musingsinmediterranean

Components of society and life

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:53:19 +0100

What constitutes our understanding of society? The market, state and civil society in varying degrees form our conception of the world.

We take from the table of life, what best suits us.

To read a complete account of some aspects of expatriate life in Tripoli
see this link
Half Alive Again:An Evening at Zawia Dahmaani

www.chowk.com/articles/16561

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In the seeds of Time..Of Rhythms, Metaphors and Messages

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:01:14 +0200

National Gallery of Modern Art-Jaipur House-Delhi

On a recent visit to Delhi, I did not take my nephew and niece to the zoo (where they wanted to go) but to the National Gallery of Modern Art.However, they did not regret it.(hopefully)

With Bapu

The lawns and museums around India Gate-Raj Path area have been a favorite haunt of mine for many decades.

“Who is Nandalal Bose” I asked them. They did not know before the trip started.

But after the trip, hopefully they will not forget the name of the artist who art scholars regard as one of the founding fathers of modern art in India.

A beautiful exhibition has been arranged at the National Gallery.

…Where the seeds of time are embedded…which charts the course of modern Indian art from the late Mughal school under Mohamed Shah (1719-1748) to the Company school (Daniells paintings of the Benares Ghats were the favorite with the children) to the first recognized Indian artists like Raja Ravi Verma who painted in the tradition of European Realism to illustrate themes of Indian history and mythology. The exhibition traces the trajectory of Modern Indian Art from the colonial encounter of the 18^th century to the current trends in the 21^st century.

The journey of India’s art parallels that of her history, as she evolved from a colony to a modern nation. Art developed in tandem with local exigencies, with artists responding to the socio-political and economic imperatives of each era. Art emerged as an important tool of the national movement. After independence many artist groups worked towards the creation of a visual language for a modern nation.

Nandalal Bose instilled in his students a confidence in India’s own cultural heritage.

In the words of one of his most famous students filmmaker Satyajit Ray (1921-1992)

“It was there at Santiniketan sitting at the feet of Mastermoshai (teacher) I learned how to look at nature and how to feel the rhythms inherent in nature.”

Some of the sculptures in the gardens of the National Gallery were moving

This one made me think a bit more than the others. A reclining man. In a very odd posture.

Medically –the artist has sculpted a person with severe kyphoscoliosis –bent twisted spine.

He will have respiratory problems.After going through the exhibitions I returned to see it again. A metaphor of the complex layers of being.

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Religious versus Spiritual experience

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:48:44 +0200

My father was a spiritual and religious person, who used to pray two

times a day, without fail.

I lost my faith in supreme supernatural power in my teens and my

father never could convince me.

But I have read deeply about these things, probably more than

most "believers".

Whenever I go to Delhi, I spend a few minutes at Sri Aurobindo Ashram Delhi.

The spiritual seekers there taught me something about the difference

between Religious-ritualistic experience and true spiritual experiences.

I have a very long way to go (slow learner).

But at least I know that the two things are different.

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At Lodhi Again

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:04:27 +0200

"Noida is too far" an old friend told me over the phone.

Four of us were sitting in a Bar in a suburb of Delhi .

The other friend was stuck in his job.

He rang up and wanted to know where we were.

Then I gave him two options

"Either you try to get through the Delhi traffic snarls and Carbon Monoxide and

try to meet me tonight, or you come to Lodhi gardens at 6 am tomorrow morning

for oxygen. No traffic at 5.30 am"..

My Carbon monoxide friend did not venture for the morning Oxygen at Lodhi gardens

However another old friend came....That was Guddu Bhai.

Lodhi gardens is a beautiful place to start the day..One with the energies and vibrations of the Universe

Remembering another morning-A few years ago

One Sunday morning, as I was walking alone at Lodhi gardens, a man coming from the opposite side suddenly came and embraced me. It was Guddu bhai. "Where have you been?! No phone, No contact. But I think of you often and knew that we would bump into each other in Lodhi gardens or Connaught Place some day" he said with great affection in his voice.

