Small Measures of Joy

Small measures of joy, amidst rumbling clouds of gray. Time speeds by without count or warning. In this state of blank, yet with strong persistence to reconstruct, there are small joys to be relished and among them the bliss of being back on the blog and sailing into another world of happiness, which is by now familiar, very much like home - a home in the heart.

Some indulgences never die; the strong connect with nature, the pleasure in gorging pages of an interesting book, filtering light through the lens, conversations galore, the everlasting love for music - now, retro-pop of the 70s ;-)

Life goes on, apparently some full-circles aren't really it; they were merely interludes in the passage!

And then, there are long and momentary silences, deep shades of gray, an occasional delving into memories that bring smiles, rumbling ragings and of course, small measures of joy!

Not at odds, but completely even.

A Few Days in Heaven

Mighty, mist covered blue mountains,
rolling ever greens of happiness,

rich blue skies of eternal joy,
soaring trees, oak, pine and others plenty,

maybe, there are so many different worlds, yes,
but there's only one like you, yours of bliss,

the one i was born to, embraced and loved,
cradled in the arms of divine comfort,

with brethren akin, bound by love,
forever and ever, always in hope,

someday i will return to these valleys, these mountains,
these expanses of joy, these moments of elation,

of your soul, spirit and all, i am part of you,
in you i see me, as in me they see you,

there can only be one home for me,
and it will always be in those mighty arms of thee.

Footnotes:

My 'last' few days at home in Ooty early in February

Beyond Sun and Sands - In Words and Notes

Goa and frolic have, over time, attained synonymy! And, fun in Goa is nothing short of being legendary, decreed by King Momo himself. It has been 20 years to the date since i last visited Goa and something has been itching within me to pack a bag and set off - except that the moment in time doesn't seem to arrive.

Some ten days ago, on a Friday morning, fellow blogger Chirag's text and K's email landed up almost the same time informing me of a press-conference scheduled later in the day announcing the Goa Carnival 2013. The enthusiasm of news from the land of 'sun and sands' added to the prospect of meeting some fellow bloggers was alluring.

The Government of Goa had sent in their top emissaries for the purpose; the minister and chief executive for tourism, who did good to promote the upcoming event and spell a message that Goa wasn't all about beaches and fizz, during the year end, but much more in spirit, culture, food, people and destinations. One witnessed a passionate and sensible attempt to convey of Goa as being a place to be visited year round rather than it just being seen as a frenzied venue for new year calling.

So then, what is the message about the carnival? A moment in time at a place "dominated by enjoyment and merry making where people come together and spread cheer and happiness."

Now, Goa aside, it was a treat to meet the lovely K, charming and eloquent, who as an organizer made it very comfortable and personal. Anil Purohit of Windy Skies was a pleasure to meet with. Kuldeep Chugh of The Top List with his sense and perspective of current goings-on and beyond along with Chirag, about whom i've written some posts before, made for some fine, personal, warm and memorable conversations that one could have hoped for.

Footnotes:

A post on Chirag's blog about the evening.

And, on another note, my Mum and Sister-in-law celebrate their birthdays today!

Wind and the Valley

oh you, to whom life bows in deference,
you, who is part of our every moment and existence,

mighty, fulfilling, absolute and faultless,
your colours and contours are timeless,

in you, i find comfort everlasting,
forgetful of time, age and all that is unwilling,

to you i was born, to you i shall return,
these moments apart are but a short sojourn.

Footnotes:

Image description - Taken from a look-out point at Matheran

A Sojourn in Paradise

Whoever remarked of paradise being only within the heart was not blessed enough to admire the expansive outbacks that lie strewn across all of India. Matheran is one such destination and it was sheer thoughtfulness that took me there.

V's text one Friday evening had me elated when he asked if i'd like to go along over the weekend. And, on a following Sunday morning when we set about, in the midst of nippy winter air, i had little clue of what was to come. Excitement turned into elation when we slipped out of the city and into unrestrained greenery, which to me is balm to the soul, or rather, its home.

Winding roads, thin clear air, rugged hills and rolling mountains later, Matheran presented itself and welcomed us like home would its inhabitants. I cannot justly describe the sights and sounds, for they are much more and beyond words. But walking about untroubled by time or intention and purely ecstatic at taking in all the marvel that was, i soon reached a point of not wanting to return; of the need to disappear into the consoling wilderness and remain lost forever!

Humbled, and in awe, i was once again reassured by the verity that meaning and purpose are nothing more than the synonyms of nature, the marvels of creation.

I cannot thank V and his friends enough for this splendid opportunity; the sojourn, feel, stillness, conversations. And V, and his family, particularly for some delightfully homemade Rajasthani fare of 'dal bati churma.'

I can at best sum up the day with one word, very distinctive of what it truly is - a 'blessing.'

And as i returned home and passed into time, another milestone, quite contrary of its just-relished predecessor stood in force to smother me - It was a Monday morning! 

Rendezvous with the Renaissance Man

Among the things that define him the least is to say that he is a blogger.

He is someone who is much more, and blogging therefore is among the many activities of his passion. Self taught, self made, supremely adaptable, admirably well-travelled and in a purposeful quest for meaning, reason and happiness, he holds the distinction of being someone out of the ordinary, committed to himself, to be away from the mundane rat race that defines the road to success in the context of the present day.

Sadho Ram, affectionately known as Sadho, is a man who holds life in high esteem and values relationships with importance. So when one Sunday morning, not long ago, i had the privilege of having breakfast with him, only hours before his departure from here, i was adequately reassured of his priorities in life.

