Pariisms IV

Our lives are not worth what we get but what we give and share, for that is all that remains behind, sometimes a long time after we are gone.

‎'Impossible' is the result of the limitations of human knowledge, imagination and experience; for a God who says "Be" and It is, everything is in the realm of possibilities.

One of the reasons that unnecessarily complicates relationships is the false idea that if someone loves us they should sacrifice all their happiness pleasure and even comfort to prove that love to us

Observation at a shopping mall: "Constantly changing fashions are proof of the fickleness of the human race".

People who think their worth is based solely on their purchasing power, grossly underrate themselves

We often bring about the very circumstances that realize our deepest fears.

We begin to identify ourselves with races, religions, ethnic groups, cultures, traditions as we grow and our perceptions and understanding of differences develop. At birth all of us are only human.

People may not understand each other's language, even have differing interpretations of various gestures but no one can ever misunderstand the meaning of a genuine smile

This year began with the promise of great possibilities, which may not be realized, but it would be stupid to waste the beauty and happiness of the here and now, mourning over what could have been.

The pleasures of the present evaporate unnoticed like cool dew on fresh green grass, when we are trying to recapture the fragrance of yesterdays faded roses or dream about an unknown tomorrow veiled in mystery.

If only one of a number of paths leads to the truth, the real seeker will examine each of them minutely; to be closed minded or to reject any as impossible or false without giving them their due attention and thought might lead to the truth never being discovered.

We humans may have a hundred different names for 'WATER' in a hundred different languages, but we all drink it to quench our thirst

How blithely we say "and that's the truth!" When in reality the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth can be affirmed only after it has been examined from all perspectives, all its facets have been looked at and everything known about it has been delved into; even then there is often spacious room for human error.

‎'Impossible' is the result of the limitations of human knowledge, imagination and experience; for a God who says "Be" and It is, everything is in the realm of possibilities.

People who cheat, lie and take advantage of me think I am a loser and a fool but I feel that I will really be a loser if I lose my innocence that makes me believe deeply in the basic goodness of people and become a hard cynic.

History and archaeology have amply proved to us, if ever there was any doubt, that successive generations of humans are only caretakers and trustees on Earth; one may have a million land deeds or deeds to millions of acres but in truth nothing on the earth truly belongs to anyone one. So lets concentrate on preservation and conservation and not on willful destruction based on short term profit making.

Envy and jealousy are born with one's discontent with one's own possessions, talents, and achievements; those who are happy with their lot in life, however little it may be and confident of who they are, never care how much anyone else has or achieves.

Man puts any price he thinks fit on what he builds or creates yet he thoughtlessly destroys without a twinge of regret or scruples the priceless creations of nature

Ignorance gives rise to distrust which births fear and finally hatred. Only true knowledge and understanding lead to acceptance and respect.

Fleeting though the present may be, it continues to please for a long time, when woven in the rich tapestry of memories

True freedom is freedom from wants as wants shackle the mind with chains of desires

If only one of a number of paths leads to the truth, the real seeker will examine each of them minutely; to be closed minded or to reject any as impossible or false without giving them their due attention and thought might lead to the truth never being discovered.

We humans may have a hundred different names for 'WATER' in a hundred different languages, but we all drink it to quench our thirst.

How blithely we say "and that's the truth!" When in reality the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth, can be affirmed only after it has been examined from all perspectives, all its facets have been looked at and everything known about it has been delved into; even then there is often spacious room for human error.

Nothing on Creation is as arrogant as those whose ultimate earthly destiny is to be food for either worms or the fire.

Do good just for the sake of doing good, not for expectations of praise, gratitude or reciprocation, for those tarnish the act of doing good and if not met could spoil relations with the person who has been on the receiving end of your goodness.

If one good thing is coming to an end it doesn't mean another is not waiting just around the

corner to begin.

Walls, pillars and roofs house the body, while trees, rivers, mountains, lakes, valleys and all the wonders of nature house the soul. Lets be careful that in our quest for housing the bodies we do not make the souls homeless.