The link to the full story is (http://www.chowk.com/articles/14679)- Titled: A transfer

Yoga at the Lodhi Tombs-One with Infinity

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Lessons from a Nine Year Old

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 05:46:56 +0200

Birthday party-Kids dancing on Punjabi Rap Music

This year you are nine.
Next year you will be in Double-Digits
And many things in your life will double

The birthday greetings from his grandmother
set a beautiful chain of thoughts as I asked Sahil
what he wants to double in a year.

It is an interesting exercise.

He wants to double the number of Game CDs he has.

He wants to double his height,

but not grow “Double-Fat”.

There were many more.

The "Not-grow-double-fat” set me thinking.

What are the things which one would like to make half or even lesser..

Anger, laziness, blaming others….the list is long.

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Chess

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:03:30 +0200

The Pinnacle High International School Chess team with Rajesh Sir at Dadar
Organized by Mumbai School Sports Association (established 1893)

The organizers stopped the parents from entering the tournament area. (We will disqualify your child and also write a letter to the principal) But we had a nice time sitting under a tree and playing with the children.

Some of the kids were pretty smart. Here is a checkmate in seven moves.

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Hooks and swims

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:04:45 +0200

An “Old-Fox” gave an interesting insight on how
he solves "Tricky situations."

He is a veteran at cracking ‘difficult nuts’.

While not going into the details of the transaction,
(which are interesting but lengthy) I will share with
you how he summarized his endeavors

“If someone sits down in the water and is not ready to
see reason on the ground, then I have to see how to
pull him out of the water.

There are two options-
Either I jump into the water myself or
use a Hook to get him out.

For jumping into the water I should know how to swim.

As I do not know how to swim, I use the hook.”

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Transit at Istanbul

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:20:51 +0200

Transiting through Istanbul I came across
some interesting works.

Once there was, once there wasn't
God's creatures were as plentiful as grains
And talking too much was a sin

Preamble to a Turkish tale and
an Armenian one

One of my co-travelers got more outspoken
as the whisky got into his chemistry.
I know everything about dealing with the
airlines people, he kept saying...
Thirty years I have spent on this circuit.
From Tripoli to Delhi.
Do not be afraid of these airlines people.

He was getting louder and louder till the
air pressure differentials caused him to have
pain in the ears.

Give me some tobacco, he yelled at some of his
co-workers who were traveling with him.

Tobacco is the cure of ear ache, he continued.

We all smiled quietly at this new knowledge he
was imparting to us.

Comments

Iftaar

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:26:52 +0200

What the eyes are for the outer world, the fast is for the inner spiritual world.

Breaking fast and having discussions-meetings in this season of Ramadan

Here are some interesting persons with some excerpts of their conversations.

1859

The year when the first classification of different types of cheats was done through a penal code which differentiated between Thugs, Robbers, Dacoits. This has been further updated over the decades but the basics remain.

Those who use their tongue to cheat-Thugs.

Those who threaten but do not kill- Robbers

Those who Kill and loot- Dacoits.

The Cross

Symbols through post cards which we saw and explained.

The Order of Knights of St.John and the Maltese cross and it’s parallels in architectural symbolism through Casablanca to Damascus to the Sultans of India made another interesting theme.

Having traveled in many capitals of the world, the senior diplomat explained how power was shared and succession issues decided in some of the lesser developed societies who have not been the children of D.E.Mocracy, grandchildren of L.I.Berty and
E.D.U. Cation.

Symbols have been left behind by thinkers for us to decipher, down the centuries.

Why? History did not start a few decades over here

Pronunciations and Shapes of the mouth

The English teacher explained how his Anglo Indian teacher told the Indians to pronounce Ball.

The mouth has to be round so that Ball comes out well pronounced.

The Indians who do not round up their mouths when pronouncing Ball were not game to this and there were a lot of giggles.

Children of Tripoli

Bismillah ar-rahman ar-rahim…In the name of the Creator the Benevolent and Merciful

And so the journeys start. Breaking fast with Dates and Lebaan (fermented milk)

We are all in the same ship…the journey as seen through Tripolitania.

Slowly we shifted through some old photographs.

