For something to be contagious, one always needs an excellent mode of transfer from the source to the destination.

Contagious

Contagious

 

 

Contagious

For something to be contagious, one always needs an excellent mode of transfer from the source to the destination.

(This is an illustration done for this week’s Illustration Friday theme, Contagious.)

To me, the good-natured, non-fragrant, yuppie spots in the city’s Cantonment area have always proven to possess outstanding qualities required of a public space. In fact, they might even be as brilliantly public as a public space can possibly get. These spaces populate densely with the young and the  cosmopolitan, who apart from truly being generous, come burdened with the pretext of being open and drawing from an ambiguous notion of progressive societies being more willing to share. This plays to the advantage of any person seeking ‘public participation’. In fact, in my experience, one nevers returns disappointed for these places are truly overwhelmingly giving. As there is no dirth of responses, I have found that it often tends to set in contemptuousness. A strong resolve had already begun to formulate in my mind as I boarded the mystery bus. Diversity.

I stepped out of the bus and got thrusted into this.

NH4, Peenya.

I began walking in the other direction, mildly alarmed yet unaffected by the chaos engulfing me. The blazing sun demanded a desperate stop for a bottle of water and an idle hand behind the counter prompted me to talk to him. I introduced myself and asked if he would be willing to help me with my project. He smiled and ran into the back room. Seconds later, he returned with a platoon of thuggish men, whom I can only presume to be ‘bakers’ employed at the bakery. The largest of the flabby arm began to interrogate me. I meekly concurred. He sniggered and looked around for an appreciative encore after getting to know about my project. He wasn’t disappointed. Then, as if I were a seat at the merry-go-round, they took turns to take my trip.

Peenya, in general, is supremely chaotic and industrious. Migrants from drier parts of the nation flock to industrial suburbs such as the one I was in. Work was taken extremely seriously. Although the conditions of those living there did not appear dire enough to suggest hand-to-mouth subsistence, there remained many more invisible mouths to fill. A lot of the employees here had been shyed away from education and it reflects glaringly in their projection of themselves. The sun seemed to be gently melting Peenya away. People were still too busy to care. Thankfully, I avoided attracting too much attention towards myself. I later realized that I could have been under the spotlight for several reasons – a camera that raised its much conspicuous head every once in a while only to realize the futility of my attempts to capture my subjects of observation, a virgin bottle of water, paper and pen, a perpetual searching glance and ,perhaps, the only person without an impending task at my hands!

My calm and sporting tolerance of the well-meaning goons at he bakery continued to shock me as I continued to look for a suitable area to begin my work in. The choice of a good location to begin work is, perhaps, the most crucial step one can engage in. The market swarming around the highway clearly would not be fruitful, largely owing to the distraction people’s work provided them. Besides, I needed them to be in a relatively receptive state of mind and many people around a chosen hub of activity. There was a tremendous amount of flux along the busy tents and ugly concrete-box shops.

My walk led me into a small lane just off the highway. It had shops, mostly, on the ground floor with houses above them. They seemed to be held together gently by clotheslines and electric, TV and telephone cables. Activity was muffled. Cool breeze blowing. Smell of lemon pickle was wafting through every counter. It was lunch time.

The remainder of time spent in this lane was of bipartisan nature – precarious yet fertile. This time of the afternoon, I noticed, sent owners home for food and a nap, in some cases. This left their employess available. The absence of their bosses also helped me to coax them to participate, if necessary, as they did not have anyone else to pass on their buck to. One of the commonly strong reactions I encountered was about their lack of education and their inability, thus, to do anything for me. This required a lot of time to be spent talking to them, making the tasks appear very simple, give details of the project to a varying degree or even start with little impromptu games to ease their minds. It met with fluctuating success. The absence of the bosses, however, also alarmed the employees as they got to know that utensils or saris that they had on offer were of little interest to me.

As I entered a jeweller’s shop, there was an employee behind the counter. His left ear was pierced with a stud commonly seen amongst Rajasthani men. Perfect. This meant he would understand Hindi. He looked fairly idle and chatting with a friend, which meant that his participation won’t endanger his bread earning. He turned out to be quite open to participate, in spite of the initial hesitation and ‘the boss will just come back’ and ‘ I didn’t study enough for this routine. Here is his response to the question:

What can see you see when you look up at the sky ? Time is not so important; be it day or night.