As man uses his limited foresight and imagination to reshape the Earth, replacing living green with dead greys, nature laughs because despite how strong and how high man builds a day comes when nature claims its own.

Don't always seek company of others, sometimes seek the silence and solitude where you can listen to your inner voice, so you can get acquainted with your true self.

We are body and soul. The conflict that rages within us is the conflict between their different needs. The body is dazzled by what it can see and yearns for it, whereas the needs of the soul lie beyond the earth, in eternity and infinity. The body wishes to cram as much as it can into its limited existence, the soul knows all Eternity is waiting for it. Who should win, the perishable body or the immortal soul?

The kindness of friends, acquaintances and strangers, continues to touch me deeply and always reaffirms my faith in human nature when it is at its lowest.

The avarice I witness in the world, makes me appreciate even more deeply the millions of unknown people who upload books, lessons, advice, music, photographs, movies, etc, online, just for the satisfaction of sharing with others and for no expectations of any monetary consideration whatsoever

A good teacher knows that their true reward is the mind that blossoms and grows under their careful tutelage. Giving mercenary considerations priority, tarnishes and belittles their eminent calling.

For my many photographer friends: How fortunate the photographer, to spy moments of beauty and wonder and with a click be able to share them and preserve them forever, to see the smallest detail in their world 'through the lens' and to be able to share their perspective with the whole world.

A good friend will listen to your woes and sympathize a few times, but at one point they will wish you would let go and move on and they would be right, for live awaits to embrace us all with gifts we cannot begin to dream of, but we have to let go the pain, the disillusionments, the disappointments and move on to find them.

There are times in life when nothing of any great consequence is happening, either good or bad; These are the times of calm, times to rest and rejuvenate mind, body, heart and soul.

Time is not an enemy to be killed nor is it available to us in such great abundance that we pass it in frivolous pursuits. Time is valuable, because it is the most perishable and absolutely irreplaceable thing we know. it's a wealth that cannot be saved and is running out moment by moment. The only way to utilise it to the best, is to make the maximum use of each moment.

Pari isms III

Does anything make us realize the ephemeral nature of all things more
than a flower that blooms briefly and dies.

In its short life a flower gives not just nectar but enriches our
lives with its colour, fragrance and beauty, teaching us that it is
not how long one lives that is important but how well.

When we enjoy the beauty of a newly blossomed flower we never give a
thought to how soon it will fade and die, so why can't we enjoy each
moment in life without the worry that it will pass.

The amounts the rich spend on self gratification could well feed, house, clothe and educate a million or more poor

Standard of living should only be improved till it is actually improving the quality of life anything beyond that leads to decadence

Treat strangers well you have no idea what they may mean to you someday

Every interaction can be a learning and teaching experience

Each of us is a book, full of short stories, at least a couple of novels and some drama.

We are given friends so we can fly and relatives so we stay grounded

I would anyday prefer to be the well thought out, perfectly planned and executed design of a Creator, with infinite oceans of knowledge and wisdom, rather than a chemical accident

Life takes us to places new, memories keep us pinned to the past.

If life is full of problems we have to be full of solutions

When I was younger I wished I was a man, till i realised I was something so much better.... A Woman! Thank God!

In its short life the butterfly has drunk nectar from flowers, basked in the sunshine, flown free in the wind,glided on the soft breezes, pollinated flowers, added beauty to the world, and shown us that living and giving can all be done despite the shortness of life

Pari isms II

Everyone has some special gift,often we cannot see it as we are not looking for it

Injustice angers me, pain and agony I witness breaks my heart, environmental destruction does both

My heart breaks for wonderful people who are worth so much and yet think that money is the most important thing in life

Its time to stop wasting the resources of the earth and replace materialism with minimalism

Feed your need, not your greed

The capacity to love despite the faults of another is a great gift

Sometimes there is a defining moment in life that crystallizes the meaning of one's entire existence

Life is so short, let's ensure that we use it well, giving only happiness to others and are never responsible for another's pain.