She came here in 1967, two years before the present regime took power.

She returned in 2000, to her country which was not there anymore.

Passport Yugoslavian, Country Slovenia. And many confusions of where one fits in!

So she returned to Tripoli, to the city where she had had her family and child.

I met her in 2006, all of 73 years, but with a grip stronger than most men I know.

Cleaning the Blood, sputum and pus of patients in Central hospital of Tripoli for 33 years!

We are the children of Tripoli, which has defined us in so many ways.

Cross culturalism

My father plays chess. I prefer table tennis.

As a Washington based engineer drew out a young medical student of Indian origin brought up in Tripoli, we came to know some more nuances of expatriate life.

We live mostly with the Indians, said one of the seniors who is pretty active in the Prayer groups.

I prefer to spend time with my Libyan friends who are very simple and open, the youngster observed his preferences.

Landscapes
Returning to the varying landscapes and mindscapes we went through some more photographs.

The different types of coastlines. The differences of the Temples of Sabratha and Luxor.

When are you going to Egypt next, one friend asked.

Not soon..but definitely we will make a trip together, as we discussed the Nile breeze.

Foods
Do not pull my tongue said an old friend, on seeing my instant food formula.

Coming back late from work Sea food has become an instant diet.

The Chicken curry has it’s own nuances followed by the different Indian dals.

I taught the Serbian how to make Indian dals, but now, my laziness (excuses of time-work commitments) have made me shift to Sea Food and Tuna.

Shifting mindscapes, landscapes, foodscapes. …Many lovely conversations in the Iftaar....tomorrow I will have Iftaar at Istanbul

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Ramadan Kareem

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:15:38 +0200

The last Friday of Ramadan that I will be in Tripoli..so I thought I will take
A walk through the city during the night.

Ramadan kareem..

The whole city comes alive in the night. Ramadan has so many nuances which are
Different when one lives in a Muslim country.

I stayed for a long time near "Old-Delhi" which has a Muslim majority population and could hear the morning Azan from Jumma Masjid in front of Red Fort of Delhi during my hostel days

However, the feel of joint prayers, fasting and festivity in Ramadan in a Muslim country is different.
***
Doktooor…Doktooor…the old man cried out as he saw me crossing the street in the night.

I had said a 'quick-nod-of-a-hello' to him and walked on as I knew there was a past 'connection' which was on his mind.

It all started over 5 years ago when he presented me the English translation of the Quran. I had tried to discuss a bit about religion (Against the advice of my seniors who has warned me about their persistent efforts to convert if you start discussions).
And I realized that they were right. Now he wants to know whether there is any "movement" inside me after having read the Quran.

For an old "conscious-atheist" as I call myself, I have read about Deism, Atheism, Monotheism, Polytheism a bit more than most people who profess to practice religion and believe in "God"..

But there was no "movement" inside me ..in the way that he wanted.

So I quickened my step…But he kept shouting..So I had to stop.

Give me back the copy if you do not want to read it, he said a bit impatiently.

It is in India. I will bring it back the next time I go, I told him.

Get it couriered tomorrow, he said.

Ok, Ok…I said..Now I avoid going through the street, especially in the night, lest I bump into my old Landlord
***
But I enjoy Ramadan in a different way, in its different nuances.

The scent of food when they break the fast.
The deserted streets when they are all inside..I take long walks at that time.
Going past Juma Mulai Mohamed..The Turkish built mosque with some beautiful marble inlays.Crossing the road from Mulai-Mohamed and touching the walls of Central (Hospital) the oldest teaching hospital of Tripoli, built during the Italian times
which reminds me of the British built campuses of Delhi and Mumbai
where I studied my medicine. The KEM and Irwin, JJ and Hardinge campuses.

Recording the Azan in the old city of Medina..

One feels Ramadan in so many different ways..beyond the routine which supposed to be there in the books.

Saha Saha...the Libyans invite me to join their breaking of the fast with dates and Halip or Lebaan (Milks of different types)

***
Maybe I will go and wish Ramadan Kareem to my old landlord too..
Though I know he will bring up the 'old-topic' again.

