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A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF PILGRIMS BOOK HOUSE...........AUGUST 1999
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Morning Light |
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Editor CHAITANYA NAGAR writes about the problems behind the beautiful morning light of Varanasi |
The morning light of Varanasi has found a mention in many poems and urdu ghazals. Banarasis have always prided themselves on what they call the ineffable beauty of the morning light in 'the most sacred city' of the world (subh-e-Banaras ki roshni). When was it that you last saw the sun rise over the Ganga in Banaras? The morning light is still as beautiful as it ever was and one is filled with awe as the first rays of the sun fall on the tiny ripples of the river filling the whole atmosphere with a strange, almost mysterious glow. But what have we done to the world's oldest living city which as the article by Christopher says, was in existence 600 years before Christ? Who can fail to notice the filth, pollution and horrifying congestion of the streets of Banaras? A typical Banarasi would suggest that if you wanted to enjoy the beauty of this wonderful city, you would have to rise above these trivial things. This would mean that one has to turn a blind eye to the dead rats, the open drains, the swarms of flies, the human excrement at every corner and the fact that the Ganga is terribly polluted. Can any sensible person do that? Recently a Delhi-based journalist wrote in a national daily: "Banaras is believed to be not just the oldest city in India but the oldest city in the world. In another country it would be regarded as a national treasure and everyone would join the effort to save it. But here.... nothing at all is being done". We will all wait eagerly for the day when there will be a national campaign to clean the Ganga and to make Banaras a beautiful place. Till then, can we celebrate the special light that illuminates our most sacred city at dawn? As a leading publisher and bookseller in the city, we consider it our duty to spread awareness about the problems that plague this city. Pilgrims Book House also urges all residents of the city to do whatever they can to keep the city clean and beautiful. In this second issue of our Newsletter, we are happy to announce the release of some of our forthcoming titles. Hope you like this issue. Email your sugges-tions to us at our Kathmandu, Varanasi or Delhi office. |
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