Might is right

Might is right, a photo by www.sandeepmall.com on Flickr.

5 Wolves killed a blackbuck and this Hyena just snatched the head from them and made himself a great feast. Was lucky to witness a spectacular moment

Saevus Samsonite Contest Winner Chhotu Khan on a wildlife photo expediti...

Corruption on Indian Roads

All of us at some point of time have come across sights on our highways of a truck driver paying a bribe to a traffic cop. We just ignore and move on. As per Police departments own estimate Rs 27000 per month is paid by each truck in Haryana alone. In 12 months that becomes 3.25 lac INR and if we multiply this by more than 6 million plus trucks on the road that becomes around 2000 billion INR of bribe money every year. God knows who gets them and shares them. Truckers pay bribes at every stage of their operations, which starts with getting registration and fitness certificates, and for issuance and renewal of inter- state and national permits. The reason for paying bribe, while on road, include plying overloaded trucks, traffic violations, parking at no-parking places or entering no- entry zone, and in the payment of toll and other taxes like octroi, sales tax etc. Lack of proper documents or alcohol abuse by truck drivers are the other reasons for paying bribe. More than 1.5 Crore Indians are directly involved in this business. A 9 ton truck carries upto 22T of material and 15T one upto 35. The longest trailer allowed in India is 18 meters but commonly used and registerd ones in India are 22 meters. All the car companies use these illegal trailers to transport there vehichles. To break all possible rules we pay bribe. 45% inefficiency during transportation of goods is because of forced stoppages to pay these bribes. These numbers are much bigger than the 2G , commonwealth etc etc and no one is bothered. More than 1.5 lac people die on Indian roads because of these overloaded trucks. We only start shouting when one of ours is in the 1.5 lacs. We feel proud to allow our underage children to drive around. I found one of my relatives so funny as he took out his seat belt the moment crossed the city limit into the highway and his reaction was that the rule is within city limits. We want a great India but dont want to take responsibility. Lets maintain all traffic rules ourselves. Not jum the redlight, no drunk driving, no underage unlicensed driving. Lets send our children to driving school to get their driving lesson and licenses. Its road safety week. Share this with your friends. At least we will be able to shake a few guys inner consciousness. Drive safe. Someones waiting for you.

Waterlogged roads to my home

waterlogged roads to my home, a photo by www.sandeepmall.com on Flickr.

Too much rains have just made life in Faridabad a mess but trying to get some pleasure out of that. Shot with my iPhone 4

Wild Emotions

Wild Emotions, a photo by www.sandeepmall.com on Flickr.

Shot at Kenya,

The King

The King, a photo by www.sandeepmall.com on Flickr.

At Masai Mara, Kenya

For more pics of the trip check at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.202463193148108.50429.114273415300420&type=1

Save Water

Save Water, a photo by www.sandeepmall.com on Flickr.

Better to serve your guests half glass water and give more if they need- but no point them wasting water drinking few sips from the full glass you give. Save Water

Waiting for Dad to get food

Waiting for Dad to get food
Originally uploaded by www.sandeepmall.com

Juvenile Ashy Prinias wait eagerly for their Dad to get them some food

Rosy-Starling-against-Full-moon

Rosy-Starling-against-Full-moon - PS
Originally uploaded by www.sandeepmall.com

Tried my hand on photoshop to this picture of thousands of Rosy Starlings in front of full moon. Shot at Khijadia bird Sanctuary, jamnagar

The original picture is here http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandeep40/5390172725/in/set-72157623544691179/

BG & AG

While staying with Mujaheed Bhai at Rann Riders,Dassada during last months photo tour of Gujarat had a wonderful experience. There was a picnic trip of some local school which had come at the resort. As we set out for our afternoon safari one of the girls Fatima got curious of all the heavy equipment we were carrying and enquired what we plan to do. I told her we were planning to locate and shoot McQueen s Bustard. She gave us a typical look like we were some fools spending all the money and wasting time and energy and said why don't u google and u will get the wonderful shot of the bird captured by Dhritiman. It sounded so similar to projects I see Divyansh doing for his school. It takes him less than 10 min on projects (courtesy Google) that we completed in the whole summer vacation. I differentiate the generations now as BG and AG, Before Google and After Google. In history we will not have dates in BC and AD but BG and AG. Long live Google.

