Author: RA

A human

Ashtray collection

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​सिगरेट पिए और धुंए के छले बनाये मुद्दत हो गई। अब तो तम्बाकू की खुशबु और स्वाद भी भूल चूका और वो जिसकी वजह से ​सिगरेट पीते थे वो भी भूल चुका है। पर नई  से नई  ऐशट्रे इकठ्ठा करने का शौक़ बरकरार है। अभी पिछले हफ्ते ही ये दो मिलीं। अपनी कलेक्शन के  नंबर 144 और 145 । पीतल की बनी ये ऐशट्रे 6 x 3 इंच की हैं ।  करीब एक इंच गहराई की हैं और एक का वज़न 312 ग्राम है। दिलजले धुंएबाज़ ने जो काजल इन पर छोड़ा है उसमे अभी भी पके तमाखू की महक बरकरार है। अपने अपने शौक़ हैं! 

​Warning: Smoking and consumption of tobacco in any form is injurious to health

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Philately

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75 Years of the Constitution of India.

India Posts has issued a set of five special postcards on 75 Years of Constitution with a Special Cancellation dated 20 January 2025. This special Postcards set (6×4 in) comes in an elegant box (sturdy, magnetic latch) for collectors. The five postcard set has Constitution of India stamps valued 45 Rs cancelled on the (three stamps issued earlier in 2020). Thankfully, one of the stamps has the illustration of the original Parliament building The box and the postcards have golden-leaf-embossing together with illustrations from the original copy of the Constitution. Rs. 300 only. Difficult to say these days, what will last, grab them.

Special Stamps, Cancellation and a set of five Postcards issued by India Post.
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Maut ki Kitaab

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Hindustani translation of an original Urdu book. A must read. Read Maut Ki Kitab to understand the meaning of life.

If one wants to live life, one must read Maut Ki Kitab. I read sections of the book to my wife, who was very curious why I had started the book all over again. There was something very familiar about the text I finished last night. This was the first bit of Khalid Jawed Saheb’s work I read, but something was telling me that I have lived this haunting space. Brooding through the day I realised it was very Kafkaesque. There is a very strong, subconscious, undercurrent of imagery created by Jawed saheb which I find entwined with Kafka. Very story is very compelling. Everytime I read a Hindustani translation of an original Urdu work I curse myself not having heeded my father and not having learnt Urdu. Thanks @Prabhat Singh for introducing me to Khalid Jawed and his works.

In my first reading of Maut ki Kitaab I couldn’t fathom the depth and swings of the story oscillating between two distressing and monstrously painful worlds negotiated by the characters created by Khalid bhai. The second reading calmed me a bit and I could peep into the mind of this masterful storyteller who had woven an intricately captivating story that shakes the very foundation of fantasy drama. Kudos Khalid bhai, for the French edition. Zor-e-kalam aur badhe.  

Windermere Theatre Festival & Awards

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​More like a crowd following Mahatma Gandhi on a march, or dancing figurines, or the characters of a busy play, or the agitating masses on the street. But no, it is none of those. A beam of spotlight created this stippled-shadow image of award trophies on a dark LED screen just before the start of the Closing Ceremony of an amazingly fulfilling theatre festival. Awaiting the award winners, these cold, dark souls had yet to find warm hands and sparkling mantel shelves. The lawns were still being readied, Bacchus had still to land on the bar, promo slides had still to be projected, ‘Hello Mic Testing’ was still echoing, while the guitar lay abandoned like a ditched, heartbroken lover. Amid all this the bright red carpet knew it was going to be a long night of celebrations. Cheers to all those who participated in the Windermere Theatre Festival & Awards and special shout-out to the winners. This one is specially for Dr Brijeshwar Singh and Prabhat Kumar.

23 February – 1 March, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India

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