The Loop of Life and Procrastinated Peace!!!

2139th BLOG POST

Writing after a long time- to be read or to just write- is not known. Sitting in loneliness, all you think is where in life did you progress and the moments in which you gave up. Whatever has been achieved is worth it or what is to be achieved deserves your attention. One day, a second shall take you away from everything. People who would be attending your Going shall realize spirituality and understand the meaning of life. Life is a great punisher and savior as well. It knows when to punish and when to forgive. But do we know when it shall put what stance?

 

And this particular unclarity makes us take conservative decisions and at times- high risk. But you keep asking yourself pausing every now and then- Do I want what I am trying to achieve? Most often the answer is No. We don’t generally require what we want. What we want is always going to be something temporary. Bring a thing- it will generate emotions which shall go away with times. How excited do you feel when you hold the same mobile you were crazy to book on Amazon that day? How clean do you keep those stuffs and decorative items in your hall and bedroom that you picked up in mall because it was on sale?

 

Every thought is temporary. Every action is temporary. Every breathe is temporary. Our Life is temporary. What remains permanent is that we are going to leave one day. But which day remains the question. If we knew the answer, leading and living life would have become so easy. Planning would become so efficient. But because we don’t know the end, we are living with an endless and indefinite goal. You make friends with interesting people who become boring and irritating after some time. You love someone who becomes a liability after some time. You try adding value to your life but you keep getting disappointment after every high.

 

What is the point then? What we do- why do we do it? What we aspire – why do we aspire it? We must and should get the clarity that every possession shall become weak or unwanted after some time. What gives the most happiness is sitting with yourself and understanding what your being is all about. That chaos in silence. That silence in chaos. Those answers to every questions. Those questions which remains unresolved. The breath that doesn’t sound at all. A little concentration and you realize its loudness more than the waves of an ocean. And when you sit with yourself, you understand that the peace is within and not in things, people, places, journey or safety net. That should become the only aspiration.

 

But what when life gives you multiple responsibilities and obstacles which doesn’t allow you to feel this moment and achieve peace? Where do you go then? You are again in the trap of events where you start working and behaving the way people want you to. Where would you find peace then? How would you find peace then? Can someone help you in attaining this peace? Too many questions but no answers make you again start finding peace externally. And the suffering continues. Being Human continues. The chaotic life and lifestyle continue. And the only habit that human never fails to continue- procrastination- arrives here as well – And you keep this as To-Do item to achieve peace sometime in future but not today. That’s Life – An epitome of imperfection unlike Death- which takes you and everything you thought is because of you- like a Pro!

 

P.S.: Just a random post generated from random thoughts.

 

Thanks!

 

WRITING BUDDHA

A Stitch in Time: The Biba Story by Meena Bindra (Book Review: 4.25*/5) !!!

2138th BLOG POST

6th Book of 2025

Reading autobiographies gives me the much-needed kick every time I complete one. Be it written by a person from any field—Movies, Politics, Entrepreneurship, Sports, or Social Causes—it always inspires me. This time I got a chance to deep dive into the life of Meena Bindra, the founder of Biba stores in India, which is one of the leading brands for women’s clothing. This 215-page hardcover book titled “A Stitch in Time: The Biba Story” is one of those rare books written with complete honesty and purity.

 

The book is nicely divided into small chapters, which makes it perfect to read one a day if you’re not a binge reader. The author starts by describing her childhood and the status quo of her parents and siblings. She shares her upbringing in a way that helps us understand its impact on her later years. Meena narrates her college life and clearly explains how girls were perceived in those days. She talks about an instance where one of her friends got married very early, which reflects the mindset among girls then. Her initial meetings with her to-be husband and how things fell into place leading to marriage make for a very interesting read—it’s hard to imagine people falling in love and proposing romantically 4–5 decades back.

 

The whole event where Meena hosts a small exhibition with a friend in Vishakhapatnam by sourcing clothes from Delhi highlights her courage and entrepreneurial spirit, even when she had no vision of becoming one at that point. Earning ₹8000 in a single day during those times was a huge amount, and it inspires us to try something on our own instead of just talking about self-employment. She describes her life as the wife of a navy personnel with deep interest which explains us about the multiple shifting to different cities, staying in an isolated environment, inaugurating ship standing beside her husband etc. We often just hear about the life of defence officers but very rarely get an insight into the life of their spouses- the gap that Meena fills successfully in this book.

