I happened to know about a small town named Channapatna in Karnataka, which is known as the land of toys. Situated on the Bengaluru-Mysooru Road, this small town produces unique handcrafted wooden lacquer toys that have become quite famous across India. Small factories manufacture wooden Channapatna toys and other utility products like candle stands, bangles etc. Wood is carved into an intricately designed item, using a handheld lathe and then it is coloured with lac. This traditional craft is protected as a geographical indication (GI) tag under the World Trade Organization.
I spent a day with the Channapatna handicraft artisans, observing their work and their daily life along with my friend. This is my humble attempt to capture a little part of what we experienced with these wonderful people – A photo essay on one the most famous traditional toys of India to help put forward their daily life.
We all have fond memories of our college days. Particularly we remember the long trips along with all our college friends. But if the trip is an adventurous trek and competition as well, then the joy is doubled. I happened to participate in such a trek last year, whose memories are vividly stored in my mind.
Every year since 1995, the National Adventure Club in Chandigarh organizes the National Adventure Festival, an all India festival to promote adventure sports among the youth. As part of this event, my educational institution, Gautam Buddha University conducted a trial and selected 20 students to participate in the adventure festival. My friend, Gauri and I secured top positions, and hence were guaranteed a spot among those 20 students. After months of persuading, our parents finally allowed us to participate in the festival and we along with two of our college professors set off on our expedition.
Day 1, Chandigarh
From Greater Noida, it took us about 6 hours to arrive at the base camp in Sector 18 in Chandigarh, where the festival was being held. Despite the tiring bus journey, our group was eager to explore Chandigarh, which is a uniquely planned city that is divided into various sectors. We proceeded to the main market of Chandigarh located in Sector 17, which was beautifully lit up. We came across a wonderful bakery store that had some exceptionally delicious yet inexpensive items. After shopping for an hour, we returned to our base camp, where 5 students were asked to share one room. Gauri and I had to sleep on the floor, but we fell asleep soon enough, reminding ourselves that this is all an adventure!
Day 2, Kasauli Hills
We began our journey toward Kasauli Hills, from where our trekking expedition began. All the participants in the festival had to trek nearly 3 kilometres up the rocky Kasauli Hills and it was much more exhausting than we had assumed. It was a sight worth watching with over 300 people from all over India strenuously climbing up the hill. Initially our college team, Gauri, Satyendra and I were ahead of the others, but gradually we fell behind.
In order to make this adventure less exhausting, the three of us sat down after every 20 minutes and took tons of photographs. We were relieved to see street food stalls set up after two and half hours of trekking, and all three of us collapsed to devour some burgers, samosa and gulab-jamun. Our journey ended soon as we exhaustedly got into our respective buses and set off back to the base camp.
Day 3, Manali
The next day, our college team were allotted package number 4, which covered Kullu and Manali. We set on a 10-hour journey to reach Manali, crossing the beautiful valleys of Kullu. We reached Manali late at night in the midst of chilling cold. We dragged our suitcases through the dimly lit snowy roads to the place we would be staying at: Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering & Allied Sports. This is a reputed institute for mountaineering training in the Himalayas, but it had basic facilities, where we had to spend the night in a cold dormitory with our fellow participants.
Day 4, Solang Valley
Early morning, we set off for Solang Valley from Manali. The journey was difficult due to the immense snow everywhere; the SUV we were travelling in kept slipping off track and scaring us to death! Solang Valley is literally a winter wonderland, offering all sorts of adventure activities including skiing, trekking, and parasailing. The beauty of the valley mesmerized us. While we were eager to explore, the sun set quite early at 5pm, forcing us to retire in the sole accommodation nearby, a dark and dingy co-ed hostel.
Day 5, Skiing
It was quite exhausting to carry the heavy skiing equipment up the hill, while wearing ski boots. Once on top of the hill, we were instructed on how to ski down a simple slope and brake. It took some time for us, but eventually everyone began skiing slowly downhill with great glee. It was an exhilarating sensation to ski downhill letting the cold breeze brush against your face, and then to slowly stop and fall into the dense snow. The hardest part was carrying the skis back up the hill, but the ecstatic moment of skiing made it all worth-while.
