Echoes of Time
On travel, smilestones, why India once ticked to different clocks and more...
Hello from Goa!
Feels absolutely ILLEGAL to be in Goa for work! But the good part is that it is done.
Hopefully I should be able to wrap up work and chill in the next two-three days.
After all, the last four weeks kept me on my
toestoenails. :DYou see, I have been on more flights than dates this year.
It has been quite a journey, exploring five cities across five states — Hyderabad, Indore, Nagpur, Bangalore, and finally, in the charm of Goa. Amid this whirlwind of travel, I could secure my US visa (= a step closer to more adventures abroad). Thanks to Shachi Mall for being a great partner in this cumbersome process! :)
Bid a bitter goodbye to Vistara from 1 F as I flew my last flight UK 881 from BLR to GOI. Never have I ever loved a brand so much. Wrote a sentimental post yesterday morning as soon as I woke up!
Now some more good stuff:
A significant smilestone for me was being invited as a keynote speaker at an event in Indore. You can read more about it here.
In the festive Diwali spirit, Orenda marked its third anniversary, on the day where Nanu would have turned 100. I took the moment to announce the release of my next book. It’s called Tadow. :)
Completed Inktober Tapasya yet again. Tried a lot of things for the first time - like getting nail art. Will be learning mosaic techniques tomorrow.
Now as I write this, I am soaking in the beauty of a rich, storied ambiance of an old Portuguese house in South Goa. Or at least trying to.
OND is usually the quarter to chill, but marketers ko kahan koi chaain? So many events, so many festivals, so many memes and so many trends! AAAAAAA!
Year end ki chutti - Sabki nahi hoti, Laxman!
Zoning-out Time
Another year has nearly passed and I've found myself reflecting on the relentless speed of time. I have been so busy that I didn’t get time to lose weight. Heh!
My days have been filled with constant flights feeling like I’ve experienced different time zones without ever leaving India’s borders.
This made me wonder: why doesn’t India have multiple time zones?
A conversation yesterday drifted to the topic of daylight savings, and encouraged me to read more on this subject.
Did you know that India once had different time zones?
There was a time when the subcontinent was split between Bombay Time, Calcutta Time, Madras Time, and even Port Blair — each with its own rhythm and heartbeat.
Bombay Time (UTC+04:51)
Calcutta Time (UTC+05:53:20)
Madras Time (UTC+05:21:14)
Port Blair mean time (UTC+06:10:37)
It was only after independence that a unified Indian Standard Time (IST) was established, aligning us all under a single clock.
All thanks to Indian Railways - the decision to streamline the nation’s time system was practical — born from the need for simplicity and unity across regions.
But there’s an ongoing discussion about two timezones in India could make the northeast region more productive.
As I continue my travels, juggling schedules and recalibrating my internal clock, I think about the lost echoes of those time zones.
It's a reminder of how:
Time is as much a construct as it is an experience.
Inkspirations this month:
Naqqashi Silver Art of Lucknow - can’t wait to explore Lucknow once again!
The Indian Pen Show - happened in BLR but I could’t attend :( you can follow the page and see if you can make it to their upcoming events.
Keeping it raw -
Until the thirteenth,
Writeously yours,
Shalaka Kulkarni