Between Life and Death by Dr Kashyap Patel (Book Review: 4.25*/5)

 1887th BLOG POST

42^nd Book of 2020!

Any book that talks about life and death intrigues me because I believe knowing about these elements is far more necessary to live a great curious life than knowing about current affairs. And this is the reason I got attracted towards the newly released book named “Between Life and Death” written by Dr. Kashyap Patel. The book is of around 220 pages and is published by Penguin Random House. The book’s cover page and synopsis have such a good feeling that you just can’t move over without having this book in your shelf.

 

Now, talking about the book and its subject, it is based upon the emotions a human being goes through when he comes to know that his death is near. Author has been a doctor himself who has treated many Cancer patients and has ended up experiencing many deaths in his life closely. This gave him the perspective which he couldn’t have achieved if he would not have been in his profession for years and seeing so many souls leaving their temporary bodies. Kashyap has just utilized the same and mentioned how sensitive the patients become when they find death standing close to them.

 

The book starts with one of the doctor’s patient, Harry, who realizes that he might not live much due to the spread of Cancer and he asks the Doctor to prepare him to leave blissfully. And from here begins the book which takes you through many experiences the doctor had starting with a young patient like Annie till the last patient covered named John. Reading about all these patients is such an emotional experience that in few of the chapters I was almost on the verge of crying. The vulnerability that a human being starts feeling along with a panicky situation with a will to still live makes them so weak and demotivated that they start seeing their Doctor as God, Life Coach, Role Model and what not. The relationship between a Doctor and Patient is so very beautifully covered in this book.

 

Apart from these experiences, author also covers many other knowledge about things associated with death such as the belief different religion and culture has about death. Author has descriptively tried to explain all of it without comparing them with each other. Patel also gives disclaimer when he talks about other religions citing that he might be wrong as he has limited knowledge about it as whatever he knows is only through his patients. How Death and its rituals were given duly importance in history is explained by letting us know about the Egyptian concept of mummification. How embalming became a business scope in America after Civil wars for the purpose of funeral is nicely described.

 

Then from the knowledge base, book gradually moves into the space of spirituality and I liked how author mentioned about Western culture finding the truth outwards whereas Eastern culture looking for the same inwards and the results turned out to be the same. The concept of meditation is given a light upon and author explains how it can lead to longevity as it actually does same structural changes with our organs. Along with this, author again explains what different religion and culture thinks upon the topic of resurrection, reincarnation and afterlife. It has so much information that you would be surprised to know such detailing. I had read Sadhguru’s Death few months ago where it covered only one practice but here author has talked about different rituals and beliefs which provides little more insights.

 

Talking about the climax of the book, the way Harry leaves us being the protagonist of the book will make you very sad. After reading this book, if you have never taken Cancer patient or any person who is aware of his death seriously, you will start taking so. You will become a big support for them. The kind of attitudinal change the author brings is phenomenal. You will also start seeing Death as just a part of your life rather than an end to it. Yes, this happens.

 

Now talking about the drawbacks- I actually couldn’t find much problem with the book as it only speaks what happens with us. But still I would like to point out few factors. I believe there was more potential for the author to cover when it came to a topic like this. Author could have gone into more spiritual depth in the later part of the book for which I was really looking forward to which I missed. Then, I believe author should have given more brief examples dedicating just one or two paragraphs to a patient and letting us know how many people decided to leave as here, we get to know about 3-4 patients specifically. Some photographs of the patients discussed would have added more personalized effect to the book.

 

Overall, this is a very feel-good book with great insights. I give this book 4.25* out of 5. Please do read it if you want to know what people go through after knowing that the death is closer.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE

 

Thanks.

 

WRITING BUDDHA 

Kis tarah Hindu aur Hinduism ka apmaan kiya hai Akshay Kumar ki #Laxmii movie ne.. (Video)

 1886th BLOG POST

Doston, maine kal #Laxmii movie dekhi #HotstarVIP pe .. pehle hi din movie ke release hote hi.. Mujhe movie mein bahut issues nazar aaye.. naahi sirf execution level pe par movie mein lagataar #Hindus or #Hinduism ki beijjati ki gayi hai.. 

