Rodevra Republic

A gathering of old school friends where time fades and bonds quietly return This one is a little different from the usual pieces—but it has all the elements of a story, especially for those who were part of it. It was a get-together of school friends. The curious part was that, although I was meeting some of them for the first time—with no real recollection from our school days—not for a moment did I feel that I did not know them. There was an instant bond, an easy closeness. These were people one could relate to without effort, as if the years in between had quietly dissolved. The sense of camaraderie was special. In very few groups can you have such uninhibited fun—pull each other’s leg freely, and yet be held together by genuine affection. What also struck me was the delightful mix of people we were, coming from such diverse fields. And yet, none of that seemed to matter. We met at a common level where professions, achievements, and positions had no role to play. That, perhaps, ...

A journey through the vastness—seeking connection within the infinite There is an interesting thought that often arises: if the past, present, and future all converge into the present moment, how do we live with that understanding? Modern science, in its own way, has touched upon ideas that our philosophers have long reflected on. Theories such as Einstein’s work on space and time suggest that these are not separate, but part of a continuous fabric. At another level, physics explores the structure of matter—probing deeper and deeper into what constitutes reality. As we look closer, we find that what appears solid dissolves into finer and finer layers, almost as if approaching an underlying unity. While scientific language and philosophical insight may differ, both seem to point, in their own ways, towards interconnectedness. Carl Sagan once said that we are made of “star stuff.” The elements that form our bodies were forged in the interiors of stars. Seen from a distance, the Earth its...

/ Today's art topic, is not art in its strict sense, but poetry that touches us as much as art does. There have been very few instances when a song is not just a song, but a feeling. I am referring to one of the finest songs of Bollywood, 'Humne dekhi hain’  from the 1966 film, Khamoshi.  It would not do justice to call it just a song, when it is poetry, that is art of a very high order.  Each line of the lyrics evokes a feeling of love, not unbridled, but restrained and understated. The metaphor for love is not expression, but experience. Gulzar poignantly writes love does not require words, the silence is enough and it is within this silence love finds eloquent expression. There is a common refrain, ‘‘सिर्फ एहसास है ये, रूह से मेहसूस करो’, where love is raised to an almost spiritual level, falling in the domain of the soul. It bears silent witness to the magical glow that even a drop of it confers upon one in pure love. It is not ephemeral but timeless. "नूर की बूँद है...

The excess body weight that one lugs around everywhere may or may not shorten our trip here, but what about the heavy burdens of stress, anxiety, worry in life, that definitely will? It reminds me of a popular Zen story, one that defines it as well. There was a Zen master who always carried a heavy bag on his shoulders, filled with sweets and goodies children loved. He used to travel carrying this heavy load and wherever he went, children would gather around him and he would just laugh and distribute sweets to them.  People wondered if he was really a Zen master and decided to test him. They asked him, "What is Zen?"  Without saying a word, he just dropped his heavy bag from his shoulders. Next they asked him, "What is the goal of Zen?” This time he took the bag back on his shoulders and walked away.  This is the essence of Zen. One has to drop one's load, the "huge weight of material concerns", discard everything that is on the way, remain free, stand up s...

SoBo, a world unto itself This is the story of my neighbour who is stays in the building adjoining mine, our two buildings being separated by a common wall. The buildings are thus mirror images of one another.  He is the landlord as well, so there are many occasions we have to interact, particularly for any repair or waterproofing work, where work done by any one  affects the other.  He is a decent man but I enjoy interacting with him for a particular reason. He is what may be called as the archetype SoBo snob, and a typical example of old money. We did not share our childhood together as he was earlier staying with his parents at Chowpatty, in a huge sea facing house. After his ageing aunt, a noble lady, who was staying here passed away, he moved in here with his wife as a newly married couple in late 1990s. He belongs to the well-known K M Munshi family from the maternal side, who founded the Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan at Chowpatty. The family is well connected and influenti...

An Omnibus Ride to Piccadilly (1885), Alfred Morgan (British, 1836–1924) A work of art is something that should touch you instantly. The moment you rationalize it, it becomes an intellectual exercise that robs you of the joy of just enjoying it, without having to explain why. But the love for art extends into trying to find something unusual or to discover something the artist particularly wishes to express. This exercise can have pleasant results, helping  in appreciating the artist's work better. So what I see in this painting is that the central figure is obviously Mr. Gladstone (wearing the black top hat). He was an important figure having served as British Prime Minister for 12 (non-consecutive) years. His demeanor is upright  and the artist, Morgan, manages to convey his position. He has an assistant with him, seated to his left. This is concluded by the fact that the assistant is holding what was called a ‘Gladstone bag’, a small portmanteau suitcase designed by J G Be...

A handwritten “specification sheet” for vegetables—precise, uncompromising, and not open to interpretation There are many skills one acquires in life—education, profession, perhaps even a bit of wisdom with age. And then there is the fine art of buying vegetables, a subject in which many of us remain lifelong students. For most men, this education does not come through formal instruction. It arrives in fragments—verbal guidelines, occasional corrections, and sometimes firm directives delivered in a tone that is half suggestion and half warning. “Don’t buy tomatoes that are too soft.” “Onions should be small and firm.” “Bhindi should snap, not bend.” The margin for error is remarkably small. A single misjudgment is tolerated. A repeated one invites the inevitable: “Next time, I will come with you.” In an attempt to avoid such supervision, I developed my own coping strategy. I trusted my regular vendors—people I chatted with, whose families I knew. There was a certain warmth in th...

A symbolic obituary reflecting on the quiet passing of certain ideals Obituaries are fascinating. They are small, easy to read, and there is an air of finality about them. It is amazing how an entire life can be put to rest in just a few words. Fortunately or unfortunately, this is one genre of writing that one is not very happy to write. However, I could not resist writing one here. Any resemblance to any particular person is purely coincidental. Here is a sample: AAA , aka XXX , moved on to his heavenly abode on September 1, 2024. He is deeply mourned by his partner, Truth , and his three daughters — Sincerity , Probity , and Equity . He now enters a zone of silence and peace. During his lifetime he expressed himself freely, without fear or censure. If he felt strongly about something, he made the effort to seek background information, establish what was true and correct, and put forth a balanced view. Sadly, with a twist of fate, he has now been silenced. He was positive in ...

If souls about to take birth on Earth were given an orientation session, what might that conversation sound like? One can imagine a celestial office where newly arriving souls ask questions about the strange place they are about to enter. The answers, perhaps, would be given by someone responsible for explaining the terms of earthly life. In this little imagined dialogue, a soul named Bharati meets Prajapati, the “HR and Induction Manager for Earth.” Prajapati: So, you are considering a visit to Earth? Let me brief you on what you are in for — some dos and don’ts and what you specifically need to be aware of. Bharati: That’s very kind of you. I have heard a lot from souls who have returned from there. There are mixed reactions, so I wanted to check with you. Prajapati: Well, first you will have a span of, on average, about 80–90 revolutions of Earth around the Sun — what humans call “years.” You will be provided with a bountiful supply of air and water, a generally hospitable climat...