Life in a magic world

The city is a fascination for many.. I find it more interesting than just living in Kashi... An evening at the ghats, looking at the endless ghats.. and the steep steps leading to in-lanes  Got a wonderful experience today.. was stressful after a long hot day and the decision to walk on the ghats in the evening got me some new exposures of the city  started my walk at Dashashwamed Ghat today, moved further and saw a scene of feeding the destitute and poor people by a family near the Mir Ghat just proceeded further, reached Manikarnika Ghat... as usual, bodies merge with the nature back in the form of ashes Manikarnika kund still stands as the witness of time, Ratneshwar Temple, stands ahead with sign of the latest lightening effect. two small side elevations broken and fell down as the water level is pretty low, you can still view the Shivlinga inside  Further ahead, the Panchaganga Ghat, Aarti is just going on in the riversid...

It is one of the most prestigious places of India. The achievement of Government is visible in every inch or the sign of prosperity of India. Seeing the palatial design, One forget that he is in India. it is almost 2 am now., waiting for my next flight with sleepy eyes. People are sleeping in transit lounge in the first floor of the departure building. Some are coming, some are going to their check in counters. The FM radio of T3 echoes the old Hindi songs, Trolly bags moves with a burden of the weight on their back people are moving with a shadow of sleepy and tiring body it is 3.30 am now. my eyes are trying to get a relief, but my alarming body takes care of by baggage all of a sudden appears 3 young boys. making ready their counter. 4 or 5 young girls appear other side getting ready with their tasks now the counters are ready, alerting their clients to be in line Once the work is done for client, the staff sighs in relief, But another pax come to the...

Banaras -A City or Civilization. Sri Amitabh Bhattacharya  (Renowned journalist and scholar, Varanasi) Benaras - A city living through ages where other cities progress and thrive up on modernity, it stands as an example of enlightening oneself to the highest state of self actualisation. it is a city of detachment of desires or enable one to elevate once mind to state of desireless. It gives the meaning of life. Manikarnika Ghat and Harichandra Ghat tells the world about the ultimate meaning of human life where the human body again becomes part of the nature. It has a history, and it has a strong foundation. This foundation  is the cornerstone of the the richness of the pluralistic life and culture which survived the invasions of Mughals, British and at the same time it shown the world coexistence of faiths and religious tolerance. 27 religious identities live in Banaras in absolute harmony. The city is lives with Lord Shiv, the Ganga is the fluid form of Shiv...

Prof. Amreswar Galla Executive Director, International Institute for the Inclusive Museum Denmark, Australia and India As part of BHU Centenary Celebrations, the Department of History of Art, arranged a Special Lecture by Prof. Amreswar Galla in Annie Besant Hall, Faculty of Arts on 19.08.2015. The title of the lecture was Linking Tourism with World Heritage and Sustainable Development.  Key points  India: The land of unlimited opportunities. The approach of government exploring the possibilities of developing important cities in India through  National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojan a  (HRIDAY) and  Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive ( PRASAD) scheme are examples of opening up the space for citizens and tourists as well. But the main question is  India prepared to take the advantage of the opportunities? Are we ready to take up the issues seriously to conserve the heritage of...

Scattered clouds all around the sky, The setting sun shower its golden rays, the slopes of mountain say bid adieu to the day. The journey ends here and the day ends here. but left the golden memories around, as the shades of darkness slowly grip the earth, memories also fade over time, but the mountain peaks, stand as the witness, of the passage  of time.

Lucky those live here.. a scene captured in camera during my trips (Himachal Pradesh)

Today is March 01, 2015 (Sunday). Time 5.30 a.m. location Assi Ghat There is mild breeze in the air. The ghats are still under the sleepy silence. People started coming to Assi Ghat to experience the Subah Banaras i.e Morning Banaras. With a slight change in the regular days, the Ghat is occupied by tourists as well as local people. An announcement is audible with a caution to take seats and keep silence. Its 5.45 a.m. The girl students from Panini Kany Vidyalayay, Varanasi, in yellow sarees are ready to chant the Sanskrit mantras in a rhythmic way. The panditjis who perform aarti is ready and is facing the river Ganges with folded hands. The silent air echoes the prayers and everyone is deep in the heights of spiritual sphere. After the end of the chants, the girls move to Yag ya area where they started the yagya while the morning aarti takes place. The sky is slowly clear now and the breeze is bit stronger. The fire in the yagya and the aarti both touch the minds and s...