Comments

Miya Miya

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:47:44 +0200

Stop one second.. the bystander told me as I was
moving away after having said a quick hello to
my photographer friend Taha who runs a studio at
Ben Ashor.

It had been a good nice refreshing walk by the sea
and on seeing Taha after a long time, I went into the studio.

He goes for long visits to Korea and China and sometimes
we do not see each other for months.

I did not know this other man. But he insisted-Just a minute

I want to ask you one thing.

Yes? I asked.

What did you say when he asked - How are you?

It is then that I realized that without thinking I had answered
Miya Miya..to Taha's question.

Miya means 100 in Arabic.

The Libyan Arabs say Miya Miya..for all is well as a colloquial use.

Having stayed for long here, I have picked this up, without thinking much about it.

Till this man made me ---Stop ..One Second.

Then he asked me the English translation of Miya Miya.

I smiled and said...There is no English translation of the feel of the words Miya Miya.

He smiled and we said bye bye...

Comments

Festivity

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 13:10:48 +0200

The "White Bride of the Mediterranean" has been all lit up. Here are some night shots.

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All lights

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:39:06 +0200

Ramadan plus the first September celebrations
have made the Green Square area a very well
lit place with a festive atmosphere.

So, after a lovely dinner with Mr.Francis,
the English teacher, where he continued my education,
reviewing the evolution of the novel, the mythical,
economic, psychological, sociological, historical
interpretations of Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness"
or the many layers of "Poppy" which some arms of the
Americans are trying to stop, while others are trying
to bring to the streets, I went for a lovely walk
through the Green Square area of Tripoli.

"He does not know how to cook" Mrs.Francis complained.

"You are responsible" I said.

She is such a good cook. Lovely South Indian style
food made in Tripoli Libya. A treat for a person living
on Tuna sandwiches and Shormas and Kebabs.

Lights of life, physical and mental.

Whom did these lights take along with them?
Whom did they leave behind?

Some discussions in the Tripoli Cafes amidst Regila
and Coffee..

One brilliant engineer lamented at the lack of application
by the present generation of engineers who were not
trained in the English language. He is trained in Scotland,
studied in Tripoli at a time when English was taught in the
schools and is about as fine a Scientific mind as you can meet,
using Gas Chromatography to get to Chemical break up of
different rocks and other things.

Lights..walks..chemical and spiritual

Comments

Reading spots

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:42:41 +0200

Some nice views from a Hill on the coastline

Two dogs faithfully followed us here Found some Relics of the past

Also some garden art

Some messages through time

And while we were away, our friend was waiting ..he loves the Chicken lollies that Sagar
and Sahil would feed him.

Comments

Manori-West coast

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:56:46 +0200

Finally got away from my "relatives-friends" and found a nice spot on the western

coastline facing the Arabian sea.

A little drizzle did not dissaude me from going up this hill.

The panorama was wonderful. (will be posting a few interesting videos in coming days)

And lot of Food for Thought.

What was the Enlightenment and it's relation to state and religion.

The resort is a bit difficult to reach, and this spot a bit more.

No one really wanted to meet me so desperately that they would come by ferry, through

the rain and then climb this hill...a bit slippery in the rain.

Musing on Immanuel Kant's beautiful words

The Motto of Enlightenment-Have the courage to use your reasoning

Comments

Walks and reads in the Park

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:13:56 +0200

Changing urban landscapes of Mumbai have seen some manicured gardens come up.

So this morning, I went to the Mindspace garden near my house..to do the thing I love most- Reading in a quiet place.

The monsoon clouds and slight drizzle, chirping birds and the Yoga Instructor who did not hold his class today but said hello, and the main Supervisor of the guards who scolded two of his juniors for sitting in one Place and chatting and not minding the ‘couples’ who tend to get a bit too romantic for public places added to the read.

Reading a book and reading a place, like reading persons and situations are all textures of reading.

Back to a thorny topic on which I am doing research and notings- Consumer empowerment in health care delivery systems.
Got hold of a book, all with charts and tables. A bit heavy, but interesting.

