During a visit to the ‘Gurdwara Gali’ in Abbottabad (Pakistan), at a toy shop, peering at the decrepit Gurmukhi panel above the gate, I could read ‘Gurdwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha’. In that moment of intense gaze, I imagined my maternal grandparents visiting this site for their spiritual fulfilment....
Two men, sleeping in front of the sleeping Buddha. Two merchants, sitting in front of the sitting Buddha. Two monks, praying in front of the praying Buddha. Unknowingly, in thought and action, we end up emulating our role models. At the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon (Myanmar), I turned...
Multitude of forms, yet no form. This simple philosophy holds the key to all inclusiveness. It has the power to make one focus on living a value based lifestyle, moving away from the un-thoughtful practice of anchoring on physical phenomena as the gateway to self-realization. It was in...
“THE QUEST CONTINUES: LOST HERITAGE The Sikh Legacy in Pakistan”, the sequel book explores Sikh legacy in 90 cities & villages across Sindh, Balochistan, West Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan Administered Kashmir. It’s inception started from a field research in Jan-Feb 2017 and by the time it is delivered by...
During a photo shoot, where my focus was to bring out the intensity of her watchful eyes, I also had an opportunity to delve deeper into philosophy of Creation and Creators act of observing Himself through mortals eyes. Ponder over the statement “I am a liar” – If I...
Descending from 19,000 feet to 12,000 feet, over a length of 70 km, Siachen glacier (“land of wild roses”) is the worlds highest battleground since the year 1984. India controls its entire glacial length, adjoining peaks and the three passes, which are the gateway between Karakoram and Ladakh. On...
In this world that is boxed in the path of replicating the actions of the masses, to look elsewhere is generally perceived as being ‘absurd’. However, it is in this absurdity of approaching a situation from an alternate angle where lies the essence of creativity! In the caldera of...
“Capture these moments”, exclaimed my wife, as we moved through Suru Valley in our journey towards Padum. I could sense the moment of disappointment when I chose not to pick the camera. I had a vision to showcase the beauty of Suru, not directly but through reflections in the still...
So often we come across people who seem to be living a life of ‘nothing’. Observing them, I have often wondered, if they are the victims of destiny or circumstances? Is their existence reeling under the drama of ’cause and effect’, the law of karma – ‘As one sows, so...
Not all who wander are lost! Hundreds of human skeletons, some with frozen flesh attached to them, can still be found around Roopkund (16,500 feet), a remote glacial lake in the lap of Trishul massif in Himalayas. The presence of these skeletons was first discovered in 1942 by the Himalayan...