Our Nostalgic Nerve - India Gate

 India Gate and its picnics- Delhiites’ collective consciousness




Photographing historically significant monuments, much like every other photographer, is my way to keep a piece of history for myself and document it in my own subjective way. Somehow, this gets different with India Gate because a piece of its history, is actually my recent past.

India Gate and its picnics bind all Delhiites with a common thread and so it’s no surprise that a lyric like “raat ko jayenge India Gate,” didn’t just blow-up one fine day (it understandably struck a nostalgic nerve in us all). 

Nothing beats the memory of when visiting India Gate made the day feel shorter, heart feel younger, and every season feel like summer. Each visit here brings back the timeless memories of cousins and friends who turned into family; taking me back to when I knew most about simple living, in small packets of joys that looked like: casserole parathas, chuski, budhiya ke baal, gol gappe, ice cream cups; yo-yos, arrow helicopters and the multicolored windmills.

अब बस आज की भागदौड़ में, कॉलेज के पास होने पर भी इन जगाहों के चक्कर नहीं लगते। आख़िर, दुनिया की कैसी है यह रीत कि पीछे छोड़ दिया हम ने अपना सबसे अमूल्य अतीत।


Author and Photographer - Lavanya Verma

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