Day 6, Snowed-in
Today, we were scheduled to return to Manali, however due to incessant snowfall, there was no way to depart from Solang. The stay was becoming tiresome. We hadn’t bathed in the last 4 days, the power was out and it was too bone-chilling cold. Suddenly, too much adventure was becoming sickening. We decided to go out exploring at night and trekked downhill in the dark to small shelters, which were apparently small restaurants, lit up by just a single bulb. We ate the local cuisine of Solang: Thupka, a type of soupy noodles. It tasted OK, but we slurped it in as it was warm, and we were hungry!
Day 7, Walk to Manali
It was a 17-kilometre trek from Solang to Manali, which we trekked in socks covered with polythene bags to protect our feet from dampness. It was an amazing feeling, to walk so far in a single file with snow reaching up to our waist. Gauri didn’t have proper trekking shoes and kept slipping on the snow. But eventually, after a long and bumpy journey, we reached Manali.
Day 8, Back to College
Finally, after the prize distribution ceremony, all of us 20 students returned back to our college with cherished memories of our exhilarating trip of the National Adventure Festival, which was truly an amazing adventure filled trip for all. Image – Skiing in Narkanda | Courtesy: yoyowall.com Factfile – http://nacindia.in/?page_id=24 http://www.adventurehimalaya.org/
It was the last day of our exams. We were a group of four from diverse professional backgrounds at our regular haunt to celebrate our yet another feat – conquering our law exams! To add to our revelry, we gorged on various street food items leaving us with no option to dispose of the waste. What struck me as odd was the unequivocal opinion of the three of my highly qualified friends in their mid-forties to dispose off the left overs in a nearby self-proclaimed dumping space. The thought to leave it in the car for later disposal in a garbage bin, never crossed their minds.
I realised that this is the mentality of 90% of us, Indians, and my friends were no different. However, as a responsible citizen, I decided to carry the trash till I locate a well maintained and nearby dustbin. To my horror, I found none and ended up being the butt of all their jokes. Carrying the waste, I had also driven home a point that “ Swachh Bharat Abhiyan ” is the need of the hour. I made up my mind to support it wholeheartedly and took part in the initiative, symbolically started by our new PM, Narendra Modi.
However, during the goings-on, what I saw was not something unexpected; Aam Aadmi’s fascination for the brand new brooms, albeit not an election logo this time! The ultimate result being a hoard of selfies and pics making their way into the cyberspace. Celebrities posing for paparazzi along with their brooms and cleaning the most cleaned areas made the picture clear to me. Nevertheless, I am still maintaining my strong support for this positive campaign. Yes, I can explain that!
I believe, India is a land where people by and large get inspired by their role models. Even if, 10% fans emulate their revered personalities, it would make a difference, even though it would mean blindly imitating them without getting the message across. Supposing the only intention of these celebrities is just to surpass their contemporaries and be seen in social circles or to create the much needed publicity before the release of their upcoming movie, they would do their bit unknowingly.
My point is, the key underlying issue is not really about cleaning India but rather in holding yourself back from defiling your country nonchalantly with filth. Places said to be cleansed are back to their status quo ante bellum the very next day. Should we have such an apathetic attitude towards our country or rather are we supposed to practice Gandhigiri by quietly cleaning up places time and again and see them defiled?
I remember volunteers of Saahas cleaning up trash in Lalbagh park in Bengaluru, while people around them continued throwing garbage everywhere without the slightest guilt! I have seen many voluntary organisations who do yeoman service to clean up garbage and build a hygienic society –
Swach in Pune convinces citizens to segregate waste and organises ragpickers
The Ugly Indian completely beautifies the street cleaned by them
I would say, ‘ Swachh Bharat Abhiyan ’, would be realised only if it is pooled with an equally effective ‘Swachh Soch Abhiyan’! That is let our mindsets first go through a cleaning process!
I read religious scriptures for spiritual guidance in life, while I admire science for its innovativeness in providing comfort to mankind. The recent upheavals caused by the BJP government due to its claims to science being a part of Hindu Mythology provoked me to write this article intertwined with subjects that excite me.
Religion has left an indelible mark in India’s yore; yet its diversity demanded secularism. In the 20th Century, wings of science spread through the country, creating new history. But which was born first, science or religion? A disputable question isn’t it? The assertion of religion that god created man contradicts with the affirmation of science that man descended from monkey. This query illustrates the notion that science and religion are incompatible.
