The Artist - A Poem

 

Who inspired the artist to create such magic?

In golden notes, assembled intricate inlays,

Without machines or computers in perfect

Designs, flowing smoothly without a break.

People will turn to dust but their art remains,

Brush strokes that survive the sands of time.

In art turned immortal, the artist lives on

In his art to inspire future artists and visitors.

Art is a divine potion that reminds us of  a 

World beyond, with perfection surpassing,

Blemishes, a reminder of  one who inspires us

With immortal designs transcending trend and time!

Within these images are hidden codes, secrets

Waiting to be unraveled. Each stroke, an emotion

Of joy, of confidence of victory over time, an

Unspoken message to all those who view them.

Only the un-initiated, the crude will see a

Meaningless jumble of strokes, unaware of a

Magical world waiting to be discovered. There

Are hidden passages and pathways in each image!

Who are they? A Poem

 

They come rushing down the corridor like a stream,

Brushing against its banks, moving ahead energized.

Unstoppable, free birds, owning the skies,  unhindered

By timelines and tasks, unaffected by the ways of the world!

Their voices sound like sparrows in the morning,

 Calling out to another as they flit in an out of bushes.

The walls thrum with energy,  like  powerful engines

Fueled by vitality, dynamism and youth.

One wonders if time will slow them down into old

Men who huff and pant while climbing stairs, or

The wisdom of years might weigh them down for

Better or for worse like overloaded trucks on the road.

My thoughts are interrupted by their loud laughter

Back to the present, I return, interrupted, to see them arrive

With a mind of their own. With a whoop, they drive

Past like triumphant winners of a match on the field.

A host of them I saw, like flocks of birds swoop past

Me. With the sounds of small feet striking the floor

Even as they waved their hands and nodded their

Heads in a joyous cacophony of triumph.

We were once children, without care and stress,

Climbing trees to look at birds' nests scraping shins

On the trunks of trees, muddied clothes and limbs

Clothes torn and shredded, to be scolded by parents.

Alas! Children today might stream down corridors

In great masses, yet they know  not the joys

Of climbing trees to look at eggs in birds' nests

Or, perhaps, fending off attacks by aliens.

But then, children will be children, like flocks

Of birds that congregate in large numbers

Chasing one another around the shallows

Until a time when alerted by elders.

Let not children be burdened by cares of the world,

Preserve their innocence and let them be fed

By the magic of spring, unburdened by the looming

Shadows of winter. Let adulthood wait its turn.

A Visit to Agra turned out to be a treasure trove of snapshots!

An unplanned trip to Agra turned out to be a boon especially as it combined sightseeing and meeting relatives. It being a long time since my Mom had visited her sister in law and her nephew and nieces we decided to leave early in the morning of the 19th of June. The route from Gurgaon took us through the Sohna Elevated route, the Eastern, Western Express ways and the Delhi-Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway. a total distance of 193.7 kilometers taking us 5 hours. This included a half an hour stop at a Dhaba for tea and an hour's stop at Sikandra, Emperor Akbar's tomb.

The Gateway to Akbar's Tomb-look at the archway, it looks like the letter A!

Akbar's Tomb

Seen here are two depictions of the tree of life.

Fresco adorning the ceiling and walls of the tomb of Akbar

An intricately designed fresco on the entrance to the tomb of Akbar

The intricate patterns in the frescos adorning the walls and the ceiling of entry to the tomb of Akbar are simply amazing. Two trees of life figures in one of the frescos. The actual tomb, however lies unadorned. Accessed through a tunnel or shaft that descends down a slight slope, the tomb lies in a chamber that is lit by two skylights. Also, I noticed that the gateway to the complex has a distinct 'A' for 'Akbar'. It is not that Akbar was not aware about the English language. Perhaps, it was a deliberate intention to have the letter 'A' on the arch and gateway to the complex.

This is one of the gateways to the Taj Mahal notice the intricate inlay work.

The Taj Mahal is set in the midst of green lawns and bright blossoms.

The entrance to the Taj Mahal complex is made of red sandstone inlaid with intricate inlays of white stone and red stone in geometrical and floral patterns. The Taj Mahal itself is made of white marble. Seen in the above photograph is a mosque.

There are many more monuments to visit in Agra, especially Fatehpur Sikri, I'timad-ud-Daulah and the Red Fort. I wasn't able to visit all of these monuments because I was in Agra for a couple of days. The best time to visit these monuments is early in the mornings, probably at about 6:00 a.m. when there would less of a crowd. The visitor to the Taj Mahal complex has to go through a stringent security check which might take some time. While visiting Agra and its monuments, one needs to be aware of touts, unscrupulous auto-drivers, people who will take you for a ride. Also beware of the spurious products being sold in all the shops close to the monuments. While Panchhi Petha used to be a big name in the making of Petha, now almost every shop is named Panchi Petha though the spelling might vary. My suggestion is for visitors to be careful why buying stuff. It would be advisable to buy things from Government Approved outlets.

