BIRD BRAIN ?

With increasing urbanisation and the migration of people from the countryside to towns, building construction is an endless process in India.  Exclusive neighbourhoods are fast being transformed, as high-rise blocks of flats are going up and green areas are disappearing to make way for the tide of an increasingly dense population.

Monkeys, frequently seen in Alkapuri, have disappeared altogether, moving to the outskirts of the town.  The pigeon population, however, has adapted to urbanisation in the most remarkable way.  Not only do they use air conditioning units and balcony railings, as perches, in preference to anything botanical, but astonishingly, they have taken a cue from the building methods round and about and now construct their own reinforced nests !  Instead of twigs, these nests are carefully made out of thin pieces of malleable wire, which they bend round any existing vertical cable, between apartments, to provide a nest, which they line with a few sticks, for the sake of comfort !

Aesthetics is of no importance in avian urbanisation - these wire nests look a mess, but since wire conducts heat, presumably the incubation period for pigeon eggs is quicker ? !

DELUGE IN GUJARAT

MONSOON SKY - GUJARAT

JASMINE AND ROSES - GARLANDS FOR A GOD

TOMATO KETCHUP

When the British were in India, last century, they introduced tea and cricket to the Sub Continent.  A mandatory tea break was imposed on the factory workers' day and so the love of tea drinking in India was born and encouraged.  However, with their usual ingenuity, the Indians spiced up the tea with ginger and cardamom, producing their own version of chai, now brewed and drunk on every street corner, no matter what the time of day !

Similarly with cricket....those traditional, tranquil 5 day matches, have been spiced up for the IPL, with cheer leaders and razzamatazz and all the 'Bollywood' style 'beautiful people' and gossip, to create crowd pleasing entertainment.

But a seemingly forgotten influence of the British, has found its way onto every supermarket shelf in the country and that is.... 'tomato sauce'!  This is the most well stocked section of any grocery shop ! Rows and rows of bottles and varying types of packs of tomato sauce, are lined up with military precision with far more varieties on offer, than you'd find anywhere else in the world !   Running your eye over the display, starting with the Rolls Royce of tomato sauces, 'Heinz Tomato Ketchup', there's:  Tomato Ketchup without onion or garlic (religious preference), 'Fresh Tomato Ketchup', 'Tomato Sauce Regular', 'Tomato Sauce with Chili', 'Sweet Chili Tomato Sauce', 'Hot Tomato Sauce', 'Spicy Tomato Sauce'.  Then there's a choice of consistency - 'Runny', 'Squeezy' 'Thick' and....even 'Tomato Sauce for Pizza'  !!

GANESHA CHATURTHI - 9TH SEPTEMBER

I had quite forgotten - it was that time of year again.  The road was completely blocked off and the blaring music alerted us to the procession in front.  The traffic was re-routed to one lane.  A huge truck was bearing the statue of Lord Ganesha to his temporary home - a large stage, colourfully decorated with garlands and lights.  The littlest children sat on the back of the very same truck, dressed in their best clothes, their eyes bright with anticipation and excitement, preceded further up, by a group of gyrating, laughing and shrieking youths.

It was the 4th day of the waxing moon - Lord Ganesha's Birthday (he's the son of Shiva and Pavarti) and a favourite God, much loved by all.  Local societies all over town have paid for the mandapas, where the God will be housed for the next 10 - 12 days.  Hindus believe in the actual presence of the God himself, during this special time and since he is the remover of obstacles and bringer of prosperity, what's not to celebrate ?  Societies are very competitive, each vying for the biggest statue and the best shrine.  Even shops and hotels have a private space for a smaller statue of Ganesha, set on a plinth in an alcove, glowing with light, heat and colour, as a focal point,  in a strategic place,  inviting good fortune and good luck.

The statues are made of plaster of paris or plastic and brightly painted with artificial colours.  In the past they were made of mud and at the end of the festival they would be doused in the local pond, returning to where they came from, symbolising creation and dissolution.  But of course nowadays, the material used is insoluble and toxic, polluting local water supplies !  But the celebrations go on unabashed and will be followed by one festival after another, until the summer.

TRANSFORMATION - THE CHANGING FACE OF BARODA

THEN..........

AND... NOW -  ITS REPLACEMENT (ONE YEAR LATER).........!

TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

MONDRIAN INDIANUS !

The modern architectural movements of the early 20th century, found a ready market worldwide and particularly in India where Art Deco and De Stijl flourished.  Not so much the use of primary colours, but rather shades and tints to accentuate architectural features.  Due to the monsoon climate and enduring year round heat, small windows and balconies are set in cubic enclosures, painted in a cooler colour, to give the effect of shade, even if not actual !  Flat roofs are prevalent, providing space for water tanks and in the dry, cooler, winter months, a popular place to sleep.

Pilotis, introduced by Le Corbusier in the 1930s in France, have become de rigueur in all modern building in India, providing garaging space for multi story apartment blocks, as India becomes increasingly urbanised and a shady place for cows to stand during the heat of summer !

And as urban planning allows for more and more of these hastily erected apartment blocks to flourish, generally featureless in their cubic proportions, the old independent bungalows of the 'Art Deco' and 'De Stijl' generation, add a 'masala mix', which certainly adds interest and 'colour' to the neighbourhood  !