JRO Shoot

In a recent New Year charter, we both agreed that in order to preserve our individual and combined interests in our relationship, its important to spend dedicated time with one another.

Loosely translated, that means - Basically; no kids around.
So last weekend Deepa and I decided to drive out of town for a while.

We went to the Japal-Rangapur Observatory which is less than 100 Km out of Hyderabad.

----------------------------------------------------

A little bit about the Japal-Rangapur Observatory(JRO): Japal- Rangapur Observatory was built in 1963 with the installation of a 48-inch reflecting telescope, which remained the biggest telescope not only in the country but also in South East Asia for many years.

Since then, JRO carries out advanced research in optical astronomy and publishes numerous research papers in reputed astronomical journals both in India and abroad.

The auxiliary instrumentation includes a photometer, spectrograph, scanner and a CCD camera. The Observatory made significant contributions at the time of the Total Solar Eclipse of February 16, 1980 and the study of Comet Haley
during 1985-86 by participating in the International Haley watch programmes.

Recently, the JRO was one of the first in the country to capture the images of impact of the Comet Shoemaker-Levy on the Planet Jupiter in July 1994.

--------------------------------------------------------------
The drive was lovely, and we had some very interesting
discussions and observations on rural life and the human
condition. As always, the wide open spaces give us both a
deeper sense of fulfillment and perspective into our
identities.

I mean you have to really see the flat land of the Deccan
plateau that is Andhra Pradesh. The rocky terrain adds to the rugged beauty.


But this part of the Nalgonda district that we went thru, has
some gentle and smallish hills. Among the valley of which were these few villages which seemed to be doing quite well.
There was evidence of the Krishna water project supply being laid out along the way, but it seemed to have an existing
source through both ground water as well as some small canal systems.


Its interesting to note how we urban types get impressed with the simple daily agricultural activities of villages.
These seem so earthy, wholesome and self sufficient in a
timeless sort of way, that we wonder why we ever needed urban settlements to congregate and make ourselves miserable in.


Handmade clay bricks and kilns, threshing of pulses on the
road, re-planting of paddy, ploughing and so on.And yes, a transformer on a bullock-cart !!!
( Technology meets Transport )


Deepa had a photo-op with one of them Banjara-type women who spoke surprisingly good hindi despite being in heartland
andhra.


I'm currently working on entries for two contests which i need to complete and submit before 26th Jan 2006, and i'm currently
quite short on time and ideas. One is for the National Film
Commission, which i hope yields me the results I seek.
Another is for a private trust.


The weekend coming up has Sankranti, so i'll be on a shoot again.
( The observatory is not featured here as I didnt photograph it.
I need to go there again to really get a better feel of the
place. )