KHIRKEE VOICE
FALL EDITION 2019
ISSUE #10
Artists on an Epic trip through Africa
Apidae Mel i pon i na
P h oto : Co n n a l Ea rd l e y
ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST
PLEASANT & WARM WITH SCATTERED T-STORMS AND RAIN
DELHI, INDIA
WARM & HUMID, GETS COOLER BY DECEMBER WITH CHILLY EVENINGS
O s m i a fe d ts c h e n ko i
P h oto : C l a y B o l t
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
PLEASANT & SUNNY, GETS COLD AND RAINY BY DECEMBER
LAGOS, NIGERIA
P h oto : C l a y B o l t
A p i s M e l l i fe ra A d a n s o n i i
PLEASANT & WARM WITH SCATTERED T-STORMS AND RAIN
N o m i a C ro c i s a s p i d i a
P h oto : C l a y B o l t
MOGADISHU, SOMALIA
C
ities are conglomerates of differences that often spark misunderstandings. These schisms strike along divisions of class, ethnicity, religion, culture, color and so on. We rarely seek to address these divides due to our indifference or lack of curiosity. But cities are also places that create possibilities for diverse communities to encounter each other. Sometimes these encounters can shatter our rigid notions and beliefs, developing into lasting memories. In search of some of these ephemeral moments, we wanted to talk about experiences and instances when the ‘other’ surprised us, and forced us to take pause. I myself had such an experience as a child. We would often visit our village in Uttarakhand during the summer vacations. The village was divided into distinct ‘Beeth’ (upper class) and ‘Dom’ (untouchables) areas. ‘Dom’ was on the outskirts, we would go there with shepherds sometimes. One day while returning home, we got caught in a sudden hail storm. There was only one house in sight,
Kunal Singh
S o u rce : U n i v . of Ka n s a s
SUNNY WITH LIGHT RAINS, GETS COOLER BY DECEMBER
YAOUNDE, CAMEROON Cte n o p l e c t r i n i P h oto : C l a y B o l t
- research & compilation: kunal singh bees of the world
A p i s Ce ra n a
MOSTLY CLOUDY, WITH SCATTERED RAINS & T-STORMS
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Turning Waste into Opportunity
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the one we had been forbidden from going to. But in that storm, seeing someone calling and waving from the door of that house, was the biggest relief. When I managed to reach there, a woman rushed me inside, and gave me a towel and hot tea, and took care of me. She helped me in a difficult time despite our community discriminating with them. That day onwards I called her ‘Tai’ (Aunt) and greeted her despite my relatives’ protests. We asked friends to share some anecdotes that challenged their preconceptions. Taiyaba Ali, 24 years Old When I came here to study English Literature at Ramjas, I made friends with people from all over the country, people I had only known distantly through books or visual representation. One such person was Tenzin, a Tibetan refugee, who was in Delhi to study as well. We became good friends, brought together by the experience of living away from home. That year my Birthday fell during the end of semester exams , so there was no opportunity to celebrate. I’m not much for celebrating Birthdays,
but every year there would be cake with friends or family. After the exams were over, Tenzin came up to me and told me he wanted to take me out to celebrate my Birthday. He took me to Majnu Ka Tila where he treated me to a traditional Tibetan meal, while he explained to me the roots and significance of everything we ate. Later, he showed me around the colony and bought me some Tibetan incense. Since then, Majnu Ka Tila became a most comfortable and familiar ‘other’. I made other Tibetan friends too, who have been one of the most generous and hospitable people I have ever come across. Ratan Singh, 55 years Old I came to Delhi in the mid 70s looking for opportunities for a better life. I was working in a small Dhaba in Sarojini Nagar, and stayed in a small rented room with another friend from my village. I made just about Rs 200 per month, of which I would send Rs 120 home. My boss was a strict man, a Baniya. Most of us hated him. Whenever we missed a day, he would deduct money from our salary. One morning I woke up with a
fever. I took medicines and went to work, fearing losing money. I felt dizzy and weak all day, but didn’t tell anyone. My condition worsened, I could not get out of bed and missed work . A friend from the dhaba came looking for me on the third day, and asked me if I had money. I only had 15-20 Rupees left. He helped me with dinner and left. That night I realy felt like I would die. The next morning, my friend reappeared, and handed me 150 rupees. The dhaba owner had sent it for me to visit the hospital. I was shocked. In the hospital, the doctor told me had I delayed I would be incurable. I was discharged when I had partially recovered, and went back to work. The owner looked strict as always. I thanked him and promised to repay him- he just told me to go home and recover fully, to pay him back when I could. Life happened, and I never saw him again, but his generosity had saved my life, and I have never forgotten this incident. We’ve all had these experiences and encounters. Maybe its time we shared more stories about looking out for each other instead of always dwelling on our differences.
BEES OF THE WORLD
WARM AND HUMID WITH SCATTERED RAINS
PATNA, INDIA
Photo essay: Invisible Workforce
Supported by
UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTERS Mahavir Singh Bisht
S o u rce : U n i v . of Ka n s a s
A p i s M e l l i fe ra
4
KNOWING THE OTHER
mckay savage/ flickr
OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019
12 PAGES
The Saga of a Jahajee continues
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S E A S O N A L REPORT
F
or most of us, our familiarity with bees is limited to the fact that they make the honey we love so much- and that their stings hurt like hell! We flail wildly if we see one coming at us, and can’t wait to get the hives they make in our neighborhoods removed, lest they attack us. But bees are amazing creatures, and besides the popular and familiar ‘honey bee’, come in a wide variety of shapes, colours, and sizes, each with its own quirks and characteristics. Responsible for pollinating nearly 80% of the foods we eat, Bees are natures gift to humanity.
The Apidae Meliponina is a stingless bee found in the Ivory Coast. They usually nest in hollow trunks, underground cavities and rock crevices, and have also been found in old rubbish bins and water meters. They only produce small quantities of honey for their needs. The Apis Mellifera, also called the Western Bee or the European Honey Bee is the most common of the 7-12 species of honey bees worldwide. These bees can be found on every continent except Antarctica, and are used widely by commercial beekeepers all over the world. They are the single most important pollinator for agriculture globally. The Osmia Fedtschenkoi are
found in Afghanistan and prefer to make their nests in pre-existing cavities such as in the hollow stems of bamboo. Their nest cells are composed of chewed up leaves and moistened mud. The Apis Mellifera Adansonii is a strain of Bees that originated in Brazil as the result of a scientific experiment to cross breed aggressive African Bees with Honey bees. They are distinguishable by their aggression and tendency to swarm, and are also called Killer Bees. The Nomia Crocisaspidia of the Nomia species, native to Somalia, are moderate sized Bees that like to make their nests in the ground. Most bees of this species like to nest
solitarily, but some also like to nest communally where females share a nest but will have no queen or worker bee classes. The Apis Cerana, also called the Eastern Honey Bee or the Asiatic Honey Bee, is native to South, South East and East Asia. Cerana Bees build nests consisting of multiple combs in cavities containing a small entrance, presumably to keep away intruders. The species is also known for their highly social behavior. Ctenoplectrini are characterized by short tongues, modified scopae and large comb-like tribal spurs adapted to collect and carry a mix of pollen and floral oils, and are found in West African countries.
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