S’watha hasn’t visited earth for a thousand years now, thanks to the callous attitude of mankind to exploit the most valuable resource that was available to it. And now, it’s a little boy who holds the key to S’watha’s return. Ram V writes a story that will make you think deeply – a story that shares a beautiful message, “A new world is not built upon regret. Life often seeks no apology, only a return to innocence.” Read on.
At a time when the Sun is reigning supreme and the day is humid, the dark clouds and cool winds arrive, setting the stage for summer showers. Priya Mahadevan writes a poem.
THE LOUNGE | SLICE OF LIFE What does it mean to parent a differently-abled child? Priya S says it is about accepting reality, working hard to make the life of such a child meaningful, and above all showering lot of love. Read on..
THE LOUNGE | STORYBOARD | FILM FREAK If you expect Irving Wallace to deliver a Salman Rushdie, you’re the fool, says Yayaati Joshi about Rowdy Rathore.
THE LOUNGE | TURN OF THE PAGE Ashok K. Banker’s ‘The Forest of Stories’ is a must-read, suggests Vibha Sharma. Banker not just narrates the stories; rather, he adorns them beautifully with drama and action while keeping it simple and contemporary for the new generation, she says.
Dear Reader,
We are happy to present the May 2012 issue of Spark themed, ‘Mélange’. True to the spirit of this theme, we have a variety of contributions this time touching upon different topics. We also have a special feature lined up for you. We speak to people who run some passionate initiatives that have a focus on regional culture.
Don’t miss our new section, ‘Social Lens’ – Spark’s conscious step to do its bit for social development. We have an interview with Padmini Swaminathan, noted feminist economist. And well, there’s ‘The Lounge’ too with some interesting selection of non-fiction—the perfect way to unwind. Click here to access the May 2012 issue on our e-reader, ISSUU, or to download it as a PDF.
India is a melange of many cultures – each with its own characteristics. Wouldn’t you think it is great to actually have some initiatives that help you sustain the connection with your culture, ones that take you closer to your roots? We, at Spark, looked around and found some very interesting ventures that are passionate about bringing regional culture to the fore with particular focus on Tamil culture.
“The art of reading faces is yet unknown to me but the adolescent frame with an elytrous lure has its own story to tell,” writes Gauri Trivedi, of a teenager she has seen. This is the story of that boy across the street.
Art by Swati Sengupta that captures perfectly our theme for May 2012 – Melange. It’s featured on the issue’s cover page.