Tipu Sultan’s 225th coronation day

Today’s Times of India (Bangalore edition) mentions that is is Tipu Sultan’s 225th coronation day.

Well, a few months ago, we had paid a visit to this king’s mausoleum, near Mysore. As mentioned in my earlier post, it was quiet, serene and peaceful here. The graves beneath the trees on the magnificent lawns added to the peace. The gardens are set out in Mughal style, even though Tipu Sultan was not a Mughal king. Guess this was the “in-thing" then and Tipu was partial to the Mughal style of architecture, gardens included.

When in search of peace, I would suggest that you drive down here. Even in the midst of a few chattering tourists, a sense of serenity prevails.

BTW, the promised photographs are now here.

But only God can make a tree

Happy new year.

What better way to begin this year, but by marvelling at some of the things we tend to take for granted. Trees for instance. Here is a beautiful poem.

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree
A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray,
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair
Upon whose blossom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems were made by fools like me
But only God can make a tree­
By Joyce Kilmer

Here are some photographs taken at Lalbaugh gardens, Bangalore, albeit some time ago (Blame the lack of a desktop connected to an internet and scanner for the delay in this post).

I managed to capture, a little girl dancing with the tree, yet in another photograph- the tree stands proud and well we know it takes two to tango. Enjoy these photographs.

Better still, pay the Lalbaugh gardens a visit. Crowded or not, they still offer a respite from the Bangalore traffic and pollution.

Seasons Greetings

Stuck in traffic jams, I could'nt but help think sadly of the commercialisation of any festival these days. Be it Diwali, Eid or Xmas.

Looks like I am not alone, in thinking such thoughts. Julie of the Human Flower Project Fame, has aptly captured this feeling. BTW, she has used one of my photographs and I am so thrilled about it.

Seasons greetings, Eid Mubarak, Merry Xmas and a great New Year.

The joy of creativity

I went to the Stand Book Fair, accompanied by M, a close friend from Bombay. Actually, visiting this fair is no longer an annual ritual for me. I do find Premier on Church Street a better bet, discounts available all year round. I think I went to this fair after a gap of two years or so.

That said, books, books, everywhere is quite a sight to behold. While I walked off with a collection of eight books(some as gifts), I think M, stocked up on more than twelve (one of which was a gift for me).

It is quite strange how books picked up for gifts are the ones you find perfect to read yourself (and then I trudge to pick the very same book to gift to the person for whom it was orginally intended or does this happen only to me).

To cut a long story short, I have begun to read: Creativity, Unconvential Wisdom from 20 accomplished minds.

Creativity means different things to different people. To Nandan Nilekani, former CEO of Infosys, whose thoughts are also depicted in this book,"Business creativity is visualising a future that others do not see".

Perhaps the quote which I find most appropriate and fitting to me is: "The motivation for creativity is most often the need to express your ideas to other people". Spike Lee, film director.

Perhaps this is what compels me to write.

Each and every blogger has a creative streak, some more than others. Tell me, what is your definition of creativity?