Maxs Blog

India

I never had the opportunity of playing Test cricket on the sub-continent. I wish I had … and I may very well have written another 5 books … the title of “How to Tangle a Turban, Maxi”, beckons …

India is indelible … a total attack on the senses of taste, touch, smell, sight and sound … manifesting itself in a multitude of dimensions.

As a keen photographer … my natural reaction to the never-ending stream of amazing images and the, at times, confronting circumstances was to fall in love with this intoxicating country. An unforgettable sea of humanity knotted itself together inside every airport and railway station. In the cities … streetscapes were like watching a multitude of extras in a movie. And this constant activity of daily life … challenged a spectrum of emotions.

Bus rides on the subcontinent are always thrill-seeking adventures … danger filtered by a cacophony of tooting horns. Traffic laws appear to have no relevance. Sharing a pot-holed stretch of bitumen with camels, elephants, donkeys and every known cycling machine is common place. Not unusual to witness a truck, van or bus hurtling into the path of traffic on the wrong side of the road … decorated in electric hand-painted designs … windows framed internally with fluffy pom-pom balls and wide eyes scan for shortcuts and impossible gaps.

My camera rarely dropped from a focusing eye. Postcard compositions formed everywhere I pointed the lens. India, the sleeping elephant, finally standing up and flapping massive ears – understanding and beginning to realise a dynamic potential. India’s continued growth continues to impress the rest of the world … expanding manufacturing, construction, power, travel and infrastructure project development will ensure India maintains a large footprint in a volatile and changing global economy … alongside China’s growth.

Australia and India have much in common. They share a vision of a mutually beneficial alliance already. There is a symbolic cultural bridge in place. The traffic each way is increasing as more and more businesses and individuals seek out opportunities and find success. Indian students are plentiful in Australian universities, sharing skills and culture. Nevertheless, Australia needs to work harder to make sure the experience is always positive.

The No. 1 wonder of the world, the Taj Mahal, was a highlight of my business matching visit – blue sky, white marble dome, multiple arches cornered by a quadrant of elegantly profiled towers … reflected in a black inky rectangle of water in the forecourt … a divine composition. Ant-like streams of people slowly edge towards this architectural masterpiece – so too 5 Buddhist monks in stunning orange robes. I take their photograph … we talk cricket, exchange email addresses and I sign 5 autographs in their palm-sized notebooks. Again travel presents a wonderful experience.

Late afternoon the chance to pose next to an extremely colourful living giant canvass in the form of an elephant is too compelling to drive past.

One unforgettable evening I presented a cricket bat signed by the late Sir Donald Bradman to the Cricket Club of India … I will never forget the collective reaction in that room. First, jaws dropped followed by a loud sucking of air and settling into frozen smiles below sets of wide-open eyes. (For many years I used to receive a Xmas card from a man named Prahab … no Father Xmas on the front of the card merely a black and white image of Sir Donald and Prahab shaking hands). Bradman remains a legend on the sub-continent more than half a century after retirement. So too Sachin Tendulkar, the little master, and contemporary players like Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne and Steven Waugh.

The Madras Club invitation was a special privilege. Décor from another era. Lofty ceilings and ornate drop fans gently moving hot humid air, dominated the exclusive space. Slotted timber shutters framed the verandah windows. The Chef, plus staff and beverage waiters, could well have been plucked from the pages of a Rudyard Kipling novel. Tailored jackets, vertical back, silver trays and pale jodhpurs. The sizzling theatre and aroma of a barbeque lifted the appetite. Businessmen and women exchanged business cards while discussing possibilities. Not easy while eating and drinking … only 2 hands!! Out side torrential raindrops drenched and choked the bustling metropolis of Chennai.

There was no need to be in a hurry. Storytelling was centre stage as guests chatted constantly. New beginnings. The cultural bridge working beautifully.

The generosity of spirit and hospitality was wonderful … so much to share and create. IMAGINATION + ASSOCIATION = POSSIBILITY.

A ferry ride from the “Gateway to India” out to Elephant Island was an introduction to dodgy water sellers, touts, Gods, Goddesses … rock carving, temples, beached boats and stray dogs.

The juxtaposition of seemingly unconnected elements sits with harmony and calmness amongst the chaos. A shared short voyage ending in a fading filter of orange light. Architectural elegance silhouetted the shoreline. To our left and right the red, white, blue and yellow ferries kissed gently on the energy of gentle waves …

Where to next?

I can’t wait to get back to immerse myself in the heady and magnetic attractions of the subcontinent.

I shall create that opportunity shortly – I will energize the idea … I promise …

More photos from my amazing time in India >