Shajanram is a frail little person in his late eighties. Yet he moves gracefully, with the agility of a nearby desert antelope. The thick round glasses lying on his aquiline nose magnify the darkness of his black, almond-shaped eyes. The white beard and long moustache match the uniform colour of his shirt, dhoti, and turban. His smile is spontaneous, frequent and highly infectious, as his kindness.
He bows in respect to welcome guests in the home that he shares with his four sons, their wives and a total of twelve healthy and cheerful grandchildren. Shajanram does not speak a word of English. His facial expressions genuinely convey his feelings, passing through no filter, no social barrier. For the rest, a guide translates his sacred speech.
But also, they found his travel diary. My grandfather had very precious calligraphy, very 19the century, with all the letters...
I arrived in Bhenswara in the late afternoon, when the light softens and people leave the torpor of their inner courtyards to fill up the streets...
This journey explores the many handicraft traditions ranging from pottery to textiles in the states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh...
A journey tracing the history and tenets of Sikhism, a religion born in the state of Punjab...
A luxury boutique hotel perched on the edge of the Aravalli hills that run through the city of lakes...
It was early morning when Lizzy and I left Madurai for a destination we both knew nothing about. Mrs. Meenakshi Meiyappan...