Namaste Tower

Namaste Tower in Mumbai is going to be another civil engineering marvel. Ambika Mills property in Lower Parel is the location where this majestic Namaste Tower is under construction. The Namaste Tower is designed by Atkins Design Studio. The height of Namaste Tower will be 300 meters. There will be 62 floors in Namaste Tower encompassing spaces for offices, hotels and retail.

Namaste Tower

Namaste Tower

The design of the Namaste Tower is inspired by the traditional Indian greeting of "Namaste", where the hands are clasped together in greeting. In Sanskrit, "Namaste" means "I bow to you". It has a spiritual significance of negating one's ego in the presence of another.

Namaste Tower - Landscape View

Namaste Tower - Landscape View

At the summit of Namaste Tower, a generous quadruple height atrium space will enclose a Sky Restaurant and Bar which will provide a unique vantage point for patrons to gain panoramic views out over the city of Mumbai.

Namaste Tower - Rising High

Namaste Tower - Rising High

Namaste Tower - Long Section

Namaste Tower - Long Section

Namaste Tower - View from Race Course

Namaste Tower - View from Race Course

Note: I received the above virtual photos of Namaste Tower and information about it, in an email forward. These are not photographed/created by me. The copyright and credit of these virtual photos of Namaste Tower remain with the original photographers and artists. If you are one of the original photographers or artists of these virtual photos of Namaste Tower, please let me know; I'll very happily link back to you :)

Agrasen Maharaj

Have you seen my post of Shehnai Player? It's the same place I have taken the below photograph of Agrasen Maharaj, inside the temple. The happiest visitors of this post will be of a trader cast in India — the Agrawal community. Agrasen Maharaj is god for them, just like the endless universe is for me.

A temple of Agrasen Maharaj is built in a small town named Agroha. The town may be small, but it has ancient roots from the time of the very famous Mahabharat era. Agrasen Maharaj was a legendary king of Agroha. Agrasen Maharaj was born during the same time period as Lord Krishna.

Agrasen Maharaj

Agrasen Maharaj

A 1 hour drive took us from Hissar to the giant, intricate and beautiful temple of Agrasen Maharaj in Agroha. One must visit the temple to see the real charm of Agrasen Maharaj's statue inside. The photo I have taken is merely a glimpse of the beauty that one will admire in real presence inside the temple standing in front of the very royal and rich Agrasen Maharaj. Actually the temple is not primarily of Agrasen Maharaj, but of a goddess. But in India, one temple may have many deities inside.

According to Bharatendu Harishchandra, the author of Agarwalon ki Utpatti [The origin of Agrawals] written in 1871, Agrasen Maharaj was a Suryavanshi Kshatriya [a fighter community]. He had 18 children who founded a cast named Agrawal.

Indian Boy

An Indian boy has to live a very different life than any other nation's child. Indian boy is a struggler; Indian boy is a survivor. Life is not easy, but is equally rewarding. Although the rewards are not within the generic definition, those can be enjoyed only by an Indian boy!

When an Indian boy is born, he has to know that he does not have all the resources that a rich nation's boy has by birth. Indian boy has to start working at very early stage of life; most start working at the age of 5! Indian boy has to suffer competition when the age is of playing and stumbling. To come to the photo I want to show you, Indian boy even has to sell colored sugar sponge! You don't believe, do you? The scene in the below photo is a common sight in India. When I was doing clone photography on Sinhgadh last year, this Indian boy was looking at me with great amazement as to what I was doing, and at the "from out of the world" equipments I had.

Indian Boy

Indian Boy

He was amazed, and was in deep thoughts. Probably, the Indian boy was thinking about his future, about what he was going to do in future, what he was going to become one day, what life is all about, what he is doing on the picnic spot, is selling that stuff going to make him someone, will he be one of those "rags to riches". Or was it that the Indian boy was not thinking about anything, and was blank at the situation? Was he ignorant about everything, or were his parents ignorant about him? Whatever it may be, he was a pure picture showcasing the life of an Indian boy in one photo. I guess, this photo of Indian boy has some message, it has some deep meaningful words, and his silence speaks loudly.