...returning to the park again, 'escaping' the relatives who have come to know of my 'secret' visit and have come to 'disturb' my reading...How are you? Fine..How long is your stopover at Istanbul? Two hours...

Sorry sir, I am going back to reading ..in the park Mindspace gardens-Mumbai

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Diary of Movement-Karate at Pinnacle High Mumbai

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 08:55:34 +0200

Last evening I sat and saw some movements of the Shotokan Karate class.

My sons are learning Karate at their school. They are beginners, but one of them
has already surpassed whatever little I learnt of Shotokan –way back in the late eighties.

The more advanced students and instructors show dedicated resolve and practice.

Here is an instructor with his advanced students showing how to fend off a hand attack and then retaliate by a knee level kick.

Later in the day, we added the next chapter of our food diary-a lovely dinner..
Sahil (my younger son) thinks and lives through food. Chicken Masala, Pinneaple custard, Chilly Chanas, Mutton Soup with Naan.

Sagar is planning to add to his Tortoise diary of Tripoli by adding two turtles to his collection in Mumbai and also planning a trip to Galapagos (some time in future).

How many lovely angles and forms a diary can take.

Comments

Remembering my teachers through Mr.Francis.

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:23:17 +0200

Magic friends…My lovely teachers.

Last time I met him, was over four years ago.
Then guided-inspired by words from some of my blog
friends, I decided to contact him again..after a long time

I always loved my English classes and was a favorite
of my English teachers, standing first in all four
divisions in English and History, despite being a
science student.

I still remember my History teacher a Sikh named
Varyaam Singh of Pune, who used to teach about Tipu Sultan
with great vigor, enthusing the whole class with the glories
of what I later learnt/realized was just a Feudal Lord.

But in those times, (way back in the seventies) he did
enthuse a sense of national pride in us.

(which again I realize now, only divides the working people..
like race and religion)

Then there was an English teacher, a very graceful gentle
Bengali lady, Mrs.Majumdar in Delhi, who charmed me into a
love for Ruskin Bond.

The Shamli stories of India's Wordsworth in prose.

I still keep some of those notes..and go through them over
a golden sunset, watching the blue-green Mediterranean.

Though Mr.Francis has never taught me in a class, I adore him
as he reminds me of those great teachers who shaped me in their
own significant ways.

The Mathematics teacher who taught me about study method.

The Hindi teacher who instilled a love of poetry in me.

This Friday, I sat down for a few hours with dear
Mr.Francis, who first came to Tripoli in 1979.

If I had studied in Tripoli, he would have been my teacher at some time.

And he yet teaches me a thing or two..about nouns, verbs, life and diction.

Thank you Sir

Comments

Why do they not ring me up?

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:43:54 +0200

An aunt asked me about the behavior of my sisters who never bother to call her up.

Reaching out

That set me thinking of the many relatives whom I do remember but never bother to contact.

My cousins whom I used to visit when I used to stay in hostel.

My aunt used to tell me to keep contact with them after she passed away.

She passed away a day after Christmas, 8 years ago.

I haven’t called for over a year.

Then the uncle of mine who had a mild heart attack. I have his phone

number. But never bothered to call.

My late father’s sisters…I never bothered to call.

Nurturing.

She agreed that there are many relatives with whom we should have

Nurtured relations, but did not

Busy?

Is anyone so busy that they cannot call up for a few moments?

Changing patterns

Maybe, it also has to do with the texture of life, the changing

modes and priorities.

Maybe..something like this crushed paper cup of Capaccino
which I saw on my walk to Tripoli port today morning...

Comments

City living

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:34:56 +0200

Sitting in the Turkish restaurant, munching kebabs,
salad and Lentil soup (which tastes very much like
Indian Dal) I thought about yesterday's talk with a
diplomat at the embassy,who has seen many cities
all over the world.

He talked about the developed and civilized world, the
set patterns and planning of the cities and how these
are modelled on the western cities, the differences between
different areas in a city, the suburbs and town side of Mumbai
for example, the struggles to commute in a metro like
Delhi where 2 to 3 hours a day are just spent on travel.

