Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah Wali is the builder of the Golconda Fort in Hyderabad. A true architectural marvel . It is also a heritage site. So I was pretty excited to visit the place. Although I visited the Golconda Fort a long time back I wanted to relive the magic.
It started raining heavily in Golconda from the moment we reached the palce. We had to take refuge in a shop nearby. It was pitiful because we had to wait for around 45 mins in a packed shop.
After the rain subsided, the drizzle continued but the atmosphere was absolutely set for a wonderful tour with the cool weather and a cloudy sky. Had Mani Ratnam been there he would have surely shot a song with the magnificent setting for the drop !!
Well we started exploring the fort reading all the boards displayed related to the historical significance of each and every aspect of the fort. The fort is like a complete town in itself, I believe a lot of people still live inside the fort area.
The fort was truly a great touring option with its minarets and beautiful views out to the city. On one side the traditional Muslim architecture could be noticed and a view from another side would give a view of the latest and swanky buildings.
But that is just the far view. If you notice the side alleys and wild outgrowth in the lonelier parts of the fort you can see packets of Lays and Bingo chips lying all around. The walls are scribbled with the love stories of various Romeos and Juliets. Rajesh loves Deepa, Aftab loves Noor , i guess they forgot to paste a photograph of their lovers there . The narrow passage ways stink and the side drains are clogged with Chai cups and Chips packets. Did the Sultan litter the place before the enemy attacked ? I could not beleive my eyes when i witnessed the dirt and filth inside the fort.
The mosque at the top most level of the Fort is very beautiful, the fact that no should go into the old Mosque with footwear is mentioned clearly but a lot of love stories are inscribed on the walls of the mosque and well, the footwear rule is flaunted ruthlessly.
That day was Vijaya Dashami so music was blaring from four speakers attached at the entrance of the fort (inside the fort). Colorful streamers hung from the ancient walls. Is this how heritage sites are maintained in our country ?? A heritage site should be left at its peace. I understand the religious needs of people. But to hold some religious function disturbing the peace of an ancient fort is unbelievable.
I was shaking my head at this entire spectacle of hypocrisy !!
We are like this only !!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Achievements Galore.
Last week although very bad for the world economy and corporates, it was a really successful week for India in two aspects. One the fact that writer Arvind Adiga won the booker prize for his book "The White Tiger" and the other one Sachin Tendulkar becoming the highest scorer in test matches.
While Arvind Adiga is an achiever in his own respect, Sachin has remained an icon for time immemorial. While going through the post analysis in the newspapers and blogs there are certain observations I am forced to make, at the same time a few questions pop into my head as a very conscious Indian. Achievement in sport and Literature simultaneously for any country just shows how much impact the country is having on the world. It also shows what may come out in the future.
The media must have devoured these news bits like piranhas but the pertinent question here is - Is this the maximum our people can achieve ?
The achievements though par excellent do not really give the true picture of what a capable nation like ours can do.
It is surprising what could be achieved with a little support and encouragement. There are so many budding writers, sportsmen, classical dancers, people who specialize in traditional arts like Bidri works etc (which by the way are dying).
Parents think that if children take up things other than science, medicine are being adventurous and would land up nowhere.
This brings into my mind funny incidents which usually happen in trains to me.
In a train (specially in the second class and in the long distance ones) people would ask me a question "Where do you work ?" when I say the name of the company ( in this case an IT company ) they would start off by giving their own judgements on the IT industry in India and how people make money. My Brother in law's .... is working in (IT company) why dont you join that company ?? they take everyone they see . . . (evil laughter follows).
The funniest one being :
A car comes to pick my neighbors son !!! Why cant you work in a company that provides these facilities ???
While Arvind Adiga is an achiever in his own respect, Sachin has remained an icon for time immemorial. While going through the post analysis in the newspapers and blogs there are certain observations I am forced to make, at the same time a few questions pop into my head as a very conscious Indian. Achievement in sport and Literature simultaneously for any country just shows how much impact the country is having on the world. It also shows what may come out in the future.
The media must have devoured these news bits like piranhas but the pertinent question here is - Is this the maximum our people can achieve ?
The achievements though par excellent do not really give the true picture of what a capable nation like ours can do.
It is surprising what could be achieved with a little support and encouragement. There are so many budding writers, sportsmen, classical dancers, people who specialize in traditional arts like Bidri works etc (which by the way are dying).
Parents think that if children take up things other than science, medicine are being adventurous and would land up nowhere.
This brings into my mind funny incidents which usually happen in trains to me.
