I was familiar with Hussain's writing and his reflections on partition through his novel Basti (shortlisted for the Man Booker in 2013), which was part of my bachelor's syllabus. Through this book, Day And Dastan, which collects two novellas into one, I once again got an opportunity to peek into the fragmented and dilapidated world of Hussain, caused by partition
What is the single most remarkable aspect of the novel, Maila Aanchal? My immediate reply would be the usage of language. Like English, we Indians do speak Hindi differently, wrapped in dialects that vary across regions. There are more than 48 dialects of Hindi alone, practised across different parts of India. It is said that Language and culture change in India every 12 miles.
Sabarmati Ashram is located on the bank of the river Narmada. After passing through the gate (no entry fee to my surprise), I could see the children navigating through the maps. The place was well-managed and moderately crowded.
Of all the places I visited in India, I found Ekta Nagar or Kevadia (the place where SOU stands) to be a well-managed 'model' town, designed specifically to promote tourism. The place isn't limited to the Statue of Unity.
I often visit my village whenever I am home. I meet and greet several elderly people (because they're the only ones left). The remarkable thing is that my language involuntarily turns to Magahi, the dialect spoken in parts of Bihar and Jharkhand.
Railway termini are our gates to the glorious and the unknown. Through them we pass out into adventure and sunshine, to them, alas! we return. -E.M. Forster The National Rail Museum had been on my bucket list since I was in Delhi. Even after spending some 6.5 years in the metro city, I couldn't make … Continue reading A Guide to Delhi’s National Rail Museum
The ruins of Nalanda University (also sometimes referred to as Nalanda Mahavira) are specifically for those who take a keen interest in history and architecture. Others can also visit to appreciate the opulence of the place which was the centre of education, where people from every corner of the world used to come and participate in the teaching-learning process.
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