Spring, oh Spring !

Delhi’s tryst with Spring continues as the city plays host to several flower festivals and horticultural events. Mesmerizing blooms with myriad hues in bright yellows, reds, pinks, and violets are attracting young and old alike. Pusa Horticulture Festival was one of such colourful events that concluded today. It was a treat to watch a vibrant display of roses, lilies, petunias, dahlias, chrysanthemums, marigolds and several other varieties. Below are a few pictures from the event.

The Blooming Blossoms - Garden Tourism Festival 2011

This year too, Delhi has ushered in Spring with élan. Just concluded Garden Festival (18-20 February, 2011) at the Garden of Five Senses had at display a variety of blooms, exquisite potted plants, bonsai, cacti & succulents, wondrous hanging baskets and the delightful floral arrangements. The burst of colours and the heavenly fragrances marked the onset of pleasant Spring. Delhi’s blossoming bond with the blooms continues as it plays host to several other flower festivals. I have uploaded a few photographs clicked during the event.

Surajkund Fair - India's Craft Bazaar

Taj Mahal - Rich man's love, dead and buried

I love Taj Mahal. I have visited the breathtaking monument a few times, and each time I was awestruck by its magnificence and unsurpassable beauty. A few steps beyond the main entrance leave you astounded, amazed and speechless. For those who see it for the first time, it is truly a moment they can cherish for the rest of their lives (especially if they haven’t visited any of the magnanimous architectural wonders of the world).

However, I refuse to call it a ‘symbol of love’. And on insistence, I’ll partially agree to the epithet ‘symbol of love’ and would rather call it a ‘symbol of rich man’s love, long dead and buried’.

A man of modest means, who has no glory or riches like emperor Shah Jehan (who built the splendid wonder in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal), can love too… only that, he won’t be able to leave behind the legend or the symbol of his love in the form of an awe-inspiring structure drawing tourists from the across the globe and the government raking in revenue.

I am in no way undermining the essence of what it essentially captures - beauty, elegance and artistry. But I am unsure about love… I wonder, does love really need such an extravagant and exquisite memento?

The lover husband (Shah Jehan) married another woman after his beloved Mumtaz Mahal (whose tomb is housed in the Taj Mahal) died. But I am told that it was Mumtaz Mahal who had extracted the promise from the emperor of marrying again after her death.

And he took not one, but two wives. (However, according to several historians, Mumtaz Mahal was Shah Jehan’s third wife, but the first one to be betrothed to the emperor. According to some, he had many wives, Mumtaz was just one of them but the most favored).

It is said that he did not share an intimate relationship with his other wives and, in a way, ignored them. Poor women, their tombs too are in the Taj Mahal complex… but who cares? Not many people are aware… tourists just pass by the tombs unless they are enlightened by a guide (if he himself is aware) Otherwise the tombs are ignored, as were its occupants during their lifetime.

With 14 children in the kitty with Mumtaz, I don’t think he needed any other testimony to his love.

But I do not wish to dissect the love-life or no-love-life of anyone, more so an emperor. I only wish to make a point… my point… that love needs not a resplendent or glorious testament… and a common man’s love is as worthy and as reverent as that of an emperor.

I love Taj and will continue to revere it for it being a splendor, a glistening dome under the sun, a symbol of opulence and magnificence, but definitely not a symbol of love.


:):):)
Wife: Hey, Will you do a Shahjehan for me? I mean, If you truly love me, will you make me a Taj Mahal?
Husband: Oh well, I have already bought a plot of land. You do a Mumtaz Mahal darling…

That power is within us

Does God exist? For some, the answer is in affirmative and for some, it's an absolute no. I fall in the latter category, for the reasons known only to me...But there have been instances when I have noticed the presence of a supernatural power...a power that seems to guide me, and bring solace to my life...What do I call that power - divine or demonic? I say that I don't believe in God, so the power cannot be divine...it sure has to be demonic then...but it won't fill my being with love, and laughter and all those virtues ; if it's demonic...that I am sure...It has to be something else...What is it?

Had the supernatural power being divine, there would not have been any grief- either in my life or in this world- the grief in this world being far greater than in my life...So, I have a question for all my friends who believe in God and think that He/She looks after the world: What is your God doing?, Sleeping to glory? : Like I say, had there been God, there would not have been anything that activates those glands located just at the corner of our eyes...and, the loneliness...that creeps into our lives when we lose someone close, someone special, especially when we need him or her the most.

So what's the truth about that power? And why do we need that power in the first place? We are human beings, with a brain of our own, and a heart that never ceases to make that pulsating sound...so that the brain gets enough blood enriched in oxygen...and be able to take wise decisions...or whatever!..

I mean, if we have the power to think, if we can differentiate between good and bad, vices and virtues... then why do we need a supernatural power...or God for that matter?

What I believe is that the supernatural power (or God) is not something from the outer world...it's within us...yes, it's within us...it's a part of our being...ingrained in our soul...a part of us...

It's our own doing; it's our own thinking...

Bhagalpur shamed...yet again

The underbelly of Indian democracy?

The disturbing visuals that were beamed across television channels on August 29, 2007 stood testimony to the dead conscience of our so called civilized society...

A twenty-something man, accused of chain snatching, was mercilessly beaten up by the local residents of Nathnagar in Bhagalpur district of Bihar.

A barrage of blows was being rained upon him...everyone seemed to take immense pleasure in kicking and punching the malnourished man – his hands tied behind his back.

After beating him black and blue, the irate mob handed him over to the police.

And the police was no less...

A policeman tied one of his feet to the back of his motorcycle and dragged him through the street.

Bhagalpur had earned the epithet for police brutality three decades ago when policemen poured acid into the eyes of several under trials.

And this time too, the district police stood up to its reputation...

The wretched man cried and pleaded for mercy...but to no avail...all those present at the scene had lost their conscience.

None came for the man’s rescue...everyone watched the savagery...silently.

Humanity grieved and wept...