Rodevra Republic

This is different story, not the usual kind, but has the elements to make it an interesting one for all the friends involved. It was a get-together of school friends. The strange part is that though was meeting some for the first time, having no recollection from school days, never for a moment felt that I did not know any of them. Felt an instant bond and closeness. Here were friends that one could relate and connect to as our very own. The sense of camaraderie was unique. In no other group you can have such pure fun, pull one another's leg and still get away with it. Couldn't help thinking what a delightful mix of people we were from such diverse fields. But the great thing was we connected at a common level and our work or position did not come in the way. This is unlike other groups, where it is a battle of one-upmanship. For a person who writes, he is an observer of people and makes a mental note of people he meets. I couldn't help registering my first impressions duri...

There is an interesting point in this video. While we understand that the past, present and future all converge to now, the question is how can we apply this knowledge? Modern science including Quantum Physics has come to the same conclusion what our philosophers understood. For example, Einstein's General Theory of Relativity creates relationships between Gravity, Space and Time, such that it postulates a continuum to an infinite point of singularity. We know that there is a concept in Quantum Physics called Higgs Boson or unofficially “The God Particle.” It refers to the smallest division that the Universe creates. Now we are looking things that are billions of times smaller than an atom. Following this, it seems like it can be done to infinity.  So we can conclude that essentially we and the known reality around us is composed of matter that converges to an infinitive point, which is a Singularity, or the Supreme Being we call God. By virtue of this singularity there is complet...

/ 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...

I seem to have developed some sort of reputation on providing my 'thesis' on even prurient topics, that some friends referred the topic of 'sex work on wheels'. Now, considering the topic, I don't know if it is for the salacious way I deal with it, or for my 'enriching treatise' ...or for both. Anyway, a request from such dear friends will not go unsatisfied. I see a point in this 'sex work on wheels', where the bus becomes an active partner in the act. The rhythmic motion, high speeds, jerky movements in traffic, sudden breaks, the rumbles, the potholes where the bus makes bouncy sideways movements, all completely unpredictable, must add to the drama, that transforms an ordinary act into a thrilling one.  Wonder the lengths, in this case miles, humans go to enjoy sex. We are one species that enjoy it more for recreation than procreation, unlike animals. This is helped by the fact that we have pretty advanced pleasure receptors associated with our bo...

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 influential. Had once spotted our f...

 *Saturday Art:  An Omnibus Ride to Piccadilly (Mr Gladstone Travelling with Ordinary Passengers), 1885, Artist: 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...