I am starting on a journey here, serving as a medium to write about the people I meet and the thoughts that cross my mind. In this space, I will share a myriad of things: incidents, short stories, tales of individuals, daily journal entries, rough sketches, and much more that has yet to unfold.

While my focus may revolve around water, it’s not the water in earthen pots or found in wells but of journeys, struggles, stories, and the individuals who embody the essence of water. Water is often seen as a physical element, but it takes on different  forms and is experienced through diverse practices here in the deserts.

The word “water” alone fails to quench thirst. It represents only a fraction of its true being, as water transcends its physical nature. It is a mirage, an ever-changing journey, and a source of profound connections and relationships, encompassing culture and life itself. Its absence raises questions about the very existence of us.

The name of this blog would be, “Oasis of Illusions.” It signifies the illusions of hope that have sustained people during years of drought, the illusions of those two months when rains arrive and provide sustenance for the rest of the year.  In the Marwari language, there exists a word, ‘hukaro’ (हुकारो), which translates to affirmation. To me, it represents hope, the belief that there is someone listening, that thoughts have significance, and that there is continuity.

The Earth continues to offer these ‘hukaro’ to the people and in their conversations, children sing songs for the clouds, and the sparrows take bath in sand. And within the pages of this blog, I will continue this ‘hukaro’ as well.