Saavn

The arrival of the mighty monsoon. Saavn- the most awaited time of the year in my part of the world. After the hot and dusty summer leave my motherland thirsty, its dwellers tired- Lord Indra finally soaks us wet in respite. As the king of the heavens, he does have a fondness for Drama. As a result the monsoons -the gift of the gods- always arrive amidst thundering applause and lightning appreciation.

The dark, dense black clouds block the unforgiving summer sun, a truce between the gods in the heaven that breeds life.

For me the monsoons are a good time. It was the time of the year which marked my arrival in this world and I seem to have a never ending love affair with the rains.I have always cherished the calm of the mountain fog, the stillness of nature and the freshness of Saavn.

It brings with it fog, fog that blinds you to any foreseeable threat, it brings the cool winds, it brings water, torrential rains, it inspires songs, it breeds passion, it gives lives, it takes lives- its nature's way of connecting to us.

For us more modest beings, its the perfect time to curl up in a blanket and enjoy a cup of hot coffee, or tea. Its the time to stare up at the sky and try finding shapes in the clouds. Its the time to devote oneself to the company of a good book, or to go out running in the puddles, to ditch the umbrella and dance away in the rain. 

The rains of Saavn are whispers- whispers of nature- which tell us her problems, so that we may act accordingly; before the whispers become shouts. 

The monsoons are an agent- an agent of nature- who act to bring balance to our world. 

 A world which is both sustained and destroyed by the prowess of the mighty monsoon. 

How I Fall in Love with my Hometown Over and Over Again

The Ridge, Mall Shimla.

 The cool zephyr blowing through your hair, the fragrance of the trees, the softness of snow on your palms, the lazy mornings, the sweet chirping of birds, the cry of a street vendor, the sip of hot piping tea, the mid-afternoon strolls, the aroma of an old book, the much-awaited luncheon with friends,the exceedingly slow walk back home, the touch of a feather,the light warmth of the setting sun on your back,the shrieks of laughter ricocheted off the hill standing tall, the companionship of childhood comrades, the embarrassing fall off the slippery staircase, the touch of cold snow, the smile of a stranger, the sight of apples, the slurping of ice-cream, the shivering that follows, the package from the bakery, the embrace of your grandmother, the affectionate hit on your head, the bark of a friendly dog, the sight of colourful shawls, the sight of  a familiar cafe, the cup of hot coffee, the nostalgia, the meeting with a teacher, the handshake with a classmate, the exchange of stories, the eventual goodbye, the hopes for the next day, the plans for future, the feeling of awe, of gratitude,of peace and the love for thy hometown.

“One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs,
Or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.”
― Khaled Hosseini, A Thousand Splendid Suns











My hometown, a quaint city in the lap of the mighty Himalayas ,and the state capital - has always mesmerised me. I can never get enough of the hills and valleys, of the trees and the architecture, of the cuisine and the people. Each time I come back home, even if I have been only gone for a day, it is as if I am visiting it for the first time. Having been the Summer capital for India under the British rule -Shimla is an exquisite display of culture and history.



By means of this blog, I would also like to bring your attention to the following.

The old charm of the city still remains intact but the city has inevitably succumbed to pollution and commercialisation. I am appalled each time I see litter on the roads, or people disturbing the calm and serenity of public spaces.
The damage to local flora and fauna is also a cause of concern.
From irresponsible parking, to reckless wastage of water - all such activities, by residents as well as tourists are causing wide-scale problems.

 Each city has a soul - it has shaped countless lives, made countless stories,.
 Let us not destroy the soul.
Let us all preserve the glory of the places we reside in and the places we visit.