During daily travel

During my travel to and from to work, I pass a Parsee Tower of Silence. Maybe that's the only Tower of Silence for the entire city of Bengaluru. While the gate is always closed whenever I have observed, there is a board outside which says that entry is permitted for only Parsees. I don't know if a Fire Temple also has similar board outside it.

When I see the board at the Tower of Silence, the thought that instantly comes to my mind is that Parsees are conservative. I find any place of worship or any place identified with a particular religion which bars entry to others a little disconcerting. That is close-minded to me, but yes, the Tower of Silence is not a place of worship per say. I have read of cases where Parsee women married outside the community have to fight for their place within their society. That said, conservatism is prevalent in other religions as well. I have seen Hindu temples which indicates that only Hindus are allowed entry. But, i wonder how they regulate, unless one bears the marks of a caste/religion, or enters details into a register.

I am in the mode of re-discovering and discovering Bangalore. And has it been lovely!!

I mention discovering coz, the roads where I frequented earlier, like years ago, have changed and drastically too. Last week, I visited an outlet of K C Das, wanted to drink some tea there. Surprisingly, the outlet was empty when I walked in, which surprised me. That place used to buzz with life when I used to visit it regularly.

Yes, the tea was good, one of the best places to have tea, and snacks in that area. We used to eat their samosas and vegetable cutlets and sweets of course occasionally when growing up. One thing about the shop (it's simple), is it showcases some art, pretty much all the time when I've gone there. Maybe, that's another reason for me to like K C Das, it has come culture to it, you know.

Coming back to this visit, I decided to pick some sweets to take back home. When trying to choose, during the conversation between the person who was to pack for me and myself, that guy said that he recollects me visiting the shop years ago with my father.

I am skeptic about what the person told me, I mean how will anybody remember! But that was a surprise!

An aunt told me that i wouldn't like Old Delhi at all. And that i wouldn't step in there even with my feet fully protected in shoes.

But it's not all that bad. I go to Chikpete, Nagarathpete and Raja Market often when in Bengaluru. The surroundings there is not much different than Chandni Chowk. Narrow gullies, small shops with their merchandise pouring into the roads/paths, jostling, people bargaining, colour riots everywhere (i tend to think that we see more bright and neon shades of colours in North India than i would see in the South). I saw more of food on carts, holes-in-a wall, make-shift structures that i would see in Chikpete. And yes, more jewellery that is typical in the North which also is making roads into the southern urban spaces as well.

No, i didn't buy anything from there. Now that i think of it i should have bought something. It's far from the place where i stay, and i have to again make a trip to buy.

It's revolting to see people spit on the road in Indian cities. With the time i have spent here, i think that people in Delhi spit more than in Bengaluru. And the stains are coloured in red, as people eat pan a lot here (i don't know is this is actually true, but this is my observation).

I expected Connaught Place to be free from this, considering it's central location and it being a tourist attraction. Fat chance, really. At the bottom of those majestic-looking white pillars, we see splashes of red.

I think I am on the verge of getting a headache (or i'm feeling plain lazy), or something like that. I had a cup of tea in the morning and i have been wanting another cup since i took the last sip in order to wake up my senses. From morning, i feel that i have been doing things zombie-like. I like the tea they serve here. Only here, of all the teas i have tasted at a few places in Delhi (which is not much actually). They boil the tea leaves with ginger which adds that extra flavour, making the whole experience of drinking hot tea all the more enjoyable.

At other places, tea kinda sucks. It's like drinking a hot solution of sugar, with the taste of milk somewhere (sometimes lost) and absolutely no hint of the taste of tea that is normally associated with the beverage. It was a revelation - not everyone in the North knows good tea. We, from the South (or atleast i) assumed that the whole of the North knows how to brew fantastic tea. I am of the opinion that the tea served at Roti Ghar or the other places in Bangalore where i drink tea, is not bad at all. In fact, the tea that we there is pretty good.

Delhi is getting colder. You know I really shouldn't be saying this having spent two winters in south Germany. Here the dust and cold both pose a double whammy to me. I still have to get used to the Indian weather. It will take a while I guess. I so don't want to sound squeamish but I think I am doing that. That said, the dust in our cities also used to effect me before my travel to Germany, so maybe I don't sound that squeamish.

I assume i've lost most of my reading habit. Yes, i did read short stories in Kannada for a week or so. I must have read about five-six stories, before i went traveling. It was difficult to sit at a place for a few straight hours. Maybe, it was the reading in Kannada which i found tedious. I was really enthusiastic about reading in Kannada once i decided to come back to Bangalore. I have a variety of options here at home.

Now, i am reading Feluda stories hoping that i may be drawn to reading again. If reading in English attracts me again, i can switch to Kannada. I think so.

A bunch of people have established a Ganesha pendal in my neighbourhood. It's not yet eight in the morning, and we have the loudspeakers blaring out devaranaama in the praise of the Lord (am i not showing respect/reverence by starting the words with capitals?). Of course, this is much better than to be woken up to this at half past five or six in the morning which used to be the case during childhood.

People ask me whether i don't miss home. Considering that India is not in the neighbourhood of western Europe. Of course, i miss home, but not desperately. Yes, there are instances where i so want to be home, but those are a few. Thanks to the internet, i see my folks regularly and talk to them.

Home is always there. I can go there anytime i want and still nothing's changed much. Both the people and the place. The red-oxide floor, the well and my room. Amma asking us what we'd like for breakfast or the sit-down dinners. I do understand that things will change, but you do get my point, don't you?

