musingsinmediterranean

As news of the tragedy off the Libyan coastline makes headlines

I remember some of my interactions with Carl, the Nigerian footballer

who taught me so many things about the lives of African migrants.

 

I once saw an interesting video clip in which the British Playwright Trevor

Griffiths tells that just like there is a tomb of an unknown soldier in every country

There should be a tomb for the unknown worker.

 

One of my published articles ….The Road to Misuraata talks about the lives of these ‘Boat people’

 

Like on that day, when he drove to Misurata. The Road to Misurata was hot and dusty that summer afternoon, just as it had been when Carl first went there at the behest of the Bishop. And only a person like Mali could have gone there. He found the Christian Cemetery which had been explored by the Nigerian footballer Carl, where Wisdon Kerry lies at rest.

 

To read the full article follow this link

 

    www.chowk.com/articles/14507

 

Regilla at Giza-Though I do not smoke regularly,the scented tobacco has a different feel which one can try.

The guide made a student’s pass for me. That saves you a lot of entry fees. In that one move, he more than compensated his fees.

 

He also introduced me to the Step-Pyramids of Saqqara which are older than the famous larger pyramids of Giza.

 

“40 years of history is facing you” Napoleon is supposed to have told his soldiers when they faced the Giza pyramids.

 

Recently heard the French philosopher Alain Badiou on Hardtalk- “There are many Frances within France. We have the Paris commune but also the history of reactionary suppression of these victories and struggles of the working class.”

 

The hero of the 1968 barricades was speaking, reminding me of what Rosa Luxemburg’s words. “ ….in a class society each class of the nation strives to ‘determine itself’ in a different fashion”

 

There is a subculture rife over here, which seeks answers. You meet them in the Cairo cafés. They may not be able to define the answers, but in asking the questions, in their own ways, they try to find new beginnings.

 

After Saqqarra, Giza, and some ‘forced shopping’ (one has to be a bit careful if you go individually with a guide..it can be tricky, and I would not recommend it. Personally, though the experience was overall a positive one, it would be more balanced if there were a few more persons in the group. Going all on your own is not recommended).

 

We ended the day with some Regilla

 

 

 

A man drinking Regilla (Hookah). With scented Tobacco in a Tripoli café

 

“If you know your position in life, things will go smoothly” said one of my friends who works in a diplomatic mission.

 

“Sadiq (Friend)! Listen to me. I am a few years elder than you.” He continued.

 

Coffee at Green square Tripoli has a charm of it’s own, and reminds me of the colonnaded arcades of Fort of Mumbai,  Connaught Place of Delhi, Malls of Mussoorie and Shimla, street sides at Valletta and Floriana in Malta. There are some common strains with Grenwich and Westminster areas too (remember some nice afternoons spent at the National Gallery and Maritime museum)

 

But the closest similarity is to the sea-side cafes of Benghazi or the Games I played in Giza area of Cairo or the musings at Luxor by the Nile.

 

Over the years, I have made some interesting friends from different countries and one learns from the different cultures and backgrounds.

 

My friend, though working in a European mission, has developed some local tastes. He loves the Libyan Lamb (Kharouf) and drinks camel milk and loves Khus-Khusi.(a local delicacy). But he has retained some of his European taste for wine which he has after his afternoon meals and before his nap.

 

He looks after his car like a baby. “I have to drive to Tunis two times a month.”

 

We spend some time, talking about various issues. He becomes a bit tense at times, when we touch some thorny issues, but then we switch back to discussions on Camel milk and he breathes easier.

 

“The camel milk at Zawia Dahmaani is the best” he tells me how he goes every morning to buy camel milk from there.

 

We part ways. “I have to be back in my mission by 10 pm. But I always make it a point to be back by 9.45 pm so that no one is able to point a finger at me.”

 

One has to know one’s position in life and then things will go on smoothly.

 

…We parted ways after a lovely evening. He pointed out to the moon over the palms as we said goodbye.

 

 

 

Musings at the ancient Roman city of Sabratha, around 80 km west of Tripoli is a nice way to spend a holiday.

 

The origin of the name of Sabratha has been lost to time, although it is thought to possibly have been a derivation of a Libyan-Berber word meaning ‘grain market’

 

There are some interesting stories associated with this place.

