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Time Out
7 hours ago
- Time Out
The 24 most beautiful buildings in the world
1. Taj Mahal, India When was it built? 1632-1653 You might think you've made some romantic gestures in your time, but few acts of love can compete with those of Shah Jahan. After the death of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Mughal Emperor commissioned the building of an appropriate mausoleum for her, and what it resulted in, 22 years later, was the Taj Mahal. It's thought the building's beauty was inspired by hers, and English poet Sir Edwin Arnold reportedly said that the palace was 'not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passion of an emperor's love wrought in living stones.' 2. Hallgrímskirkja, Iceland When was it built? 1945-1986 Reykjavik's Hallgrimskirkja might look like a rocket, but it is in fact a striking Evangelical-Lutheran church, and the largest place of worship in Iceland. Its façade nods to both modernist and expressionist architectural styles, but Guðjón Samúelsson, the building's lead designer, was inspired by the country's robust landscape. The sloping sides of Hallgrímskirkja's face resemble cooled lava, and its white concrete finishing enables it to blend with the mountainous backdrop. 3. The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt When was it built? 2550-2490 BC We couldn't curate a credible list of the world's most beautiful buildings without including some of the oldest, most stoic structures of all. Built (presumably) using a system of rams, sledges, ropes, leavers and rollers, the Pyramids of Giza were tombs for the pharaohs of Egypt's Old Kingdom to prepare them for life as gods after their death, and given construction began on the Great Pyramid more than four millennia ago, they've certainly stood the test of time. 4. Fallingwater, USA When was it built? 1936-1939 Surrounding ourselves even with just little hints of nature is good for our wellbeing, but Fallingwater, an extraordinarily-designed 1930s house, takes that to a whole 'nother level. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed the building to be a weekend home for the Kaufman family. Featuring cantilevered terraces that protrude into the lush greenery, Fallingwater intertwines with the stunning surroundings of Bear Run Nature Reserve, cleverly built over a babbling waterfall (hence the name). The interior, built around a fireplace, features rocks cutting in from the outside. The entirety of the house is enveloped in the constant sound of ever-falling water. 5. Ad-Dayr in Petra, Jordan When was it built? First century AD Also known as the 'Rose City' because of the rose-red hue of the surrounding sandstone, Petra's outstanding beauty and unique architecture (buildings are half-built and half-carved into the rock face, with an innovative water management system enabling a population to settle) have earned it a worthy place as one of the eight wonders of the world. Ad-Dayr, the Monastery, is one of the ancient city's most-visited and most famous monuments. At 48 metres high, it's Petra's tallest stone façade. 6. Fondation Louis Vuitton, France When was it built? 2007- 2014 You might not think it at first glance, but Frank Gehry's 2014 masterpiece is inspired by classic, late nineteenth-century greenhouses – the kind that appear elsewhere on this list. The building's shape resembles a futuristic-looking ship ornamented with twelve glass sails – a structure Gehry apparently imagined as a 'magnificent vessel that symbolizes France's cultural vocation'. The sails are interspersed with white blocks known as 'icebergs' and its fragmented appearance is a nod to Gehry's signature deconstructivist architectural style. 7. Trinity College Library, Ireland When was it built? 