The morning started off on an auspicious note. A visit to the incredible Grand Mosque, built by the present ruler in 6 years designed by an architect from Iran I think the guide told me, and using stone from India - the sand colored pillars and arches, and the white marble from Rajasthan -

That chandelier is the largest in the world. It is … hold our breathe … four floors tall in height … and that carpet on the floor is the one single piece, and is the largest in the world. Perhaps now another in Abu Dhabi recently has out measured it.

But the main prayer hall that we stand in is unbelievable. One has to be there to understand its volume and size, a photograph is no where near doing justice to its length, depth and height.

The workmanship is astounding, whether on the stone outside or the intricate workings inside.

The stained glass window is an acknowledgement of the stained glass windows in churches and has a finish and detail which can only be seen to be believed.

Places of worship leave you in silence and awe. Any place that connects you with the Almighty would. And it is strange that every corner of the universe where there exists a sanctum sanctorum, there exists a quietude that has never been given an explanation.

And every place of worship has pinnacles that reach out into the sky like sharp needles, either in the shape of minarets, or large domes, or church steeples. I have often wondered why

and never been able to find a suitable answer. A dear colleague of mine and an atheist, a non believer in God, once in a futile debate had an answer.

He claims that there had been an extra terrestrial visit much during the time when mankind was beginning to discover himself or herself. Much of the construct of the vehicles that descended on earth in invasion or merely a ‘friendly’ visit shaped themselves in what can now be described as steeples or minarets piercing the skies. The human, just about coming to terms with his or her surroundings was astounded by the super natural and sudden presence of these objects from up above and since he did not have answers to millions of conditions and thoughts that arose in his or her mind, decided that this must be the doing of those that descended from ‘above’ and from then on he and she have worshipped and looked upon it as divinity. Giving this place of prayer therefore, a shape, was really a reproduction of what he or she imagined the constructs of those objects that ‘descended from the heavens ‘ !!

Now … there may be a few laughs going on here from the FmXt and a desire to politely inform me that it was time to rest. But seriously. This theory of theirs has been endorsed by several others - both believers and non believers, with some amount of seriousness. Take it or leave it.

My next stop after the place of worship was to a charity organization that looked after, voluntarily, children that had been mentally challenged. Spending time with little ones inflicted with cerebral palsy, brain damages and seeing the efforts being made by these group of dedicated men and women to bring some semblance of existence for these children, made you respect with the deepest of regard the temples of prayer, the places of connection with the Almighty that I had just visited in absolute awe. Why did the Maker make them the way they were ? What fault of theirs to bring them in this world in such conditions ?

I had no answer and I had no stomach to see the suffering and made a hasty exit. But when I think back on them, I say to myself, thank you Lord for all your blessings. We are the chosen people, so much has been given to us, yet we seek more and better. So much in our lives we take and keep as granted. And we are never satisfied with what we have.

Let us then be happy and content with what was given and ordained for us. Let us use this gift of ours to good cause and benefit for others. Let us not gloat in our good fortune and blinker ourselves from the unfortunate conditions of the less fortunate. Let us willingly do for others without seeking something in return and let us extend our hand and touch those that may never have the capacity to reach out and hold it. So help me God !! Inshallah !!

The opening of the Festival at the Muscat International Film Fest just concluded, in an atmosphere of brevity and quiet excellence. The biggest roar came for the enactment by local artists of the song from ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’ - anhoonee ko honi kar de - in a detailed replication of clothing, properties and movement done to the T. Loved it !

A documentary made by Omani film students was most cleverly done. A philosophy of life and how it needed to be implemented was put across, using important visuals from cinema around the world. Al Pacino from Godfather 11, and many Hollywood greats in clips from their important and memorable films were interspersed to visually convey the theme of the text. And among all these great cuts there in stark beauty was a clip from ‘Khuda Gawah’, the climax moment of the meeting of the two lovers now aged ! Got a few goose bumps I must add and a flush rose up in my eyes at the presence of our cinema in the lives of others.

Tomorrow … the LTA … and then back home … its been a while …

Love from Oman and Muscat and its sublime and silent underplayed beauty …

Amitabh Bachchan