Archive for March, 2012

Twisted Philanthropy of the Maharaja of Jodhpur.

Twisted Philanthropy of the Maharaja of Jodhpur.

It is touted that the Umaid Bhawan Palace was built as a drought relief measure by Maharaja of Jodhpur Umaid Singh. The idea was to make a luxurious private residence for the Maharaha in order to create employment for the starving people of Jodhpur. I find it ironic. Imagine a man thinking of making a 347 room luxurious villa for himself out of the misery of the people is he supposed to serve. Surprisingly the Maharaja is glorified till this day as a philanthropist for his `noble gesture’. The moment you enter the Umaid Bhawan a large plaque informs you about this `generosity’.


Valley of Sports- Solang Valley, Manali

Valley of Sports- Solang Valley, Manali

I am neither a honeymooner nor here for the snow. I am one of the other sort of tourist in Manali that maybe my taxi driver has not yet taken stock of. The snow game aficionados. And we are all here for the winter adventures offered at the Solang Valley. Winter games is a regular feature at this beautiful valley some 13 kms from Manali town but it has never been so big an affair to keep the tourists industry in Manali happy. But from this year onwards it promises to only grown bigger with a plethora of snow adventures happening all at one place.


Forty and Done Aging Sex-Workers, India

Forty and Done Aging Sex-Workers, India

I visited the kothas several times over the years and realized that the moment the sex-workers cross forty they are virtually done for. The clients don’t come to them, their families don’t want them and even the media doesn’t care for their sound bytes anymore. In the red-light districts of India the elderly are relegated to the lowest hierarchy. With no livelihood they are expected to clean, wash and run errands for the younger women in the kothas if they want food and shelter. Most of them suffer from many venereal diseases but they have hardly any money for treatment or medicines.