in 1995 i was in dehradun for a couple of months. trees everywhere, and shrubs, and green in general. some of the buildings fitted right in: the bungalow types, or even the mansions that were tastefully constructed. they looked at home. the trees looked comfortable housing them, growing around them. the pump-houses and the small white-washed government constructions looked out of place. i felt uncomfortable around them. weird feeling, actually, - just because something doesnt appear to fit in is no reason to feel 'uncomfortable'. maybe because they represent the ugly side of authority: intruding upon people, asking questions, making rules and imposing them... the uniformed half wits that tell you 'yahan jana mana hain' , or ask suspiciously 'aap ka kya kaam hain?' i was once almost shot by an RPF at the Talapark Rail-yard when i had gone there for sketching. not being an elitist here, but there ought to be the presence of a minimum amount of intelligence in creatures who have legal rights to carry firearms and use them too.
the stark look of those pump houses (i dont know why i tend to believe that they were all pump houses) was ugly and oppressive. i am probably overreacting here, or overfelt there... but thats the way i felt. they appeared ruthless, forcing themselves upon the greens and looking on with a certain smugness that comes of a sense of security bred by mediocrity and abuse of power.
i saw another pump house the other day from the tea stall that i sometimes breakfast in. this wasnt a pump house though: just a toilet, nondescript, white washed, stark, with a lush green foliage in the background. the newly built compound of the flat was right next to a garden. somehow, this pump house didnt look ugly. our area is nowhere as green as dehra, and the greenery behind this construction actually looked good, not oppressed. the bit of nature was a kind of relief when put against all the buildings around it. it looked nice and small and perfectly in sync with the white structure. i wonder how this tasteless building would have looked elsewhere. relativity is a curious thing.
the pic that comes with this post has nothing to do with it. just thought of adding it...
1 comment:
it felt strange reading the blog. There was much that i felt i recognised yet to think you needed to write all that on an open space made me wonder again about all that i still dont know/understand. Strangely that thot humbles me, even though you wont believe that. Looking forward to more musings if u can get down to it.
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