One Wish and one resolution for 2011

2010 was the fastest year of my life. Very eventful. Most importantly I took up photography this year. Photographing in the wild gets a person closest to God. The best way and place for meditation. The last few hours of 2010 are perfect moment to say Thanks to HIM for everything in life.

A new year usually starts with resolutions- mostly to be broken during the year ahead. My life has not been a planned one. I firmly believe in destiny and it has moved on where ever it was destined to. The hard work that has been put in the various activities is also because destiny made it happen. Even though we are not sure we will wake up alive next morning but we do plan for generations ahead. That's human psychology. We feel we are in command. Life is not going to give us surprises. We believe that the future will be nothing but past repeated again and again. So we plan. With this in mind I also made a plan. In 2011 I plan to take the first step to move out of the big city in the next 5 years. Its getting more and more impossible to cope up with the fast life of a city. A simple 8 km drive to work on the highway takes me 45 minutes. The pollution, cost, hassles, loneliness does not earn me enough. Its high time I start to Live. So I plan to take the first step to prepare for moving out of this maddening city. Have had enough of it. Extracted whatever I could and given my best.

The One hope and prey I have to make this country more civic is to have strict implementation of laws governing driving licenses. Its so unfortunate that driving license can be bought in this country for few hundred Rupees. Most of the people driving on the roads have got it without knowing any rules and sense of the driving. Nobody goes to school to learn driving. There is absolutely no awareness. Most of the guys on the wheels don't understand road signs. Driving in lane is foolishness. I had a funny experience driving with some one in Jaipur when the driver took his seat belt out as soon as we got out of the city on the highway. I asked him to buckle up but he replied back that theres no cop to give him a ticket on the highway. The law is within the city. I just could do nothing more than feel sorry for him and the system. The licensing authorities are bigger criminals than murderers. For some petty gains they have let loose hundreds of thousands of untrained drivers on the road. Hundreds die everyday in road accidents in this country. A murder in a posh colony in a city gets immediate headlines in the newspapers but who is bothered by the road accidents. I hope and prey that a general awareness in 2011 forces the cops and RTO's to be very stringent on the process of issuing licenses. A better traffic will save many times more than the cost of implementation.

Wish you all a wonderful 2011, a safe, healthy and happy year.

Sanghai Skyline at Night

Sanghai Skyline at Night
Originally uploaded by www.sandeepmall.com

Shanghai is the most populous city in China. As a global city, Shanghai exerts influence over commerce, finance, culture, art, fashion, research and entertainment. The city is located at the middle portion of the Chinese coast, and sits at the mouth of the Yangtze River.

Thats too big a catch to handle

Thats too big a catch to handle
Originally uploaded by www.sandeepmall.com

Saras Cranes in Rain

Saras Cranes in Rain
Originally uploaded by www.sandeepmall.com

It had been raining heavily in the entire trip to Bharatpur and risking the lens and body we went on shooting some beautiful birds. Our guide saw a pair of Sarus cranes flying some Kms away and we took the rikshaw all wet , somehow protecting the kit with plastic packs and got them.

They are tallest of the flying birds, standing at a height of up to 1.8 m (5.9 ft).The Sarus Crane is easily distinguished from other cranes in the region by the overall grey colour and the contrasting red head and upper neck. They forage on marshes and shallow wetlands for roots, tubers, insects, crustaceans and small vertebrate prey.The adult Sarus Crane is very large with grey wings and body; a bare red head and part of the upper neck; a greyish crown; and a long greenish-grey pointed bill. In flight, the long neck is held straight, unlike a that of an heron, which folds it back, and the black wing tips can be seen; the crane's long pink legs trail behind them. This bird has a grey ear covert patch, an orange-red iris and a greenish-grey bill. Juveniles have a yellowish base to the bill and the brown-grey head is fully feathered.

The species is venerated in India and legend has it that the poet Valmiki cursed a hunter for killing a Sarus Crane and was then inspired to write the epic Ramayana.

This day in history

19 years back on this day Sameep came in our life. It's astonishing how time flies. August 26, 1991 seems like yesterday.