1712-1732 Ireland 's largest library is so much more than a massive collection of books (though there are around 6 million printed volumes shelved here). Its 65-metre main chamber, called the Long Room, is an imposing, handsome space which has gradually been added to throughout the decades to house more and more books. It started as a single-story, plaster-ceilinged space and has since been built up to feature barrel-vaulted ceilings and an upper gallery, resulting in this famously moody, gothic reading room. 8. Great Mosque of Djenne, Mali When was it built? Thirteenth century, rebuilt in 1907 If you've never seen a mud-brick building before, start off strong with this majestic mosque, which is the largest example of this kind of architecture on the planet (and a UNESCO World Heritage Site). It's made of sun-baked earthen bricks which have been coated in sand, earth-based mortar and a coat of plaster. However, Mali's climate isn't kind to this kind of material, so every year the Crépissage de la Grand Mosquée takes place, an annual event where the local community come together to replaster the building – typically the women gather river water and the men gather clay and make plaster. 9. Nasir Ol Molk Mosque, Iran When was it built? 1876-1888 If you're looking for beauty in the minute details, seek out a mosque. Shiraz's Nasir Ol Molk Mosque, appropriately nicknamed the 'Pink Mosque', is a stellar example. Its crowning jewel is the prayer room, which is flooded with kaleidoscopic colour at sunrise, dreamily illuminating the walls' many intricate mosaics. But the mosque's exterior is just as impressive, with beautifully decorated pastel-hued tiles embellishing the entire building. 10. The Twist, Norway When was it built? 2016-2019 Ever been to an art gallery that doubles as a bridge? Well, head to Kistefos Sculpture Park in Norway, and you can. This stunning feat of infrastructure and architecture is appropriately named The Twist, and consists of a beam that rotates 90 degrees to connect the banks of the Ranselva River. Inside, the innovative use of light creates three different galleries: visitors are greeted by floor-to-ceiling glass on the north side, which offers panoramic views; a sculptural section with a slice of ceiling light in the middle; and a tall, moody space on the south side. 11. Sagrada Famila, Spain When was it built? 1882-today (due to be completed in 2026) They say good things take time, and more than 140 years after construction began, the work on Antoni Gaudí's masterpiece is nearly (like really nearly) done. The Sagrada Familia is scheduled to be finally complete by spring 2026, which would mark 100 years since its architect's passing, and it looks like all the waiting will be worth it. From the building's strange, Gothic-slash-Art Nouveau stylings to the intensely vibrant stained glass windows, the tree-like columns to the 'magic square', it's a unique melange of texture, colour, light and detail. 12. Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Bangladesh When was it built? 1961-1982 Bangladesh's National Parliament House isn't beautiful in the dainty, romantic, classical sense, but you can't deny its impact. It was designed by world-famous architect Louis Kahn, originally to house the governmental quarters of East Pakistan until Bangladesh gained independence in 1971 while the building was still being constructed. Now, it stands as a symbol of democracy. A trademark of Kahn's designs is the manipulation of light – he believed natural light could transform a buildings' interior in a way no material means could – which is why the modernist façade features vast geometric holes. 13. Pantheon, Italy When was it built? 118-128 AD Whether you ponder the Roman Empire occasionally or daily, the Pantheon, which translates from Greek to mean 'honour all gods', stands as a monumental example of the ancient realm's engineering and design prowess. Its unreinforced concrete dome remains the largest of its kind on the planet, on top of being perfectly proportioned – the 43.3 metre diameter is the exact same distance as from the ceiling to the floor. Oh, and the hole in its summit – the 'oculus' or 'eye of the Pantheon' – casts a striking lighting effect on April 21 every year, when the midday sun hits a metal grill above the doorway and completely illuminates the courtyard outside. Stunning, eh? 14. Palmenhaus at Schonbrunn Palace, Austria When was it built? 1880-1882 A whole load of steel and glass might not sound like a particularly elegant mix of materials, but in Vienna, that combo has resulted in this exquisite greenhouse which dates back to the nineteenth century. Palmenhaus sits in Schonbrunn Palace's Dutch Botanical Gardens, and, despite its dainty-looking structure, it houses three different climates and 4,500 different plants. The central pavilion has a Mediterranean climate, the north side caters to cold-weather species and the southern one is tropical, and they're all connected by tunnels. 