In that way, Tripoli is much easier to live in.

Is it a struggle to live in our big modern hyped-up cities?

Comments

Finding One’s Moon

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:48:14 +0200

Some musings on 40th anniversary of the moon landing.

MY WATER WORKS UNCLE

When I was a small child, an uncle of mine used to tell me that he was going to go for a space walk. That was in the early seventies and I did not quite believe him. He used to work in the water works of Agra, and was a very practical man.

But how can you go for a space ride? I asked him.

He told me that just like people go for aeroplane rides, one day they will go for space rides. When that day comes, I will be a space tourist.

He did not live to see that day. But whenever I see news of space tourists, I remember this teacher-visionary uncle of mine. Then I wonder, even though what he said was right, could he, an ordinary man pay for that costly ride?

As I grew a bit older, (and more argumentative) I used to ask him what good it was to go to the moon when there was no safe drinking water for many. Maybe your water-works job has it’s own significance, which you do not realize, day dreaming about going to the moon. He would reply by a silent smile.

I would try to provoke him further by asking how India is claiming to be a ‘big-power’ while millions go without safe water and proper food. The water-works uncle would reply with a silent smile.

In these small conversations, we covered some thorny issues of the relation and relevance of these costly missions to the common man. The balance between science and adventure and all the politics and money involved.

BE MY COLLINS

Michael Collins had been allotted the role of command module pilot in the Apollo series.
When one talks about space, millions will know the name of Yuri Gagarin or Neil Armstrong. Few would know the second man on the moon-Buzz Aldrin, and even fewer would know the third man involved in the mission-Michael Collins.

The support of Collins in the command module was crucial to the mission and cannot be overstated.

The ‘water-works uncle’ was like Collins in many ways. A guide, mentor, and someone who would tease one’s imagination to broaden one’s horizon, he supported many of our family in different ways. Though not physically with us, he still guides us spiritually.

WHICH IS FARTHER?

In his book “Carrying the Fire” Michael Collins reflects
To compare the sensation with something terrestrial, perhaps being alone in a skiff in the middle of the Pacific ocean on a pitch black night would most nearly approximate my situation. In a skiff, one would see bright stars above and black sea below. In each case, time and distance are extremely important factors. In terms of distance, I am much more remote, but in terms of time, lunar orbit is much closer to civilized conversation than is the mid-Pacific. Although I may be a quarter of a million miles away, I am cut off from human voices for only forty-eight minutes out of each two hours, while the man in the skiff-grazing the very surface of the planet-is not so privileged, or burdened. Of the two quantities, time and distance, time tends to be a much more personal one, so that I feel simultaneously closer to, and farther way from Houston than I would if I were on some remote spot on earth which would deny me conversation with other humans for months on end.

FIND ONE’S MOON

As I was discussing some nuances and reflections, one of my old friends who always helps keep me less dreamy, asked- Where is your mind wandering?

The moon expedition was a great scientific and logistical exercise. This was another thing which my humble ‘water-works’ uncle was very good at. Planning, keeping inventories and notes. The farthest he went out physically was to the Himalayas. But the base he set for me and many of our family, the vision of even being able to go to outer space (which I did not believe then) and the note books and accounts he would keep taught us some steps of imagination, planning and logistics which are essential to any journey.

So I told my friend-No I am not dreaming of going to the moon.

But wherever I have reached, is because of one dreamy uncle of mine, who told-Everyone has to find his own moon.

Comments

Bliss walk

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 06:02:37 +0200

Though a private letter in response to my blogs,
I thought this one has a message worth sharing.

So, without naming anyone,...

I got this lovely letter.

Watching the transformation

I had been going to the forest for a month[5th june to 5th..july] to see the transformation....to see how..when and in what sequence the wild flowers come up...
and then the flowers, their names are described in vivid detail.

The joy of seeing the transformation coming alive.

