All posts filed under: The Capital

Home and the World : Walking around New Delhi and Old in January ’22

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Even though every day, slowly months and years seem to pass as fast as they arrive; January is special because first so much celebration already happens even before it arrives that half of it leaves while many still living hungover or in the previous year. Yet for me it was bringing some change that i could experientially notice, and drastic at that. Father had a near death experience so much that one night sleeping outside Hospital, in the boot of a car made me succumb to the emotions of not having a father anymore. Those five hospital days were special in a strange and new kind of way. Father eventually came back strongly, and is on his way to retain good health. But still something changed in me. Probably the essence of time. How so much is often so little. Hence January had to be celebrated, in the only few way i can. Working, walking, writing better. Ever since the seed of working on Delhi’s past and present has yielded, i had been moving around …

One two one and an Empty stomach

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DAY 3 I got up little late. I didn’t know the reason exactly but I was lazing around for more than required. One thing that is changing me from inside is getting up and going for the bath. Its one of the most beautiful, mood changing, act changing thing that I have been constantly doing. One thing that still has to be attained is getting up at one time. Its mostly early but its irregular. I went out for the walk. I ran in between. I had to meet Swastika and Dhruv. Making sure that they get on board. Noon arrived faster than anticipated. I met swastika at Khan. It was calming meeting her. She shared a lot and opened like a flower in monsoon. She confirmed she is in but talked soon spoke mostly her experiences. Did not ask anything of the film but of things of elsewhere. Even though she gave me a beautiful image with the children. There is an unknown risk with her but it also feels that she is the …

Times of many Possibilities

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DAY 2 Story is evolving. I am letting it settle however she wants to. But I am trying to show Chatterjee what he must. The landscape of Delhi. Her birds. And her changing color. It seems we will be able to ride on to something that I myself never saw in Delhi. I do not know what form it is going to take. That it will reveal itself, and settle in the form it takes. My only work is to bring together the best of people that I know and then let it happen, however, in their small, beautiful, pure means. Cold is settling. The sky cleared after many days of toxicity. And from yesterday it felt picnic in Delhi. We met in the evening and went towards the border of U.P meeting Delhi and observed birds going back in thousands. There were so many and within next one month it is going to be very exciting to make a small film around them in the film itself. I need to spend some time by …

New Beginnings

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DAY 1 Yesterday father retired from his services after serving the government for thirty five years. He had organized a party which came out to be as good as if its someone’s wedding. For me It has not only been a teaching but it has been overwhelmingly inspiring to experience his intensity. And in later years how to start preparing your mind and executing various aspects of it efficiently. As efficiency is directly proportional to mind. The speed and clarity with which we could see his effortless involvement in all matters life showed his evolution. The last ten years had been the hardest of all, as he said during his speech. Travelling for over 50 kilometers in the early hours across Delhi is not cool by any standards; more so when you live only to teach. One’s mind has to be preserved of such log and ardous travels to take care of the biggest government school of delhi with a whopping numbers of students studying, approx.. 2300. Yet whatever came his way, he transformed it …

Vandy and her Wonders

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Day 6 I called Vandy again, out of love. To show our solidarity, that school is behind you, that we are with her in this hour of anxiety and need. We had already planned couple of prayers for her and a few things that might have helped her. But some things hit you like a sweet surprise that can only be expressed in a dismissive laugh. It was Vandy who was imagining that it could be Blood Cancer that might have reached her lungs but it was in her f imagination !! Nothing’s proven, no such reports have come out, its just that she thought it could be so. So, as of now it is pleasingly relieving to hear something like that. I read and wrote the points down all noon and evening. It is giving a sinking feeling one day after other as i am walking towards somewhere i have never walked. I hope i am able to create something of value. I will be meeting Abhishek tomorrow and i hope i get him …

Days at Mount Black

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I went rather late. In midst of going or not going which has become a pattern. The sun became orange and soon hid behind city buildings. I was still in metro. I took two tuk tuks and still had to walk. The air changed to worst. The smell. Blood was seen spilled. The water filled pot holed roads. I bought four chocolates for the girl and one for the boy. I reached without straying anywhere else. I arrived at a time when she was looking at herself in the mirror when she saw me from the sides of her eye. And hid herself behind the door. She was humming a song. Combing her wet hair. Looking at herself. But as she hid herself from my gaze, she was smiling, she was shying as she always did. I asked about her health. If she is studying? of course not. I met her brother. I remembered him fondly. I had filmed them both a year ago for over a week. He was the most interactive little boy …