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Memoirs
Harvest Colors from the
Rainbow
by Jayati Gupta
This autumn
in Berlin, the State Exhibition Grounds of Hall number 9 lived
flamboyant world colors. Traders from various corners presented their
wares. Eager to do business, every participant highlighted their best;
using spotlights, focus, and an array of imaginations.
At the yearly import shop fair, another few days of radiant activities
in the city showered optimism, a welcome change from prolonged coverage
of negative news, no work, no jobs …
Precisely numbered stands decorated, as per representing countries.
Corridors lay with red carpets, a pleasure for saunters. Christmas,
knocking doors, visitors wore buying moods. November mizzle could not
dampen lofty spirits, forcing sunshine stretch happy hours.
Partitioned by a restaurant, sapping beer, neighbored by Russia and
Turkey marquee selling costume jewellery, Rati felt lucky at the
location of their stand. They need not go far for quick nourishes, when
hungry between ten to six o’clock in the evenings.
Voices of merry kids merged obliging parents. Groups of bouncing
schoolchildren carrying rucksacks, escorted by teachers stopped at
stalls buying knick-knacks, trinkets, souvenirs. Hands in pockets,
somber wholesalers fixed appointments to discuss their orders. Insisting
spouses convinced each other on their choice articles.
Rushing end to end in tempo, her customers’ demand, Rati answering
queries, replaced sold articles at an enormous. Her colleagues too were
breathlessly joyous, delighted to provide in exchange of crisps.
Their items were imports from India. Rati like a handful of other
Indians lived in the capital of Germany, working freelance.
From Bollywood posters, fashion jewellery, precious, semi precious
ornaments, woodcarvings, handicrafts, wall hangings, lampshades, paper
Mache, speck stone boxes, stone and brass figures, leather articles,
bedspreads, silk saris … the articles were uproarious insurgence of
colors.
No passer by could resist the magnificent splendor sprawled before their
eyes.
That of late, Hindi films made comfortable with quality translation on
German commercial TV channels, many of the Bollywood stars were not
unknown faces. Rati did not surprise at demands for Sharukh, Aishawarya
posters by young and old alike. Facts, no exaggerations, Kajol, Rani
Mukherjee, Preity Zinta, Priyanka Chopra, and Hrithik Roshan were other
hot favorites of the Germans for placards.
Additionally sentimental visitors provided personal feedback on recent
Bollywood show held in Admiral Palast Hall enjoying the same
tremendously. They felt the hall too small for the superb show. Rati
could understand their feelings.
Apart brilliance, perfumes from burnt incense extended magic across the
hall. People swarming like bees and butterflies surrounded their stall…
Next morning Rati had to rush, early, and unpack before the customers
arrived, arrange more items replenished by the warehouse in Bighorn-dam
North Berlin.
While thus she prepared, her Turkish neighbor Mr H Hayran strolled to
the stand courteously wished good morning, and could not stop commenting
on India, being the only country of happy dazzling bright colors in the
world.
“Sure it is, in that matter all Asia Pacific lands echo colors,”
modestly Rati tried to smoothen the compliment of the young man, adding
China, to the list of crimson glories.
“Maybe but still cannot match India’s symphony of colors, which is very
special, even celebrating a distinctive festival of colors,” said the
young man refusing to compromise humility, Rati expressed.
“Holi, festival of colors indeed, the Turkish man seems well-informed,”
quietly Rati thought in mind.
“From where and how you get such colors of life?” a visibly curious Mr H
Hayran added further with a question. Noticing earnest Mr Hayran, Rati,
and her colleague exchanged smiles.
“It is no mystery” Rati quipped. She continued, “You see, we have
harvested colors from the rainbow” unpacking a box of shawls.
“From the rainbow” repeated Mr H Hayran, convinced and content at her
answer, returns to his own gazebo amused.
On microphone in several languages, announcing the fair open for the
day, a pleasant female voice, wish good morning and success to the
exhibitors. Rati illuminates a candle in front of Luxmi Ganesha, perched
secure on cash counter. Their second day begins with a vibrant gusto!
November 26,
2006
Top
| Memoirs
The Week of November 26, 2006
Assessing President Hu : Watch his role in
Pakistan and Tibet by Rajinder Puri
India’s Energy Security : Three Significant
Developments by Dr. Subhash Kapila
Asafetida, Sandalwood, Scorpions, Sages & Absurdities
by Gaurang Bhatt, MD
Maldives – Idyllic Beauty Globalizes by Col
Rahul K. Bhonsle
The Challenges in Bihar by Ramesh Menon
Hope: The Flame in our Heart by PGR Nair
Love: The Greatest Power by TA Ramesh
Golden Temple, Amritsar -
A Photo Essay by Sukhdeep Singh
My Child is
Odd by Gary Direnfeld
Mountain Slides of Tista
by VK Joshi
Milton Friedman: A Great
Champion of Liberty by V. Sundaram
B G Shirke - A Vishveswarayya of Post-Independent
India by V. Sundaram
Voices Against Globalization by Deepti Priya
Mehrotra
Relax, There's a Woman on the Job by Elayne
Clift
Empower the Girl, Empower the Nation by Rupa
Sarker
Harvest Colors from the Rainbow by Jayati Gupta
The Politics of Toilets by Trisha Gupta
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