What can you see when you look up in the sky? D.S. Pawar

I had already committed a mistake here by using the word up. I reminded myself firmly to refrain from using suggestive words or body language such as a nod of the head or looking or pointing ‘upwards’ towards the sky. He spent a considerable amount of time talking about his inability to remember things he learnt at school; his struggle clearly reflected in his response. Firstly, he drew a landscape despite discussing the question with me a number of times and having clearly understood it. The establishment of the terrestrial elements is quite clear and heirarchically working his way ‘upwards’  – the swans swimming in the reservoir, the reservoir(although he has labelled it as a lake), the dam, the road, the river, originating from the mountains, much alike the sun, and finally, birds. No such effort seems to have been put into the establishment of the sky.It almost feels as if he were by the edge of the reservoir and looking ahead towards the horizon. But, does his clarity of terrestrial elements reflect the strength of his relationship to the ground or does his lack of knowledge or imagination about the sky heighten the emphasis on the former?

The next question I posed him was:

What is the shape of the environment?

What is the shape of the environment? D.S. Pawar

It was interesting to note that, again, he began by establishing the land and then moving on to show the different layers of the atmosphere (very fleetingly). He worked his way up from a helicopter to the ozone layer. And this, he said is where it ends.

“What comes after this?” I asked.

He smiled.

Working Title

And what will you be doing now?

Apart from scratching my back?

Cheeky bastard

Breakfast, I hope

Diwali is usually time to laze around

Hope?

Except the evenings of course

Really?

Oh I see! Nice

Lots to do in the evenings

Get truck loads of pics

Better than giving you a live feed

Consolation

I can’t believe you were serious about it of course

Well, it is a possibility still

You just don’t care

Love, actually

Are you quite done as yet?

Ok now I’m done

Good

Why are you in a bad mood?

The pani puri backfired

Ouch

Badly…yeah

Crunch numbers

Around 9

Wow

Well,…

All time high

Stop obsessing over my upset stomach

Boss-ini aren’t we?

Get a life

Says the man online since 4am

So what will you be doing now?

Tell me, please

Well, an early breakfast, buy flowers, string them with mango leaves

Nice

Put them over the entrance

Bath

Hmmm

Nothing much for the rest of the day

Sounds very fancy and auspicious

Nitwit

Oh…listen

Hear people getting alive on my side

Ok

Chat later?

Message me

Sure thing

Kiss

Bye

Bye

Kiss

Message you

Have enough currency on the phone?

Yes I do

See you

Miss you a lot

Same here

Love you

Applegayte signs off

Well, applegayte might have signed off, but things certainly did not get ‘alive’ in here until quite late in the morning. The woman walked to the fridge to discover there was less than a litre of milk left. A panic attack and bout of fluttering arms followed a frantic trip to the nearest groceries store.

Poor woman. Her hair is never quite enough well kept.

Where is her husband?

Oh, here comes the man with a broom. Was he the one chatting?

Yep. That is our beloved applegate.

He’s not gate, but gayte.

But, that makes him sound as if…

Aren’t we slow today?

Not the sharpest, I know.

Disgusting people, they are!

You could ruffle a few petals on him every time he passes under you.

In that case, I wish I was a coconut tree.

Wonder if he is any good in the kitchen.

Was he not the one who made the lunch yesterday?

Nope. That was his brother.

Talented bunch.

But clearly not talented enough to get or stay married.

Could you be anymore cheerful?

Oh god! They have a lizard in the house!

Not such a good news, is it?

Well, don’t just hang there! Do something!

What do you expect me to do? Marigolds aren’t the strongest.

You think he saw the lizard?

LOOK HERE! Ughhh!

Pansy lisper! Now, if he was ‘normal’, he…

Oh, here she comes with the tea!

Spot her! Spot her!

Oh yeah!

What! Where are you going?

She’s scared, you think?

Patience is a virtue.

She wont let a lizard be around! Its diwali!

Wait and watch, then? She will come up with something soon.

Better not be eggshells!

Wow, she is really taking long to appear.

He drinks his tea with malai! Repulsive!

Bet his boyfriend is ugly!

Rodent from the sewers!

Why has she moved? Has she moved? I do not like the fact that she has moved!

What nonsense! Lizards never move a lot at on…Oh, dear God! She moved!

Aaarghh! She moved yet again!

Help has arrived! Calm down, will you?

Bless her! The spirit of diwali shall outlive us all!

Drama queen!

Take it back! Now!

