frozen in time

i visited my ancestral house in srirampore, west bengal last year after a gap of over 15 years. it was a walk down the memory lane, i spent time comparing the visuals in my head with what i saw. time takes its toll on most things...there was change all around, but a few things had not changed...they remained…just as they were...and perhaps will remain like that - frozen in time. i had very little time during my visit - managed a few hours at our house and then a hectic drive around kolkata. it was a great experience nevertheless...
Here are some pictures i clicked during my visit.

the corner chair and table fan in one of the rooms - these items have never moved an inch...as far as my memory takes me. The interesting part is, the table fan does not work (and has been like that for several years) - it remains, quiet...the blades move once in a while when there is a gush of wind.
It is dusted regularly…

this is the "sill-batta" or stone-grinder...don't really know the correct term. The modern mixer grinder has replaced this stone-age 'gadget'. It remains at its original place...just outside the kitchen door, on the corridor... must be 40-50 kgs in weight.

the sewing machine - 100% manual, rooted to it's original position - ever since it came home...some 30 years ago. still used by my grandma occassionally and neatly covered up after use...


this is a view of the kitchen - and thats my grandma inside (making tea for me). outside the kitchen is the high-stool on which my grandpa used to sit, supervise the cooking, enjoy his cups of tea, smoke, chat, read the newspaper...its been over 12 years since he passed away...but the stool never seems empty. i sat there for a few minutes...and sipped the tea that she made...the moment was awesome and will be etched in my memory forever..

a wooden showpiece - of a kashmiri boat ...a lady with the missing oar. history - years ago, i broke this piece while playing, the oar could not be placed back - but the lady was fixed, thanks to fevicol! no wonder, the shikara never moved...as she still waits for the oar!

i have heard stories of great swimmers in srirampore (who have swam across the ganges countless times), this is the place where it all starts...a pond next to our house. look carefully...people had made starting platforms and lane markings (at the other end) and neighborhood had an olympic size (probably larger) pool - its free, its for everyone. anyone walking by becomes a coach cheering young kids...the water is dirty, but who cares!

yeah...it's still there - the kolkata trams! not the preferred mode of transport anymore...(cycles are faster!) - blame it on the road traffic and ever increasing car population, demand of road space, etc. etc. it wont be long before the tram will rest peacefully in a heritage museum..

the Victoria Memorial at the Maidan, Kolkata – one of the most visited places (any trip to the city of joy is incomplete, if one hasn’t seen the memorial). there sits Queen Victoria...watching the world change...