Friday, July 3, 2009

The Hijra On A Spiritual Landscape

they come from near
they come from far
the hijra on a spiritual landscape
from the clutches of their domesticity
they seek a heavenly escape
dark, fair, tall , old young
some who actresses
like aishwarys ape
dressed in all finery
in chiffon, in silk in nylon
some in cotton crepe
people on the streets
near the bulund darwaza
watch them all agape
on the tomb of the Holy Saint
the hijras chaddar drape
dancing trinkets
on their manly feet
their sensual bodies in
glass hour shape
khawajah
mere khwajah
resounding
from the cassette tape

The Hijra On A Spiritual Landscape

they come from near
they come from far
the hijra on a spiritual landscape
from the clutches of their domesticity
they seek a heavenly escape
dark, fair, tall , old young
some who actresses
like aishwarys ape
dressed in all finery
in chiffon, in silk in nylon
some in cotton crepe
people on the streets
near the bulund darwaza
watch them all agape
on the tomb of the Holy Saint
the hijras chaddar drape
dancing trinkets
on their manly feet
their sensual bodies in
glass hour shape
khawajah
mere khwajah
resounding
from the cassette tape

Zanjirwale Bawa - Chained Mystic and Me

Zanjirwale Bawa - Chained Mystic

I have been shooting him for several years,his name is Zanjirwale Bawa , I have a separate set of his pictures on Flickr also..He is bound to chains permanently all welded so he cannot remove them at all, within the gap of the chains are bleeding sores,he does not bathe, but he does not stink either, if he bangs his head against the wall, fragrance of rose emanates from his being..

This time one of his devotees has given him a a motorbike with a special carrier for him to ease his travel, he has a driver too for the bike..

I missed Bawa when I arrived late in the night at Ajmer on 28 th June 2009 ..I could not see him, when I shot the earlier pictures, this was a lot I shot the following morning on 29 June 2009 ..


Bawa wears chains in memory of the Fourth Imam Zainul Abedin, and Bawa is a Sunni .also a firm believer of Imam Hussain and the Ahle Bayt..

He curses the killers of Imam Hussain openly in public.

Bawa and I share a very unique relationship..that began first at the Tomb of the Holy Saint of Chancawalli in Andheri..East.Mumbai..and has continued and flourished till date.
.

The Hijra Dies Standing

when death comes
the hijra is on his feet
death his saviour
he wont cheat
namaskar salutations
he will greet
buried erect head up
his maker he will meet
androgynous hopes
wrapped in a bed sheet
tear drops that flow
down a nameless street
his mission over
control alt delete

I have removed the comment box..at Flickr

All these pictures that I have posted so far both of the Urus and the Hijras were shot in a single night , the night I arrived in Ajmer 27 June 2009 ..I shot a 4 GB card in a few hours.

I have come to terms with my life as a blogger here on Flickr, I have decided to remove the comment boxes from all my new sets , I have also decided not to comment on anybody's post for sometime or perhaps completely, I am fed up of saying nice shot, nice capture , the very thought kills me..

Most of the time a comment by me is misunderstood, and an incident that happened recently has put me off completely of comments and commenting here on Flickr , I owe no one , no one owes me, I am humble I can apologize for an unintentional hurt and will not lick ass even if it is 100 American or made in New Orleans ..

I will block friends if the need arises..I have done it already.. I am one mad Indian blogger who wont take shit anymore, you dont like my stuff move on..I am still in bed ..and maybe you might take this as my viral rant but it is for real..

Taunted Barren Leaves

patriotism
refuge of scoundrel and thieves
taunted barren leaves
a mother for her dead son grieves
people like bush weapons of mass destruction
a nation forever deceives..
a spider like web on the dead soul
of humanity weaves

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