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Thursday, December 2, 2010

What is love?

As I sit with a cup of tea in my hands Alka talks and pours her heart out. I don't know how to comfort her and I just sit there, listening. I grieve for her as she remembers her husband and can only try to empathize with her feelings of loss. The bewilderment she faces every day in the morning when she sees the empty other side of the bed is a reminder that its a blessing to have your loved one to snuggle upto. As evening approaches she crumbles emotionally knowing that he is not coming home,ever again. So we have a lot to thank for that we are waiting for someone to come home.She fears what the future holds for her and wonders how she will face the difficult times ahead, all alone. Most of us are lucky to be able to plan and look forward to the future with our partners. Being together gives strength to be able to face life's challenges without fear and lonliness. We feel cared for, protected and cherished. Gazing at his photograph she proudly tells me how he always encouraged her in her hobbies and wanted her to look smart and pretty. It's indeed awesome to have someone special in whose eyes you can see the full potential of the person that you are meant to be and can become. Someone who has more faith and confidence in you than you yourself. It's difficult to define love attempted to but I have attempted to describe it so that we know when we are lucky in love.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Remember some experience which uplifts you?

An evening with just the right amount of chill to let you savour the onset of Delhi winter. Open air stage with twnkling diyas and lights.Cushions with crisp white covers on the amphitheatre seats. A slight cool breeze which coaxes you to snuggle into your shawl. An atmosphere brimming with the expectation of experiencing a magical evening. It was and everything more. As the Sufi music festival Ruhaniyat was ushered in by the strains of Punjabi shabad I was struck by the purity and strength in the voice of the singers. There was a grainy softness in the voice of the Kashmiri singers and earthy foot tapping melody in the songs from Rajasthan. The Egyptian group had everyone clapping and was a joy to witness because one could see how much they were enjoying performing. And if this was not enough the riveting performance of the Baul singer held me enthralled by the sheer elemental quality of her voice. Music, art and dance performances are truly experiences which go beyond  human language. They give a glimpse into the soul of the universe and beyond.