Last Saturday was Gandhi's 62nd death anniversary. 'Freedom at Midnight' by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre describes in detail the last day in Mahatma's life, but somehow I wanted to read more about that and did some research that day for this blog post.
Hardly anything original here, just some tit-bits from here and there.
30th January 1948
Gandhi was shot at and killed by Godse on this fateful day around 5'o clock in the evening as he was rushing for his evening prayers, taking support of Abha's and Manu's shoulders. He was rushing because he was already late for the prayer meeting scheduled for 5 every evening. These prayer meetings had become a big draw for the Hindus and Muslims alike in the often hostile atmosphere of post-partition Delhi. The outside lawns of Birla House was where these meetings would happen everyday, and this day was no different.
Most credible writings from that time and later describe how Godse first folded his hands and offered a namaskar to Gandhi and then fired three shots into his chest from point blank range. Gandhi fell to the ground and his now iconic time piece fell to the ground and broke, recording the moment with it. The last two words he uttered were Hey Ram. Somehow these made him even more eternal, dying with God's name on his lips. Gandhi was a devout Hindu, though an extremely secular one. Its unfortunate that his exceptional ability to bring the two communities together in the worst of times, became the reason for his death.
Every year we used to have a minute of silence to remember Gandhi in School. It was a nuisance to me when I was young, but something I really associated with in the later years of schooling. I miss that minute of silence and the feeling of almost nothingness inside. The silence now is often broken by the noise in my own head. Its so difficult to just remain silent and calm when everything around and everything else is so noisy. Silence is almost scary and a rare commodity.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Iqbal
Iqbal, also fondly known as Allama Iqbal especially in Pakistan, also happens to be one of my favorite Urdu poets. I wonder if that might count as an anti-national sentiment for some of my brethren. Perhaps even for some of us who think that peace is the only way forward with our neighbors.
A quick glance at his life. He was born in Sialkot, in Punjab (Punjab, Pakistan) in a very modern Kashmiri family, about eight years after the birth of Gandhi in Porbandar (Gujarat, India). Many aspects of his life are perhaps worth discussing here, but what interests me the most are his political leanings and of course his poetry.
Iqbal was always in favor of the revival of the Islamic polity and was critical of the INC for being pro-Hindus during the freedom struggle. He was the first to propagate the idea of a separate state of Pakistan (pretty much the Pakistan as it stands today) way back in 1930 at the Allahabad session of the Muslim League. In fact, Jinnah warmed up to the idea of Pakistan much later in 1940.
Iqbal also wrote the famous poem 'Saare Jahan se Accha'; something that is sung regularly in Indian schools even today. But most of his other works is generally forgotten here. My favourite Iqbal poem is the evergreen 'Khudi ko Kar Buland Itna'. Its just exceptional. The 'Junoon' version of the poem became very popular again in the 1990s in Pakistan as well as India. Most of his work is in Persian (which, unfortunately, I don't understand) and Urdu (which I can understand fairly well, if not completely).
There is no dearth of information on Iqbal on the net, and one can find most of his poems too. Its just great to read him, even if you may not completely agree with what he writes about. There are many poems on conversations with god; though largely Islamic in nature, they are still an interesting read.
Iqbal died in the year 1938 at Lahore. In Pakistan he is still often revered as the "ideological founder of the state'.
Following is a beautiful ghazal by him.
Gulzaar-e-Hast-o-Bood Na Begaana Waar Dekh!
Gulzaar-e-Hast-o-Bood Na Begaana Waar Dekh!
Hai Dekhne Ki Cheez Ise Bar Bar Dekh!
Do not look at the garden of existence like a stranger!
It is a thing worth looking at, look at it again and again.
Aaya Hai Tu Jahaan Mein Mashaal-e-Sharaar, Dekh.
Dam De Na Jaaye Hasti, Napaayedaar Dekh.
You have come into the world like a spark, beware!
Lest your short span of life may end suddenly, beware.
Maana Ke Tere Deed Ke Qabil Nahin Hain Ham.
Tu Mera Shokh Dekh Mera Intezaar Dekh.
I accept that I am not worthy of Your (God's) Sight.
You should look at my zeal, and look at my perseverance (patience).
Na Aate, Hamein Ismein Takrar Kya Thi?
Magar Waada Karte Huwe Aar Kya Thi?
If you had not come I would have had no occasion for contention?
But what reluctance in making the promise was with me?
Tumhare Payami Ne Sab Raaz Khola;
Khata Ismein Bande Ki Sarkaar Kya Thi?
