The Wandering Monk

While walking up through the slope in the village of Lava, West Bengal, I saw two figures - draped in reddish garbs, ones hands folded behind his back - walking uphill. Needless to say, they were Buddhist Monks. I have seen quite a few of them in the busy streets of Kolkata. But it was altogether a different feeling, seeing the apparently similar personalities in such a serene, picturesque town of Lava. Soon I came across many of them, during my week long stay there and in Darjeeling. They seemed to merge with the surroundings, the chilly wind, the cloud that often enveloped the town with its utter whiteness, the smell of the mountains and the towering conifers. I started following them. I did so quite stealthily, but often ended up confronting them. But they seemed unnerved, undeterred. With a smile on their face they moved along. There was a growing sense of curiosity to know more about them, their monastic lifestyle, to unearth their history. But doing so at that moment would have made me devour books, or get involved in lengthy discussions with them. So I chose to refrain from that for the moment and decided to enjoy the visual treat. I went on observing them as they walked, chatted, gossiped in a group. But in contrast to my thinking and belief (which in a way was bordered on assumption), I rarely found them sitting at a place. They were wandering. Or to be precise, I found them wandering. Be it on the road or in the premise of the monastery, or in the lakeside covered in mist they moved, they walked, they ran. And the way in which they did so and mixed with the backdrop, in their very own distinct way, made me view them through my very own vision.

Kunal Chakraborty

All Rights Reserved under Kunal Chakraborty Photography, 2012.