Consider this; when the primitive man from his cave, saw the heavy downpour, he must have wondered how this massive amount of water could go up first in air and come down in this way, sometimes accompanied with deafening thunders and dazzling lightning. Unable to comprehend the mystery and assign a reasonable cause, he invented a god, hailing him/her to be responsible for all the unfathomable wonders around him.
As professed in public, the heart of religion is tolerance and mutual understanding. Unfortunately, it is this tolerance that religious devotees seem to lack. Do various religious communities in India live in harmony? Regular outbreaks of violence in the name of God as Krishna or Allah or Jesus clearly shows intolerance. What should have brought solace and consolation for troubled people has become the major cause for despair and disaster?
Hinduism as commonly perceived is not a religion in its true sense, but a way of life. This faith declares a man is free to act, but once he acts, he cannot escape the consequences, good or bad. Therefore, his ‘karma’ is the root cause for all his pleasure or pain. If that is the case, where does the concept of god fit in? God manifests to relieve humanity from this vicious cycle of birth and death. The aim of a human life is to reach the lotus feet of Lord Krishna as revealed by the Lord himself in the 11th chapter of Srimad Bhagavad Gita.
On the contrary, scientific reasoning succeeds in explaining “what happens” for some phenomenon but not ‘why’. For instance, Newton figured out that planets attract each other to revolve in orbits, but didn’t clarify on ‘why?’
Hence, science and religion are not inimical with each other, but rather are intertwined and are essential for society’s welfare. There’s a long path ahead for us, both in the fields of science and religion. Science submits the theory it postulates to experimental verification, while religion rests on implicit faith. In India, attaching equal importance while respecting the other with tolerance and moving on with motto ‘Science with a religious vision and religion with scientific temper’ could bring both science and religion at some point in future!
Does anyone remember the Lokpal Bill agitation? Anna Hazare’s fast until death, the spontaneous eruption of public anger against corruption, massive protests across the country, candle light marches in all major cities, intense debate on primetime media, mud-slinging matches between opposing parties, oh! Those were the days of action!
After two years of massive campaign and public debate, the Lokpal Bill was passed on 18 December 2013. Today, nobody seems to be bothered about what happened after that and whether the Lokpal was ever appointed or not. However, I remember how enthusiastic we campaigners were to ensure that the bill is realized. Since we were living in Pune, a few of us friends decided to visit Ralegan Siddhi, the ‘Karmabhoomi of the anti-corruption warrior, Anna Hazare.
We took out our bikes and left Pune early in the morning towards Ahmednagar. After travelling for 68km, we came past Shirur, a small town. The turn towards Ralegan Siddhi was just a few kilometres from there and we had ride another 10-12km. My friend Dinesh Thakur suggested that we stop over for a cup of tea and cigarettes, since we will not be able to buy any tobacco product in Ralegan Siddhi!
As we entered the village, we realised that the valley around the village was much greener than the rest of the countryside we passed through. We arrived at the office of Bhrashtachar Virodhi Jan Andolan (BVJA), which is the nerve centre for all developmental activities in the village. We met a few workers there who managed the rural self-sufficiency museum, media centre and the bookstall.
We spoke to them about a chance to meet the great Gandhian leader, but they ruled out any possibility since doctors had asked Anna Hazare to complete rest after days of strenuous hunger strike. There were a few media reporters who were struggling to get a sound bite! Looking at their struggle, we dropped the idea of meeting him in person and went around the village. As we reached the media centre, two busloads of children on an educational trip alighted from their buses. They were taken around by BVJA volunteers who proudly narrated the story behind the self-sufficiency of Ralegan Siddhi.
Way back in 1970s, Ralegan Siddhi was tiny village in the drought-stricken Marathawada region of Maharashtra. There was little rain and whatever rained, went down the streams and summers were unbearable. Further, alcohol addiction had ruined many families in the village and many had migrated to cities. To rebuild his village, Anna Hazare undertook watershed development by constructing nulla bunds and check dams to store rain water in the rivulets and streams.
