history – A Thousand Mornings

What path are we on?

What path are we on?
Where history is being erased,
bulldozed, razed
Where prayers are criminal,
Food suspicious, love a mere ploy;

Indian mythology has some fascinating tales. An hour-long ferry from Gateway takes you to Elephanta or the Gharapuri Island, where different forms and facets of Shiva are laid out in vivid detail. The imposing figure of Sadashiva (above) is the tricky one – even at 17-feet, it shows only three faces of the hermit God;Continue reading “In Pics: The Island God”

Melting Pot

It was evening when we walked into the blue gates of Andretta pottery. Country music was spilling out into the lane, blending perfectly with the whirring of the wheel even as the hands guided the clay. The mound was thrown, centered, shaped and lessons imparted as we stared, tapped our feet a little and soakedContinue reading “Melting Pot”

Walking back in time

It’s 1874. Mumbai’s first tram has just pulled away from Parel TT towards Colaba. As the horse-drawn carriage trudges ahead, a turn of the head reveals a stepwell, wide enough to accommodate the horses. Remember it is the age of nobility. Little wonder then that the news of Prince Albert’s arrival a year later hasContinue reading “Walking back in time”

Finding the muse

Walking through the maze of green, past sparsely populated animal enclosures, you wonder if the visit is going to pay any dividends. But the moment you cross the gateway, a different shade of green greets you. More subtle and inviting, the celadon green goes well with the Palladian architecture of the restored Bhau Daji LadContinue reading “Finding the muse”