Poet's first flight from London to Paris by Gaganendranath Tagore and Sher by Ghalib
This week in Daak:
1. Poet's first flight from London to Paris by Gaganendranath Tagore
2. Sher by Ghalib
3. Rim Jhim - the Sound of Rain
1. Poet's first flight from London to Paris by Gaganendranath Tagore, 1921, Google Arts & Culture
The rapidity of technological innovation makes it easy to forget that life looked radically different even just a hundred years ago. Commercial flights only began around 1914 and until a few decades ago, flights were a luxury few could afford in South Asia. However, with this ready convenience available to us today, we have forgotten the wonder and whimsy of being able to fly to our destination in a matter of hours. In this painting, Gaganendranath Tagore, the nephew of the Rabindranath Tagore, captures his uncle’s magical first flight. Tagore looks perplexed amidst the stars as his writing paraphernalia flies about and he holds tight to a magnifying glass (or a mirror?) in his hands. Perhaps he is wondering about the workings of this flying contraption or if this is all just a dream (the painting is certainly quite dreamlike!). Regardless of his ponderings, we hope this painting reminds you to feel a sense of awe at the little things we take for granted today.
2. Sher by Ghalib
na tha kuch toh khuda tha na kuch hota toh khuda hota
duboya mujh ko hone ne na hota main toh kya hota
//
When there was nothing, then God existed; if nothing existed, then God would exist.
'being' drowned me; if I did not exist, then what would I be?What haunting, perplexing lines! Read them several times and each reading will unfold a new layer of meaning. The first line seems simple enough, emphasizing the undeniable existence of the divine, with or without this material world. It’s the second line that will give you pause. Is Ghalib ruing his own existence because of the suffering life brings or because he thinks he could’ve been something different or greater (perhaps God?) without the constrains of this physical existence? Share these lines with friends and enjoy their unravelling.
3. Rim Jhim - the Sound of Rain
If you are a lover of rain and its soothing rim jhim refrain, check out these delicate hand-painted earrings made in collaboration with Say It With A Pin.