From inside a dust-bin

When a man's job entails sitting inside a dust-bin, using his bare hands to dig out piles of filth, how should one react to that sight? I know about rag-pickers of Narela and of people who carry night-soil on their head. Even though this seems ‘much less’ humiliating but still, it seems humiliating enough.

I crossed this man (photograph below) in JNU while going to Godavari bus stop. Couldn't resist speaking with him. He says he empties about 10-15 dust-bins daily as that is his livelihood. I did ask his name but cannot recollect it.

The day Women's Reservation Bill got passed in Rajya Sabha

We started sloganeering and cheering soon after news of passage of WR Bill came, albeit through voice vote. Soon police come to contain our joy, but our hearts continued celebrating.

At AIDWA office, waiting for ladoos :)

 

Prof. Anuradha Chenoy (SIS, JNU) and Sudha Sundararaman (AIDWA) address students in Godavari mess on the night of passage of the Bill. But that's only half a battle won...

 

Hardnews story link

http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/2010/03/3489

(Thanks for your camera Becky! For more pix, click here.)

'Sweet Tooth' (Saket)- Ultimate Ice Cream Experience

The best thing that has happened to me in the last two days, besides passage of Women's Reservation Bill in  the Rajya Sabha, is discovering 'Sweet Tooth' at PVR Saket. First day we had 'Fried Ice Cream' and 'Sizzling Brownie' but sadly, I wasn't carrying my camera. But what I can show you now is what we ate the next day at the same shop :)

 

'Baked Alaska'

Chilli Ice Cream

Blue Berry Cheese Cake

Films by Subrat Kumar Sahu

I Sing, therefore I am!

The camera follows Pabitra Kumbhar, a blind artist, who moves from village to village, singing spiritual songs and playing his father's hand-made musical instrument. His wife says she fell in love with him (and his music) when he came singing to her doorstep many years back :). This film captures Kumbhar's struggle with a world that refuses to acknowledge him as a dignified artist. Film duration: 18 Minutes.

Damaged!

This film looks into the larger politics of development in context of the World Bank-sponsored Upper Indravati Hydropower Mega Project coming to Kalahandi, Orissa, displacing and pauperising adivasis and dalits, ironically, post 'development'. Film duration: 73 minutes.

(If you want to see the films, please contact subrat69@gmail.com or leave a message with me).

Dilli Darshan with Tomomi- Vipassana friend from Japan

In Febraury 2009, we had just completed a 10-day Vipassana camp at Sohna. Tomomi had few extra days in Delhi so we visited many places this city is famous for :)

Dilli Hart

At Rajdhani

Saravana Bhawan

Sarogini Nagar

At an ayurvedic treatment centre in south Delhi. My friend is a massage therapy expert in Japan. So the Indian method of oil treament as prescribed in Ayurveda was of special interest to her. She later visited Kerala as well.

Dilli darshan with Stephanie and Etienne from Meditation Research Centre, Rishikesh

Having fun at Lakshmi Narayan Mandir/Birla Mandir

Holi at Jhelum Lawns (JNU)

Holi hai!

Bhang and mood swings

'Lal salaam.' I have a gulal packet in my hand while my friend picked up a biscuit packet!

Making some point

Happy reunion :)

This is the last time we celebrated Holi together. Most of us will move away because of marriage or work. These fun-filled memories are so precious. Thank you friends for everything- all the hostel campaigns (and nights ;) we have done together, for all the addabazi, narebazi, hunger strikes and so on. Thank you for being part of my life in JNU. There are at least 40 more people I want to thank!

All the best for future. God bless!

 

(Special thanks to Becky for lending her camera :), for more pix, click here.)