And to end this post with my — a photographer's view, the situation was demanding a photograph. The subject was unusual as a global point of view, and the colors were quite a contrast.

If you liked this Indian boy, you may want to see another one in Bhuleshwar Temple. The one in that must be about 6 years old.

Malabar Whistling Thrush

I took the below photo of Malabar Whistling Thrush about 3 years back. The photo could have been better, I know. Sorry for the disappointment. But I believe that this post however will mesmerize you with the fact of the bird. Some of you might be aware already, but for others, there is a strange thing about this bird. As the name suggests, the bird whistles. But did you know that Malabar Whistling Thrush can whistle exactly like men? In fact, Malabar Whistling Thrush can whistle way better than any man. I whistle quite a lot and had believed that I whistle very well. But when I heard the Malabar Whistling Thrush, I was stunned. I kind of got an inferiority complex, in a good way.

Malabar Whistling Thrush

Malabar Whistling Thrush

Malabar Whistling Thrush is found in dark forests, mostly on shores of shallow river flows. The most number of Malabar Whistling Thrush is in the Western Ghats. However it is sparsely found in the mountain range of Satpuda also. Malabar Whistling Thrush sings very melodiously with the length of their songs at the longest during dawn. The songs of Malabar Whistling Thrush can be heard for approximately up to 1 kilometer in the silence of the forests. Malabar Whistling Thrush is not a migratory bird, but is known to travel great distances for reasons unknown. The scientific name or binomial name of Malabar Whistling Thrush is Myophonus Horsfieldii.

See some other birds photographed by me…
• Long-tailed Shrike
• Swallow bird picture
• Oriental White-eye
• Grey Heron
• Crow photo
• Hen and chicks picture
• Baby dinosaur
• Yellow Footed Green Pigeon
• Flight of falcon
• Brahminy Starling
• Intelligent crow
• Indian Myna
• Jungle Babbler
• Peacock
• Pigeon photo
• Photos of sparrows
• Masakkali

Spectrum Scam

Have you heard about the 2G spectrum scam in India? It's not important whether you know. This post is to show you a precious thing that was created probably from a small portion of the huge spectrum scam amount.

Note: I received the below spectrum scam house photos in an email forward. These are not photographed by me. The copyright and credit of these spectrum scam house photos remain with the original photographers. If you are one of the original photographers of these spectrum scam house photos, please let me know; I'll very happily link back to you :) Also, I am not sure if this house is really an outcome of Raja's spectrum scam; the forwarded email said so!

Spectrum Scam - Raja's house

Spectrum Scam - Raja's house

Spectrum Scam - Bath

Spectrum Scam - Bath

Spectrum Scam - Bedroom

Spectrum Scam - Bedroom

Spectrum Scam - Another bedroom

Spectrum Scam - Another bedroom

Spectrum Scam - Coffee room

Spectrum Scam - Coffee room

Spectrum Scam - Dining

Spectrum Scam - Dining

Spectrum Scam - Living room

Spectrum Scam - Living room

Spectrum Scam - Parking

Spectrum Scam - Parking

Spectrum Scam - Passage

Spectrum Scam - Passage

Spectrum Scam - Toilet

Spectrum Scam - Toilet

Marble Mosaic Medallions

It has become a big trend in India to have marble mosaic medallions created on floors mostly. There are people who create marble mosaic medallions on ceilings, but that is scary, isn't it? :)

When I visited Prati Pandharpur, there was this work of marble mosaic medallions done on complete flooring. It was looking beautiful. What do you say looking at this photo?

Marble Mosaic Medallions

Marble Mosaic Medallions

It is very difficult to create marble mosaic medallions. The artist must have knowledge of properties of marble & related material, some practical knowledge of architecture & engineering drawings, etc. apart from being creative. Usually even the smallest marble mosaic medallions take a lot of time. I have seen people work for weeks to create very basic marble mosaic medallions in my office building, for flooring. The one in the above photo must have taken… mmm… what do you say, how much time?

Evening Sky

It was a stunning display in the evening sky. I remember that evening of the time when monsoon was taking its control over India last year. The monsoon in my area was about 3 weeks old when the evening sky blasted with vibrant colors spread all around, brightening the eyes and faces of everyone below it.

