Category: the daily post

WHERE TO STOP?

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Yesterday my blogger friend told me that in her country one cannot construct where one wants to and today I am reminded of her statement as soon as I saw today’s prompt.

These were her words, “Where we live there are certain areas that must be left to agriculture. You cannot build where you want to. So much space must be left for farmers. Switzerland is a small country and you must be careful what you do with the land you have.,”

I wish that was possible in our country too. Not that we don’t have rules and laws but implementation is a kind of  hypothetical term when you have abnormal population growth. Over 1.21 billion people need house and government has it’s own constraints therefore corruption rise and people tend to construct illegal colonies. The problem cannot be dealt effectively in absence of will and a strong mechanism to fight against it.dsc_4170

Illegal housing in India consists of huts or shanties built on land not owned by the residents (i.e., squatting) and illegal buildings constructed on land not owned by the builders or developers. Although illegal buildings may afford some basic services, such as electricity, in general illegal housing does not provide services that afford for healthy, safe environments. dsc_4171

The pictures above is a common sight of any big or small city. I wish there would have been sustainable development. It hurts when you see these cramped houses build without any blue print or proper planning where once used to be fertile fields full of yield. Even the hills did not remain untouched and they are bleeding due to reckless deforestation in the name of tourism and employment generation. Recently I went to one of the most beautiful hill station and was shocked to see the rapid construction going on there. It was no more that lush green valley of flowers, surrounded with tall pine and Deodar trees and waterfalls. This is what the landscape looked like.img_2706

Wish what my friend told me the other day is possible here too. For that we have to first control the population explosion. I would love to see long agricultural belts and evergreen forests in future too to maintain the ecological balance on the earth.img_2655

ECHOES OF NATURE AND PAST

I still hear the echo of water. It could be heard from a distance too while I was desperately waiting to get the first glimpse of the massive, voluminous waterfall. It was like a marvel of nature and the only source of sound in this silent, lush green valley. Breathtaking view which echoes in my memory forever.

The other picture is of a old Mughal Fort where the echo from the glorious past can be heard even today. The intricate workmanship, the architecture, the feel, the royal ambience makes you call those kings from the past and you definitely hear the echo of their footsteps. 

Hope you would like my perception on today’s prompt. 

 

MEMORIES DON’T FADE

I constantly move to deserts and valleys

Climbing mountains, passing from cities 

Exploring the woods, meeting the locals 

Learning tribal culture, enjoy their fests

Having a bag full of memories to cherish 

That don’t get faded with time, stay fresh 

Love going back to the memory lane 

Calling old friends, close they remain 

The nostalgia lingers on forever 

Nothing can replace the sheer joy 

Looking at the pictures, smiles and tears 

Sweet memories can never fade away.

VIBE AND VIGOR

I have left little in me for sure. Since last month I have literally utilized my strength and stamina in packing and then opening huge trunks and boxes and not to forget the furniture, skillfully packed by “Movers and Packers”.

Therefore when I saw the prompt I was in no mood to discuss it any further that how vigorously  I set up, organised  my nest and how tired I was until last week though we explored the city, watched movies, hit the food joints and attended our dining in party and  musical fest all along it.

I am sort of settled now, enjoying my stay in a palatial house. while I’m typing I faintly remember a picture of a leopard, clicked by one of my acquaintances, a wildlife photographer, Mr.Chandrashekhar. I guess it can very well define Vigor.DSC_5863.JPG

There is something more to discuss on Vigor. How about sharing something known as smart textiles for well-being. Today I read an article, published in  the Finnish magazine “Tekstiililehti” written by Kristi Kuusk which featured — amongst others — the Vibe-ing and Vigour projects. What about allowing the garments or textiles take care of us? Just think about it that a gentle tap on a shoulder given by a garment rather than an app reminding  us to straighten our backs?

The article was published by The Finnish Textile Technology Association (STTL Association), which is a community for the technical professionals in the Finnish textile, clothing and footwear industry. The article takes a service perspective on several issues surrounding the topic wellbeing.

Vibe -ing is a self care tool  in a form of garment which invites body to feel,move and heal through the vibration therapy.

Vigour is a product service system that enables geriatric patients, their families and their physiotherapists to gain more insight into the exercise and progress into rehabilitation process.images-16

Smart textiles combine traditional textile canvas with electronic and digital materials, and hold the properties of both – the soft skin friendly fabric and the dynamic data components. The combination of textiles and technology opens up opportunities for societal sustainability and wellbeing. Those go beyond the product-oriented sustainability aspects for textile items and are moving towards service-oriented thinking.

Smart garments offer care and support to workers.I don’t know how much comfortable or reliable these are but it’s good to see people thinking on these lines.  I wouldn’t mind to gift a vigor cardigan for sure. That’s all on Vigor by me today. Good night.

It’s Not This Time of Year Without….

To me Diwali is only when I draw beautiful patterns on the floor popularily known as Rangoli. That’s what make my Diwali festival complete. Every year without fail I make rangoli at the entrance of my home. Lighting Diyas, laxmi pooja nad celebrating the festival with my family makes my Diwali so special. It brings fond memories back. It is the beginning of winters and the festivities too. Enjoy few rangoli designs made by me on various years.

Rangoli at the entrance
Another rangoli

“It’s Not this time of the year 

A LIMINAL MOMENT

Yes, The famous Winston Churchill House is our den now !

As you all know by now that I have shifted recently and very proudly I want to share that we have been alloted the famous heritage bunglow called “THE RETREAT”.

 History says Sir Winston Churchill as a young sub altern stayed in this house ” The Retreat”  while on a visit to India. It is rumoured that when he went back to England and later become one of the most famous prime ministers of Britain, he gave a ‘royal’ pension of 1 pound to the orderly who served him here, and the orderly, though not named received this pension till his death.

The day my husband broke this news to me I was thrilled with joy. I grabbed my phone and surfed Google to dig into the history. I felt so fortunate to get a chance to live in such a historical bunglow.  I was waiting for the day when I would be stepping in the house and finally when I did  I fell in love with it at the first sight…..A  liminal phase started thereafter…. in terms of settling down since it is entirely different from the previous houses we were alloted. Not that this was the first time we have got a bunglow in services but this one is really old and huge. Not many renovations have been done and the original walls and architecture is still intact. I am doing it step by step.

The heritage building was constructed in 1856. This is what I read on official website:

“Though many in the city are familiar with a some examples of built heritage within the cantonment limits, few are aware about the existence of structures like Deccan House, The Abbey and numerous other monumental buildings which have survived despite the passing of two centuries. Amongst buildings with high associational value is ‘The Retreat’, one of several quaint colonial bungalows, which served as Sir Winston Churchill’s residence in 1896. It was during his sojourn at Secunderabad that the redoubtable statesman first met his early flame Pamela Chichele-Plowden, daughter of the then British Resident at Hyderabad, at a polo match. Churchill, then a subaltern in the British army was the star performer of the meet and is said to have swept the lady off her feet. Their courtship, which lasted till 1902, was amicably terminated in England.”

Hoping to have a great tenure here. I AM LOVING IT. More pictures in next post.