atyukti

[atyukti]

Yin - Yang

Light in the dark.

Dark in the light.

#doodle #art #artproject

[atyukti]

Candle Maker

2018. One Vacation. A lot of time on the hands. And a lot of empty containers and loose wax in the house. 

BTS

#candle #candlemaking #homeprojects

[atyukti]

Happy Idiots.

Music makes everything better in the world. 2008/2009.

#art #artproject #music #canvas #painting

[atyukti]

Emotions.

All The Blues. 2008/2009.

#canvas #artproject #art #painting

[atyukti]

Wall Painting

Origami Bird. Hand painted on wall.

#art #artproject #painting #birds #origami

[atyukti]

Cups And Saucers

For the love of making things. There I found myself at a pottery class at The Slow Pottery Studio.

The output expected out of the workshop was cups and saucers, what I ended up with cup anatomy things and flat plates.

#pottery #makethings

[atyukti]

Blue City Or Sun City

Due to the heat, Jodhpur is referred to as the Sun City. But due to the houses in colour blue, which are one of the most prominent attractions of the city, it is also referred to as the Blue City. 

Now there are multiple theories as to why the houses are painted blue. Locals would say, it is to beat the heat, given the city is always hot!!! Some say, it is to keep the termites away. 

But, if you actually read into the history of the fort or at least what the historians of the fort say it to be, the walls were coloured blue of these houses by the brahmins, who had resided there. It was a way for them to differentiate themselves from others! We all know, casteism runs deep in the country and that's only because the vaishnavite system that was established, back in the past was done on the basis of the caste. While, the world has come so far ahead in time, it still comes to run us, because for generations we are brought up on that. Casteism once was not that. It was a way for allocating tasks and creating order to run the people once. 

#incredibleindia #bluecity #suncity #travel #themoustachetraveler #history

[atyukti]

Locals Of Jodhpur

Jodhpur. 2019. 

#incredibleindia #themoustachetraveler #travel #jodhpur #people

[atyukti]

Urban Regeneration

Jodhpur. 2015. 

I was visiting Jodhpur and during that time, we(me and couple of my friends) decided to stay at one of the haveli’s in the old city around the fort. You know one of those things. So, while, we were staying there inside the haveli it was all beautiful and pretty, but as soon as you stepped out, one saw nothing but the dirty and crowded streets. It sent a cringe at the same time, when you are raised in India, you kind of learn to tolerate the garbage on the streets. It is one of those things, you can take an action but the community at large doesn't really care. 

So, as we discussed this and roamed around in the car, like the privileged individuals that we were/are! None of us did anything about it. And then few months later, in Delhi while taking my morning cup of coffee, I come across a news item announcing the JDH - Jodhpur Urban Regeneration Project. And it is being spearheaded by none other that one of my hero’s. There I was dumbstruck. Wondering why do I think of things and where do I really fail in actioning these thoughts? Why am I not part of this team? But, when you can’t be the participant, you can at least contribute to it either by admiration or money. 

So, when I was in Jodhpur in 2019, I made a point that I visited the old city once again and saw what really happened while over years, I kept myself updated through instagram and internet in general. To my surprise, when I was there, as I walked, all the things that I might have cribbed about to my friends stood there corrected. 

1. No entry for vehicles. The lanes are narrow and vehicles just mess it up further - not only for the vehicle owners or businesses but as well the residents. 

2. Not a complete cold. No vehicles were permitted but electric autos were introduced which didn’t require for people to change their behaviours entirely overnight, but rather, replaced something with something better for everyone and the environment. 

3. Clean streets and garbage cans. The same street that had litter everywhere, was squeaky clean. And finally, garbage cans were introduced. 

4. Make it look pretty. Before the project, the places were independently run by the owners that were around. Now, here is something interesting, we Indians don’t like garbage in our surroundings is a myth, We Indians, don’t like garbage in our homes. But we are okay the moment it is outside the door. Now, if the outside is made to look pretty and restored / redesigned with the addition of  bringing businesses that are more organised than the traditional artists, the space is bound to look pretty. Now, once the spaces are cleaned and regularly maintained, people are not that easily going to mess it up again. They are going to think twice. 

5. The Stepwell Square. One of these days, when I upload the old trips picture. incase if I have the picture of the previous Stepwell, you can clearly see how dirty it was. It had dogs peeing and pooping right there. People throwing plastic cans to what not into the well. Basically not much of a Stepwell as much as Stinkwell. Cut to in 2019. The same well. Restored. Shinning. And people swimming in the well!!! I have not captured people swimming but do take a look at the well shinning and cleaned up!

