My parents left yesterday evening and since then the emptiness of the house has been quite overwhelming, much more than what I had expected it would be. Ten great days punctuated by momentary disagreements (courtesy my string of tiring Virgo compulsions) sure did a world of good to the loner inside me. Now that they are gone, the gnawing unfamiliarity of everything has come back to haunt me once again. After all, amid all the chaos of the known and the unknown, the old and the new, they are the only ounce of belonging that encourages me to hang on and keep trying.
In my desperate attempt to unearth the old signs and songs that my heart was once so well versed with, I have embarked upon a determined journey - to go back to those places that once upon a time had rooted me to this colorful city. What could be more reassuring for a pair of searching, doubting eyes than a walk down the precious past. So braced with my parents and some cherished old memories, last weekend, I marched hopeful and brave toward my favorite jaunt in the city - the eternal Qutub Shahi tombs. Popularly called the Seven tombs for the seven members of the Qutub Shahi dynasty buried there, these cluster of soot-soaked mausoleums bathed in a charming timelessness has always held a special place in my heart. And this time, this is what what I came back with.
A place of paradoxes. Enveloped in lush greenery yet covered in the dust of time and neglect, the blackened domes stand proud and mighty against all odds. A place of reverberating serenity. Pearly plumerias adorn the shaded path to the tombs while the quivering bougainvillea petals veil the weathered sepulchers in a dreamy magenta sheen. The soporific, monotonous cooing of the pigeons perched inconspicuously in the latticework. A place of surprises. The intricately detailed alleys and passages come to life with the echoes of footsteps while opening up to an unexpected facade at every turn. A place to get lost for hours. The fast fading but still breathtaking blend of Persian and Pashtun architecture takes one back to the days of poetry and grandeur. The mortuary bath, the carelessly covered sarcophagus, the dilapidated mosques strewn here and there, the watchful minarets, the aging bougainvillea - all define a time that is surely lost, but can still be felt.
In my desperate attempt to unearth the old signs and songs that my heart was once so well versed with, I have embarked upon a determined journey - to go back to those places that once upon a time had rooted me to this colorful city. What could be more reassuring for a pair of searching, doubting eyes than a walk down the precious past. So braced with my parents and some cherished old memories, last weekend, I marched hopeful and brave toward my favorite jaunt in the city - the eternal Qutub Shahi tombs. Popularly called the Seven tombs for the seven members of the Qutub Shahi dynasty buried there, these cluster of soot-soaked mausoleums bathed in a charming timelessness has always held a special place in my heart. And this time, this is what what I came back with.
A place of paradoxes. Enveloped in lush greenery yet covered in the dust of time and neglect, the blackened domes stand proud and mighty against all odds. A place of reverberating serenity. Pearly plumerias adorn the shaded path to the tombs while the quivering bougainvillea petals veil the weathered sepulchers in a dreamy magenta sheen. The soporific, monotonous cooing of the pigeons perched inconspicuously in the latticework. A place of surprises. The intricately detailed alleys and passages come to life with the echoes of footsteps while opening up to an unexpected facade at every turn. A place to get lost for hours. The fast fading but still breathtaking blend of Persian and Pashtun architecture takes one back to the days of poetry and grandeur. The mortuary bath, the carelessly covered sarcophagus, the dilapidated mosques strewn here and there, the watchful minarets, the aging bougainvillea - all define a time that is surely lost, but can still be felt.
Hello Suman:
ReplyDeleteHow extraordinarily beautiful these tombs are and how magnificent they stand in the landscape. We can absolutely identify with this need to go back to things that feel rooted in the past when one is feeling vulnerable or uncertain. By going to these ancient sites, one is reassured that in spite of the passage of time, they still stand true and hold a special place in one's soul as a result.
Oh how we should love to see India one day. It holds so many fascinations for us but in the meantime, we can be captivated by its beauty through you.
Thank you dear Jane and Lance for the kind words. It is another assurance altogether when you meet kindred souls. That someone out there also exists, no matter how far, who has walked the same ruts gives the heart a strange faith.
DeleteRegarding visiting India, you are always welcome. And when you do make it, I shall only be too glad to take you to the tombs for real.
Amazing architecture and such atmospheric photographs, Suman.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks, Robert. I am glad you like the photographs.
Deletelovely historical place,thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it, Sunny. Hope you are doing well.
DeleteYour pictures are so beautiful ! This architecture is amazing. It makes me dream ........
ReplyDeleteThank you dear Celine, you are most kind. True, the tombs never cease to amaze. Do dream on and plan a trip soon. :-)
DeleteYour photos help me to see how, in this place, it could be possible to bring one's fragmented spirit back to one piece.....and your words....you took me right there.
ReplyDeleteRemember that, here in this newer world, such a place would have been power-washed, re-planted and sanitized so that any connection with the past would be through somewhat of a theme park.
It sounds like you're on the right track - and thank you for taking us with you. Every photo was so beautiful - perhaps one day I'll see it for myself.
I agree, agree absolutely. That this marvelous piece of history, even though in shambles, still stands tall today is a testament to our country's love for heritage.
DeleteI am glad my photos could take you on a tour of the tombs. I so hope you visit India one day; I would love to be your tour guide!
Thank you for the thumbs up, coming from you it sure gives me a truckload of encouragement.
Beautiful glimpses of older yet more beautiful times :). I hate death but these tombs make death seem less dreary :).
ReplyDeleteThank you, Unikorna for your most kind words and for the follower thingy. Much appreciated.
DeleteP.S. Love your profile name.