ALAM E ARWAH - DELHI KARAVAN CHRONICLES

चल बुल्लेया चल ओथे चलिए 

जित्थे होवन सारे अन्ने।

ना कोई साडी जात पछाने,

ना कोई सानू मन्ने।

Baba Bulle Shah says let's go to a place where everyone is blind. A land where no one could recognize us with our cast and creed, and no one appreciates us based on who and what we are.

Every walk I have attended with Asif Sahab has an intrinsic value in my life. It is difficult to describe that in words, but you might see a reflection somewhere in between my writeups. Every walk satisfies my appetite in one way or the other. Some quench my thirst for listening to endless stories. Some enrich my awareness of the people, places, and things which existed in some other era. And then there are some which satisfy my wild curiosity.

The last walk I attended was a cocktail of all of those.

We were sitting on the large rocks of the long-lost Aravalli, just behind the tomb of Azim Khan. The gigantic Qutub Minar was in the view. The Sun was about to bid adieu for the day when Asif Sahab began.

'There was a time when we all were formless and shapeless. It was when there was no religion, no caste, no creeds.

It was then we were in "Alam E Arwah", that we were as one soul. We know each other long before entering into this world.'

His words were enough to kick-start my never-ending imagination. I couldn't control my mind at that moment, nor I can control my hand right now.

And then the Almighty took one big bowl of clay and started shaping each of us with his bare hands. Writing the roles one has to play in this physical world. And then we all fall softly one by one on the face of the earth, just as a feather kissing softly the ground. 

'And this world - which you and I call physical is 'Alam E Dunya'.

A crucial thing happens between the journey from Alam E Arwah to Alam E Dunya. Somewhere in between that journey, we lose our memory. We can't recall what all happened there. We can't recognize the souls with whom we were together. All those memories wash away like the blackboard before the next class begins.

I could imagine my soft landing on the earth. 

Yes, I was there once. I must have been conscious at first when I was shaped into this body. I must have been alone for the first time. I must have been overwhelmed when I commenced my journey to Alam E Dunya. 

And then on one alien turn, I must have seen a tunnel of light. By passing through it slowly, all the memories must have vanished.

And then I must have touched the face of the Earth. I must have seen some strange faces looking at me smiling and sobbing. But little did I know that I was trapped under certain labels and identities. I was recognized by a name. A caste was attached to it. A religion must be attached to it. A certain financial status was attached to it. I was identified by the color of my face - my ethnicity must have been important to many.

I was taught quite well to hate people who fall under different labels, recognized by different identities. I was trained to believe that the path I'm following is superior to the others. 

When you zoom out on this scenario a little bit, you start seeing that we all are differentiated with barbed wires from the people whose paths are totally different. I was taught to have a super Ill feeling towards them and they must have thought likewise.

All this drama of labels, identities, and recognition goes on and on when something magical happens.

A day comes when someone enters your life and you suddenly travel before the time when the tunnel of light comes into the journey. At his or her first glance you feel that you know that person quite well. You feel that you can trust him with all that you have. Conversation or no conversation, you still feel that there is something between that person and you that can't be described in this so-called physical world 

That is the person who was once your companion soul in Alam E Arwah.

And sometimes an incident happens and you start seeing some pattern in it. Some conversation, some colors, or some scenarios. Slowly you start recognizing that pattern and you understand that the exact thing has happened at some other time, some other place.

Yes, we term it as DejaVu today. But terms, theories, and equations have majorly no answers to so many 'stupid' questions that come across our minds.

Some other time...

Some other place...

'Is Jannat (heaven) a time or a place?' Asif Sahab asks us. 

After mixed answers, he started explaining about a place called 'Alam E Barzakh'. That is where we all will go when we leave our mortal body and our role ends in Alam E Dunya. 

It is difficult for me to describe that but about one thing I'm quite sure about. A light tunnel will again be there on the route to Alam E Barzakh. When I pass through that tunnel, it will be more like a feeling of waking up from a deep and dreamy slumber.

