Lajja......

It is merely a coincidence that few people call Bangladesh's current situation and political turmoil as a second revolution from Sheik Hasina's tyranny of 15 years. She resigned and flew to India on August 5, 2024, to take temporary political shelter in India. I have started reading a novel called Lajja written by exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin. She has been in exile since 1993 for her bold writings. The first thing I comprehend from the read is that there is nothing in the novel to make her seek asylum in some other country and the book gets abundant in Bangladesh.  It was just a coincidence that the current event I read about riots in Bangladesh and the events written by Taslima in Lajja are symmetrical. The fundamentalists how they are and they were when it came to the persecution of minorities in Bangladesh remain the same. There are many reports in the news stating that minorities in Bangladesh face lots of issues during student movements against discrimination enforced by the quota system. I am not getting into further political or social commentary on the current affairs of Bangladesh. 

It is the story of a minority families and communities residing in Bangladesh. They struggle to find equal rights in a democratic setup. Despite immense contributions to the liberation war, these communities faced threats. Their houses were ransacked and looted, women raped, people killed, children became orphaned. The book perfectly analyses the causes and consequences behind the persecution of minorities by fundamentalists.  Minorities living in the country in a symbiotic society from the days of their fore-parents now suddenly found themself as aliens in their own nation. It is a fable of sacrifices and struggles.

The book ends with a note of seeking asylum in India the most secular place in Southeast Asia.  

The novel depicts the reasons for the decline in the population of minorities. Percucation is not the only reason for this decline. As per the recent article published in the Times of India, economic prospects that lead to migration are at the top of the list, but one can not ignore the factors behind this sharp decline. However, the book is a feast for the reader who wants to learn about Bangladesh and much-known controversial writer Taslina Nasrin. 

Good Read. 

Faith

Amol 

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Gravity and patterns

Gravity makes the patterns!

Clicked at Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. 

Mother

Mother!

Clicked at Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.  

Dead trunk

 Hope and purpose in this world is living as best as you can and maybe having life that gives back. But simply giving back isn't purpose; it's a branch of purpose, but it is not the trunk or root of the tree. -  Nick Vujicic

Clicked at Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

From HR's Corner

 From HR's Corner!

Good read from Today's Times Ascent. 

Roam and Rome.

Scupture from Roman Empire!

Clicked at Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.  

Mushroomed

Mushroomed on a life!

Clicked at Mumbai,  Maharashtra, India.  

Celebrating

Another paraphernalia of Celebration!

Clicked at Elephanta Caves, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.  

A Caved life!

A caved life!

Clicked at Elephanta Caves, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.  

Ohhh, Flower!

Ohhh, Flower!

Clicked at Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.  

Mutilated

Mutilated but remained ! That's immortal quality of monument. 

Clicked at Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. 

Caves in life....

I'd rather live in a cave with a view of a palace than live in a palace with a view of a cave. - Karl Pilkington

Clicked at Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.  

From HR's Corner!

From HR's Corner!

Good read from Times Ascent. 

Frame

The wall of frame! Or the window of frame! 

Clicked at Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. 

Another feather on cap...head

 

Waves

Waves!

Clicked at Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. 

Keep Smiling

Keep smiling. Keep shining.

Clicked at Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India. 

Framing the Farm!

Framing the Farm!

Clicked at Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.  

Ohhh flower

Farmer

Farming!

Clicked at Kolhapur,  Maharashtra,  India .

Culture and tradition !

Culture and tradition !

Clicked at Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India. 

Mahakali Caves

Absolutely brilliant sculpture crafted into basalt rock. Wondered a lot to see the presence of such a calm place in the midst of busting cities like Mumbai. Protected and maintained by Archaeological Survey of India.

Kondivie caves are situated in the western suburb o Mumbal, at Andheri.

These 19 caves were carved between 2 cenluty BC and 6th century BC. These caves are in two groups consisting of 14 water tanks and one rock inscription were found. Over a period of time, these caves went into oblivion. In 19 century, it was British Secretary Mr. Einthoven, who about these caves and recorded it in Bombay Caste Sr. No.227, Survey No.30f the 19 caves, 15 caves are southeast face and 4 are on the northwest side. The rocks of the caves are prone to weathering due to volcanic trap breccias. which are situated on a hilock.