15. Bát Tràng Ceramic Community House, Vietnam When was it built? 2021 Bát Tràng, an ancient village nestled in the Gia Lâm district of Hanoi, has always been known for its pottery – the name literally translates to bowl workshop, after all. However, despite the village's age (it's been around since the eleventh century), one of its newest buildings is one of its most striking – the Bát Tràng Ceramic Community House. Insight from villagers, local artisans and pottery experts informed the design of this place, a bold, tiered structure which references the shape of potters' wheels. 16. Museum at Eldridge Street, USA When was it built? 1887 This building isn't only beautiful thanks to its Moorish, Gothic and Romanesque features, its striking windows and its grand façade, but also because of all its history. Originally built in 1887, when the US was experiencing a window of mass immigration and New York 's Lower East Side became the most densely populated Jewish community in the world, Eldridge Street Synagogue was the first in America to be purpose-built by eastern European immigrants. It was a proud display of their newly-found religious freedom, and though the population using it gradually declined, a generous restoration project, under which it became Museum at Eldridge Street, has restored it to its former magnificence. 17. Santuario de Las Lajas, Colombia When was it built? 1916-1949 Plenty of buildings come about out of necessity, but others are built in order to honour or remember, and it's the latter that led to the creation of this imposing Colombian Basilica. Perched on a 40-metre-high bridge over the Guáitara River, the site has been a pilgrimage destination since the eighteenth century, when it's thought a woman and her daughter witnessed an apparition of the Virgin Mary. Between 1916 and 1949, flying buttresses, pointy arches and ribbed vaults were constructed to replace the previous smaller shrine, giving the site a refreshed neo-gothic grandeur. 18. Museum of Old and New Art, Australia When was it built? 2011 If you want a building that's not just going to welcome you, but will actually take you on a journey, look no further than MONA. It's nestled into Triassic-period sandstone cliffs, around a 40 minute ferry ride from Hobart along Australia 's Derwent River, and its design is peculiar, but pretty darn cool. The whole idea was to not detract from existing properties in the area, so lots of the museum's exhibition spaces are dimly-lit, subterranean rooms, and there's also an art conservation area and theatre on site. Pharos is the newest part of the building, which was opened back in 2017, and it's accessible via two different tunnels. 19. Maggie's Centre, St James's Hospital, UK When was it built? 2020 Hospitals tend to be uncomfortable places characterised by too-bright strip lighting and unnervingly squeaky surfaces, but not at this Maggie's Centre. The charity has striven to build personal environments to support cancer sufferers and their families, and this space is comforting and stunning. Enormous, mushroom-shaped forms grow from the floors to form the tiered roofs, and the stems are deep enough to contain loos and lifts. The space is decorated with mostly natural materials – think cork-topped tables, resin floors and cascading potted plants. 20. Baháʼí Temple of South America, Chile When was it built? 2007-2016 Forget what you know about temples – this stunning place of worship in Chile is a striking deviation from tradition. The Baháʼí Community is a religion based on unity among all people, and this temple, with its nine gleaming glass veils, frames an airy, accessible place for worship that can accommodate 600 individuals. From inside, the dome's peak lets in light that's captured between the glass and translucent Portuguese marble on the building's interior. At sunset, the light fades from white to silver to ochre to purple. 21. Futuna Chapel, New Zealand When was it built? 