Evening Sky

Evening Sky

I have many photos of evening sky. You may not believe that each one is special. The specialty of this evening sky is the time of the year it was displayed during. Sky colors during the weaker days of monsoon are incomparable.

If you are interested in sky photos, not especially of evening sky, you may find my archived posts interesting. Here are those…
• Rays of hope
• Altocumulus
• Morning sky
• Moon and sun in one photograph
• Photo of sunrise at Veer Dam backwater
• HDR of sun and clouds

What do you say?

African Marigold

Can you believe that this African marigold had bloomed near my office? Mmm… wrong question actually! Why won't you believe? You haven't seen my office, and you don't know anything around my office. Anyway, for me, only to recall where I had took this photo of African marigold, I should have kept that question limited to myself :)

There is a beautiful lake behind my office, where the municipal corporation has built a small park around the lake with some exotic plants and trees. At least the municipal corporation believes that they are exotic! :) Whatever it may be; in my view everything natural is exotic. No wonder I found this African marigold an exotic species! It was quite obvious for me to take its photograph and share it with you all.

African Marigold

African Marigold

Because I like everything [you may need to see my post on Illusion photography to know what funny thing I may find beautiful], I may not be the judge. So what do you say? Do you like the African marigold?

African Marigold

African Marigold

Management Flow Chart

Management Flow Chart

Management Flow Chart

The conclusion of the above management flow chart is…

When top level guys look down, they see only shitheads;
When bottom level guys look up, they see only assholes!! :)

Note: I received the above artwork of management flow chart in an email forward. It is not created by me. The copyright and credit of this management flow chart artwork remains with the original artist. If you are the original artist of this management flow chart artwork, please let me know; I'll very happily link back to you :)

Sherawali Mata

There is a beautiful place about 30 kilometers from my residence, named Neelkantheshwar on a hilltop with view of some of the gorgeous valleys of the Western Ghats. There are innumerous statues everywhere. One of them is of Sherawali Mata. The literal meaning of Sherawali Mata is the goddess with lions. Sher means lion. Sherawali means having lions, in feminine form. Mata means goddess. Sherawali Mata is the goddess with lions. As mentioned in my post named Dagdusheth Ganpati, every god in India has a carrier/vehicle. The carrier or vehicle of Sherawali Mata is lion.

I took this photo of Sherawali Mata at Neelkantheshwar.

Sherawali Mata

Sherawali Mata

The fact must be that Sherawali Mata is actually Durga, the mother of all goddesses in Indian mythology. If this is true, Sherawali Mata is Parvati, the wife of Shiv, AKA Durga. When evils became a huge threat to the existence of the gods, all gods combined their powers in Parvati to incarnate Durga.

Leaf Veins

I was browsing though my photo collection today morning, and stumbled upon the amazing photo folder of Bedse Caves. In that, there was this amazingly beautifully carved natural thing — leaf veins.

While climbing the steps of the Bedse Caves, there are small shrubs on both the sides, of a variety of species. One was very dry in them as if it had some infection. Sounds ugly, but this is the photo it produced, the photo of leaf veins; see below. I have named it leaf veins. I had published a similar photo about 2 years back, but it was a green one. You may want to see it at Leaf Structure.

I hope you liked this photo of leaf veins.

