Gopal is a photo-blogger friend from Bangalore, India and his blog Which Main? What Cross? showcases excellent street photography from Bangalore. The nice things about Gopal’s pictures is that they capture ubiquitous city elements in a very different and rather interesting way – such as the example above. He carries his camera, a modest Canon A530, with him all the time. I am a big fan of his pictures and it was kinda inspirational for my weekly Toronto Tuesday series.

So if you happen to be in Bangalore this month, do visit his photo exhibition, and maybe you’d like to have a photograph in your collection.

There are 30 selected pictures from Gopal’s blog.
Duration: Monday, May 4, 2009 to Sunday, May 31, 2009
Location: F & B Restaurant, Papanna Lane, St Marks Road, Bangalore, India

“Hi! Sorry, You got time?” It was an elderly lady.
(Translation: You got time? = What is the time? I have no idea why people use this phrase.)
“Yeah, sure.” I told her the time and got back to my reading.

“You know, one of these days I am going to have a heart attack and fall on the street and nobody’s gonna notice.”
(HUH! I couldn’t believe she was actually talking to me. Wearing headphones is as good as putting up a huge ‘Do not disturb’ sign.)

I acknowledged hearing that and got back to my book.

“The other day I was walking and I needed to ask someone for directions but I looked around, everyone was wearing earphones. I felt like I am walking alone in the city. There wasn’t anybody I could talk to.”

Although irritated, now I was very curious to hear her. Removing my headphones, I asked, “Why not?”

“You know, everyone is in their own world, nobody wants to talk and if they are wearing earphones, I don’t want to interrupt and annoy them.”
(Except that she did that to me just a minute ago. Nevermind.)

“What if an ice block is falling on the sidewalk? If I see, I will shout for the next person but its useless because he is wearing earphones.”
(During winter, snow accumulates on top of windows, turns into ice and crashes on the pavement below. It is hazardous indeed.)
“I just wished people listened to me. I’m glad you did, sorry to bother you, you seemed like a nice guy.”

“Uh, thanks.” I got off at my stop, shaken with the problem of the aged and unable to fully understand what just happened.

What do you think?

• She is an old lady. Probably she doesn’t have anyone to talk to.
• She is used to being ignored by others.
• She wasn’t interested in knowing the time. She simply wanted to talk to someone.

There are so many problems in our society. Some visible, most invisible.

We are thinking of organizing a blogger’s meet on Sunday, November 16^th somewhere in Thane / Mulund area. I live in Dombivli so this location is quite convenient for me (LOL) and people of central, harbour and some of western suburbs.

This is intended to be like a blog-family meet and we do not expect loads of absolutely random, unfamiliar faces (there are mainstream blogger’s meets for that kind of socialization.) So if you can make it that evening, please RSVP by Friday (November 14^th) to my email address, and we’ll all get in sync

mail at priyank dot com

I guess you are surprised by this constant use of ‘WE’. hmm…, since I am only a non-resident Mumbaikar, this whole affair is spearheaded by Nita.

cheers,
Priyank.

I get that question sometimes and it always used to bother me. But I don’t get annoyed anymore. Instead, I quote the following story:

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A photographer was invited to a dinner and he took along some photographs to show the hostess. She looked at the photos and commented, “These are very good! You must have a good camera!“

He didn’t make any comment at that time, but as he was leaving to go home he said, “That was a really delicious meal. You must have some very good pots!“

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Lance Armstrong, in his book It’s Not About the Bike, wrote a whole page describing some neat features of his cutting-edge bike. That description alone would make a bike enthusiast like me quiver. But he concluded it saying (paraphrased) – “But at the end, it’s not about the bike!“


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I worked for 3 years as a project planner. People’s standard question was: “Do you need to know Primavera and Microsoft Projects to become a planner?” (those are the two leading project management software.) I wish I could say “Yes”. A planner, like Isaac Asimov’s Hari Seldon, accumulates current data, examines macro/micro factors and uses historical behavior to predict the future. I wish it was as simple as clicking some “Tools > Plan Now!” button.

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I thought of the following people while I was composing this post. They (I think) get lots of comments about their ‘art’. Care to tell me:

° Nita, Prax, Bob – If online research is one mouse click away, why don’t we find blogs that are comprehensively researched as yours? Do you think that research is an art and online resources are mere tools? Taking it one step further, how much do you think have certain tools helped you become a journalist, stock market specialist and an astrophysicist respectively?
° Rambodoc – How much of today’s medical marvel is attributed to the surgeon’s instruments? (I desisted from using the word ‘tool’ – some readily available fodder for your twists that would occur anyway )
° Shantanu – About software tools and Dilbert’s talent! You are also welcome to add a story about chefs and foods!

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For a long time, I thought that I needed a brand new Sitar from Kolkata and only then I could play some awesome music. Fortunately, few months back I met some guru who plays the Sarod. He picked up my Sitar and played something beautiful casually.
“Wow! I didn’t know you played the Sitar too!” I said.
“No, ofcourse I don’t…. But I know the basics of music! “

I regret not meeting him before. But hey, its never too late


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To end this non-travel post, I leave you with a quote from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

If you are a wizard you will be able to channel your magic through almost any instrument. The best results, however, must always come where there is a strongest affinity between wizard and wand… An initial attraction, and then a mutual quest for experience, the wand learning from the wizard, the wizard from the wand.

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Question to the reader: I think that it doesn’t really matter what tool you choose to express your talent. If you are not the right person (by birth or by training), the tool won’t make you one. What do you think? Any stories?

