Monday, 28 October 2013

A Thought about India from Amachi's Window.

As I look out of Amachi's window at the street and the marketplace opposite us, what do I observe ? - 
That India is - Every sort of energy in every direction.
It always was, it is so and it always will remain so ! No other country, I believe, will ever be able to match us at this. And for this reason India will never be boring. It will always be intriguing, thrilling, even exasperating, but never never never Boring. Never boring like a uniformed regimentalized society, or a dreadfully sanitized sanatorium, or a trite place to live in, or a sickeningly perfect and pretty manicured garden. And this character can not be emulated for it is inborn.

From the Pundits hurrying about on their sacred duties early morning on the street, to the Muslim vendor peddling his wares on a pushcart. From the Bania Uncle, fat and flamboyant, stepping out of his Pajero :), to the poor ragged tramp sleeping undisturbed on the divider amongst the shrubs in the middle of the main road while the traffic and people lumber on alongside. From the shining Metro rail zooming past on the elevated corridor, to the emaciated rickshaw puller struggling to push at his rickshaw's pedals, dragging his heavy passengers along. From Bansal Sweets (Amritsar Wale, Pure Ghee Sweets), to The Premsay confectioners (Cakes and pastries).
From the middle aged man opening his zipper, pulling out his ... and peeing right into our face at the boundary wall of our housing society in full-front public view, to the fine young lady who walks past behind him, unperturbed by the sight, just ignoring him. Why ? Even that middle aged woman who comes and squats behind the bushes at that same spot every morning.
From the constant sirens of the patrolling Police (PCRs), the hurrying Ambulances (Neonatal Care), the Fire Tenders on their drills, to the silent still moments of the night or even of Sundays. From the raucous children, screaming and shouting excitedly in their buses travelling to their picnic spot (Japanese Park, Rohini), the groups of young girls and boys bantering as they casually walk to their study centres with their files under their arms, to the bent-over elderly couple (retired Professor and his wife) going to see their married daughter and grandchild on their early morning stroll. From the ipod ad at the Titan Timepoint, to the local lingerie store- Kanchuki next door. From the shiny Green Chick (chicken shop), to the tehlewala preparing tandoori rotis for his poor as well as rich customers on the street. From the bright and shining houses and shops of the Capitalistic serving the rich and the poor, to the Socialist products (DDA flats) in dilapidated conditions.
From the chaotic, noisy traffic outside, to the (relative :)) calm and quiet peace within our housing society.

This is CRAZY INDIA for you !
As I said once -
INDIA = Every sort of energy in every direction !
and INDIA not = Boring, ever !

AMEN ! :D !



... and there's much much more !

Thursday, 24 October 2013

What about India, Bharat my home, my Mother? My Beloved?

She's-

  • devout
  • moral
  • authentic
  • simple
  • true
  • down to earth
  • honest
  • earthly
  • earthy
  • worldly
  • transcendant
  • spiritual
  • upright
  • family loving
  • affectionate
  • universal
  • scientific
  • mathematical
  • imaginative
  • passionate
  • sensual
  • sexy
  • witty
  • strong
  • resilient
  • hopeful
  • dreaming
  • hard working
  • caring
  • beautiful
  • ancient
  • learned
  • intelligent
  • wise
  • evernew
  • evergreen
  • holy
  • sacred
  • melodious
  • musical
  • rythmic
  • brave
  • free
  • non-interfering
  • epic
  • mythical
  • legendary
  • commonsensical
  • stupid at times
  • sometimes exasperating
  • Forgivable  :) !!!
  • artistic
  • creative
  • visual
  • insightful
  • rugged
  • rustic
  • rough
  • young
  • deep
  • profound
  • real
  • rational
  • original
  • delicate
  • sensitive
  • tolerant
  • accomodating
  • friendly
  • loyal
  • loving
  • fiery
  • pacific
  • a mela
  • a garden
  • mountains
  • plains
  • rivers
  • cities
  • villages
  • towns
  • forests
  • deserts
  • seas and ocean
  • understanding
  • cooperative
  • interactive
  • open
  • egoistic in the right sense of the word
  • centred
  • faithful
  • polite
  • gentle
  • human
  • masculine
  • feminine
  • farsighted
  • perfect
  • imperfect
  • growing
  • playful
  • fun loving
  • colourful
  • rich textured
  • rich
  • poor
  • middle class
  • suffering yet striving
  • patriotic
  • proud
  • humble
  • complete
  • incomplete
  • multifaceted
  • diverse
  • catholic (as in Universal)
  • Hindu
  • respectful
  • respecting
  • lovable
  • brotherly
  • slow
  • lumbering
  • challenging
  • anchoring
  • anchored
  • living
  • eternal
  • infinite
  • family
  • ritualistic yet grounded
  • silent
  • noicy
  • calm
  • chaotic
  • intricate
  • detailed
  • vast
  • grand
  • visionary
  • intuitive
  • . . .  ! ! !
  • D I V I N E !!!
    and T R U E L Y  H A P P Y ! :D !!!
Pencil sketch- THe U and The Me (1988-89 DCOA) at the (Old or New Delhi ?) Railway Station, Delhi, by Jeffry Jose Payyappilly.

Wednesday, 11 September 2013

Jannath !




