Well it’s about time I wrote another blog! The novelty certainly wore off and life simply gets busy. It’s not that I don’t write. I just don’t get round to reappropriating it for here.
With my language helper and her son
Several weeks ago my friend and I travelled to Rajasthan, Agra and Delhi. This was a great time to explore other parts of India - so many new colours, designs, experiences and people – things that tickle the eyes of a designer. Several highlights stand out to me as memorable. The first day we hopped off the plane, found a bus and headed out of Jaipur city to an organic farm resort. We walked a couple of kilometres to get there and it was absolute bliss. After being in cities so long it was wonderful to enjoy blue sky, green grass, beautiful trees, stillness and quiet. I was refreshed. And then I bumped into a lady and we struck up a conversation. She had limited English and she invited us into her home. It wasn’t long before she offered chai. Sure enough she starts milking her nearby buffalos and begins preparing the milky sweet tea in front of us. It was quite surreal drinking cha with milk that couldn’t be any fresher. She then showed us her sketchbook and managed to convince me to draw a picture for her. So I chose her buffalo, which resulted in several giggles from her family.
A Rajasthani man and a boy on the walk to the farm
Lovely trees and grass!
The Rajasthani woman I bumped into
Sarah added a few birds to my buffalo
Another highlight was predictably the Taj Mahal. We saw several buildings – palaces, mosques, forts and so on. And The Taj Mahal stood out in its white dreamlike beauty. Despite it’s obviousness - I’m glad it was my favourite because it was the whole reason we chose to spend two nights in Agra.
The Taj Mahal and Humayun's Tomb in Delhi
Back in Kolkata we recently had Freeset’s annual picnic where the whole Freeset family fill up 4 buses and head off to a distant location for a day of just hanging out with each other. It was a great day to simply be together with the women in a context that was different to work. So many beautiful sari’s and of course they all wondered where mine was. They get into one in about 2 mins but I have attempted and it took a good 40 minutes and about 6 attempts!
Wearing sari's during a recent holiday
There is one lady at Freeset I love to sit with from time to time. She is deaf and mute yet I remember the first time it somehow put me at ease because my lack of Bengali language ability no longer mattered. It is simply smiles and gestures and expressions that are used to show care. Even with those that can hear these soundless symbols of love can be powerful.
Not long ago I was with a couple of friends walking down the street. A woman whose home was a mere awning made a gesture to signify she wanted food. This isn’t at all uncommon but one friend decided this time she would get some food. Perhaps the woman’s hope in our kindness disintegrated as we walked off to find the nearest shop. Perhaps we would just wander on and continue our day, forgetting her empty stomach and the pain of her suffering. Too often we do. But the look on her face when we returned and handed her food was priceless. It remains imprinted on my mind. She was genuinely grateful and moved to tears. It also moved us. Many times we encounter the poor asking for money or food but we can’t possibly give handouts to all. And yet with a little discernment, a mere 10 rupees can touch the desperate heart – one hungry for not only food, but love and compassion. Sometimes the simplest things can have the greatest impact.
