~
As man invites nature’s fury and causes flood,
This land is most grateful to have been irrigated by human blood
~

"Photography prohibited" - the quaint sign evokes in me a wish strange enough to take my camera out and click. "Defiant, have you become", my heart asserts. 

Have I?



Standing beside this beautifully contoured window, I could not help but gaze at the enormity of history that lay in front of my eyes.

In the typical white colored home, visible directly from this window, the lady of the house cooks Rajasthani. The smell of Gatta and Dal baati mingle with the resplendent flavor of the stories she regales me with. The stories that adorn every element of this city of Mewar. Her stories speak of a land where loyalty was of paramount importance, of 'Jauhar' - a custom, though rightfully banned now, had a reason to it - performed by the ladies. Muslims or the British, all served the kings here, 

Minutes later, my palette is filled but ears are hungry for more.

‘Mata rani ki jai’, I hear as Dev, in his battle fatigues, opens up the slightly ajar door further. ‘RAJPUTANA’ shines on his shoulders as a wide grin spreads his thick mustache further. Meeting my friend, Major Devraj Chauhan, and hearing stories from his mother, I am convinced that there is something in this soil that still produces fearlessly loyal people. For whom the country is still the top priority. 
My ears are still hungry for more, but I won’t disturb the soldier’s lunch for now :)

)