Nothing in life is more important than to cherish the moments spent with those we love

We can't have everything, so we have to realise what is most important and aim for that. There is no perfect situation, so do not let go of any potential happiness waiting for things to be just right.

Art and Beauty need no language

People chase their dream of wealth and fame, spending not a single moment to reflect on the fact that if success, money and fame were the things we really needed, then why would so many performers die of overdose after reaching the zenith in their chosen field.

What wisdom's lost when thoughts gallop with speed,

through the mind like untamed steeds.

Lasso your thoughts write them down,

or you may lose some wisdom profound

There is nothing I regret more than the missed chances of doing good

Don't indulge the moment of pleasure that comes with a lifetime of regret

Movies, tv and computer games are insidious mind controlling devices

In a heart where rancour is kept alive, no joy or happiness can ever thrive

Loneliness is mankind's greatest fear

If recognition of talent was left to families many a genius would die in anonymity

Those who thought the Spanish Inquisition was bad were never questioned by their teenagers

The world may think you're an idol

but your teen will no doubt say

Yeah sure you are an idol

I can see your feet of clay

Peace based on harmony should be the goal of every society, which can be achieved by acceptance and respect of each other's differences. Art, philosophy, literature, poetry, dance and music, reflect the zenith any civilization has reached. If any of these expressions are used to deride or mock another's deepest beliefs under the guise of freedom of expression, it will only lead to total chaos.

how blind are we that we cant see

the anguished hearts within our midst

eyes full of barely veiled sorrow

that forced smiles can never reach

lonely souls appearing to draw

happy, contented fulfilled breaths

while in truth they are awaiting

grim yet liberating death

Cute is irresistible, so beware of cute things that may have a more devious design behind them

As fire engulfs and consumes whatever feeds it, so does anger engulf and consume the minds and heart it feeds upon

True development would take into consideration the needs of every species we share the planet with and not just the increased profits of a few greedy and short-sighted individuals

Trees are the first casualty of any development

We do not desecrate the sanctity of Churches, temples and mosques that we build for God yet how easily and thoughtlessly we destroy, desecrate and defile the beauty and sanctity of the wonders that HE has built for us.

It is this World's tragedy that voices of sense and reason have often been overpowered by sheer brute force

if we just pass or fill time then we invalidate the fact that there are a number of purposes for our existence. Find and fulfill the purposes for your being, to justify your presence here.

Flower Show (published article)

It was a veritable feast; a spread of such gargantuan proportions as would satisfy gourmet and gourmand alike. Wherever one's gaze rested, the beauty either caressed or stunned the senses. Flowering plants of petunias, pansies, poinsettias, verbena, begonias, dahlias, peace lilies, marigolds, cannas, zinnias, gerberas, single and double asters, etc, in both soft pastels as well as bold, vivid hues, decorated the magnificent grounds of the Empress gardens, and perhaps even the ancient, gnarled trees that looked on them so benevolently from above, sighed in pleasure. Not only was every open ground, path and curve filled with thousand of blooming plants but even the many tanks reflecting the majestic trees, as well as the fountains and the small curling waterways. with their pretty white bridges, were all used most aesthetically as a backdrop for the splendid hues. The weather too was most agreeable, as soft breezes played all day. One eye catching display was of two Christmas tree like shapes, one decorated mainly with red roses and the other with many different flowers in bright colours, placed strategically beside a small tank, whose water then fell gently into a meandering waterway.