Leaf Veins

Leaf Veins

Old India Photos

Old India Photos - Baby Gandhi

Old India Photos - Baby Gandhi

Old India Photos - Begum of Bhopal, 1872

Old India Photos - Begum of Bhopal, 1872

Old India Photos - Death of Lal Bahadur Shastri

Old India Photos - Death of Lal Bahadur Shastri

Old India Photos - Delhi street, 1908

Old India Photos - Delhi street, 1908

Old India Photos - Eight annas court fee

Old India Photos - Eight annas court fee

Old India Photos - Envelope of 1933

Old India Photos - Envelope of 1933

Old India Photos - Farmer in Kolkata

Old India Photos - Farmer in Kolkata

Old India Photos - First election

Old India Photos - First election

Old India Photos - First flag of India after freedom

Old India Photos - First flag of India after freedom

Old India Photos - First parade

Old India Photos - First parade

Old India Photos - First war

Old India Photos - First war

Old India Photos - Gandhiji's final yatra

Old India Photos - Gandhiji's final yatra

Old India Photos - Gandhiji with his wife

Old India Photos - Gandhiji with his wife

Old India Photos - Imambara, Lucknow, 1857

Old India Photos - Imambara, Lucknow, 1857

Old India Photos - Indian Parliament

Old India Photos - Indian Parliament

Old India Photos - Indian Parliament - Aerial view

Old India Photos - Indian Parliament - Aerial view

Old India Photos - Jaipur in 1860

Old India Photos - Jaipur in 1860

Old India Photos - Jama Masjid

Old India Photos - Jama Masjid

Old India Photos - Jama Masjid in 1857

Old India Photos - Jama Masjid in 1857

Old India Photos - Jantar Mantar in 1857

Old India Photos - Jantar Mantar in 1857

Old India Photos - Jhansi Fort in 1857

Old India Photos - Jhansi Fort in 1857

Old India Photos - Kashmiri Gate, Delhi, 1857

Old India Photos - Kashmiri Gate, Delhi, 1857

Old India Photos - Lal Bahadur Shastri with his wife

Old India Photos - Lal Bahadur Shastri with his wife

Old India Photos - Lord Viceroy Residence in Delhi, 1927

Old India Photos - Lord Viceroy Residence in Delhi, 1927

Old India Photos - Macaulay's address to British Parliament dated 2-February-1835. It reads…
I have travelled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief, such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such caliber, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their selfesteem, their native culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation.

Old India Photos - Macaulay's address to British Parliament

Old India Photos - Map of India in 1857

Old India Photos - Map of India in 1857

Old India Photos - Mountbatten arrival at Red Fort

Old India Photos - Mountbatten arrival at Red Fort

Old India Photos - Mountbatten with Jawaharlal Nehru

Old India Photos - Mountbatten with Jawaharlal Nehru

Old India Photos - Netaji in a visitor's book of Nagarik Pustakalay

Old India Photos - Netaji in a visitor's book of Nagarik Pustakalay

Old India Photos - Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

Old India Photos - Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

Old India Photos - People waiting for PM - Jawaharlal Nehru

Old India Photos - People waiting for PM - Jawaharlal Nehru

Old India Photos - Postage of Madras on 12-February-1857

Old India Photos - Postage of Madras on 12-February-1857

Old India Photos - Postcard of Dhar state

Old India Photos - Postcard of Dhar state

Old India Photos - Sikandar Bagh Lucknow right after the freedom fight of 1857

Old India Photos - Sikandar Bagh Lucknow right after the freedom fight of 1857
Identified by Mr Irfan

Old India Photos - Somewhere in India in 1857

Old India Photos - Somewhere in India in 1857

Old India Photos - Stamps

Old India Photos - Stamps

Old India Photos - Subhash Chandra Bose

Old India Photos - Subhash Chandra Bose

Old India Photos - Subhash Chandra Bose with Adolf Hitler

Old India Photos - Subhash Chandra Bose with Adolf Hitler

Old India Photos - Tatya Tope and troops, 1857

Old India Photos - Tatya Tope and troops, 1857

Old India Photos - Telegraph dated 9-May-1857

Old India Photos - Telegraph dated 9-May-1857

Old India Photos - Telegraph dated 10-May-1857

Old India Photos - Telegraph dated 10-May-1857

Old India Photos - Thousand rupees note

Old India Photos - Thousand rupees note

Old India Photos - The Times of India dated 15-August-1947

Old India Photos - The Times of India dated 15-August-1947

Old India Photos - Unknown freedom fighters hanged

Old India Photos - Unknown freedom fighters hanged

Old India Photos - Young Gandhiji

Old India Photos - Young Gandhiji

Old India Photos - Young Mahatma Gandhi

Old India Photos - Young Mahatma Gandhi

Following photo is submitted and identified by Mr Subhash Kumar
Old India Photos - News published in New York on 03-May-1919. The news reads… Missionaries in India reported to be safe - New York, (AP) - Announcement was made Friday by the Presbyterian board of foreign missions that all the missionaries in the disturbed section of India are safe, the information being based on a cable from the Rev. J. C. R. Ewing, D. D., at Lahore, Punjab, India

