Tuesday 22 December 2009

My Sunday Feeling

All said and done, I am glad that the Sunday Heritage Walks happen on Sundays. They could just as easily have been the Saturday Heritage Walks or the Whichever-day-of-the-weekend-is-more-convenient Heritage Walks.

When I was small, Sunday morning meant Mahabharat on Doordarshan, or sometimes a family outing. In college, Sunday morning meant the best breakfast of the week: coffee and dosa with delicious coconut chutney. But these are personal experiences; the city as a whole experiences Sunday morning in a way that can only be felt by walking its streets, lingering at corners and sitting at chai shops.

On Sundays, life in the city moves at an easier pace. The streets are emptier, and so are the buses and trams. Conversation between strangers flows more freely. Security guards are more indulgent when we ask for permission to photograph protected buildings, because we’re just a bunch of tourists with cameras and what’s more, it’s a Sunday.

On Sundays, kids who are bread-winners for their families for the rest of the week are out on the streets playing cricket, scrapping, and generally being kids. And kids are always willing to pose for photographs.

This week’s walk had several new participants, two of whom were kids themselves, barely out of school. And being kids, they were willing to pose for photographs too.

…though Vikrant complained towards the end that too many photographs with Senjuti were bad for his image.

11 comments:

The Reluctant Rebel said...

I think people are cooler on friday nights and through saturday. By Sunday they are, "saala, work agian tommorow."

Pratiti said...

Saha-da is grown-up beyond all hope. Next year, you'll also feel this way. :(

Anushka said...

The last two lines, the last two lines. :)

By the way, this weekly walk thing is really cool. I mean, it's not even that difficult to arrange for. One just has to Do it. But people hardly get around to doing these things.

Shrabasti Banerjee said...

Arey why just working people. I completely share Saha-da's views about Sundays. :( Now, though, it is just the same as any other day of the week. Sigh. My days these days totally lack discontinuity. So much that it's scary. :-S

The Reluctant Rebel said...

Will everyone please stop calling me Saha-da. It will make my monday.

EvolutioN said...

Ok Saha-da. We will stop calling you Saha-da. What will we call you instead? Raul-da?

Loves,

Evo

Karthy said...

I think the mahabharata sunday morning thing is more than personal. everyone round my age (yes it's one of those remarks that make you feel old) remembers sunday morning mahabharata.

please tell me you still haven't gone to the botanical garden. I so badly want to go...

in other news, my laptops crashed and burned (again). I am buying (hopefully) a dell. This makes me so happy that I share this news on random public forums. :)

The Reluctant Rebel said...

@Evo - Alright Sagnik uncle. Whatever u wish. Old people should be respected.

Anonymous said...

I love Saha-da (the name, not the person). All u junies call him Saha-da from today.

Sroyon said...

@Saha: But despite that, despite everything, Sunday is Sunday. It holds a special place in people's minds.

@Pratiti: I would feel this way already, had it not been for the fact that my current 'job' - for want of a better word - has ultra-flexible hours.

@Anushka: Oh, but that's probably because they don't have Bunty as a friend. There is no one to surpass him when it comes to making plans, motivating people, and Doing it.

@Shrabasti: But you toh are Marvin.

@Karthy: Not yet we haven't. But we'll probably go sometime this month.

Shrabasti Banerjee said...

Yes well. =(