 

One of them is “The Defence of Apuleius”

 

In AD 158, a sensational trial rocked Sabratha from its decadent slumber with all the scandal of a modern soap opera. Apuleius was a renowned philosopher who traveled throughout the colonies expounding his theories in Latin and Green to great acclaim. One of Apuleius’ speaking tours took him to Sabratha, where he married Pudentilla, a rich widow many years his senior. The citizens of Sabratha were outraged and the city descended into an unseemly round of scandal mongering. One family , which stood to lose out on the widow’s massive inheritance, formally brought a charge against Apuleius.

 

The accusation?

 

Using his magic powers to win over the widow (there is no record of whether she was given a say).

 

The trial of the decade was presided over by the Roman proconsul Claudio Massimo in the Judicial Basilica. In a captivating oration that lasted three (some say four) days, Apuleius won his freedom. As other celebrities through the ages have discovered, the publicity only enhanced his reputation.

 

                                    ***

 

Present day Sabratha also has an Oncology institute.

 

 

 

The area around Ras Al-Hillal, 20 km east of Susa, has some of the most dramatic scenery on a coastline I have ever seen.

 

For the full effect, Ras Al-Hillal is best approached from the west. Coming up over the rise, you are confronted with a beautiful arc of bay, with a backdrop of towering moutainds and a canyon-like valley running into the Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountains)

 

Knud Holmboe explains the experience well:

 

It was a marvelous morning, and I have rarely seen anything so beautiful as this mountainous country. Colour was everywhere, from the sky which formed a deep blue arch over my head, to the thousands of shades of green in the woods all around. The ground was thickly strewn with all kinds of flowers, and black and brownish-red butterflies fluttered amont the gaily coloured blooms. Here the rocks,e ven where they were bare, were not grey, but displayed a wealth of color.

 

                                                            Knud Holmboe, Desert Encounter

 

Ras Al-Hillal was, for a time, the second port of Cyrene, after Apollonia, although nothing remains to suggest this.

 

But some friends have told that there are underwater remnants of this Greek times port.

Maybe, some day, someone will do some underwater archeology and rediscover them.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf9RffknX68

Going through some art movements, which I first came across when I joined the School of Fototechnik, Delhi in Sep 2005 and were later stimulated by doing sketch studies of different subjects over visits to the Tripoli Medina and the Baroque city of Valletta.

The Baroque city of Valletta..Palace Armory

 

The French word for “irregular” Baroque was applied to a style in art and architecture very fashionable in the 17^th century and distinguished by extravagant forms and ornamentation which became so elaborate as to verge on the grotesque.

 

 

Sketch based on the work of Edward Steichen photograph-Rodin Le Penseur

 

Doing sketch studies -part of the Reading group effort.
Straightening some irregularities..or trying to make better sense of them.

“The children forgot what is cake.”

 

I was told about the stories in the war-torn former Yugoslavia, from the side of the

Citizens.

 

When you Bomb from above..you cannot hear the screams of the injured and dying.

(American historian-Howard Zinn)

 

March 24, marked the 10^th anniversary of NATO’s 78 days of air strikes ironically called "Merciful Angel” http://www.serbianna.com/news/2009/1298.shtml

 

How is it that all the persons are speaking against you? I asked some Serbian expatriates whom I met in Tripoli.

 

But over the years, I have come to know the personal testimonies of many sufferers and have realized a bit more, that what we hear in the news not only not the whole truth, but can actually be a very big distortion.

 

And then I came to know persons whose relatives have been killed after their organs having been sold in the International market. Southern Serbia and Kosovo Serbs-ordinary people fleeing from the conflict.

 

Somehow, I never heard these stories prominently in the Western media. Great ‘Leaders’ who talks about doing the ‘right things’..which include recognizing some persons..from a place called Kosovo.

 

God save us from such “Merciful Angels”

 

Got another Second..at Telegraph Co UK

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/kate_day/blog/2009/03/21/photography_competition_buildings

Remembered a lovely Night of photography at Mosta, Malta

http://prashantbhatt.blog.co.uk/2008/12/23/mosta-dome-malta-5264701/

“Luxor will be as interesting than Alexandria”

I made friends with a guide who opened me to Luxor.

