Rishikesh: The Realm of Serenity

Ever since the Beatles set foot in Rishikesh some 40 odd years ago, the place has acquired a lot of significance among spiritual seekers from across the globe. All the hype notwithstanding, there is something about this place that keeps one in very high spirits all through out. Sitting by the Ganges this evening, watching it voraciously ripple over those gigantic rocks, I was just too happy to be able to relate to the following lines from an Eddie Vedder song:

Wind in my hair, I feel part of everywhere,
Underneath my being is a road that disappeared;
Late at night I hear the trees,
They're singing with the dead,
Overhead...

Leave it to me as I find a way to be,
Consider me a satellite forever orbiting;
I knew all the rules but the rules did not know me,
Guaranteed...

Needless to say, I missed my guitar.

Haridwar: A Celebration of Faith

Though I am Hindu, and a Brahmin at that, I haven’t really practiced the religion in textbook terms. My knowledge about the details of Hinduism is also abysmally poor. I had not come to Haridwar for a pilgrimage. I was visiting Haridwar because I liked the description of the place in a ‘Lonely Planet’ travel book on India. Nevertheless, after reaching Haridwar earlier today, and having seen nothing interesting, I was cursing ‘Lonely Planet’ for having written good things about the place. This perception was however, destined to change. For, as the evening set in and I positioned myself at the Har-Ki-Pauri ghat to witness the aarti of the Holy Ganges, I could sense that something grand was in the offing. By the time I set my camera up, the place was bustling with pilgrims from all parts of the country. Most of them had diyas in their hand. An elderly couple sitting next to me informed me that as the aarti proceeds, the diyas would be let into the river in small baskets of leaves. I also saw vendors selling milk to the pilgrims, which was also to be offered to the river. Such was the size of the gathering that it required the temple officials to supervise the actions of the crowd. Soon, the constant murmur gave way to a hymn. And what followed was a hair-raising experience. Suddenly, an assembly of priests descended to the ghat. I could now hear loud chiming of bells. The priests carried huge torches with them, which erupted fire. The next half hour was spent in taking in this mesmerizing confluence of fire and water. As the aarti drew to a close and the chiming stopped, I kept staring at the river, astounded by the power of my own religion.

Jaipur again...

This post is dedicated to Anurag, Kundan, Daal Baati and Vodka…

Bombay in dabs of colour..

P.S: People, I'm on vacation from tomorrow till the 13th of July. Watch this space for all the action!!!

Bishti...

I’ve always been allured by the rains or ‘bishti’, as we call it in Bangla. My earliest recollection of rains takes me back to my pre-primary school days. I remember standing outside the school gate in my oversized rain-coat, gawking at the downpour, frantically waiting for Dad to come. As some years passed by and I moved to a bigger school, rains started attaining more significance in my life. Given the huge number of students that my school had, to avoid commotion that heavy rains would otherwise cause, the school management would more often than not declare such days as holidays. Although one could call up the school to confirm if a given ‘rainy day’ had been declared a holiday, I took great pleasure in going to the school and find out myself. The 'rickshaw ride' to the school on such days in anticipation of a holiday being declared, and the exuberance among students on being told to return back remain deeply ingrained in my memory. As I moved on to higher classes, my mode of traveling to the school also changed. Speeding down the wet roads on my motorbike, splashing water on unassuming passers by, at least for those few moments, I felt no lesser than a superstar. My fascination for rains continued even at the law school. Standing under the façade of the law school’s archaic structure, conversing with friends, as the rains lashed down, delight is all I derived. As I write these words, I can see clouds of different shades and colours clamoring for space over the Arabian Sea. Gazing at the rains pouring down on the Sea from twenty three floors up in the sky, I can only ponder over my providence.

Bombay: Act III

A handful of joy,



















In a day full of sorrow;














An unreal smile,



















Amidst surreal thoughts;













The unsettling pace,














Of a place frozen in time;













Where the race is unending,













And life, contorted;













Where every moment counts,













And nothing goes unnoticed;











Where winners take it all,


















Bombay, an illusion in reality.


P.S.:

People, as I complete six months at work, I’m finding it more and more challenging to keep up with everything that’s happening around me. There’s so much of action on every front. Be it work place or home, no day, no moment goes eventless. There’s so much to write about and so much to share. And yet, there’s so little time to do justice to this wish.

