Saturday, December 7, 2013

The Old Man and His Kanger: A Silent Story by Dal Lake

Old man and his Kanger (a pot filled with hot embers) sits on the bank of Dal Lake.  

On the tranquil banks of Dal Lake, an old man sits, his weathered face etched with stories of a lifetime. Nearby, a Kanger—a traditional Kashmiri pot filled with glowing embers—sits close to him, its warmth radiating in the crisp evening air. The Kanger, a constant companion in the cold winters, is more than just a source of heat; it’s a symbol of resilience, tradition, and the quiet strength of the Kashmiri people.

As the sun sets, casting a golden hue over the shimmering waters, the old man’s eyes seem to reflect the lake’s depths—silent, yet full of memories. The soft glow from the Kanger illuminates his face, casting shadows that dance like the ripples on the lake.

In this serene moment, the world seems to pause. The old man, his Kanger, and the vast expanse of Dal Lake form a timeless connection, each element in perfect harmony. The embers in the Kanger flicker, just as his memories do, ever-present and enduring.

He doesn’t speak, but his presence tells a story—a story of a life lived in the embrace of nature, where the Kanger was both a source of warmth and a companion in solitude. As the evening settles, the old man remains, a quiet figure by the lake, forever intertwined with the land, the water, and the embers that keep him warm.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Imagine, Line of Control

When the concertina wire weaves your nightmares,
overshadows your homes, stretches lengths.
Imagine, Line of Control.

They throwing letters wrapped in stones towards their own, across the stream,
they cannot meet.
Imagine, Line of Control.

When a son kneels down and mourns his father's demise,
watches the funeral from far across the fence.
Imagine, Line of Control.

Almost a no-man's land,
where shells fly more frequently than birds,
Imagine, Line of Control.

The contentious blood smeared line,
drawn out of fanatic egos, fulfilling greed.
Imagine, Line of Control.

Endless wait, dried up tears and blurred visions,
women waiting for their sons, brothers and husbands.
Imagine, Line of Control.

Decorated with electrified barbs, watchtowers and locked villages,
where each person is known by a mere number.
Imagine, Line of Control.

We watch each footstep on our own soil, unaware what might come beneath the next one
the soil may explode, ending our story in a whisker.
Imagine, Line of Control.

Where you hold your breath, trying to feel the breeze flowing towards you from across,
emotions touch the chasm.
Imagine, Line of Control.

Envy these birds in flight, they know no confines,
we too wish to fly to see life around.
Imagine, Line of Control.
Image details: This river in the above image, located in Tanghdar area of Indian Administered Kashmir, splits the two sides of Jammu and Kashmir. The bridge links the ghosts.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

The dark age

Was doing a casual research on Africa. If you believe the corporate media, then the ongoing devastation in nations like the Democratic Republic of the Congo is all just a case of ugly tribal warfare. But that is a superficial, simplistic explanation that fails to connect this terrible suffering with the immense fortunes that stand to be made from manufacturing cell phones, laptops and other high-tech gadgets. 
What is really at stake in this bloodbath is control of natural resources such as diamonds, tin, and copper, as well as cobalt - which is essential for the nuclear, chemical, aerospace, and defense industries - and coltan and niobium, which is most important for the high-tech industries. 
And, I keep on thinking!!!

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Chingus Sarai

'Chingus' (Persian for Gut/intestines) Sarai
A few days back I had an opportunity to visit this monument of Mughal era located on Nowshera-Rajouri route (Rajouri District in the Jammu division, J&K). The monument dates back to 16th century AD.
Emperor Jahangir passed away in 1627 A.D while travelling via Mughal road near Rajouri. In order to avoid possible confrontation of succession among the princes, Noor Jahan kept the fact a secret from the people and the caravan and to avoid decomposition of the body the entrails were buried at this monument known as Chingus Sarai.
Then the rest of the body was taken to Lahore for formal burial. After the burial of entrails, this Sarai came to be known as Mughal Sarai-Chungus or Chingus Sarai.
(A detailed article follows soon)

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Iftar at Jama Masjid

It was one of those hot but colourful days when you want to quench your thirst each moment you take a turn in those tight lanes and bylanes of old Delhi. The month of Ramzan (Ramadan) brings unique colours into the lives of the believers in one way or the other. That blissful win over that eagerness to gulp in a bite to defeat a tussling empty stomach. Conquest, battle within a battle, empowerment, enrichment is what one feels somewhere within. The physical fast is a way of learning to be above the demands of the body while also stepping into the shoes of people who routinely do not have enough to eat.
That day was a battle through the busy streets of Chawri bazar to reach the magnanimous Jama Masjid just in time.
As soon as I stepped in barefooted over the tiles of hot red stone, I could see young men and boys arranging queues of platters full of delicacies to be distributed among the attendants to open a day long fast.
Thudd! Two shattering blasts marked the end of the fast. The blasts are echos of simpler times, before most people owned a clock or watch and there were no loudspeakers or TV channels to announce the Iftar time.
The cannon is fired each day to announce the breaking of the fast at the sunset prayers of Maghrib.
I managed to capture few light moments right before the sun faded away.
The hue and aura captivated the senses and one could feel mystic sublime soothing one's inner self.
Above: Women waiting for maghrib while reciting Holy Quran.
Above: Jama Masjid after dusk.

Sunday, June 9, 2013

The pinhole of life

The world through the pinhole of life,
peeping into the unknown,
always curious about the unseen realms.
I hear the calls, 
then draw shapes out of my imagination.
I am still me,
but the only thing that tends to play with senses is the quest for,
the invisible,
the unseen.
The bubbles of thoughts,
the bouquet of ideas,
leads you to draw fluffy castles one over the other..
forever...

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Glow midst the woods

You will find something more in these woods than in books. So many stories, silent whispers, the glow... Nothing is more beautiful than the loveliness of the woods in the dark.