Night photography at the temples of Luxor and Karnak 

was an added bonus.

So I caught the night train to Luxor..A pilgrimage to the

 place where Howard Carterdiscovered the tomb of 

Tutankhamen in 1922.

 Some say, he had already discovered the tomb earlier, 

but only declared it when his contract was to end, 

so that it would be renewed. 

Other travelers

I usually travel alone (physically).

Remembered Tagore’s great composition

chal akelaa, chal akelaa, chal akelaa

teraa melaa peechhe chhootaa raahee chal akelaa

hajaaro meel lanbe raasate, tuz ko bulaate

yahaa dukhade sahane ke waasate tuz ko bulaate

hai kaun saa wo insaan yahaa par jisane dukh naa zelaa

teraa koee saath naa de to, too khud se pareet jod le

bichhaunaa dharatee ko kar ke, are aakaash odh le

yahaa pooraa khel abhee jeewan kaa toone kahaa hain khelaa

Movie :Sambandh

Sung by:Mukesh

Lyrics:Based on a Composition by Rabindranath Tagore

Music:O.P.Nayyar

Roughly Translated

Go on alone,go on alone

Your fairs remain behind , traveler go on alone.

Roads which are thousands of miles long, call you.

They call you to listen to their tales of triumph and tragedy

Which is that human who has not met grief.

If no one accompanies you, make friends with yourself.

Make the earth your bed, the sky your blanket

The full game of life, you have not played yet.

Traveler…Go on alone, go on alone

However, one is rarely alone on these journeys.

If you see, there are always many illustrious

 travelers who have traveled these paths before. 

One has just to look.

Maxime Du camp-Triumph of Photography 

One of the pioneers of photography was Maxime Du Camp-

(Born-Paris-1822 died Baden Baden(Germany)- 1894) 

 Du Camp’s special mission was to document certain

 sites in Egypt and the Near East. His photographs have

 figured constantly in the history of the medium 

as symbolizing the triumph of photography. 

Traditionally the medium has been associated with 

transient moments, whereas art proper has kept company with eternity.

So, one is never alone in these travels. 

In fact I prefer to not have company which can be a 

bit toxic at times.

That way, traveling alone, one can be one with the

 Vibrations which are much more profound and lasting.

Chal Akela..Chal Akela…Traveler..go on alone..

 

 

 

Another marketing manager came.

“I have come especially for your centre” he said, in a clichéd manner which I have heard from around half-a-dozen of these Regional Managers.

They come with the same standard dialogues- We will make a fresh beginning. The past mistakes will not be repeated. I was not in the picture then.

And then they go away and after a few months or a year, another one comes. The last one flew in from Dubai. This one was from Cairo. The first ones whom I encountered had come from Tunisia. The one from France had the most airs around him.

End result-Nothing.

Whenever anyone comes up with these phrases, I look behind the superficial remarks and try to see if there is anything in the processes or policies which he is going to effect a change into.

When one gets into the nitty-gritty, small details or small print..whatever you call it, they are all saying almost the same thing..and doing precious little.

This one came up with a great Arabic saying…Aulaad Liyom ..We are children of today.

Yes Sir! But the children of today, have to learn from history, or we will keep repeating the same mistakes, (probably with more disastrous results).

Another interesting day went by, and later, we drank some coffee and looked up our notes. What was said, what was done. It is all there, written in the diaries.

After a morning session of work, and clarifying some contract related issues between

the management and the maintenance company-a thorny issue which has dragged for several months, I took a nice lunch-Spaghetti with mushrooms and settled down to finish my sketch study of “Judith and Holofernes” by La Valentin.

Valentin De Boulogne-(1591-1632) was commonly known as La Valentin

 

According to Sandro Debono-

 

La Valentin’s “Judith and Holofernes” depicts Judith of he lord who moves in resolute determination to sever Holofernes’ dead. Judith is bathed in strong side-light symbolical of the divine that guides her hand; she is indeed the bringer of death through which liberty and new life was won. It is the very divine natured light that the agonized Holofernes seeks to hide in vain solely by his hand.

