In Memoriam...

While the term "Festival of Lights" is reserved for "Deepavali", I have always felt that its immediate successor festival - Karthigai Deepam - has more merit to be called so. Atleast my experience has been thus so far. I do like both and infact, after many years living outside of not only my family but even my country, finally I got a chance to be at home with parents for 2008 Karthigai Deepam festival. Mom has not changed bit in her routines other than what aging process brings in. This time we also had my family - wife and son - at our place. Though not that common, I lit up fire crackers for my kid to see for the first time in his life. New clothes to wear - was like a Deepavali-Karthigai combo.

When the whole world lights up these tiny earthern light pots, its a feast not only to my eyes this time but also my camera's sensor :-) Attached is a photo that I liked most out of the bunch. The arkness and bokeh adds to the luminousity of the lamp. Was windy so couldnt get the flame sharper.

Today - Jan 30th - is Martyr's Day - the day when Gandhi was assassinated in 1948. Gandhi has been inspirational to me in more ways than one since childhood days and as I grow up, I only get painfully aware of how miniscule I am in my ways of life compared to what he achieved. I dont know when I can do something worthy of being from the same nation that gave the world this great soul. I have had my share of time with friends who ridicule Gandhi to this day for his deeds - bless their souls, ignorance is there everywhere still prevalent even among the educated lot. It takes only spur of a moment to life a weapon but lot of courage and strength to put it down. In today's world of brute force capitalism, it seems virtue if a person is able take care of his needs without harming anyone, let alone caring for others and society without selfish interests. Here's a favorite line from "Gandhi" movie - a magnum opus on the great soul -

BOURKE-WHITE:

But do you really believe you could
usenon-violence against someone like Hitler?

GANDHI (a thoughtful pause):

Not without defeats– and great pain. (He looks at her.) But are there no defeats in this war– no pain? (For a moment the thought hangs, and then Gandhi takes their handsback to the spinning.) What you cannot do is accept injustice. From Hitler – oranyone. You must make the injustice visible – be prepared to die like a soldier to do so.

-- and Gandhi went on to live and die like one - a true soldier in all sense of the term. Today's photo pick symbolises the great soul - shining solely among darkness.

Kolam...

"Kolam" is one of the symbols of Indian culture. The drawings created on a daily basis (early morning that too) in the floor in front of the house using rice flour. Their grandeur increases many folds during festivals and house occasions. "Maavu kolam" or "Ezhai Kolam" is made with rice flour mixed in water and needs special skill to get it right. My mom has been an exponent of these since my childhood days even though she displays humility when asked about it and inturn points to her sisters/mother-in-law as virtuoso of the art.

Attached pic was taken outside our house during our India trip. The occasion was my brother's marriage. My mom drew it. The pic came out like a poster on a wall. The old concrete floor feels like a modern wall part of some sort with mystic design in it. The picture has really come out satisfactorily.

Life on Wings...

Air travel has never failed to mesmerize me, much like the same way a booming train engine still draws my attention. Only that with air travel, I am getting to think about different dimensions of it rather than always getting carried away by the Bxxx and Azzz's gradeur on the tarmac looking through the airport's glasses.

Air travel is becoming an integral part of life of our generation and with a toddler running around us, its not that care free air travel as it used to be. Portable DVD player, kid's DVDs, strollers, kids' books, play items form majority of our carry-ons. This time around for the trip my kid was more accomodative that we had expected. But with air travel becoming affordable and competitve, the luxury part of it is now replaced by a necessity, and partly that reason takes the charm out of it.

Airports however are interesting places - always awake, happening, demographic microcosms of the world - particularly the major airports. I used to wonder how world has been shrunk so small - a couple of desis who were speaking tamil getting something at some unknown chinese fast food, another pair with a "Nalli" (a traditional clothing store in Chennai) "manja pai" (yellow bag) peeping out of their cart window shopping in some big-name-high-flung fashion outlet. Still not able to come out of the impact of this even after several air travels. Dont get me started on the food. After a trip to India, its all road kill. Atleast I can "muscle my way past the gag reflex" but for my wife its unbearable even while leaving US. Hence as usual, my kid was treated to some home-made Idlis that formed our carry-on. Lots have improved, I should say, to make this air travel boom manageable. The check-ins, e-ticketing etc etc. But the security check where you have to strip except for your underwears still irks me. Gosh, we got to get some gizmo that scans us unobstrusively...

The attached pic was taken at Hong Kong airport while waiting for our LAX flight. I have tried to capture the integration of the world there where entire airport seems to converge to the center of the photo. The carousel and people on it shot with motion blur trying to give a sense of motion towards the center and the center crowded than the rest. I wasnt expert enough to avoid the highlighted sign board on the left. The bland color of the top and the floor provided an unobstrusive background yet giving the needed perspective of convergence.