Light to the world  A tribute to the tree and the God   an illuminated house 

The river flows silently, the horizon turns red to welcome sun... Subah Banaras, The day starts..  To catch the morning in to canvas 

  Some expectations of a philanthropist I am a frequent traveller in Indian Railways. Trips last for minimum 6 hours to maximum of 48 hours. Mainly in 3AC after joining BHU, and also worried of the comfort and safety. Some issues always turn my attention to dream for a better railway system. 1. Changing platforms int he last minute without proper information. Imagine a station like Mughal Sarai, where most of the crowd convert overbridges as platforms, and if there is no light or electricity in platforms.  If you are travelling with your family(elderly, women and children).  only way is to pull the chain.  2. Inside the train, don't expect any civility from co-passengers as well as the Linen staff or the pantry car vendor. ( I just dream that i may get my due space (berth/luggage space), or proper cash return on purchases of pantry car item) 3. Dont expect a clean lavatory(Toilet) or wash basin if its a long journey. sometimes you may find no water in ...

It seems Varanasi has become the political capital of India in these days. Popular leaders, Media Team and lot of security personnel. Everywhere only one discussion About Banaras, it is the hot seat of 2014 elections. All of a sudden the political think tanks identified our small city as the centre of their activities Their political wisdom, coupled with the attention to get highlighted turned this small city in to one of the most happening places in the world. The narrow lanes are busy with campaigners. who came from different parts of the country. The streets are busy with the normal rush complemented by the electioneering Security forces have a breathless time when senior most leaders in Indian politics appear everyday in the nook and corners of the city. Even chaivallahs are getting unexpected attention. it seems everyone forgot the Banarasi Paan and the Lassi which would have been a greater potential to attract people in the scorching heat of 42-43 degree celcius. But...

The chilling cold marks the on set of the peak winter. Fragile folk songs along with the drum beats break the silence of the darkness. The evening is set for a traditional cultural evening in the camp. Dim lights separate the cloak of darkness. People are moving slowly to their seats while hearing the songs, though many of them don’t understand the lines and meanings. The artists are six or seven in numbers. Two women and a child artist find their place among other senior male artists. The tune of music is changed to the most popular kesaria balam and the beats of drums also pick up an interesting tune. There are a few foreigners and some tourists from other places in India. One corner of the sitting space a table is placed and liquor bottles are kept on  it. The sale from liquor adds revenue to the business of camping. Snacks and tea are already served. Snacks are some fried pappads and pakkoras. The music is changed to ghoomer dance. The girl did a wonderful dance perform...

Its 5 a.m. An early summer morning in the heart of Indian Subcontinent. The daylight has already indicated the beginning of another hot day. We were in platform No. 6 in NDLS. In between Purushottam Express and Shramjeevi Express (coming from Rajgir). Yellings of people everywhere. My eyes were wandering in the platform as if I was looking for a missing person . The crowd was of poor people from different places in India. Male, female, boys and girls, majority are youngsters. My eyes last focused on a small family, seems they were from Bihar. The young wife tries to dress her small naughty son. She forces him to wear a small trouser and the boy was running here and there. Last the by surrendered and the mother could win. Standing near to him was his elder brother and his father. Father appears to be in his mid 25’s, but looking like a College Boy with smart dressing though he was of medium built. His wife was dark complexioned and the saree was carelessly folded either side of t...

Some of the new titles came up in last few days are shocking 1. A minor girl, raped, the scene was shot in mobile cam and distributed through mms clips (Hisar- Haryana) 2. A XI school girl gang raped (near Sonipat, Haryana) 3. Goons vandalise the toll plaza in Gurgaon, killed the security and loot money 4. A gang loot around 5 crore from a bank ATM van in Delhi 5. MLA from Bihar use the gun of security to threaten the public 6. Scams rocks India, but the so called poilticians are not shaken 7. Diesel price hit new heights 8. After the ethnic clashes in Assam (lakhs of people are in rehabilitation camps), natures fury in the form of flood  engulf many regions and affect millions of People in Assam 9. People protest in  sea in Kudankulam, Narmada in safety of their lives ......... One side the nature strikes its own way and millions are suffering other side the government introduces new policies which is aimed to benefit...

A Tatkal Story.. a long story from my life......   Its funny to hear. But really horrifying to recollect. Being an ordinary Indian Citizen, the difficulties to manage a railway ticket to travel long distance (3000K.M.) . Travelling such a long distance seems to be exciting, but imagine without reservation ... and when the weather is aldo adverse.... I had a ticket in 3rd Ac booked in March 2012 to travel between Ernakulam to Guwahy by ERS-GHY express. Three months before status showed WL 1 , and on the day of travelling also it stood in the same place (without any change) even after preparation of the chart . Daring the consequences moved to Platform no 3 by carrying all havey luggages. the AC coach was kept in th front side of the train. To add the agaony heavy rain one side. the Chorus of Workers from West Bengal otherside. I experienced that monsoons in Kerala not only attracts tourists, but also it brings lot of accompanied issues if you are a traveller without a...

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim Because it was grassy and wanted wear, Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.  (by Robert Frost : from the poem-The road not taken) life takes quick turns at unimaginable times and phases. It brings surprises or happiness in disguise of unexpected outcomes. As an ever ending saga of learning, the value of relationships also move far deeper in course of time. no matter how far you are, but it matters who you are a person?  It is an open secret that every body expects a lot from whom ever they interact daily. But ...