1959-1961 Hidden away in the Wellington suburb of Karori is what is widely considered by the architecture community to be the most significant of New Zealand 's twentieth-century buildings. Futuna Chapel is a beautiful little space, originally commissioned by the Society of Mary, a Catholic religious group. Inside, you'll find marvellous displays of light over the floor and walls through the pretty stained-glass windows, wood, layers, a load of texture and plenty of sharp angles. 22. Komera Leadership Centre, Rwanda When was it built? 2022 This community and education hub near Lake Ihema in eastern Rwanda is a stunning recent build that thoughtfully incorporates its environment (known as vernacular architecture). Its name means 'to stand strong, and to have courage', and there are woven eucalyptus screens and brick patterns throughout the building, which are inspired by local 'Imigongo' artwork – a style thought to have originated in Rwanda several centuries ago. 23. National Holocaust Monument, Canada When was it built? 2017 It's our collective duty to learn from the past, and commemorating dark chapters in our history with such stark monuments is one way to encourage that vital introspection. Technically entitled 'Landscape of Loss, Memory and Survival', the details in Canada 's National Holocaust Monument have been thoughtfully designed to ensure it lives up to its name. The building's structure centres around six triangular volumes that form the Star of David, and it's organised around two planes – one ascends, pointing to the future, and the other descends into a space which features murals and photographs of the Holocaust to ensure it's not forgotten. 24. Enryaku-ji, Japan When was it built? 788 Kyoto has its fair share of temples, but Enryaku-ji is one of its prettiest. It's perched on top of Mount Hieizan in Kyoto's eastern mountain range, and the wider complex at one time comprised nearly 3,000 subtemples. It was founded by Saicho, a monk who introduced Tendai Buddhism to the region way back in 778, but after an attack by Japanese daimyō Oda Nobunaga in 1571 (who was trying to unite Japan), most of the original buildings were destroyed. Now, the majority of the ones left date from the Endo period, and they're clustered in three main areas: Todo; Saito and Tokawa.
India.com
9 hours ago
- India.com
Less Crowd More Magic: 7 Hidden Hill Spots Near Chandigarh You Will Love
Chandigarh is surrounded by beautiful hill stations and is considered as one of the gateways of northern India. The well-known places such as Shimla, Manali and Kasul are often famous, but there are a few lesser known hill stations near Chandigarh that provide natural beauty and solitude. The best part is that these hill stations let you escape from the daily life of the city without consuming long hours of travel. In this article we will highlight seven of them. 1. A Secret Paradise: Morni Hills Morni Hills is one of the nearest hill stations to Chandigarh at around 45 kilometers. This region features abundant greenery, scenic views and calm atmosphere, making it perfect for adventure lovers and nature lovers. Some of the trek paths lead to ancient temples and small villages as well as some unique features like twin lakes of Tikkar Tal and Mansarover. Morni Hills is home to several eco-friendly establishments and resorts. Of course, no trip to Morni Hills is complete without trekking to Morni Fort, which is situated on a hilltop, enabling your eyes to gaze upon the breathtaking beauty of the whole region. 2. Pinjore Gardens: Celebrating Nature and Ancient Culture It may not look like one but Pinjore Gardens or Yadavindra Gardens, is a hill station garden which is part of a historical site with Aravali hills around the place. The garden is located on the southern side of the Shivalik range and is 20 kilometers away from Chandigarh. This beauty was constructed during the rule of Emperor Aurangzeb and contains upper level Mughal style architecture along with steps, fountains, and flower gardens. It is a great place for summer holidays. For families, the place hosts cultural events along with light shows making the location very ideal. 