Sunday, July 20, 2008

My blog turns 3

Yes, it’s been three years since I put up my first post. The nature of my posts, the frequency, and my focus – everything has been evolving and this will continue. In fact, I cringe sometimes when I read some of my early posts, as I am sure I’ll cringe sometime in the future when I read some of my recent writing.

I've posted with greater regularity (at an average of 4 per month, whether long or short) the last year and a half. With so many changes that are currently happening in my life – on the personal and work front: not all pleasant – I am not sure how the next year shall be. But I've enjoyed writing in this space enormously: where else but on a blog can one express one’s personality and shape one's writing the way one wants? I hope to continue.

To mark the occasion, I’ve listed some of my favorite posts from last year, by category. These include short as well as long posts.

History:
1. A review of Ramachandra Guha’s wonderful India after Gandhi
2. America’s Westward Expansion and thoughts on Wounded Knee – My longest post in the last year. It’s theme is the westward expansion of America in the 19th century and the impact on American Indian history.
3. The Ota Benga story
4. The Americas Before Columbus and The Old World: Yet another of my comparative ruminations of why world history has turned out the way it has.
5. From hunter-gatherers to farmers: Thoughts on an Economist article.
6. Resettlement of refugee farmers in Punjab after partition – Elaboration of a section in India after Gandhi.

Literature:
1. A short note Dostoevsky’s characters
2. On Willa Cather’s O Pioneers
3. Thoughts on Alaa Al Aswany’s The Yacoubian Building
4. On Louise Erdrich’s The Plague of Doves

Travel and Current Affairs:
1. On China’s burgeoning presence in Africa
2. Will Mugabe of Zimbabwe stay on? – the question has been answered for now.
3. On the Nigerian movie industry, also called Nollywood
4. Short notes from a trip to Hampi
5. A trip to Lyon in France last July
6. A short post on my fascination for the Great Plains

Memoir/Levity:
1. My adventures with the Balkan dish, ajvar.
2. Mark, the janitor
3. Meelad’s nationality: About the neighbors I live with, and, a lighter look at deducing nationalities.
4. And my most recent post – My Glimpses of Hispanic America – which I haven’t given enough time yet, but which I see no harm throwing into the mix.

My readership has also gone up somewhat from last year, which is heartening. Please feel free to comment and criticize. What aspects interest you? What do you find dull? Do speak your mind. After all, readers mean the world to someone with writing aspirations.

And from past years: My blog turns 2; Blogging, almost a year on.

6 comments:

Krishnan said...

Please accept my hearty congratulations. I will give my feedback shortly in a day or two.

Hari said...

Thanks, Krishnan - look forward to what you have to say!

Kartikeya Date said...

Hey Hari....

Congratulations... i must admit that i haven't visited your blog as often as i would have liked... but my all too infrequent visits have always been rewarding...

Cheers and do keep blogging!

Hari said...

Thanks Kartikeya. It's a pleasure to hear from you. Hope you are doing well.

And how small the world is: I met one of your friends in Mumbai!

Krishnan said...

I loved The Ota Benga story and Mark, the Janitor very much. It was really heartrending to read about Ota Benga. I am very very glad that at last a black American is just few steps away from being President of US. Another post which was very good is Meelad's nationality. It was written wonderfully. Three Cheers to you.

Hari said...

Thanks, Krishnan. It's wonderful to know that you've gone through those pieces and enjoyed them. It helps to know there is a small but dedicated readership.

All three pieces that you mention are some of my favorites too. I hope they withstand the test of time. Ota Benga's story is indeed heartrending.

If Obama succeeds, it will represent a dramatic shift in sensibilities. He sets quite an example. One needs to be cautious though: the expectations are enormous, and he can fail too upon becoming president. I also think the race is much closer now and by no means is his election assured.