Why You Should Take Out Time To Explore Our April 2019 Issue

Namaskar dear reader,

A Kashi Yatra, traditionally, is significant as it marks the beginning of a new phase of life. A phase that has a seeker delving into more knowing, more seeking and the pursuit of all that Dharma has to offer. And the trip I made to Kashi last full moon was just that.

To be honest I haven't yet recovered from the trip because it felt surreal. Coming from south India where the dangers of temple lands being encroached upon and spaces around them shrinking is a living reality, it was a catharsis of sorts to watch the Kashi corridor project in action. While on one hand the buildings that are still around also were an alarming reminder of what can happen if we don't check 'development' around our temples, they being cleared and making way for the corridor on the other was some assurance.Do read about my sojourn in our April issue here.

It was not just about yet another government project. It was about the will behind it. The will to acknowledge that the 'voter' who is also an integral part of the project would be unhappy for sometime, that it would give enough fodder for those who have ensured the ancient city stays dirty for decades, that it involved literally 're-creating history', but still see it through.

A space of that sort is much more than a temple. There are so many verticals attached to a project like this. Tourism, for instance, will receive a huge boost once this space is organised. Especially in the context that despite having so tourism spots in the country we are only the twenty sixth most visited destinations in the world. Why so? Well, Kamalpreet Singh Gill has decoded 'What Indian Tourism Is, And What Indian Tourism Can Be' in this month's print edition.

All those who have in the past 'reconstructed' Kashi will surely vouch for this mega effort. An effort that will ensure Vishwanath can see 'Ganga', the river that has witnessed a million lives, cleansed many more, and dissolved all else into herself. The magazine this month also carries an excerpt from ‘Ganga: The Many Pasts of a River’ by Sudipta Sen that traces the history of the river through different eras. A nice weekend read it be.

I have tried my best to tell you all that I experienced in the ancient city in the story. I will wait to hear from you after doing this virtual tour with me. Do share the story and offer many more people the opportunity to witness the transformation of this timeless city and do subscribe, if you haven’t already.

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