Jan-Feb 2014 Vol 4 Issue 1 64 pages
short fiction essays verse reviews
Published, owned, and printed by Vaishali Khandekar, and printed at National Printing Press, 580, KR Garden, Koramangala, Bangalore-560095 Published at 177-B Classic Orchards, Bannerghatta Rd, Bangalore-560076 Editor: Vaishali Khandekar Editing Support: Arun Kumar, Manjushree Hegde Subscriptions, business enquiries, feedback: readinghour@differsense.com Ph: +91 80 26595745 Subscription Details: Print (within India only) or Electronic (PDF): Annual subscription Rs. 300/- (6 issues) 2 years subscription Rs. 600/- (12 issues) Payment via cheque / DD in favour of ‘Differsense Ventures LLP’ payable at Bangalore. Subscription form elsewhere in this issue. Online subscription: readinghour.in Submissions: editors@differsense.com Advertisers: Contact Arun Kumar at arunkumar@differsense.com / +91 98450 22991 Cover Idea: Satish Kumar Story Illustrations: Raghupathi Sringeri Disclaimer: Matter published in Reading Hour magazine is the work of individual writers who guarantee it to be entirely their own, and original work. Contributions to Reading Hour are largely creative, while certain articles are the writer’s own experiences or observations. The publishers accept no liability for them. Opinions expressed by our contributors do not necessarily represent the policies or positions of the publisher. The publishers intend no factual miscommunication, disrespect to, or incitement of any individual, community or enterprise through this publication. Copyright ©2013-2014 Differsense Ventures LLP. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part of this issue in any manner without prior written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Jan-Feb 2014 Vol 4 Issue 1
Editorial …Still, fill to the Future! and join in our chime, The regrets of remembrance to cozen, And having obtained a New Trial of Time, Shout in hopes of a kindlier dozen.” - Thomas Hood Hope the last dozen have been good for you, dear reader. Putting up a new calendar on one’s wall, is only that and nothing more, if we do not take the time to think: how have I grown this past year, what have I learned, what have I changed? While you ponder the question, we invite you to take a journey with the characters within these pages as they take stock of themselves in the face of what life hurls at them… Take the case of teacher Arthur Teak, in Some Teachers Have Happy Endings. Arthur, while motivating a student to chart a meaningful life’s course ends up questioning his own motivations in so doing, while the student ends up where she was perhaps always meant to. The protagonist of The Thirteenth Day, whose freewheeling life is shaken by a series of momentuous events comes to terms with them in his own way. Sometimes, life offers us the proverbial chance to stand in another’s shoes, but it isn’t everybody who pays heed and grabs it… does Mrs. Ramchandran? There’s young Purnima, chasing Rasgullas And Chowringhee Lane, whose tentative step into the adult world leaves her, as she thinks, shattered beyond repair… and those like Nestor, in The Hill That Had No Trees, who cannot account for their life’s experiences, and must weave elaborate cause-and-effect scenarios to hold onto what they have left. Part II of the Burma travelogue describes a visit to Idyllic Bagan. In stark contrast to the lush surroundings of Burma is The Hatchery In Hell, the second most inhospitable water body on earth, located in Africa’s Rift Valley; and yet, home to the greatest concentration of wildlife anywhere on the planet. Dr. Sunanda Karnad interviews Dr. Prabhu, who struggled to find a publisher for his first book, which then went on to sell 80,000 copies in its first edition. Here’s wishing our readers a year of discovery, enjoyment and growth. Happy reading, too! ~Editors facebook.com/readinghour readinghour.in 1