Himalaya Calling - Highway on my plates

Himalaya Calling - Highway on my Plates

और क्या एहद\-ए\-वफ़ा होते हैं।

... and what else is love my dear!


"और क्या एहद\-ए\-वफ़ा होते हैं
लोग मिलते हैं जुदा होते हैं

कब बिछड़ जाये हमसफ़र ही तो है
कब बदल जाये इक नज़र ही तो है
जान\-ओ\-दिल जिसपे फ़िदा होते हैं

और क्या एहद\-ए\-वफ़ा होते हैं ..."


"...and what else is love my dear,
when we meet and separate,
on the path we travelled,once,together.

we do not know when we go away,in love,
and our eyes are wet and vacant, yet far,from the journey we wished to had, together..."

White Desert Story - The Exile

Seeing these 3 monks walking through the vast stretch of White Desert, for the first time in years, i felt the deep sadness of exile, knowing that i was alone here, an outsider, and too alert to the ironies, the niceties, the manners, and indeed, the morals to be able to participate.

White Desert Story - The Nomads

White Desert Story - The Dusk

White Desert or Rann of Kaachch is heavenly when the sun is going down, throwing arrays of golden hues all over the landscape, making it a surreal and ethereal environment to the discerning eyes.

Rann Utsav gives an amazing opportunity to witness the glory of the vast expanse of the Whiteness of the Desert and specially during the evening when the sun goes down and the landscape becomes a heavenly sight with the moonlit kissing the white desert.

If you're planning to visit the Rann of Kaachch then the best time would be during the winters and specially during the Rann Utsav. Go for it and you will never like to come back from there.

The Tramways - The Colonial Heritage

The Calcutta tram is a tram system in Calcutta, India, run by the Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC). It is currently the only operating tram network in India and the oldest operating electric tram in Asia, running since 1902. A last remnant of the British Empire operating in India.

An attempt was made in 1873 to run a 2.4-mile (3.9 km) tramway service between Sealdah and Armenian Ghat Street on 24 February.The service was not adequately patronised, and was discontinued on 20 Nov.

In 1880, the Calcutta Tramway Co. Ltd was formed and registered in London on 22 December. Metre-gauge horse-drawn tram tracks were laid from Sealdah to Armenian Ghat via Bowbazar Street, Dalhousie Square and Strand Road. The route was inaugurated by the Viceroy, Lord Ripon, on 1 November.

Steam locomotives were deployed experimentally in 1882 to haul tram cars.By the end of the nineteenth century the company owned 166 tram cars, 1000 horses, seven steam locomotives and 19 miles of tram tracks. During 1900, Electrification of the tramway, and reconstruction of tracks to 4 ft 81⁄2 in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge) began to happen.

The first electric tramcar in Asia ran in 1902 from Esplanade to Kidderpore on 27 March, and on 14 June from Esplanade to Kalighat.The Kalighat line was extended during 1903 to Tollygunge, the Esplanade line to Belgachhia (via Bidhan Sarani, Shyambazar), and the Esplanade to Shialdaha route (via Binay Badal Dinesh Bag, Rajib Gandhi Sarani and [present] Mahatma Gandhi Road) opened.

Esplanade to Bagbazar route through College Street opened in 1904.During 1905, Howrah Station to Bandhaghat route was opened to trams in June. Electrification project completed.Bowbazar Junction to Binay Badal Dinesh Bag, Ahiritola Junction to Hatibagan Junction routes opened during 1906.

Lines to Shibpur via G.T. Road were prepared in 1908. Esplanade to Shialdaha station via Moula Ali Junction, Moula Ali Junction to Nonapukur, Wattganj Junction to J.Das Park Junction (via Alipur), Mominpur Junction to Behala routes opened. Sealdah Station to Rajabazar route opened during 1910.

Mirzapur Junction to Bowbazar Junction and Shialdaha Station to Lebutala Junction routes opened during 1915. In 1920 the Strand Road Junction to High Court route opened. S.C.Mallik Square Junction to Park Circus route (via Royd Street, Nonapukur) opened during 1923.The Barhabazar Junction to Nimtala route opened in 1925. During 1928, the Kalighat to Baliganj route opened.

The Park Circus line extended to Garhiahat Junction in 1930. The Rajabazar line extended to Galiff Street during 1941.The Calcutta system was well connected during 1943 with the Howrah section through the new Howrah Bridge in February.With this extension, the total track length reached 42.0 miles (67.59 km).

During 1951, the government of West Bengal entered into an agreement with the Calcutta Tramways Company, and the Calcutta Tramways Act of 1951 was enacted.

The government assumed all rights regarding the Tramways, and reserved the right to purchase the system (with two years' notice) on 1 January 1972 or any time thereafter. The Government of West Bengal passed the Calcutta Tramways Company (Taking Over of Management) Act and assumed management on 19 July 1967. On 8 November 1976 the Calcutta Tramways (Acquisition of Undertaking) ordinance was promulgated, under which the company (and its assets) united with the government.



Sarkhez Roza - The Faith Keeper!

"In the epiphany of a slightest light I could see his bending broom cleaning all the mirth that touched his house, where his God is resting.

I could see his body swaying in an unknown hymn sung of course in His God's praise. I could feel how his faint smile touching the lip of the fallen sun's rays and spreading across the floor like stars in the dark blue sky... 

I could smell the aroma of his words entering into my burning chest and washing the dusts lying hidden and cold. Is He the savior of mine epilepsy? 

I don't know many things. I will not know many more things. I will only remember how his faith was cleansing my arid dry skin and left me in an unhindered kindness towards me!"

He's the Faith Keeper!