At Sangam

 We hired a boat and went around Sangam.It was a lovely time with Prof.Saraswati Raju from JNU and Prof Ruby Ojha from SNDT.There was a huge crowd at Sangam because the saradhs had started and every one was praying for the ancestors. We could see how the pandas were fleecing the people of their money.

Department of Medieval and Modern India at Allahabad University

 Went to the Department of Medieval and Modern History and met Prof. Lalit Joshi and my old students Harish. I was very happy to see harish speak such good Hindi. I  attended a class of Harish in which he taught in Hindi. Also Prof Lalit Joshi, Harish and Sunil Singh in the History Department of the University of Allhabad.It was nice going down memory lane and seeing my Alma Mater and the old class.

At Anand Bhawan

 On 13th September, 2014, prof. Saraswati Raju fron JNU and I visited the Anand bhawan. We could see the Anand Bhawan in 10 minutes and Saraswati told me that you feel so cheated. Unfortunately that was true.There is hardly any thing much to see here .There is a room of MotilalNehru, JawaharlalNehru and Indira and nothing of Kamala Nehru.Thete is a room where Gandhi stayed and a drawing room where most meetings take place.Unfortunately we do not take pride in our history.This home of the Nehrus could have been made into such an interesting museum with posters,films , time lines and showing this as Central to India's freedom struggle and a place where a lot of history was made and instead we just have few rooms which are the bedrooms and reading rooms or study of these people.I was just thinking how a western country would have publicised this had this been there.We have such little marketing skills and so little respect for history.Yes one did feel cheated at the end.

A visit to my Alma mater Allahabad University

On 13th September, I found myself at my Alma mater, the Allahabad University, Centre of Women's studies with its Director Prof Sumita Parmar.. This was such a beautiful building and very happy to see this and be here. Was able to connect with prof. lalit Joshi, my studetns Harish and friend Shanti. We went and met our favourite teacher Prof. Rajlakshmi Verma who made her take a very active part in the various programme that she organised. Rajlakshmi di had never taught us but involved us in so many curricular activities and had a lot of influence in shaping us .Prof Rajlakshmi Verma the daughter of the famous Ramkumar Verma and with whom we cobducted so many co curricular activites.

Also met aunty, the mother of a dear friend Ashima Singh. Aunty used to pamper us much with thousand and one things to eat and I was transported to my college days where we would spens so much time in each others house and keep eating. She did the same this time too and it made me wonder how some things do not chsnge and though I was visiting aunty after so many years nearly after 39 yeasrs it looked like i hadf only met her last week. We were able to visit anand Bhawan. Also met an Old friend Asha lal who now is a professor in the Economics department.

This was a trip down memory lane and the beautiful time spent at Allahabad.

The Deepawali celebrations with students , 2014

 

Every year I have some of my students come to my house to celebrate Deepawali and this is fun time to meet the students informally outside class hours. This yer also we had a gatering on 9th September, 2014. When I joined the University I would have a get together with all  the M.A. students once a semester before exams would start  but over the years in the past thirty years the strength of M.A. has gone up from the earlier 10  to  12 to 55 and 60 and it is just not possible to organise any thing with this large group. Hence now this is limited to my Ph. D. students. Here are the photos of the Deepawali get together.

The Sheela Raj Memorial lecture

 On 6th September, 2014, I was invited by the  Salarjung Museum, to deliver the Sheela Raj Memorial lecture on Women in Deccan during the period of the Asafjahis. The great grandaughter of the Nizam was also present during the lecture.

Back to the Strip once again

 The Strip  in daylight is also filled with a lot of tourists, some performers and people just walking around. The absence of neon lights outside is made up with lights in  the casino's . Some of these are so huge that one can get lost. Came across some new terms like Gold diggers and Hookers here . It is interesting to see many girls scantily clad move around hotels in big heels and obscene clothes. They move around freely and I felt sad to see them in such high heels which must have been so uncomfortable. It made me think a lot on notions of beauty and who had defined it and why are women forced to accept these norms. It is a pity that these women have to be so uncomfortable to earn their living dressing  this way. Prostitution is illegal here but I saw lot of advertisements  in taxis for escorts services. I am sure there would be some studies on this issue and I should look for them.