Heritage of Hampi: some high-lights

Monuments and their ruins are fascinating places. The grandeur and the stunning, intricate architecture is expected, but what fascinates me more is the unexpected. The little surprises tucked away in nooks and crannies, the play of light and shadow from certain angles, a tiny carving in a corner that has so many details but is … Continue reading Heritage of Hampi: some high-lights

Heritage of Hampi- a very Kishkinda kinda kingdom

Hampi- now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, earlier an imperial city and the capital of the powerful and prosperous Vijaynagar Empire during the Middle Ages. So much has been written about the place already that anything I pen down would be mere repetition. And not a very good one either. There is a lot to … Continue reading Heritage of Hampi- a very Kishkinda kinda kingdom

The Archivist. (a tribute)

My father was a man of few words, but also a man who knew many words. He could read, write and speak Urdu, his English was impeccable, his Hindi fluent and he taught Chinese. His diction was flawless; all those tricky 'k', 'kh' 'z' and 'gh' sounds which are typical to Urdu, he uttered with … Continue reading The Archivist. (a tribute)

Eat to live, but live a little!

Ok, so- how does this sound? Lightly toasted and buttered muffins, with a thick slice of spicy harissa grilled chicken in between, accompanied by the token lettuce leaves and dollops of sour cream and mustard to go with it. On the side, there's a plate of golden potato wedges, fried to perfection and sprinkled with … Continue reading Eat to live, but live a little!