Open grazing was completely banned with an emphasis on stall-feeding of cattle. Instead of cultivating water-intensive crops like sugarcane, rice, etc., crops such as pulses, oilseeds and certain cash crops with low water requirements were grown. Apart from watershed development, Anna convinced villagers to adhere to alcohol prohibition, family planning, voluntary labour, a ban on open grazing and on felling trees. Voluntary labour was necessary to ensure minimum dependence on government subsidies and grants.
Particularly, the villagers were disgusted with government schemes for integrated rural development, which had a lot to offer on paper, but no money was sanctioned without bribery. Today, the village is self-sufficient in food grains, fodder and dairy products.
Walking around the village we could clearly see how Ralegan Siddhi was different from other villages of its size. The roads and gutters were clean and garbage was not to be found anywhere. Despite our visit in winter, we could see water flowing in the tiny rivulet. Solar power panels were seen on top of many houses and biogas was seen in built near most of the dairy farms.
The BVJA volunteer reminded visitors that their school building worth Rs 22 lakh was constructed by pooling in their own resources. The highschool was pretty large for a village of just 2,500 people. The volunteer pointed out with pride that the school has its own computer lab funded by the village panchayat!
It was obvious to us that the villagers and the panchayat are so enamoured by the Gandhian leader that they follow his diktats as hero worshippers. None of the village panchayat societies, be it the cooperative dairy or the educational society, have an elected body. Most of the local bodies have leaders selected by consensus under the able guidance of their lifetime Sarpanch, Anna Hazare. I could see implementation of the Gandhian philosophy of Swarajya, where each person in a village works towards its self-sufficiency.
Obviously, we urbanites who beg to differ on every point, who believe in a chaotic democracy where no one agrees on anything, we cannot digest this kind of benevolent dictatorship and an utopian village cooperative society. However, if this model of governance has created a model village that has become a tourist attraction, then there is something in it for us to understand. Factfile –
“Gar firdaus baro e zamin ast, hamin asto hamin asto hamin asto!” meaning, “If there is paradise on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this!” These were the words of Mughal Emperor Jahangir complementing Kashmir during his visit.
Image Source
The state of Jammu & Kashmir has been in the news of late. You might exclaim when did it ever leave the media spotlight?! Beyond the trouble-torn recent past, Kashmir has a whole lot of history, right from its name been taken from the sage Kashyapa or the belief in Moi-e-Muqqadas relic of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in Hazratbal shrine. Be it Alexander the Great or the Mughal Emperors, Kashmir has been the favoured place for the royals.
Kashmiri culture has a mixture of influences from Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. So there is nothing wrong in naming it “the paradise”, a blend of all cultures. The rapid development in Srinagar city has added more charm I would say, but if you ask the old folks, they prefer the old Kashmir, as it was more magical. A calm place situated around a huge lake, where Shikaras (boats) were the mode of transport instead of the noisy automobiles. Imagine! Kashmir would have been no less romantic than the city of Venice!
Srinagar – a place nestled amidst the Himalayas. One would assume that it is a city to be enjoyed only during winters, but No! Have a visit to Patni top, located on the way from Jammu to Srinagar. For me, it will always be ‘Pitni top’! A night stay was a compulsion while we travelled during our childhood. The pine trees act as guardians of the roads and the small food shops make us believe in living in the world of dreams.
Today’s rapid way of travelling has no fun at all. The travelling through our own cars was much like an adventure, going through those mountains was scary as well as exciting. I still remember the Vaishno Dhaba, famous for its Rajma chawal, which was always our stop for lunch.
The famous landmark, the four Chinar trees ‘Char Chinar’ standing in the middle of the Dal Lake. The Chenar (Chinar) has the same name across the world, but it is only Kashmir that has been given the privilege of naming the tree ‘Boonyi’ in its own native language. The beautiful Mughal Gardens also introduce us to the beautiful ‘Foreshore Road’.
The Foreshore Road is definitely one of my favourites. The long drive and the encounter with small kebab shops is the most interesting part. The later, the more exciting and beautiful the scenery gets. A drive with all my cousins and having the yummy kebabs at famous Khayyam Centre is a must-do. The stories I’ve grown up listening to, the late night stay on these roads are little scary as Kashmir is also known for welcoming ghosts. However, our confidence comes from the aroma of kebabs, which will make the ghost forget its target and will end up in joining us for the dinner!