You know the words which I was listening to were more like deadly bullets shot towards me.  They were hitting me with an enormous force that the damage it had caused was visible to me. I could see a bloody puncture near my heart. The blood that was oozing out of it was dark, almost black.

When nothing was left to ooze out of that wound, the light started entering into it.

'Alam E Arwah'

I think Baba Bulle Shah must have mentioned Alam E Arwah when he said these lines -

चल बुल्लेया चल ओथे चलिए 

जित्थे होवन सारे अन्ने।

ना कोई साडी जात पछाने,

ना कोई सानू मन्ने।

Love, Laughter, and Peace 

HRN

Hazrat's Sandals - Delhi Karavan Chronicles

Image Source

I heard somewhere that there are three thumb rules to good storytelling... unfortunately, no one knows them.

I'm an anti-format person since childhood. Be it a coloring book or my monthly budget, I've always missed the boundaries. There is no harm in coloring an elephant's eyes little grey, in case you miss that little boundary of its oval-shaped eyes.

I may not know the thumb rules of storytelling, but I can tell you the kind of stories I enjoy. 

Firstly, they should be long enough to be in that zone for a while.

They should carry expressions.

And yes, they should not carry a particular format - A storyteller should not stick to the beginning, middle, or end, or anything hard and fast. He or she must feel free to tell a story, a story within a story, or a story within a story within a story... or maybe crossovers. Ahh! I'm listening to all of that.

Asif Sahab told this story to us on many walks - Sometimes individually - Sometimes as a story within a story (or within within, you got that)

And this story is too close to my heart.

So take a bellyful of breath, hold it to the count of five, and release it.

Shall we begin?

It was a foggy winter morning when a middle-aged man came to the khanqah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia. Just like many other fariyadi and devotees, he was expecting something from Hazrat. The khanqah was filled with too many people that day. He was worried as the days were approaching and a lot of arrangements need to be made. His only daughter is about to get married. And like every responsible father, he had to take care of everything. His family was going through a major financial crisis at that time. He heard a lot about Hazrat and that he never send anyone empty-handed. 

He waited calmly in the queue, trying hard to control his shivering, partly from the spine-chilling weather, and partly from worries on his head.

When he entered the room, Hazrat smiled at him. The man offered him his respectful salam and sat near him. Hazrat's aura was such that he couldn't utter a word. He kept staring at his feet for a while. He had faith that Hazrat will understand his situation without him saying anything.

As other people were waiting outside, he stood up and went out of the room. He planned to stay at the khanqah that night, expecting that Hazrat may call him and offer some help for his daughter's marriage.

The night passed. Without any such luck, he decided to leave for his village early so that he could reach there before dusk. He went to Hazrat to ask for his permission. Hazrat gave his blessings, looking directly into his eyes as if he is reading something. The man tried to look somewhere else but couldn't. When he turned to leave Hazrat told him to stop.

"There is pair of sandals kept right next to the door. Keep them with yourself. May the Almighty be with you."

The man obeyed, though doubted his decision of coming to the Khanqah in the first place. 

Heavy rainfall greeted him in the afternoon and he couldn't cross even the city when the Sun started to set. He decided to spend the night in a Sarai (motel kind of structure).

He changed his clothes, made his bed, and kept Hazrat's sandals near his head. 

It was around midnight when he felt someone's presence near his head. It was too dark. He woke up with a thud. A man in his mid-forties was squatting near his head and weeping. He was wearing an embroidered angarakha, just like someone from the royal family wears.

'What happened sir, have I committed some horrifying mistake?' He asked.

'From where have you got these sandals, my dear friend?' The man who was weeping countered his question.

'I got this from Khanqah of Mehboob -E - Ilahi, Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia. He gifted this to me himself.

'

'Can you give me these? I'm ready to pay any amount you want.' He stood up in a hurry and took out two moderate size cloth bags filled with gold coins. He handed over both bags to him, spilling a few coins on the ground. 