Your messenger disclosed every secret
O Lord!What fault of Man in this was?
(Allusion to Quran as a source of all knowledge)
Bhari Bazm Mein Apne Aashiq Ko Tadha;
Teri Aankh Masti Mein Hoshiyaar Kya Thi?
You recognized Your Lover in the full assembly.
How alert Your eye in the middle of the ecstasy was!
Ta'mmul To Tha Unke Aane Mein, Qasid!
Magar Ye Bata Tarz-e-Inkaar Kya Thi?
True! Reluctant was he to come, O messenger!
But tell me what the manner of denial was?
Kheenche Khud ba Khud Jaanib-e-Toor, Moosa;
Kashish Teri Aye Shokh-e-Deedar Kya Thi?
Moses was effortlessly attracted to Toor!
How strong, O Zeal your attraction was!?
Kahin Zikr Rehta Hai Iqbal Tera!
Fasoon Tha Koi, Teri Guftaar Kya Thi!
Your fame continues somewhere, O Iqbal!
Some magic, not your speech it was!
Metros
Here are of the logos of the Metros that I have traveled in so far.
The easiest to figure out was Delhi followed by Milan (with a little help from Muzayun). I tried Delhi while I was still in TVS and was damn impressed with it all then, as I am even now. With Milan Metro also I got almost instantly comfortable. And I did travel alone a few times there, even to unknown destinations. We often also bought just one ticket and hence managed to travel for half the price!
Rome and Milan Metros share the same logo, but that's where the similarities end. Rome Metro is almost dirty, and full of graffiti art. The life-on-the-move that one sees there isn't sanitized like Milan, but that doesn't still necessarily qualify as 'good'.
Delhi
Milan/ Rome
Even Istanbul Metro wasn't very complicated and the Metro was surprisingly clean. Of course I missed my flight out of the city admiring the place and the damn Metro! An 'Akbil' gives you access to Metro, Tram etc. for one trip (what ever the distance).
Istanbul
Kolkata was a bit confusing (apart from being almost like a Mumbai local) as I just went in with no map of the city in my hand or mind. It took me a while to understand that I was traveling north after I got into the train. My travel was completely purposeless there, so there was no fear of reaching the wrong destination. And of course Kolkata was also the cheapest.
Kolkata
Paris Metro was simply mind-boggling but the most impressive of them all. It wasn't difficult to get lost in the different underground levels, plus it was also perhaps the most expensive. The Metro stations in Paris are also full of life, music and its almost like a cultural melting pot. There is tremendous scope for entertainment for me during my next visit to Paris at all these Metro stations.
Paris-RER
Paris
The easiest to figure out was Delhi followed by Milan (with a little help from Muzayun). I tried Delhi while I was still in TVS and was damn impressed with it all then, as I am even now. With Milan Metro also I got almost instantly comfortable. And I did travel alone a few times there, even to unknown destinations. We often also bought just one ticket and hence managed to travel for half the price!
Rome and Milan Metros share the same logo, but that's where the similarities end. Rome Metro is almost dirty, and full of graffiti art. The life-on-the-move that one sees there isn't sanitized like Milan, but that doesn't still necessarily qualify as 'good'.
Delhi
Milan/ Rome
Even Istanbul Metro wasn't very complicated and the Metro was surprisingly clean. Of course I missed my flight out of the city admiring the place and the damn Metro! An 'Akbil' gives you access to Metro, Tram etc. for one trip (what ever the distance).
Istanbul
Kolkata was a bit confusing (apart from being almost like a Mumbai local) as I just went in with no map of the city in my hand or mind. It took me a while to understand that I was traveling north after I got into the train. My travel was completely purposeless there, so there was no fear of reaching the wrong destination. And of course Kolkata was also the cheapest.
Kolkata
Paris Metro was simply mind-boggling but the most impressive of them all. It wasn't difficult to get lost in the different underground levels, plus it was also perhaps the most expensive. The Metro stations in Paris are also full of life, music and its almost like a cultural melting pot. There is tremendous scope for entertainment for me during my next visit to Paris at all these Metro stations.
Paris-RER
Paris
Saturday, January 23, 2010
walking again...
Another quick post on walks, especially from someone who is known to be lazy and often avoids walking. From ma to most of my friends, everyone has complained about how I little I walk. But secretly I am quite a walker, though I enjoy walking more when I am all alone.