Pahalgam, Tangmarg, Sonmarg and Gulmarg; all have breathtakingly beautiful scenery as a gift. If you haven’t seen snow in your whole life and are free only during summers (April-May), Kashmir does gives you an option! Sonmarg is a place where snow can be found during summers as well. Situated at a higher altitude, Sonmarg is a snow land for everyone to enjoy regardless of its weather.
Pahalgam will make you fall in love with it, each time you visit. The Betaab Valley gets its name from Betaab, the debut Bollywood movie of Sunny Deol-Amrita Singh. If you have been dreaming of living a small house by the river in a lush green valley, then book a hut for a week in the Betaab Valley of Pahalgam.
The snow covered mountains of Gulmarg; a place that made me feel like a princess when I attempted my first horse ride through those lush green meadows. I still vividly remember my stay in the beautiful hut and roaming around on the private horse. Isn’t that truly romantic?
Talking about romance and royal treatment, how can I not mention the “Houseboats of Dal Lake”… The floating market of Dal Lake also grabs your attention. Kashmiris have a belief in treating their guests in true royalty, so this idea was introduced during the British Raj. You can have a ringside view of nearly the entire the Kashmir valley from these houseboats, including the Pari Mahal, Chashma Shahi (the royal fountains) and Shankara Charya. My mother had made me believe that Pari Mahal was really the ‘palace of the fairies’! A stay at this place after 6pm can be given a second thought, as it would be the fairies that will be your guide later!
Kashmir has been a favourite place for Bollywood movies, which have also played a vital role in promoting tourism. From Shammi Kapoor’s colourful “Junglee” to Shahid Kapoor’s dark “Haider”, Kashmir has an adaptive nature. The soothing music of Santoor or the calmness of Buddhist chanting in the monasteries of Ladakh, will surely remain as haunting memories, making you to come back again. The warmth you will receive from the Kashmiri people will definitely make you fall in love with the place. The ready acceptance by locals will make you realize the real beauty – as all Kashmiris call it, “Mouj Kashir” (Mother Kashmir), is surely a re-birth of heaven on earth!
The Ugly Indian – The very name of this four-year old organisation gives a rude shock to everyone when they hear it first time. With wide eyes, you would have probably opened Google and searched for it. Fortunately, they have a delightful cause that makes you think. So what do they do? They call themselves “The Ugly Indian”, since they feel strongly about the filth strewn around our cities. Now it makes sense, doesn’t it?
The Bengaluru-based group works on the Gandhian thought, “Be the change you want to see” and firmly believe in “Stop talking, Start doing.” It is easy to start the blame game going, ‘Oh! The government did not fix it!’ or ‘Oh! The people, you know, you can’t change them!’ Thankfully, this group of anonymous people set out to change it by doing.
The Ugly Indian started their campaign from Church Street, one of the busiest streets in Bengaluru. The road was like any other road, strewn with litter, paan-stained walls, and broken gutter slabs that gobbled humans. So The Ugly Indian along with a few volunteers, shopkeepers from shops nearby and civic authorities, began changing the scenario by fixing things one by one.
What did they do? Well, they simply cleaned up the garbage, fixed the footpath, painted the paths and put potted plants to add charm and deter people from spitting or urinating. By now, there would be a little cynic in you screaming ‘How long did it last?’ It is probably time for the realist in all of us to come to terms with the truth. Their work received so much appreciation from everyone that it led to a full-fledged voluntary organisation, The Ugly Indian.
They started as a small citizen movement on November 15, 2010 and soon began to grow. They had to do a lot of trial and error, but surprisingly the major issue was not on how to clean public spaces, but how to keep people from dirtying them again. They came up with innovative, cost-effective ideas such as painting the walls with cream and terracotta. The paint cost less than Rs.500 for a 50-feet wall.
They also placed potted plants that make the place look neat and dissuade nuisance makers. They specifically chose cheap pots so that it would not get stolen and planted palm, a pretty common plant. They also roped in residents and shopkeepers nearby to maintain the plants to ensure cleaner footpaths. They installed tube-like structures near cigarette shops and outside pubs so that litter would go into them and not clog the drains. It was an effective, simple and cost-effective way to manage the litter, which also looked elegant.
