Bangkok- The very name reminds me of those umpteen discussions that we friends at the Delhi University’s VKRV Rao hostel used to have during our nostalgia inducing days. After those hectic, hallucinating classes at the Delhi School of Economics when we returned to our hostels, intense Boys centric discussions around Bangkok and its way of life and fancy about those steaming oriental body massages being offered by those mermaid type women, with the tinkling magical music being played in the background acted as tranquillizers to…Continue Reading “A Brahmin In Bangkok – Part I”
July 26, 2008, Karachi Adeel Amin was coming back from his footwear shop in the Khadda market, when it happened. He flew from his bicycle and hit the wall of a restaurant on the other side of the road. Before he could get up or realise what was going on, the roof came down on him. His friends said he was lucky to have survived. His wife was glad he had survived, she had already offered a chadar at the dargah. His children were not…Continue Reading “On a visa & a prayer – A walk across two nations”
History is a deceitful story teller. You can never trust what it says. Let’s take an example from the romance capital of the world. It is hard to imagine anyone having any negative thoughts about the Eiffel Tower. But, when it was being built, the artists of France revolted against the construction and did all they could to stop it. Here are excerpts from a petition written to the then Minister in charge: “We, writers, painters, sculptors, architects and passionate devotees of the hitherto untouched…Continue Reading “Bansberia – A half-hindu mosque & a terracotta temple”
Breakfast like a champion! I never did. Never became a champion too. But who cares. Breakfast is for weenies. Babies and animals need to stuff themselves as soon as they wake up. I planned on being neither. Using my own will and volition, I always chose to stay in bed and wake up after the rest of the world has gone to their offices or anywhere else their mundane lives took them. I indulged in food only when my heart and stomach agreed on an…Continue Reading “The rise and fall of masala oats”
Before we come to the historic Chandannagar (chandannagore), let’s dwell a little on Kolkata. Nothing represents the idea of India better than this city – crowded, religious, passionate, overwhelming, dirty, cheap and good food, strong women and stupid politics. No wonder, it’s the only other city that has been the nation’s capital. Somehow, I have avoided the city for exactly the same reasons I avoid religious places. An Odia has no business being in that city unless you are an aspiring plumber. But Sid travels…Continue Reading “Chandannagar – Kolkata’s French Connection”
There are schools, colleges and buildings where people are taught. And, then there are institutions. I know with an opening like that I just put myself in a corner and lost a lot of latitude for this article. But it needed to be told. I have never studied at JNU (I am a DU product, highfives J), I have always been there as a trespasser for cheap food, the walks and the parthasarathy rocks. Lately, my wife has started working there, so that lends some…Continue Reading “Jawahar Lal Nehru University & the spirit of protest”
What’s said about stories can also be said about dreams. Good things in life are not even true. In fact, dreams are worse. The ones you see while sleeping, you can’t remember after waking up. The ones you see while waking up, won’t let you sleep and will grind your life to powder before coming true. You will never be able to forget these. You don’t have a choice. None of the dreams are voluntary. They are forced and oppressive. At best, they are beautiful commercial…Continue Reading “The futility of dreams”
You must be wondering that how I grew the guts to say something like that in font size twenty. Let me tell you, I am one who will fear driving a beat up Maruti 800 on a bandh day. It’s just that in this country, we have the birthright to say anything about grandpa Gandhi. Try doing that about Madam Sonia, I won’t try that. Try poking your finger into a certain Hedgewar, a Thackeray, a Modi or an Imam. These guys don’t believe in…Continue Reading “Yes sir, Mr. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a fine real estate agent”
I have been living in Delhi for last 12 years. Like a typical resident of the city, I have said some bad and very bad, and still worse things about it. We are all cribbers, aren’t we? I can’t be living in a city I hate so much for such a long time. That will be insane. So, I am trying to focus on the good things, elements that I love. That reminds me of Mumbai. I love the city, its energy, its uninhibited ways, the…Continue Reading “An Appeal for an All Night Park in Delhi”
Pamir knots is supposed to be an awesome spectacle. I will tell you the truth, I don’t care. What sort of a mountain is called a knot? The only knots that I care about are the ones that I end up with in my pajamas that my wife buys for me. Since I was a kid, my sisters used to tie my shoelaces and every other knot that needed to be tied. During festivities, when I had to wear churidaar , I will wander around the…Continue Reading “The Amazing Pamir Knot”
In colloquial Hindi, an owl is equated with an ass – ullu is same as gadha. It ranges from being an affectionate term to a mild abuse – meaning anything between a lovable fool to utter good for nothing. In Punjabi, ullu ka pattha (son of an owl) casts doubts on your genealogy and is a clear call for a fistfight. Those are a few unpleasant ways in which the poor bird is portrayed in this part of the world. But there is another side…Continue Reading “Barn Owl – Tyto Alba”
Happiness is overrated. Peace is overrated. But we need those concepts as much as we need religion and alcohol. We are strange beings. We are like the sea. To be at peace, to be constant, is impossible. It’s against nature. As soon as civilization began, so began the efforts to discipline the mind. The yogas, the tantras, the chants and the martial arts…what have we not done to control the wild horses in our heads. Few claim to have succeeded; others are just headless chickens…Continue Reading “You are wrong. Happiness is overrated.”
There was a time when Kathmandu was a hot travel destination. Some went for its sinful nightlife, casinos, pubs and compared it to Vegas. Some others went for the Hindu temples. Until a few years back, it beat Dubai as the cheapest shopping destination. Electronics, travel stuff, clothes, shoes and even guns, there was nothing that Indians could not find in Kathmandu. Then it all stopped. The years of naxalite upheaval brought this cosmopolitan country to its knees. But many still swear by its charms….Continue Reading “Kathmandu – is it on your places to visit list?”
Sid has sent another installment…. Already? I know that’s what you are thinking. Does he plan to take over the blog? Hope not. Doesn’t he have a plane to fly? Seems not. Does he do anything other than take photos? I am afraid not. Does he have anything to say in his defense? I will tell you not 🙂 Anyway, here we go. Sid was on a trip to Kazakhstan and took these photos of Lake Balkhash while flying over it. All those traitors who…Continue Reading “Lake Balkhash, Kazakhstan”
You are playing hard to get There is nothing to get There is you I am not here for you to get me How do you know Because I do You never do But, about this, I do That you don’t want me to get you ? Yes You don’t want me to get you, or keep trying and not get you ? Both Hmm… You are leaving then Not yet Why not, don’t you get it? No Ok, I will leave then I will…Continue Reading “Hero or Villain?”
My friend and guest blogger Siddhartha Kumar just sent me another installment – this time the Mumbai Sea Link. His Old Delhi pics were very popular, I am sure you will love these ones too. It’s not an art installation, it’s a bridge. It takes a while to realise that even concrete and steel can be so beautiful. I have stayed at the Taj Land’s End a couple of times. Each time, I will go till the end of the corridor where a window overlooks the sealink….Continue Reading “Bandra Worli Sea link”