Living in Purulia had its own advantage. Being a small town and our family being well known we had the privilege of reserving a room at the hospital for Sameep's arrival for almost a fortnight before his birth. Dad had got the hospital room freshly painted and all things new. A grand welcome awaited him in this world. I was too young, all of 25, when Sameep was born and was nervous of what all is gonna happen. Apart from Minoo's regular doctor Dad had called for a senior one from Bokaro, a neighboring town with better medical facility. Minoo and me were both excited about the new person to arrive in our life. She wanted a boy and I a girl. Minoo was admitted to the hospital on 25^th. When she went in the labor room, the whole family was there outside waiting for a new member in the family. Though we are a small family but long distance cousins, friends had all lined up at the hospital. I was anxiously waiting on the stairs and at 3:27 pm the nurse came to inform about Sameep's birth. Suddenly tears rolled down my eyes. It was hard to hide the emotions though I tried my best. The whole family was excited and too happy. It was after 18 years that we had an addition to the family. We were now four generations in the family, living together. My grand parents were over the moon. Sameep became my model and I took his pictures of every mood and action. I used to write about all happenings around the globe with his each event – whether annaprasan or first day at school or first diwali etc.

Sameep became the joy of our life. Epicenter. He took to everything very fast. In almost 8 months he was walking around. It still remains the same. Sometime it helps him, sometimes it has a negative impact. It was around the same time we were setting up the plant at Faridabad and also I was deep into Rotaract. Traveling every week. To be honest, I missed out the fun years with him. He was always hisgrand pa's favorite. I got more and more involved into my work as it needed me in its growth trajectory. I was working more than 80 hrs a week. Never understood Sameep needed me more. Somewhere welost out on each other. He got used to my absence. In between when we were relocating to Faridabad he lived with my parents for couple of years while Minoo and I were settling up our new home at Faridabad. I got more and more busy expanding my work. Time flew. Sameep learnt to live with my hardly being there around him. I was busy with my work. By the time I realized and wanted to be with him, he flew out of the nest. As always, he wanted to fly faster. Too eager to be on his own. It is his third year away from us and he is at Pune. My little love had grown up to live life his way. Taller and stronger than me. As handsome as I would have dreamt my son to be. I know he loves me more than I can even think of.

As I write these lines, in complete solitude of my hotel room at Kuopio in Finland, tears roll down naturally, just like 19 years back. Wish I was there with him on his birthday. Love you and wish you all the happiness in your life. Happy Birthday buddy.

Early morning at Archipelago

Early morning at Archipelago
Originally uploaded by www.sandeepmall.com

The early morning skies over Baltic sea in Archipelago, Finland. Its amazing how the sky changes its colors from the morning to night. The colors could not have been better. Simply awesome

Life is today and not tomorrow

I am at this one of the bigger towns of Finland - Turku. It has a population of just 1.5 lacs. Flew in Finair for the first time and they have nice new aircraft. Had a free evening. So went for some bird watching . Went to the Ruissalo Islands and did a 3 km nature walk in the park. Saw some new species of birds not seen in our part of the country. Didnt carry my camera but binos. Wonderful moment and environment. Picked up a pizza on way to a park. Had my dinner by the stream. Setting sun and rising moon gave the sky one of the best colors I have ever seen. The moon looks quiet bigger here may be because of 7000 kms nearer to our place. Went to meet a friends wife and she had come out of breast cancer surgery. Was trying to motivate her with some gyan when she gave me the gyan of my life - Life is today and not tomorrow. Never to forget words. Leaving for an early meeting and then to a beach house for next three nights. Will go to various islands on the speed boat exploring the fauna and flora of this country. No internet and cellphone just pure nature. Carrying some Utpal Dutt DVD's, books and my camera for company. Trying to live life today. Next week is going to be tiring, hectic with all travels, meetings and training.

