arbitraire

There will never be a second chance at an alternate ending. There will never be a closure. And you will forever remain a cliffhanger. 

Dargah of the Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, a place drenched in hope and wistful longing. The site, notorious in the charades of Bollywood, made me reminisce instantly the iconic A. R. Rahman song 'Kun Faya Kun': "Take a step forward, destroy these distances. Come into this void, the home of your beloved. Without you there is emptiness, come into this void.' Although the rituals practiced by Muslims here are sweepingly disregarded by mainstream views to be incorrect and perverse, there is pureness in being so ashamed of one's own position in the eyes of God that the only way to secure one's hope is through the help of the enduring mediating soul of the auliya. "Kadam badhaa le, Hadon ko mitaa le, Aaha khaalipan mein pee ka ghar tera, Tere bin khaali aaja, khalipan mein, Tere bin khaali aaja, khalipan mein ..." (at Hazrat Nizamuddin Aauliya Dargah) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtkpPFfg_R8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=2zqzfy5i286p

Dargah of the Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, a place drenched in hope and wistful longing. The site, notorious in the charades of Bollywood, made me reminisce instantly the iconic A. R. Rahman song 'Kun Faya Kun': "Take a step forward, destroy these distances. Come into this void, the home of your beloved. Without you there is emptiness, come into this void.' Although the rituals practiced by Muslims here are sweepingly disregarded by mainstream views to be incorrect and perverse, there is pureness in being so ashamed of one's own position in the eyes of God that the only way to secure one's hope is through the help of the enduring mediating soul of the auliya. "Kadam badhaa le, Hadon ko mitaa le, Aaha khaalipan mein pee ka ghar tera, Tere bin khaali aaja, khalipan mein, Tere bin khaali aaja, khalipan mein ..." (at Hazrat Nizamuddin Aauliya Dargah) https://www.instagram.com/p/Btko4RtANPt/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1icoa0v38z595

Mughal brilliance #throwback #delhi #mughal (at Humayun's Tomb) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtkbLJLA-y3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mccepvipf3zq

Thinking about what might have been, had a people not been interrupted by an annexing power should be a responsibility of the mindful observer, despite the voluminous presence of the colonial structures. Especially when it is proven that the cultural produce of the people are commensurately marvelous. #throwback #Delhi (at Chandni Chowk) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtirDqNgEMg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ap38r20ho99z

A fantastical omnibus of Victorian splendor. (at Kolkata) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtioZqog7is/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ikwmtdrpw4at

Frenzied movements interspersing the city silently strangles its concrete history, steadily defamilliarizing their awe, and waning their charm. #throwback #kolkata (at Kolkata) https://www.instagram.com/p/Btimb2LAjMW/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=15lu5x3wrol7a

A juxtaposing Victoria Memorial sits idly in the city of Kolkata welcoming innocent visitors every day, contemplating its displacement and unbelonging. #throwback #kolkata (at Victoria Memorial,Kolkata) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtihTUFgBWO/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=19ofda2hl4heg

Domineering colonial remainders towering over local activities as life continues to go on on the very grounds that are still healing from a chilling past, Kolkata. #throwback #kolkata (at Kolkata) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtifQ6jgPBK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1bzq1wc4htux9

Kolkata for me was perplexing, beautiful and problematic (the last quality I assume being part of its addictive quality begging wanderers to return). Elemental to its problem are definitely the Victorian edifices infesting the region, creating a contradictory panorama of a people and a place. #throwback #kolkata (at Kolkata) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtiaYvJAG4T/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=4kayb12pcr9

The main gate of Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi. Looking down you could see the curious remnants of what must have been strict security gates used to examine items that visitors were carrying into the mosque, for political reasons one could vaguely but assuredly imagine, given the diverse and complicated history of the place. (at Jama Masjid, Delhi) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtiUfcFAQ5b/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1edbe8fgrb5su

I'm posting photographs that have been stowed away in my hard drive since 2 years caused by my indolence of trying to create meaningful posts out of them. Since the start of the year I promised myself I'd try and do something with the unedited raw photos. I thought posting them somewhere could at least provide a spectacle into the somewhat quaint quotidian Indian life, so they could be appreciated by the world. This was taken from atop the stairs of the Jama Masjid where I was waiting for a friend to come out and exchange his proper sized pants with the shorts I was wearing since one of us (I forgot who) was denied entry at the front gate. @amarmalik_ #majorthrowback #oldcitydelhi #oldedelhi #delhi #india #jamamosque (at Old City Delhi) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtiSwPsgzUFdmEFbdH-x7c_jIdiApmDFkQ7BZs0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=v9ezmta4n1b4

"Memilih nilam antara suasa, Ditempa molek jadikan pualam; Baik-baik memilih nakhoda, Salah gerangan habislah karam." (at Old City Delhi) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtiKawLAg8xYtjmRb0lTrbkj5XabmFKQbat3gw0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=7rh0zslvm96c

“After all, what is reality anyway? Nothin’ but a collective hunch.” —Lily Tomlin

—Chomsky