In a train (specially in the second class and in the long distance ones) people would ask me a question "Where do you work ?" when I say the name of the company ( in this case an IT company ) they would start off by giving their own judgements on the IT industry in India and how people make money. My Brother in law's .... is working in (IT company) why dont you join that company ?? they take everyone they see . . . (evil laughter follows).
The funniest one being :
A car comes to pick my neighbors son !!! Why cant you work in a company that provides these facilities ???
Saturday, October 18, 2008
A waft I identify well.
I am in a subconscious state. My mind is fighting with my body. It is that state when I am aware of the inputs given to my brain by the all the senses, but I am just not awake. Then a very familiar waft hits my nose. In a trance I wake up and go the kitchen, my eyes can now perceive light. I perceive touch when a familiar warmth grips me. I perceive sound when my mother says it is 5:30 brush your teeth your coffee is ready.
Sometime in the mid 90's - An uncomplicated period, everything was routine and beautiful. Coffee would wake me up and I would take bath go to school, come back after school play cricket or football then sit down to studying. Throw in a little bit of extra curricular activities lots of fun with friends and we had a life which was a life which was rocking.
Shopping meant going to a market, bargaining with the shopkeeper, making false promises that we would come back to shop if the goods were sold at a particular price. The flashy stores though few would be avoided since the prices are automatically assumed to be high. Every brand though less in number would be fixed for example toothpaste had to be Colgate and washing powder had to be Nirma or Ariel and things like that.
Television meant waiting with baited breath for the one and only and favorite serial to come on air. Cable television is used only by the rich and snobbish people - They do not have the decency to allow us when there is an India Pakistan match in Sharjah, what good can they do. Doordarshan with its crappy graphics and VIBGYOR screen savers were a treat. Serials were quite mesmerizing and kept the viewer from guessing what would happen next. Traffic at that point would be a little less since the serials were on and by the way which city in India was awake after 7:30 or 8 ?
Prime time television was a mixed bag - a news show hosted and conducted by the best in the business. A comedy serial which should guarantee a few laughs here and there. A serious one to cater to the "family audiences". A count down show were film songs would be shown ( the top three songs would be shown for its entire duration ).
Intelligent discussions would follow as to what might happen next in the serial or what would be the next song in the countdown. People who would be proved right would have a momentary ego high. Predictions were tough but not impossible to make was the message every body got.
Sometime after the mid 2000's
It has just been a decade of the simple life. Checking the left pocket for the mobile phone has become a routine job. A sudden outburst of nervous energy happens when something in our head says "Check if you have the phone or did you leave it at the coffee table ?". We jump up to check if the phone is in our left pocket.
The coffee now forces me to stay awake rather than waking me up from sleep !!
Sometime in the mid 90's - An uncomplicated period, everything was routine and beautiful. Coffee would wake me up and I would take bath go to school, come back after school play cricket or football then sit down to studying. Throw in a little bit of extra curricular activities lots of fun with friends and we had a life which was a life which was rocking.
Shopping meant going to a market, bargaining with the shopkeeper, making false promises that we would come back to shop if the goods were sold at a particular price. The flashy stores though few would be avoided since the prices are automatically assumed to be high. Every brand though less in number would be fixed for example toothpaste had to be Colgate and washing powder had to be Nirma or Ariel and things like that.
Television meant waiting with baited breath for the one and only and favorite serial to come on air. Cable television is used only by the rich and snobbish people - They do not have the decency to allow us when there is an India Pakistan match in Sharjah, what good can they do. Doordarshan with its crappy graphics and VIBGYOR screen savers were a treat. Serials were quite mesmerizing and kept the viewer from guessing what would happen next. Traffic at that point would be a little less since the serials were on and by the way which city in India was awake after 7:30 or 8 ?
Prime time television was a mixed bag - a news show hosted and conducted by the best in the business. A comedy serial which should guarantee a few laughs here and there. A serious one to cater to the "family audiences". A count down show were film songs would be shown ( the top three songs would be shown for its entire duration ).
Intelligent discussions would follow as to what might happen next in the serial or what would be the next song in the countdown. People who would be proved right would have a momentary ego high. Predictions were tough but not impossible to make was the message every body got.
Sometime after the mid 2000's
It has just been a decade of the simple life. Checking the left pocket for the mobile phone has become a routine job. A sudden outburst of nervous energy happens when something in our head says "Check if you have the phone or did you leave it at the coffee table ?". We jump up to check if the phone is in our left pocket.
The coffee now forces me to stay awake rather than waking me up from sleep !!
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