Ek Hindu hone ke naatey mujhse ye nazarandaaz naa ho sakaa aur mujhe laga is par baat karni chahiye..

Umeed karta hoon is video mein kahiin hui baatein aapko sahi lagengi aur aap is sandesh ko aur logon tak pahunchayenge taaki in kuch logon ka agenda aur propaganda #Bollywood mein lambe samay tak na chal paayein..

Waise bhi badlaav shuru ho chuka hai.. Umeed hai cheezein jald hi badlengi...

Thanks.

WRITING BUDDHA

Movie Review: Laxmii: Ruined Genre as well as the Concept! *½

 1885th BLOG POST

Since lockdown commenced, there were several announcements of many full-fledged movies releasing directly on OTT but all the excitement evaporated when the initial set of movies couldn’t garner much curiosity from the viewers. Then the only hope remained of the survival for the OTT movies was “Laxmii” which was earlier named as “Laxmii Bomb” lead by Akshay Kumar – the 1^st OTT release to feature a superstar. I am finally done watching the movie on Hotstar which can be called as First Day First Show in the language of OTT as it released at 7:05 PM and I started viewing it right from the first minute.

The movie is based in the genre of Horror Comedy – the genre in which Stree did very well and every movie in the same genre is compared with the standard Stree has set. The first half of the movie is more about director trying to make the whole ambience more comical than horror whereas the second half is more about trying to scare us than make us laugh. I believe the script is the biggest failure for this movie. Yes! The movie is disappointing when it comes to its writing and execution. The concept of having transgender ghost in the body of a man played by Akshay Kumar could have done magic but mostly it seems to be some spoof. Even though I haven’t watched the original movie from which it has been adapted still it looks as if it’s an episode of The Kapil Sharma Show and nothing more than that.

 

The movie only picks up in the pre-climax and climax when Sharad Kelkar enters as the real Laxmii and later, when Akshay Kumar, plays the role of transgender with utmost sincerity while taking revenge against the perpetrators those ended Laxmii’s life. The social issue with transgenders is also highlighted nicely in this part but by then, they have done enough insult to the community. The background music has played its part nicely in few scenes but surely, it couldn’t scare me in most of the scenes where director must have thought that audience will jump out of fear. Similarly, dialogues aren’t great too. The comical stuff is also just plain and couldn’t make you laugh out loud. You just smile at the silliness of the whole scene.

 

The songs are inserted in the movie for no reason except the one where a bunch of real transgenders have danced in the devotion of Lord Shiva. The action scenes are great in the climax but with idiotic insertion of VFX, even that has been spoilt. There is no one section where the movie could do justice with its frame. There is something wrong in every scene. And I must say, the Hindu religion has again been targeted throughout with some or the other insults regularly happening – mostly in the first half. Also, the other religion’s superiority is regularly proved over Hinduism. This has really irritated me.

 

Now talking about the performances, let me start with someone I have no complaints with i.e. Sharad Kelkar. He has played the character of real Laxmii and what a performance I must say. His avatar of a transgender character has totally overtaken whatever Akshay Kumar was trying to achieve throughout the movie. He did magic within his short role itself which Kumar couldn’t even in the whole movie. Sharad is the surprise element of the movie otherwise there’s nothing to watch here. Akshay Kumar has disappointed big time except the climax. It’s only in climax that I felt he has done some serious prep for the role otherwise I thought he has done it for the sake of doing something different. Kiara doesn’t have much to do as his wife but only looks pretty and interesting. All the supporting actors are also a disappointment and nothing else. There are other issues with the movie too where a kid is shown taking name of elders whereas in another scene a DIL slapping her MIL and many such scenes but let's not talk much about them.

 

Overall, the movie is avoidable but still if you are looking forward to watch the actors playing transgender role, please watch only from where Sharad Kelkar enters the scene because after that, even Kumar’s performance sees an upward trend. I give this movie 1.5 stars out of 5.

 

Thanks.

 

WRITING BUDDHA