The Pillion Rider

Author : Hirak Kar

Review:

Pack your bags and get ready for an adventure. Breathe the fresh air, embrace the woods, get lost in those lovely country roads and immerse yourself in what nature has to offer. Travel is more of a journey than a destination. That summarizes Hirak Kar's travelogue and personal memoir, 'The Pillion Rider'.

Two young officers , Hirak and George, one from the army and the other from the airforce, set off on a road trip to Delhi from Calcutta  on their newly acquired possession, the Renegade, to attend their friend's wedding. The year was 1971, where the armed forces were being mobilized for a war against Pakistan to free BanglaDesh. Naxalite tension was prevalent in Calcutta and Delhi was gearing up for the big war. Bold and brave, the two officers set off on their journey, George the driver and Hirak, 'The Pillion Rider'. They make it to Delhi, and the adventure does not stop there. George and Hirak embark on their journey across India, from Delhi to Jhansi, to Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad and finally back to Calcutta. What had started as a 7 day road trip to a friend's wedding eventually ended up as a 35 day motorbike feat across the nation.Those were the golden days when the petrol prices were at Rs. 1.25 per liter. If you end up calculating all the money the two men spent on the whole trip, it will not exceed Rs. 1200.

The book is a personal experience, hence there are no dramatic incidents or no turns and twists. On the contrary, it is a very beautiful and realistic narration. What strikes you more is the camaradarie which people from armed forces have. The two bikers make their stops at various venues, and everywhere they enter a regiment office or a PWD guest house or sometimes barge into their ex-colleague's house. They are so warmly greeted, offered food, place to stay and also given generous amounts of money  to take their trip forward.  I had known about this strong bonding even before, when one of my friends from an army background had mentioned that she had taken a train from Delhi to Gwalior  and had booked the ticket for a wrong day. By the time the TC had arrived, the train was well out of the city. She called her husband, who in turn , contacted the army office at the nearest town and someone had come all the way to the railway station to give her the money for her ticket.

For a first book, it is very well written. The language is excellent. The hard work of the author and the editor shows up. Hirak and George are energetic, youthful and daring. Their energy and zeal for life is quite infectious. In the back of my mind, I am still humming the song :

"Country roads, take me home !!!"

So, what are you waiting for?? 

Read the book, pack your bags. Get,set, go !! 

Recommended : 👍👍

Buy The Pillion Rider Online

BBC Adaptation : MiddleMarch by George Eliot

Plot Review:
Another lovely BBC Adaptation based on the book by George Eliot, the story is set in the fictitious town of MiddleMarch in Provincial England. Set around the time when England was on the verge of reforms and revolution, following the footsteps of France, the people are divided in their opinions on change and progress. The story is centered around two main characters, the idealistic doctor , Tertius Lydgate, and an intelligent aspiring girl, Dorothea Brooke. Both of them, naive , principled, and with strong convictions set forth on a journey to change the world. Instead, they find themselves trapped completely into wrong marriages and the narrow minded society in which they live in.

They falter, struggle, try to work around the circumstances in which they find themselves in. The revolution sweeps England, things change. Small steps taken by small people bear fruits somewhere else in the country. The story indicates that the efforts of both Lydgate and Dorothea may not have been conspicous , but somewhere, their convictions and ideas  have indeed given birth to something bigger and better.

And then there is Will Ladislaw, the rebel, who does not confirm to any of the society rules. He lives life on his own terms. He loves the fresh grass under his feet and the sky , which he fathoms as a roof. Disinherited from his rightful claim, he has no fixed income, but yet he is full of talent. Property matters stand as a barrier between him and the woman he loves, Dorothea.

MiddleMarch is filled with many characters, each one of them struggling to work around the problems life has posed before them. Some pass with flying colours, some fail and get exiled. But the story belongs to the three main characters, Lydgate, Dorothea and Will Ladislaw. They stand out beautifully in their lead roles. You cannot be indifferent to the agony Lydgate goes through, he sets out to make a difference in this world, offering free medical service to the hospital in MiddleMarch. All odds stand against him and he has to give up his dream to make a breakthrough in the medical field. On the other hand, the romance between Dorothea and Ladislaw is refreshing to watch, subtle and very endearing. Dorothea has to finally let go of her deceased husband's vast fortune to marry Ladislaw. The same fortune, with which she had set forth to change the world in her own small way, has to be given away for love. Thankfully, things are not as tragic for Dorothea as for Lydgate, as she does not repent on her decision in marrying for love.

So, MiddleMarch ends with happy tidings for Dorothea and not-so-good consequence for Lydgate.
And it ends with me, feeling content and happy , having watched yet another good British period Drama. And also lucky, because I bought the last DVD from Amazon India and it is not currently available in stock  right now :)

Recommended : 👍👍👍

Buy MiddleMarch online from Amazon.com