36. Sweet Corn

I was traveling to Kolhapur yesterday evening.
"Madam, would you like to have Sweet Corn?" my colleague asked me.
I was not at all hungry. However, I like Sweet Corn.
So, I said yes.
On the road there were many people engaged in selling sweet corn.

We went to a vendor where there was no crowd - the crowds will increase when it rains - he told me later.

These corns are picked up and purchased by himself from nearby farmers. These are grown in the midst of sugarcane.

The fire burns from morning to evening - sometimes till late night.

During peak season he earns a profit of about Rs. 200/- per day.
He likes his work.







Because of the competition, customer get sweet corns at cheaper rates. Is it a win-win situation.

What does he do to earn his livelihood in 'non-corn' season - I asked.
He smiled but did not answer.
Maybe, as the corn season is ahead, he does not want to think about future - especially worrisome time!
He is right. I don't ask him anything more. 

35. Limits

The poverty estimates in the country are alarming.
Everybody agrees that there are more poor people than are officially acknowledged.

But there are people, and the number is large, who can spend much more than could be imagined by poor.
For example, look at the money people spend for breakfast.

And then what poor spend in purchasing, someone spends that amount for just washing and ironing the clothes.

Is this luxury necessary?
I know luxury has no limits.
The poverty too does not have limits. 

34. Roots Intact

"What takes us away from the earth?" is another question that I tend to ask.
The question no doubt is ridiculous, but it somehow often comes to my mind.
And the answers differ - depending on the place; time; situation....

I was at a spot on Ashoka Road  in Lutyens' Delhi - a place clearly taking me away from the reality to create another reality for me.

After a day long deliberations inside one of those buildings, I come out  in the evening and look around.

First what impresses me is the clear sky, cool breeze and the dancing trees.
Then I see some huge structures.
First is this - occupying the horizon.

Then I turn around and have another one blocking my view.

I feel a bit nervous with its size and just want to see what is at my left side.

It is not the height  that takes me away from earth - it is the attitude that separates me from others in a good way and in a bad way - both.

If I am aware of it, I can still keep the roots intact. 

33, Narmada

My association with Narmada is more emotional than real.
I have been at the banks of this lovely river occasionally and have blissful memories.
So, the other day, when I watched her from distance flowing alone, a little deserted; I could not control the pain and sorrow in my heart.  The sorrow was not only  personal,  but of so many lives that were associated with her.

I am not sure whether Narmada feels the pain. In a way I think she has taken this change as her destiny.
Because after few moments I was blissful again - as I am always with her.

A visit to Sardar Sarovar  was again a mixed feeling.
The history of human civilization is a history of its changing relations with Nature.
Good, bad, or ugly .. whatever we say, it is inevitable.

I realized that Narmada is the same old one, only her outer form has changed, the spirit remains the same.

I know, it is the way we make ourselves accept the reality.

And the state administration has tried to keep the roots intact in some way.

For me, this statue does not at all capture what Narmada means, what she stands for, what she teaches me.
But to different people, Narmada means different things.
So, I accept these emotions and expressions like I accept everything else in life. 

32. Surprise Meeting

I had been to Lucknow.
When I returned, people asked me, "What did you do in Lucknow?"
Well, I had been there for some official work, so I did that work.
They laughed at me.

"What did you see there?" they modified the question.
Of course I saw a lot. I explored an uncrowded road early in the morning - a purposeless walk.
I met some; and that was indeed a surprise meeting.

To begin with, after a long time I enjoyed the rising Sun.

It was so beautiful that I do not have words to express it. How it happens everyday and how it is new everyday!

And then I met Dayal (Magpie Robin) which went on singing without paying any attention to me.

Of course, he was not singing for me .. but that does not mean I undervalue his natural gifts.

And there was another one to surprise me. Grey Hornbill. Initially, I was not sure of the identity of the bird, so had to confirm with my friend Mrunal.

Overall, I suppose I like surprise meetings more than the planned ones. 

31. Lane Life

A visit to two villages in Karanl district was very interesting.
What caught my eye was lanes with well constructed roads, the houses  as if chatting with each other but still aloof.

The lanes appear to be empty and silent, however they are not so; they are full of life.

A child is watching a group of strangers (15 of us) with curiosity and fear.

And a mother returns from work.

The lanes have a full story to share with me.
Alas, I had some spare time to mingle with the people. 

30. Confluence

Like all Mega cities, new and old, modern and ancient live together in Delhi too.
The confluence of two distant ages is amazing to watch.
Though I was watching it constantly, last December when I was at Purana Qila in Delhi, I saw the sea of cars just from corner in Purana Qila. During that moment I realized that the city of cities has been holding these two eras in a nice way together.

The point was again emphasized when last Dunday I was at Feroz Shah Kotla.  From a 14th Century Jami Masjid, I could see flyovers and cars running smoothly.

It is not that the ancient and the modern has nothing to do with each other. They have learnt to co-exist peacefully.

The confluence apparently is peaceful, but who knows what price has been paid by people - in the past and in the present!!