Alai Minar

Alai Minar in Qutub complex is an unfinished endeavour of Allauddin Khilji.

unfinished Glory

Eccentric Allauddin Khilji had grand plans for the Qutub complex. He expanded the “Quwat Ul Islam” mosque, built the magnificent Alai darwaja. He also started work on alai minar which was to be twice as tall and grander than Qutub. Destiny did not give Allauddin time to finish his grandiose dream. He could not finish it in 20 years that he had. His descendants were more practical and did not pursue his grand dream. Result is a monument that is  a perfect commentary on Allauddin Khilji - giving you a glimpse at what could have been even though it is nothing but a pile of stones.

पुनश्च महाबळेश्वर

या वर्षी आमची पावसाळी महाबळेश्वर वारी गणपतीत घडली. हो, आम्ही वर्षात दोनदा तरी महाबळेश्वरी जातो. पावसाळ्यात आणि स्ट्रॉबेरी च्या हंगामात. तर या वेळी गणपतीच्या सहाव्या किंवा सातव्या दिवशी आम्ही तिथे होतो. मार्केट रोडवरुन विसर्जनाच्या मिरवणुकी चालल्या होत्या. त्यांचा तो लक्ष्मी रोड आहे ना! मळ मजा वाटली, महाबळेश्वरात गणपती बसत असतील, विसर्जनाच्या मिरवणुकी असतील असं कधी डोक्यातच आलं नाही! 

थंडीतलं महाबळेश्वर कसं खास ‘लोकाग्रहास्तव’ असतं. पाहुण्यांसमोर शहाण्यासारख्या वागणा-या मुलासारखं. उन्हाळ्यात ते भडक गुज्जु असतं वेण्णा लेकवर नवीन उपटलेल्या चौपाटीसारखं. पावसाळ्यात मात्र ते फक्त स्वत:चं असतं. सगळ्या स्थिर, चर, वस्तुमात्रांवर हिरव्याचं आक्रमण झालेलं असतं. दगड, रस्ते, झाडे, भिंती, छपरं, माणसं, सगळं दमट आणि हिरवं.  

पावसाळ्यातल्या महाबळेश्वरला एक स्वभाव आहे. गुढ भासतं ते या काळात. सगळ्या आसमंताला गुरफटुन टाकणारी ढगाची घोंगडी, लहरी पाउस, शेवाळाच्या झिप-या पिंजारलेली निष्पर्ण झाडं. महाबळेश्वर मोठं ‘ऍटमॉस्फेरीक’ असतं. ग्रेसच्या कवितेसारखं रहस्यमय, आकर्षित करणारं, स्वयंमग्न आणि लिरिकल!

Kolkata Diwali 2005

Diwali 2005 was planned to be celebrated in Kolkata.

    Traveling anywhere in the festival season needs advance planning. Tickets are hard to get in the season. We had booked our tickets 2 months in advance on the date and we were ready to roll!     

     Azad Hind express, plying from Pune to Kolkata takes 2 nights and a day to reach its destination. The journey gets tedious due to the length, the beggers and the hawkers.        Our co-passengers  for this trip were a charming family consisting of Granpa, Granma, their daughter, son- in-law and the daughter’s kids. 7 year old Chinmay and 6 months old Gayatri. They were visiting Bellur math during the Diwali. Granpa was  a hyper person. He was very excited about the journey, more than the kids infact.     

      The fun of celebrating Diwali is to have lots of janata at home. The more the merrier. We were nine of us, Abhay’s parents, Abhay’s Brother and his family, whom we were visiting and three of us. Our diwali was great, with lot of “Mishti”, fireworks, gifts and shopping at Shree and New market!

A day visit to “Jheelmeel” formerly called Nicopark was a hit with the kids.    

        We spent a day relaxing at a guest house of a mill curtacy Dada’s acquintance. The guesthouse was a Kothi built by the mill owner during 40s, right on the bank of the river. The day was a glimpse into the affluent and unhurried life style of “Old Money”.

The spaciousness of the rooms, The “class” of the paintings, sprawling lawns, tree lined avenues, the leisurely flowing Hugali on the side,  Uberpampering!
On one of the evenings Dada arranged for a boat ride on the river. We sailed from one of the ghats, cruising towards Hawara bridge,with the decked up hawara station to our right. After crossing the bridge, we turned around and sailed back towards Ravindra Setu,

The twilight softened the harsh realities of Kolkata, giving a hopeful dreamy look to the city. Small processions were approaching the ghats to immerse the devi idols. (This was annapurna not to be confused with Durga or Kali), the river looked mysterious with the reflections and dancing lights. The mood was introspective, contemplative …

The gardens laid barren,
Will flower again in spring
For my Spring ravished garden,
Whom should I ask for blooms?

My heart felt like singing “O re Maazi!”