Pictures and words

Train excerpts: कुछ खट्टी कुछ मीठी यादें

2015-08-22T14:05:00.000-07:00

Train excerpts

My college friend, Amarinder Arora recently posted this on facebook.

"Recently, while travelling in the sleeper class coach of a train, I overheard this old man humming the following to (and for) his wife-
"फूल सी झलक एक दिखलादे मुझको
दिल मेरा खुलके झूमे,
कुछ खट्टी कुछ मीठी यादें,
सब मॅन में पिरो के सो लूँ"

One photograph instantaneously came in my mind,

I was once traveling from Bhopal to Delhi in Bhopal express. This journey was different. This time I was alone, no collegemate along. I woke up early. The sun was rising, spreading straight golden light parallel to the horizon. I saw this old lady sleeping. Her husband was awake and was just staring at her. His eyes were reflecting the sense of love and compassion he had for her.It looked as if he was remembering all the good time he had spent with her and how lucky he was to have her, and how he never wanted to lose her. I took out my camera, asked him if I could take a picture of her. He nodded and went back to his thoughts.

Lucky, The Magician.

2015-08-19T13:29:00.003-07:00

Lucky The Magician.

The inception of the idea to do a series on the magic show in a small village Mela (fair) came out of sheer humour. But it turned out to be a different one.

Tapas and I visited the Dhrang village at the pakistan border, about 40 kms from Bhuj. The village is famous for two things.
First its saint, Saint Mekaran Dada who had a dog named motio and a donkey named Lalio with whom he used to wander into the Rann daily with water and food to quench the thirst and show the direction to the lost travellers.

Second, A large fair which is held every year on Magh Vad 14 (February-March).
Coming back to the point of focus. We explored the fair pretty fairly. The most interesting thing that we came across was a local Magic show.
Below is a excerpt from my travel diary about the interesting magic show.

The Aggarwal family’s roots are from Jammu but they are living in Gujarat since many decades. They say that no one believes that they are Aggarwal. “koi manta hi nahi ki Aggarwal ye kar rahe hain” (nobody believes that Aggarwals are doing this(small job) for living.)

Lucky is the main magician. The family has renamed him as “Jadoogar Abhay Samrat”.
*The show starts*
After the infinitely many pre-recorded announcements of the hefty throbbing name, comes a thin man with long curly hair which are too perfect to look good.Wearing a large overcoat Abhay enters the stage, delivers few dialogues and starts a small magic trick. Runs to the backstage and removes the overcoat and hands it to the fellow family members.
The Sound system is handled by the Chacha (father’s brother) of Lucky who also happens to be a clown for the act further. The Chacha 1 is a Humorous man he jokes and laughs at the same time and all the time. The other Chacha is also a clown in the act, but a more intelligent one.
Lucky’s sister happens to be the helper girl in the show. A tent next to the stage is the living area of the family. The Magic apparatuses are neatly placed at one place in the tent. Lucky’s grandmother is also humorous, the humour in the family’s blood is transferred through her. The Grand dad, however is a serious man. Experience is reflected in his eyes but the Burdon of loss, and the falling value of old tricks has made him still. Lucky got the seriousness from him.
The chacha told that the granddad used to own a circus and was a star performer and he could perform some trick involving three swords. But times changed, he grew old and they had to leave the circus because the children had to be sent to school.
The magic show runs many families Chacha said.
the family also owns a dog who also travels along with them.
Lucky is doing B.Com side by side, education is the only resort to a better future he says.

Lucky( Jadoogar Abhay Samrat ) can be contacted at : +91- 9638507323

Trip Excerpt: Khadi of Gondal

2015-08-11T12:24:00.005-07:00

Trip Excerpt: Khadi of Gondal

During the end of our 1800 km bike trip across the south Gujarat we visited Gondal. We had an idea that it was the khadi hub of Gujarat. I love khadi and admire Gandhian ideology on khadigram and rural industries.