I have been walking since today morning (my only free day) in the New Market (Kolkata/ Calcutta) lanes and by-lanes and its simply been amazing. Its this purposeless walking that I enjoy. No plans of doing anything, and no destination at all. All that I wanted to do was buy some local chai and basically just look around. Nothing else attracts me more than the old buildings, and Kolkata seems to be full of them - some dead or dying while others still youthful and full of life. I love looking at them both.
I have spent little time on the roads in the city but I could sense a feel in the city, quite unlike any other that I have known. I need to spend days here to know more about the place, many more days. I have many more posts on the city and hopefully I shall post them soon on the Kolkata series.
p.s. unlike the name 'New Market', the place is actually an old market in Kolkata.
New Market then...
New Market now...
I have been walking since today morning (my only free day) in the New Market (Kolkata/ Calcutta) lanes and by-lanes and its simply been amazing. Its this purposeless walking that I enjoy. No plans of doing anything, and no destination at all. All that I wanted to do was buy some local chai and basically just look around. Nothing else attracts me more than the old buildings, and Kolkata seems to be full of them - some dead or dying while others still youthful and full of life. I love looking at them both.
I have spent little time on the roads in the city but I could sense a feel in the city, quite unlike any other that I have known. I need to spend days here to know more about the place, many more days. I have many more posts on the city and hopefully I shall post them soon on the Kolkata series.
p.s. unlike the name 'New Market', the place is actually an old market in Kolkata.
New Market then...
New Market now...
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
solitary winter walks...
Walking through a place is one of the best ways to explore it, especially so when the walks are solitary. With a companion there are expectations, and often disappointments/ disillusionment. Experiences from traveling with and without a companion has often reinforced this.
My evening/ late night walks in Paldi/ Narayannagar have opened up a new whole new labyrinth of interconnecting roads and pathways I never even knew existed. Every time I am out, I see something new. Some beautiful old bungalows, a huge Swaminarayan temple, some new and variously colorful dogs, people playing antakshari in groups outside their houses, loud music late in the night from a rich man's house, dark deserted houses with long lost histories, some new construction here and there, a very dark but enchanting park full of medicinal plants, but most often its the idyllic (and often eerie) night silence that creeps out and stays with you, sometimes even till the wee hours of the next morning.
Ahmedabad is never very cold, and that makes late night walks possible even in the winters. Often there is no one else who walks along with you, so the solitary walking figure of a weird looking man with long hair and short shorts stands out and makes the lazy inhabitants take notice. But the ones who get the most curious by my bizarre appearance are the numerous Paldi/ Narayannagar dogs. The are left confused and their inherent ability of barking momentarily stunted, often left bewildered by a lack of a coherent response in their mini minds. And of course this suits me well, I don't find the idea of running in the dark alleys with variously colored dogs chasing me particularly alluring.
Older women also look at me with curiosity, often perhaps first looking at me as a symbol of growing women emancipation (with my long hair and shorts), but they are also ultimately left confounded by the actual me. Apart from the old aunties and colorful dogs, no one else gives me a second look.
I sometimes wonder what would these walks be like if I have a companion. I might enjoy it still but perhaps not my partner, for I make a particularly boring travel mate. But I continute walking...
My evening/ late night walks in Paldi/ Narayannagar have opened up a new whole new labyrinth of interconnecting roads and pathways I never even knew existed. Every time I am out, I see something new. Some beautiful old bungalows, a huge Swaminarayan temple, some new and variously colorful dogs, people playing antakshari in groups outside their houses, loud music late in the night from a rich man's house, dark deserted houses with long lost histories, some new construction here and there, a very dark but enchanting park full of medicinal plants, but most often its the idyllic (and often eerie) night silence that creeps out and stays with you, sometimes even till the wee hours of the next morning.
Ahmedabad is never very cold, and that makes late night walks possible even in the winters. Often there is no one else who walks along with you, so the solitary walking figure of a weird looking man with long hair and short shorts stands out and makes the lazy inhabitants take notice. But the ones who get the most curious by my bizarre appearance are the numerous Paldi/ Narayannagar dogs. The are left confused and their inherent ability of barking momentarily stunted, often left bewildered by a lack of a coherent response in their mini minds. And of course this suits me well, I don't find the idea of running in the dark alleys with variously colored dogs chasing me particularly alluring.
Older women also look at me with curiosity, often perhaps first looking at me as a symbol of growing women emancipation (with my long hair and shorts), but they are also ultimately left confounded by the actual me. Apart from the old aunties and colorful dogs, no one else gives me a second look.
I sometimes wonder what would these walks be like if I have a companion. I might enjoy it still but perhaps not my partner, for I make a particularly boring travel mate. But I continute walking...
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