Seaside sunsets mostly look the same but there always is a fresh breathtaking beauty every time. And one cannot stop from capturing it again and again. Our trip to Andaman Islands was made memorable not only because of the snorkeling but also because the clean sea with its gushing sound was devoid of man-made noises!
The palm skyline in Puducherry(earlier known as Pondicherry), India, again made us marvel at the divine creations that the nature offers and we had to capture this one too!
A nice cool breeze and light intermittent drizzle does feel inviting for spending the day in open and if it is a weekend …. well what else could one ask for? Last week was one of the best ones with our day spent at magnificent and majestic red sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri.
Forty kilometers west of Agra, Fatehpur Sikri was commissioned to be built by the great Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar in 1570 as his capital and it took nearly 15 yrs to complete. It is considered the first planned city of Mughals with features borrowed from Indian, Persian and Islamic architecture. However for not very definite reasons, it was abandoned after a short stay post completion.
Driving down the wide metalled road it is difficult to imagine the type of rocky terrain it might have been in 16th century. Since only the sturdier imperial quarters of red sandstone like palaces, courts, mosque survive the ravages of time, hence the exact problems, reasons for joys and daily routines of common people are a mystery….
And the royals….. their apartments are examples of real well thought of housing project , what with the emperor, his many wives, concubines, eunuchs, servants, princes and princesses all privileged to have their own private space yet a call away from each other! Is it ever possible in today’s age?
What was it like in those royal quarters then…….
The king relaxing, smoking an ornate brass hookah, by the extensively carved stone jali jharokha(windows) of his bedroom, lined with intricately woven persian carpets caressing his feet or his jewel-studded jutis( pointed slippers) and with his view only partly obscured by sheer curtains gently swaying with the breeze. His gaze observing the swirl of lehengas, the tinkling of glass bangles as the women folk of his palace float around the red carpeted courtyards with their merry giggling and clinking laughter reassuring him of happiness and peace in the kingdom.
The evenings hours spent everyday in front of Anoop Talao listening to Tansen‘s renditions of ragas, culminating with the famed “Dipak Raag” sung to announce the time of lighting lamps all over the palace. The queens and king once in a while spending some time together at the Pachisi court serving as a large-sized board game with the emperor’s concubines playing the role of board pieces. And post a sweet win at the game, did the main queen Jodhabai with kohl lined eyes and hennaed hands indulge in cooking Rajasthani cuisine for her Badshah?
Were his pensive moments spent discussing with his ministers in the now lifeless pavilions, preparing for the next conquest or overpowering the next rebellion. And the light banter and brain-teasing sessions with Birbal ….are the stories real? Was Birbal so witty that he earned the admiration and love of emperor and was gifted with a house in the palace complex? (Witty stories of Birbal http://www.akbarbirbal.net/).
The largest gateway Buland Darwaja commemorating Akbar’s victory over king of Gujrat, on completion must have made him swell up in pride and being a religious man, the emperor must have paid visit to the Salim Chisti‘s dargah and the Jama Masjid bowing in reverence through the Badshahi gate. Did he then, ride on an elaborately decorated elephant in his bejewelled royal seat with his queens following in equally decorated palkis from palace to the dargah?Did he go barefoot to the doors of the prayer hall?
The Diwan-i-aam, Din-e-ilahi court, Diwan-i-khas, Panch mahal, Birbal’s house, Jama Masjid and numerous small and big structures all stand mute today, leaving us to imagine the grandeur of those days.
Long after the tour of the entire complex, I sat there mesmerized by the larger-than -life size of buildings pining to know much more than the history books in school taught me. I wish there was a way I could travel back in time and see everything happen in front of my eyes….Though the tour left me asking for more but overall the weekend was the best spent and the place worth visiting again.
(The details of some structures can be read at http://taj.ind.in/fatehpur-sikri)
Much often used phrase, but mostly to camouflage a wrong action. But in its real context it sure is true!!
War….. to begin with, in itself is not fair as it brings pain to all involved whether an enemy or the defendant. Love, is what should be there between all humans. But that’s an idealistic thought which in today’s world is unreal due to loss of trust on each other.
War against terror; killing Osama Bin Laden….. now isn’t that fair? All the fanatics, of any religion for that matter, if resort to forcing their thought, belief on others and end up terrorising people, then a war to stop them by any means is FAIR!
War to defend honour,that too is fair! Killing for fun, due to hatred or for money is but, unfair.
And Love is definitely fair too, the unconditional, selfless love! A mother’s love is the most unselfish love and if she has to protect her child from any harm she might forsee by whatever way she can think of, then that too is FAIR!
An obsessive love which leads to somebody getting hurt physically or emotionally is however not fair.
It all depends on each person’s perspective. Like Laden was convinced of righteousness of his actions so he waged a war and obsessive lovers feel their obsession justified…
I guess then all is fair in love and war!
(How do I change habit?)
I’ve decided I want to blog more. Rather than just thinking about doing it, I’m starting right now. I will be posting on this blog once a week for all of 2011.
I know it won’t be easy, but it might be fun, inspiring, awesome and wonderful. Therefore I’m promising to make use of The DailyPost, and the community of other bloggers with similar goals, to help me along the way, including asking for help when I need it and encouraging others when I can.
If you already read my blog, I hope you’ll encourage me with comments and likes, and good will along the way.
Signed,
Shoma Abhyankar
When the news channels started airing about the passing away of Shammi Kapoor and showed snippets of his movies and songs, my daughter wanted to know who that person was. For her to understand I had to give her the connection of Kareena and Ranbir Kapoor. She marvelled to know that Shammi Kapoor was the brother of the grandfather of the two recent Kapoors(what a twisted way to explain, though). She formed the link anyhow and wondered that how all of the same family could be in the films.
But all those of us who have grown up with DD’s “Chitrahaar” on the idiot box have thankfully been exposed to some real beautiful songs of the original First Family of film industry and the most handsome guy screaming “Yahoo” at the top of his voice. Also I remember that though my childhood was the Amitabh Bachchan era but instead I watched movies of Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor and of course Shammi Kapoor.
Shammi Kapoor must have been a heart-throb in those days with his blue eyes and the lingering voice. The dance steps of Shammi Kapoor were imitated from Elvis Presley with his own twist. Though I have not ever seen Elvis Presely’s dance nor any video but I kind of liked Shammi Kapoor’s dance…. electrifying literally(Aaja, aaja mein hoon pyaar tera…..)!! And the song……beautiful just beautiful and being sung by Mohammed Rafi, they were just marvellous…. all mushy!
As far as music goes, it is aptly said that it was the golden era of film music. Even today the songs are remixed and though that does destroy the original melody but it sure goes on to show that the songs of recent times can not be put in the same league. The music, lyrics, singers music directors…. all of that era are way much there….on TOP! Even in the music reality shows the judges still appreciate renditions of old songs.
Now with stalwarts like Raj and Shammi dead the film industry has lost some very good actors. It also lays bare the fact that even though the film stars have this larger than life persona and people treat them no less than gods yet they are mere mortals. Their contemporaries are quite old too and one day they would depart for the heavenly abode too but it is very difficult to imagine to lose Lata, Aasha, Amitabh, Javed Akhtar and so many more… Nobody would ever be able to fill in their shoes.
Wonder whether our grandchildren would get to hear such melodious songs and such clean family movies ever….?
Shoma Abhyankar 