The man was numb. He felt like he is still in his deep slumber. That coins were enough even if he had to make arrangements for the marriage of ten more daughters. He watched that man keeping his head on the sandals, wiping them with his sleeves, keeping them on his head, and marching out of the Sarai.

He was still in a state of shock when he heard two young men talking.

"Wasn't he Amir Khusrow, The court poet in the darbar of the Sultan?"

"Call him Tooti -e-Hind Amir Khusrow."

The next morning when Hazrat woke up, he felt like a celebrated baarat, a musical procession heading towards his Khanqah. He saw that Khusrow is walking towards the Khanqah with Hazrat's sandals on his head. Hundreds of people were following him, singing praises of the Almighty. Some were dancing in all trance, some were weeping, and some were just filled with joy.

Khusrow bowed slowly towards Hazrat, one by one he slipped both his sandals on his holy feet and stood back up.

'Oh Turk, how much gold coins you bartered for my sandals?' Hazrat used to call Khusrow Turk lovingly.

'I just gave what all I had. If he asked for my life, I would have gladly given that too' He said with moist eyes, still looking at Hazrat's feet.

'Ahh! you got them at an extremely cheap price.'

Whenever this story ends, I try to notice other people's smiles. It's like a universal way of responding to that story - Reason? I'm not sure but the story might give the listeners a sense of bliss and contentment.

See, I just catch you smiling too. What a lovely smile you have.

Love, Laughter, and Peace

HRN

ps - I tried to recite this story a couple of months back. Though It's nothing like Asif Sahab tells us this story. He is just mind-blowing. If you still wish to listen you can click here. Thank You.

Trust - The first lesson of Sufism - Delhi Karavan Chronicles

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While taking walks with Asif Sahab, my favorite part is when everyone just sits down and allows themselves to engross completely in the story he is telling. It's fun watching grown-ups cupping their chins, their facial expressions almost dancing to the tunes of stories.

I have written too much about the last walk I attended. Trust me, my expressions are just the tip of a massive iceberg - It's so minute compared to what I actually feel.

The scenario is still the same. We all are sitting around Asif Sahab when he told us this story.

Wait. Don't forget to take a bellyful of breath, Sit back, and relax.

Shall we begin?

Once upon a time, there was a soldier who came to the small room where Hazrat Nizammudin Aulia was sitting against the wall. His right leg was folded, his thigh pressing his belly softly. He was staring at something with his eyes half closed. The soldier greeted him with his humble Salam and sat right in front of him. It was a hot afternoon. The scorching heat was making everything too uncomfortable. But Hazrat was smiling at him.

"Nizam Saheb, I have a humble request. You have never sent me back without listening to my fariyads, my requests. I'm not capable enough to offer you anything. With your blessings, my wife has conceived. I really don't know how to bid my thanks to you." He took out a little piece of cloth bundle from his pocket. The soft sound of the jingling of coins made the silent room animated for a second.

"Please accept these on my behalf. This is just a little gift that I would like to present every month."

Hazrat was just smiling, staring at something on his right. He closed his eyes for a while, humming an inaudible prayer. When he opened his eyes back, there was no one in the room, just a little bundle of shiny cloth kept near Hazrat's foot.

The much-awaited shower turned the whole environment melodious. It was a great opportunity for each Sufi to come out of their chamber and remember the Almighty together. The whole evening was lit with the 'Sama'. It was known to everyone that Hazrat enters into a trance state listening to all the poetic offerings other Sufis have to offer in the holy kingdom of the Almighty. He generally raises his right hand towards the sky, shivering at a phenomenal pace - Denoting a strong connection between him and the Almighty, as if he is holding his hand.

But that evening it was just not happening. Everyone was just waiting for it. And Hazrat was so upset with this. When your beloved denies holding your hand as he used to, that feeling is synonymous with death.

He closed his eyes and a vague image of that shiny bundle of cloth flashed right in front of his eyes. He called that soldier and returned him that bundle.

