A rough plan
I sat down to make a list of things I need to do before I leave for home in the next few days, and quickly abandoned it, partly because I realised there was no way I was getting all of that done, and plus, it made me think of a more interesting list: what I want to do on my month-long holiday when I get home in a few days. I’ll be in Delhi in winter after a long time, but also in Pune and a couple other places, including Shimla. So without much ado, on the agenda is:
1. Sunday morning, after a lazy breakfast, head to the old city in Delhi to soak in the winter sun and hunt around for some gems in the legendary Daryaganj sunday secondhand book market. Find a tea stall afterwards and hotly debate the bizarre ideas of "urban development and beautification" that threatens these old urban institutions. Check out what’s playing at the old Golcha cinema, most likely shudder and move on.
2. Go to the Nizamuddin dargah in Delhi for the Thursday night qawwali. I have missed this too many times already. Later, get lost near Nizamuddin and hopefully emerge at the railway station and attempt to retrace path (am not hoping to do this but something tells me it will happen, yet again, even though, sadly, I will not be on my trusted Vespa from many years ago)
3. Eat the carrot-radish salad available at every street corner in Delhi in winter, with the farty black salt garnish. I positively disliked this back then and just want to make sure everything’s still the same.
4. In Pune, after recovering from the shock of the New Software City transformation that renders neighbourhoods unfamiliar even in a few months’ time, argue with old librarian at the BISM library for permission to see an old manuscript I’ve been wanting to work on. Do my best to make it there and back without being seen by an aunt who lives right next door.
5. Comb the Sonya Maruti Chowk neighbourhood, where all the historic jewellery shops are in Pune, with my sister in order to find the perfect sparkling nosestud. Attempt to dislodge heart from throat while riding pillion with sister, while secretly sighing with relief that she is a much worse driver than I ever was. Later, browse in the needlework and wool shops in Tulshibaag, buy really really cheap Pony needles and gawk at the acrylics. Eat some kutchi dabeli at the stall opposite the Shagun store, and/or bhel at Navratna. Check out some Puneri cotton sarees at Peshwai.
6. Take the Kalka-Shimla train up into the hills. Walk around the old Viceregal Lodge Indian Institute of Advanced Study and unwind. Try to find an old dhaba from years ago where I had absolutely the best alu parathas with Amul butter EVER.
7. Read Shrilal Shukla’s Hindi novel Raag Darbari, which I just started and which is hilarious.
All of this interspersed with an academic conference, catching up with old friends at the good ol’ alma mater (those of you who know about JNU and might be reading this, some of the stuff in that wikipedia link is hilarious) and at my old job, some grading, eating sinful amounts of food and marvelling yet again at all the weirdos in my extended family. Oh, and hopefully plenty of knitting.
Wow! Didn’t you just get back from a trip to India?! No knitting?
Have a great time!
hi!! i lurk your blog ocassionally… and was surprised to hear you are going to delhi and pune.. me too me too!! 3 more days and i cant wait!! was good to read your entry esp about pune.. i hope i have the time to go to tulshibaag .. i will be there just 7 days. keep in touch and have a nice trip.
Manisha, it seems both like I just got back, and that I’ve been away forever. Weird! Thanks, and enjoy the holidays! I am taking along some knitting, let’s see.
Mazhalai, thanks for visiting the blog! Do go to Tulshibaag, at least to Samrat Woollen house (it’s right behind the Tulshibaag Ganpati), they also have pure wools.
Hey, I was at JNU, too! Came away with nothing but experience and a renewed interest in yarny stuff, though. 1996-2000…
Hey, I was at JNU, too! Came away with nothing but experience and a renewed interest in yarny stuff, though. 1996-2000…
hey grt to know ure homeward bound again…thats 2 trips in a year literally. like ive already told u allabt myself,did i mention that i live in raipur (cg former mp) which is we all know very much a part of hindustan…but its been a year that i met my parents leaving out the3 day trip i made in july to pune. and look at u so far away from home and so very lucky…just kidding have a great holiday. i hate my husband 4 the one annual holiday schedule. pls mail me ur number if ure ok with it. btw grt knitting.
I would say have a good time if that weren’t a given, really. But have a good time, anyway. You make me want to visit all these places! And hi to P, too!
Quite an agenda you have planned out there! I bet it will all be fabulous!
MrsFife, you were at JNU? Cool. We missed each other by a smidgen, although I did visit the campus a lot until 97. Was in Godavari. and you?
Kirti, will be in touch. Am telling myself this is not really a vacation but a work-trip!
Thanks, Lobstah and Spud; will hopefully take time away from tucking in to take some pictures and blog about stuff.
a great list! feeling deeply envious. if you don’t have anything against gajar-ka-halwa, i’d recommend an addition to the list of things-to-do in delhi.
Have a wonderful time! Happy travelling.
Raag Darbari is an AMAZING book. It is the only Hindi novel I have read in my entire life and I was very glad to have taken the trouble to read the original. Some things just don’t translate. I could hardly believe how relevant the novel is, so many decades after it was written. I think the TV series did a decent job (what was it, almost 20 years ago?), but the book is unparalleled. Enjoy.
Say, would you mind buying an extra copy if you can and mailing it to me in MN? I’ll pay you for the book, plus postage, of course.
I was in Sabarmati, but I had friends in Godavari, who’d been there before 1997 (1994 onwards) at SIS. Is this where we say “small world”?
8. Pack Uccellina up very small and take her with you.
Yaar, this ain’t fair. Seriously.
Oh, the jealousy! We won’t be going to India until March at the soonest. I’m glad for your tips on where to stop in Pune, though, since this trip we’ll likely be spending at least a few days there. Have a wonderful wonderful time!!
So many trips to India….am totally cnsumed by jealousy. As they say in Marathi, mazach nasheeb phutka.
And I am waiting for detailed reports of Pune. What are you eating? what places have you visited? What majja have you been indulging in? Also very curious to hear more about the qawwali that you were planning to attend in Delhi. Did you make it?
Hi–
Any recommmendations for yarn/knitting stores in India (specifically Delhi, Mumbai, or Pune)? Is there quality needles/yarn to be found? If not, are there reliable websites people use?
Thanks,
Aruna
Lucky, lucky lady! I agree with Sepoy…it’s SO NOT FAIR! Give India a kiss for me and tell her I said hello. I miss her dearly.
Next time, send one of us on your behalf…
hi, i guess i am a little late in looking at your blog. since you were in Delhi i could have met you
. but i guess its late. but if i am not late do e mail me. may be i get lucky.
Aruna there are lovely yarn shops and needles availabe here. i have just ordered teak and bamboo needles. hopefully i will get them from south India before new year ( finger crossed)