can ads change the world? i have no idea. should advertising, a clearly commercial pursuit, even venture into discussing things that matter a little more than buying the next thing… again, i don’t know. but as a copywriter, i often felt you could add something to your story… a little kindness, a bit of laughter, some protest even if the time for that had come. just a feeling. of course, there are public service campaigns, but i am speaking more…
“unpalatable to the lord of death! first among the monkeys!! you’ve seen five feet of the snake?? burnt face, extract of low stock!!” jomer oroochi! bandorer ogrogonno!! shaaper paanch pa dekhecho?? mukh pora, bodjaat!! the swear words flew fast, interrupted only by indignant breaths, equally rapid. the frail old lady’s voice got more stentorian with each word, the affront in it resounding. “return them this moment! return them now, i say!” she bellowed, her small frame shaking, her chest…
it’s a favourite saree of mine, and now it’s fraying. a strange kind of pain at this weakening of closely entwined threads, at this clear signal of mortality, at passing. it’s a saree from orissa, now the spelling has been changed to odisha; we spend a lot of time changing spellings for some reason. my mother and i bought it, around thirty five years ago, from one of the saree shops along triangular park in kolkata (we changed that spelling…
i must have been four when i saw the taj mahal. been back many times since then. i love the gardens, the fountains, the humongous entrance, the grace, the people looking expectant, taking funny pictures, the sange marmar… the white marble; finding out mumtaz mahal and shah jahan wasn’t exactly a fairytale romance didn’t spoil the fun (c’mon, he threw pearl necklaces at her in the meena bazaar, didn’t he… and if he didn’t, too bad for him). the…
my heart was in a battlefield today defeat had touched my dreams truth as i had always known it to be writhed torn and begged to breathe demons came raging from hidden caves demolishing my faith, denouncing my dawn mortal wound crushed my land as it lay twined in my ambushed heart then a sound came near from far away so far it exceeds all my reach and yet it was here, carried on another sound whose decibel…
अनकही बातें कई तुमसे कहनी थीं पास आकर बैठो हाल-ए-दिल ज़रा सुनलो तुम्हें मालूम था परेशानी मेरी संभाला जब उलझी हुई थी सबर का बाँध टूट जाता गर साथ तुम्हारा तब ना होता ऐसे रखा खयाल मेरा जैसे हूँ फूल की पंखुड़ी ऐसा मुझपर असर हुआ इस चाहत में मैं और खिली एक तमन्ना जाग उठी है कहने को दिल बेकरार है एक अरसा हुआ कहे तुमसे मुझे आज भी तुमसे प्यार है Transliteration : Ankahi baatein kayi Tumse kehni…
Call me old fashioned, but I have always liked love stories to have a tantalizingly slow build up. From irrational distaste to ardent admiration, in inimitable Pride and Prejudice style. Or maybe, have the hero and heroine running for their life with no time for love; but end up making a vow for life? That is what makes my heartbeat race. With Romeo Juliet, apart from the fundamental problem of them dying, the fact that they fall in love, confess and…
he sat there looking lost on the old park bench. when i saw the jaw line, i knew there was only one thing i could do. i sat down. “what’s up?” i asked when i found my voice. he looked so disoriented. he turned and there were his eyes. i remembered chocolate, my habit of quietly eating a little chocolate every night, chocolate all by myself. my throat went dry again. “huh!” oh, so he had a voice. how do…
Here we are, you and I, the road ahead long and winding, My sun was up, hours ago, yours – just about rising… To see this dawn, I have plodded hours and walked miles… The journey ahead excites you, you are all smiles! Your basket brims with gay frolic and fun stories Mine is packed with caution, care, and a few worries… Your sun was mine too, a long, long time ago, With his sunset hues, he’s now ready to…
Come, run away with me Far away, further than the eye can see Across meadows of mustard Skip through thorny rose bushes Find me safe in the wilderness Don’t dare deny the lightheadedness… Leave your caring family be Together we sow our own family tree A girl with unmanageable curls A boy exceptionally fair A house surrounded by flowers and humming bees Where two lovers shall frolic, forever free… Come, run away with me The heart won’t need all that much money…