Lost and Found
Monkey brain: Can't lift a finger...too tired. Good Night!
Me: {Yawn} Oh! 7 a.m. already, get up. But where is my ear ring? Where is it? Now, now, remove the bed linen gently, carefully tug the blanket...after all it's tiny, well, not very tiny either, it must be there. Look carefully. Hell! Can't find it! Lost it! Gone! No! The only thing I ever designed now lost because I was lazy!
Monkey brain: Bugger!Should've been more careful :(
Well, the apt word for 2018 is quite like the situation stated above. An endless flurry of events small yet significant, continuously spinning just out of the orbit and then out of control.
But still as we count the last sunsets I thought to write at least one last post before the year's gone. The demanding year however, has taken me to new places and shown me this beautiful country in all it's ruggedness. Sometimes tad bit bleak but then have been a realist all my life. So, can't shove the bleakness under the carpet and walk away. Have to make a change. The only constant.
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| Keoladeo National Park |
For starters I picked up a new fancy, birding (can't call it a hobby just yet, as have not been able to dedicate as many hours as I'd like) but I'm definitely much more happy with my growing numbers of feathered friends. For a person such as me, not known for patience this is the best hobby barring practicing mindfulness Ha ha!
I'm even missing my feathered friends. One particular radiant purple Sun bird that was a regular visitor to my home around the March to June this year. I hope you come back soon for some catch up little exotic bird. I'm wishing to get to know you better in 2019. See I'm learning to be patient! :D
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| Spot of green |
Although there has been more downs this year but I'm grateful of the ups as they have been pretty satisfying. Consider my spot of garden in this matter. I've always felt happy with few potted plants on my balcony but last some years it has been quite challenging to start one as I kept moving from one address to another ceaselessly. But finally as the year was drawing to a close I suddenly got lucky and now have a small garden emerging in my sit out. As Delhi springs are pretty regal although short-lived, I'm hoping I will get my spot of paradise in the New Year.
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| Rural settlement under government schemes in Rajasthan |
As problem solving and improved knowledge are my key strengths I am proud to say I successfully completed one complex project over two states this year and am now involved with yet another challenging project spread over six states of India with gamut of mind boggling predicaments.
As the narrative changes course the complexities of human existence and social change remain at logger head in India.
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| Waloo Devi at her newly built Pukka House |
But I have some hope as after working for 14 years in social development I've witnessed for the first time a "roof over the head" schemes actually reaching the farthest of the village folk in remote destinations this year. That definitely cheers me up and makes me hopeful.
Villages actually are getting access to toilets at home as ODF becomes the mantra for district governance. Although long way to go before we solve either WASH or village level planning issues but at least this is by no means a small feat. It could be the game changer when India goes to vote next year.
Of course, there are struggles, Although India gets pitted against powerful neighbour China, for losing it's battle on poverty but perhaps through our Indian madness we will become more egalitarian and equal in the next 10 years if we are smart. Sounds like a pipe dream now, but then New Year wants me to be hopeful. Allows me to hope that portability of social security, basic national income and upholding human rights will be a reality of the social, democratic republic and 70% wealth will not be concentrated with the 3% of its population. A country of farmers and workers and middle class won't live in shame and won't die unaccounted for. May we take the right course soon.
Me: Found it! Found it!
Smart Monkey Brain: Good! Now be careful and don't lose it again.
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| Asifi Complex |
After four long years I finally got see the architectural wonder Lucknow's Asifi complex or Imambara completely by fluke. It lived up to every bit of wonder that I had always held for it. The Wiki says, "Construction of Bara Imambara was started in 1785, a year of a devastating famine, and one of [Asaf-ud-Daula]'s objectives in embarking on this grandiose project was to provide employment for people in the region for almost a decade while the famine lasted. It is said that ordinary people used to work in the day building up the edifice, while noblemen and other elite worked at night to break down anything that was raised that day. It was a project that preceded a Keynesian like intervention for employment generation. Construction of the Imambara was completed in 1791. Estimated cost of building the Imambara ranges between half a million rupees to a million rupees. Even after completion, the Nawab used to spend between four and five hundred thousand rupees on its decoration annually."
It was a pure case of sociologist's wonder meeting architecture enthusiast's marvel. I couldn't have wished for more. Next time you're in Lucknow do try to see the place. A guide is a must or there is a high chance you can get lost in the labyrinth as my fellow traveler did and I spent half an hour wondering where he was. But all was well. I found him on the foyer smiling and happily clicking away. Thankfully my claustrophobia and fear of darkness had kept me with the large number of fellow tourists listening closely to the whispering walls of this marvel. Whatever you do, do - not and I mean absolutely do-not miss the Baoli. Also do try to visit the monument during day time. As the Baoli is camera like building the fun is completely lost after sun down. Lucknow's undying charm is possibly only next to Varanasi in character and diversity.
On that wonderous note of joy I wish all of you a Very Happy New Year. May all your dreams bear wings.
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