Indeed a suggested deeper reading has much to do with the concept of deception on being deceived which is alos in line with Le Valentin’s genre paintings inspired by Caravaggio and Manfredi.

 

Le Valentin’s work depicts the happening from a high viewpoint in contrast to Caravaggio’s frontal immediacy.

 

Went for a walk after finishing the sketch study.

And thought about the way the managers try to deceive and be deceived.

But as Dr.Phil says in his programs-The truth shall set us free.

Learning through reflections on art study. Sketching is a lovely way to spend your time.

 

 

 

Notes and suggested further reading:

 

Understanding Caravaggio and his Art in Malta

 

 

Doing a sketch study is a nice way to spend a few hours, seeping in the energies and vibrations of landscapes, buildings, works of art.

 

Some of my sketches hang in the houses of my friends. Hyde Park London in the winter morning. Lodhi gardens Delhi in the early evening, sketching the palms bordering the Eastern boundaries of the tomb of Muhamed Shah (1444). The columns of Nephretiti, talking to you in Karnak-Southern Egypt.

 

Last November, I gave most of my sketches to my sons, to keep and study at leisure.

How the shadings and smudging move you and carry you through different planes.

 

Yesterday night, I made a sketch study of “The Mocking of Christ”..and remembered Mattia Preti-who some scholars say was the last of the great Caravaggisti.

 

To quote a commentary on the works of Preti

 

“The various moments of Christ’s Holy passion inspired Preti with many paintings. In this particular one he reaches a rare degree of poignancy and spirituality.

Christ crowned with thorns and wearing the purple mantle is seated on the left, in front of him are two figures, one wearing a helmet, the other, cap in hand, salutes ironically and is offering him the cane. The balance of qualities described in the picture, combined with the spacing and the soft cool tones and the straightforward completeness point out to a powerful personality and a consummate master in Preti”

 

As a radiologist, one of my teachers used to tell me.. “The present generation of radiologists are seeing anatomy like no other previous generations has seen”

We used to be proud of being the first humans to see imaging by CT, MRI, and try to understand the different processes going on.

 

Now, after over a decade down the line, I am not so sure..For when I came across the works and philosophy of the Caravaggisti, the precision and depth of their perceptions, I thought.. “We have a long long way to go..before making empty claims”.

 

Do some sketch studies and you will know.

 

 

 

Nothing like a nice debate.

 

As the great Ghalib ghazal goes (The poet Ghalib is regarded as India’s Shakespeare by some scholars)

 

Jabaan se bhi joh na tapkaa

Woh Lahoo kya hai..

 

Roughly translated

 

That which does not trickle from the mouth

Is that blood of any worth

 

 

And there is nothing better than an argument for the ‘argumentative Indian’

 

Screening

 

A doctor came with his son. Having colics, without any reason.

 

We got talking about his stints in Aberdeen and Manchester and his work in Breast reconstructive surgery. The recent Telegraph edition has been talking about

The need for screening all men above 50 for Prostatic cancer.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5011692/Prostate-cancer-screening-for-men-should-be-introduced-to-UK.html

 

I had been doing some reading about screening programs and whether the

5 year survival of lung, breast, colorectal cancers is actually related to early detection or to advances in therapy.

 

What about “Critical Time” doctor? I asked him

 

Well, that is the whole debate against screening, he said, summarizing in a sentence the many layers of this debate. An ‘Old-Fox’ knows the wise details.

 

Noah

 

On a recent visit to Malta, I had spent some nice hours in the National Library reading about Alfred Russell Wallace, the man who was not Darwin. The co-discoverer of the Theory of Evolution by Natural selection and the Founder of Evolutionary biogeography.

 

“Hear about Russell Wallace, Mathew” I had asked my friend as he tried to convince me about Noah’s Ark.

 

I told him a bit about Evolution by Natural selection, but tapered it off as I did not want to disturb him much.

 

“Is Peter still preparing for his sermons while doing MRI scans” I asked Mathew about this Ghanian technician who is also the Pastor at a church in Gargarish.

 

This turned the discussion on Peter, lightened the atmosphere and the focus from “Mr.Noah” was diverted.

 

                                    ***

And then I went to the newspapers again and read another headline..about a baby’s ventilator which could be switched off as per a court order!?