I was confused, unable to understand the correlation between the two events. How connection with the Almighty and that shiny bundle of coins connected, which will be coming right at his feet every month.

Asif Sahab then came to the rescue of my confusion.

A Sufi should not be dependent on any kind of regular source of income, in any form. It's actually a symbol of distrust toward the Almighty. The one who has sent you on this planet is capable enough to take care of you in every sense. He will take care of all the arrangements which are required for your well-being. You just need to trust him. 

And here I'm, spending so many sleepless nights, thinking about how will I manage in such a cruel world Blah! Blah! Blah!

How much do I need to accumulate for shady days Blah! Blah! Blah!

Trust - from now on I consider this as the first lesson of Sufism... and life as well.

The above story came to me like a bullet, hitting me so hard that I felt like some serious physical destruction. But I'm relieved and happy about that destruction.

With prayers and hope that you also face this kind of destruction.

Love, Laughter, and Peace

HRN

Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia - Delhi Karavan Chronicles

Picture Source - Praveen Sir's Facebook Profile

 

You know what, almost all my childhood stories started with 'Once there was a King'. And I always imagined Sultans and Badshahs - with a ghoul on his back or one with a magic carpet. But on the last walk I attended with Delhi Karavan, I understood a different meaning of true Kingship.

When I started attending walks with Delhi Karavan, my imagination started becoming more vivid. Slowly I could see different characters right in front of my eyes. I started sensing my imagination adding different colors to the characters - weaving garments with the magical threads as Asif Sahab provides more and more details.

Of all the walks I have attended, the last one was different. Though it's brutal to compare one walk with the other, the last one was closest to my heart. 

It was one dark summer evening that lightened my soul.

I'll keep all the details of the walk reserved for some other article, for now just imagine a group of about twenty-five people sitting in the courtyard of Khanquah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia, With Asif Sahab sitting almost in the center. A candle is lit in front of him.

 Khanquah is a place where Sufis commence their holy practices of unification with the Almighty. They stay there and spend years and years with the sole motive of making a connection with the Almighty. And Hazrat was the Sun among the stars when we talk about Sufism in Hazrat-e-Dilli.

The place where I was sitting has watched centuries after centuries, the establishment and destruction of various Sultanates. But Asif Sahab made me imagine everything with stories containing high intrinsic values. I cross my heart and say that I could imagine Hazrat right in front of my eyes. Though no writer is capable enough to describe his personality in mere words. Some might also consider it as blasphemy. On the other side, I felt him so close to me that his details are so vivid in my mind that I couldn't stop myself from writing them.

I would request you to take a bellyful of breath before reading ahead. 

I imagine a dark evening. If you look at this place from a decent distance, you will see multiple oil lamps lit, flickering as the evening is a little windy. There are dozens of small chambers. In each chamber, a Sufi is sitting doing different holy practices. Some are reciting different names of the Almighty. Some are looking at the sky without blinking their eyes. Some are whispering something, inaudible to human ears, loud enough to reach the kingdom of the Almighty.

The rickety staircase was leading us above the structure. A wooden structure was erected there. There is a small room on the backside of the structure.

 Hazrat is sitting in the leftmost corner of the room.

A small earthen lamp was lit right in front of him. One could sense the heavenly fragrance of multiple incense sticks, but it is difficult to locate even one.

Hazrat has a lean frame as he is not much dependent on food. A Sufi doesn't crave food. Hunger can't make him its slave.

He has a pair of pretty long arms. If you see him standing, you can notice his hands reaching the level of his knees. His eyes are sinking deep into their sockets, making his cheekbones look higher. His jawline is sharp. His hair is long and matted. His beard is bushy, long, and unkempt. His lips are turning white, dry as the desert. He is wearing an oversized white kurta, which definitely has seen whiter days.

He remains silent most of the time. He is sitting with his back placed softly against the wall. His head is up, staring up toward the sky - as if he is having a silent conversation with the Almighty. Now his head has turned down as he is asking for mercy from the maker. Sometimes there is complete silence in the room, one could hear his own breath. Sometimes there are sounds of giggles and chattering. 

