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springernichole3's review
5.0
"It is impossible to capture the city its entirety in a single frame."
The same can be said with a single 150 page book. While it is almost impossible, this book really captures what it feels to be among the pakka Banarsis.
There are so many things in this book that felt so familiar and yet made me excited to step out and explore Banaras even further.
This book can be for those from Varanasi and those who have yet to visit. It talks about a wide variety of topics from the controversial corridor project around Kashi Vishwanath to Pappu's chai shop in Assi.
While I wish there was more expansion on the city being not just only important for Hindu pilgrims, there is only so much one can cover in an accessible and easy to read fashion.
So far this has been one of the best travel log books about Banaras that I have read yet! Give it a read, you won't regret it.
The same can be said with a single 150 page book. While it is almost impossible, this book really captures what it feels to be among the pakka Banarsis.
There are so many things in this book that felt so familiar and yet made me excited to step out and explore Banaras even further.
This book can be for those from Varanasi and those who have yet to visit. It talks about a wide variety of topics from the controversial corridor project around Kashi Vishwanath to Pappu's chai shop in Assi.
While I wish there was more expansion on the city being not just only important for Hindu pilgrims, there is only so much one can cover in an accessible and easy to read fashion.
So far this has been one of the best travel log books about Banaras that I have read yet! Give it a read, you won't regret it.
saumya_412's review
5.0
4.5 Stars | Part of Around India in Books
Last night I had a dream: I was young, probably in pre-teens, and I was visiting a ghat in Banaras. It was dusk, and there was a great bustle around us, Banaras comes alive in the evenings. The river was shimmering with light from diyas, lamps and electric lights, and I was holding onto my mother's hands, afraid that I would be swept away by the crowd. I could sense that I was excited; about what, I can't seem to remember. We walked along the ghats, and I looked with awe at the river, at the wooden platforms, and at the people. Later, when we were done, the four of us - me, my mother, father and younger brother - hopped on to one of those famous cycle-rickshaws of Banaras and headed home, the cycle-rickshaw drawing itself with much difficulty in between the crowded streets.
The dream was both a product of this book and some of my memories from Banaras. You see, long long ago, I lived there.
Aimless in Banaras is simple. The author cremates his mother at the famous Manikarnika Ghat, and in a twisted sense of handling his grief, he pretends to be collecting mental notes for a future book on Banaras. He comes back a few years later, and hence begins his journey through the alleys and ghats quintessential to Banaras, and somewhere along the way he discovers the Banaras within himself. Sounds simple, no?
But Banaras is not so simple. It's an intricate city with generations of dwellers and stories; stories of origin, stories of daily lives, stories of Shiva. A couplet mentioned in the book best describes the city: ‘Yeh ajeeb sheher hai, bada mast sheher hai’
Reading this book was like walking with Ghosh through the galis and ghats - hearing him talk to these strangers, listening about their lives and why, despite a wealth of options, they choose to stay on in Banaras. It was beautiful and inexplicable, it left me with a longing for visiting this city, my city, the city of my childhood, a city which I remember for it's monkeys and Kathak classes and picnics by the river. A city which was right in front of my eyes, but far from my understanding; a city I wish to explore with these fresh eyes, eyes that will see the nooks and corners and appreciate their heritage.
Aimless in Banaras was simple, simply because it wasn't extravagant. Banaras is not extravagant, it is the city of light, death and happiness. Ghosh summarizes Banaras beautifully:
Link to Notes and Highlights: https://www.goodreads.com/notes/50050667-aimless-in-banaras/86203333-saumya?ref=bsop
Last night I had a dream: I was young, probably in pre-teens, and I was visiting a ghat in Banaras. It was dusk, and there was a great bustle around us, Banaras comes alive in the evenings. The river was shimmering with light from diyas, lamps and electric lights, and I was holding onto my mother's hands, afraid that I would be swept away by the crowd. I could sense that I was excited; about what, I can't seem to remember. We walked along the ghats, and I looked with awe at the river, at the wooden platforms, and at the people. Later, when we were done, the four of us - me, my mother, father and younger brother - hopped on to one of those famous cycle-rickshaws of Banaras and headed home, the cycle-rickshaw drawing itself with much difficulty in between the crowded streets.
The dream was both a product of this book and some of my memories from Banaras. You see, long long ago, I lived there.
Aimless in Banaras is simple. The author cremates his mother at the famous Manikarnika Ghat, and in a twisted sense of handling his grief, he pretends to be collecting mental notes for a future book on Banaras. He comes back a few years later, and hence begins his journey through the alleys and ghats quintessential to Banaras, and somewhere along the way he discovers the Banaras within himself. Sounds simple, no?
But Banaras is not so simple. It's an intricate city with generations of dwellers and stories; stories of origin, stories of daily lives, stories of Shiva. A couplet mentioned in the book best describes the city: ‘Yeh ajeeb sheher hai, bada mast sheher hai’
Reading this book was like walking with Ghosh through the galis and ghats - hearing him talk to these strangers, listening about their lives and why, despite a wealth of options, they choose to stay on in Banaras. It was beautiful and inexplicable, it left me with a longing for visiting this city, my city, the city of my childhood, a city which I remember for it's monkeys and Kathak classes and picnics by the river. A city which was right in front of my eyes, but far from my understanding; a city I wish to explore with these fresh eyes, eyes that will see the nooks and corners and appreciate their heritage.
Aimless in Banaras was simple, simply because it wasn't extravagant. Banaras is not extravagant, it is the city of light, death and happiness. Ghosh summarizes Banaras beautifully:
The ghats and galis of Banaras—where time and again you are reminded of the biggest and unshakeable truth of life, that anyone born has to die—teach you to be your own guru.
Link to Notes and Highlights: https://www.goodreads.com/notes/50050667-aimless-in-banaras/86203333-saumya?ref=bsop
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