Succulent bites

There was a book, a movie and me on a cold winter day.

The movie – Taare Zameen Par (2007)
The book – The Cuckoo’s Egg by Dr. Cliff Stoll (1990)

Try reading and watching them on the same day. I’m sure, like me, you too would end up thinking of the contrasting worlds depicted therein.

On one side, I was thoroughly moved by the sterling performance of the young Darsheel Safary who carried the film on his tender shoulders so effortlessly. He has played the role of a dyslexic child, Ishaan Awasthi in the film.

Ishaan Awasthi, a third grade student finds difficulty in reading and writing. He sees dancing letters while reading, mixes up spellings while writing, does shabby work and scores poorly in all subjects. When it comes to painting, his hands create master strokes. To discipline Ishaan, his parents pack him off to a Boarding School where life gets tougher day by day. He loses self-confidence and stops painting his sweet world of colours. A temporary art teacher connects Ishaan’s problem to dyslexia, trains his reading and writing skills and brings back his lost confidence. Ultimately, the teacher who was once dyslexic makes the boy’s parents realise that Ishaan is a winner in his own merit.

Thanks to Aamir Khan and Amole Gupte, dyslexia has become the most understood and talked about neurological disorder among teachers, parents and students today. Google hits on dyslexia must have soared by now at least in the Indian sub-continent.

On the other side, I was thrown open to a mystery novel that was spine chilling. Did I say ‘novel’? No, it’s not. In fact, it is a real life logbook of an astronomer turned computer specialist. The book starts with Dr. Cliff Stoll trying to audit the difference of 75 cents shown by two different accounting packages. He slowly digs out the users’ list, finds one inactive account ‘Sventek’ logged in only for a few minutes in an unsuspicious way.

The X man (hacker) challenges the system managers and chases the classified documents marked ‘nuclear’ or ‘SDI’ all over American systems through Cliff’s computer. Cliff’s official time on astrophysics and personal life of washing dishes and a good night sleep are slowly and steadily overtaken by the hacker. Through the hacker’s trail, Cliff learns not only the loopholes of Unix and other machines but also different Military, Army & Air Force Offices scattered across the globe. In trying to resolve this issue, he comes face to face the worst form of bureaucracy prevalent in FBI, CIA, NSA etc. At many places, you may feel the hacker is trapped but he would spring forth hale and healthy. What seems like a simple game in the beginning becomes a full fledged Hollywood drama in the end.

Though the book is published in 1990s and may seem outdated in terms of technology, the basics remain the same. In fact, it is very much appealing even today.

I recollect a strange incident that happened to me a few months back. I was a member of a Tamil forum wherein I used to post my poems and articles. One day, to my horror, my access to the forum was denied. When I tried to reach the authorities through personal mails, I found that there was an unscrupulous attack on the forum. The attacker’s IP was somewhat similar to mine, my log in matched his timing and hence my IP was also blocked. Of course, I was given privileges in half an hour’s time.

Well. Having read the book half-way through, I rushed out to watch TZP only to be swayed by tender emotions. Upon my return, I could not resist finding out how the cuckoo’s egg was thwarted. Probably that’s why I noticed a sea of difference in their subjects.

The film stirred my heart whereas the book whipped my brain.

One was inviting me to listen to individual problems whereas the other was highlighting the global problem.

One painted the emotional dependence beautifully whereas the other swiftly took me to the world of selfish interpretation of independence and intrusion.

One talked of mental instability due to birth disorders whereas the other talked of mental instability arising out of greed for money.

One requested me to touch lives in a humane way whereas the other coded and decoded my brain cells to be cautious with virtual lives.

While the film reminded me to trust and love all at any cost, the book gave me an impression never to trust eccentric computer wizards, for they find it ‘cool’ to hack passwords and test others at any cost.

Interestingly, I found a point of intersection as well. What’s it?

Cliff had none of the best sellers to his credit before writing this book. But he made it big. There is a general notion that computer books or related novels can be enjoyed only by those who have a firm idea on them. Whoever reads this book would definitely find his/her myth shattered for it is absolute darling to all kinds of readers. Though ignorant of many technological jargons, I could still feel the thrill on every page, every emotion Cliff had undergone in front of his computer and every minute he spent with his sweetheart Martha. The crux is driven into my dull mind easily.

Dyslexia would continue to remain safely locked in the medical books, spill softly from the tongues of doctors and appease curiosity of the learners of medical information, had there not been a commercial interpretation of the problem into a sensible film like ‘Taare Zameen Par’. Of late, the disorder has become everybody’s tongue twister and heart warmer. And I am a part of this crowd.

I realised then that the creative and lucid handling of the subject has made them clear winners.

Of course, I understood alongside that a neat work, rhythmic & interesting flow and simplicity are all needed to reach a common man.

As a writer, I wish to closely affiliate myself with this magic formula and master it one day.


P.S. I thank Mr. Rahul Prabhakar for prompting me to write this article, without which it wouldn't have been strung in words.