beingdesh

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  • [Food Documentary]: The Foods That Make Billions

    In the past few weeks I have gone through a wide-variety of food related documentaries. They have ranged across the typical Bourdainian browsing the food-cultures type to weird eating styles to those bashing the American Fast Food culture. I thought it will be worth sharing a few with my fellow food bloggers, readers and marketing…

  • Brain Freeze and Defrost, Gangtok Style

    Standing there, I was witnessing one of the most stunning visuals of my life. A semi-frozen lake, solid on the edges, and covered on the sides with ice-shavings. The breeze was light, and the Sun was just making a friendly appearance once in a while. Tsangu Lake can be amazingly beautiful. And that day, it…

  • किम्कर्त्व्यविमुढ

    सब कुछ  था स्थिर, अविचलित, शांत सा, अचानक से इस दुविधा ने लाया एक बवंडर सा। क्या करे क्या ना करे के दोराहे पर मैं हु खड़ा, असमंजस से जूझता, पर इरादों पर अड़ा। इस पार है निराशा, उस पार आशा की किरण, बीच मझदार का सफ़र है, जिस पर तय होगा जीवन-मरण। -अभिषेक ‘देसी’ देशपांडे

  • The Shimla Affair – Chapter I

    I hadn’t realized how close we were to our hostel. I looked at my watch, it was around 7:30 PM, but it felt like it was 11 already. The Shiv Temple which stood brightly shining in the morning sunlight looked a bit dull now. The only shops which seemed busy were the two liquor stores…

  • A Very Long Walk to Freedom

    There is a continuous buzz in my ear, but I neglect that and keep running. I see him clearly, the colors are crystal clear, Hi Definition, and beautifully bright, even in the pitch black darkness of night. I can see the rolling ball at his feet, about to leave them, but still hesitant, like a…

  • A Touch of Faith, a Sprinkle of Hope, and a Dash of Guilt

    Faith My relationship with God is slightly unexplored. I will be honest here and point out that I do remember God at times, in a rather selfish way when I am in trouble. And it is almost always a give and take relationship, in a “I will do this if you do that” kind of…

  • The Healing Chill of Hebbe Falls

    A chill runs through my body, crossing my spine, and within touching distance of my brain. I can only feel the cold water massaging my bruises, playfully interacting with platelets busy constructing a clot. I can sense a relieving burn crawl over my scratches, and it is extremely refreshing. Suddenly all the tiredness faces an…

  • अमृतसरी प्रेम कहानी, जो हो न सकी…

    निकला था मैं देश देखने, खाने पीने, और कुछ अच्छा लिखने. क्या पता था यह सफ़र मेरा दिल तोड़ देगा, ग़म भरे मोड़ पर ला कर मुझे छोड़ देगा. भरवान दा ढाबा के वोह करारे कुलचे मदमस्त चने और खिलखिलाती लस्सी. फिरनी जैसी आपने कभी न खायी, नरम पनीर की बाहों में संतुष्टी पायी. चटोरेपन का…

  • Spicy Hot Summer, Served With Buffalo Dip

    There are summers, and then there is that idiotic summer. I was interning with an organization studying tribal arts in the Rathwa tribe dominated Chota Udaipur region of Gujarat. In a constantly sweltering Sun, which was seldom in mood to bend itself below 45 odd degrees, we roamed across villages exploring styles of Pithora Paintings…

  • A Walk through Misty-cal Shimla

    It is still early in the morning and Shimla is slowly waking up to the misty morning chill and steaming tea vessels. The bus stop seems quite unprepared for 7AM in the morning, with newspaper vendors still unwrapping the Punjab Kesaris, and the bus windows being cleaned of dried vomit from yesterday’s torrid journeys. I…