
Humans are the only species on the planet who rape though ironically we often call the rapists animals. No animal rapes. No animal has sexual perversions or depravities. It is, as with most things, a peculiar human trait.
Apr 25, 2013 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: need for sex, rapes, rapes in india, sex and human, sexual crimes, sexual depravities, sexual desire, sexual fantasies, sexual perversions, sexual pleasure, sexual pleasures, tantric sex | 19 Comments »

The liberals (so called ) suppress any thoughts or research that could brand them one of these terms : sexist, racist, communal and in the case of India castist. Liberals will do anything to be seen as liberals. Which paradoxically often leads them to voicing illiberal ideas.
Feb 17, 2013 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: documentary photographer india, female drivers india, freedom of expression india, gender difference india, indian photographers, Indian photojournalist, jew jokes, jews money making, khushwant singh rushdie, khushwant singh satanic verses, men and women, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, photojournalist india, photojournalist new delhi, political correctness india, politically incorrect india, salman rushdie's satanic verses, sardar jokes, sexist, top 10 photographers in India, top photographers in India, travel photographer in India, travel photographer india, travel photojournalist, v s naipaul sexist, women bad drivers | 11 Comments »

I believe, one of the main reasons why we don’t read in India is because historically in the East the exploration has always been within. If you want any answers you look within rather than without.
Jan 29, 2013 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: books in india, documentary photographer india, indian photographers, Indian photojournalist, indians reading, jaipur literary festival, jaipur literature festival, newspaper readers india, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, photojournalist india, photojournalist new delhi, reading in india, top 10 photographers in India, top photographers in India, travel photographer in India, travel photographer india, travel photojournalist, writers in india | 19 Comments »

The Kumbh Mela does no service to Hinduism. Rather it presents a very narrow, clichéd and archaic picture of this versatile religion. Thanks to events like the Kumbh, Hinduism has become a mere Brahaminical ritualistic mumbo jumbo. Hinduism of the Upanishads that expounds on existentialism, and a deep personal inquiry is virtually unknown to the Hindus or is completely lost to them.
Only a sustained public discourse on the subject can restore Hinduism to the heights of wisdom the great Upanishadic mystics had elevated it to. Otherwise Gurus like Assaram will continue to emerge from the woodwork and try and define it for us.
Jan 21, 2013 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: Asaram Bapu, ascetics india, documentary photographer india, hindu religious festival, hinduism, holy men india, indian photographers, kumbh mela allahabad, kumbh mela india, naga babas india, naga saadhus, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, photojournalist india, photojournalist new delhi, religious festival india, sri sri ravi shankar, travel photographer in India, travel photographer india | 31 Comments »

The main dome itself seems a bit out of place compared to the domes of other Mughal Mosoleums. The domb here is somewhat extended at the top giving it the ‘onion’ look. The dome and other places where marble is used has a rough patchwork look to it. Thats because most of the marble used in Safdarjung Tomb was marble plundered from other tombs-most notable the tomb in Nizamuddin of Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khana, Akbar’s protege,
Jan 20, 2013 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: documentary photographer india, indian monuments, indian photographers, monuments in delhi, mughal momuments, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, photojournalist india, photojournalist new delhi, safdarjung delhi, safdarjung's tomb, travel photographer in India, travel photographer india | 3 Comments »

Those who have read my articles or posts will know that I consider all religions absolute humbugs and a major bane of mankind. But it is possible even for non believers like me to appreciate the rare flashes of coexistence, harmony and respect some of the faithfuls have for one another. On assignments across India, [...]
Jan 16, 2013 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | 3 Comments »

It can get really exasperating to reply to people who mistake you for someone else. But reply I do. One cannot write enough how ill-mannered we Indians generally are. Not replying back is not only a lack of good manners but is also rude and smacks of arrogance.
And every crazy email I want to trash, I think of the 97 year old Khushwant Singh sitting on his desk replying to every silly letter he receives.
Dec 13, 2012 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: author khushwant singh, documentary photographer india, indian photographers, khushwant singh photographs, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, photojournalist india, photojournalist new delhi, travel photographer in India, travel photographer india, writers india | 47 Comments »

