched as they are conducted by people- and people do make mistakes, however well trained and committed they might be.

All in all, a book that will be much enjoyed by readers who like spy fiction and espionage. It goes to show all that a nation can- and should - do to protect its sovereign interests.