Depending on what religion you believe in, or have been brought up to believe in, the concept of God may be, variously-

a. An object of great and superhuman power to be feared, revered and make sacrifices to
b. A benevolent messiah sent to earth to deliver the people from all sin and misery through his own life of utter hardship
c. An omnipresent, all powerful entity who promises eternal heaven, and all the pleasures thereof, in the afterlife to those who follow his tenets faithfully and selflessly
d. Any other definition, as many possibilities of which exist as there are religions in the world

If you've grown up, like I have, to shun organised religion and believe that God is a personal concept to which you may be unable to ascribe a physical form; a concept you may also be reluctant to discuss openly with others of a different opinion then the definition set increases itself to include at least as many more variations as people who have their own personal concept of a God.

But no matter which God you believe in and what powers you ascribe to him/ her/ it, the concept of a God only makes sense to me if it helps people live more amicably with each other regardless of their own individual religious/ spiritual preferences. Most people, however seem to take the opposite view. To them their own God, suitably sanctified by the relevant religious body, stands head and shoulders above all other Gods by virtue of the reason that he is real and the others are not. That he exists while the others are figments of the imagination of misguided people. It is sad to see so many wars fought, and so many people killed, in the name of religion.

We have created, for ourselves, Gods and then put them behind bars; Gods that bind our minds rather than set them free.

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Nikon F75, 28-105mm
Fuji 400ISO
2005, The little shrine just outside Sunday Market, EllisBridge, Ahmedabad.

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The flower vendor and her little kid- a study in a contrast of priorities. This, I suppose, is what the world looks like from down there.

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Nikon F75, 28-105mm
Fuji 400ISO
2005, Outside the Swaminarayan Temple, Kalupur, Ahmedabad.

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Caught on film-
A frozen moment,
of waking life, framed,
in a hundred fragments.

No, this isn't one of my pics...! This was taken by the pretty woman from three posts back. But I liked it so much I persuaded her to let me post it here (with due credit, of course). I think she has a wonderful eye for detail. I also think she should take up photography in earnest. But then she has a mind of her own...

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Nikon F75, 28-105mm
Fuji 400ISO
2005, The mirror shop at Sunday Market below Ellisbridge, Ahmedabad, India.

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For sale-

Chai- Rs. 3 (7 cents)
Bun and butter- Rs. 7 (17 cents)
Bun, butter and jam- Rs. 9 (22 cents)


Daily sale-

Chai- Rs. 15,000 ($375)
Bun and butter- Rs. 7000 ($175)
Bun, butter and jam- Rs. 900 ($22.50)

Total daily earning- Rs. 22,900 ($572.50)


Daily expenses-

Milk- Rs. 3000 ($75)
Water- Rs. 1250 ($31.25)
Buns- Rs. 4400 ($110)
Butter- Rs. 4400 ($110)
Jam- Rs. 40 ($1)
Tea Leaves and Sugar- Rs. 500 ($12.50)

Total daily expenses- Rs. 9190 ($229.75)


Overheads-

Bribing the cops to keep his roadside stall safe- Rs. 1000/month or Rs. 33/day (85 cents)


Total daily profit- A whopping Rs. 13,677 ($340) !!
Brilliant economics, that! Maybe I should switch to selling tea by the roadside!!

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Nikon F75, 28-105mm
Fuji 400ISO
2005, At Roothraj Tea Stall, University Road, Ahmedabad, India.

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The entire family was travelling from Mumbai to Pune for my younger brother's wedding. We'd been on the road for well over four hours with numerous breakdowns along the way. First the airconditioning conked, then the fan belt gave way and later one of the tyres was punctured. Everyone was tired, frustrated and just about ready to give up and turn back (figuratively speaking, of course). And then, towards the fag end of the journey when we were about 20 kilometers outside our destination, I looked across from my seat and I saw this. And there, framed in that one moment, was the distilled mood of the entire day.

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Nikon F75, 28-105mm
Fuji 800ISO
2005, Mumbai-Pune Road, India.

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Nikon F75, 28-105mm
Fuji 400 ISO
2005, On the balcony outside my house, Ahmedabad

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This post seems like a long time ago, but guess what..? The bicycle still rusts there..! Talk about longevity. So here's a slightly different viewpoint and mood.

Ahmedabad is a scorching 45°C during the day and I guess that shows somewhat in the picture...

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Nikon F75, 28-105mm
Fuji 100 ISO
2005, Ahmedabad, India

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