The exhibition itself consisted of different parts. There was an open air display of potted flowering plants, foliage, as well as beautiful bonsais that showed the perseverance, love, care and creativity of their owners. Flower exporters had donated exotic blooms often not found locally, in imaginative and gorgeous arrangements and one tent was used exclusively for these. In another tent a group called Mehak, which consists of very inventive and talented youngsters, displayed their creations. They usually focus on a theme and this year it was 'Save the Planet'. The displays which concentrated around concepts of minimal pollution, alternate sources of energy, population control, etc were a showcase of their ingenuity and skill. Ikebana, the Japanese art of arranging flowers in a balanced composition, too found its place here. To become fully proficient in this, it requires a person to give six exams over a period of twenty years, the last of which is in Japan. The last part was the flower competition, where many different kinds of flowers as well as a variety of roses were shown. One of the most beautiful flowers was a lovely orchid. The loveliest among the roses were the ones of two or more shades. A large red rose was named Queen of the show, sadly by evening Her Majesty looked quite fatigued. Besides these, there were a variety of vegetables and also a few cleverly designed exhibits using them skillfully cut. There were also many stalls selling plants and other gardening related products. People come from as far as Darjeeling to display their wares. One nursery stall that sold only dahlias was an absolute treat of astounding colours.

The Flower show has been organized regularly for the past ten years by the Agri -horticulture society of Western India. It is held any week end in January for three days and regular participants are invited a month and a half in advance. This time it was held from 25^th-27^thJanuary. It attracts about twenty five to thirty thousand visitors, including students from many Pune colleges as well as nearby districts. The show is held beside the playground so kids can be happily occupied while parents enjoy the various offerings. Magic shows, puppet shows and other entertainments are also arranged for them. The flower competition is judged by experts from The Agriculture College Pune, Botanical Survey of India and the Rose Society of Pune. A week before the flower show, a drawing competition is held on a Sunday morning at the Empress Garden, where school children under fifteen years are invited to participate. Their drawings are exhibited at the flower show.

Pari isms

A sunset of molten gold, cool drizzle on the face, a flower blooming in the wilderness, a child's innocent smile, a rainbow across the sky... so many wonderful events to which we are fortunate enough to receive an invitation.

Whatever you do there will be people who will object, deride or find fault, as long as your actions are ruled by your conscience don't worry about them

Why can't we enjoy moments just by themselves, moments suspended in time without past or future, why is every moment of beauty discoloured by fear of a future when it will not exist

Why do we think an inexhaustible Creation would limit itself only to elements we can see

Grievances are chains that shackle us to the past...only forgiveness can set us free... Forgive and move on, your future awaits..

If only men and women would celebrate each others presence in their lives each day we might have a happier world

Life usually writes more between the lines than on them and we are usually in too much of a hurry to read everything.

So you think you are generous? When did you last give someone the benefit of the doubt???

To be strong you have to know and master all your weaknesses

How sweet and simple would life be if only it wasn't so complicated

Would be wonderful if we could google our memory

One generations excesses lead to another generation's deprivations.

How can there be peace in the world when there is so much conflict in the homes

The world should be full of 'Happily Divorced People' as divorce seems to be the alternative to an 'Unhappy' marriage

Between the breath we take and the breath we will never take lies death

A contented heart and smiling face are better at defying age than anything in a tube, bottle or jar.

If words will result in hurt feelings, it is better to refrain from speaking

Vishrambaugwada Pune (published article)

Lost in their own thoughts and everyday problems, people walk unconcerned up and down Bajirao road, sparing hardly a glance if even that, for an exquisite example of the best of Maratha craftsmanship, the palace of Vishrambaug Wada. To many who throw it a cursory glance, it might stand like a question mark on the wall of time. One cannot blame them, for very few among those who pass it each day probably know much about its history.

Vishrambaug wada Palace was built by Peshwa Bajirao II, on a plot of land purchased by him from Shri Haripant Phadke in 1799. Work on it began on 26th March 1807 and it was completed by 20^th Nov 1808. The sole purpose of this Garden of Rest (Vishrambaug) was relaxation and entertainment.

The original entrance to this building is below the imposing cantilever balcony with elaborate carvings, which is supported by finely carved mythical creatures. On either side of the entrance stand intricately engraved teak pillars, shaped like Suru (cypress tree) trunks. To accentuate the beauty, even the beams are embellished with carvings of peacocks and parrots. The 40,000 square feet palace has halls and three courtyards (Teen Chowki). Its splendid architectural style of fine woodworking developed under the Peshwas. There are also influences of Rajasthani and Gujarati craftsmanship.