While these were more tangible forms of transformation, they persuaded shopkeepers, residents, business entities, chaiwallas, paanwallas and other small shops to follow a proper disposal method. This made it easy for civic workers to collect the garbage. Over time, with lot of persuasion people began to change, despite sceptics offering their “this would not last long” sermons. Slowly, not only the clean walls endured for months together, but also made the surroundings pleasant to walk by.
Apart from their main agenda of keeping the surroundings clean, making the footpath usable by changing misplaced slabs also caught their attention. The open slabs of gutter drains were hazardous, since people could fall into and get hurt or in some cases die. The Ugly Indian thought about how to sort out the cable mess beneath the open slabs, which worsens the situation during monsoon rains. After a few calls, the respective government agencies admitted that it was their task to close the slabs but just did not. So The Ugly Indian took it upon themselves to fix them. By simply owning up and doing something The Ugly Indian could save a few lives.
A lot of civic issues in Bengaluru have been addressed by The Ugly Indian; their Facebook page shows where they are active and have put up photos of spot-fixes done by them. It is pleasant to watch the change they are bringing in. The Ugly Indian have been doing for a long time now what Narendra Modi’s Clean India campaign has been propagating now. It is high time that we individuals take up responsibility of our own area and stop doing lip-service. The Ugly Indian is a wonderful initiative that can be replicated by people like you and me to make a difference.
As the cold sighs of winter winds sweep the city of Pune, Punekars look forward to a plethora of art, cultural, music and film festivals, which form an integral part of their social calendar. Be it the soulful evenings of the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival, Vasantotsav, or the boisterous rocking music of NH7 Weekender, Punekars tend to plunge wholeheartedly into this celebration of life. Obviously, it is no surprise that one of the most celebrated festivals in city is the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF).
Despite of its comparatively recent origin, PIFF has captured the heart and soul of Punekars. With films from over 48 countries, the festival celebrates the global spirit of cinema, while keeping in touch with its local roots by dedicating an entire section of awards to Marathi movies. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be among the masses that thronged the theatres this year, but for the past few years, I have haunted the various venues of PIFF, catching as many as 3 movies in a day!
This year, the 13th edition of the Pune International Film Festival kicked off recently, with the screening of ‘Timbuktu’, a French-Mauritanian film that has been making waves across the world. Directed by Abderrahmane Sissako, it is a brilliant exploration of vulnerability and strength, which deals with the harsh reality of extremism. When Kidane, a cattle herder goes to confront his neighbour, a fisherman who has accidentally killed Kidane’s prize cow, the consequences are disastrous. The film deals with the tragic situation in the country, the loss of individualism and rationalism as it slowly falls prey to the fundamentalism.
Other gems, like ‘Dr. Prakash Baba Amte – The Real Hero’, a Marathi movie that released this year to acclaim, were also screened. The film is a biopic on Dr. Prakash Amte, the son of the renowned social worker, Baba Amte. Dr. Prakash Amte, and his wife, Dr. Mandakini Amte moved to Hemalkasa in Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra State, way back in 1973, for helping in the development of the adivasi tribes that lived in this remote district. The movie showcases the exemplary struggle of the two doctors in their selfless bid to help the underprivileged who wre without any access to health care, which can stir even the coldest of hearts.
During last year’s PIFF, one of my most memorable experiences was undoubtedly watching the movie, ‘Fandry’. As a part of the Arbhaat Short Film Club, I had seen Nagraj Manjule’s first short film, ‘Pistulya’. ‘Pistulya’ is a heart-wrenching tale of a young boy, who struggles with his fate, and whose ardent desire to go to school remains unrealised despite all that he has experienced. Hence, I was understandably excited by the prospect of viewing Manjule’s first foray as a feature film director.
Fandry
Nagraj Manjule’s ‘Fandry’ is not just a film; it is a statement, an experience and above all, it is a cry. Fandry, which in the Kaikadi language means ‘pig’, is the story of Jabya, an adolescent from the Kaikadi community and his love for Shalu, a girl from a higher caste. His family subsists by making wicker baskets, but the worst tasks in the village, which are considered undignified by upper caste people, are regularly relegated to Jabya’s father. Jabya’s continuous search for the mythical black sparrow, and his desire to impress his classmate, when juxtaposed against his harsh reality serves to stress the indignity and class discrimination that still exists within our society.
