Life's like that!

Hampi, November 2005. In the background is the Talavaraghatta bridge across the Tungabhadra river river in the background. Last I heard, UNESCO pressure on the Karnataka government over the bridge's potential to damage the environment around a World Heritage site caused the government to abandon construction, with just one small span remaining, as you can see. Ironic, huh? For the foreseeable future, we might still enjoy this ferry ride across in a coracle. With our motorcycles, scooters and fighting roosters along. And no, cars aint allowed. We left our cars behind, crossed the river in a coracle and hoofed it.

Kumbhakarna, deep in slumber. This statue is located on the Bangalore/Hyderabad stretch of NH7, near Penukonda in Andhra Pradesh. We stopped here on the way back from Masinagudi so the kids' could get an eyeful.


Anantapur, April 2006. The Lal Bahadur Shastri statue gets its dusting down, courtesy this Anantapur man, who despite his own age, struggled up the steep pedestal to clean the statue. Was this a civic worker or a devoted fan? I have no idea. I took this picture from the window of the hotel room, which served as our night halt on the Masinagudi~Mysore~Bangalore~Hyderabad return leg.


A Langur monkey, at the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. This monkey is sitting by the highway, waiting for food scraps to be thrown at it from passing traffic. Never mind the Don't feed the wild animals boards everywhere. He kinda has powerful arms, don't you think?

The kids with their mom at Pookot Lake, Wayanad, April 2008. Nirvan absolutely loves trains, boats, motorcycles, planes and cars, in that order. That didn't stop him however from absorbing the nervousness that Nethra was radiating, thanks to the rocking of the rowboat we rented. Don't miss: Nirvan's sunglass lens askew; thats a trademark.

Family & Friends

The Hampi crew, R to L: Krishnan, Anuja carrying Mahir, Pooja, Sarika, Samir carrying Shreya, Meetu carrying Anumita, Nethra in Anusha's arms and over at the left, yours truly. Credit for this picture goes to Anupam.

The kids on a tree at the Nehru Zoological Park.

Rise & Shine! The kids wake up at the Beach Cottage in Suryalanka. Nirvan appears lost in thought while he takes stock of his milk (a.k.a. Inthu) rations for the day, and Nethra tries to get him to look at the camera.

The Suryalanka Beach gang. R to L: Anupam, Anumita, Meetu, Nirvan, Anusha, Nethra and yours truly, who had the camera on timer and charged to get into position.

Nethra and Nirvan, on their way to attend a birthday party. June 2007.

Torque, with Nirvan. June 2007.


Getting their feel wet at the Kotepally Reservoir, part of our weekend drive to Anantagiri Hills. Anumita, Nethra, Mahir & Nirvan, July 2007.


The kids with their dad at a beach near Suryalanka.

May 2008. Can you tell who is in this picture?

Nirvan

Our son, Nirvan, was born December 8th, 2004 at 1850 hours. He came quietly into this world with minimum fuss, 45 minutes after we had driven coolly to the Bridgeport Hospital in Bridgeport, CT. Earlier, in the late afternoon, the gynaec on duty at the clinic confirmed Anusha's suspicions that the baby was on the way and asked us to rush to the Hospital. We took our own time going about it and arrived at the Hospital in due course, where they were expecting us and ushered us right in to the delivery room.

His sister sees him for the first time. Don't miss what's printed on her tee shirt! I chose the tee myself for the occasion. The poor darling, while knowing that she was soon to have a new companion, didn't know how to deal with the actual experience of seeing her new brother.

I was with Anusha the entire time during the delivery and in hindsight, it was certainly one of the defining periods in my life. I'm glad I gathered the courage to go through with it. Funny thing is, Anusha was calm and composed through the whole event, but I was a total bundle of nerves! In the picture above, Nirvan is all of 20 days old.

Seen here at just over a month old. At the time, Nirvan was a wonderful baby, cheerful, silent, content and simply put, a perfect little baby boy. How I wish that would continue as he grew older! He was especially vociferous when in his car seat.