The fact is there is little to put the person who genuflects before a God in Heaven apart from the one who bows before a country. Both are worshipper of an abstract idea. In one case the idea is enforced by the priests and in the other its promulgated by the politicians.
Dec 03, 2012 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: atheist movement, atheists india, documentary photographer india, does god exist, existence of god, faith and disbelief, indian atheist, indian photographers, non-beleivers in india, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, photojournalist india, photojournalist new delhi, religion and india, spiritualism india, travel photographer in India, travel photographer india | 15 Comments »

Prayer as practiced by all organized religions of the world is a sort of begging. The believers worship a certain God, either out of fear or to fulfill their needs (material, emotional or spiritual). Shiva the Destroyer, is very much like the angry Old Testament God. He has to be kept happy, lest he wreck havoc on the world and our lives. Vishnu the Preserver has the power to fulfill our dreams. His various avatars from Krishna to Rama are worshipped by Hindu’s for a better salary, better grads in school, good husband, safe air journey etc.
But Brahma? What is the point of worshipping him? He is the creator and he has done his job. He has no power to either destroy our dreams or fulfill them. So why worship him? That’s why Brahma has been completely ignored by the Hindus.
Nov 24, 2012 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: brahma temple india, brahma temple pushkar, documentary photographer india, hindu religion, hindu temples, hinduism india, indian photographers, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, photojournalist india, photojournalist new delhi, temple photographs, temples in india, travel photographer in India, travel photographer india | 4 Comments »

The problem is that in India, exercise is seen as an unusual or as an elitist activity. Here film and sport-stars exercise not the regular Johnnies. If you workout, people comment, ‘’ Aree way! so you are a fitness freak?’’. For example an article about Robert Vadra is seldom written without mentioning his fitness-regime. Its as if he is doing something extraordinary. Magazines and papers love to use photos of him pumping iron in the gym. What is obviously unusual is people not exercising. Homo Sapiens were essentially hunters and gatherers. We trekked for days in search of food. We may have changed the world around us (read screwed up) but our bodies haven’t suddenly metamorphosed in the short span we have been on this planet.
Nov 10, 2012 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: cycling photos, delhi journalist, documentary photographer india, exercising photos, gyms in india, indian photographers, jogging photos, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, photographs working out, photojournalist india, photojournalist new delhi, pictures exercising india, sports in india, travel photographer in India, travel photographer india | 17 Comments »

Though the younger generation of orchardist are all well educated , deep rooted tradition beliefs prevail over commonsensical environmental awareness. They would rather slaughter a goat to the local Gods for good weather than plant trees in their depleting forests.
Sep 14, 2012 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: apple farming himachal, apple orchards, apple orchards jubbal, apple orchards kothkai, apple orchards photographs, apple trees, baghi village, deforestation apple farming, deforestation himachal, documentary photographer india, encroachments himachal pradesh, himachal pradesh, horticulturist himachal, indian photographers, kairi village, kairi village himachal, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, prosperous farmers india, ratnari village, rich farmers india, shimla district, travel photographer in India, travel photographer india | 7 Comments »

I feel no amount of building up of sports infrastructure can help us win medals. It will only be such a waste and such a shame for a country like ours where 77 percent of people live under the poverty line. Why not focus on ensuring our hungry masses two square meals a day before we urge them to hop, skip , jump and run?
Aug 27, 2012 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: cricket india, documentary photographer india, games, games india, genes and sports, indian photographers, indian sports, olympics india, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, playing, races and sports, sports north east india, travel photographer in India, travel photographer india | 24 Comments »

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’.
Mar 20, 2012 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: documentary photographer india, indian palace, indian photographers, jodhpur palace, maharaja of jodhpur, palaces of india, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, photographs rajasthan, rajasthan india, rajasthan photos, travel photographer in India, travel photographer india, umaid bhavan palace | 5 Comments »

