What has gone wrong?

I spotted a few sparrows
At the BIAL- they scrounge
And eat out of dirty plates
At the airport food lounge

I spotted a few squirrels
At the Cantonment station
Scrambling with other vermin
For their every day ration

I spotted a few fishes
At the Bellandur lake
In Foaming stinky polluted
Sullied water they slake

I spotted a few children
At the Bellandur Gate
In monkey and parrot costume
Begging in a sorry state

O! What has gone wrong here?
O! What have we done?
So many aching questions
Yet answers we have none!


[BIAL -Bangalore International Airport Ltd, Cantonment Railway station, Bellandur Lake and Bellandur gate are all located in Bangalore city where I reside now] 

Liebster Awards !!

A big thanks to Divya  ,  Devilish Angel and Bhusha for passing this blog recognition to Ashokism. I am honored by your gesture.

I pass this award to the following blog friends. Congrats!!!

1. Petty Writer
2. Susan
3. Vineeta
4. Meoww
5.Art traveller

M.Arch_Conservation project (part 02)

Kamatchi amman street at Pondicherry. I had done these quick "pen- sketches" walking down the street for my M.Arch Conservation Project in 1998.

M.Arch_Conservation Project (part 01)

 As part of the Architecture Master's program (in 1998), we had done a Conservation study in Pondicherry. I had documented a street called "kamatchi amman koil street" for the project. The sheets below are some of the notes and quick study- sketches I had done for the project.

Typical houses

house typologies...

study of parapet details

detail of a lamp Niche

Column types

Column study

some notes...

The Fox & Crow Story!!!

Illustration by Nithila (my daughter)

Once upon a time of yore
There lived a granny very old
Making vadas her daily chore
Two an anna is how she sold
 
Crispy top and a softy core
Tasty vadas hot and brown
She made them sitting on the floor
Humming with a forehead frown
 
There came flying a hungry crow
That sniffed the vadas from half a mile
Hoping that a piece she’ll throw
She cawed at granny for a while
 
The Granny just ignored the crow
And arranged the vadas on a bowl
The crow could feel its hunger grow
The sight of vadas with a hole!
 
As soon as granny turned her back
Swooped the crow with greedy claws
At ease she picked the fattest snack
And away she flew with happy caws!
 
The wily fox soon came to know
From the raven’s reckless caws
Slyly stalked the careless crow
As it happens in jungle laws!
 
Atop a Palmyra palm she perched
In her mouth her pricy catch
Leaf to leaf she loosely lurched
Deciding the seat to eat her snatch
 
“Oh Sinorita with a magical voice”
Howled the fox like a fervent fan
“Sing again and let me rejoice
 My Cuckoo! Blessed be your clan”
 
The mouthful crow blushed in awe
Flattered by his sugary word
“Let me hear that melodious caw”
Begged the fox at the brimming bird
 
The foolish crow fell for the hoax
Opened her throat to the fullest shriek
And to the joy of the crafty fox
Realized not what fell off her beak
 
The crow finished and made a pause
With open wings – the diva faux
When she looked down for applause
The vada had vanished with the fox!
 
The moral of the ditty, my daughter dear :
Ill gotten gain will never remain
And fall not for the blandish you hear
Remember this vada when flatterers feign. 

[One of The most popular kid's moral story ever. I tried to put it into verse to entertain my daughter.] 

Vada (originally Vadai in Tamil) is a popular south Indian Snack meal. They come in different varieties but the most popular is the one made from Urund dal and is shaped like a doughnut. 

Happy Birthday Nithila !!!

The Artist

art by ashok

In bottled colors my brush I dip 

  

My thoughts infinite and vast 

  

Into my framed canvas a trip 

  

to a land sans a future or past. 

  

With soft strokes and dabs so deft 

  

I am lost in this utopian land 

  

Emotions transient with sorrows bereft 

  

Flow from my meandering hand. 

  

Abstract lines and surreal themes, 

  

Unlock my mind and heart 

  

Stirred by Nature, Life and dreams 

  

Evolves a vision– an art! 

Time to go...

To and fro 

To and fro 

Swings the pendulum 

on my clock.  

Time to go 

I hear the crow 

Wake up call from 

the rooster cock  

Sure and slow, 

morning glow 

The sun ignites 

the distant rock  

Fresh and lo! 

On my toe 

‘Tis time to take 

my morning walk