Shirdi

Imagine the history of India told from the point of view of the millions of horses that stormed in from the steppes up north, the horses that died in the ashwamed yagnas of hopeful invaders, the ones who galloped through the bone dry expanse of Persia, shipped by the millions into the ports on the west coast, Panipat, Talikota, Haldighati, the ones who kicked dust in the brigade grounds and the passes of the Khyber. Through the eyes of racehorses and the white horse named Don who thrills us tourists. 

Shirdi

Resting after pulling pilgrim tourists.


Suranga Date, a friend who saw this photograph on Facebook, had these words to add:


They represent
the feet of some
wishing to pray to
the Powerful Benevolent One,
waiting to receive 
some benefits
in their own lifetime.

But unlike 
some representatives,
they are abandoned once
the work is done;
they have 
no subsidized canteens,
so pensions, 
not even free hooves
for self and family,
free water
or even clean lounges.

There's is just
to remain tied
amidst the dirt
while all the yojanas
go full blast
like the AC 
exhausting 
on the other side...

Svargate, Pune

In Pune, this is the favourite signage image for chicken shops

Madgaon. Goa

Kolkata

Outside Nandan. Kolkata.

Velsao, Goa

Village Football Club. Velsao. 

 It must be fun, living the slow life in a village like this one called Velsao in Goa.

They spell theater as Tiatr in Goan Konkani. 

NH210 Karaikudi

Razzak Ali's Hotel. Karaikudi.

Just another restaurant by the highway in Tamil Nadu.

Yum.

 

It's one of those hotel's where what's served is better than what's advertised.

Allenby Road, Bhowanipore, Kolkata

It's amazing how life not only spills on to the streets of Kolkata, but happens almost entirely on the footpaths. Every act of existence happens 24 hours a day for thousands of mostly men who appear to live with no roof over their heads. The city has water fountains and tubewells flowing with water 24 hours a day for them and most of the life revolves around it. The taxis and the hand rickshaws are their beds.

I'm from Mumbai and I'm no stranger to such sights but here in Kolkata it takes on a whole new rhythm that is worth observing.

Kayankulam Bus Stand NH66

The Perfume Seller.

I was waiting for a bus to go to Ernakulam and this travelling perfume seller at the bus stand was catering to his customers, the others in the bus stop. It was interesting to see how people select the different perfumes he had and how he was making his sale.

Little did I know at that time there was a beautiful movie by the name of "Adaminte Magan Abu" in Malayalam that tells the story of travelling attar seller.

Watch the movie here:





 

Muzzaffar Ahmed Street, Kolkata

The Grassroots (Trinamool) is now the big banyan in West Bengal.

Indian Museum, Kolkata

Fossils in the Indian Museum, Kolkata.