A Catalogue of Lesser Seen Birds and Animals in the Wetlands and city of Gurgaon

Eurasian Spoonbills at the Sultanpur National Park

It is not often that you might spot Eurasian Spoonbills at the Sultanpur National Park in Gurgaon. However, when you spot a whole flock of these birds tending their feathers in the morning, it makes for a special moment! However, spotting a wild Hare running around might catch you unawares. If that is not enough, spotting a large Monitor lizard advancing towards a Peacock or even a Golden Jackal looking at you with a Peacock in the background might seem worth photographing. It was only after the Monitor Lizard had disappeared in the undergrowth that I spotted the Golden Jackal. It looks like the Jackals have taken residence in the Sultanpur National Park.

A Hare scampering around at the Sultanpur National Park

A Monitor Lizard rushes towards a Peacock at the Sultanpur National Park

An Asian Golden Jackal at the Sultanpur National Park

Hornbills and Owls might be less visible in the city, but they definitely make their presence felt at the Sultanpur National Park in Gurgaon.

A Hornbill at the Sultanpur National Park

A Spotted Owl at the Sultanpur National Park

Spotting Cotton Pygmy Geese and a brace of Whistling Ducks can be a rewarding experience when visiting Sultanpur National Park. Whistling Ducks are declining in numbers and they are usually found in North-East India as a resident bird. A few numbers of Whistling Ducks can be found in the plains of Northern India, however.

A pair of Cotton Pygmy Geese at the Sultanpur National Park

Whistling Ducks at the Sultanpur National Park

Bluethroats are most commonly to be found on the outskirts of big cities and towns. They can be found flitting from one bush to the other and in some cases even pacing on the ground. Bluethroats have a distinct bright blue band under their throats.

Blue-throat spotted at the Sultanpur National Park, Gurgaon

It is rare to spot a Black-headed Ibis in close proximity to a red-headed Ibis. Spotting the two will show how different they are in terms of the colour of their plumage.  I took a photograph of these two different species at the Basai Wetland a few years ago. I was also able to spot the Black-headed Ibis next to a Red-headed Ibis at the Basai Wetland. Spotting two different species of birds in close proximity to each other speaks volumes about the tolerance that different species of birds have for each other. This is a lesson for all human beings. I was able to spot a Black-headed Ibis in close proximity to a Cattle-Egret also at the Basai Wetland. Perhaps even spotting a Cormorant close to a Pond Heron might be special.

Red-headed Ibis next to a Black-headed Ibis at the Basai Wetland

A Cormorant in close proximity to a Pond Heron at the SNP National Park

A Black-crowned Ibis in close proximity of a Pnd Heron at the Basai Wetland 

Cuckoos are heard more often than seen. Cuckoos are shy birds and they are rarely spotted. These birds stay hidden within the branches of trees. I spotted this particular bird on the branches of a tree in Palam Vihar, Gurgaon from the balcony of my home.

A Cuckoo feasts on ripe figs at Palam Vihar, Gurgaon

a

Some of my favourite birds that I enjoy photographing are Sarus Cranes. I took some amazing photographs of serenading Sarus Cranes at the Sultanpur National in Gurgaon. These birds are incidentally amongst the largest flying birds in the world!

A pair of Sarus cranes at the Sultanpu National Park

Sarus Cranes performing a courtship dance at the Sultanpur National Park

Citrine Wagtails will not be spotted in urban areas, however, they will be found in the outskirts where there is greenery, grass and bushes. This bird was spotted at the Basai wetland. Shrikes are a welcome sight.

A Citrine Wagtail at the Basai Wetland

A Shrike at the Sultanpur National Park

Sarus Cranes Performing an Amazing Courtship Dance

Sarus Cranes are amongst the most amazing birds I have photographed. They are the world's largest flying birds. They are known for being faithful pairs. Sarus Cranes care for their offspring with great dedication and affection. And of course, they perform some of the most intricate dance steps. Their show of affection for each other is reflected in their dance steps. I was lucky enough to photograph one pair of Sarus Cranes performing an amazing dance right in front of me at the Sultanpur National Park today. I was absolutely spellbound and watched these amazing birds profess their love for one another with bated breath!

This was, indeed an amazing display of affection and love expressed in dance as an art form. I am sure that there is so much that we human beings can learn from these cranes. Unfortunately, these birds are running out of space even as they compete with human beings for space. Human developmental activities in the area are driving Sarus Cranes towards extinction. Preserving these birds and their habitats should be of utmost importance, that is if we are not planning to trap them in cages inside Zoos. Nothing can beat the experience of observing Sarus Cranes in the wild!