At The Edge

When the colorful Holi
Came sailing with a sweet
Rapturous motion; when it threw
Away the veil from its face
And put forth before the eye
The splendor of her face
All shimmering with bright ornaments;
Then merrily
She set  her foot
And the anklets showered a spray
Of sweet and charming music
From her eyes flashed
A succession of coquettish winks
And some passionate sighs
Vibrated in her breast.

- Nazir Akbarabadi
Translation Rafiq Zakaria

Bo!

The image comes with every book from Sahitya Akademi and always has the note:
The sculpture reproduced on the endpaper depicts a scene where three soothsayers are interpreting to King Suddhodana the dream of Queen Maya, mother of Lord Buddha. Below them is seated a scribe recording the interpretation. This is perhaps the earliest available pictorial record of the art of writing in India.

From Nagarjunakonda, 2nd Century A.D.
Courtesy: National Museum, New Delhi.

The line about 'Foreign Traveling in disturb' and 'Jadu-Tona relief from Satutan Cheating' almost made me reach out for the phone. And who gives 101% performance guarantee these days. Jai Baba!

Moved into this room, looked around, and in a corner found this old color TV. BPL. Solid IC. 12 Channel. Modified to 200 channel.

Year 1989. This was the first colour TV that I ever saw. It was the pride procession of an Uncle. Every Sunday, I will go over to my cousin's place to watch Ramayan followed by He-Man; all in color on a Tv of this very model. Ah, the Sunday's spent screaming 'I have the power' while holding a stick.