Keepers of the Kalachakra - book review

Keepers of the Kalachakra
by Ashwin Sanghi
420 pages, Westland
Genre: Thriller

Leaders and people holding important positions in governments die  across the world in a mysteriously similar manner. No one understands how this is happening. Simultaneously sinkholes are appearing world wide killing ordinary people. One secret organization appears to be responsible for it as they believe in eliminating liberals and promoting right wingers while  working in tandem with an a Islamic fundamentalist who is the fountainhead of  spreading radical Islam worldwide. Both believe the clash of civilizations is inevitable and has to be hastened Can they be stopped ? Ashwin Sanghi asks and answers these questions in his novel, Keepers of the Kalachakra.

Zigzagging from the lawns of the Whitehouse US to mysterious labs in India, from  Russian secret service  to facilities in China, Sanghi begins well. Once inside the secret lab facility and in trying to explain the Tibetan Book of the Dead, he loses pace. He picks it up again with action sequences but frankly it is a bit disappointing when he tries to explain Hindu and Buddhist philosophy as well as Christian, Jewish and Islamic history as it stretches the reader's patience as so much info is dropped in, especially in the middle of an action sequence.

All said and done, the ending will leave you stunned if you read the book completely. I will say a brisk beginning, intriguing center that slowly drops into a winding read and a fast and stunning end that will leave people wondering if this is what is really happening as it is too close to actual political events.

Don't include all your research Mr. Sanghi in your books. Fascinating as it is, it slows down the thriller.

If you wish to buy the book, go here  Click to buy it from Amazon

The Dalai Lama : Is the world okay with double standards on violence?

Why is it that we remember names of terrorists and so called "freedom fighters" who use violence? Why do we ignore people who not only teach or preach but actually practise non-violence ?

The Tibetans and the Dalai Lama have continue to wage a non-violent struggle against China for over 50 years. Somehow they seem to escape the notice of the media and the people worldwide.
It seems to me that we consider non-violence stupid. As China waits for the Dalai Lama to die and also has the gall to introduce new rules on how a Dalai Lama is to be selected, the world media doesn't think it is worth the space and uses it provide us "news" about the latest in Angelina Jolie or George Clooney's life.

Media --- all sorts include a "news in brief" when the Dalai Lama received the Nobel Peace Prize or says something. It seems they have more important things like covering violence. Maybe if the Tibetans resorted to violence, then their cause would be worth covering! Currently, they are non-violent and not worth the media space according to most media moghuls.

This is a sad commentary on today's media. Violence sells or so they say.

For those interested in Tibet, human rights, Tibetans, non-violence, peace, Tibetan customs and culture, this book will be worth the read. After all, the Dalai Lama's life is completely intertwined with the history of Tibet.

The book review below is about Dalai Lama and Tibet.

Dalai Lama: Man, Monk, Mystic
By Mayank Chhaya
342 Pages, MapinLit (An Imprint of Mapin Publishing)
Rs.595 (Hardcover)
Genre: Non-fiction/Biography
ISBN: 81-88204-88-5

Engaging, interesting and informative, this is the only authorised biography of the Dalai Lama written by an Indian. The life of the current Dalai Lama (Lama means teacher and Dalai means ocean like wisdom) is intertwined with that of Tibet – his country, people, religion and culture, especially its current history. Tibet is the fountainhead of all the “holy” rivers of India (Sindhu, Ganges, Sutlej and Brahmaputra) and China (Salween, Mekong, Yangtze and the Yellow rivers) and is where Mount Kailash (holy for Hindus as they believe this is where where the Hindu God- Lord Shiva resides) is located.

It is amazing how people worldwide, especially Indians have been blind to the only non-violent struggle currently going on Earth, a struggle by Tibetans for retaining their culture, traditions, and country for over 57 years though the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan refugees have been in India for almost 48 years. Tibet has been colonised by China except colonial powers don’t usually come in droves, massacre the local population and occupy the land thus making the locals a minority in their own country. According to United Nations (UN) charter, this is a form of genocide. Having his picture in Tibet is a punishable offence according to Chinese law.

The current Dalai Lama is the 14th of the Dalai Lamas of Tibet. A refugee from his country, the author examines the various facets of monk, mystic and the man -- intelligent,funny and gentle. As you read this book, you’ll have “I didn’t know that” moments. While presenting a balanced account of one of the world’s greatest leaders, probably the greatest in today’s world, we are also given an insightful history of Tibet and Tibetans. However, at the end, one is left wondering given the complexities of global politics and economy, will this wonderful 72-year-old human ever return to his beloved Tibet?

Copyright © 2007 by Deepa Kandaswamy