Talk about debuting at #1! His mother couldn't keep her eyes off him and was ably assisted by her mother in promoting him even further. Godly status attained in almost a blink of an eye. Nirvana indeed!

So much so that his poor dad decided to spend more time with his poor little daughter and let the ladies fuss over the lucky little infant boy.

Little wonder he was mostly happy!

Life is good!

Alright. When he grows up, he's probably not gonna like this, but hey, you've got to admit - he looks real cute, doesn't he?

Nirvan with his mom...

His adoring dad...and to those of you who have not figured it out yet, his dad happens to be none other than yours truly!

With his proud grandmother!

August 2005. This picture was taken just before we left for Pandharpur. Nirvan was 9 months old and it was time for him to be tonsured, in Pandharpur. Seems there's another little family ritual, this one is to dress the child up like Lord Krishna himself before getting around to the tonsuring ritual. When I went through with this as an infant, (must have been sometime in 1971) I was dressed as Radha and my older sister Sunita as Krishna!

This picture was taken shortly after we returned! He does look comfortable, doesn't he? Ask yourself now, after having seen this picture. Can you say you're going through life with nary a care or worry?

At the seat of the Vijayanagara Empire, in Hampi.

Here's Nirvan, Anusha & yours truly on his first birthday party, held at home in Secunderabad. His older sister is also in the picture (barely), over at the left.

Nirvan and his mom, at The Lakefront restaurant in Hyderabad. So far, he's always been happiest in his mother's arms (and vice versa).

Like most male children, Nirvan has been fascinated by Trains, Planes and all sorts of automobiles. He's seen here with a JK Tyre Jet Rib 9.00 - 20 on a Leyland bus, in Tirupati.

All teary eyed after his first official haircut, which occurred at home for His Royal Highness. I drove the busy barber home and Nirvan got his first taste of the barbers' scissors and comb. The barber was gentle and patient and my precious son was holding out pretty well. The tears started when he needed finishing touches from the barber's blade, the 'vastra'.

Can you read the expression on this little boy's face? The obsession continues to build. Ka, tain, pain and bike too! Buses, autos and trucks, not to mention the occassional bullock-cart also deserve special mention. Only the poor bullock is called a Kow! Mooo!
Spotting an earthmover or a crane are also significant.

June 2006. Nirvan samples the latest haute couture from Oshkosh, Timberland & Nike.

With his mom at Horsley Hills...

August 2006. Content.
He's just returned from a Ka ride; he'd picked his sister from her 'Cool'.

October 2006.


January 2007. Nirvan shows some puppies who's boss, gently yet firmly, at Suryalanka beach. The expression should say it all!

March 2007. This little boy is beginning to talk quite a bit now, the transition from baby language is apparent, words are coming in a rush! In English, Hindi, Tamil & Telugu, the languages he is exposed to.


April 2007. Setting off on an adventure with his buggy in hand. Except that it is too hot outdoors, so the furthest he is permitted to go is the verandah of our home.

Nirvan rides a 'rental bicycle' along the lake periphery at Kodaikanal in May 2007.


June 15th, 2007. Nirvan's first day at school. He's going to the same school as Nethra, Bhavishya Montessori at Marredpally. We were quite apprehensive about how he'd deal with separation from his mother, but the school hour consisted of him playing with the school equipment in the classroom, while his parents stayed near at hand. All in all, it went off without incident. We softened him up a little over a period of time, by taking him to the school everyday when Nethra was being dropped off and picked up. In this pic, Nirvan sits atop the slide in the school playground while he waits for his class to begin.

All dressed up for his sister's birthday, August 2007.

Happy Birthday! Nirvan and his Thomas Trains birthday cake on the day he turned three, December 8th 2007.

The Prince celebrates his birthday a day early at his school, Bhavishya Montessori.


The result of leaving talcum powder within reach of an extremely naughty three year old...


The prince in his wedding finery. Not his wedding though, as he believed; the occasion was his aunt Rati's wedding at Bangalore. Nirvan loves dressing up and was waiting to wear 'his' wedding clothes.