3. Solan: Famous for Mushrooms and Much More Located approximately 70 kilometers away from Chandigarh is Solan. This place is another underrated jewel in the Shivalik range. Solan is well known for its mushroom growing and processing units, hence the name 'The Mushroom Capital of India.' Solan is also famous for its amazing landscapes, ancient colonial buildings, and temples and churches. For people looking for some adventure, there is paragliding and trekking. For the history lovers, Solan also has the Dagshai Jail Museum which showcases British Colonial history. 4. Chail: Host to the Cricket Ground at the Highest Altitude. Chail is well-known for having the highest cricket field which rests at a staggering 90 kilometers away from Chandigarh. It is also famously known as a summer retreat for Maharaja Bhupinder Singh from Patiala which featured breathtaking views of the sky-high Himalayas, Chail consists of a palace which has been converted into a hotel to draw in tourism, dense forests and vast meadows. Alongside the stunning beauty, Chail Palace marks the royal history of the Patiala Palace. Nature Lovers will also appreciate the Chail Wildlife Sanctuary that contains sambars, ghorals, and barking deer. Alongside this high class cricket field, Chail is also restocked with various mountains. 5. Kasauli: The Hidden Colonial Gem. Kasauli is the ideal place to visit when resting while enjoying a stunning view. It is located near Chandigarh and is about 70 kilometers away, making it a perfect tourist attraction. The area is renowned for its ancient feeling with spine streets filled with old churches and other remarkable sights. The best in this town is the Monkey Point Viewpoint from is perfectly located for a calm also features Gilbert Trail along with the famously known Kasauli Baptist Church . The streets are also not packed with a large crowd making it a perfect area for some natural peace and relaxation. 6. Barog: Lovely Detour Along The Kalka-Shimla Railway Barog, a small and beautiful hill station that sits on the UNESCO Kalka-Shimla railway, is about 60 km from Chandigarh. The town is named after Colonel Barog, who played an important role in building the railway line. Barog is surrounded by mesmerizing pine trees and has stunning views of the Valley beneath. Don't miss out on Barog Tunnel, the longest in Kalka Shimla railway track Travelers can relax at Timber Trail Resort, which has cable cars and zip lining too, or go stroll around the area. 7. Naldehra: A Golfing Escape Located Within Hills Naldehra is a beautiful township approximately twenty kilometers away from Shimla, making it one of the top places to visit in Himachal Pradesh. The area is also about 110 kilometers away from Chandigarh. Naldehra is home to the Naldehra Golf Club which is known to be the oldest golf course in India. This nine hole golf course was established in 1905 and is quite popular all over the country. Along with primitive golfing, one can visit the Tattapani Hot Springs that are nearby, or just relax in the calmness of the surroundings. The vibrant slopes and cool mountain breeze makes it one of the best weekend destinations. What Makes An Outstanding Hill Station Different From Others? If you are looking for beauty with substance, these spots standing outside Chandigarh effortlessly blend scenic beauty with opportunities to engage in nature, culture and history all at once but without the throngs of tourists Limiting your experience. Unlike their more renowned counterparts, these places allow travelers to enjoy the destination exactly how it's meant to be enjoyed without losing out on comfort. Also, its closeness to Chandigarh means lesser time spent traveling and greater enjoyment which makes them perfect for both quick getaways and long vacations. To Wrap Up Not only does Chandigarh impress as a beautiful city with much to discover, but a trip to these humble hill stations enhance your travel delight. Chail's peaceful heights, the adventurous spirit of Barog, and the historical charm of Pinjore Gardens are exceptional places which are best String together. These underrated hill stations are overflowing with something for everyone including solo travelers, couples yearning for romance, or even families eager to spend time together. Make new memories that last forever by visiting these places. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your bags, drive along, and immerse yourself in these unsung wonders lying beyond the Chandigarh boundary.
