And as I press on this note to myself, some lessons that i am carrying from previous years that are not goals, neither resolutions but some learnings that shall lead to better days, better moments and hopefully a better me. And hence I wish that 2025 becomes a year of clarity, of serving, teaching, uplifting and doing… Read more
It’s been 10 years of those 10 electrifying current-passing days for what brought seeing to my spirit. Even today I only think of ‘why’, was I there or was it that I was demanded by the Mother to witness it. Someone who has been away from most kind of cruelties, being born in a lineage who never tasted fish, leave meat. May be it happened to shake wake me up for all what life revolves around, some harsher realities, some withering truths. To may be learn the ways and come out of the skin of merely being a meek observer that after a decade of witnessing it eventually brought me immense strength. And learn to observe to absorb. And I absorbed; the smell of the blood, the count of the severed big buffalo heads or peacocks, even pigs, goats, ducks and bodies of geese. And of course it were not the fallen bodies that pricked me but those dead big open eyes that were always looking at someone or the Sky but not you. And …
On October 15, 1932, history was made! The civil aviation industry in India, now one of the world’s largest, owes its beginnings to a single flight. It was taken by a Paris-born Parsi with a vision to connect with his roots & shape the future. Indians remember Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata as the leader of India’s largest industrial group for five decades. He is also celebrated as a visionary who played a crucial role in establishing the aviation industry in India, including the flagship airline JRD Tata was born in Paris but shocked many when he renounced French citizenship and returned to India. Just twelve days after the launch of India’s first flying club in Bombay – the Aero Club of India & Burma – JRD achieved his dream of becoming a pilot. n 1932, following the family tradition, JRD established a business named Tata Airlines. Their vision was to transport mail & passengers in India. They faced a problem: lack of proper facilities. Initially, the firm operated out of a small hut with a …
A Joy filled, Colourful and Auspicious Holi to each one. The colourful festival of Holi, literally meaning ‘burning’, is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Phalguna and heralds the onset of spring season. Holi is One of the two Indian Festivals, amongst a plethora of them and other than Diwali that the world recognises. And for us here in India, it has quite a few meanings. Foremost and the simplest one is its arrival marks the end of a long and Cold winter, and that the time of colour and water has arrived. And since this beautiful festival starts with fire, the night before, symbolising the legend of Holika Dahan; a story of Truth and devotion’s victory over Evil. here on ROAD TO NARA, I will take my co-travellers on an outing sharing a Visual History of this Ancient and most colourful festival on Earth, Holi. Unraveling the Mystique of the Indian Holi Festival From All-Women to Coed, from Music and Fire to Water,From Feast to Bhang. Holi is Called by various …
Children have been busy since the turn of the year at School. There were unexpected holidays due to extreme cold in December and most of January which sidelined and pushed away various activities that children were waiting for and well likewise we, the teachers. One amongst which and everyone’s favourite was Picnic that could not happen either in December or in January. Hence the first thing when Picnic dates di not match the weather, we decided to bring Parents in instead of taking children out for something that we called as ‘The Food Festival’, it was the first of its kind we organised at our small school. Here children got there own ingredients, spices and other things; prepared and cooked a few different snacks by themselves with the help of teachers of course, decorated their stalls, kept prices of them all and then sold various food items to the parents and other invitees. It was lovely and contagious to see their excitement enjoyed by one and all. It almost turned into a small lesson in …
India, that is Bharat, is the birthplace of Spiritual Wisdom, of Imagination. Be it giving the zero, the decimal system or even the most sophisticated rituals of Body Science- Yoga, to the world. It is the birthplace of the Buddha, Mahavira, the 10 Sikh Gurus; to an extent Indian civilisation has also been the only culture where Women were given the status of Deities and have been prayed to as Goddesses. Ancient Indian texts have mentioned that wherever a women is not respected, there Lakshmi- the goddess of wealth does not stay. There is also a Sanskrit shloka that talks about the value that girls bring in comparison to boys in a way no where else is seen in the world. दशपुत्रसमा कन्या दशपुत्रान्प्रवर्द्धयन, यत्फलं लभते मर्त्यस्तल्लभ्यं कन्ययैकया It says, that One daughter is like ten sons. And that the result of the bringing up ten sons is achieved only by nurturing one girl. But of course life of a Women has never been easy at least in the Indian Subcontinent such as the pleasing …
