Bakri Aur Bachcha

Poorer families in the village raise goats for income; and mainly children look after the goats. Kids take goats to the grazing ground, and we can often notice that some kids have their "favorite" goats to accompany them. 

Once I was on my motorcycle when I interrupted a procession of goats and kids on the road. There was a little boy of about 5, and whenever I see boys of this age, I remember my son. So, this small kid resembling my son was holding a rope tied to a goat's neck. The kid and its goat both were startled seeing me on my motorbike. The kid got scared and the rope slipped from his hand. The goat, now free, moved faster and hit another goat with its horn. Thankfully its horns were tiny, and the other goat did not return the gesture; and hence no untoward event happened. 

The kid must have got hold of the rope again and should have guided his favorite pet to the grazing-field. But the face of the scared kid dropping the rope because of me lingered in my mind for some time and, I was gutted in guilt... 

- Rahul 

Travelogue: Kanti Thermal Power Station, Muzaffarpur, Bihar

 

- Rahul 

Travelogue: Ganesh Puja Celebration in Bangalore

 

Travelogue: NIMHANS Bengaluru

NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences) is a medical institution in Bangalore, India. It is an Institute of National Importance governed by the act of Parliament titled NIMHANS Act, 2012. This institute is multidisciplinary institute for patient care, academic pursuit and cutting edge research in the field of mental health and neurosciences. The Central Government recognized its eminent academic position, growth and contributions, and declared it a ‘Deemed University’ in 1994. In 2012, NIMHANS was conferred the status of an ‘Institute of National Importance’.  

(C) Rahul

"Aapki Beti Ke Lie"

One of my nieces who is really small, is of the age when kids amaze us with saying interesting things. Recently, she was carrying several toffees and I asked her if I could take one and she allowed me to have one. While I started enjoying the small Parle toffee, she came to me and gave me one more toffee saying, "Aap ek toffee apni beti ke lie le lijiye (please take one for your daughter)". I was really surprised and asked her what she meant; and she repeated the same. I was slightly embarrassed but could not refuse too and hence I took one more toffee and kept it in my pocket. Then she again said, "aapki ek beti hai ya do?" (Have you got one daughter or two?) Once again shocked at what was happening, I said "ek" (one). Then she was satisfied and went away. It seemed she was going to offer me one more toffee had I got two daughters. 

I think she did not know if I got a daughter or not and offered me the toffee just based on a hunch feeling or because of some previous experience with someone else. It is not the only time she has been a genius.