Tarantulas and all things not so tiny

 

Just read a report on how big, fat tarantulas manage to stick to things that they want to. Invisible spiderman-like silk threads keep them there. But this post is not really about the glues. Or about anything in particular actually. If I need a reason to post (this is my blog you know, and I can put whatever I want to, really) it would be that I loved the visual that’s put above. Spiders are such fascinating creatures for me and for a lot of many authors actually who keep creating superheroes, villains, monsters, horror stories and weird things with spiders in some form or another inserted. They inspire me in their creepy but slick style, almost make me poetic. Of all the creatures, spiders I would say, with their multiple hands and eyes which I cannot see, make me thing. What do you think this tarantula is thinking now?

 

I am about to jump

About to jump

On you.

 

One throw of thread

Silken and soft

Around your mouth

Silence abounds

 

As I weave around you

Thin, invisible bonds

Of horrifying fascination

That you may see, barely.

But that you may not still.

 

What do you think will happen

When you stop to see

To feel

To think

To be

 

And then you become

A strand of silk

Woven around

Misplaced

Misshapen

Crinkled

And lost.

 

See what I mean? Tarantulas make me attempt poetry. Which is a good thing, even if it’s sort of bad.

Sanskrit Book Fair 2011 in Bangalore

 

It was a place to remember and a place where some prejudices about Sanskrit, our ancient language, were discarded. Spent a day at the grand Sanskrit Book Fair cum conference held in Bangalore. With 1300 volunteers, 154 stalls with 128 publishers and 4 crores worth of sales (took it form the same website), the fair was a grand success. See the enthusiasm and energy for yourself.

 

Outside the book fair

 

I was also surprised by the sheer amount of people who spoke fluent Sanskrit (Read up the Wikipedia entry on it). Enthusiastic city dwellers, villagers, students, teachers, scholars and passionate people were just ambling along the area suffused with sunlight, chattering with people in sanskrit, picking up books, hugging each other like long lost friends and generally having a ball walking in the midst of the ancient language. The book exhibition was huge with publishers and titles from across the country on epics (which is why I was there). They also had a village built into the exhibition area (other than the all pervasive food stall of course) which had a post office, a school, a repair shop, a vegetable seller, the works.

 

Enthusiastic seller of vastra!

 

Modern reading and writing in an ancient setting

 

Kudos to the NGOs and the government that made it happen. I aim to learn the language and practice it at the fair next year (or is that too hopeful?).

My sunlit study

If I take a picture of my office early Monday morning since I was very enthused in going back to work after a three-day chutti. I must be doing something right! Oh and it’s not an office, it’s a study J

Stream of light and flashes of yellow. Don’t miss my pink cup on the table. The colours bring out my happiness and help me build up creative stories! Thanks to my husband for making it happen!