The above is an attemp to express my understanding of Bombay and its people.

I’ve had the good fortune of spending time in Bombay even before. And those of you interested in my other pieces about Bombay, see this, and this.

I’m also looking forward to my first major break in June/July.

Shall keep you posted.

By the way, my blog turned 4 years old on May 17 :-).

Bombay: Act II

I haven’t really had any opportunity to reflect upon the changes my life has gone through over the three months I’ve spent here. The breaks we got were all squandered away in merry making. The fact that we stay very close to a shopping mall which also happens to have a multiplex hasn’t helped matters much. So, today being the much awaited holiday because of its occurrence in the middle of the week, and being the day where any attempt to venture out may lead to unpleasant albeit colourful consequences, it only made sense for me to do what I haven’t been able to do so far; reflect. I find it hard to believe that it’s been more than three months at work. And as luck would have it, I’ve come across some genuinely wonderful people so far. Be it our landlord, or the people I’ve worked with, or those countless cab drivers who have taken me around the city; they’ve all been really good. The hallmark of my journey so far has been the ‘firm retreat’ in Goa. It happened to coincide with my birthday. Adarsh, along with some other colleagues of mine made it sure that I had a great time on the day. With a little help from Abhipsit, a guitarist who also happens to be a junior at law school, and Ninad, a colleague who hails from Goa, I gifted myself a really nice guitar on the day.

Though life has suddenly thrown open lots of opportunities to make the most of, I am dearly missing my law school and the friends I made there. Though some of them are here in Bombay, I know it for certain that we would never be able to have the same fun again. On a positive note, I also know it for sure that my conceptualization of ‘fun’, is slowly but surely undergoing a change. Yes, you have guessed it right. I may not have become a connoisseur yet, but I’ve certainly had my share of swigs. So, until I post again...hic...adios!

Bombay: Act I

There was nothing unusual about that morning in Raipur. Just that it happened to be the 3^rd of December and I categorically remembered it as the date on which I had joined law school five years back. So, on my way to the airport, as the car sped along the empty road, random thoughts kept crossing my mind. After all, besides leaving law school, I was also parting away from the city I was born and brought up in. Though I knew that I would be making short trips once in a while to see my folks, any long term stay would now be out of question. More importantly, I was aware that even during those trips, my mind would be too occupied with mundane matters to ever allow me to savour Raipur that way again. So, gaping at the countryside from my car window, I was trying to take in as much as I could in those last few moments.

When I stepped out of the aircraft at the Bombay airport, I was completely taken aback by the weather. Until then, I had spent all the Decembers of my life wearing warm clothes. But, Bombay made me realize that this wasn’t going to continue in the near future.

If carrying four huge suit cases wasn’t sufficient to attract everyone’s attention, my guitar took care of the rest. Unlike others, the cab driver couldn’t keep his curiosity to himself and asked me if I worked in the film industry. “If only”, I said letting out a sigh. I told him that I had come to Bombay to work at a law firm and a guitar unfortunately was to be of no use there. But his curiosity had not ended there. “I seem to have seen you on television”, he said. I couldn’t help but gleefully smile at him.

The next four weeks saw me settling down in a South Bombay flat along with Adarsh, shopping, savouring cuisines, watching movies, plays (watched one while sitting next to Shashi Kapoor at Prithvi Theaters), musical concerts and of course working (only to make sure that I continue doing the former activities in the days to come).

As I pen these words, I can also sense a slight chill in the air. All in all, so far so good!

Here’s wishing all of you a fantastic 2009!

Those were the best days of my life!

The final semester at law school has been one of the best I’ve had in the five years spent here. I’m pleased to let you all know that I’ve learnt to play the guitar. Vivek, a junior of mine, who also happens to be a fantastic guitarist, ensured that I picked it up in good time (in just over two months). Here’s a rendition of one of my favourite songs. And I can't thank my parents enough for having borne with all the noise I made over the last two months.

About thirty odd days of law school life remain to be lived. I’m extremely happy and yet very sad!

Those expressions at the begining of the song were to prevent my mom from walking in front of the camera...lol! And I know that there is a lot of scope for improvement!