Fakhta on the verandah

That corner of the verandah has witnessed the Fakhta cycle of life over and over again for years now.

Don’t remember when exactly the Fakhtas first set up their nest in our home but once they did, they really made themselves at home… generations of them! A particular corner of the verandah was their chosen spot, where they built their nest atop the Chameli climber. Eggs were laid, hatched, babies born, learnt to fly and then off they all went – babies, mama and papa. The nest never lay abandoned for too long. A few months later, another Fakhta pair would turn up to start a family. The nest would be refurnished so to speak and off they went again laying eggs, caring for and feeding the babies when they came out etc…

That corner of the verandah has witnessed the Fakhta cycle of life over and over again for years now. The Fakhta’s cooing is one of the usual sounds of nature around our house. If they are not on the Chameli, they can be seen basking in the sun on the boundary wall or perched up on the gate, watching the world go by or else, strolling around on the ground as they feed themselves. The male and female take turns incubating the eggs. Once the babies come out, they grow rapidly in size and within a few days the nest is not large enough to fit one of the parents and two babies at a time. The parents then take up a position on the Madhukamini tree or any other spot nearby from where they keep a watchful eye on the nest and the babies.

The unassuming bird is most at ease around us humans. Walk up gently to them and they will allow you to get closer to them than most birds would. Rarely do they let themselves be scared enough to fly away. They’ll keep an eye on you but stay put as you go about your business, even if that means hovering around them and their nest over an extended period of time. “It’s your home as much as ours”, they seem to be saying, “Let’s all live together in harmony.”

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A glass of froth

How would you like to have some froth for a winter breakfast? Winter in most Parsi households is incomplete without at least a couple of mornings devoted to “Doodh na Puff”. It is one of the oddest and yet simplest breakfast dishes you will find anywhere in the world. In fact, some people might even refuse to accept it as a dish! Milk is sweetened and boiled to reduce it. Then, it is poured in a pot or pan which is covered, not with a lid but a thin muslin cloth. This is then left out in the open overnight, preferably on the terrace. These days, those living in metros make do with putting it away in the refrigerator, though it’s not quite the same as the traditional way. Next morning, before the sun comes up, this milk is taken indoors. A little Rose or Vanilla essence might be added to it (it’s optional). And then begins the actual process of making the puff. The milk is beaten with an egg beater or hand blender so that froth starts forming. This froth is carefully coll...

इतिहास है या नायक-खलनायक की कहानी?

जब हम ऐतिहासिक किरदारों को काले-सफेद में विभाजित करके देखते हैं तो इतिहास को गल्प की श्रेणी में ला खड़ा करते हैं। इतिहास के साथ इससे बड़ा कोई अन्याय नहीं हो सकता। जब हम इतिहास को नायक और खलनायक की कहानी के रूप में देखते हैं, तो समस्या उठ खड़ी हो जाती है। कारण यह कि हम जिसे अपना नायक मान लेते हैं, उसकी एक सुपरहीरो-सी छवि मन में बना लेते हैं। फिर हम उसके बारे में सिर्फ भला-भला ही सोचना, सुनना और पढ़ना चाहते हैं। हमारी कल्पनाओं में वह तमाम सद्गुणों की खान होता है। हमारी गढ़ी गई इस छवि के विपरीत कोई बात सामने लाई जाए तो हमारी भावनाएं आहत हो जाती हैं। वहीं जिसे हम खलनायक मानते हैं, उसमें सिर्फ और सिर्फ बुराइयां ही देखना चाहते हैं। कोई उसके व्यक्तित्व या कृतित्व के किसी सकारात्मक पक्ष को सामने रखे, तो हम उसे खारिज कर देते हैं। जबकि सच तो यह है कि इतिहास आपके-हमारे जैसे इंसानों की ही दास्तान है। हमारी तरह उनके व्यक्तित्व में भी अच्छाई-बुराई दोनों का समावेश था। उनमें खूबियां थीं, तो कमज़ोरियां भी थीं। उन्होंने अच्छे काम किए, तो कभी गलतियां भी की। परफेक्ट हीरो या परफेक्ट विलेन किस्से-कहानियों म...

Of thundering typhoons and blistering barnacles…

Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus, Bianca Castafiore, Thomson and Thompson…. Do these names ring a bell? I was first introduced to the world of Tintin sometime in the late seventies, when the Times of India serialized “The Red Sea Sharks”. Though not yet ten, it was obvious to me that this was no run of the mill comic strip. The characters, the narrative, the entire package so to say, held me in thrall. Shortly thereafter we chanced upon Tintin comic books in a book shop in Mumbai (then Bombay). Again, these were unlike the usual comic books we were used to. Large pages, all 62 of them, filled with colourful, detailed drawings and taking forward a single story full of adventure, thrills and humour. They were also more expensive as compared to the comics we were used to buying but it was decided that the money spent would be worth it and so the first Tintin book came into our hands. It was “Flight 714”, my brother’s choice. Upon returning to Indore from our vacation, we...

मन कहन/ Meandering Mind

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