Every denial brings attraction

I received a nice mail from my dear friend Rajesh titled." If you cant enjoy then what is life for". Basically he shares with me Osho Rajneesh' s words. I also read and hear a lot of his CD's and find them so true and practical. Todays write up reminded me of my past and present. I did my schooling at Rama Krishna Mission Vidyapith which is one of the most religious and orthodox schools in the country. It was time of long hairs and bellbottoms. The school authorities wanted us to always wear narrow bottoms and keeping long hairs was just a dream. Watching a hindi bollywood movie was a taboo. The school authorities only showed us Vande Mataram ( I might have seen it so many times that the author Bankim Chandra Chattapadhyay will find it difficult to face me in a quiz on it) or movies based on life of Rama Krishna Paramhans or other religious ones. This restriction on fashion, movies and other things "bad" had such a counter effect that all the guys would compulsorily watch movies everyday during the holidays. Those days there were no multiplexes and movies used to run for weeks. So during most of the holidays it would be one or max two movie changes and each movie was watched nth time. Similar incidences happen now with my kids and how we bring them up. But with all the exposure of todays world - I myself get confused whether going happily to a pub is better than going unhappily to a temple. Is Happiness not the desired end? Are we supposed to do all things for future happiness? Does Life wait for long? Is it all just not NOW. If I am unhappy, something is wrong with myself. If I have some hesitation and feel guilty in doing something that means somewhere some external factor is overshadowing me. Hesitation means there is contradiction. I feel, the more my wife says Icecream is bad for my cholesterol, the more I am attracted to eat it. Denial brings attraction. Every time I have my Ice cream , hesitation crops in. I am unable to enjoy my Ice Cream. Similarly there is hesitation in most of the things in life and I feel I will miss my whole life. Its high time I have to drop my hesitations. I am sure the moment I drop my hesitation ice cream will become an ordinary thing. I will understand that I can enjoy it sometimes and it should not be an obsession. Sometimes even harmful things are not that harmful Obsession is part of repression. Living in hesitation has become a bad habit and as Osho says ," If you cant enjoy, then what is Life for". Drop hesitation. Live life happily

The Angry India

In few days we are going to celebrate our Independence. 64 years of Independent country. One of the worlds fastest growing economy. Tremendous wealth creation for its citizen. Some of the best entrepreneurs and corporates ( The world is least bothered if some senator calls Infosys Chop shop). Some of the world largest corporates now are headed by Indians. It will not be a surprise to see some Indian becoming head of state of the so called First world countries in the next few years.

Then why don't we have quality life? Why don't we have civic sense? Why do we believe in always breaking the law of state? Why are we sadist? Whether newspapers or television - all show ugly sad and bad news? Why don't we have happy news? We always try to sympathize and also create an atmosphere around us where people can sympathize.

Everyday we have incidences of people destroying public property. For every mundane thing happening , some buses are broken, trains set on fire etc.... Why this anger? Why the frustration? Is it because we are attached with the way things are? Or we identify with the pain and feel it ourselves? Or is it frustration of being ruled for donkeys years by Mughals, Britishers and now the politicians. What ever be the reason - we do not see and realise that its us who loose. We only hurt ourselves. I have never seen or heard anger make any positive impact on anyone. Have you? I think we feel that if we don't show anger and be dormant , the other guy will walk over . This is a myth. We should be assertive, positively assertive instead of angry. We don't see any solution by being angry. We only get un necessary victims. People get killed and public property destroyed. Our own property. The taxpayers money. Its a different story that only 4 billion of the 120 in this country pay taxes. How do we bring the change? Of the various means available and possible the simplest I believe is Media. I have been following Indian Idol on TV and was discussing with Dad last night when one of the participants danced and hug Amir Khan - how this "nobody" suddenly has become a known figure within few weeks and till this time he never even dreamt of seeing Amir Khan in person and today he was dancing with him. There are hundred such examples. Ramdevbaba and his yoga would have not gone beyond Haridwar without media. I feel if the media spreads positivity - things may change drastically. Lets not glorify the wrongs. Why does the Media not do something to help making the situation better? Trouble is it has become a compulsive complainer. If it just keeps complaining that means it is not prepared to actually do something about it.

Hey friends, lets do something to make this country a heaven that is now part of only grandma's story. Even that generation has forgotten it as a Sone ki chidiya. Lets be honest towards our country and its people. Jai Hind and Wish all a happy Independence day.

Ashy Prinia on the grills

Ashy Prinia on the grills
Originally uploaded by www.sandeepmall.com

The Ashy Prinia or Ashy Wren-Warbler (Prinia socialis), is a small warbler. This prinia is a resident breeder in the Indian subcontinent, western Myanmar and Sri Lanka. It is a familiar bird of urban gardens and farmland in many parts of India and its small size, distinctive colours and upright tail make it easy to identify.These 13–14 cm long warblers have short rounded wings, a longish tail usually held upright, strong legs and a short black bill. The crown is grey and the underparts rufous in most plumages. In breeding plumage, adults are ash grey above, with a black crown and cheek with no supercilium and rufescent wings. In non-breeding season there is a short and narrow white supercilium and the tail is longer.