"He counted the money - ten thousand rupees - heard what i wanted and asked for a double. I gave him a bit more, and he was happy....my poster was right there, the one that I had seen earlier, the whole time I was negotiating with him. The WANTED poster, with the dirty little photo of me."
Balram, the son of a rickshaw-puller, was called a 'white tiger' by his schoolteacher because he was deemed to be the brightest boy in the village. Because he was smart, he learned how to drive a car and got a job as a driver for a rich entrepreneur's son, Ashok. Balram gradually saw the immense wealth and opportunity around him and the huge gap between the wealthy and the poor; this made him aspire to leave the darkness that was poverty and dreamed of moving towards the light that is the world of the rich. He did this by murdering his master when one day he was driving him around and Ashok had seven hundred thousand rupees with him. Good thing for Balram, being in constant company of Ashok, he had observed and learned the graft and corruption of the people in his company and circle. Balram fled to Bangalore and engaged in a taxi business which he called 'White Tiger Taxi'. He acquired the police chief's cooperation by bribing him and his policemen. He also changed his name to "Ashok" and his business became 'successful'.
here's a picture of an indian temple, one of the many that you can find in the greater toronto area.
there's a 'buskerfest' going on in toronto this weeked. i went to take photos of the street performers, and for cheap they pose for you so many times. there were a lot of photographer-types with their big cameras and they were quite sneaky, some not even giving any money to the performers. i came prepared with my loonies and twonies. and i will probably go back tomorrow or on sunday to take more pictures and get some yummy curry fishballs. wanna come with me?
wow, I've never seen a building like that in Canada, or anywhere for that matter, except in pics. Very nice capture. Have a great weekend and enjoy the fishballs.
I would love to be there and I look forward to some great captures. This is a beautiful temple. Nice architectural capture. Interesting story by I don't like it simply because of the lack of morals. Good review though.
@pamfromcalgary - actually, the protagonist tried to do good by his employees, by not treating his taxi drivers as his servants or possessions but as his employees. the author throughtout the novel juxtaposed the wide gap in indian culture and society which is ironic. it is an easy read and funny sometimes. thanks, pam, and congrats on the deer making it on PP! yay!
@bkbinthecity - there is actually another building, much lower but as large, nonetheless, to the left of that temple. to their people, it is a treat to go to that place, they're almost like tourists when they go there, posing for pictures, etc. i hope to be able to take more photos today or tomorrow and to eat more fishballs and veggie spring rolls for cheap! thanks, bkb.
@steeler - stunning indeed, howard. it is like a model, too, it likes being photographed. i agree with you that it will make a great sunrise or sunset silhouette photo, but it is located in a semi-industrial area about 15 km northeat of where i am. but i will make it a challenge to take that photo - one of these days. :-) the only problem is that the property is gated and there are only certain hours people are allowed in. thanks, howard.
yes!!! I wanna come! Wow, this temple is amazing! I thought it was in India - brings back memories of when I was there in my early twenties. I love Indian literature but haven't yet read this one. Is it good? Should I read it? Did you read "the God of Small things"? Amazing book.
ok, so fab photo and I wanna come hang out with you. I did have 'gulab jamun' for morning tea today, there's a gorgeous Indian lady at our farmer's market who makes them!
@danig - come then! it's a tad cloudy here right now, but we expect some clearing in the afternoon. for now, i'm off to shoot some place nice.
wouldn't you believe it? i am reading that book right now. when i was in the old country i used to make a to-die-for chicken curry and it is to-die-for because i get all the spices from an indian friend who had a grocery store near my place. i should look her up when i come visit manila in november. sadly, the most indian food i eat now is chutney on my fish, and curried veggies. i've been in delhi once thirty some years ago.
this book is an easy read. the guy is funny the way he describes things. yes, it's recommended reading.
I would love to go with you!!! WONDERFUL temple - -and how perfect to go with your book review!! Didn't get to read it last night, so had to go searching for it this morning!!
@cscecil - thanks, CS! you're so sweet!! i didn't end up going to the buskerfest today. i went to the other side of the city to take my photo for today and to another place and by the time i got back, i was no longer in the mood to travel again. perhaps i'll go tomorrow and i shall eat an extra stick of curried fishballs for you :-)
@roth - far away, don't know if your bike can take you there without going through the highway. it's by highway 427 and finch. or maybe you can bike there. it's called BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Toronto.
I loved that book...and this temple is a great way of evoking India, with all the contradictions that the country holds: the heat, the dust, the poverty...the jewel colours of the saris, the exquisite Moghul architecture, the corruption...the pursuit of wealth alongside the pursuit of spirituality. damn...just made myself really want to go back and visit that awesome country again
September 18th, 2011
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@bkbinthecity - there is actually another building, much lower but as large, nonetheless, to the left of that temple. to their people, it is a treat to go to that place, they're almost like tourists when they go there, posing for pictures, etc. i hope to be able to take more photos today or tomorrow and to eat more fishballs and veggie spring rolls for cheap! thanks, bkb.
@steeler - stunning indeed, howard. it is like a model, too, it likes being photographed. i agree with you that it will make a great sunrise or sunset silhouette photo, but it is located in a semi-industrial area about 15 km northeat of where i am. but i will make it a challenge to take that photo - one of these days. :-) the only problem is that the property is gated and there are only certain hours people are allowed in. thanks, howard.
ok, so fab photo and I wanna come hang out with you. I did have 'gulab jamun' for morning tea today, there's a gorgeous Indian lady at our farmer's market who makes them!
wouldn't you believe it? i am reading that book right now. when i was in the old country i used to make a to-die-for chicken curry and it is to-die-for because i get all the spices from an indian friend who had a grocery store near my place. i should look her up when i come visit manila in november. sadly, the most indian food i eat now is chutney on my fish, and curried veggies. i've been in delhi once thirty some years ago.
this book is an easy read. the guy is funny the way he describes things. yes, it's recommended reading.
thanks so much, DG!