Part:1

7/7/2015
It was our last day to travel to a new destination, next day we had to head back to Bhuj. We left for Rajkot from Junagarh at around 1830 hours. On the way we decided to try our luck and stop at Gondal, there was a risk of us getting no place to sleep or eat since it is a small town. It was dark when we reached there, we were looking for "Udyog Bharti". Satish, my trip partner knew that Udyog Bharti is the celebrated khadi organisation there, but it closes at 5.
We reached Gondal and searched for Udyog Bharti's office. It was closed. There was a guard sitting outside a huge gate. The smaller gate within the huge gate was opened. We were in the traveler's attire and our bike was loaded with our travel bags. Keeping the "nothing to loose" quote in mind we asked the guard if we could meet the head of the organisation. Satish knew the name of the head. Surprisingly the guard welcomed us, made us park our bike and took us straight to the room of the head of the place.
We waited outside his office room. On the name plate it was written "Mantri" or minister. He greeted us with so much enthusiasm that it looked like he was already expecting us. He excitedly asked us about us, about our trip and how could he help us. Satish being involved in textiles and fabrics had good discussions. I talked to him about how is the gandhian ideology of decentralisation and small cottage industries is taken forward and was the idea still there in the roots of such organisations or it died a slow death.
He asked us to stay at the campus and promised us to show their innovations and workshops next day morning. We replied in affirmative. He took us to our room. The whole campus was the visual representation of what I read in Christopher Alexender's "timeless way of building". Built in the 60's the building was indeed timeless. The room was very serene and simple. Everything from the desk, the carpet, the coat brush in the bottom drawer of the study table was so simple and detailed. The room looked liked as if gandhiji lived there. As if the great discussions of the satyagrah movement were held there. It was like the built form of happy nostalgia. Everything was as if pushing us to do and achieve something in life.
We had dinner and pan. It was gujarati thali all pre-paid by Udyog bharti. During the whole Gujarat trip, most of the food we had was free. We travelled almost 230 km that day.It was a very comfortable sleep. Like the one when you sleep early at night and wake up just after two minutes only to realize that its morning and you have been sleeping the whole night.

About Udyog bharti (source:website) : "Udyog Bharti, Gondal is registered under Public Charitable Trust Act by Khadi Gramodyog Commission of India & Gujarat State Khadi Gramodyog Bhord.
Udyog Bharti was established in 1957 in a very small room to give self-respected employment to the scorn & needy people by handspun & handwoven Khadi &Gramodyog (i.e.Village industries).
These days approximately 2,000 families are earning their bread with the help of Udyog Bharti Now-a-days the world is under the pressure of economical ups & downs, the distraction of environment & adverse effect of industrialization & many other factors. So, developed countries are trying to adopt "Gandhian Thoughts".
The goal of institution is to produce goods & thereby to employ people as suggested by Mahatma Gandhi."

2014-07-28T12:28:00.004-07:00

Dear rain,
Can you wash the sins stuck on me?
Can you make my happiness, moist?
Can you make my friendship, cold?
Can you storm the path way, of my life?
Can you delay the time, of my birth or death?

You want to fight me, let me take off my umbrella.

Sketches of Dilli

2014-07-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

Delhi, The city of cities.

The city of Galib and khusro is a mega polis now, engulfing villages and towns, attracting immigrants and offering jobs. The city got ruled by many dynasties, many rulers from different parts of the world.
For me, its my hometown and a place of good memories, nostalgia, adventures and surprises. Exploring the city is still my favourite past time.

It is said that the very first city of Delhi was Indraprasth, Made by the Pandavs during the era of the Mahabharat. The Indraprasth was one of the five villages given to the Pandavs. They made it the capital and developed it and built beautiful palaces and structures. Archaeological surveys confirm it to be at the site of old fort.

The other cities include Rajputs’ city’s remains, Khilji’s Siri, Tuglaq’s Tuglaqabad, Jahapanah and Ferozabad, Dinpanah by emperor Humayun , Dilli by Shershah Suri and British’s Imperial New Delhi.
Not going chronologically, this essay is on my Dilli, what I have experienced and absorbed.

A land of immigrants and travelers.

Belonging from a Punjabi family, I remember both of my maternal and paternal grandmothers have long never ending stories to tell on partition and how they shifted from Punjab in Pakistan, the routs they followed and how they finally settled in Delhi.

Just like my grandparents, there are millions of delhites who share the same story. Be it Punjabi’s from Pakistan, Tibetans from Tibet, people from nearby villages. Delhi has accepted everyone with open hands.

It is a city where from ages people have come, fell in love and settled. From small traders, to big rulers, everyone fell in love with the city. One exception was the great traveller “Ibnbatuta” who visited Delhi at the regime of Tughluq, his account are proved to be great help to testify.

An architectural delight and a cultural wonder

Every ruler left his impression on the city, some of it is tangible, in form of monuments, and other intangible is in the culture, language and ethnicity of the people.

The major famous monuments of Delhi include the Qutub minar complex at mehrauli, the Bahai’s Lotus temple and The Jama masjid and India gate.
However there are several major monuments which were the architecture marvels at their times but now are ignored and forgotten. Khirki Masjid in the Khirki village is one of them. Now surrounded by ever invading houses Khirki masjid was built in 1351 during tuglaq’s era.

