the canvasses of Bhopal....Part 1 : Upper Lake / Lake View

          As my time comes ,to bid farewell to this city , which has been my habitat for the past five years. My mind is filled with bitter-sweet memories ...

          But some beautiful places sketch unforgettable illustrations on our minds.And Bhopal has no shortage for such pictorial delights . All my fellow bhopalis will agree , that if you want to write about the beauty of Bhopal , there is no other place better than the UPPER LAKE , fondly known as Lake View , to begin with.
          The serene sunsets , the quiescent rides in boat , the visits to mazar , all fill in my mind, as fragrantly as a fresh rose would have  .But before i share with you my most wonderful memories of Upper Lake , i would like to acquaint you with its history.
            Upper lake is the largest artificial lake in Asia , with an astonishing surface area of 31 km².It was built by Raja Bhoj , the king of Malwa (1005-1055).It was created by creating an earthen dam on the Kolan River.
            Legend has it that once the mighty king suffered from an incurable skin disease. When all the vaidyas  of bhojpal failed to cure the king , a saint told him to build a tank to combine 365 tributaries , and then have a bath in this tank . He ordered his engineers , and so the upper lake was cobbled up .

 

             Much has been written and said about the beautiful sunsets on the lake. And no words i write , would justify the tranquility of the moments of watching the enormous sun quench into the lake , while sitting in a boat on the lake. Both the sky and the water are painted with various shades of grays , blues , purples , violets and reds. A magic only nature can conceive.November is one of my favorite seasons to watch these sunsets . Because the breeze is cool , and the evenings are rozy , hence the entire effect is spectacular.
             Many of you might have visited Mumbai , and must have been awestruck by the queens necklace , on Marine drive . Similar effect was tried to be achieved , here by the lightings of VIP road. And the effect might be not of the same magnitude , but it is indeed , very eye-catching.

                My friends and i used to risk getting scolded by our warden for coming late , and stay till the darkness , just to let our eyes behold this beautiful sight.And it was worth it. 
                Another beautiful memory in my mind is that of a chilly December morning , when my friends and i went to lake to bunk college , only to be mesmerized by what we saw. The lake was covered by a quilt of fog . which hung above it , as if afraid to touch the cold water.The sun was bright in the sky , it reminded me of the song SMOKE ON WATER...

              


           And it was at this very place that yours sincerely fell hopelessly in  love with a man she is waiting to be espoused to , on a humid , cloudy  July afternoon , when the concerned gent was sweating hard , both from peddling the boat , and the weather , but still had such a sincere smile on his face , that it was impossible not to feel the bliss.One of the reasons ,which makes Lake View special for me... and i know there are many others who share such romantic stints of lake.

            A small island is located on the lake , called the Takia island (no relation with the object of resting on your head on at night , mind you...) which has a tomb of Shah Ali Shah Rahamatullah Alla . Why the management chose to enlighten this island with ghostly green lights at night ,it beyond my imagination. But it is worth a dekko. 


            Lake view isn't the only location in Bhopal  from where i can enjoy the beauty of Upper lake.   Other spots such as Mahavir tekri , VIP road, Noor-Us-Sabah  also offer a breathtaking view of the lake. 
                 Yours sincerely will  write on them , while telling you about those very locations.

           
As my parting words for now i wish that may your evenings be as colorful and delighting as mine were... those spent on the Lake View...

Mini Bus dilemma in Bhopal

           I have been a hosteler in Bhopal since past 5 years. And of these five years , the most dreaded moments have been those of travelling by city buses.
           Bhopal is a quiescent city , with neat broad roads in most parts of the town , and citizens with a more laid-back  approach towards life.
           But this essence vanishes , the moment you enter into the monsters grumbling on the road. Apparently , some people believe that humans are descendants of animals ; and these buswallas are one of them. Cause they hurl in passengers like they are cattle.And like cattle you are suppose shut up and bear the discomfort.

      

           Most of the time these buses contain a typical crowd. A sullen driver ,who balances the wheel with one hand, and  pours gutka in his mouth with another. A conductor , whose favorite line seems to be " uncle thodo aur khisko , andar bohot jagah khali hai." And who haggles with every other passenger for fare .His favourite position is on the gate , with half his body sticking out of the bus , and his `trained´ eyes in search of passengers far off the horizon
           The passengers are mainly poor , lower middle class people , and students like yours sincerely , who cant afford the ludicrous auto fares in the city. Always , does the bus contain at least one drunken bastard , stinking of sweat and desi booze , a middle aged sleazeball  who wants to stand next to young women and make their  journey hellish . Cause the space is so tight , they cant even move away, and such disgusting people take advantage of this situation. Also , i have mysteriously always encountered  , small children who are on verge of vomiting , and crying simultaneously.
            The capacity of these mini buses atmost 30 people maximum, both sitting and standing comfortably. But on one occasion i managed to count past fifty and then lost the headcount , because the people at back and those hanging outside the gate were not visible.And thrice i got scolded for moving my head unnecessarily , and causing "discomfort" to the six passengers hanging around me.

              
           Another interesting fact is that these buses are always willing to stop anywhere and everywhere , to get the passengers on board , but when the very same passenger requests to stop the bus , so that he can end his long suffering , he is duly informed  that the bus stops at selected stops only.
          There are only two joyous occasions on a mini bus ride , when you feel like throwing a party to your friends. One is when you grab a seat to sit (which requires great skills like ability to block other people, eyes with scanners to spot the emptying seat , tough shoes to stamp on other peoples feet , and intense physical strength. Such a task can be highly exhaustive, mind you.)   The other is when you reach your destination , and get the hell out of the bus.
          Believe  me , no sweet emotion can better that of the fresh air rushing into your lungs , and that you can move your limbs without anyone scowling at you.
          As i will be leaving this city soon , i have taken to spending my parents hard earned money on auto rides , at least one way. Because now i have lost the will to stamp on other people`s feet , and haggle with conductor for one rupee.

        

                    Am sure that this problem is in  all the cities of our country , where buses are the main mode of transport. but the question is what is the solution of these problems. The traffic police turns a blind eye towards these buses , because their pockets are regularly filled. Same is the case with policemen , and politicians who are either fed or threatened properly. The plight of the comman man is ignored , deliberately as usual.....





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