Legacy made new!!

It was quite an exhilarating day for visit to the New Parliament House with our friends last week. A truly memorable and educational tour.

On the occasion of 75th year of Independence, Modiji unveiled the new building.  Designed and constructed by Indians, it indeed is an architectural marvel encapsulating the culture, pride, and spirit of the entire nation and looks forward to fulfilling the longstanding need of Indian democracy to have more spacious parliament.

The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha chambers boast a digitised voting system, well-engineered acoustics, and state-of-the-art audiovisual systems. The Lok Sabha hall’s interior, inspired by India's national bird, the peacock, and the Rajya Sabha hall, representing the lotus, India's national flower, embody the rich symbolism of the nation. It also seamlessly integrates diversity of modern India - the Sangeet Gallery and the Shilp Gallery showcases distinct music, architecture and handicraft traditions of different states.

He also inaugurated and placed ‘Sengol’, a golden sceptre near the Speaker’s seat in the new Lok Sabha hall. It is known to be crafted by Vummidi Bangaru Chetty, a famous jeweller in Madras with Nandi, at the top as the beholder of “Nyaya".

The Sengol is derived from the Tamil word "Semmai" which means "Righteousness" and was carried by emperors during ceremonial occasions to represent their authority in Chola empire from the 9th to 13th century. It was a tradition to hand over from one king to another as a mark of succession and legitimacy. The same ritual was adopted at the time of Independence to symbolise transfer of power from British.

The Sengol was presented to PM Nehru by Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam (a 500-year-old Saivaite monastery) on August 14, 1947 which was kept it at his residence in Delhi for some time before donating it to Anand Bhavan Museum in Allahabad (Prayagraj) until the government decided to revive this historical event in the new Parliament building.

The existing Parliament on the other hand , a Heritage building, built in 1927, embodies excellence in architectural style designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker during British colonial rule. 

However, the building's age and limited infrastructure no longer meet the current requirements in terms of space, amenities, and technology and was never designed to accommodate a bicameral legislature for a fully-fledged democracy. So, the time's tide demands a new temple of democracy. 

Lots of things changed since a century ago-  communication structures and safety benchmarks, topographical considerations, prioritizing divyang individuals  and lifestyle conveniences.

And so with the torch of progress shining bright, we decided to adieu to the venerable old Parliament building, a witness to India's tumultuous past and hard-won freedom. However, when i entered this old structure, I could feel the weight of history, the echoes of impassioned debates, and the whispers of late-night negotiations that shaped our nation's destiny. The walls, worn by time, seemed to yearn to break free from their stoic silence, to share the tales of the giants who once walked those hallowed halls.

It reminded me of how India's story would have been woven into every stone, every crevice, and every worn step. The small hall, once the epicenter of power and decision-making, seemed to hold its breath while we found it so easy to move on, to leave behind the nostalgia and the legacy on the pretext of thee pace of modern life. Did not seem fair.

A sight of relief was the brass ceiling in the heart of the new building, that shone like a celestial canvas, capturing the essence of the sky of a momentous day – January 26, 1950- the day our constitution came into being. Below this was a majestic pendulum swinging like a time keepers Waltz, a symphony of time and tradition. Seemed like it whispered secrets to the past, present, and future, bridging eras with every rhythimic swing. It took more than 24 hours to complete a circle. While it rotated, it defied the constraints of time hinting that progress is a dance between heritage and innovation. May be! 

As the sands of time slip through the hourglass, the question lingers: Can we hold on to the essence of our heritage while embracing tomorrow's dawn? Isnt it true that in our haste, do we risk losing the fragrance of our roots in pursuit of progress? Only time will tell.

Unrolling the Thangka

 

PC- Ananya & Suhaani

The great escape! We ditched Mcleodganj's chaos for Kandbari's chill vibes and landed at Dr. Sarika's place –stumbling upon a treasure trove of Thangka art I would say! Upasna from Wah Lodge played the matchmaker, introducing us to this hidden gem. Now, we were trading mobile phones for paintbrushes and soaking up the serene vibes.This museum was a window to the 2,300 years old journey of the tradition of Buddhist paintings and the evolution of art through ages and geographies.