I remember  the first few times i traveled to Bengaluru from Mysuru. The first thing that i would do was to go around the house to see if everything was the same. I had the impression that i would find things different when i went home. You know, you are not in that place and somehow you tend to think that the table in your room is by the window or not. Then i realized that things will be as they were, that table stays where it always has. I guess this knowledge comforts me to a huge extent.

I have been to the NGMA (National Gallery for Modern Art) before, when it was opened to the public. But that was years ago.

If i remember correctly, it was known as the Manikyavelu (i don't know if i've spelt it correctly) Mansion prior to it being christened the NGMA. The mansion was renovated over a period of two-three years while i was studying at MCC. In those days, i used to see it everyday. The environs is pleasant. Stark white buildings in the midst of greenery.

It's a paradise for an art-lover. One should have lots of time in hand if one wants to see all the collections. I don't remember much of my previous visit as it was a hurried one, but i want to visit it once again.

Seriously, when compared to the other cities in India, Bengaluru is simply super. This is in terms of everything. Maybe, the other metropolitan cities score one major point over us, in having the metro or intra-city trains.

Maybe, this is the reason why most want to come and lead the rest of their lives in Bengaluru. That might be the case, but other cities in the state should also be focused, like mentioned in an earlier post.

The Institute may be small, old and not very popular amongst many in Bengaluru. But this week's exhibition presented by our art class was nice. Some of the paintings that were exhibited were really beautiful. This was my second time there.

I don't know why but i haven't glanced at the photographs captured on that day. They are still in my camera waiting to be used. One very memorable event.

It is common to find instant portraits done on the spot at Chitra Santhe, or any art fest. In fact, there was a computerized stall in front of The Bombay Store on M.G. Road. I really don't know how that worked. But, i guess it profited. I don't remember this properly, but they were signed Van Gogh.

I was surprised at this, but then realized that these were quite popular. Van Gogh and this. What comparison!!

I wonder why people come from different parts of the country to study at Bangalore University. Perhaps the system of education is better here; i really don't agree with this. But, the University is miserable and disgusting. It's extremely saddening to see marks sheets crumpled and thrown around, like they are ordinary sheets of paper.

Anybody reading this who would want to come to Bangalore and study at the University here, please keep this as your last option.

If i have some work around Basavanagudi, i usually schedule it on Tuesdays and Fridays, as i'm there the entire evening. People ask me questions as i carry my black case (where i strap in my paintings) around. Some have been kind enough to offer help to hold it.

A few weeks ago, i was held up at J.C. Road for more than an hour. It had rained heavily, and i was driving back home. The auto-driver whose auto stood next to my vehicle asked whether i carried photos in that case. I told, 'Yes'. He remarked that the photos wouldn't need any wash, the falling rain would do the job easily.

I never in my life, had imagined that i'd judge an art event. The past Sunday, i went to PESIT to judge a face-painting event. It was for the first-time and was nice. I had never visited PESIT. But maybe i wanted to see it some day and i liked the way the building was designed.

I still remember the time when it was being built. It was a first-of-it's-kind and something very new to Bengaluru then. No other building came close to it.

Every sixth person of Karnataka resides in Bengaluru. And our Chief Minister (if you still hold respect for that title) wants to allot property to the Cricket World Cup winning team including the physiotherapist, the coach and anyone else who is part of it. Why Bengaluru? Like we have somebody from Karnataka in the present team. And we are crammed up, big time, for want of space.

This is probably the week's best joke.

It must be about two years or so since A passed away (i'm not sure). He was a young man, we were shocked to hear the news. And disturbed, especially mother and father. A twenty-something boy meets with a freak accident and dies there. I guess I'll never forget that day. A van brought him to his house, on the bier, and the family wailing on sighting this. Gruesome.

I had never known that deaths could effect even a third person. Grandmother had died a little before that time, but we were expecting it. But, suddenly, when a neighbourhood boy tells you that a young person in his prime whom you've seen for some time is no more, you really feel helpless. Those scenes play in front of my eyes now and then. His family shifted their house of residence, but that changes little, doesn't it?

That same night, i contacted two friends. I was crazy then, but, i so wanted them to be safe from accidents from then on. One was hurt badly on the road once. I was scared for him and i felt better after speaking to him. When i mailed the other, he was amused at my act. Guess he never understood my fears.

One moment, and everything changes. If only A had been careful that day.

I have not lived in a rural setting for more than a couple of days. However my friends during my M.Sc. days in Mysore tried educating me on the ways of peasants and how village life is. This apart, i've been repeatedly told that people from villages migrate to towns and cities in search of money and bread. And labourers are hard to come by these days.

If this is the case, whatever will happen to our agricultural practices. Seriously, if everybody comes to universities, gain degrees and get 'educated' in a sense of the word, who will farm our lands, and do everything else connected to it?

If i'm not wrong, most of our small-scale and cottage industries are also suffering due to this trend (very sad, significant traditions are also lost this way). No wonder, the prices of Ikat sarees have almost doubled in a span of three/four years.

The sun shone extra brightly today. Everything around me looked white. Seriously. As i looked at the building behind my house painted in a light shade of pink, the sunlight that fell on it made the pink look white. Almost.

Yes, the summer has already started. If i remember correctly it was sunny even during the start of February. Guess the temperatures have reached the thirties already. April and May, here we come!