A Traveller’s Blog

(text and photos by Dishant Bhatia)

My distant memeory

I was not a ‘traveller’at all, during my early days. My school was just three kilometres from my place and that gave me the opportunity to have a ride in the bus for almost 15 valuable minutes, both up and down. Course it was much secured and was away from the menace of the heavily-crowded roads, especially during the ‘peak hours’, as we call them. When I was a kid, it was fun as I used that ‘precious’ time for thinking and day-dreaming which apparently has been my best time-pass (till date). In my eighth standard, the introduction of CNG Buses raised the transport charges to such extent which was not acceptable by many, particularly for those living near to the schools. 


That, unexpectedly, gave me the chance to ‘step out’. I was introduced to a much capable, cheaper and lenient mode of transport – DTC. I got a bus pass meant for students and when I say it was cheap, I mean it, as it was mere Rs. 12.50 per month, with which one could travel in any DTC Bus, anywhere in the city. I was told that the sum had been the same since the time my dad used to travel back in ‘60s - ‘70s. Clearly, I picked the DTC over School transport which would have costed me 50 times more. That gave me the opportunity to move about and provided me with a sort of independence. I could go to different parts of the city which also helped me become a part of it. Thanks to my dad, I was roaming around Delhi and was inadvertently getting trained about the paths (arteries) of the ‘heart of the nation’. (Now when I witness people, knowing anything about City & Urban Planning, mentioning Delhi - being radially planned - as a ‘confusing’ network of roads, I disagree with them due to obvious reasons.)



Delhi's life-line on a chilly morning



The radius of my scope of travel expanded rapidly after my shift to College, in the ‘J’ part of state of J & K. What was once a short ride in the bus, now transformed into a Journey of 14 long hours. A person, who used to travel within the city, now had to cross many cities so as to reach the destination. My love for travelling eventually became directly proportional to the amount of travelling. More the number of ups and downs, more I started loving it. The 640 kms of distance also gave me enough time and space to think more. Travelling in a private bus service or government roadways, whichever the way it gave me a chance to ‘move out’ further. Studying and memorising the activities going on around me was already in my blood (thanks to the training I had in my early days). What enhanced it more was the longer span of the distances. Now, instead of city roads, I was travelling on Highways. I learnt a new language - A language of driving on Highways. It was all together a different and a larger domain. I started meeting different people of different tastes; Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and even Punchh, I met them all.



On NH-1, one of my favourite captures



Punjab’s hospitality – The bus broke down in the middle of nowhere in a place called Tunda and an early morning breakfast of pakoras and ghar ki chai was arranged and served by the villagers and mind it, it was for forty people. The bus conductor of Punbus (the official Punjab Roadways bus service) in Jalandhar city shared his lunch with this college lad just because the boy was looking weak and was starving as he didn’t have much money, I’ll never forget those ghar ki bani aloo poori.. The stress is here on ghar ki bani and not on the aloo poori! (Any person who has ever lived in any hostel will understand this). 


Haryana’s Dabangg­–attitude – the understanding between the driver and conductor (I call it the best relationship on Earth), the experience they have gained from continuously riding together all these years. For those who don’t know, these guys have shifts according to the number of chakkars (rounds) they complete in one go and thus a driver starting from Delhi completes his shift when he reaches back Delhi on the next day. Hats off! They also get an extra point for their hospitality, despite the fact that their voice ranges so high that others think they are howling at them. Not to forget the hawkers, those who can sell the whole world in just 10 minutes with their confidence and expertise. Sometimes I feel that the kar lo duniya mutthi mein concept was actually coined looking at them. From pens to diaries, the handy juicer machine to table mats, the artificial jewellery to the ‘all-ailment-healer’ medicine, they have it all and that too, for very cheap, with a price range starting from mere Rs. 5 to Rs. 20.

I have grown used to all this by now and find pleasure in these ‘negligible’ activities and events going on around me as I learn something from them every time I travel.



Highways @ night.. Through my eyes!



I started with saying, “I was not a traveller”, but now I am and I know that sitting at home/office, watching T.V. or working on your laptop, listening to you favourite music or watching the movie you are very fond of, having the ‘home-made’ stuff and spending time with the family and friends can give you pleasure. Still, you are missing out on Something! As a traveller I would advise you to ‘Move Out’ and explore where the ‘joy’ lies instead of bringing it into your place in terms of materialistic comfort!

As I end this I really wonder why I always loved the Royal Enfield commercial with the tag line – LEAVE HOME!

RAIN

(pics, sketches and text by DB)

It’s been pouring since two days.

 We all have read many poems and tales about rains. Maybe that’s the reason why (almost) everyone is a bit emotional about this weather. Indian authors in literature have always demonstrated the ‘pouring sky’ as a sign of positive energy and as the time (or ambience) which is very romantic in nature. On the other hand, English authors have a totally different outlook for the same. Thus, influenced by the context of the Indian literature, rain does leave some eternal effect on our mind and body.

The continuous sound of water droplets seem as if two friends are chatting with each other after a long time without bothering about what others might think about them. Accompanying them is the flora of the place which suddenly becomes ‘lively’ and starts enjoying like a kid playing in mud and water. The nature actually starts dancing along with the ‘full-of-life’ atmosphere of the surroundings and at the same time everyone gets relief from the daily hustle-bustle of life and finds out a moment to spend with one’s own self or to relax. Birds hide themselves under the nooks and corners of the niches shaking their feathers on regular intervals drying themselves up. Sometimes one can even notice them shivering in the chill. That sight is astounding to see.