Most of the monuments invite social gatherings. Both localites and tourists perceive the monuments in different social spots. Local families, like my own, go to India gate after the dinner to have ice cream. Jama masjid and Meena Bazar is full of people in the time of Ramzan even at 2-3 am in the night.

A fast sketch of the social gathering in central park with Jeevan bharti building (designed by Charles Correa) in the background.

The relatively modern Markets and Business centre include Connaught place developed as a showpiece in lutyen’s Delhi. Formally a Ridge covered with Kikar trees and filled with Jackals and wild pigs. It now attracts millions of tourists, businessmen and customers.

A sketch of Barakhamba road from the Central park in CP.

The Chandni chawk was built in 17^th century by Shah jahan. The name means “moonlight square”, adjacent to it is Khari Baoli, Asia’s largest t spice market.

It is still houses a big Wholesale market. There are streets dedicated to the type of product sold, like the food street is called the Paranthe wali gali. The street for books and stationary is the Nai sadak. There is a specialised street for saries and its components called the kinari Bahzar where from ages the families brought the bridal dresses and are loyal to their shops. Other specialised streets include “balli maran” for shoes, there is even a controversial street called G.B road, known for the dingy brothels.

Efficient public transport

From a world class metro system , to local e-rikshaws, autorikshaws, Cycle rikshaws, DTC busses, short trip shared vehicles, Delhi has everything , you say it we have it.

Every different transport system has made a culture of its own. There are different slangs, unofficial rules and bargain percentage for each of the mode of transport.

The Auto rikshawas are an integral part of the public transport in the city. They are one of the first people whom the tourists and travellers meet.

Delhi Transport Corporation runs public busses, commonly known as DTC busses. The busses are given a route number. Experienced people like my uncle know the numbers of most of the major routes. Major hub of the bus transport is the ISBT, chaotic yet functional.

The arrival of the metro has proved to be a boon for the people of Delhi. Big clean concrete and steel stations, shining stainless steel metro trains which are never late and the big web of metro columns spawning over the city have changed the overall Image of the ancient city.

Metro is a social hub now. The stations are the new meeting spots, thanks to the in-station cafes and restaurants. The metro announcements are used in the slang words among the youth. The big corporates prefer metro over the road traffic and chaos.

Different people in the Delhi Metro

How an extra person is added in the metro bench with generosity .

Elevation

Plan

Place for foodies

Delhi has a lot to offer to the food lovers. There are many small famous old shops wich attract so much customers. Be it the delicious street food in Chandni chawk to the lavish restaurants and themed clubs in khan market, Delhi has a lot to offer. There are dedicated clubs for food lovers and special food walks.

Going through one of the narrow lanes, of chandnichawk, we can reach the paranthe wali gali, a street with many small shops proudly showcasing the photographs of eminent personalities which includes first prime minister of india, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru too. Walking further towards jama Masjid will lead to the heaven of Non-veg cuisines known as KARIM’S .

Stark contrast between wide roads of Lutyans Delhi and the narrow lanes of Chandni Chawk and khari bawoli. Khari bawoli being the biggest spice market in asia.

Bauli’s were mede to preserve water, many of them lost in time.

Some of them which are still left are Agresen ki bauli, in cannaught place.

A juncture of new political revolution

“At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom”

Not to forget, the Delhi Houses the Parliament of the country built on the splendid Raisena hills.

The city has been a power source for the major political revolutions, and Ramlila ground and Jantar mantar serves the hubs for agitations and public gatherings. Be it the Jai Prakash movement in 1975, the Anna Hazare Movement in 2011 and the Arvind Kejriwal swering in Ceremony in Feburary 2014.

My Dilli is a City of surprises, little adventures and treasure hunts.

2014-07-16T10:28:00.001-07:00

The sky was dark, The clouds were dense

Moon was there I had a sense

clouds got cleared and the valley got lit

the grey turned blue and black got hit

Saw the moon rolling down the hill,

I took my camera and joined the thrill.

We started to talk and had a walk,

It started to rain,

he vanished again.

TWO CHICKS

2012-07-05T11:14:00.001-07:00

While walking in the kharibauli lanes , in old delhi, we came across these kids who were carrying something in 2-3 polybags.When we observe carefully , there were these small chicks inside...

Haridwar in motion

2012-07-04T12:23:00.000-07:00

This post is for the timelaps video, which was shot during my trip to haridwar.
first , a small description of time laps photography.
Time-lapse photography is a technique whereby the frequency at which film frames are captured (the frame rate) is much lower than that used to view the sequence. When played at normal speed, time appears to be moving faster and thus lapsing.
it is actually a collection of photographs , shot at a perticular time interval.