In my grandfather’s time, ‘good old days’ were indeed the good old days. There were no rules for love and marriage and sex was free. You met a girl at the village fair and if she was willing, you could have a roll in the hay. If you wanted something more serious you brought her home as a bride . If you didn’t get along you simply broke off because divorce was not a stigma. Not even for women. My grandfather boasted of having married 13 times in this fashion and my grandmother thrice.
Feb 12, 2012 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: documentary photographer india, indian photographers, indian sexual mores, indian sexuality, love and sex in india, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, rules of love and sex in india, sex in india, travel photographer in India, travel photographer india, valentine day, valentine day in india | 3 Comments »

Banned books are fantastic for the obvious reasons. They question the status quo, challenge existing paradigms, question idiotic beliefs no matter how sacred, and provoke you to think anew. The very reasons the politicians and the clergy would not want you to touch them. But what is good writing if it won’t give you a fresh perspective. And what is freedom of expression without the freedom to offend. Because for how long can you read Paulo Choelho or Chetan Bhagat
Jan 27, 2012 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: ban on books, banned books, best book of the world, blasphemous books, blasphemy in satanic verses, controversial books, documentary photographer india, indian photographers, islam and rushdie, islam and satanic verses, Joseph Anton, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, photojournalist india, rushdie affair, salman rushdie jaipur literary festival, salman rushdie's satanic verses, travel photographer india | 21 Comments »

Its interesting that almost all the religions of the world decided that the best way to appease their Gods was to butcher hapless animals to them. Apart from reasons of piety, I suspect it had something to do with guilt. Taking another animals life for food may have looked a bit selfish. Therefore as in most things, men decided why not do it in the name of God? You get to eat the meat and God takes all the blame for the blood and gore.
Dec 16, 2011 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: animal sacrifices, animal sacrifices in india, animal sacrifices religion, documentary photographer india, human sacrifices temples, indian photographers, kamakhya temple assam, kamakhya temple guwahati, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, photojournalist india, religious animal sacrifices, travel photographer in India, travel photographer india | 19 Comments »

Is it really possible to go without food for 13 long days? Anna Hazare demonstrated this amply by his indefinite fast at the Ramlila Grounds in New Delhi fighting for the tabling of the Jan Lokpal Bill. What amazed everyone was how this 74 year old man managed to fast for that long when Yoga Guru Ramdev had to be admitted to a hospital after barely seven days without food. Ramdev for all his `yoga- cures- all’ posturing was diagnosed with bad liver and blood pressure and was quickly put on a drip.
Sep 13, 2011 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: anna haraze movement, anna hazare fasting, anna hazare images, anna hazare ramlila grounds, anti corruption movement india, documentary photographer india, essay jan lokpal bill, indian photographers, photoessay anna hazare, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, photojournalist india, photos anna hazare, travel photographer in India | Leave A Comment »

When my father said he wanted to build a house in the orchards, I was surprised. What’s wrong with this one I said? We already had an orchard house. Though the house was a bit unplanned- with no attached toilets or modular kitchen, it was still beautiful. It was in the middle of our apple orchards . It was glazed on three sides and had a spacious lounging area around it. The kitchen was the old pahari-style, complete with a chulla where we burnt firewood to warm our hands and sometimes cook. The house had a huge gable with a spacious living room below it and an attic with splendid views of the apple orchard valley.
Sep 05, 2011 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: apple orchards himachal, documentary photographer india, himachal pradesh, himalayas himachal, house in snow, images himachal pradesh, indian photographers, orchard house himachal, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, photojournalist india, snow himachal pradesh, snow images himachal, travel photographer in India | 35 Comments »

I am amused by the irony of a man who claims to own nothing, zipping by in a gleaming Mercedes while those who can actually afford one, bumping along the Delhi – Agra highway in the less than comfortable bus. I try to ask the followers about this but I am scoffed at for my `ignorance’. ” You will never understand the ways of our Guru”, they concluded.
Aug 24, 2011 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: art of living in india, art of living india, documentary photographer india, gurudev shankar, indian godman, indian godmen, indian guru sri sri ravi shankar, indian gurus, indian spiritual leaders, photojournalist india, spriritual leader sri sri ravi shankar, spritual leader sri sri ravi shankar, sri sri, sri sri ravi shankar, sri sri ravi shankar lok pal bill, sri sri ravi shankar photos | 138 Comments »

