Picture: Shri Krishn and Radha by Unknown Artist

 

I found above picture randomly on the internet. This picture of Shri Krishna and Radha is so nice and the artist must be so good. But, apart from loving this picture big time, I could not stop myself from noticing the similarity in the faces of these two!

During the recently undergoing IPL Cricket tournament, I heard someone saying that MS Dhoni does not have a large number of ‘shots’ in his arsenal like some other veteran batsmen. I think the idea is that if we watch any player play multiple times, after a while we can notice his style of playing and shot selection and can even make a list. Understood. After looking at above picture, I could see a parallel. How many “different” faces of kids can an artist draw? It seems as if the artist first drew Krishna and then when he/she started drawing Radha, she started looking “same to same”; and hence the artist stretched the cheeks and now it seems she is holding “rasgullas” in her cheeks, like kids do.

I had also read somewhere that giving right size to fingers in portraits is often a challenge to artists; and here too I think his right hand fingers are slightly longer than the left?  

In this picture, their smiles, the way they are sitting, the way Radha is a little bent towards Krishna is so adorable. Or the way Krishna’s belly is a bit bulged, like it happens in kids. Or the way Radha and Krishna both appear to be “looking at” the “photographer” (viewer) is so adorable too.

I am sure every time we see this picture, we can smile and feel their love which is an expression of divinity.  The artist has become immortal with this picture. Hats off and lot of respect to the anonymous painter.

- Rahul  

Picture: A Different Butterfly

 

(C) Rahul 

Maalik!: Conclusion

 

Last year, I wrote about a small kid whom I came across in our village and I was touched by the way he greeted me with so much respect. After that, I came across him 2-3 more times and now I have finally found the secret behind the kid!

A few months ago, the kid came visiting our home again and he brought two of his other friends with him. All were so small; and kids of this age always secretly remind me of my son. So, he was showing “me” to his friend and telling him something while looking at me. As soon as I caught their eye, they would try to run away. I could not understand what was happening and why they were so curious about me. So, the mystery which started last year, continued.

For once, I flattered myself with the imagination that perhaps he was baby Bhagwan Krishna checking up on me!

Next time again, he came with two of his friends. This time, my father saw then wandering around our home and asked what they wanted. He replied that they had come just to greet us! Well, that seemed to be their “formula” and it was again so sweet.

Next time, the mystery was finally solved. This time, I was sitting at our verandah alone and I saw the same kid slowly walking up to me. He came near the door and said something. I asked him what it was about; he answered again and I still could not understand him. So, I went near him and asked again. “Chocolate”, he said. So, for all these days, he wanted chocolates from me?! I asked him to wait, went inside our home and brought few pieces of Cadbury Gems and gave those to him. He collected all pieces in his hand and I noticed that he had such tiny hands!

One of my uncles saw this episode and asked what was happening and I told him that it was some random village kid asking for chocolate, so I have just given him some.

He came back after a week or so, in a hot summer afternoon. He again caught me sitting in the verandah; and asked me the same as last time and I brought remaining pieces of Gems again for him which he collected in his tiny hand. He went away quickly after getting it.

So, how did I feel? On one hand, I was a bit disappointed that he was just “using me” to get chocolates. But given the sweet little boy he was, I did not mind being used like that. On the other hand, again there was a bit of disappointment that he was not baby Krishna after all! That I can’t be sure about, since all kids are godly. Just like we can’t have real two-way conversation with God and all we can do is to feel and hope, we can also not have a real conversation with small kids and all we can do is to feel the bundle of love and affection they are made of and reciprocate. I also wondered if he would keep coming back to look for me even after I am gone and would be disappointed at not finding me.  

Thus concludes a mysterious encounter with a curious little angel boy.  

- Rahul Tiwary