In dodo's head

I have always wanted to attend cultural events in Manipur. It saddens me so that I know almost nothing about my home-state and its very rich culture and heritage.  It was therefore no surprise to anyone that I jumped at the opportunity to attend the World Tourism day event at Andro. My mother was rather finicky about sending me to a music festival considering the fondness some Manipuris have for booze, and their inability to act civil after downing gallons of it. But the desperation I displayed paid off its dividend and finally with my father's stamp of approval (with the condition that I am accompanied by a hockey-team sized squad), I found myself sardine tin-packed in our car heading to Andro. Of course, the sheer size of the squad brought with it its own problems. The day was rather filled with a lot of waiting- for food, for people to get ready, for people to come out, etc. But none of it could dampen our spirits. The venue in itself was breathtaking; in the Santhe...

Don't laugh at me, or think that I have become slightly looney, But of late, I have realised there's beauty in even crows. That beauty unappreciated by most. Back where I come from, The cawing of crows is bad omen, A sign that death approaches. Here in Delhi, they seem to command a little bit of indifference.

What it was, Would never be known. Was it a reciprocated one, Or one of the more common, That of the unrequited sort. Touched by tragic beauty, Of the impossibility, There was a longing, And a sense of despair. Song lyrics exchanged, Each leading to a frantic decoding, Of words unsaid. Were words unspoken, Or was it just a dying man's grasp. That would remain unknown, undecoded. Each meeting led to a reawakening, Of something deep within. Each awakening hastily suppressed, Lest it turned the soul into hollowness. With each glance, a silent goodbye. And a hope, for clarity. Kindred spirits we are, they say. Or is it because of the unknown. Lest things are unravelled, And beauty be lost. Let it stay amidst shadows, Forever unspoken.

There's a sense of frustration, an anguish, A sense of justice undelivered, Several wrongs not made right, And mostly of voices unheard. Pages of the newspaper reveal the angered masses, asking for a retaliation, for a show of solidarity from the side of the government. Let down. Let down is what they are. Votes. Votes is what they answer to, Not the screams of anger, Not the cries of the victims. Not the alarms that ring, Signalling the pre-eminent end of humanity.

Oh Imphal, how you hold me captive to your green hills and enveloping skies..

Russell Square, London, June 2012

Puddle in London, May 2012 Everywhere we go, We leave behind a part of us. Every city it seems, Seeps into our souls. Its essence, its history. The people we brush part, In the streets of Delhi. Those we sit beside, In London's double-decker buses. We only judge them by appearances, We know not, Their tales of happiness and sorrow. Those who stood beside them, And those who didn't. And yet when we look back, To our travels. When we share our stories, We talk of the queer residents. Those who managed to capture our curiosity.

So it begins, last week in London. :')

Russell Square, London, February 2012

Extreme hibernation period on at the moment, only punctuated by trips to get some groceries. Last weekend  fortunately, a friend of mine finally convinced me to get out of this comatose state and explore London with her.  After much discussion and research (on her part), we decided to visit Holland Park in the posh neighbourhood of Kensington.  London always brings in my mind atleast a picture of chaos and buildings almost squished together, of people always in a hurry to get somewhere, caffeinated drinks in hand.  Holland Park, it turns out, was almost an oasis in this desert of chaos. Lush greens everywhere, people all sprawled in its green lawns. Some walking down the pathways that criss-crossed across the park. Truly a treat. Here are some pictures I took:

It has been a while since I last updated my blog, the reason being me having to dodge the bullets they call examinations.. Now that I, Matrix reloaded style have managed to dodge them all (unless they boomerang and manage to graze me when results are announced in June), I can now stretch out, soak up the London sun and do some lazy-style typing and editing of photos. Well, at the moment my brain does not seem to be churning out anything legible enough for the human mind, so I leave you with this.. A few pictures I took at the Covent Garden Market.

took the picture in September 2011 (Jaisalmer)

The picture was taken in April 2011.. :) Imphal.

took this picture in February 2012

Picture was taken in Camden Town (London) sometime in February .. :) 

Picture was taken in South Bank. London in January 2012

Picture was taken in December, edited it for fun today. A quote to live by, difficult though.. 

I took this picture in Imphal, April 2011

(picture was taken in Oxford 2012)