intersecting, unfolding lives...

..end of another day

..blessed are those, who travel by flights...

...and those on the ground, keep counting their "blessings"...

glimpse of a secular country..

I had taken this photograph right outside the gate of the Maha Bodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya....

कुछ आधी, कुछ पूरी... पानी की बूँदें...

टहनी पर लटकी सी,जीवन में भटकी सी,
बादल के आँचल से, गिरते से ठहर गयीं,
भूली कुछ यादों सी, छुपी हुई बातों सी,
टूटी आशाओं सी, जीवन की राहों सी,
कुछ आधी, कुछ पूरी... पानी की बूँदें...

अनलिखी कहानी सी, बचपन की नानी सी,
जीवन की झुरियों में खोयी जवानी सी,
ढूँढती धरातल को, एक नए आंचल को,
सहमी-सी, डरती-सी, मेरे जीवन जैसी..
कुछ आधी, कुछ पूरी... पानी की बूँदें...

धुंधली उन यादों सी, भूल गई बातों सी,
मुस्कुराते चहरे पर, थके हुए होठों सी,
हिचकते मुखोटों में, ढूंढ रही अपने को,
भटकी कुछ आशाएं... टूटी परिभाषाएं..
कुछ आधी, कुछ पूरी... पानी की बूँदें...


- May 27, 2011 (Jamshedpur)

Cyclonomics of Coal Transportation

These are some images of the foot-soldiers of what is described as the "coal mafia" - very common on the Ramgarh-Hazaribagh-Ranchi highway. What they do is "illegal" (though I am not sure if they are aware of this), but this journey of some 50-100kms over the ghati serves a critical purpose in their lives.

As this study on Coal distribution network through bicycles in eastern India notes:

"From a financial point of view, a local, better-off villager finds the investment (~US$400) to cut the entrance-way down to the level of the coal seam. Then, contractors from the village cut the coal and carry it out to the surface. The bojharis buy coal from the cutter (who gets about ~US$3 per day) and then sells it to the cycle wallahs for about US$1 per 150–200 kg (a cycle load). They, in turn, retail their load for about ~US$3. The mine 'financier' receives about US$3 per day, which is a reasonably good return on his investment. The extra money that a family may get from 'coal' is about the same that they get from traditional agriculture but provides a critical extra amount of money that might, for example, enable them to send their children to school."

the enlightened one...

I met him near Mahabodhi Temple in BodhGaya last week. He asked for alms, but was more happy to get his photo clicked, smiled with joy to see himself on the display screen, said goodbye, and walked away...

.. the way we were!

... just a remembrance of an hectic day, 33-yrs back - life has moved on since then - with losses and gains - and yup! that's how it happens... - I suppose!

...defiant! - in a geometrical world

...गंध दें हवाओं को, रंग दें दिशाओं को,
जीवन के शब्दों को जीने का अर्थ दें...
बाँहों के बंधन में आसमां समेट लें....
- दीप्ती खंडेलवाल

manicured landscape...

the not-so-distant drum beats...

Labour (n.): those who make where they will/can never live...

..the comfort room!!

This was an interesting "place" somewhere on the outskirts of Manila - the venture was into organic and herbal products - but never anticipated that my query for the "washroom" will lead me to this space...

...ooops!!

the ancient & the innocent...

of birth... and death, too!

history.... etched in stones

India on Postcards...

...और जब ख़त्म हुई एक दास्ताँ अपनी

...और जब ख़त्म हुई एक दास्ताँ अपनी,
वहीँ से राह कई निकली थीं,
भटकते से कहाँ पे आ पहुंचे,
जैसे मंजिल ने आ के थाम लिया |

...और फिर रात की सियाही से,

...और फिर रात की सियाही से,
एक उचकी हुई सी चिंगारी,
फिर ठिठकती सी रुक जाती:
"मैं कहीं जुगनू ना बन जाऊं!"

बिखरी, उड़ती, बहती यादें...

बहते पानी में चली गयीं,
धुंधली-धुंधली कितनी बातें,
पतझड़ के सूखे पत्तों सी,
बिखरी, उड़ती, बहती यादें...



Today being another April 19th...

that last threshold... to the other side

...a universe in a raindrop

To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
- William Blake

The "Black Swan" event.... in Taipei Zoo

Nissim Taleb had a whole theory about The Black Swan events...

...for me it happened in Taipei Zoo earlier this week.

From a distance it was a blur, in spite of the camera zoom.




..but then it turned, and floated like a poetry towards me...



..did the photo-ops...




...and left, as gracefully as it came...

अपने-अपने अजनबी...

Signs of India

None of these photos were taken by me - but I had been collecting these delightful glimpses of "We, the People" over time from various places, where some others had posted them.

So credit - and thanks - goes to all those unknown folks :0)