One starts drowning along with the continuous ‘flow’ of water. The sound refreshes the memories of standing aside a river bank. You feel that nothing is in your control. It keeps on flowing without any concern. Suddenly, you notice the pathway which was not being used by anyone since morning (because of the down-pour) is finally occupied by some users. All, holding an umbrella with one hand and the other in their pockets minimizing the surface exposed to rain, heads down and moving with a constant speed towards some definite destination. It appears to be a perfect composition for canvas and then unexpectedly someone, without a shelter, comes into the scene, running, giving motion to the picture all of a sudden. The lush green surroundings get a tough competition from the vivid colourful umbrellas, some matching and some totally opposite to the appearance of the person holding it. Imagine a person wearing formals and holding an umbrella with floral design on it and, that too, pink coloured.

The droplets still manage to settle somewhere. It seems as if they also want to take a break from the continuous flow. You may find them on leaves or falling on floor making random circular patterns and vanishing in a moment making way for the next one. Matching the speed of the drops are the thoughts going in the mind. Most of them filled with memories of times spent especially associated with this weather. Memories which fill up the dull faces with sweet smiles, which refreshes the mind and a force drags us towards the window/balcony and we keep on gazing at the rain, the drops, the surroundings. Filled with such thoughts one wants to relax on bed, take a nap, and have a cup of tea. One can find a group of close friends laughing out loud and enjoying, or a couple having a warm conversation, making the best use of the moment. For many (like the one observing all this), the warm memories from the past are enough to fill up the ‘empty’ spaces. 

All in all, the sudden down-pour acts as an excuse for everyone to get what their ‘inner’ self wants keeping aside the regular duties and responsibilities. The rain becomes a short vacation and one enjoys it with a thought in mind, “It won’t last forever!” 

Jaan - Pehchaan

Jaan – pehchaan

In the times of social networking, where we have the liberty of making ‘friends’ with just one click of a button and also separating them into categories like ‘close’ ones or ‘acquaintances’ (although, now we have the freedom to ‘unfriend’ them also), we, at Panwadi Tales, would like to stick to the basics. Thanks to our rich culture, we have in our blood, the habit of making friends with almost everyone. “Arey! Uski bahut jaan – pehchaan hai!”, is an expression which acts as a ‘status-symbol’ in the society like ours. Right from the M.L.A. of the District to the person who updated you on India’s score against Australia in the last match, sitting next to you in the bus.. We are friends to every one!

Thus, to keep up this tradition and to expand our ‘friends-circle’, we introduce ourselves:

Ar. Anusha Narayanan

She is the ‘think-tank’ and initiator of this blog. A person full of zest and ideas, ideas to do something new always; One who is not satisfied easily and thus keeps on looking for more! An Architect by profession and living as she takes it seriously, graduated from School of Architecture & Landcscape Design, Katra, J&K, a writer by passion, who loves to move around and explore new places and ‘spaces’, the ‘new’ might include old ruins too, a Tam-Brahm with an attitude of a impure Delhite, one who loves family and friends & one who enjoys dancing and singing, she’s currently with her pals on this chit-chat journey, exploring, and bringing to notice – ‘The Details of Life’!

Divya Sharma

Hard to define, but sometimes, in a moment of simplicity she can be boldly obvious. Not too good at reading between lines, but quite adept at writing with hidden undertones between her lines. A passionate basket-baller, an aspiring social servant, a photographer and a writer in her secret life, a Himachali half-Rajput, and a thoroughbred Delhite, an IT engineer and a soon-to-be MBA grad from BVIMR- Delhi, she plans to venture into social entrepreneurship. Someday she hopes to reinvent herself truly, as and when the timing is right. As of now it’s nothing too big...just baby steps leading her to her calling.

Dishant Bhatia

"Sasuri Dilli, kaat kaleja leh gayi...", thats him... an avid traveller, a pure-hearted photographer and a true romantic. He has an eye for detail- being an architect in the making of course, not just an eye, a lens, an arm, a leg and a head full of it too; and a cheery disposition to make friends with anyone and everyone. He loves Delhi and Mumbai: the vada pao and the chhole-bhaturey, in their entirety- which is contrary to popular belief that no person can love both cities equally, with his unconventional liberal mind - he does. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s in Architecture from SMVD University, Jammu & Kashmir. Among his many achievements has been the applause and appreciation he received at the recently concluded IIID Showcase Exhibition at Mumbai, March 2012, for his photographic genius: “Order in Chaos”. A multifaceted, attentive, inquisitive, creative and well-informed civilian, he’s many virtues in one body. And, by Jove, his eye meets more simple pleasures everyday than we can think of.

Salonee Chadha

Do not be mistaken by her sane exteriors! We have a serious hunch that her thick curls are a reaction her head had to those thoughts running haywire inside! Curly haired Delhite-bred Ms.Sunshine who on any regular day,has oodles of unexpressed craziness and unexplored excitement generated from the smallest of things, wrapped inside. An aspiring architect who got acquainted to us during her architectural internship, pursuing her B.Arch. from Sushant School of Architecture, the acquaintance has helped all three share newer experiences and realms of FUN. She is an avid reader and relishes the vintage Print-Media more than the Digital in today's day and age. Punjabi Loud is so not her style, but neither is the Urbane Suave, its somewhere in between the two. More like Punjabi yet Suave who enjoys being a "Retro-Drama Queen" to cut away from the sanity of life...our very own Chadha Sahab!