Peshwa Bajirao II continued residing at Shaniwarwada, making Vishrambaug Wada a second home, where he came to relax. There are stories that in his later life, when he suffered some ill health, his wife had a garden of Tulsi (Holy Basil) planted close by, (present day Tulshibaug) as this plant had curative properties for many ailments and even breathing in its vapours was considered extremely beneficial to health.

Vishrambaug Wada though has a very checkered past. Its days of glory were short lived. When the British took over Pune, its palatial splendour was turned into hallowed halls of learning. A school called the Sanskrit Pathshala was established here to teach the Vedas and Shastras in 1821 and later in 1828 the Elphinstone Engineering Institute was shifted here from Mumbai. It was still an important building in 1852, where Mahatma Jyotiba Phule was felicitated by Major Candy. Its slide into obscurity began, when the colleges were later shifted to their present locations. The major blow came when its front quadrangle was set on fire on May 13, 1879. From here on it became a victim of an unimaginative and apathetic administration. The British rebuilt the destroyed part in an uninspired and functional way. In 1930 the Pune Municipal Corporation bought the Vishrambaug Wada from the Government for Rs. 1 lakh and the second floor was built in 1933. The building was used to house the PMC till they moved to their present location in 1959. Besides housing the PMC, it has been used, by the police dept, by the health dept, as a ward office cleaning section, among other things, till this building that had already been stripped off its grandeur, also lost its heritage value. Walls, doors and rooms had been added willy-nilly as and when the bureaucracy decreed, till very little of its original beauty existed. Presently it serves as a post office and a library.

Perhaps this state of affairs would have continued endlessly, till tired of the abuse the Wada would have one day fallen down and passed away into obscurity, marked only by a few half hearted eulogies in the newspapers.

Fortunately such a situation has been averted by an extremely commendable decision taken by the PMC. Three years ago, when the Wada, which is on the heritage list, was in a dilapidated condition and due for extensive repairs, a key decision was reached, which will hopefully be the watershed in the maintenance of heritage structures in Pune. It was decided that instead of making functional repairs to the building it would be restored to its former beauty, using materials as close as possible to the original ones. The entire cost was projected at about Rs. 3 crores.

Civic heritage cell chief officer, Mr. Shyam Dhavale, supplied me with the information regarding the renovation and rebuilding. To maintain the originality of the construction and to avoid mistakes, the PMC appointed a 3 architect panel to overlook the rebuilding. Before anything could be built though, all the walls and rooms that had been so haphazardly constructed before, had to be brought down.

The first phase of the restoration began about two years back on the West side of the Wada. Now the third courtyard is almost complete, while work is going on in the second courtyard. Already 1.5 crore has been spent on rebuilding, restoring and beautification.

The care given to the restoration can be witnessed right at the entrance of the third courtyard or chowk, where one can see, not just the grand carved door but also the brick work around it, which is laid aesthetically with live mortar as it was in the days of the Peshwas, using not the ordinary bricks but a flatter, broader version called the ‘Pustak Veet’. Within the courtyard one cannot miss noticing the teak pillars, which after decades of being painted in oil paints, have now been scraped clean and treated again with linseed oil as they originally were. It is not just the pillars but the doors, door frames, windows, including the seven feet high ‘Mahirap’ windows with railings to sit by, that speak of the minute care given to detail here. Much of the wood has been replaced, with importance given to merging the new with the old. Rows of chandeliers have been chosen to match the ambience of the place. Fountains play in the courtyard adding to the feeling of peace.

Though the courtyard is hushed now, in this setting of grandeur it is not hard to imagine the chatter of ladies dressed in bright silken sarees, turbaned noble men of a bygone era strolling around, voices and laughter and the strains of music and song. One can only look forward to the day when the work will be complete and after decades of neglect and defacement, this pride of the Peshwas will once again attain its original, regal splendor.

