Letter from India

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Sunday, November 15, 2009

Handmade in Bangladesh

It was my last evening in Dhaka. My friend Khushi (whose taste I trust) suggested I visit two stores in the Bonani area – Aranya and Jatra. So, after a comedy of errors and a hide and seek game between Tikki (my friend Natasha’s niece) and myself for 36 hours, we reached the stores, braving traffic... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Back to the Past

In October, I went back twice to the area where I grew up. The last time I was in Asansol (the biggest town in the area) was in 1991, to visit my mother. She moved to Delhi the year after and there was no real reason to go back. But, wait, I just remembered. I was in Asansol and the areas I... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Where does the time go?

Its 15 days since I posted the last blog. During this time I have worked, worked and worked. Non-stop. Today I have finished two large pieces of work and am on a plane to Bangladesh tomorrow. There I will be speaking on media at a conference on violence against women in politics. I am not prepared... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, October 23, 2009

In Praise of Natural Fibres

I hve been gone so long fromm Blogit, I am ashamed! I miss you all and think about the posts I would like to post, ahve your read them and comment. Yesterday was a magical evening and I wanted to share it with you - with photos. Enjoy them and more later.... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

The Dakineswar Temple: Across the ocean of existence

On Sunday morning, Tandra and I set off for Dakhineswar temple. Although I had lived in Calcutta, now Kolkata between 1967-71, I had not been to this temple. It was a 15 minute ride from Tandra’s house. We entered the parking lot and left the car there. As we were approaching the temple, Tandra said... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Good, evil and fireworks

Monday, September 28 was Dussehra, the day of the victory of good over evil. It is a terribly auspicious day. The goddess Durga is submerged into water, after she has been on display in various pandals (make shift spaces) across the country. As you can imagine, there is affair amount of eating,... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

High on Pad Thai

Two days ago shopping for ingredients for a Thai meal, I was on a high. The deep green velvety kaffir lime leaves, the galangal (ginger) that is somewhat different to regular ginger that we normally use, the lemon grass – long and elegant - all lend of a kind of cuisine that enrich the senses.... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Egrets in my backyard

Every year, these elegant white birds with their yellow beaks come to visit. They perch on tops of the trees in the neighbourhood and focus their beady eyes on the water bodies which appear during the monsoon rains. I love looking at them. They are graceful, slim, erect and seem to have all the time... Sign in to see full entry.

Chasing shadows at noontime

Last week I have been in the swimming pool, twice, and both times around noon. The sun was high up in the centre of the sky, and there was no one else in the pool. Imagine. I felt like I was queen of the pool. The water was cool to the touch and welcome after the burning sensation in the soles of my... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Photos to go with the 24 hours in Nagarkot blog

A little late, but better than not at all, yes? Hope you like them. http://picasaweb.google.co.in/AA.comfirst/NagarkotNepal?feat=directlink Sign in to see full entry.

About this Blog

I started this blog in mid-March 2006 when I moved to Kabul, Afghanistan, for a four-month assignment. In mid-July I moved back to India, and am continuing the blog.

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