But  Hazrat is indifferent to any such noise. He remains in a meditative state most of the time.

All through the course of the day people visit him with their Fariyads, their requests. He smiles gently at everyone. He listens to everyone. Speaks only when it is more than necessary. He bestows his blessings, requesting the Almighty to give Fariyadi whatever he desires. He is 'Mehboob-e-Ilahi', the beloved of the Almighty.

I was busy imagining all that when something crossed by my sight. I was sitting behind Asif Sahab, facing the Khanqah. There was a shadow or something dark which crossed between us. I'm not sure whether it was something tangible or I was just imagining. I have mentioned before that  I have a quite vivid imagination, which turns wild sometimes. But I don't mind whirling upon stories I'm listening to. And my imagination makes it effortless for me.

As the walk ended, I didn't feel like talking to anyone. I just wanted to keep that feeling clenched tight in my fists, making sure it doesn't slip. Only then I can place them close to my heart.

It was more of a trance state - Intoxicated with... I don't know what. But with all that intoxication I turn socially awkward. I really can't help it. I just turn a little more silent. But it's worth it.

I'll take your leave with a little message. If you like what's written above, don't forget to give a big thumbs-up to Delhi Karvan and Asif Sahab. It would be even more lovely if you could come and attend any of their walks.

If you are offended by anything while reading this, I deeply apologize, as I'm solely responsible for it.

Love, Laughter, and Peace

HRN

Revisiting a Childhood Story - Delhi Karavan Chronicles

 

The year must be 2002 and I was coming back from Agra. My Mother and my brother, both had enough of my useless talks. They indirectly told me to shut up. I was looking out of the window of the Intercity express, counting those desolated stations, where hardly any train stops.

My Father was waving at us. I saw him first, before everyone. My brother denies this, but trust me I saw him before. He lifted the bag I was holding in my hands. He was always on time, no matter how late our train gets. He had a magic number he used to punch in our landline telephone  And a lady used to give information to him about the timings of our train - with a standard postscript - Asuvidha ke Liye Khed hai. She is the same lady who announces the timings of the train at railway stations too. I recognize her voice by heart - Taddam... Kripaya dhyan dijiye ...  

I sat comfortably in the backseat of our red color Maruti 800. We had our dinner at Bangla sweets in Bangla Market. I was a quick eater. And Obese too. So I had my meal and came outside to have some fresh air - and also, I was not in the mood to share my ice cream with my brother. 

When I came outside I saw this old man, wearing age-old spectacles, selling worn-out books, calendars, and magazines. He was sitting comfortably on the footpath with a trunk behind him and a pile of books on his right. 

And then, I found this book peeping at me quietly.

It was a thick paperback with a beautiful image of one elderly couple and a few kids printed on its cover page. How joyfully they were smiling at me. I can't forget that image till the last day of my life.

The book was called Dada-Dadi ki Kahaniyan.

While coming back home, I tried to read the contents of the book in the beams of streetlights and headlights of the other vehicles, passing in a rhythmic pattern.

Wish I could find the same red cover

After a while, we become good friends - or rather, more companions than friends.

But that companionship ended on a bit sad note.

I was in a small city in Maharashtra, where my cousin and I got into this argument, which escalated so much that he tore my book which was lying on my bedside.

I don't remember how many punches and kicks I showered on him. My vision was all blurred with uncontrollable tears flowing down my cheeks. And with that blurred vision, I saw that torn cover of the book, lying in a terrible condition on the bed. 

I miss that book and those 101 stories in it. Every story had warmth, wit, love, and some long-lasting lessons. One such story which I read during a train journey stayed with me. It goes somewhat like this -

Once upon a time...

There was a merchant who used to travel from his village to a city to buy clay toys, which had a humongous demand in his village. One evening, he was roaming in the bazaar of that city, handpicking each toy himself, and negotiating as much as he could.