Its nearing four months of my grandfather’s death. He lived for 104 years and barely narrated any story in his later years but a few on insistence. And there was this one story, probably the most beautiful, the most essential one that can make any child into an attentive adult, that he had narrated when we used share a chemistry. This story had that power and possibly that is why I still remember it. As I have to choose a story a week for the Saturday Story Session at my school, I was reminded of one remarkable lore that I came across in my lifetime and I feel everyone can take something out of it. Once a king in South India had to send his son to a mystic, to a master, to learn awareness. The king was old. And he said to his son, “Put your total energy into it because unless you are aware, you are not going to succeed me. I will not give this kingdom to a man who is asleep …
My dearest co-travellers, from Nara family to yours, Happy Happy Happy 2024. 2023 was a strange year for me that even carried some most memorable gifts too. And as I press on this note to myself, these lessons that are not goals, neither resolutions but something that shall lead to a better day, better moments. As I reflect on the year that is history, I feel the need to share some lessons I learned or that have been reinforced over thIe pasttwelve months, that I must focus on before I think of any achievements or that light. Here you go: 1. God first. God always. God alone! 2. That value is in to serve, to solve, to uplift the ones in need. 3. Pray. Reflect. Act. 4. That reading for at least an hour each evening is 1000x better than scrolling. 5. Owning my mornings. 6. That the quality of my habits will determines the caliber of my future. 7. That a good night’s sleep prevents bad decisions. 8. Read a little. Write more. Think most. Meditate …
My grandfather who saw through most of the 20th century, someone who was highly expressive yet quiet; one who taught us to be firm, to stand and lead in the times of crisis, one who moved mountains during the Indian Independence movement as my grandma used to narrate his stories; my grandfather was a formidable figure in his younger years, one who was known to attract problems only to solve them like a pro, one who knew how to remain content. He was probably the first one who enticed me into smoking a hookah, an old Indian way to smoke a water-pipe. He loved nature and above all his teak tree under which he sat and slept for over five decades. Here with my Road to Nara family, I wanted to share that my grandfather died last month on the auspicious day of Diwali in the early hours of dawn. Partially, it was the reason for my absence from the site. Even though it was strange how people and even in the family were waiting …
I had a quick two-day tour to Haridwar with parents. A meeting with a Guru was arranged and they were excited about it. I, as was the deal had only one plan; to walk as far and as close to the mother river Ganga, as much she allows. 4 a.m. When we reached Parents took to the ashram and I to the mother river. But this time without impressions. Past months have seen a difference in the way I am doing things and one thing that I am particularly peaceful about is leaving the camera first and then leaving this want, to make the most beautiful, meaningful looking photographs. I am not. I am not doing it. I am letting the days pass by without making any digital memory out of it. I feel no desire anymore to keep making memories. As of now I imagine I have done my quota of “always looking like a crow” to do something all the time. I am walking without me institutionally looking to make images or even …
I haven’t been walking enough since I came from South India. It was bereft of Spring and felt winter jumped to summer overnight but the northern part has been very kind in reaching out, in showing the colors. These images found me calling on two different days I decided to leave my desk, looking out from my window when clouds seemed to be carrying rivers. Sharing here just that bit of my April with you. : ँ : Thank you If today is the first time you have arrived on The Road to Nara, you are heartily welcome ~ Namaste : ँ : I will take this opportunity to introduce you to About me and importantly; As a co-traveller, will take you through the Ten Lessons I learnt from several years on the road, before you coarse on your own Road to Nara. Also read: 9 Most Read Stories from Road To Nara in 2022 : ँ : You might also like to know about My Little School Project. If you wish to come over for a visit someday, that you must, you will be heartily …