Murlidhar Devidas Amte, popularly known as ‘Baba Amte’ (‘baba’ is a honorific and his last name is pronounced as Am’tay) was born on December 1914 in Vidharbha, Maharashtra, India in a wealthy family. Educated with a law degree, he setup a successful practice in Warora, and was leading a very prosperous life. One one rainy day, he saw a leper on the street getting drenched in rain and left helpless. Baba Amte thought to himself – ‘What would have happened if I was in his position?‘ This little incident was enough to cause a paradigm shift in his perception of society. The well educated rich professional simply quit his practice and decided to dedicate his life to the cause of social justice.

Leprosy was/is probably the most damned disease in India. Plenty of myths and orthodox beliefs existed around leprosy patients. As a result, they were (and still are to some extent) subjected to severe social boycott and condemnation. Baba Amte devoted his life for the cause of the leprosy affected, even allowing his body to be used for medical experiments. With 14 Rupees, two cows and a makeshift building, Baba Amte and his wife established a community project at Anandwan (आनंद वन abode of happiness) near the woods of Nagpur, Maharashtra, central India.

Today Anandvan is recognised all over the world and has led the crusade for dispelling prejudice against leprosy in India. It has a sprawling campus of 180 hectors and runs a budget of millions of Rupees. Thousands of patients live in this colony.

This is one of his compositions that touches my heart. (I’d be thrilled if someone can translate, I can’t)
Update: Ash has translated the first paragraph, and Devendra has translated the entire poem. Checkout the comments section, thanks guys

A picture that speaks more than a thousand words.


“Joy is more infectious than leprosy”
- Baba Amte

माणूस माझे नाव, माणूस माझे नाव…
दहा दिशांच्या रिंगणात या पुढे माझी धाव…
बिंदु मात्र मी क्षुद्र खरोखर,
परी जिंकले सातहि सागर,
उंच गाठला गौरीशंकर
अग्नीयान मम घेत चालले आकाशाचा ठाव…
मीच इथे ओसाडावरती,
नांगर धरुनी दुबळ्या हाती,
कणकण ही जागवली माती
दुर्भिक्ष्याच्या छाताडावर हसत घातला घाव…
ही शेते अन् ही सुखसदने,
घुमते यातून माझे गाणे,
रोज आळवित नवे तराणे
मी दैन्याच्या विरुद्ध करतो क्षण क्षण नवा उठाव…
सुखेच माझी मला बोचती,
साहसास मम सीमा नसती,
नवीन क्षितिजे सदा खुणवती
दूर दाट निबिडात मांडला पुन्हा नवा मी डाव…
[संग्रह: ज्वाला आणि फुले]

[tag]Avijit Chakraborty[/tag] is a 35 year old [tag]cyclist[/tag] from Kolkata, India who is [tag]cycling[/tag] across 62 countries around the world in 20 months, covering about 64,000 km. As of July 2006, he has completed 48,000 km across 48 countries. Currently he is in Peru, and after cycling across South America, he will continue his journey across the African continent – South Africa to Egypt. In the final leg, he plans to cover Australia and east Asia.

→ Read the complete story

I’ve tried to capture comments from some of the people who met him on his way. If you have met him, seen him or heard him speak, do share your experiences by commenting below.

Avijit has a website: BicycleAroundtTheWorld dot com. On this site you can find his travel route, or contact him directly.

Once again, wishing the best to Avijit

Read the updated story.

Santosh Iyer from Dallas TX writes:

I happened to bump into Avijit today morning. He was asking me directions. At that point i was perplexed as to who would be asking directions in US riding a bicycle. But having a conversation with him, it dawned on me who i was standing with and talking to.He is no less than a celebrity. That day i spent two more hrs with him talking about his experiences while riding throughout the world.He is an immense source of inspiration to anyone and everyone. The odds of meeting such a person in your entire life is amlost nill

Update (12-Apr-06):

Ram from OR writes:

He just gave a talk at HP Corvallis,OR. He is really amazing. He is very pleasant and modest. May God be with him!

Update (11-Apr-06):

Craig from Salem writes:

He’s in Salem Oregon tonight, planning to be in Corvallis before noon tomorrow. My friend is trying to organize a lunch for him tomorrow.

Update (28-Mar-06):

Alfonso from Kent writes:

I just had dinner with him in the city of Kent, Wa. A little before midnight we celebrated his 1st anniversary on the road (March, 28th)… Really nice person, inspiring and calmed, very focused. He leaves Seattle tomorrow morning (the 29th) on his way to Portland after cheking in at the Seattle Police Station at 8:00am as requirement by Record Guinness to keep track of his journey.

Swati Sircar adds:

FYI – He just left Seattle on his way to Portland.

Original story:

This guy takes it to the most extreme level. Avijit Chakraborty, 35 year old cyclist from Kolkata has so far traveled 38 countries covering 36,000 km in last 10 months. His target is to travel through 62 countries and cover over 64,000 km in a span of two years and enter the Guinness Book of Records.

He travels approximately 150 km each day and mostly sleeps at police stations, places of worship or his own tent.

Chakraborty had earlier completed a world tour covering 54 countries and 65,000 km on bicycle and later entered the Guinness World Record for crossing the Arctic Circle twice on bicycle in the year 1998.

He is carrying the message of pollution free environment and delivers lectures in schools and gatherings on the way. He meets students, government representatives and common members of the public.

All the best to Avijit.

“Every night when I am thinking I cannot do this, then I meet people and I get inspiration to go farther,”

References: Hindustan Times, Mumbai, Feb 10 | Routard.com (French) | The Rapid city journal | Sify | London Free Press | Biddenham (image)