Cave No.1 is a small vihara with veranda, and Cave No.2 is prominenty noticeable as it consists of a Stupa in it, though now it is dlaplidated. Cave No 3 is a resting place of Buddhist monks. Cave No. 4 resembles a school and on its righside a scupture of seven headed serpent is seen, which essentialy represents Nagas of Buddhisl tradition, who are also propagators and followers of Dhamma And on the front a 4 feet stone slab in a semi carved state is seen. caves No. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are small viharas.

Cave No. 9 consists of Chaitya cave which consists of enclosed reclangular hall and semi-circular wall along the shupa while the open varanda is flat roofed the Inner shrine has a domical cover prone to water  ingress its front side is central door in the middle and latticed windows on either side and on the over the right-side window, is a two line inscription in Pali Prakrit language and Dhammalipi, which states about donations. 

On the right-side wall, there pannel have deteriorated exists facebreak Gautam Buddha in Dhammchakrapravatan mudra (the buddha first sermon) position seated on a padmaparalambit posture on a lotus petal sculpture. And on top 2 flying Gandnarva (Vidyadnara) are sculpted. In the frame on the top now we could see only 1O Buddha's out of  12 Buddha sculpture seated In the above-mentioned posture. Two human body Naga followers with seven headed serpent are depicted holding stem of the lotus and balancing themselves along with them women and chauri-bearers workers are seen to depicted in the sculpture.

On the right-side and left side of Tatghat Gautam Buddha, two sculptures are carved cut depicting Padmpani Bodhisattva and Vajrapani Bodhisattva standing on the Lotus flower. 

Cave No. 10 is a vihara and on lis right-side there exists seven headed serpents in deteriorated condition. Cave No 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 are small and big Vihara. 

Cave No.12 is a dwelling place for Buddhist monks consisting of stone platforms for resting/sleeping. Cave No.13 is a big pavilion vihara with 4 huge decorated pilars. In this vihara there are 8 small rooms with sleeping platforms.

Cave No. 16 is on northwest directy face on the road side, which has a water tank in front of the door and a path-way is found to be created to collect the rain water in the tank. Out of the 4 caves, in two viharas 6 feet long resting platforms carved out. Cave No. 17 and 18 are vihara and has a big water tank in its front side and also in font of Cave No. 18 frontwall two feet Stupa model is carved out. Kondivite Caves are proltecled as a National Monument by the Archaeological Survey. 

Easy to reach, it requires 3 to 4 hours to visit entire premises.  

Keep rediscovering, keep traveling. 

Faith

Amol

Water Crisis

If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.- Loren Eiseley

Clicked at Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.  

Elephanta Caves

 I happened to visit Elephanta Caves for the second time last Sunday and completely forgot to write down about this lovely place. The Internet will generate a lot of information about this place. These caves are 5th to 9th century old. The Elephanta Caves are a collection of cave temples predominantly dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, which have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Elephanta were built by the Rashtrakuta rulers who are known to built it by cutting the walls of high basalt steep rock. It was named Gharapuri (Village of Caves) by the Marathi people and that continues to be its local name. In colonial times the Portuguese invaded the island. The island was renamed 'Elephanta' by them as they were inspired by the massive elephant sculpture that once stood like a guardian over the sea. 

The Elephanta Caves' past is shrouded in mystery, with no conclusive explanations. Some attribute their construction to the Pandavas, while others attribute it to Banasura, a Shiva-devotee demon. According to local legend, they were not erected by human hands at all. Easiest way to reach Elephanta Caves is from Gateway of India, it is around 11 Km away from Mumbai. One can easily reach there on a ferry.  

Elephant Caves remains closed on Monday. Its a group of 5 caves and cave number one is the largest cave. It depicts the various forms of lord Shiva. Sadly, most of the sculptures were damaged by fundamentalists in the 16th century. It almost took us one day to visit the elephant caves. Good place to visit.

Keep Traveling....Keep Rediscovering...

Faith 

Amol

From HR's Corner!

From HR's Corner!

Memories of leadership success 

Good read from Times Ascent 

Memoir of childhood

If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older. - Tom Stoppard

Clicked at Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India.