The designs of Nature

Now the forest floor which was covered by dead fallen leaves ..orange,brown,black,red,maroon..is covered by wild flowers..and criss_crossing the floor like information highways are green rubber tubes like climbers......and as soon as they reach a tree,they start twinning around....but after the rains ,they start sprouting leaves

Some lessons of the forest

soon all kinds of herbs come up,the trees start sprouting new leaves..all kinds of insects come up.too. mosquitoes,bugs,beetles,dragon flies,,,[and you get bitten uptoo....side effect of forest walk]..then come the frogs and reptiles and within 2 weeks the forest has come alive...IT IS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE...

A prayer and Invocation

I am grateful to God for giving me so much joy in my old age...but I am waiting for the day when I NEED NOT GO OUT for I will get joy from INSIDE...it is called BLISS...that too shall happen.I know...only patience is required...and it is going to be a long wait.

***

I read these beautiful words, and felt bliss

Hopefully,one day, I will walk the Nature trail, like this ..

Comments

Shadows in a forest

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:27:33 +0200

On a quiet Friday morning, I went to a small forest area near my house.

The play of shadows amongst the trees, with some surprises (a dead dog amongst the Fallen leaves) added to the pleasures of the Read.

Man on moon

40 years ago, the giant leap took place. Was it an adventure or a huge scientific logistic exercise of Superpower egos?

Thought about the Science, Politics, Money and Romance of Space travel while walking and listening to the crushing of dried leaves, strange hooting sounds of birds which I could not see and the more familiar chirping of the sparrows.

Wood Art

The carvings on the tree bark made me think of the layers of natural history. Remembered the last time I had come here and told my son about the spirits which travel through centuries, the paltriness of our “physical-sense” realities and the need to connect to the energies through the centuries to find like minded people. I do not know how much of this he understood, but maybe-one day he will, in his own ways remember the Arts and Words of the Forest.

Genealogy

Another interesting thing we did in the past week was study the Genealogy of some central European families. Ivan was the first of our lot, and then we went on to trace eight generations.

The first of us was not from Belgrade Serbia, where the family now stays, but at the border of Montenegro and Albania. Remembered what another Serb had told about the heart of the Yugoslav nation in Kosovo. Many geographical boundaries have changes in the past two decades. But when they start tracing back, it is all one.

Did Serbonitza do any good to any Common Man?

Both the arguing sides kept quiet.

A few more steps

The shadows were changing shape, as I went through the pages of the diary again, the life of the mind taking many different forms. The same words having different meanings when read in my room or in my back terrace (with my turtle friends) or in the Forest with the hooting birds which I could not see.

Time to move on….time to say goodbye…to the shadows in the forest.

Comments

Every place has it's Bastille, and every Bastille it's despot

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:46:08 +0200

We were discussing …the Meaning of Bastille

The natural moderation of Louis XVI, contributed nothing to alter the hereditary despotism of the monarchy. Thomas Paine explains beautifully the nature of Tyranny in The Rights of Man, Part 2 of 16, Being an answer to Mr.Burke’s attack on the French Revolution.
….
14th July-Bastille day…TRG goes through some notes….

"But there are many points of view in which this Revolution may be considered. When despotism has established itself for ages in a country, as in France, it is not in the person of the king alone that it resides. It has the appearance of being so in show, and in nominal authority; but is is not so in practice and in fact. It has its standard everywhere. Every office and department has its despotism, founded upon custom and usage. Every place has it Bastille, and every Bastille its despot. The original hereditary despotism resident in the person of the king, divides and sub-divides itself into a thousand shapes and forms, till at last the despotism, proceeding on through an endless labyrinth of office till the source of it is scarcely perceptible, there is no mode of redress. It strengthens itself by assuming the appearance of duty, and tyrannies under the pretence of obeying."....The Rights of Man-Thomas Paine

While the French revolution shaped our destiny in many ways, we still have our Bastilles today.

There are myths propagated, people around the main power that benefit and hence propagate the tyrannies.

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Wild flower walk.

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:32:25 +0200

A poet said, Centuries follow one another,

Perfecting a wild flower.