Smile for the camera, Professor Einstein! When the photographer Arthur Sasse asked physicist and scientist Albert Einstein to smile for the camera on his 72nd birthday on 14 March 1951 – this is the image that was taken. Einstein was tired of smiling at all the photographers and instead decided to stick out his tongue. Einstein himself later used the image on greetings cards that he sent to friends. And became one of the most famous and iconic images ever taken of laureate Albert Einstein, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics 30 years before the photograph was taken. You may appreciate this memorable portrait as much as the next fellow, but it’s still fair to wonder: “Did it really change history?” Rest assured, we think it did. While Einstein certainly changed history with his contributions to nuclear physics and quantum mechanics, this photo changed the way history looked at Einstein. By humanising a man known chiefly for his brilliance, this image is the reason Einstein’s name has become synonymous not only with “genius,” …
Well, this is it. Another year is done and we are looking to the clouds how and where it all went. But nature is no cheat. There is no lapse of a day, of a moment or even a blink. We live it. We are aware of it. We breathe each breath full. One thing that I learnt while I was living 2022 was that even though I enjoy writing, it cannot be my end all. I take joy in walking more, in seeing and being at a place that urges me to contemplate, to talk to it. Somewhere that pushes me to dive deeper in aspects that i wasn’t aware of before. I love movement and I love challenging myself around those movements. So I have decided I am not going to make resolutions anymore because somewhere deep within we know what is required of us at what time. Where are we needed the most. I may prioritise it but life has always taken the better route, or has checkmated me most of the …
Second last month of another year will be done soon. December knocks or not it has arrived. Many a times words feel weighty and probably this could be one thing for a writer which is nearly impossible to establish through his writing. A long Silence. Or the absence of presence. He may distract and not talk about a certain thing or may even carve out a poem. But silence is something that is personal to any breathing being. This November was that silent noise for me. It came as it is going. Like life, like age. It is not I who feels older still but only while observing my parents. streaks of hair, dehydrated skin, puffed eyes. Things are certainly moving towards a direction. It was a busy month. Filled with many memories that we as a family collected, and me in my own archival way. Away from expectations or even results. May be I have learnt the way of a writer. Yet still I am and will always be ‘in-practise’ an imagemaker first. Sharing …
Last Week when our projector abruptly died. We were in the middle of a focused class learning about the Human Body System. But the sudden death of our computer gave class an opportunity to discuss something completely different in a matter of minutes. We started talking about dream and reality. Being at an age as they are, though super smart, there is line till where my children can absorb. But more than that they can remarkably express. On a whim I asked them to write what they dream about. Many of them came up with many different thoughts and other beautiful visualisations. But only few could write them so beautifully that I at once decided to share at least few with you all. It were written in such an alluring way; precise and small sentences that you feel it has taken a writer years to perfect it. They were comfortable in Hindi. And even though I might not be able to transpire exactly their language but still I will try to pass on their essence …
It was 1ST February 2007, when I first wrote this article. Fifteen days after, when my supposed vow of silence ended. That was my maiden spiritual experience of living with myself confined in a room. I was younger, attentive, perceptive, and found myself aware of observing the observer in moments of light while co-existing with other seekers. I had barely crossed my teenage. It certainly was a tender time. Even after one and a half decade today, that experience of being; learning to breathe knowingly lingers somewhere in my mind. Even today Whenever I find myself weak, my days unproductive, out of sync, sometimes purposeless or even when my food cycle goes awry I still find myself pulling back to the time and food cycle of my Vipassana time. I had lost this document a long time ago but it resurfaced. Perhaps there is something to learn still that I hadn’t. To understand the intricacies of a process that started then, the subtle nature of a flow that all along kept becoming thicker like fading …