The lady

2012-07-04T04:50:00.001-07:00

Took this when we were in the spice market in Kharibauli,Delhi 6.The air was full of spices..the sound of sneezes and people coughing was in the chorus. But those sounds differentiated the people who belonged there and the people who came there either to shop or just to stroll.The ones who belonged there were quiet.
so wts special about the picture ?
the spices!?
no !
look for the face of a lady in the dark, behind the gunny bags..got it ?
So, i was walking and suddenly her face caught me up ! i could see nothing else except her face and her expressions . i clicked it and captured that space-time in my cam .

DILLI 6

2012-07-04T04:28:00.000-07:00

It was the last day of my internship with HT, and i had to sigh off with the launch of my series on Delhi in HDR. i had made quite a collection of the photographs but wanted more... , Gurinder sir ( The national Photo Editor of Hindustan Times) suggested me to go to khari bauli area, next to Chandni Chawk."You will smell it " he said when i asked him about the directions, (the first time he gave me the same reply was when i asked him for the directions to the washroom in the HT office) so i accepted the reply instantly this time.
I called Shanu bhiya , (one of my cool schoolmates who is now professionally into photography).We went to chandni chawk at first and then Khari bauli.(by smelling it).

In the next posts , i will be posting some of the shots i took and some of my thoughts. :)

THE PROJECT

2012-07-03T13:40:00.002-07:00

During the Last days second semester majors, (the exams) ..i prepared a list...(Sukruti, wrote it for me).. a list on what all i am going to do in the summers...
one of the content of that list was... "Delhi photo documentation"..
now, during the last days of my end sem holidays, i have finally ticked that scribbled impression , on that piece of paper.
the result?
yes ... here it is..http://www.hindustantimes.com/photos-news/Photos-India/june302012/Article4-881396.aspx?fb_ref=.T_ARlpz0ag8.like&fb_source=timeline

THE BUBBLE SELLER

2012-07-03T13:24:00.003-07:00

One day i was at India Gate with my friends ,we met after a year .It was about 9.00 pm all of us going back when i saw a man selling bubble making kits, he was blowing bubbles non stop standing in front of a spot light. I started clicking his pictures , he saw me but continued.For us this little source of entertainment is a means of earning for other, how much would he earn from that profession , but he was happy! afterall this all apni dilli is – dil waloon ki ! When leaving the place , i brought a kit from him as a respect i wanted to give him.

Train to Delhi

2012-07-03T12:56:00.001-07:00

While travelling from gangtok to delhi, I had Reservation against cancellation (R.A.C) ticket .So , i had to share my seat with this
beautiful young lady.She had the upper birth in R.A.C , But was sitting on another half on my birth which was folded to two
seats.
she looked arrogant yet was beautiful.
I asked her to put some of her luggage to her upper birth , Man….the look she gave me after that…..reminded me of my headmistress of
my highschool…..:) She pointed to the sign board just above her telling that half of my birth was hers till 10.00 pm
i decided not to talk to her after that…
I had my two friends paul and martin whom i met in darjeeling.
journey was long , and we had nothing to do so we started playing “atlas” , you people must be knowing about it right?(its a place
identifier game.)we started playing .After some minutes, another girl from the same coach(I later got to know that she was a chemistry
teacher) joined us. Then an uncle…another aunty some time later. All of us were playing except her(the satan’s mistress).
but i couldn’t help notice she showed the signs of interest to it, and so I asked her if she wanted to join..and she did. We divided into
two teams, me, her(i mean the young lady), and that chemistry teacher on one team, and the rest on the other. we played and talked
about the places we took in “atlas”(the game).
I was amused to know that paul and martain being from london and chicago knew more places in India then we did !!
over the time , i talked with her and realized that she was not arrogant(sorry for the names i called…i was just so irritated^^).
she was talking to someone over the phone and i noticed that she was using some “defense ” terms, like officer, mess , regiment , etc..
I couldn’t resist myself asking her about her job, and then came a big shock to me !
OH MY GOD !!!!!!!!!
:O., SHE WAS A CAPTAIN IN THE INDIAN ARMY!!.!!! I always wanted to be that for like…forever u know? any way, I
became more interested to know more about her then ever….a total stranger that is.
I WAS SUPER IMPRESSED !!
we discussed about army recruitment and how to enter and stuffs of sorts(and by that i mean about guns and stuff…..lol). So so into I
was……..
Later…there it was,a signboard stating “HAZRAT NIZAMUDDIN STATION”… we bid farewell, she waved me bye and left.. .I
replied with the same …..and with a smile on my face i started to pack….just then did i realise ….”WHAT WAS HER NAME???!!!!.I
ran out seeking for her but she was no where to be seen…..