Jim Ankan Deka | Music, Photography and More

Dasara festival is the main attraction of Mysore and Mysore Palace or the Amba Vilas Palace. 2013 Dasara is the 403rd edition of the annual royal festive gala event. Dasara is a 10-day festival. The last day, known as Vijayadashami is considered the most auspicious day of the event. After Taj Mahal, Mysore Palace is the most visited tourist spots in India. Below are few photos of the palace, the Shweta Varahaswamy temple and surroundings and the city at night. Corner and day view of the Mysore Palace at the time of Dasara Festival (Photo - Jim Ankan Deka) | 2013 A bronze lion statue in front of Shweta Varahaswamy temple at Mysore Palace (Photo - Jim Ankan Deka) | 2013 The entrance door of Shweta Varahaswamy temple at Mysore Palace (Photo - Jim Ankan Deka) | 2013 Side view of Mysore Palace, India (Photo - Jim Ankan Deka) | 2013 Main entrance of Mysore Palace, Karnataka, India (Photo - Jim Ankan Deka) | 2013 Mysore city at night on the occasion of Dasara fest...

Last September, when we visited Dehradun for a short documentary, first thing we noticed was primates. On the streets, at homes, near the water streams, in the jungles around and even in the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. Here are few moments from our visit to Malsi Deer Park and Sahastradhara falls in Dehradun. An Indian monkey (bandar) at Malsi Deer Park (photo - Jim Ankan Deka) An Indian monkey (bandar) at Malsi Deer Park (photo - Jim Ankan Deka) An Indian monkey (bandar) and her child in Sahastradhara falls in Dehradun (photo- Jim Ankan Deka) An Indian monkey (bandar) at Malsi Deer Park, Dehradun (photo - Jim Ankan Deka) An Indian monkey (bandar) at Malsi Deer Park (photo - Jim Ankan Deka)

Central Braille Press, Dehradun (© Jim Ankan Deka) Situated in one of the pristine parts of Dehradun known as the Rajpur Road, the Central Braille Press is the first press of its kind in India and one of the oldest braille presses in Asia. It was set up in Dehradun, Uttarakhand in 1951 after independence by the Government of India, Ministry of Welfare to make braille literature available to the blind. This was followed by the setting up of NIVH (National institute for the Visually Handicapped) in 1967 in an area of about 43 acres on Mussoorie-Dehradun Highway. It is a training centre for the blind. Central Braille Press, Dehradun (© Jim Ankan Deka) If you are in Dehradun for a day or two, you should not miss this place. The old British styled house gives a serene feeling and once you are inside the building there are many things to see, just like a museum. The old manual printing, cutting and perforating machines to the new age digital printing devices - all under the same roof...

When I created my first blog using Blogger in 2007, I came across with this particular site called ' Adsense ' through which one can earn money from Google . I personally don't believe in free money. So never felt the urge to use Adsense in anyway. A check issued by Google Adsense But I did get addicted to Blogger (also known as Blogspot) because personally I liked to work with HTML and CSS and Blogger made it real simple. I created about 8 blogs. Though some of them are deleted now, I do run few quite popular blogs like - North-East India , EF News International and Eastern Fare and today I have many friends who regularly post on these sites. As the blogs became popular, I thought of paying a small amount of money to the people who write for me and my organisation. And I did so from my pocket. Then the idea struck me - "Why not check out Adsense?" and if I can make some money out of it, I don't have to burden my purse. Now, what is Adsense? ...

Jim Ankan Deka © 2012 Ruskin Bond , author of many widely sought after books, was at the Landmark store in Forum Mall, Bangalore, on June 6, 2012, to release his new book of poems "Hip Hop Nature Boy and Other Poems" published by Penguin Books India. The event " Meet Ruskin Bond at Landmark " was organised by Penguin Books India and Landmark to celebrate their 25th anniversary this year. Ruskin Bond ( Jim Ankan Deka © 2012 ) Ruskin Bond ( Jim Ankan Deka © 2012 ) Ruskin Bond ( Jim Ankan Deka © 2012 ) Ruskin Bond with children ( Jim Ankan Deka © 2012 ) Ruskin Bond releasing new book of poems ( Jim Ankan Deka © 2012 ) People interacting with Ruskin Bond ( Jim Ankan Deka © 2012 ) People interacting with Ruskin Bond ( Jim Ankan Deka © 2012 )

How often does someone get a chance to hang out with a king and a queen together? How often someone spends few days in a grand palace in the cusp of enchanting hills? Well, it did happen to me when my wife came home from office one day and told me that we should take a trip to Mussoorie, the beautiful hill-station in Uttarakhand. Thrilled as I was, I readily booked the flight tickets to Dehradun , as Mussoorie doesn't have an airport. It's about 30 kms from Dehradun and 60 kms from Dehradun airport. Paintings by Vijender Sharma, Delhi The journey in the Kingfisher flight was little tiresome as there was a halt in Delhi for about 5 hrs. Instead of hanging in the Delhi airport, we took off to the DLF Promenade mall in Vasant Kunj, had lunch and walked to the DLF Emporio mall near by. Surprisingly apart from the regular consumerism driven products we also came upon many beautiful paintings on display. Having feasted our tummies and eyes we went back to the airport to catc...

On Oct 28, 2011, Indians will probably witness one of the biggest events India has ever hosted – the ‘Metallica Tour of India’. The ‘thrash metal band’ will start their tour at F1 Rocks, Leisure Valley, Gurgaon near Delhi on Oct 28, celebrating the first ‘Grand Prix’ race ever held in India and on Oct 30 in Bangalore at the Palace Grounds as a part of the Sonisphere Festival, the worlds largest touring festival. Metallica is the pioneer in the ‘Thrash Metal’ music scenario. The band is also known as a ‘heavy metal’ band. The members consist of James Hetfield on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Lars Ulrich on drums and percussion, Kirk Hammett on lead guitar and backing vocals and Robert Trujillo on bass and backing vocals. The band was formed in 1981 and got nine albums till 2011 up their sleeves. The event organisers at ‘DNA Networks’ confirmed on their website the selling of tickets through various portals starting from Jul 2 to Oct 29, 2011. The tickets prices range from Rs1,650 to...

Independence Awakening (Instrumental) (2011) by Jim Ankan After the completion of my documentary project on Nagaland (a state of North-East India) called " Nagaland, Journey Through the Choir of Clouds " in July, I came to a point where I was feeling little lazy to do anything. Suddenly it was August and a thought struck me. I have never created any patriotic song or music. As August 15 is celebrated as the 'Independence Day of India', I went on creating my first song inspired by my love for my country on Aug 14 for the occasion of Independence Day celebration. I call it the ' Independence Awakening ' as it is an awakening call for me after a long break since I brought into existence my last song. It is a simple tune that I composed and merged with the 'National Anthem' of India and recorded at Eastern Fare Music Studio in Koramangala, Bangalore. Instruments used - Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Djembe, Ride and Ambiance Sounds. Tha...