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For any writer, the ultimate trophy is the sweeping popularity of his character. That brings me to James Bond—007 the all powerful secret service agent. Who is definitely more popular, than his own creator Ian Fleming. In fact between the two, Bond comes to my mind first (Bacha bacha janta hai) and Fleming only follows. And that surely speaks of, the writer’s success. Remember Bond has a licence to kill but he also has a conscience to keep. So, he doesn’t go all out for, fake encounters till he is pushed to the wall. And he continuously keeps dealing with dangerous situations. Many, secret service officers across the world, therefore, must be aspiring intensely. To relate themselves with the iconic image of Bond … James Bond. But then that is not the end of Bond.
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| IAN FLEMING |
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| ROGER MOORE AS JAMES BOND |
Fleming, through one of his nefarious characters (a villain) in one of his novels, largesse’s, if I may say so, an even more deadly title to Bond when the guy holds his hand out, and says, ‘Pleased to meet you Mr Bomb.’ And then the conversation between them quietens for a while and then recommences again after a short gap in the same setting when the villain again says,
‘Will you be staying long, Mr Bomb?’
Bond smiles only to clarify, ‘It’s Bond, B-O-N-D.’ This devious character is around five feet tall with a big round head fixed atop his body like a pumpkin. Truly speaking. Bond surely was no less than a ‘Bomb’ when it came to attacking his enemy.
But there is another side to Bond. When you connect with his character at length. Where, one gets to feel. Fleming had not cultured Bond rationally, in his musings, and in certain ways I could deduce that. And can you imagine he had a particular detestation for … short men. Yes! I’m not joking.
James Bond always mistrusted short men. He thought they grew up from childhood with an inferiority complex. For all their lives they would only strive to be—bigger than the others who had teased them in their childhood. He even supported his hypothesis with despots like Napoleon (1.69 metres) and even Hitler (1.75 metres). Both were short for their pedigree. 007 thought it was the short men who caused all the trouble in the world. Incidentally, Fleming had not asked Bond to go after Lal Bahadur Shastri (short in height again) in India. Else, he would have changed his opinion.
Sadly Fleming and Shastri are no more. They both died within a span of two years. But Bond … James Bond is still going strong.
I wonder. If Bond was ever able to grow out of this cynicism, of his, about short men. Even when, many of them were, and still are, great fans of his. And mind you his apprehension was only about short men and not about short women.
By Kamlesh Tripathi
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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases especially cancer. Should you wish to donate for the cause. The bank details are given below:
NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION
Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)
IFSC code: BKID0006805
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By Kamlesh Tripathi
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*
Share it if you like it
*
Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:
NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION
Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)
IFSC code: BKID0006805
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Our publications
GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE
(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in 7 prestigious libraries of the US, including, Harvard University and Library of Congress. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in Libraries and archives of Canada and Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai)
ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY
(Is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi)
AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES
(Is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity. That happens to be its undying characteristic. The book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival of 2014)
REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD
(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)
TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN
(Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his ways through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen. The book was launched on 10th February, 2018 in Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available in Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha
(ALL THE ABOVE TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)
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