Papusza
Papusza was another amazing movie that was screened during PIFF 2014. It is a biopic of a relatively unknown Polish-Roma poet, Bronislawa Wajs, who was known as ‘Papusza’, meaning ‘doll’ in the Romani language. With a non-linear timeline that criss-crosses across the life of the poet, the film gets confusing at times, but still manages to provide a visual treat. Papusza defies her family as she learns to read and write. She eventually meets a non-Roma poet, who travels with her caravan and encourages her to write down her songs. She is eventually excommunicated by her people when her poems are translated and published by the poet, Jerzy.
Many people have this notion that film festivals are about award winning offbeat, documentary and alternative movies. However, PIFF is not just about the offbeat. Mainstream Hollywood films like ‘Captain Phillips’ and ‘The Secret life of Walter Mitty’ were also a part of the line-up.
As PIFF slowly draws towards a close, one cannot help but wonder about the significance of watching movies from other countries. Watching a foreign film is truly a novel experience. Although the actors playing out the lives of characters are unfamiliar, they can strike a deep chord within. The background score may be unknown and the language illegible, but it will surely stir our hearts. Even if a film is about a local issue with relevance to us, it can transcend its limitations to connect with people around the globe. The barriers of society and language can dissipate when the audience immerses itself into the film and experiences its true essence. PIFF provides an opportunity to do just that!
Whether it’s with extended family, your closest friends or your significant other, few things are more exciting to undertake than a fun-filled road trip.
Fortunately, when it comes to vacationing on the road, it doesn’t even have to be the most exotic or interesting destination because exploration is exciting enough when you do it with those you love!
But, there are still a few ways that you can maximize the fun and really have a road trip worth remembering.
Especially when you are traveling with your friends, make sure it’s lively and animated in the cabin.
You can ask them to recite their most memorable moment on their last trip but one by one. That would ensure even the most introvert of the lot speaking out.
Games like 20 Questions, Name That Tune, Continue with Story-telling, are indeed for kids but how about being a kid for the next 2-3 days? Trust me, nothing’s more fun.
Everyone’s not going to want to do the exact same thing all the time, so asking around to see what tourist sights or food spots can’t be missed is a great way to keep everyone engaged.
And, it also means that you’ll see or find something you might not have come across otherwise!
2. Get Off the Road
The boon of a road trip might be to see all the amazing sights along the way and really get a feel for the place you’re travelling around.
But, being in the car for too long can get to anyone, no matter how excited they are about the trip.
Instead of planning long, drawn-out day travel so that everyone is worn out and tired, make sure there are plenty of pit stops for rest, relaxation and touring local sights. Make your traveling simple. The more easy you are on the way, the better the experience.
It’s an effective time management tip too. Take frequent breaks to be at your productive best 🙂
This can make all the difference between a road trip that feels like a job done, and one that feels like a true getaway.
Image – Pixabay
3. Bring In-transit Entertainment
Seeing new places from the window of a moving vehicle can be pretty exciting, but simply because a place is interesting doesn’t mean the scenery always is.
So, instead of sleeping through the road journey, ensure there is plenty of entertainment for the whole family to be amused by.
While some vintage upbeat numbers would keep your grandpa going, kids mostly like musical and loud stuff.
You can bring along items like cards, crossword puzzles or travel-sized board games too.
Try and avoid carrying tablets and smartphones. Kids occupied with Youtube and video games is the last thing you want to see when out on a leisure trip.
4. Feeling Good Is Important –
Needless to say, you can only enjoy if you are feeling good from inside. No point gulping cola cans and chips in a jiffy and have a nauseated feeling later.
Any kind of vacation or getaway is often rife with eating choices that are not necessarily good for the body. While burritos and margaritas might feel good in the moment, they rarely have that impact after and can leave you sluggish.
Instead of binging on only indulgent foods, try bringing some healthy foods along for the ride.
Whether it’s nuts, dry fruits or granola bars, these will stave off frequent hunger pangs too.
In the era of the selfie, it can be easy to get carried away with picture taking.
But, when it comes to a trip with your friends or family, photographs are the kind of thing that are really going to make memories…and may even help to create some new ones.