Vishrambaug Wada is just the first in a long list of heritage buildings that will be restored to their original beauty. Two other structures which are being renovated in similar fashion are the equally important Nana Wada and the Trishund Nagar Ganesh Temple.

Nana Phadnis was an accountant during Peshwa Madhavrao’s reign but when underage Sawai Madhav Rao, son of Narayan Rao came to the throne in 1774, Nana Phadnis took over the administration and continued to look after it for twenty years. He built his mansion Nana Wada in the vicinity of Shaniwarwada in 1792, where his chief office was also located and from where his administration was carried out.

I was extremely fortunate to be loaned a project on Nana Wada by Mr. Priyal Mote a student of T.Y.B.Arch-Allana College of Architecture, for my reference. This has helped me to both learn as well as perceive details, which my layperson’s eyes would have surely missed.

Nana Wada with its timber framework is an excellent example of Maratha construction technology. Skilled carpenters were summoned from Rajasthan to carve the arches, doors, windows and Suru shaped pillars. The live mortar was prepared using clay, lime and jaggery. A public tank was also built opposite the Nana Wada

In 1892 the Deccan Education Society built the New English School, in what is assumed, to have been the rear part of the wada. There were marked differences between the structure of the Nana Wada and that of the New English School, both which reflected the times during which they were built, the availability of materials and expertise, as well as the prevalent tastes, preferences and priorities of their respective builders.

Whereas the Nana Wada had been designed for both beauty and functionality, fast construction and functionality was the priority during the building of the school. The pillars and arches in Nana Wada were mainly decorative but in the British structure they are used as spanning and load bearing elements. The Marathas were careful about aesthetics down to every small detail and even the railings of the balconies were made of intricately carved teak, but in the school the British have used cast iron railings. Use of glass for window panes was also introduced in this structure. The edifice reflects the period of the industrial revolution in England, with its faster construction techniques, use of stone arches and cast iron as major spanning devices. In 1953 the school was handed over to the Corporation and a records office was opened here, along with a new school; The Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya and a night school called Kinkar Ratraprashala.

It is Nana Phadnavis’ office quarter which is presently being renovated by the PMC. The entire restoration and beautification is estimated to cost about Rs 1 crore. Artisans have been called from Mumbai to work on it. Once more great care is being taken to keep the reconstruction as close to the original as possible. The ‘Meghdambaris’ (cloud shaped) decorative balconies in this building are the only ones of their kind in Pune. When we visited the site, work was going on in full swing and hopefully in a few months it will be open to visitors, who will have their breath taken away by the building’s magnificence.

PMC’s third ambitious restoration project is the Trishund Nagar Ganesh Mandir. This is a 300 year old temple which was constructed by the Gosawi Panth. There is no brick work here and the temple is constructed completely out of black stone. It has fine examples of Rajasthani, Mughal as well as Maratha architecture. Its front elevation is decorated by very rare sculptures. Its artifacts, carvings and sculptures are unique and not found anywhere else in Pune.

The temple has been damaged considerably. Trees are growing out of its walls and water is leaking through the roof, destroying the structure. The PMC has begun the renovation, by opening the roof to repair and prevent any further leakage, prior to starting on the rest of the structure. Beautification will be carried out in the second phase. What is singular about this project is that unlike the other two, this is an Archaeology Department trust property. This is the first time the Corporation will be spending its own money on re-doing a structure for the sole reason of maintaining its heritage value. There are over a hundred heritage buildings in Pune, many of rare beauty and one hopes that the PMC will continue with its admirable initiative.

Architecture of any place is the confirmation of its history. Moreover it is a chronicle in wood, stone and mortar that recounts the lives and tastes of those who passed before. The walls of old buildings are never mute; they speak to us with their shapes, materials, designs and age about people and times gone by. Therefore it is imperative to preserve these witnesses whose testimony we can rely upon, in their original form.