The market was filled with peddlers and vendors, selling various products. There were snake charmers and bangle sellers. Food stalls filled with roasted peanuts, Sherbet, and Kebabs.

The kebabs were the local delicacy - soaked overnight in a mixture of turmeric, curd, and some selected spices - served smoking hot - dissolving in no time in your mouth.

But that day a lot of people were gathered in front of that stall - Not to buy kebabs.

When the merchant got a bit closer, he saw that the kebab seller was holding the tattered shirt of an old beggar who was sitting on the floor, begging for mercy. His begging bowl was lying upside down by his side and about a dozen coins were all scattered around him. 

When the merchant asked the kebab seller what the matter was, he explained "This rascal was having his chappatis with the fragrance of my kebabs. I noticed him enjoying both his stale pieces of bread like a dirty pest, I saw everything right from my stall. When I asked him to pay, he refused. That's how these dirty beasts are, they want everything for free.

The merchant looked blankly at the face of the kebab seller, which was all red with anger. He thought for a while, and then bent to collect all the scattered coins lying near the beggar. The beggar was watching everything, helplessly, and hopelessly. The Kebab seller was watching everything with an expectation of a gentle reward for the fragrance of his delicious kebabs.

The merchant held all the coins between his cupped palms and brought them near the right ear of the kebab seller, letting him hear the jingle of the coins. The Kebab seller smiled at him and extended his palm to collect the coins. But the merchant refused with a witty smile.

He said, pointing toward the beggar "He enjoyed the fragrance of your kebabs, and you enjoyed the jingle of his coins. All dues cleared." and handed all the coins to the beggar.

The story stayed with me, unexposed somewhere in the dark corner of my mind - afraid to come out.

Till the day it saw a bright ray of light...

Last week Asif Sahab told the same story in the context of some other story. But it brought out all my childhood right in front of my eyes. 

And after that, I didn't listen to the stories as a grown-up. All my so-called maturity vanished into thin air. I became an eight-year-old obese, quick-eater kid, who loves listening to stories with an open mouth and chin cupped between his palms. I could see that red cover of the book which I really miss, smiling at me.

I wrote a couple of traits of a storyteller in one of my earlier write-ups, but all those traits came out after a bit of brainstorming. Now let me tell you an element that my heart deeply wants to share with you all.

A true storyteller will always try to nurture the child in you - No matter how ignored and unattended it is. He or she will always give you the freedom to listen to the stories with an open mouth, chin cupped in palms, and with that little twinkle in your eyes.

And I find that trait in Asif Sahab.

Please ignore me plucking neem leaves at the back. I love chewing them.

So, my dear reader friend, never let your childhood die - Never, Never, Never...

Never

And what's a better way to nurture it than to listen to the stories?

Love, Laughter, and Peace

Himanshu R Nagpal

Dissection of Storytelling - A walk with Asif Sahab

This is an entry from my journal I wrote after one of my initial walks with Asif Sahab. After filling a dozen of pages in my journal, I tried to analyze certain value points, which may benefit a storyteller. I can update the entry and add many more points,.but it will make things complicated and you will scroll down. So, I will stick to the basics and I will try to give some rest to your thumbs (those little creatures, genuinely expecting some mercy from you). But, I will not spare you with my bracket commentary. I love doing that. (You can imagine me showcasing my devil smile).

Let's get started.

27/10/2021- 23.15 hours - Wednesday - New Delhi

Storytelling

What I learned in my last walk with Asif Sahab, comprises certain elements of storytelling.

The first and most crucial element is Gestures (to make your listener/ audience imagine). When Asif Sahab said " Abhi hum Babar ko Kabul mai rakhte hai" he used his left hand, rotated his wrist, and gestured to take a pause from a story and jumped to the other story, which probably running parallelly somewhere else. And then he started explaining about Ibrahim Lodhi, his uncle Daulat Khan Lodhi. Now, these gestures help the audience to bifurcate one story from another. Without these gestures, your words will fall flat and your story will disappear in thin air.

