8/2/2021

Hey Vishu,

I read your letter and it felt satisfying. It always does.

I have been busy for the last few months but then to get a letter from the mountain is a special one and feels like getting a break. You were describing snowy days of Shimla in the letter and here I was sitting in front of the screen picturing every scene from the letter and ofcourse with a smile. Mujhe pata tha letter padh k I would feel nice aur isiliye subhah neend se uthke padha aur fresh kahani ne din fresh kar diya :D.

Things aren't in place around me but I guess kabhi bhi kisika bhi sab sahi nahi hota. As you said Pahadi people have a lot of patience because a lot of the lives are in control of nature, I think all I can do now is be patient. I believe all of our lives are in command of nature. But may be in some cases it is evident for pahadi people, which is of course a good thing. I feel like as beings we are fading and have stopped to live and learn. We have detached far from the journey of life and heading towards a world controlled by apparatuses like institutions, societies, culture etc. until the late realization that everything is in command of nature hits us. For example we do not know a person by their body odour anymore. Products that tame and repress the animalic smells of a body are a part of popular culture and a culture of sameness prevails.

Kafi depressing hain. Anyway, although I don't read a lot but sometimes short stories of Ruskin Bond are a way for me to escape and be in a childlike world. It helps me to explore an unknown place and be in it for a while just like your letter gave a chance to explore Shimla in my way. Thank you. And jealous toh main kafi hua because woh pictures dekh k kaun nahi hoga but it also helped me to explore so I would humbly say have fun and may be you guys deserve it because you are more closer to nature.

Also can I sometime use your snowfall video for my artwork?

Chinmoy...