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From time immemorial, cloud, a marvellous creation of Nature, has attracted the attention of men. We find its notable reference in a famous lyrical epic titled the “Meghdootam”, composed in Sanskrit by the famous ancient Indian poet Kalidasa. There a ‘Yaksha’ (Demigod) pines on being banished and separated from his ladylove. The lovelorn ‘yaksha’ expresses the feelings of his heart and sends the same to his soul mate through a cloud whom he requests to deliver the message to the ‘yakshini’ (female Demigod). Thus evolves the imaginary idea of ‘Cloud Messenger’ (Meghdoot).
Nobel laureate Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore too echoed the same feeling. In one of his compositions we find that he had imagined his mind floating towards the distant horizons as a companion of cloud.
Actually clouds have always kindled imagination and infused a sense of liberty in the minds of men. They can hover anywhere, modify their shape quite often, and change their colour also in different times of the day.
Variations in their nature can also be noticed in different terrains. During my trek to Manimahesh, a pilgrimage of Lord Shiva in the Himalayas, I had the fortune of seeing a Sadhu (monk) offering his pranam (bow down) on witnessing a floating cloud taking the shape of a bull. In our shastras (religious scriptures), ‘Nandi’, the bull, is worshipped as the pet companion of Lord Shiva.
Clouds also play a significant and essential role in forecasting weather. Throughout my day to day life as well as during my travels and expeditions, clouds with their multiple shape and nature have always fascinated me a lot. Time and again they have supplemented and made my photographs more exquisite and meaningful.
Ashok Kr Ghosh is a Gynecologist by profession. He is also a Mountaineer and Traveler and amateur photo artist. He is the recipient of several awards including Honourable Mention, Lalit Kala Academy Award, Excellence Honors from ‘Federation International de la Arte Photograhoque’.
Dr Ghosh is also a Naturalist specialising in Ornamental Floriculture and appears as Judge in horticulture exhibitions. His articles are frequently published in leading Bengali periodicals and magazines.