As a listener, it was easier for me to imagine that time and era - All the happenings and mishappenings - I could see everything happening in front of me.

(Imagine, Babur, coming with his troop, family, and kin - all the way from Uzbekistan to India. And just with rotation of a wrist, Babur froze in Kabul - not physically though - and, Ibrahim Lodhi was preparing his army of over one lakh men. That's the power of appropriate gestures in storytelling. It strongly induces imagination in the listener's mind.)

The other element is the Language of the storyteller. The words he or she uses adds beauty to the story. There should be an intrinsic value to every word he or she uses. The words should not be everyday words that we use casually. They must tickle the listener's mind so that he or she demands more such words. And yes, It must induce some visual imagination into the listener's mind. The Hindustani language contains innumerable such words which can help you imagine. If I talk about Asif Sahab, Tassavur is my favorite. And using Beharhal often helps my mind to stick to the core of the story, after wandering in different directions. By the way, Tassavur itself means to imagine. (Don't disturb my dear friend google for this).

The last one is an element with which I personally share a bitter-sweet relationship. Bitter, because sometimes it wants to become the main lead instead of providing assistance. Sweet - good storytelling itself makes it sweet. I'm talking about the third and last element I discovered - Facts.

You are roaming in a monument that carries a historical value, and you are telling stories related to a particular period. The facts will undoubtedly add charm to your storytelling - But (ahem!) emotions should always overlap the facts - and the facts should gladly allow emotions to come forward. When facts come forward, the soul of your story is lost. 

(The first battle of Panipat happened back in 1526 AD - The soul is lost. 

Babur, who came from the lineage of Taimur Lang, was all set with canons, trained soldiers, and yes, charming tactics. The ground of Panipat was all red with blood, as the Babur's army of twenty thousand men defeated over one lakh men of the Lodhi army. The price was not only the decapitated head of Ibrahim Lodhi - Dilli was now in Babur's hands. - I hope it finds the soul again?)

(That's what a twenty-eight-year-old me discovered about storytelling. The twenty-nine-year-old me has discovered a few more things. I will discuss that some other time. 

For me, imagination is the key. You can't imagine blank facts. You need a base of gestures, pitch, voice modulation, and whatnot. Just like you can't imagine my devil smile - because you don't have a base. Either you haven't seen me physically, or you might have not given much attention to me. Even if you know me personally... I don't smile devilishly.

Oh Please! )

#Statutarywarning - Storytelling can't be concluded in an article, a single book, or a documentary. It's a stream of cool and refreshing water - flowing and will keep on flowing till eternity... and maybe beyond.

Gratitude, Love, and lots of Happiness Asif Sahab and Delhi Karavan. A lot has been left to listen, observe, and feel. So let's keep on flowing :-)

Love, Laughter, and Peace

Himanshu R Nagpal

Picture credits

Praveen Sir

Aaliya

Dil, Dilli, Dastan - A Year filled with stories, warmth, and love...

It was October 2021, when I was roaming inside the campus of Humayun's Tomb with a dear friend of mine. It was an experience that I can safely characterize under the head "Majestic". Looking at that larger-than-life structure gazing at me is an experience in itself. I have had a strong appetite for stories since my childhood - All kinds of stories. Stories about people who are alive and about the ones who have left this mortal world. Stories about people who are famous and about the ones who are not so famous. Stories about the Emperors who have won the war and about the ones who died in the battle. Oh! I enjoy them all...

And yes, Stories about Seas and the Rivers, rocks, and the hills. Alas! they can't speak. I really wish they could. 

I really wished that there should be someone who knows the secrets - All the dark and white.

The secrets of the Emperors and the slaves, of the rocks and the caves. The stories of Love and hatred. The stories which are said and which are unsaid. 

That night I asked my friend 'Google' about some unsaid stories of Dara Shikoh. He gently smiled at me. held my hand, and took me to his girlfriend 'Youtube'. There, that lovely lady showed me a video called "Sons of Shahjahan".