 

Remembered Mahatma Gandhi’s words

 

  “I read various newspapers every day, I also read books everyday,

I put them both in my head and let them fight it out”

 

 

It has been almost ten days since Mathews got to his house, and so today, after sharing some fish with him in his ward, I egged him on to go back to his house.

We bought some chicken on the way and cooked.

Mathew, Mitza, Mali in the Ward of Afia Hospital

I "Bored" him with readings Chekov-' Lady with the dog" with interpretations, the scenarios of Moscow and Yalta, loveless marriages in which people are trapped.

Then we went through an interesting discussion on the Santhal Tribals in Jharkhand.

He went a bit off while criticising one of my recent articles "No More Gods" URL: http://www.chowk.com/articles/15371 and started talking about Noah's Ark.

I tickled him a bit.."Come on Mathew, I think you have not taken your medicines"...but then I tapered off as the main aim was to make him feel happy and relaxed and I did not want to knock him off with another debate on Genesis, Darwin, Particle physics..and Poor "Noah"..

It was a charming day, and by the end of it, Mathews had decided that he is not going to stay in that depresing ward room in the hospital any more.  It was very important when he needed it, but now, he can go home.

Back in the house-He is enjoying chicken curry again

On coming back after a lovely day and nice ride through Tripoli, which they also call the "White Bride of the Mediterranean", I opened the net and was notified by the Editors that another article of mine had been published. It was about life in Tripoli..Titled:White Bride..URL: http://www.chowk.com/articles/15554

 

Living life through the vector of food.

 

When I was a hoteler in Medical college, I used to go to Daryaganj –Old Delhi to

eat Bread Pakoras.

 

Lunch would often be feeding Channa-Kulchas to Squirrels at Firoz Shah Kotla.

 

The scents, vibrations of those street side snacks, the hot Bread Pakoras coming out and the potato-curry with which we used to relish these, in small containers made of Leaves all stay with me.

 

Now, staying in Tripoli, I have found another lovely street snack-The Shorma.

Again, the vibration of the market, the lovely way in which they make the snack, right in front of you, and roll in a nice bread and serve it hot, and the oneness and vibrations

One feels all go into making it a unique experience.

 

Bread Pakoras at Daryaganj-Delhi…Shormas at Shara Omar Mokhtaar-Tripoli

 

 

Many years ago, when I first started staying alone, I had resolved to not go to occasions and outings where I would have to accept something-some hospitality or anything from someone, anyone that I could not return in exact measure.

 

And hence I usually do not go for any dinners or outings which fall in the framework of this ‘cannot-reciprocate-in-equal-measure’ guideline.

 

Life has been much more peaceful due to this.

 

And I have been opened to vistas which would never have come my way otherwise.

 

Going for long walks, having ‘Shorma’ at Shara Mokhtaar..or organizing Food workshops..

 

The great Russian writer Anton Chekov who wrote.. ‘that every man had his real, most interesting life under ... more and more attached to him..’

 

No wonder, though I have been here for over five years..some people still ask..

Never seen you around

 

 

 

http://prashantbhatt.wordpress.com/2009/03/18/never-seen-you-around/

 

 

Artists

 

Music-S.D.Burman

Lyrics-Shailendra

Sung by:Manna Dey

Hindi lyrics

aaa poochho naa kaise maine rain bitaayi
poochho naa kaise maine rain bitaayi
ik pal jaise, ik yug beeta ik pal jaise,
ik yug beeta yug beete mohe neend naa aayi
poochho naa kaise maine rain bitaayi

ut jale deepak it man meraa phir bhi naa jaaye mere ghar kaa andheraa
 ut jale deepak it man meraa, man mera, mera man, mera, mera
ut jale deepak it man meraa phir bhi naa jaaye mere ghar kaa andheraa
tadpat tarsat umar ganvaayi poochho naa kaise maine rain bitaayi

naa kahin chandaa, naa kahin taare jyot ke pyaase mere,
 nain bichaare naa kahin chandaa, naa kahin taare jyot ke pyaase mere,
nain bichaare bhor bhi aas ki kiran naa laayi poochho naa kaise maine rain bitaayi
 poochho naa kaise maine rain bitaayi

Source:http://atulsongaday.wordpress.com/2008/12/26/poocho-na-kaise-maine-rain-bitaayi/

Roughly translated

 

Do not ask how I passed through the night.

