MAYANK IS 19

Today – Feb 27 is my nephew Mayank ‘s 19 th birthday.

A few days ago , on 10 th Feb

was my sister’s birthday.

And Ten days before that was the marriage anniversary of my late parents – Jan 30 ( 1967)- Benares.

WHO WILL TAKE ME TO THE ZOO

( 2008- November)

In recent books on logic, distinction is made between two orders of inquiry concerning anything. First, what is the nature of it? how did it come about? what is its constitution, origin, and history? And second, What is its importance, meaning, or significance, now that it is once here?

William James – Philosopher

Writing letters, notes on trips and family

gatherings have been a tradition which my grandparents, parents passed on to me. The parks of Delhi have been our Thinking places for four generations- since 1930s .

We have spent some lovely hours sifting through the different trails, flower beds , and enclosures of parks like Lodhi, Humayun tomb, Qutub and Delhi zoo. When my passport was lost in 2008 November ( in a hurry to get down at Okhla rather than Nizamuddin- I left my bag with all documents in the train)

the only person not happy with the passport being found was little Mayank

⁃ then six years old.

Now you will be off to Tripoli,

who will take me to the zoo

Mayank- 2008- Nov – Delhi

SISTERHOOD

When we were studying in school- St Anne’s high school Pune camp, my sister’s school, we used to go to Parvati temple Pune – and visit the temples and the museums – the last repose of Nanasahib Peshwa.

The love of historical parks , museums was passed on to me by my father. His elder sister told me about my grandfather’s love for the garden tombs of Delhi.

Spinoza says: “I will analyze the actions and appetites of men as if it were a question of lines, of planes, and of solids.”

But the spiritual value of these walks -from the trips to Parvati temple Pune, early morning walks to Lullanagar or as we became teenagers- the hill temples in and around Shimla and Rishikesh regions

go beyond lines, planes, solids.