Nizamuddin’s shrine like most sufi shrines attracts not only muslims but a fair share of christians, hindus and sikhs as well. Coupled with its tradition of music Sufi shrines such as Nizamuddin are also on the radar of fanatics who feel music is against Islam.
Aug 18, 2011 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: amir khusro tomb, ataga khan tomb, documentary photographer india, images nizamuddin dargah, indian photographers, jahanara's tomb delhi, mirza ghalib tomb delhi, monuments delhi, monuments of delhi, nizamuddin dargah delhi, nizamuddin dargah photos, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, photojournalist india, photos sufi shrines, shaikh nizamuddin auliya, sufi saint nizamuddin, sufi saints india, sufi shrines, travel photographer in India | Leave A Comment »

Anglo Arabic School is the oldest educational intuitions in Delhi and one of the oldest in India. It was established in the 1690’s by Ghaziuddin Khan the deccan commander and general of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. It opened as a madrasa and took the name of its founder. Despite it ancient pedigree , it was as recent as 2002 when the very bureaucratic Archeological Survey of India declared it as a heritage monument.
Aug 15, 2011 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: ancient buildings delhi, anglo arabic school ajmeri gate, anglo arabic school delhi, anglo arabic senior secondary school, documentary photographer india, ghaziuddin khan, indian monuments, indian photographers, monuments of india, old delhi, old school, oldest college delhi, oldest educational institutions, oldest school in india, oldest schools, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, photojournalist india, travel photographer in India, zakir hussain college delhi | 15 Comments »

But the girls did not oblige. The organisers of Slut Walk Delhi- a motley group of college students, had made it clear. This was India so no revealing outfits. The Slut Walk Delhi was christened Besharmi Morcha and the organisers were at pains to explain that the walk was not just about women’s right to wear skimpy clothes. The only skimpily clad person for miles around was a resting ascetic who sat topless bang in the middle of the Slut Walk route.
Aug 10, 2011 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: documentary photographer india, feminist movement india, feminist walk india, indian photographers, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, photojournalist india, slut walk, slut walk delhi, slut walk delhi photos, slut walk india, slut walk photographs, slut walks india, travel photographer in India, umang sabarwal | 10 Comments »

I love Mughal Emperor Akbar. I think he was perhaps the first and the last great secular ruler in India. However like most powerful people, he was also given to superstitions. He believed that his wife bore a son because of Sufi Saint Shaikh Salim Chisti’s prophecy. Akbar built his palace in Sikri in gratitude to the saint. He lived in Sikri for 15 long years before realizing it had a chronic water- shortage problem and moved bag and baggage to Lahore.
Aug 01, 2011 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: akbar's monument, do dil mil rahen hai song, documentary photographer india, fatehpur sikri images, indian mughals, indian photographers, movie shoot in a monument, mughal architecture, mughal city, mughal emperor akbar, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, photojournalist india, photos indian monuments, Photos of fatehpur sikri, subhash ghai's pardesh, travel photographer in India | 6 Comments »

What is it about the female’s hair that makes the male of the human species get so wild and crazy? Going by the Islamic culture that is one of the main reasons why girls are enjoined to cover their head. But its not just a phenomenon of Islamic societies alone. When the debate first erupted after France banned the burka in public places, I realized it was a belief more closer home than I ever realized.
Jul 28, 2011 | Categories: Thoughts/ Articles | Tags: burka, burka ban, burkha ban, burkha in india, common religious triditions, covering the head, different headgear, different heargear, documentary photographer india, france ban burkha, france banning burkha, head-gear, hijab, hijab in india, indian photographers, islam and women, islamic culture, photographer in India, photographers in delhi, photographs of burkha women, photographs of women in headwear, photojournalist india, photos of hijabi women, religious traditions, travel photographer in India, wear hijab, wearing burkha in india, wearing hijab, women and burka, women and culture, women and headwear, women and religion, women and tradition | 14 Comments »