Each moment was like an age

Ages passed but no sleep.

Do not ask….

 

My mind burns like a flame

But the darkness of my house does not go

I spend the ages in torment

Do not ask how I passed the nights.

 

There is no moon, no stars

My eyes thirst for a flame.

Even dawn does not bring any ray of hope

Do not ask how I spent the night.

 

Initial dialogue between the son and father

 

The following link Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=376w1QPz07w

gives a very interesting dialogue between the son and father before the song.

The father is in pain and says it has been a very tough night. The son says he will bring some medicines. But his father says, this is the time for prayers not medicine. He can feel his end approaching.

 

It is time for the Morning prayers. The son asks how he will pray in this condition.

 

To which the father replies-For an Artist, his prayers are Music. Music which is heard in every mosque and temple.

 

Some associated thoughts

 

The setting of the song reminds me of the first post-independence generation of India.

Health care is a challenge in India even today.

 

Another aspect is the relation of the artist with his art and the continuity which

comes through following the traditions of music, literature and art.

 

Last November I sat with Sagar through his vocal music class.

 

He is now preparing to sing “Pucho Na Kaise Meine Rain Bitaaye”

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=376w1QPz07w

 

picturized on Ashok Kumar in the 1963 movie, Meri Surat Teri Aankhe.(Roughly translated-My Face, Your Eyes)

 

Do not ask me how I spent the night..But the English translation does not convey the emotions and depth.

 

An Old Hobby

 

My father, was a great enthusiast of Old Hindi film songs and he would note them down, in a small pocket diary.

 

I keep that diary in front of me, on my desk, as I carried it with me to Tripoli as a Souveneir. He used to sing from his college days in AIIMS (1958-1963), but seeing his collections, I realized that it was in the loneliness of his military field posting of Nagaland (1979-1982) when he really got serious into forming proper collections of the songs.

 

Army Medical Corps

Tobruk-Libya-October 2006
 

When I went to Tobruk –Eastern Libya in October 2006, I came across this tombstone of a brave soldier of Royal Army Medical Corps, dated Dec 21,1943.

 

As I saw the Emblem of RAMC I was reminded of my father’s badges, (which too I keep with me).

 

 The Indian Army Medical Corps has very similar Emblems to those of RAMC. My father served in AMC from 1963 to 1996.

 

Time to pass it on.

 

I do not have that range or discipline to follow the songs, their root ragas, which form their basis. That is what is being taught to Sagar by his Music teacher.

 

Once he knows the basics, the ‘pop-songs’ will be a cake walk for him, the teacher says, insisting that he learns the basics.

 

This echoes what his Guitar teacher ‘Ossie Sir’ says.

“He has to have the basic movements right.” Last October he passed the Cambridge exam and Maben showed me the notes of evaluation for every tune which he played and also how the examiner noted when the student had slipped and where he needed improvement.

 

I think it is time that I give the small pocket diary with the lyrics, which his grandfather made and some of those badges of AMC to my sons.

 

 

"Prashant Bhai..Diwali mein bhi bhool gaye.."... (Prashant brother..you forgot me even on Diwali-The festival of lights and Hindu New Year)...Mr.Deshbandhu Snehi gently chided me in his keen diplomatic manner around one and a half years ago.

Living in Tripoli, away from one's country, one sometimes tends to forget, and at other times, wants to forget as remembering brings too many memories..which can be disturbing

Mr.Deshbandhu Snehi-Addressing the Indian Community at Tripoli. Jan 26,2009

In his gentle manner, he slowly got me out of my shell. Last Friday, I had another lovely dinner with Snehi Sahib...Enjoying Samosas with Chutney..It was Holi (festival of Colors in India)

Over the months, interactions with this remarkable man has helped open many windows into the nuances of Literature, Art, Music, Cooking..

As He says...."I am not a Cook...But a Chef....Not a speaker but an Orator"

This underlying principle to do better, get into the root of things, is soemthing he practices in everying he touches.