The trick is to capture only special places and moments and not take out camera every single minute.
Be a little selective with your shots. The light, the pose, background – all matters if you wish to take some great photos.
Think of it as if you only have 36 photos in your camera and equal number of chances to get it right. Seriously, digital cameras and camera phones have killed it all.
You may even want to create a little competition for best vacation photograph. Try it out.
6. Collect Souvenirs Along the Way
Whether it’s in the form of a snow globe or a sweater that’s bedecked with the name of a place you’ve never been, souvenirs tend to have a pretty bad reputation.
Making stops to collect a few unique souvenirs can be a great way to really experience the flavor of the place and make the moment last.
It can be very much like taking a picture in that you’ll remember the time and the place distinctly. And, when you share souvenirs with your family or friends at home, it will be like living the story twice.
Image – Pixabay
7. Do Something that Surprises You
Unexpected pit stops are part of the fun when it comes to embarking on a road trip.
However, there are those places that pop up along the way on any road journey that are often passed by because they don’t fit with the schedule.
But, it’s these very things that can make for some of the best road trip stories out there.
Instead of forgetting about what’s passing by, be aware of interesting parks, cottages, or even roller coasters that come up along the way.
They just might end up being the most memorable part of the journey.
Many people wonder why so many normal people sign up to run serious distance races? Why do we run a gruelling, energy sapping, mind numbing race of 42 km? Why do so many people run marathon, making it the most participated sport on earth?
Running a marathon has been one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Last year, the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2014 was held on 19 January 2014. Having participated twice earlier in other marathons, this was my first attempt in the 21 km category. To be honest, I had not trained at all and thus after the first 7 km, I was extremely tired. The race started at Bandra and the route went over the Bandra Sea Link, followed by Worli Sea Face and then on to Marine Drive.
While the sea breeze helped us in our running, it was nothing compared to the motivation received from fellow participants who would continuously crack jokes and call out funny phrases making it much easier for us along the path. Right from the beginning till the end of 21 km, massive crowds of people gathered on the road side, many of whom offered oranges, dates, biscuits, water and juices for us. They made us feel like a winner, like you were running for them and if you stopped you would be letting them down.
In fact as I slowed down at Pedder Road to climb the slope, a lady came running from behind to say that she’d been following me throughout the run, that I was her pace-setter, and if I stopped, what would happen to her! And I was doing the same thing to a man running in the front!
Around 40,000 people ran the Mumbai Marathon race in various categories and in its 11 editions. The sponsors claimed that they collected crores of rupees for charity. That is the official reason – the consequence – Mumbai sees a new dimension to the word “train”. Yes, the lifeline of Mumbaikars, quite literally in their hands.
So every Sunday morning, you will see Marine Drive flooded with corporate employees with their high-tech gadgets informing them about their pace, calorie burnout count and what not, their bottles, their iPods, their florescent shoes running for kilometres together, in sync with the Aam Aadmi in their modest shorts and t-shirt sharing the same experience of pushing their mind and body through unbound limits and to surprise themselves with the result!
At the 2014 Mumbai Marathon, the girl who won the women’s race for 21 km ran barefoot. Coming from humble beginnings, she ran to win the prize money for her father, a farmer in the interiors of Maharashtra. The African athletes who win the marathon each year, run in herds; their aim is to take the prize money to their country. The senior citizens run to feel young. The Dream Run participants who run for 6 km run for their Facebook pictures. My boss runs to better his timing, to challenge himself.
When I look back, I do not really know why I registered. However, during the last 500 m of the race when my feet refused to go any further and all I wanted to do is go home and sleep, I saw a man with one foot, reaching for the finish-line and on his face was the happiest, most content smile I had ever seen. Then I knew that I had to run just to feel this beautiful spirit.
Image sources –
Mumbai Marathon via Flickr
marathon-photos.com
While the sea breeze helped us in our running, it was nothing compared to the motivation received from fellow participants who would continuously crack jokes and call out funny phrases making it much easier for us along the path. Right from the beginning till the end of 21 km, massive crowds of people gathered on the road side, many of whom offered oranges, dates, biscuits, water and juices for us. They made us feel like a winner, like you were running for them and if you stopped you would be letting them down.