While, I am all praises for the team that have literally done what was only thinkable but undoable, there is a little dissatisfaction too! Don’t mind me. I admire their work more than anybody on this earth would. But, what this entire project seemed to lack was supporting the local crafts people and giving them a new - age platform. It does do a good job of bringing brands that are supporting Indian traditions or values but what about the people who are retaining these on their own independently. Are they supposed to be reduced to hired helps now? Or is the team planning to support them in a slightly better way which the time would reveal. I hope so. I hope they come up with a collective platform that could support the local talent hidden and preserved in the lanes of old city. 

#themoustachetraveler #travel #incredibleindia #jodhpur #urbanregeneration

[atyukti]

Mehrangarh Fort

2019. Jodhpur. The second time I was in this city. This time not for roaming and living around Jodhpur but rather for a research. A research honestly I was looking forward to catch a break from bangalore while doing work still. We all need our own time off. :)

Since I had time at the end of the research schedule, I decided to switch my phone off in order to get away from everyone on this planet and immerse in its history and also, send a little reminder to myself of my own life’s history. Switching off phone is necessary when you have given access to individuals who are emotionally unstable and don't understand the idea of space in life despite it being communicated to them. Anyhow....here a sneak peak into a bit of history and all goodness...

#themoustachetraveler #travel #worktravel #rajasthan #incredibleindia

[atyukti]

Secret Nooks Around Gurgaon

Damdama Lake. 2014.

 A trip with no cash. This was a fun one. One winter weekend afternoon, three friends decided to get up, get inside one of the friends car and left for a nearby lake. The lake had nothing to offer but quiet. Around the lake was a cafe run by the haryana tourism department that accepted only cash. So used to the world of phone wallets and plastic money, the three friends carried no cash. So there they were, looking for change in their wallets, bags, and the car to arrive at the amount. Or else, with no ATM around the neighbourhood, they were likely to wash the dishes that day there. 

#themoustachetraveler #travel #incredibleindia #roadtrip

[atyukti]

Guilt

"One day guilt will kill you!" he said.

"What guilt?" she asked.

"Guilt of being selfish." he said and fell asleep turning towards his side of the bed.

#failedpoetess #convoluted #halflove

[atyukti]

Wise. Weak. Wreck.

The night was dark

The breeze was just about right

There she was

And

There was he.

Time had passed

To say a few years

A lot had changed,

But in their lives.

Maybe not so much between them.

Today when she looked at him

As she walked upto him

To give that one hug

And then walk beside him, behind him,

She knew

She cared for him.

But did he care for her?

The question lingered as they walked.

But was it the body or the heart that wanted something more?

What was that something more?

A touch?

A caress?

Or just to be held by him for a few seconds more?

Unfortunately,

the rules dictated a different story.

The night was to have

Minimal Hugs.

Minimal Eye Contact.

Minimal Smiles.

Minimal Touch.

Amongst those rules what was the heart to do?

That too when you have a heart as untameable as her hair.

The wildness in her wanted to narrate a different story.

But here she was,

Pouring her heart out with an innocence of a child.

For now she knew

Maybe she had a lending ear

Or

Maybe she did not, after all.

But among many,

he should be the one to really know

For what is truly inside.

The Secrets.

The Horrors.

The Loss.

The Gains.

The Fears.

The LOVE.

As she poured her heart and soul to him,

A thought struck her mind:

If she is not who she was

Is he what he was?

Then began the questions.

And their standard answers.

But by now she was wise.

So was he.

She knew a human mind can make lie play truth.

But a human reflex hardly can.

Did her job teach her that?

Or did life?

That's a debate she pushed aside

For another time.

Here, now, they were.

With no one else in their lives.

Finally

The moment was here.

The glasses of two oceans in front of them,

While they

Could hardly control at least one ocean

on table that night.

While the breeze passed through her hair.

As he put a strand behind her ear.

There for a moment

everything came to a standstill.

There was no polaroid.

No phone.

No DSLR.

No eyes.

But just the scalp of her head and his touch.

But here she was

Wiser after years.

Then again there

he was....

Longingness didn't  kick in

But will did.

Has anyone ever won from will?

So how could she?

She bounced forward

As leaning was not the option in the moment.

And landed a peck on

his smoke infused lips.

By now it was clear,

the heart wanted him to know

Whether he cared or not cared

6 years and men and women later,

the person sitting

on her side is all that

MATTERED.

The night had to move forward.

As time has never been a slave

So what was tonight?

But at least time brought them

Together tonight.

Only to seperate them at the court

Where he had to leave.

So did she.

But the time left them with

The humming of their soul.

The crisp touch of each other.

The confusion yet the delight of vanilla, topped with blueberry in the mouth.

A new morning.

A new day.

She was in a crowd.

He was in a crowd.

They met again but this time in a crowd.

As the after taste from the previous night still lingered,

It required a lot to be put at stake tonight.