India Today
10 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Impeachment motion against Justice Shekhar Yadav stalled due to MP's double sign
The impeachment motion filed by the opposition against Allahabad High Court judge Justice Shekhar Yadav is currently stuck due to procedural technicalities in Parliament. The motion, which was submitted over an allegedly controversial statement made by Justice Yadav, is presently pending with the Vice President of Rajya Sabha Secretariat has begun a detailed verification of the 55 signatures submitted along with the motion, as mandated by parliamentary scrutiny began following a complaint that one MP's signature had been recorded twice. However, the concerned Member of Parliament has denied signing the document more than once. As per established procedure, all signatures must be verified in a specific format before the motion can move forward. Currently, 19-21 signatures of MPs are yet to be to sources, no further action will be taken on the impeachment motion unless all signatures are fully authenticated. Moreover, any discrepancies, such as duplicate signatures or errors in the motion's format, could lead to its rejection on technical December 13, 2024, lawmakers led by Samajwadi Party MP Kapil Sibal submitted an impeachment notice against Justice Yadav to the Rajya Sabha Secretary General. The move followed controversial remarks made by Justice Yadav at a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) widely shared videos, Justice Yadav supported the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and said laws should reflect the will of the majority. "The law works according to the majority. Only what benefits the majority's welfare and happiness will be accepted," he Yadav had faced more controversies before as well. In September 2021, during a hearing on cow slaughter, he claimed that cows exhale oxygen and urged Parliament to declare the cow India's national animal and cow protection a "Fundamental Right of Hindus".He denied bail to an accused under the UP Cow Slaughter Act, adding that even Mughal ruler Akbar had banned cow slaughter and calling cow protection a part of Indian culture. His comments were widely shared on social Reel IN THIS STORY#Uttar Pradesh
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Diana Penty opens up on ‘Chhaava' success, says 'I'm a huge critic of my own work'
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Actor Diana Penty , who portrayed Mughal princess Zinat-un-Nissa Begum in the blockbuster 'Chhaava', says she welcomes both praise and criticism. The historical action drama, which stars Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, grossed over Rs 600 crore at the Indian box office, becoming the highest-grossing Hindi film of the year. Despite its commercial success, 'Chhaava' also attracted backlash for its portrayal of certain historical events. "I'm a huge critic of my own work' Speaking about the mixed reactions, Diana told PTI, 'It's important to have both sides so that actors or makers can do better next time. I'm a huge critic of my own work.' 02:37 Detective Sherdil Trailer: Diljit Dosanjh, Diana Penty, Boman Irani, Chunky Panday and Banita Sandhu Starrer Detective Sherdil Official Trailer Diana Penty revealed that her role required minimal dialogue, which was a new challenge for her. 'There was so much power in the silences, and that's not easy to do,' she said. The actor focused on expressing emotions through subtle gestures and internalized feelings—something she hadn't done before. While some praised her nuanced portrayal, others were less convinced. Still, she found the experience enriching: 'I looked at the positive side of it.' Other projects On the professional front, Diana Penty will be next seen in the upcoming movie 'Detective Sherdil', which is directed by Ravi Chhabriya and starring Diljit Dosanjh in the lead. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The movie is scripted by Sagar Bajaj, Ravi Chhabriya and Ali Abbas Zafar. On the other hand, Diana Penty also played a pivotal role in 'Azaad' which earned a decent 3 star rating from ETimes with our official review reading, "'Azaad' struggles to maintain consistent tension. The film underutilizes the potential of depicting the British officers' brutality, which could have heightened audience investment in Govind's climactic horse-riding challenge. Director Abhishek Kapoor's restrained approach results in a film that feels partially realized, missing its full potential. While 'Azaad' has moments of grandeur, it is overshadowed by an overall lack of emotional and narrative payoff. It is a grand spectacle with noble intentions but leaves a muted impression."
