Seeking answers

I sat on the steps of a ghat at Varanasi looking around, seeping in the essence of ongoing activities on the banks of holy Ganges. I always enjoy watching people guessing about their lives, thoughts etc. The experience is like weaving stories where outline has been provided or say filling colors in a sketch. Ghats of Varanasi are perfectly ideal place for this.Varied people, varied activities.... each one busy in one's own world. My roaming glances suddenly fell upon this old gentleman. He sat all alone on a bench, clad in fairly neat clean clothes. But what caught my attention was that he was trying to beg from the people passing near the bench. The way he was hesitantly extending his palm and mumbled clearly showed that he was not accustomed of begging. Moreover he sat on bench like any other pilgrim and his attire too was in pretty good condition. But above all the expression of his deep sad eyes. Every time he extended his palm as if something died inside him. I watched him for quite some time. In the mean time few people had dropped one or two coins on his palm. I went to him and talked.
He told me that his name was Subramaniam. He belonged to Hyderabad. He had a grocery shop there.Three months ago his sons brought him to Varanasi and left him there. He was not well at that time.
I asked him whether he was collecting money to return to his home as he appeared to be fairly capable of traveling now.
The sadness in his eyes deepened a bit but a quiet detachment lingered on his face. '' return ! to whom ? They left me here. Soil of this place is miraculous. It revived me. Now I owe my existence to it. This is my Karma.'' Somehow there was neither anger nor grudge but a calm acceptance.
In the night he sleeps in a medicine shop and days he mostly spends on ghats.
I would have loved to know more about him, the thoughts churning in his mind, the emotions swirling in his heart but connecting bridges are not built in a day, so I bid adieu leaving him to search his own answers.

Pictures courtesy --- Sunder Iyer.

'' Learn to be innocent again and that freshness never fades''

First day of the year. We decided to spend the day in a nearby village. There is this primary school at the verge of the village. The kids there were in celebration mood. I feel children are always in that mood…….happy , bubbling, laughing , infusing others with a kind of positive energy. In their innocence every child is a source of light and love and if we permit them they can teach us to be the same. We lived that happiness, experienced same joy while spending time with the children.


The air had a slight wintery nip. The children had collected  fallen twigs and branches on the roof top, preparing for winters. They threw down some of the twigs and fire was arranged in open. The crackling fire spread the warmth while kids around filled the surrounding with their continuous chatter and laughter. Ah, what a lovely, cozy feel it was.


As it was first day of the year, head mistress and teachers of the school had planned to celebrate the birthday of the children falling on the day. The ‘cake of Halwa’ was prepared fresh there in school kitchen only. The  toppings  on the cake was of bright colored gems. Room was decorated with festoons  of used  papers and were made by students. The caps for birthday girls were made by their friends out of thrown away pizza boxes etc, complete with shining papers etc. I felt like basking in glorious sunshine.




A pen-pencil holder made of used bangles, wall hanging from used match boxes and bangles, the green branches in the flower vase carved out of empty water bottles…..it was really delightful to see the creativity of the children. under the proper guidance of the teachers who are committed and involved true potential of children can be explored fully. Resources and facilities play an important role but shortcomings of these can be overcome by zeal, perseverance and honest intentions.

Swinging on the hanging roots of the big banyan tree was the loveliest fun time. The pure joy, the ringing laughter had a cathartic impact on heart. I am sure no expensive ride in any big amusement park can fill the heart with the kind of happiness we all felt under the benevolent shade  of that majestic tree.




The lemon-spoon race………after a very long gap enjoyed it. Kids in city no more enjoy such fun-filled competitions.



Our day at the village ended with lunch of hot fresh poori, kachauri, chapati and green chuteny. Some desi dishes of fresh milk were very tasty.
We returned to our homes refreshed, energized with a promise to ourselves to spend  more such days  but some where deep down lurks a sadness…….We are loosing our villages very fast, the concrete jungles are gulping down the shady trees, the green fields.

pictures by Sunder Iyer




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