The safe choice was to not meet each others eyes.

But,

Can one ever really avoid familiarity?

Can one ever really escape the fragrance of self?

As the night progressed

The intoxication did too.

The eyes stayed far.

But they did speak too.

Maybe it was the music.

Maybe it was the silence.

Maybe it was just the presence that made them talk once again.

The night came to an end.

And the other day began.

They met again.

On her way to him.

Was she weak?

Was he weak?

Or

Were they both weak?

She wondered.

This is where I draw your attention to:

The rules dictated a different story.

They didn't require them to take time.

They didn't require them to make time either.

But here they both were,

Selfishness didn't matter.

Neither did longingness.

Accommodating each other in their lives today.

Only one thing to wonder

Was the love they once felt years ago weaker?

OR

Is the love that they feel today a weaker one?

Or is it a pre - meditated game life was playing with them?

Unsure.

In the flow.

Another morning welcomed itself.

She was there.

He was there.

They were there.

Once again, they did welcome the morning together.

As you must have already guessed -

That was not the only morning they welcomed together.

But was the one they did after a really long time.

But was this morning going to have a follow up?

It did.

And it followed with another morning.

But every morning,

She had only one need:

The smoke stinking lips of hers

Be the black coffee in his cup.

By this morning

There was no strength

There was no weakness

There was the balance or the quiet.

The one that nature experiences every time

Before the storm hits it with a tragedy.

Tragedy was not too far here either.

This dance of balance was only

TIMEBOUND.

She knew.

He knew.

But did they know?

Life for both of them had to once

again catch it's rhythm.

Which only meant one thing

WRECK.

She knew.

Did he?

But that is a mystery

Maybe both their minds will have an answer to it.

Maybe she will know how to be with it.

Maybe he will know how to be with it too.

Maybe because now it was not just the weak & wreck having a foreplay.

It was now the time for

WISE. WEAK. WRECK.

#failedpoetess #love

[atyukti]

Dirt

She didn't like dirt.

She was never taught to embrace it either.

Forget liking it.

But the time had come.

Time for her to fly out of the nest.

Time for her to step into the world of pigs.

But, how could she be a survivor in this world if she didn't learn what living with dirt was like?

Being daddy's little girl was not the solution.

So she decided to let go, let go of the safety suit that came with a surname.

She decided to step into the world of pigs.

Walk into the world of pigs, like they did.

And made up her mind that she would let go of her fear of loose ends instilled deep in her conscious since childhood.

The time passed.

She learnt to embrace the pigs.

Some walked in. Some walked out.

A few wanted. A few unwanted.

But they were all a mere result of the choices she made.

Sometimes rational. Sometimes irrational.

But certainly maintaining the balance of ground beneath her feet as she walked forward covered in the dirt.

She continued walking till it was time for her to step away from it.

Wash it.

But only if the dirt of life could be washed away as easily as the mud from the gardening hour in kitchen garden with mom on every sunday morning.

And that's when she knew and understoodwhy her father always told her this since she was a child, "Sweetheart, dirt will only be appealing for sometime."

#poetry #failedpoetess

[atyukti]

Overcoming The Fear

2019. Aqua Outback. Tuticorin. 

The property is almost at the edge of the country, being run and operated independently by the owners of the this acres worth property. If you were to check out the pictures of the property, you would not believe that this exists in India. Suppose that is the end result of the exclusivity maintained by the people running it. 

More so, the property doesn’t disappoint you. It meets the expectations that it sets up for you. Highly pocket friendly and good for disconnecting from the world by connecting you with nature through the sea, simplicity of food, the salt flats in the neighbourhood, the rainforest - just around the corner and the silence of filled with the noises of birds and their encounters. 

And I suppose I recommend this to anyone and everyone, who might fear the water, to visit this place and fight it and come out strong.  

#incredibleindia #themoustachetraveler #travel #tuticorin #aquaoutback

[atyukti]

Fruits. Flora. Fauna.

Kashmir is home to orchards, the numerous trees of chinar, and flowers, with colour combinations and bloom, hard to come by in the cities. 

#incredibleindia #travel #themoustachetraveler #nature #kashmir

[atyukti]

Floating By.

2013. Kashmir. Dal Lake. 

Srinagar is incomplete, if you do not stay at the house boats, towards the end of the dal, near the mountains and pull out your yoga mat in the morning and then do yoga in the middle of the water, looking at the mountains. 

Or just spend an evening or many mornings, doing nothing but carrying the fruits and tea of your breakfast on a shikara and just floating by and taking the life around in. 

      “Kashmira di vaadiyaan, Kashmiran di bahara.”

#incredibleindia #travel #themoustachetraveler #kashmir #heavenonearth