Hindustan Times
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Word on the street: A delightful collection of poems celebrates Indian cities across 2,000 years
It began with a bout of homesickness. While studying for a degree in economics at Yale in late-2020, Bilal Moin began to feel a yearning for Mumbai. He sought refuge in poems about the city, initially turning to classics by Arun Kolatkar, Adil Jussawalla and Dom Moraes. After a while, he cast his net wider. Entering keywords into the university library archive, he discovered poets he had never heard of, their verses on Bombay preserved in journals and magazines long-since defunct. In 2023, he mentioned his 'Word document of homesick scribbles' to Shawkat Toorawa, a professor of comparative literature at Yale. 'He pointed out that, pretty much by accident, I had put together an anthology,' says Moin, speaking from Oxford, where he is now pursuing a Master's degree. Last month, that collection was released as a 1,072-page hardcover anthology: The Penguin Book of Poems on the Indian City. It holds 375 poems by 264 poets, translated from 20 languages. Readers can explore the very different Mumbais of the Jewish playwright and art critic Nissim Ezekiel and the Dalit activist Namdeo Dhasal. They can lament the loss of Shahjahanabad with the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar. Revisit the colonial-era Delhi of Sarojini Naidu, the Haridwar of Manjul Bajaj, or discover a tiny microcosm of India in Thangjam Ibopishak's Imphal. 'My hope is that as you travel through these poems,' writes Moin in the introduction, 'you will discover that within the magic, malice and masala of urban India, every city-dweller becomes, in their own way, a poet.' Centuries of verse 'on a scrap of dried out / soil under a dried up tree / a deer stands in the very centre of New Delhi…' the Polish poet Katarzyna Zechenter writes, in A Nilgai Deer in the City of Delhi. As his homesick search took him all over, picking what to include in the book, and deciding where to stop, was a huge challenge, Moin says. 'Penguin,' he adds, laughing, 'neglected to give me an upper limit for the number of poems I could include, and I took advantage of that and trawled as far and wide — geographically, linguistically and temporally — as possible.' The oldest poem in the collection is Pataliputra, an ode to that ancient Mauryan capital (and ancestor to modern-day Patna), written by Tamil Sangam poet Mosi Keeranar, sometime between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE. 'May all of Pataliputra, swimming in gold, / where white-tusked elephants splash about / in the Sona River, be yours…' he writes. One of the most recent is Imphal as a Pond, by the 22-year-old queer activist Mesak Takhelmayum: 'My family is like the archipelago at Loktak, / if not the chains of islands in the great ocean far beyond these mountains, / in our separation, we yearn for one another / we yearn for water to connect us.' Jungle of people... Once he had a longlist ready, Moin spent weeks sending out hundreds of emails to poets and publishers, trying to work out how to get permission to feature each piece. 'I've featured writers who maybe had one or two poems published 15 years ago, and then seemingly never published again,' he says. 'So I had to send a lot of Facebook messages to people with similar names, saying 'Hi you don't know me, but are you this poet?'' He was determined that each poem be presented at its best, so he dug through multiple translations, and consulted with linguists, scholars or simply friends and acquaintances, to identify the best or most accurate recreations in English. There was a lot of debate over which translation of Tagore's two poems, Song of the City and The Flute, to choose. For the former, he chose the translation by William Radice: 'O city, city, jungle of people, / Road after road, buildings innumerable, / Everything buyable, everything saleable, / Uproar, hubbub, noise.' In loving memory As he read his way through centuries of verse, Moin says, he noticed something that thrilled him: over and over, certain cities inspired the same sentiment. Whether this was an effect of culture, literary mirroring or an idea that took root and spread, tracing these threads through time felt extraordinary, he says. Kolkata's poets tend to look at the city as a harsh mistress, their unrequited love for her both romantic and torturous. Mumbai poets struggle to come to terms with their city's glaring inequalities, and write of the difficulties of surviving in this maximal metropolis. As for Delhi, 'it doesn't matter if you're reading poetry from the 14th century or the 21st,' Moin says. 'The theme is always that this was once a great city, but it no longer is. And that one loves Delhi for its past.' 'A lot of fantastic gay poets, such as Hoshang Merchant and R Raj Rao, are featured in this collection,' Moin adds. 'It's interesting to see, through their eyes, how the city enables the marginalised to express themselves, while on the other hand still stifling them.' There are poets in these pages who are also activists and fighters, soldiers and sages, memory-keepers looking to record a city's present, its culture and its people, its quirks and flaws, before it is all erased and redrawn. But most poets in the anthology, Moin points out, are none of these things. They are simply the 'loafers' of Arvind Krishna Mehrotra's imagination, drifting carefree through gardens, temples and lanes, finding ways to turn the minutiae of the everyday into art. As Nirupama Dutt puts it, in Laughing Sorrow: 'I will go to the poet of the city, / looking for life without restraint. / He will have half a bottle of rum / in one pocket and a freshly / written poem in the other.' Get 360° coverage—from daily headlines to 100 year archives.
