Just some links

Dear Readers,

Citizen Matters carried two more of my photographs. Since they do not like the submissions to be carried online even on personal blogs, I am providing just the links which will take you direct to Citizen Matters: Teamwork together and An Oasis of Peace.

Today is a very dull Sunday for me, have a bad cold and am under the weather. I think I shall just amuse myself with the Sunday papers.

Have a great week ahead.
Best,
Lubna

Happy Republic Day, India

Dear Readers,

Our Constitution came into force today, in the year 1950. It is an excellent piece of draftsman ship, I love each and every word in it. Yet, sad to say, it is not practiced as it ought to be. Here is the preamble to the Constitution.

PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION:

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
And to secure to all its citizens: JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;
And to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.

And yet, each time, politicians make us fight against one another, each time we treat India not as one but as tiny little bits susceptible to being torn apart by political greed I shudder. We should all be aware that there can be unity in diversity.

What we need to do is raise our voice against such stupidity. It is you and I who can make a difference. Yes, you can even make a difference by creating a social awareness of the problem, write to your local newspaper, blog about it, volunteer with organisations that are doing good. Just don't sit back and watch the television and complain that the country is going to the dogs. Act, and act wisely.

Jai Hind.

Source of Photograph: Wikimedia

Run and spread the light

Dear Readers,
Mumbai is running on January 17 and yes, you can even run for a cause. Unfortunately, I just relocated to Mumbai and haven't trained at all. Am not even fit enough for an easy 'dream run'. There is always next year. A friend's mother who is more than 70 years old is participating. Yes, there are runs for all categories including for senior citizens.
Run and spread the light. I guess, this photograph which I took says it much better than words.
Good luck.
Best,
Lubna

Here and there...

Dear Readers,

What do you see from outside your bedroom window when you wake up in the morning? Please do share links to your photographs.

Well, in Bangalore, I saw Rain Trees and this old, well maintained bungalow next door. Most of the bungalows have given way to residential buildings. I was lucky that the owners decided to maintain this one, near Richards Park.

In Mumbai, I see the BEST bus depot. Buses arrive late at night and leave early morning. By 7am the bus depot is empty. Except on Sundays. This photograph was taken on a Sunday morning around 10.30 am. While, it may not be as beautiful as the view from my bedroom in Bangalore, I am glad to have this open space, which the bus depot provides. Imagine, else I would be overlooking yet another residential tower.

Ironically, while the background music in my bed room in Bangalore, was the traffic on the road, fortunately, my bedroom in Mumbai, is quiet and peaceful. Oh, and I am currently fascinated by a pair of pigeons and their courtship rituals - as long as they don't nest in my bedroom, I am fine.

Wishing you a happy Sunday.

Best,
Lubna

First free weekend in Mumbai

Dear Readers,

Yes, there are lots of chores pending, like letters to various publications and banks for change of address. But, today I decided to set aside everything and walk on familiar roads. Yesterday was also my first day back at work after a three and a half month sabbatical.

So today, on an impulse I called 'M' an old friend and she agreed to meet me for a late lunch at my favourite restaurant, which still exists - Cafe Churchill, opposite Cusrow Bagh at Colaba Causeway. It was nice to see Mr. Churchill on the wall, grumpy as usual. Inflation has hit, but the servings at this restaurant were still fair and made available for a decent price. I had my favourite dish of fish and chips (the serving of chips was far less, than it used to be, say two years ago) and iced peach tea, while 'M' stuck to a salad, with almost everything in it, which she found difficult to finish eating. It was a welcome back home to Mumbai treat for me and 'M' insisted on footing the bill. 'M' is looking as goregous as ever. She is amazing, always cheerful.

Then yes, there were chores to run, some things are just not traceable in the course of transit, so handkerchiefs had to be purchased, as also an assortment of batteries (funny how many batteries are needed around the house), camera rolls (so that I can photograph and share Bombay) etc. Fortunately, except for a gift for a new born neighbour everything was available along Colaba Causeway. I even dropped into my favourite store (this time, it isn't a book store), Curio Cottage to pick up a quaint 'elephant' silver brooch - a welcome back to Mumbai treat for myself. It will also look nicer than a safety pin, which I tend to sometimes adorn.

I have my freedom back, I know the roads, I can hop in and out of cabs, trains... Yes, it is nice to be back home. And I can't tell you how thrilled I am to see the sea again, even if Mumbai/Bombay is cramped, the vast expanse of the sea makes up for it.

PS: The above photograph of the sea, seems to have been taken aeons ago, and I don't remember the exact location. While unpacking, I came across it, in one of my albums. It certainly doesn't look like Mumbai, but then again, off Carter-Road Danda you did see these sea gulls, so... Or it could be Andamans. Anyway, while I search my travel notes, and unravel the mystery, enjoy the view.

Best,
Lubna

Aman Ki Asha, Destination Peace

Dear Readers,

I woke up today to a new dawn, the dawn of 2010, my first new year, back home in Mumbai, after close to nine years. I could not believe my eyes. The front page of The Times of India, screamed: Love Pakistan.

No doubt, the Pakistan-based group, Jang Group was likewise proclaiming: Love India and countless Pakistanis would be rubbing their eyes in disbelief, just as I was.

Like countless other Indians, I have been taught that Pakistan is the dreaded enemy, across the border. While generations before me, have seen a few wars with Pakistan, the Kargil war, hit this fact home - yes Pakistan is an enemy. I guess sentiments across the border would be the same - India is an enemy.

However, we do need peace. Both India and Pakistan realise that being at war would be detrimental to the welfare of their citizens. Terror has spiralled in Pakistan, and it is these same terror groups that also attack India or talk of attacking India. This only creates further ill-will.

So on turning to page 2 and reading what Times of India's editorial editor, Jaideep Bose had to say, made a lot of sense. I quote: "Ignorance breeds distrust. What we do not know, we tend not to trust. Decades of Indo-Pak hostility have reduced normal interaction to less than a bare minimum. Apart from those with relatives on the other side, or those who need to travel on business, there is little traffic between the two countries. The big benefit of the two largest media houses coming together is that it will help open new windows into each other’s world."

"Are we being foolishly romantic, are we tilting at windmills? Perhaps. Will our efforts bear fruit? We can only hope they will. All that we can do is plant as many saplings as possible and pray that they grow deep roots in the ground and strong shoots in the air."

Click here for reading the entire article.

Let us hope that the two media houses in India and Pakistan can help break down the walls of ignorance. Let us see what these media houses have lined up. If there is anything I can do to foster peace, I will contribute my mite.