But the story begins from many years ago, when a boy decided to break free from what was almost decidedly the natural course of his life - willed for him by his kin, themselves following in the path of their family before them. Aware that the path towards his destiny lay elsewhere, he broke glass and chose to embark upon a journey that saw him go places, pursue a course of study of choice, and transform his life  - a journey which saw him be himself.

Having travelled extensively across the breadth of the Indian union, he continues to be in awe of places and what they hold in store for the explorer in him, the explorer that is him. The more i spoke to him, the more i became aware of him as a person unperturbed by time.

His concerns are not centered around wealth, positions or material gains - those to him are mere dictates of a social order. Sadho is energetically and genuinely articulate about the concerns surrounding human life today - paramount among which is a prevalent lacking of the ability of the individual to unite and bond with the self and thus be aware and cognizant of the the world within and that which lies outside of it.

Close to ninety minutes, an easy south-Indian fare and a soulful conversation later, i decided to let go of him mindful of his impending journey later that day.

But, truly, it has taken only ninety minutes to earn a friend for life.

Footnotes:

On another note, Deepu, my brother, turns 30 day! Welcome to the club, boyo! :-)

Live On Forever Ry

My first memories of him are that of a warm smile, twinkling eyes of sincerity and a firm handshake which evidently were his trademark style of greeting, every one, every time, and at all times. These memories are not from a very distant past, but, from the backyard of the present.

At 21 you wouldn't expect anyone to be anything but a stirring teenager adept only with the ways a relative, contemporary world. But, at that, he proved all assumptions as they truly are - as assumptions. Extremely passionate about education, with the resolved belief that it was a liberating force, he was working on making his dream project come true - education for the under privileged. It was this yet unborn cause that brought us together, though we found ourselves often delving deep into the pleasures of music, movies, travel and literature.

One would think that a soul like this was destined to live his dream, to deliver the world from tribulation and be celebrated in timelessness - because that is precisely what the world needs, a man of resolve, commitment and belief that he will change the way people live, by hope, vision and effort.

Christmas was two days away and i was invited to have dinner with him - even during which occasion he passionately articulated his dream, his vision, his purpose. That evening, i went home comforted in dreams, his dreams, that strengthened a world of perfection deep within my mind.

But life isn't always the way we think of it! There is always that big fucking sick surprise that springs up unannounced, unbeknownst to us. I wouldn't know then that Ry wouldn't make it for Christmas. A little after mid-week last, of the past year, i was informed that Ry had met with death tragically, bringing two-decades of brilliance to an abrupt end.

Today, as i recall our last conversation, only hours before his departure - his words echo, inspire and encourage me, as if to say that we had met that last hour so that he could pass on the mantle of his dream to me, for it to live on. I gather, he was someone, unlike so many of us, who did not need any credit of achievement to attain his coign of vantage - for who he was, his existence alone did that for him. And that day isn't very far away when tributes, which will culminate into efforts, paid to his memory will show how much the influence of the departed will strengthen and inspire the deeds of the living.

For me, he continues to exist, always and all ways, in my memories and my actions. His simplicity, compassion and forthrightness and more prominently, his efforts to make the world a better place for the less fortunate make him truly what he is - the son of God!

Rest in peace, Ry, my friend, my brother! You fought a tough life and now you are united with your creator. Heaven is a place, now, better, but you have left us poor, forever!

Rest in peace, my friend, my brother. You will live on forever.

Opening Statements 2013

In each of us, there is a little of all of us.

So, while we belong to one another - we are also one and the same.

Footnotes:

Opening Statements 2012

The Ramparts of 2012

Time! on whose arbitrary wing

The varying hours must flag or fly,

Whose tardy winter, fleeting spring,

But drag or drive us on to die

--To Time, Lord Byron, 1812

Post # 46 - 2012

A year, like never before and surely never like the ones that will come after it, is finally coming to a close. It has been the most challenging year of my life and has transformed it in ways that i couldn't possibly have imagined.

That apart, i've enjoyed the relocation, meeting with fellow bloggers - 3 of them this year, 2 of whom i've written about, the well-laden sub-cultural aspects of this tinsel town, unlimited dreams, endless possibilities and a whole lot more.

As we stand at the doorway of another year - i do not wish to envision it as merely another new beginning, but a continuum that will bring us happiness, compassion, love and timelessness.

A humble mention of my anchorage-extraordinaire, in spirit, in soul, for whom my gratitude is unbound - CD, thank you for everything.

Footnotes:

The Ramparts of 2011

Rendezvous with The Rain Boi

Vikram Jeet Singh Parmar is not someone who can be labelled as being just a commendable blogger or a skilled photographer, both of which he very much is! He is someone who has transcended either - by venturing into the real world with a zeal to do something that he always wanted to do.

Having surpassed many a milestone he is now ardently following a dream, to realize his passion for photography that has led to him to embark on a journey of Recreating Reality.

For this intrepid soul from the hills, who calls himself 'a cautious observer and a reckless participant', there exists a dream to explore the world and immerse himself in it until eternity, seeking bliss unlimited.

Having read Computer Sciences and having worked for a while in a global organization, he decided to opt out of the increasingly mundane routine, in order to do what he does best - to be a writer, photographer and traveler!

The uniquely tied-to-destiny ardor he exudes of life can at best be summed up by the most appropriate of Ayn Rand's lines that 'the purpose of man's life is to become an abject zombie who serves a purpose he does not know, for reasons he is not to question.'

Oh, and i must thank him very much for letting me, the most amateur, fool around with his super toy - the awesome Canon EOS DSLR, the series of which i don't remember, the nomenclature of which i don't understand, but am fascinated about no end.

And, before i end, VJSP, thank you for making the ToI Literary Carnival 2012 happen for me! :-)