Oh, no! Its Baygon!

No pain, no gain.

Spray gently.

Oh, the limp wrist comes to assume a position of authority.

Out of guilt, I am sure.

He is getting a broom. Goody! They have a plan.

Oh! Hit harder, faggot!

She has to go easy on the spray! Oh, no! I think I just changed colour! Look at me!! Certainly gone more yellow! Go easy on it, woman!

Oh, she is really getting thrashed. I cannot watch! Ouch, I heard that! Bless her!

I get Baygon sprayed all over me if I move slightly! I don’t know where to look!

You’d think she’d pass out by now?

Lizards endure a lot.

Noble species.

I think I am ready to pass out. Who..eve…rrrr…i….say…..fe…rr.ess…..ut…

Oye, wake up!

Huh? What? Yes! Yes! No! I get it! What was I saying?

Good! Keep talking.

Not a slave to your fancies, you know!

She looks pretty dizzy to me.

The key word here is deceit, my friend. Deceit.

Deceit, indeed. I wish I’d been informed about this when I was born that diwali would be…well…all this. Maybe I would have reconsidered Ma’s womb. Or god’s loving hands, just in case Ma is reading my thoughts. Puneet says I am bad to think that way. But, I know it might be true. On the open house day, she kept forcing toasts down me while I insisted on playing the jigsaw puzzle. When I finally wriggled free, she came to me and promised to not be mad with me even if the teachers complained about me, that she thought I was doing well at school and that I should stop being so nervous. How did she know I was scared?

I don’t like crackers. Not at all. Besides, I heard on the TV that it is not good for the environment. Then, we really shouldn’t, I think. Look at this. Even the parks have been littered with wrappers of crackers and rockets burnt, fluttering red and white paper from the bombs. Smell of burning air filling up my lungs. I bet the watchman’s daughter let in the others into the park at night. Stupid, arrogant girl. There is no reason for her to feel so powerful. It is her father, after all, who patrols at night with that ridiculously thick rod and painfully loud whistle. Maybe I will pass by her little hut later to make sure she isn’t around when I want to play. She is poor. Why is she never working?

She’s not working anymore. Doubt if she ever worker in the first place.Well, yes. I will find another one, but you know how they are…its festival time, at that. Give a bonus, it’s a nightmare. Don’t, and its still a nightmare.

She got what we give her every year – food, sari, few spoons and patila sets…obviously, all this plus a good raise. What more should we give her? An i-pod?

I think its just wrong timing, that’s all. I don’t think you should be feeling guilty. At least, not now.

Yes, he is fine. Said he’s off to the park, but you know how he is. Its park when he leaves, but medicine store when he steps out. I wonder when he’ll learn to make his mind up.

Haha! Sadly, this is the only trait he seems to have taken from you.

Oh, this reminds me to tell you that Briji called in the morning. You will not believe this – Akka Ma apparently called her late in the night yesterday to tell her that she’d rather die than bear another atrocious moment under Mohan’s roof – for the millionth time – and announced that she will be going over to Briji’s instead! I really wonder what ticked her this time. Rucha swears Mohan has been sober for the past three months. Poor Briji.

What do you mean? She has her hands full with so many guests as it is. And, before you even suggest it, no! We are not going to have your mother home. She was here only a month ago.

Fine, we will not argue over the phone. And, no. I do not hate her. The others need to understand that she is their responsibility as well.

Well, I guess he will be downstairs any moment, if he can tear himself away from the wretched newspaper, that is. He keeps reading the paper! Or watching the news! Or really old cricket matches! I don’t know how to get him involved with the rest of us!

Yes! I know he is not a child! Can he stop behaving like one?

I suppose so. He, on the other hand, has been much better this time around. Still chats online a lot, but,…overall, a bit more…you know…manly. Oh, I hate him!

Hold the fort, yes. But he is not your type, either. Remember Anandini’s birthday?

You being here right now would have been simply perfect. Believe me, though, when I say that I really am fine. Talk to you in the evening?

Your voice is breaking up.

Yes. What happened?

Hehe. Ok. Take care. Sleep enough. You get me worried. And learn to switch the lights off before you sleep. Its like having two sons, not one.

Ewww! Shameless man! Go now!

Yes, yes.

I miss you. There. Let me go now.

Bye.