Agar jahan me koi Jannath hai,
to yahan hai !
Yahan hai !
Yahan hai !





Saturday, 15 June 2013

Big Brain, Bishop Bernard and Boy Scout, story from Rev. Anthony de Mello S.J.'s books

Once Big Brain, Bishop Bernard and Boy Scout were flying in a plane across the country. The plane suddenly lost an engine and started to sink. The pilot at the front reported to them over the commotion, as the plane lost altitude rapidly, that the plane was about to crash, ....surely, and there was nothing the pilot could do to save the situation, so he was about to bail out with one of the only three parachutes that were available on the aircraft. The rest three of them would have to decide between themselves as to who will use the other two parachutes. The pilot bailed out with his parachute and the three were left with two parachutes and a deadly choice.

Big Brain was smart and didn't waste his time. He immediately snatched one of the remaining two parachutes, declaring, "I am important to the future of the nation and the world more than anyone else because I am smart and intelligent, thus it is appropriate that I use this parachute and be saved for the sake of the nation and the world, so Bishop and Boy, you would have to decide between yourselves who was more important and deserving of the remaining parachute. I am bailing out. Bye and good luck to you !" He snatched the parachute quickly and jumped out of the diving plane before anyone could object.

Now Bishop Bernard was a wise and gentle man of many years. He looked at Boy Scout and said, "Son, I am an old man. I have lived a good and full life, so it is just for me to give you the parachute. Take it and save yourself. You have a long life ahead of you, so it is appropriate that you should get to save yourself. Forget about me. You deserve the parachute more than I", and he handed the parachute to Boy Scout.

Boy Scout replied, handing the parachute back to Bishop Bernard, "Your Holiness, don't worry about me. We still have two parachutes here. Big Brain just jumped out with my haversack !" ❤️😃 !

- for my those not-so-smart Delhite brothers and sisters amongst the smart ones.
Your day will come ! Your day is here and now !

(This - My version of the story)

Sunday, 19 May 2013

Life goes on !

I couldn't have changed the Indian Socialist Constitution single handedly or even with your presence beloved. Nor could my country undergo a lobotomy of sorts whether performed by ourselves on ourselves (which would be impossible) nor by another foreign party on us (wherein the body of our modern republic would never relate to the new brain and thus would perish instantly). So what's the option left ? I think it's just to wait out the slow death of our present Indian nation (whether in our lifetime or not), allowing it to run it's full course, and hope a more sensible India emerges from it's ashes, like the Phoenix, from the sacred ashes, the Anupam Vibhuti (incomparable essence), which constitutes the real idea of India our Motherland, "the Hindu", the essence of our being. And however weak a hope it be, hope, hope, hope and pray to see at least a ray of that new dawn in our lifetime ("...touched by the rays of the rising Sun", as Ayn Rand once mentioned in similar context). And considering the crisis the world over, I think only India, the "Hindu" India, has the right essence, the philosophy, the sense of life that can bring about that Renaissance, that rebirth, that dawn, first, before it catches on the world over. And we are already doing it in a way.

The idea of civilization began in India, got carried forward to China, thereafter got transferred to the Arabs who carried it over to Europe, who then transferred it via Britain to the USA. Now USA carries the banner and the story of civilization has come full circle back to India, as the US, in particular, and the West explore the essence of the civilization of India through love's labours such as Diana L Eck's 'India - A Sacred Geography' and 
Alex Bellos'- 'Alex's Adventures in Numberland'- (Britain's) , reminding India again of what is essentially great about our subcontinent - the idea of India - "The Hindu".

Thank You USA (and Britain), you will receive just reward at a time of HIS keeping.


Just don't disappear into some technological warp of yours before that. :D !!!


I will just remain one more voice in the story of our civilization. JAI HIND ! :) !


P.S It is sad that an intellect as brilliant and insightful as Ayn Rand and Dr. Leonard Peikoff brushed aside the Indian story as just something illogical and mystical without exploring deeper into it's workings. They seem so insular as do the Bible Belt Brigades they profess to oppose.

Tuesday, 14 May 2013

METRO - Amachi at Amachi's window.


Metro! Metro!

Where do you go ?

Up and down

To and fro

Zooming past so silently

Swiftly, softly, daintily

Night or day

Rain or Sun

Built by the likes of Sreedharan

Some going to work 

Others coming from

Women out shopping

Kids having fun

Carrying everyone past my window !


Friday, 3 May 2013

Jahannuh :D

Jahannuh me jo Jannath basa de
Matham ke beech jeena sikha de
Veh PYAR hai mere bandhe !!! :)

Tuesday, 23 April 2013

My Delhi

You cannot love Delhi unless you love the elements and love them in their extremes, whether it is the dusty summer winds, the scorching sun, the seering heat, the sweaty people, the heavy monsoon rains, the flooded streets, the dried autumn leaves, the chilling winter breeze, the mist and the fog and of course the bright and colourful spring with the festival of colours - Holi, with the bright bougainvillea with their magenta blossoms. You have to love the people who at first seem to be uncouth, unwashed and exuding all kinds of m-b gallis (m-s swear words). They are a people from all parts of India- North, South, East and West.
No, Delhi's not all that bad !
But no more- Delhi and Delhites are changing, for better 'and' for worse !