On very special request by Varuna whose love for Vincent van Gogh, Starry Starry Night painting and this Song “Vincent” by Don McLean is known well to me for last 5 yrs. So I decided to record this before I slept tonight. I first heard this song in 2002 and have always liked the vivid poetry of the song. Death, you mighty warrior, you don’t scare...

VOTE for Varuna – Fjallraven Polar 2019 Varuna says… Being from Kashmir (Himalaya), I look at myself as a mountain goat, doctor, amateur photographer, budding ukulele player, writer, yoga enthusiast, solivagant, and a bibliophile. I’m in love with wilderness. My heart leaps with joy at just a hint of an adventure. I am aiming to be a part...

Shyam Venkatramani also known as Shyam Sunder or as I fondly called him, Shyam bhai when I knew him in 2012-13 during my volunteer days at Aurobindo Ashram at South Delhi. A master Mridangam player, amazing on Harmonium and gifted vocals he had. This morning while browsing through my Facebook friends, the infamous “Remembering” tag under his name shocked...

There is an old anecdote that my Father always tells me and my brother. “When you were little kids of 5 and 8 respectively (my brother is 3 years older than me) – people who would visit our house would often ask – who is listening to these ancient songs of Talat Mahmood?”. It turns out that both of us would find ourselves crooning to the music of...

A beginning of exhilarating, informative and adventurous series of write up on Kailash Manasarovar Yatra (250+ kms trek on foot) lasting 3 weeks – that my wife, Varuna undertook last year in July. I’m sharing it verbatim from her website. The original article is at her...

I wrote this short story in 2004 in my cramped yet cozy apartment in Lansing (US) during my student days. My notepad and my pen used to be my only companions those days (before Guitar joined up!) The plot is based in the Kashmir valley. My father was kind enough to offer his editing advice.  ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO a strange incident occurred, which I  am about to...