The first time I set my foot in the narrow people strewed lanes of Mutton Gulli, better known to most as Chor Bazaar, I had a fever and a pathogen induced delirium that one associates with such increased body temperature. Yesterday, when I re-visited Chor Bazaar, I realised that my mental confusion and fluctuating consciousness on that occaision was not a side effect of my fever but had merely set in atmospherically in the entrepreneurial magic that weaves together one of the world's most enchanting bazaars.
In the last few months I have come to realise, partly through my blog and the eyes of my camera, the beauty that surrounds me; a beauty that charts common people and even though we drown ourselves in it everyday we seem to miss it and it is all there pristine, waiting to be discovered by a little effort on our part. Yesterday, in search for this beauty [which I miss throughout the week in my insulated office environment] I trudged through some of South Mumbai’s entrepreneurial nerve centres - from Crawford Market through Zaveri Bazaar through Abdul Rehman Marg to Bhendi Bazaar ending my quest some distance away in Chor Bazaar. The result in pictures [as usual] and some words, but mostly pictures is as follows.
[This old lady dressed in differrent cascades of blues rest her eyes and weary feet on the pavement]
[Brass blacksmiths guide molten metals into shapes we can use. Some people play with fire every day.]
[Sparks fly and the mercury soars but people do not forget to smile.]
[All that glitters is not gold - these are not gold bars but loaves of bread.]
[It's a hard life but people adapt and bear the load.]
[Sweet cold refreshment is never far]
(Cathing up on the daily news )
[In the commercial capital of India the wheels of commerce never stop]
[A dazzling array of bangles at Null Bazaar.]
(Now you know what happened to your grandfather's car)
[ A atmosphere of dejection - like two old people in a doctor's waiting room.]
[In a city that wastes nothing, everything has a market as long as you are willing to pay something for it. Junk is a word that does not exist. If it has a use it will be used to its maximum.]
13 comments:
- Unknown said...
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As usual the pics are awesome :))
Ahve you tried going to Thed Gully or the Elephant Sale at St Anthony (Nagpada)....2nd hand clothes & shoes are sold every year ... - December 19, 2005 11:20 AM
- Shankari said...
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Mmmm. What a beautiful post!
- December 19, 2005 12:45 PM
- Raj said...
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Great pictures.
The fiat's number starts with GAS.
I dont know why but i find that funny. - December 19, 2005 4:23 PM
- david raphael israel said...
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Akshay --
it'd been many weeks since I'd glanced at your blog; you're bringing forth fine work here.
In interim, I was (very briefly) in Pune (and had a rushed visit to Ahmednagar & Meherabad); now back home in USA. In case curious, here's my anecdotage-of-a-report (w/ photos, not my own) about a trek up & stay at Sinhagad: lowkey travellogue.
cheers,
david - December 20, 2005 1:42 PM
- Tee said...
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Absolutely amazing post...will keep coming back for more...
I love the way you see colours even in black and white...
a very good eye for detail.. - December 20, 2005 1:50 PM
- livinghigh said...
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heyloes bazaar boy
;-)
seems like uve been dooin the rounds... great pics. - December 21, 2005 9:02 PM
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Really good intake on the place yaar. The best bit I find is the description you give along...
Keep up the good work mite... - December 22, 2005 5:47 PM
- Viewer said...
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Hey akshay, cool pivtures i really like this project of urs. U havereally shown the conjusted, overpopulated markets as a good place to explore .
BTW which camera do u use. - December 22, 2005 8:46 PM
- The Comic Project said...
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wow akshay...you capture the city life wonderfully...this is good stuff mate...goes on my blog soon
- December 23, 2005 1:08 AM
- Bhisma Chakrabarti said...
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hey, my first time here; came here through geetanjali's blog. you have got some awesome shots of the city, bravo!
more of these please. - December 24, 2005 10:36 PM
- NikhilS said...
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What time of the day to visit this place??
- March 09, 2006 6:13 PM
- Bombay Addict said...
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Akshay - I'm beginning a bombay blogroll series at my blog.
You have so much on Bombay that I don't know where to start with you here and at metroblog !!
Yet, I'm linking up to your Dharavi post (hope that's fine?). This is simply awesome stuff. - May 01, 2006 4:08 PM
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Another amazing set of pictures!
- September 11, 2006 6:18 AM
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