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Moon Stories

Since January, I have been working with Alisha, Babita, Joanna and Kriti, on the Moon Vehicle project. The last two weeks of February were designated for individual projects. My project idea germinated from a few excerpts that I’d read in the L5 Society newsletter at the beginning of the course. Here is a quote mentioned below:

“A House space subcommittee has called for an expanded space program to help solve down-to-earth problems. . . while laying the foundation for advanced projects such as moon bases and orbital colonies.”  L5 Newsletter, November, 1975.

The idea of space colonies might fail to raise eyebrows today owing to the exploitation of this notion in popular and science fiction in varied media. Space programs of the period mirror an urgent necessity for the same. The moon, though, does not seem to be a destination itself, but only a launch-pad for higher ambitions; Mars, dominantly being one of them. Apart from the ethical dilemma that this idea posed me with, it was extremely baffling to understand the relationship between the settlements on Earth and L5 or, eventually, the Moon. Would it be one of Earth and Moon or Earth – Moon? Would the existence of space colonies be included as a part of our consciousness as a part of our world? How does our understanding of our world, and thus, our environment construct itself?

Positions of L4 and L5

I believe my dilemma was quite well captured by the diagram denoting positions of L4 and L5 societies in the first newsletter of the L5 newsletter. In this diagram, the dotted line between the Earth and the possible L space colonies is of great interest. Humans have been influenced by gravity in all respects. Our fundamental understanding of this universe, too, is gravity-influenced. When we speak of the sky, one generally tends to or might suggest or think of an act that suggests looking up.

Assuming one is standing at a given point on the surface of Earth, looking up will make the person look into the sky, defined by the horizon on its seams. My doubts remained in our ability to imagine a space that which is not based on land or held strongly by gravity to it’s surface. Can we ‘see’ a space that is not governed by the hierarchies of the land? I did not wish for people to formalize this space but hope for them to acknowledge it. This acknowledgement plays a crucial role in helping one understand how people perceive their environment and, thus, choose to  draw boundaries for exploitation and responsibility.So, the question remains, how do we look at the sky? Vertically or tangentially?

Two major thoughts appeared from the process that could, then, be worked upon. The activities that needed to be worked upon required to be kept extremely simple, not arousing suspicion but draw in the participant’s curiosity.  Given below is the draft of the proposal I submitted and now working upon.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/feb/18/elephants-india-flyover

Comment to the news article linked above.

Ditionary.com defines heritage as something that comes or belongs to one by reason of birth; an inherited lot or portion. Now, the sensitive approach would require one to go to people and get a perception of what the local perception of their own heritage.  Classical heritage, namely, sculpted buildings like temples and tanks, were immediately and exclusively perceived as heritage. The real trouble surfaced with the request for exhibits of vernacular heritage.  How old should an object be? How does one work towards framing a limit on validity of history for heritage?

Scholar; Columnist, New York Times

An interesting post that I found online yesterday on a blog that had references to the NYT’s (New York Times) columnist, Paul Krugman’s piece, A Socialist Plot. He has drawn analogies between the dual nature of health care and education policies in America. A rather twisted piece to present a simple argument forward that in the end seems a bit pointless for such lustrous an academic. Also, he seemed to get a bit defensive, at places. But, he seems like an interesting man enough to follow weekly. Perhaps, I can have a better opinion of his work and ideas when I have read more of him.

I am indebted to the blogger for having exposed me to Paul Krugman. The post on this blog itself is highly charged and faulty, according to me. It does merit a comment, however small, that I will be posting soon enough.

Since the past academic year, I have noticed that my growth has been least evident to me. I feel I have grown, but then one does grow given the sheer virtue of time. I, within my capacities, have tried to better myself in numerous ways. I guess enrichment perhaps would be a better word. I have consistently felt a deep void in an effort to gauge my own movement. I am hoping this blog would help me do this more constructively and practically.

I owe this largely to a certain inertia that held me back. This reflects at times in my work, too. So, in a way, I am trying to plug all loop-holes that would finally get me to pen my reflections and at times, reflect better.

Geetu expects me to maintain one as this blog will be graded. (!!)

Went to Chikpet today. The tour was a part of my Studio elective, ‘What Can the Matter Be?’ The aim of the studio is to come up with a way to raise a materials library for Srishti. Today, we went to gather samples of materials available in the main market of Bengaluru.

The material hunt was overwhelming, at times, but we managed to get our work done successfully in time. Time here is a very crucial issue as i have been battling to whip myself in shape in order to get better at crunching more within my given time.