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
What a ‘wada’!
A chance visit to Vishrambaug wada got me thinking once again about how little we value what we have until it's lost for ever. What was once the residence of the mighty Peshwas of Pune, is now a dusty and dilapidated looking structure, its imposing carved wooden facade seems overwhelmed by the constant … Continue reading What a ‘wada’!
Kaka, janaar ka?
They are mostly a maligned lot, notorious for being rude, refusing fares, grumbling about distance and rigging meters. I've met my share of those and defiantly take cabs in front of auto stands. But I've also met another type- they're the ones who cheerfully take you where you want to go, enliven the journey with … Continue reading Kaka, janaar ka?
Move On
"Like a roller in the ocean, life is motion Move on Like a wind that's always blowing, life is flowing Move on Like the sunrise in the morning, life is dawning Move on" One of my favorite songs by one of my favorite bands. It came to me when I woke up to this lovely … Continue reading Move On
Parents of Millennials
It's not easy being a parent. It's uneasier being a parent of millennials. Like someone has said - We're the only generation that has to listen to its parents and to its children. Which means that we get it from both sides. Our parents expected (and got) unquestioning obedience from us. But our children get … Continue reading Parents of Millennials
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)
My dark shadow.
I have a little creature that moves around with me And what can be the use of it, but to add to my misery It lives in both my heart and head, and gets bigger when I go to bed The scariest thing about it, you know is the way it quickly starts to grow … Continue reading My dark shadow.
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!
Rain, rain, come again; come again and stay all day. Little Janu wants to play in the rain.
In 1986, following my father's retirement, my parents and I moved out of our comfortable 'sarkari' bungalow into a housing colony being constructed on the stony, dusty and barren slopes of a hill on the outskirts of town. Being an upcoming neighbourhood, the infrastructure was poor at best. The water supply was erratic, we were … Continue reading Rain, rain, come again; come again and stay all day. Little Janu wants to play in the rain.
Making ‘khichdi’ out of a ‘khichdi’
'Sabudana khichdi' is a popular fast-food where I live. And by fast-food, I don't mean whatever comes under the category of junk food, I mean food that can be had when one is fasting. Luckily, it's not restricted to only those fasting times, it can be relished at any time, any day. Which is why … Continue reading Making ‘khichdi’ out of a ‘khichdi’
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