old house in Pandharpur

This is an old house near the temple in Pandharpur, the residence of Shri Vithal and Smt Rukmini, who have been up on their feet for several centuries without a moment's peace. Some time in the past, perhaps Pandharpur might have been a gracious town rejoicing in the presence of Vithal and Rukmini. Now it is a shitty little place, with an all-pervading atmosphere of filth, shrill commercialism and fake piety.

M F Hussain was born in Pandharpur in a house near the temple. The house no longer exists apparently, but the locals seem aware and proud of one of Pandharpur's most famous sons. This is a poor reproduction on my bedroom wall of one of Hussain's paintings.

Peepal

This peepal makes a traffic island in an extremely busy junction in Shaniwar Peth. It looks very beautiful in the evening when the sun strikes it at an angle. At night, it loses most of its personality, but even in the dim light, the beauty of its trunk is striking.

The peepal isn't the prettiest of trees, but what it lacks in daintiness, it makes up in strength of character.

Old house

I have taken to going out and sketching in the night. After 11, the frenzy of the day subsides a bit and the city becomes quieter. I find it easier to find a quiet place to sit and draw. The light is the dull orange of street lamps. The shadows are long and deep, the light uncertain, but by God, at least it's quiet and still.

This is the Nagarkar wada in Shaniwar Peth. A couple of girls came to me for a chat, eager to see my drawing. They live in the wada, and informed me with great satisfaction that I was not a moment too soon because the wada is to be demolished soon. They had lived all their lives (they were in 11th standard studying commerce) in the wada, and were sad that it was going to be pulled down, but pleased as well because it was really not as convenient as modern houses with water leaking down in the rainy season and numerous other inconveniences.

In the old days, the Peshwas used to visit them for an evening of entertainment. With drink flowing like water, and dancing girls, and drunken debauchery, I shouldn't be surprised, but of course I didn't express my suspicions to them, thus protecting their innocent young ears and minds from my scandalous conjectures.

Veggies