 

The story then moves towards her early motherhood days and the challenge of managing budget with two children, which eventually led Meena to decide to earn for her family. The entire journey of BIBA is described in detail—from starting at her home, experimenting with block printing, people loving her designs and spreading the word, Bollywood actresses like Sharmila Tagore and Ratna Pathak shopping from her store, tie-ups with brands for supplying at their outlets, to finally being recognized as one of the best SKD stores in Mumbai and other milestones. The interactions of BIBA with Shoppers Stop and Mr. Biyani of Future Group are very interesting, as they highlight critical thinking, tough decision-making skills, and the importance of trusting one’s instincts.

 

The last one-third of the book focuses on how her children grew up and began participating in the BIBA business, bringing their own vision. It reflects Meena’s open-mindedness, as she allowed them to implement their modern ideas without letting her own thoughts restrict them from trying and failing. She also candidly shares the scenario of a rift between the brothers that eventually led one to leave the business. She never directly criticizes anyone, but through her narration, we can understand who disappointed her at different stages of her life and entrepreneurial journey.

 

In the last segment, I particularly liked the essay Meena wrote on Fashion, which carries a philosophical tone that excited me enough to re-read it twice. She also includes a monologue-like piece on girls and how they must lead their lives with genuineness—something often missing in today’s feminist articles. She speaks about what is truly required for girls to progress and compete against the opposite gender and societal prejudices.

 

The author hides nothing—she even shares intricate details of her growth in business and describes her failures with the same enthusiasm. This honesty makes the book very special and highly recommendable. I would rate this book 4.25* out of 5 and recommend it to everyone who thinks business can only be started with great capital and a big team.

 PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE

Thanks!

 

WRITING BUDDHA

Dark Star: The Loneliness of Being Rajesh Khanna by Gautam Chintamani (Book Review: 3.75*/5)!!!

2137th BLOG POST

5^th Book of 2025

Being a Bollywood fan, reading a book based on movies gives me the same excitement and thrill as watching films. I always look out for books that speak about the changes in cinema over the years or narrate the lives of popular figures through biographies/autobiographies. This quest led me to Gautam Chintamani’s Dark Star: The Loneliness of Being Rajesh Khanna, which has been re-published by Rupa Publications after 10 years of its first launch. I never knew about this book, but thanks to Rupa for bringing it into the spotlight once again.

Gautam, as an author, has a wide range and vast experience, having written for years across different forays covering everything from movies to politics. This was my first opportunity to read his work, and I must say his writing style is adapted to make the book a fast read. Even though the book is around 270 pages, I never felt that any of the chapters or segments were stretched. He knows how to keep you hooked by regularly changing gears and providing insights into different aspects of the same topic.

The author has written the book on Rajesh Khanna in a way that feels like a case study, explaining how he struggled to find his first successful movie, then moved towards the peak of his career with 15 consecutive hits, and finally witnessed his career graph falling drastically, never reaching those heights again. Generally, when a biographer chooses a personality, the writing is often in awe of him/her, but this is one of the rarest books I’ve read where the author remains completely neutral towards the subject. He talks about both his good and bad aspects—professional and personal—very courageously, without worrying about how it might be perceived by his family or fans.

Gautam has covered his filmography, describing each movie and its story in detail, which helps us understand the nature of films made in those days. He also highlights how Rajesh Khanna came across as a completely soft, romantic hero without borrowing traits from the then-hit actors like Dev Anand. Similarly, after Amitabh Bachchan became a phenomenon in his ‘angry young man’ avatar, which impacted Rajesh Khanna’s career immensely, the author has been able to compare and discuss both these actors consistently throughout the narrative. At one point, you do feel that Gautam is definitely a fan of Bachchan, given the way he speaks so highly of him every time he mentions him. Haha!

One thing that disappointed me was the non-coverage of Rajesh Khanna’s life as a family man. You get all the details about his behavior off the sets—at home, with colleagues, producers, directors, co-stars, and girlfriends—but you never get an idea of how he was as a son, husband, father, or father-in-law. Since the title of the book refers to him as a “Dark Star,” there must have been a certain amount of darkness in his family life too, which should have been covered.

Overall, the book is written for the new generations who can only relive the era of Bollywood in the 60s, 70s, and 80s through such stories, and this one helps in understanding Bollywood’s first superstar—Rajesh Khanna. This is definitely a page-turner, as you want to know what happens next with a personality like his, someone who constantly tried to reach the heights he experienced right at the start of his career. The author must be appreciated for even covering the last phase of his life, diving deep into his final advertisement shoot for Havells fans and his funeral, which was covered by the media as one of the big events of our country. I would rate this book 3.75* out of 5.

 PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE

Thanks!

 

WRITING BUDDHA