And that night I discovered this gentleman who bridged that gap between those unsaid fables, and my super-strong appetite to hear them all. That very night I found a true storyteller. 

A storyteller gives more importance to the flow of the story, rather than just putting up facts in front of his or her audience. He or she emphasizes more on the emotions of the characters, instead of judging them.

That night, I discovered Asif Khan Dehlvi Sahab and Delhi Karavan. Not only that, I discovered Jahanara Begum, Rana Dil, and a whole new side of Aurangzeb. I discovered a lot in that eighty minutes, short video. 

I searched more about Delhi Karavan and the Silsila of Heritage walks. In a few minutes, I was successfully peeping into Asif Sahab's Facebook account. I couldn't stop myself from dropping him a text that how much I enjoyed his video and requesting him to give an intimation for any upcoming heritage walk.

And that night... nothing more happened that very night.

But the next morning  I got a reply from him 'Zaroor :) See you soon.' 

Next week I got a confirmation from Delhi Karavan that my seat is confirmed for the upcoming walk.

Wait.

It was somewhat like this.

Khoshamadeed Musafir

We have noted your registration for the upcoming walk on 23d Oct 2021. Your seats are confirmed...

Looking at you, but not looking at you...

I was before the mentioned time, waiting at the ticket counter of Purana Quilla (Old Fort). Wearing a Pink color T-shirt (I hate wearing T-shirts, especially pink ones) and a pair of jeans, I was feeding broken biscuits to a dog who was curled up near a pole. I texted Asif Sahab that I'm there at the ticket counter. I have this fear that what if they start without me or what if I misread the mail and waiting at the wrong venue? There are more 'What ifs' ringing in my head when I got his reply.

I'm reaching in five minutes.

Phew...

There were no more biscuits left in the packet and the dog sat quite near my feet.

Suddenly, people who were looking scattered part of the crowd unified when Asif Sahab walked in.  I remember nodding at him when he asked 'Are you here for the walk?'

Yes Sir :-)

A Storyteller is someone who is looking at you while telling you a story without looking at you. He is in some distant land, watching events happening. A storyteller is the one who holds your hand and you can safely give him the sacred responsibility to take you with him with mere words into that distant land. Where there are Emperors and slaves, Rocks, and caves - and they all tell a story. And the storyteller beautifies it and gives that story the right words, and conveys it to you with utmost care - Umm... Like Koh-I-Noor on Taqht e Taus.

A storyteller is a healer who heals your unattended, invisible wounds with his words - Words that are justified, expressive, and deep.

Phew...I'm imagining speaking this in a single breath. I feel tired.

Wait, I have some more.

And I found all these impeccable storyteller qualities in Asif Sahab. The Walk started with the Royal dinner of the Pandavas and ended with the heartbreaking story of partition and the refugee camp - I could feel some of my unattended wounds heal.

For me, That walk never ended. It stayed with me like a close friend. I can tell you the minutest details possible of that walk, but it will increase the length of this multi-folds.

The next morning, I wrote every detail in my journal. And the first line of that entry was - 

Yesterday, I went to the land of stories...

It's been a year that I'm associated with Asif Sahab and Delhi Karavan - Silently attended about a dozen walks - Without saying much to anyone. Without making much of physically visible friends. Yes, I made a few imaginary ones. Just listening to lots and lots of stories. Losing myself again and again. Finding myself again and again - Whirling on the tunes of stories.

I need to stop because I just imagined myself actually whirling. I look funny. But, I'm happy. 

Let me whirl...

Let's end this with two lines I wrote some years back

जिस काफिले में जुंबिश कम और रौशनी ज्यादा होगी,

जिस काफिले में हर अल्फाज महकेगा

मैं, वहीं मिलूंगा तुम्हे...

Love, Laughter, and Peace

Himanshu R Nagpal

And It all started here... at Humayun's tomb...
pc chitr_grapher