Last week was Historic for India. Not because of an impossible looking chase made possible by Virat Kohli, an Indian Cricketer during India versus Pakistan in Melbourne, Australia during the Cricket World Cup. And may be not also because of Rishi Sunak, a British Indian becoming Britain’s Youngest Prime Minister in 200 years. And that here in India, all are going gaga about 75 years later remark! Even though it isn’t any less an achievement. Given how britishers are divided on an Asian being their Prime Minister. In a hilarious swipe, I heard Trevor Noah stating on it being the revenge time, while coaxing the English people to imagine a time when the great empire was trying to rule countries where no one looked like them!” Anyways, I only wish that however he got elected, he must put his everything to get Britain back on track. But for something which completely got overshadowed with all the happenings the world over. Last week Indian Space and Research Organisation put the heaviest ever Indian Rocket with 36 …
India that is Bharat* is the oldest living civilisation on Earth, and to even our surprise we at times get tired of celebrating so many festivals that arrive week after week non-stop throughout the year. But Diwali is not just any festival. It, I imagine presents the right amount of cosmic chaos, the energy and the passion that brings people together lighting up their homes, decorating streets, shops and on a subtle level trying to illuminate themselves by praying for Knowledge and Wealth on this moonless day. India is a land of Travellers and Storytellers. And Tonight of light which is also my favourite, is celebrated on the homecoming on one such Traveller. The King Lord Sri Rama, personally I revere him not because he was known to be Just, or responsible, balanced, courageous rather severely moral in love and War, but he has been for me the most ideal traveller that i have known through texts and people. He could easily be the most ancient walker who walked with a vow mapping the most …
“My father worked in the Buckingham Palace mail room for a short while in the 1970s. It was a period when letter bombs were being sent to prominent figures in the UK by the IRA and it was his job to inspect the queen’s mail for any potential explosive devices. The man he worked with, a fellow ammunition technician, himself was a stamp collector. And He couldn’t believe his luck. He, out of hundreds of people was offered a job where envelopes, with exotic stamps stuck…Read more
“If you want to walk in the moonlight, you might have to draw your own moon. If you can’t find a way back home, you might have to draw your own trail. I sometimes think I became a writer because of this book”.
For most of us, our understanding of robots and artificial intelligence (AI) is drawn more from science fiction than from fact. But it is true that the world of intelligent machines is opening up. And as we approach this brave new world of human-level machine intelligence, we may need to reassess what it means to be human.
When the migration ended. Pluto and I decided to spend our last day here. Walking for an hour or more admiring, gaping but reflecting what was there and all around us.
The morning arrived. A big day. Like a loved one’s birthday. And everything was planned. Even the time calculated for leisure. But leisure comes at a price. Millions abstain from eating that day. Reason could be their own. Mine was to celebrate. I had already spoken to Pandit Ji, I will be spending the night at the temple and hence I was taking the day lightly. I ate Moong Halwa, whatever was left of it. And stepped out for a stroll outside, to see the clouds, to breathe a few times deeply. To spread se beans and chapatis for birds and a ferocious black dog with whom I shared a biscuit and since then we were best of friends. Nearby I found a trail and was looking for the stream following its sound, when a local woman standing on the roof of her home, located on the top of that cottage hill called me thrice in succession. She stood right up at an angle close to 90 degrees asked me again if she can come …
Die for Two years. Live for yourself. Walk your longest walk. Swim in different rivers. Sleep in New rooms. And sometimes outside rooms. Chase your highest. Experience your lowest. And slowly resurrect. And If you know when. Go back home. To change.
The Devdar tree by the rockThe Fir and the Pinemust have its memories too:after a thousand years,see how its brancheslean towards the ground Only if I could get enoughaway from peoplewhere there was much more skyseen through the leaves abovemeeting trees from this and otherthan land,high risers. I see,by the day the grass is going brown or red in placesUnder the broad shadows of the Chinar treeSometimes now, here, everywhereI am talked to, is by silence Yet, IfI could only get closer to the lightwhere most of it is light. : ँ : Thank you. If today is the first time you have arrived on The Road to Nara, you are heartily welcome ~ Namaste : ँ : I will take this opportunity to introduce you to About me and importantly; Sharing some Lessons that awakened me while travelling Solo for Years on the Road, before you coarse on your own Road to Nara. You might also love to know about My Little School : ँ : I will appreciate all your support; your words or any contributions you might like to make towards …
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