Absailing the Taj

This has to be one of the more precarious jobs around - cleaning the dome of the Taj Mahal, a hundred yards up in the air with nothing but flat marble to break your fall. At least that's what I assume they were doing - either that or the Agra scout troop getting a little ahead of themselves.

Louis Kahn - IIM

Louis Khan - IIM

Louis Kahn in India

The monumental architecture of Louis Kahn serves as the campus of the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad. Kahn is known for such grand buildings - and for having three seperate families with three women at the same time.... interesting chap. I saw a doco on him a few years back so it was a treat to visit one of his most notable creations. The campus was built in 1962.

Ahmedabad

After weaving through the crowds of old Ahmedabad, we came to this beautiful mosque (Jami Masjid), built in 1424. I'm always struck how peaceful such open air mosques are, particularly by contrast with their surrounds.

Ahmedabad

This beautiful window was carved from a single piece of stone in Ahmedabad's Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, built in 1573 and now a virtual traffic island between four busy streets.

Ahmedabad

This is the old town of Ahmedabad on market day. We walked through the sea of humanity and onward to the arches at the far end of the street. In that 200 metre stretch, my energy and affection for India was recharged - this place is just phenomenal.

Slumdog furore

A twist to the Slumdog story. Hot off the Oscar red carpet, the fabulous theme song to the Slumdog movie - "Jai Ho" - has been purchased by India's Congress Party as its campaign theme for the upcoming National elections. The exclusive rights allegedly cost them millions. A BJP politician, Narendra Modi, used the song at a recent rally in Gujerat. His political opponents in Congress have threatened to sue him for copywrite infringement. Only in India.

Gandhi going once, twice

James Otis is a collector. He is selling some items once owned by Mahatma Gandhi including his iconic glasses and sandals. Gandhi had given them to people he met during his international travels. The items were to go to auction today in New York. Hysteria has hit India at the prospect that items that once belonged to the ‘Father of the Nation’ might not reside in India for perpetuity. The Indian Government has been galvanised into action by the public outcry and is pushing for Otis to donate them, or sell them cheaply to the Government. Two hours from the auction Otis undertook to donate the items to India on condition that the Indian Government increase the proportion of GDP spent on health care for the poor. Indian cable channels are aghast that he could attach such sovereignty-challenging conditions to the gift. The Government is refusing to sign a contract to that effect. I can’t help but wonder what Mahatma Gandhi might make of all this – a possession shedding man’s possessions are fought over in a global tug of war, live on TV. All await the outcome of “THE GANDHI AUCTION.”