Thank you Snehi Sir, for all the nice lessons taught  and shared

http://prashantbhatt.wordpress.com/2009/03/15/charming-evenings-at-tripoli/

 

"Whenever we come in contact with them, we feel a freshness" a friend told about the two sisters who study at JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University) Delhi

 Today I was just looking up Telegraph.co.uk and discovered that I had won the second prize in a competition on the theme "Laughter" for this photograph which I had submitted a few months ago (and forgotten about it)

 

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/go/tag/view/blog_post/laughter?cmd=list

Life in the campuses is so different from the routine

I also wrote an article on this theme last November...Titled Live In

“The world outside the campus is very cruel. There are people who pass sarcastic remarks or start giving patronizing advice regarding my job, career, potential marriage” she told as they sat together

Read full article..www.chowk.com/articles/14933

SUNSET OVER THE SAHARA

Party invitation

 

Last week I could not go to a party which he was hosting in his house. I got the invite on the net, but told him that as I am in Malad-Mumbai I will not be able to come for the get together at his house at Bengashir-Tripoli.

 

“But we will meet when I return” I wrote

 

Moonlit journey

 

It was in different circumstances that I made this journey past the Salahaddin crossing towards Bengashir on a full moon night watching the Outer Tripoli landscapes.

 

“Your friend Mathews has met with an accident” Dr.Laxman rang me up. Dr.Laxman is an old Libya veteran, children settled in US, and he, happy in the Mediterranean charm.

Last time we met was at Tirq Shaat-The seafront-doing fishing.

 

Pneumothorax.

 

“You will break all the records of Libya” I told Mathew as I walked into room number 6, on the second floor of Al-Afia.

 

He smiled, though he was obviously in a lot of pain. And Mathew is a tough guy. A couple of fractures as his stationary car was hit, as he waited to take a roundabout.

 

The pneuomothorax which developed a couple of hours later was the dangerous thing, but was promptly taken care of. He is much better now.

 

Readings

 

I will come with some books and read them aloud to you, I told him as I left.

 

Fishing in Tripoli                                                   Cooking at Ghadames

I thought of the many times I have spent with my friend Mathew, the trip to Gharian searching for the Anti-Gravity point  (which we never located), the trip to Ghadames, watching sunsets over the Sahara, the fishing at Tirq Shaat feeling the gentle Mediterranean breeze. The lovely chicken curry he makes-Farnaaj and Ghadames evenings. The Pakoras at Bengashir. The desert tortoise which he has given to me, to keep in my back terrace.

 

The moon shone brightly over the palms, as we raced back to Jraba.

Will go and read some nice things to Mathew tomorrow.( and get his caustic sick ‘expert’comments)

 
Hope to have some argumentative times over chicken curry and fish fry again

Hearing some music a bit more attentively.

 

Remembering 10:30 Yuv vaani programs

           

            I got some music CDs from Mumbai Inorbit, Malad on the last day of the brief stay in India. The flute music has tunes which I first heard at 10:30 pm in the night, on Yuvvaani program of All India Radio, sitting at 194 Old Boy’s Hostel, Maulana Azad-Delhi.

 

 Many lovely memories came alive, as I quietly listened to those lovely tunes, which I first heard, looking at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, in the night.Mornings at Kotla, Dinners at ITO. Delhi Charms.Runs on the grass. The smell of the early summer blooms.

And the Missi Roti, Dosas at Udipi, Egg parathas in the wee hours at ITO

The art movies at Shakuntalam. Feeding squirrels on the lawns of Kotla.

Early morning runs to Lodhi gardens. Sunset runs through Janpath-CP-India Gate.

 The tunes brought alive many memories.

We live and grow through tunes. Music has so many dimensions.

 

Guitar at Benaulim-Goa

 

“Can he play classical music” I asked Ossie sir about his student Sagar, who has been dedicatedly learning the guitar for two years.

“He knows the language, the base. Once you know that, you can play anything, anywhere in the world.” Meben Oswald (Ossie Sir ) replied with a tinge of pride.

 

Ossie talked about the Parsis who listen to concert music at NCPA-Nariman point.

 

“I will play the guitar in the live show at Pedro’s” Sagar told confidently.