Dr Sarika honed her skills at Norbulingka Institute in Dharamshala and created the Museum with 45 Masterpiece Paintings depicting this journey of Buddhist Paintings after a deep research of the Ancient Styles of Ajanta Caves, Tabo and Alchi Monastery.


At the workshop sitting amidst mountains, we discovered the ancient art of painting on handmade cloth with mineral colours and learnt the timeless techniques. For the first time I used the divider – a simple tool that revealed the precision of perfection, while I drew the serene face of Buddha, circle by gentle circle. In that meditative moment, I was with the divine,  but ofcourse with my paint stained fingers.

However, what got my attention was the Thangka of Dharamsala Tara announcing the Arrival of this art to the Indian Soil. The painting depicting story of Tara's return appeared like of mystique and longing.

I was so enamoured with the thought how, lost to the sands of time, it found its way back to home, though with a new Tibetan name " Thangka" which literally means "thing that one unrolls". Teachings of Gautam Buddha, unrolled through Dalai Lama rekindling a connection that transcended borders, seeking to reclaim its cultural legacy. Talk about packing light, I hear that all that Dalai lama carried on his shoulders while seeking asssylum in India was a thangka of Palden Lhamo. By carrying this sacred artwork, may be he was also seeking guidance and blessings on his own spiritual journey, I wondered.

Hmmm..believe it or not I was compelled to ponder. Life's a wild goose chase, isn't it? We're running, striving, pushing – trying to reach that elusive 'somewhere.' But in the chaos, do we forget the cosmic GPS that's always on? Are we over-riding the divine's navigation system with our own flawed maps? The Bhagavad Gita whispers secrets of surrender, of being grounded in faith, and trusting the universe's blueprint. Maybe it's time to pause, and let the divine take the wheel. After all, who needs Google Maps when you have karma's guiding light?"

Dents in History!

   

PC- Ananya Saraogi 

As we wandered to McLeodganj, while visiting the “Siddh Peeths” of Himachal, we happened to stay at Pragpur's hidden gem - a declared heritage since 1997. This enchanting manor, once Justice Sir Jai Lal's private retreat, now a heritage hotel, whispers tales of the past. Built between 1914, its Indo-European architecture mesmerizes, with red brick detailing adorning yellow structures.

We had a long tiring day after exploring Plaksha University at Chandigarh in our drive to find just the right college for Ananya (not that we were successful.Lolz); here at Paragpur, we were welcomed by tan mud walls adorned with blue doors into a residency with vintage portraits by the fireplace of the family. 

Early in the morning, strolling through the quaint rustic ambience, time was like still. A majestic mango tree, gifted by the Maharaja of Benaras, blooming majestically; jackfruits gently grasping the tree’s bark, jungle babbler’s morning concert arguing with the sun’s warmth and how the black and white bird posed like surrendering its every profile to my lens. 

The floral whispers on chairs and table ware with soothing sound of acoustic piano that Suhaani took the liberty to indulge into blended together to create an irresistibly charming symphony in the dining room. Fresh lychees tantalized the taste buds at breakfast, while authentic Himachali dal makhani delighted the senses.

Under the camphor tree's gentle shade, wind chimes serenaded, as Ananya captured the moment's essence in her art book, while Gagan explored ancient valleys on the map, Suhaani focussed on capturing every detail in her DSLR frame, and Pallavi weaved a soothing melody, I sat down here bottling it up in a few words. As we all basked in, the fast-paced din faded away.

As I was checking out, I noticed a brass tag on the wooden fireplace in my room that read "Handcrafted in 1917," with a dent on the wooden piece. The scar added character to the vintage corner like it was deliberately preserved as a testament to history. Loved it. Is it not a reminder that imperfections are a part of our authentic selves; that life’s imperfections are brushstrokes that paint our canvas. And not all dents need to be mended, for in their depths, we find the wisdom of experience, courage of resilience and without them we would only be fragile, untampered steel. Instead, we are our own kind of master pieces stronger and wiser now.