So, on a nice Tripoli morning, with a book in hand,

I went photographing some wild flowers

Banana Milk shake

There is a café –juice shop at the corner of Shara Nasr

Just as we turn towards the big mosque towards Maidaan Jazier

He serves honey-butter sandwiches (too heavy for me) and coffee

(too strong for me) and Milk shake (my companions in the morning reads)

A church sermon

After an hour’s read at the park, (quiet on a Friday morning), I walked to the Dahra

San Francisco church. The Philipino mass was going on. Sat in the church, reading the book, as

The sermon was a particularly tasteless one..the priest was trying too hard, and

failing miserably.

The world-teacher who wrote the book asked a much more interesting question

What was it like …to be young and intelligent in the London or Berlin of 1939?

Zawia Dahmaani

As I shifted away from the blue green sea views of the port, the medieval Medina reflecting in

the clear waters and turned back towards my house, the city was gradually coming to life.

Smokers were now…gathering in the cafes.

Golden domes are being prepared for the mosque down the street where I live.

Caught them shining, against the blue skies, amidst the construction pillars.

A nice end to a wild flower walk, on a quiet Tripoli morning.

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Food Art

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:17:17 +0200

Of food art, after a day’s work, who will cook

So I sometimes stand in the corner bakery and watch

my friend make these delicious eats..

We both are friends, sharing many common things

A love for food

Watching the world go by…from the bakery

He from Egypt, remembering the Cairo Café’s

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Of Artists and creators-Mumbai

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:45:24 +0200

A teacher and his student

Leonardo Da Vinci said of his pupils-they are my creations.

Here, in this video-Mumbai art teacher and musician

sings and plays the guitar

Maben Oswald

I first heard of Maben Sir through the letters I used

to get from India.

He has toiled with my son for 3 years.

But on talking to him, I came to know the many facets

of this wonderful human being.

Left a 5 star Manager Job-For his love for music

His father called him 'crazy', relatives and friends

'counselled' him, but he gave up a promising career

in the Hotel industry for his first love-Music

Not many of us have the guts to follow our dreams

in this manner.

Many Salutes

The Digital Revolution

With the digital revolution, the virtual studio came

in and many promising musicians were booted out of the

Bollywood music industry. Maben was one of them.

But he held on

In parties, clubs, church concerts, Teaching school children

his art and passion.

The Song
Rim Jhim Gire Saawan

Movie:Manzil

Year:1979

Lyrics:Yogesh

Singer:Kishore Kumar

Music Director:R.D.Burman

Roughly translated

Rim jhim gire Sawan, sulag sulag jaaye man

Bheege aaj is mausam mein, lagi kaisi ye agan

In this rainy season, my mind burns

How this fire, in this wet season

Jab Ghunghroo Si Bajti hein Boondein

Armaan Humaare Palake na moondein

When the Rain drops sound their music

My visions and aspirations soar.

Creations
Maben has created many musicians

He sings and plays with the heart.

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Walks

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:59:18 +0200

The large park next to the zoo has a charm of it's own.

Seeing the zoo animals from the open side, on a lovely cool

summer morning has a charm of it's own.

We even made some designs with shadows in the park

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Sketches

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 09:30:20 +0200

Sketching makes on see patterns

which the cursory glance does not yield.

So, apart from swimming and floating,

we did some sketch studies of Mattia Preti's works

Truth being intimidated by vested interests.

Flags in the background.

Layers within the composition.

There were flags in the paintings, which we

could see only after some time.

Messages through time.

In the robes, postures, glances..all through sketches

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Floating and Stillness

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:12:23 +0200

Another lovely sunny summer afternoon by the sea.

Your floater is a trick..I told my friend.

The Egyptian added to the cynic disbelieving sarcasm

of my dear friend Mathew who did not quite believe me.

"Next you will be telling me that you can sketch while swimming"

OK..I went and floated, without the floaters.

They came close to see whether I was doing anything.

Nothing

Not a muscle was moving.

They were a bit unconvinced initially, but had to give in

Oh! I said you can float for some time..Do it for half an hour

and show me. My friend now added a new demand while conceding

that one can easily float without the floaters.

The ability to lie still is the basis of the ability to float

in water.

But few can lie absolutely still...in water or in real life.

Once one is still, many secrets and lessons open up

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