Old India Photos - News published in New York on 03-May-1919

Following photo is submitted and identified by Mr Subhash Kumar
Old India Photos - News published in London on 20-April-1919. The news reads… Delhi Strike Continues - Communication with Northern Punjab Interrupted - London [AP] - The latest review of the situation in India received here Saturday shows no improvement in the Punjab and the region of Delhi. The strike continues at Delhi. The people are reported to be maintaining a sullen attitude. The "prevention of seditious meetings act" has been put into force at Multan, southwest of Lahore, and at Jullundur, east of Lahore. Communication with the northern Punjab has been interrupted. A serious outbreak occurred early in the week at Chukarkkan, in the Gujranwala district north of Lahore, and a railway station was wrecked. Mrs. Annie Besant, theosophical and nationalist leader, it is added, has issued a statement condemning the extremists.

Old India Photos - News published in London on 20-April-1919

Following photo is submitted and identified by Mr Subhash Kumar
Old India Photos - News published in the fifth column of page seven in Friday Evening section of The Salt Lake Evening Telegram newspaper dated 24-October-1913. The news reads… Panic strikes India - Bombay, British India, Oct. 24. — The financial excitement as a result of the closing of the Bombay shares market continues and other branches of trade beside those concerned in the mill share market are badly affected. The closing down of the market was due to a tremendous fall in Bombay mill shares and a number of failures. A pearl merchant failed yesterday for approximately $1,350,000, while another gem merchant failed for $100,000.

Old India Photos - News published in the fifth column of page seven in Friday Evening section of The Salt Lake Evening Telegram newspaper dated 24-October-1913

Following photo is submitted and identified by Mr Subhash Kumar
Old India Photos - Son of Mahatma Gandhi — Devandas arrested as reported on 20-August-1942. The news reads… Son of the Hindu leader Mohandas K. Gandhi and managing editor of The Hindustan Times, DEVANDAS GANDHI was arrested Wednesday under the Defense of India Rules. His father has been in custody since the beginning of the civil disobedience drive on Aug. 9.

Old India Photos - Son of Mahatma Gandhi — Devandas arrested as reported on 20-August-1942

Note: I received the above old India photos in an email forward. These are of course not photographed by me as I was not even born :) The copyright and credit of these old India photos remain with the original photographers. If you are one of the original photographers of these old India photos, please let me know; I'll very happily link back to you :)

Update: I have a few more photos received. Sharing here…

Old India Photos - A khadi cloth shop - photo taken in 1920

Old India Photos - A khadi cloth shop - photo taken in 1920

Old India Photos - A grain shop - photo taken in 1873 in Mumbai

Old India Photos - A grain shop - photo taken in 1873 in Mumbai

Old India Photos - A photo from 1873 showing jewelsmiths

Old India Photos - A photo from 1873 showing jewelsmiths

Old India Photos - Teaching Marathi children in 1873

Old India Photos - Teaching Marathi children in 1873

Old India Photos - The famous hotel Taj Mahal Palace near Gateway of India, photographed in year 1900

Old India Photos - The famous hotel Taj Mahal Palace near Gateway of India, photographed in year 1900

Old India Photos - Chor Bazaar [market of stolen items] in Mumbai

Old India Photos - Chor Bazaar [market of stolen items] in Mumbai

Old India Photos - A building in Mumbai photographed in 1890

Old India Photos - A building in Mumbai photographed in 1890

Old India Photos - A snake charmer [sapera] in front of the Gateway of India, photographed in 1939

Old India Photos - A snake charmer [sapera] in front of the Gateway of India, photographed in 1939

Old India Photos - Roads of Mumbai photographed in 1880. There are no cars to be seen, but only horse carts!

Old India Photos - Roads of Mumbai photographed in 1880. There are no cars to be seen, but only horse carts!