He is another world, when he plays the guitar. And anyone listening to his music, is drawn into it.

 

We listened quietly , sitting on the sands, watching the Arabian sea.

 

 

                                                ***

 

Music has so many lovely dimensions, opening many horizons, and changing the way we feel things.

Toast With Trees

 

Bombay Natural History society

 

The morning sounds of a forest are so pleasant. Richshaws and horns of the city which we hear, are exchanged for the cuckoo songs and you can hear your own footsteps and crunching on the dried leaves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm5K0VtAey4
 

Are you a medical doctor?

 

The way she presented her talk made me spontaneously I ask this question.

 

 Yes, she replied.

 

This was Dr.Usha Desai who retired from MGM hospital Parel in 1997.

 

“After my MRCP I wanted to come back to my country to serve my people, but the way health care is organized in India, I found it difficult to work in villages. So I decided to work in the public hospitals, serving the needy who come there,” she explained.

 

“After my retirement, I had various options. But one thing I knew was that I was not cut out for private practice. The trees in my campus were my interest for long. So BNHS was a natural thing for me”

 

Now she has been active in BNHS for over ten years, done her courses in entomology,herpetology,leadbiodiversity,botany and started doing volunteer work.

Her first love is trees and then insects specially butterflies.

 

 

1941

 

As the main coordinator of the program Dr.  Dr. V.Shubhalaxmi explained the trees which one should plant and the ones we shouldn’t and how it is more important to take care of the existing trees rather than go on ‘tree-planting’ drives which are being done in a clichéd superficial manner by some corporate campaigners, my eyes fell on some water colors on display.

 

As I moved in closer to read when they were made, I saw the year…1941.

 

We found these in our archives.We are a part of a 125 year old heritage, the coordinator told

 

Further reading  http://www.bnhs.org/

Where the river Mandovi meets the Arabian sea, we watched the sun go down the horizon.

This was where Velha Goa was, which in it's glory was known as the "Rome of the East"

Smiles at Benaulim beach-according the Hindu mythology this is the spot where the mighty arrow of the Ascetic-Warrior Parshuram fell, creating land from the sea..the origins of Goa!

Relaxing..after a hearty meal of Goan curries and Fenny

A cheerful smile, a benevolent host..thanks..Dominik beach shack

 http://prashantbhatt.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/a-wish/

               Had an interesting conversation with ‘the man who taught me to make

            Notes’.

            Now it is ten years since he is heading the Faculty of Mathematics

            of a University.(Sagar-MP).

            “It has become a central university” he said.

            And then, our talks went on to what Pythagoras said of the people who

            come to the great fairs of life..some come to do business, some to

            play..and in the last come the philosophers, who have not come with

            the intention to make profit or enjoyment, but just to observe,

            and learn in this sea-of-life.

            He went on, for a long time-about applications of numbers in primary

            management systems, the teaching and administrative responsibilities and

            tasks…lectures and thoughts. on concepts and systems.
              It was nice talking first-hand to someone who is the closest

            to Pythagoras of all the persons I know.

 

 

Under construction

 

The Vipasana Global Pagoda, a center for Vipasana meditation is being built in Gorai. At a height of 325 feet, it is  tallest pillarless dome in the world. The structure measures 280 feet in diameter and 90 feet in height, and is flanked by two 60-ft tall pagodas

 

 

Caught these sights, of construction at work.

Further reading-

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1228804

 

 

      Recordings

 

    The Bombay Natural History Society which was established 125 years

            Has a camp beyond Film City-Goregaon East where a dedicated team of

            Experts and volunteers is helping spread awareness regarding the

            Environment and related issues.

 

            http://www.bnhs.org/

Explaining the world

One with the wilderness

 

           
  My friend Sandeep Buddhdeo has done two 10 day courses

           of  Vipasana Meditation at Igatpuri where they have to keep

            Absolutely quiet for the entire period.

 

            “Not even  non-verbal communications are allowed” he told me.

 

            “Those not following the norms are told to leave and cannot

            Participate in the future. They have a systematic database.”

 

            Mamta took me to the Vipasana centre which is being built next

            To Essel world. A nice ferry ride

 

            I remember the times when they were creating Essel World.

 

            Now this site is under construction