An imposing personality - Why it matters?

While one should always study the method of a great artist, one should never imitate his manner. The manner of an artist is essentially individual, the method of an artist is absolutely universal. The first personality, which no one should copy.

-          Oscar Wilde

There is a spark in each one of us. All it takes is the willingness and strength to ignite it. Each one of us is a unique individual in our own way. We meet so many people each day but there are a few who leave a deep impact, whom we remember amidst our jam-packed daily work routine. Why? Because of the simple reason; some people possess a great persona – a charisma beyond charm that baffles even the beautiful.

Being born beautiful is one thing, developing a scintillating personality is another. While we read a lot of tips on how to enhance your beauty, there are a few must haves that can help anyone to develop a striking personality. Let’s have a look at them.

-       The first and foremost one  – being you

It may sound a little philosophical but it is like the foundation. Never doubt your own self. Being a firm believer in yourself will help you go a long way in your life and become responsible enough for your life. Of course, there are errors that we all commit but the trick is to commit a new one every time.

-       Your body language says more than your words do

There is a non-verbal communication which is communicated through your gestures, face expressions, body postures and eye movements. Always carry yourself confidently with a correct straight body posture; while talking to someone, make proper eye contact; have a firm handshake. All these indicate confidence. During a conversation, your body language will show it to the other person when you are disinterested. Therefore, a great personality will always develop when your body language matches with your words that you speak.

-       Listen more and strike a meaning conversation

We all are very good at speaking. The problem is that we do not listen that much. Often, people who lay a deep impact on you are the ones who listen to you and listen attentively. They remember you and your words – be it your problem, your experience or a discussion you have had. And a meaningful conversation is always when there is a balance of speaking and listening.

-       Understand and empathise

Remember the last conversation you had with a friend where expressing your problem gave you the solution because she could put herself into your shoes. Yes, this is a must have whenever having a conversation, leaving a great impact of your empathising with him. Be courteous. People always remember courtesy.

-       Understand the difference between being confident and over-confident

There is a thin line that differentiates both of them which can make and break your career as well as your relationship. A little on the other side can ruin you. Always maintain that balance, be confident and rule the world; be overconfident and... 

-       Being introvert does not mean you do not have an impressive personality

While extroverts tend to gain their energy in social situations, introverts typically recharge through solitude. From Abraham Lincoln and Albert Einstein to Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and J.K. Rowling, all of them were introverts yet they are a league of impressive personalities till date. The reinstating fact here is again being your own self.  

-       Add a dash of sense of humour

Life is not that serious and even if it is, a good sense of humour is the best cure for it. Every time you find humour in a difficult situation, you will win. And yes, this is very important ingredient in the making of a remarkable personality.

 

'Scion of Ikshvaku': The Ramayana Reimagined

First appeared on Huffington Post 

Following an extended marketing campaign, the first book, Scion of Ikshvaku, of the new Ram Chandra series by author Amish Tripathi, was released on 22 June 2015. Building up to the much-anticipated mythological thriller by the author of the bestselling Shiva trilogy were full page newspaper ads, a dedicated website, exclusive Kindle offers and YouTube trailers.

Celebrity endorsements had also been seamlessly integrated into the marketing strategy, including a reading by Gul Panag, testimonials by Karan Johar and thelaunch of the book cover by Akshay Kumar. The post-promotion after the release of the book sees Kotak Mahindra Bank launching a themed debit card featuring the cover of Scion of Ikshvaku and a discount on any book purchased at Crossword. The bank also launched ''Tweet to Order'', where customers can order the book by simply tweeting #Book Scion 262.

So, does the book live up to the hoopla? I got my pre-ordered copy from Amazon on 23 June, and was not disappointed. The book is a rollercoaster ride taking readers through the familiar tropes and themes of Indian mythology, but with new twists and turns provided by the author. There is no doubt that Amish is a storyteller par excellence, and succeeds in surprising the readers with an age-old plot that he thickens with deep mystery and open-ended questions. You are forced to ponder over previously told stories and to engage with the question of how they apply in contemporary times.

Various adaptations of the Ramayana have emerged ever since Valmiki first told the tale. In general, there has been a proliferation of retold, reinterpreted epics and mythology. The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Divakaruni, Sita by Devdutt Pattanaik, the works of Ashwin Sanghi and Ashok Banker and so on have left the readers intrigued by the different interpretations of our age-old tales that we have been enchanted by since our childhood. Amish is arguably the most accomplished reteller of these tales with his riveting books that also provoke deep introspection into the myths as well as one's own self.

Here are some aspects of Scion of Ikshvaku that I believe make it stand out:

Twists on tradition

Amish excels at creating new stories from longstanding mythological tales. He veers from accepted versions at several junctures, making the book a surprising read - for example, he writes of the Swayamvar of Sita which is a borrowing from theSwayamvar of Draupadi in the Mahabharata.

"Manthara, who is generally depicted as poor, downtrodden maid serving Kaikeyi, is portrayed as the wealthiest businesswoman of Sapt Sindhu."

Strong character building

Shatrughan, the youngest brother of the Ram, has been fleshed out beautifully and is represented as a great intellectual. Manthara, who is generally depicted as poor, downtrodden maid serving Kaikeyi, is portrayed as the wealthiest businesswoman of Sapt Sindhu; her daughter Roshni is the rakhi sister of the four princes of Ayodhya. Ram, on the other hand, comes with far more baggage than the original epic. He is a neglected prince who has to bear the brunt of being born on the same day as his father Dashrath's defeat to Ravan at battle. Yet he is that law abider and protector, who will become a great leader setting an example for the others to follow. What we do see of Ram in this book is just a curtain raiser and his character is likely to develop further in subsequent books in the Ram Chandra series. It will be particularly interesting to read Amish's take on Ram's abandonment of Sita, but that's something we'll have to wait for.

Contemporary themes

The episode of the rape of Roshni and the punishment of her rapists reminded of theNirbhaya rape case of 2012. The parallels were hard to ignore: the main accused in the book, Dhenuka, was also a juvenile who could not be sentenced to death by law. The fictionalised version frustrated just as the real case had, although in the book we do have the satisfaction of seeing justice prevail, albeit outside the ambit of the law.

All in all, Amish's easy-to-read prose and page-turning style is a treat for those who like their reads to be fast-paced and sprinkled with Bollywood-style masala. And while this book, like the Shiva Trilogy (which apparently sold more than 2.5 million copies) may not qualify as a great piece of literature, it succeeds in provoking thought and encouraging conversations among readers.