I have gotten in touch with both Sandeep and Aarti. I’ll probably be meeting Sandeep tomorrow (depending upon when he’s free) and I’ve already begun on a story for Aarti’s book.

As for what field of journalism I wish to enter, I’m really not sure yet. I love to write about food and travel, they both inspire adjectives after all. But I do feel that I have the potential to contribute a great deal to our country and I simply don’t see food or travel journalism as all that important. So, I’m mow debating over:-

1. Political Journalism: Where I study and become an expert on the machinations of government and then, am able to provide insightful commentary. (The con is that politicians rarely speak the truth and I might unwittingly end up being a mouthpiece for them)

2. Rural Journalism: To live among and understand the part of India that doesn’t live in the cities. Perhaps by writing about it, I can help improve their situation.

3. Defense Journalism: Already being an Army officer’s daughter gives me a fillip in this field. I must admit I have a romanticized notion of this though, writing about wars and bravery. But there are many stories there, to be told and I’m thinking I could tell them.

I need to fix upon one to specialize in before I go to Columbia, as you said.

I also need to finish my book, when it’s fresh in my mind. My novel is almost autobiographical, and deals with the quest for identity that my protagonist, a student at IIT Bombay, faces. I don’t wish to write in the Chetan Bhagat mould, this book is not about IIT. The college is simply the setting for a far more general feeling. What I’ve observed in my five years at college is, that we youth are very clueless about what we really want to do with our lives. In the absence of any set purpose, we drift, often into rather frightening territory.
I’ve made exhaustive notes on my characters and the incidents I want to relate, and have only just commenced writing. Perhaps I could send you some of my chapters as I finish them, for criticism? I could really use some mentoring, I’ve never done anything like this before.

I’m sorry for inflicting you with such a long mail, but I wanted to tell you what all I’ve been thinking about.

2. I say if one goes Via Agra (Viagra !) one may find the greatest erection by a man for a woman !

3. Shah Jehan had to have been suffering from a real and perpetual hard on problem. It is also called PRIAPISM in medical terminology.
4. The memorial is of course still erect and standing because firstly Shah jehan didn’t have to call for open global tenders and give contract to the lowest bidder and secondly MES was not a contender for the departmental works.

In the 19th century the East India Co toyed with the idea of selling the Taj for the marble, but better sense prevailed.

The Bangla Deshi Taj looks good but the proportions are different.

One of the amazing things about the Taj is the foundation — wooden piles, with arches above them. Once Dev Arora and his b-i-l, P Sharma, a journalist, came to Agra. The ASI people were willing to open the doors to the basement and foundation and show it to us. However, it was a holiday and they couldn’t get the keys. The wood has been treated with chemicals and has withstood 300 + years of wet surroundings.

Pollution is killing the Taj. Sulphur dioxide turns to sulphurous or sulphuric acid and has been eating away the marble. What was once smooth in 1963 is now pitted and rough

__ साहिर लुधिआनवी