The Majestic Hills

Dharamshala:

I visited Dharamshala last week for a change from 29th November 2010 to 3rd December 2010.I wanted to visit this place last month in October as a leisure time activity but had to abandon it, due to the sad demise of my mother. However the feeling of the loss of my mother , restlessness and some sense of wandering without any aim or ambition for the moment, led me towards Dharamshala. I wanted some kind of divine intervention to convince or console me for the untimely loss. Dharamshala as I know, is a place for spiritual quest, solace ,supported by the nature with its majestic hills along with the beauty of nature through streams, orchards, scenery ......
The thought of pleasure along with my friends around Pathankot, Dharamshala, Shimla, Kullu and Manali as planned before for October's first week  had already vanished after the loss of my mother. Still, I wanted the abode of the lords to show some miracles that could guide me or convince me, of my way ahead. With less workload and the loss suffered , I wanted to get rid of my depressions by going out, to some far-off place where I could concentrate through meditation or prayers. As Dharamshala was in my mind and I had some western friends who were living there due to a similar reason or the other, whom I wanted visit sometime, I headed for Dharamshala...
As I had the details of my plan outlay before, it was easy to move ahead. I left for Pathankot on 29th by Dhauladhar Express from Delhi Station that leaves at 10:20PM and reaches Pathankot by 7:30 in the next morning. I reached Pathankot by 8 AM. I decided to move ahead alone, to Dharamshala, as against meeting my senior (A Brigadier in the Indian Army stationed in Pathankot) who invited me to meet him before I left for Dharamsala. As I wanted to keep the visit a low key affair due to the tragic incident of my mother's death, I proceeded alone..
The toy-train with 6 bogies with a capacity of around 250 seats left for Chamunda at 10 am which I wanted to visit first, to pray at the Chamunda Devi temple, during the trip from Pathankot's narrow gauge lane. The train goes till Joginder nagar which is only 55 Kilometers from Kullu but gives a beautiful scenic-view of the Snowcapped Mountains, valleys, Rivers and Fruit Orchards of Himachal Pradesh, as it moves along very slowly on the mountain tracks! The journey was very pleasant with local people, who shared the journey along the route as they moved from one place to another. The locals are very gentle and well mannered as compared to the most of typically rude, arrogant and unpleasant north Indians ! There were also students who moved from one place to another in groups to their colleges. The journey to Chamunda Station took 6 hours from Pathankot which is only a two and a half hours journey by bus but one can not enjoy the scenery as much by bus. I reached Chamunda at 4pm. As advised by a fellow passenger to spend the night in the temple, to have the blessings of Chamunda Devi , I decided against getting down near the Atithi Hotel as per my plans which I had booked. I took a bus from the main road that goes to Dharamshala from Chamunda station and got down in front of the temple of Chamunda Devi...
I took a room on the ground floor for free, that is run by the temple authorities who provided me with 4 blankets to beat the cold conditions there. I was surprised if I wanted those four blankets for the night, as I had carried one blanket along with a bed sheet with me ! The caretaker convinced me, that if I wanted to stay alive for the next day, I should carry and keep them with me to save me from the bitter cold at night.
I visited and prayed the Goddess Chamunda in the temple that was very divine and traditionally, ritualistic...
In the evening I moved around the place , a very small area with a very few hotels alongwith the one, where I wanted to stay. I decided to shift to the hotel on the next day. I had my dinner in a Langar Hall run by the temple for free, where one can donate, if one likes afterwards..
I got back to my room by 8:30 PM as I wanted to sleep early to leave for Dharamshala's Mc Leodganj early in the next-morning that is a one and half hour journey from Chamuda for a distance of only around 16 KMS..
I planned to sleep on the floor with two blankets doubly folded as mattress and three above the body as cover. I wore my woolen-track suit, two sweaters along with the monkey cap.
The next day I got up at around 4am to walk around the temple and have tea. The temple opens at four in the morning and so is the tea shop. But it was pitch dark with chilling and biting cold. After having tea I came back to the room, when I came to know that the sun rises there, at around 7am. So, there was no where I could go in the dark and cold surroundings. By 8am ,I was ready to leave for McLeodganj in Dharamshala along with my luggage. I reached Mc Leodganj by 10:30 am and headed for Dalai Lama's place where my western friends were attending a three days programme of Dalai Lama's talks, tailor-made for Russian and Indonesian delegates who came in hundreds. So, there were around a thousand people when I reached the hall . I could not trace my friends as I was late and mobiles were not allowed inside. I waited till the lunch time to check them during the break-time. It ( talk) was open to every body. In lunch I had Momos ( bonn sized) and chutney along with Rice and curry that were provided for free to everyone present. But I could not trace my friends there. So, I moved out and planned to come back by 5 pm as I could not understand the Tibetan  language in which the Dalai Lama was speaking which was simultaneously interpreted into Russian, English and Chinese to the participants who carried FM radios with ear-phones. I came out to see the places around . It was like any other Hill Station, except for the fact that, there were more foreigners around! There were plenty of Wine shops, Restaurants and hotels . At places, there were stalls on the roads who were conducting AIDS-test for free and distributing free condoms, to passers by, as it was the PREVENT-AIDS-day, the 1st of December.
Somehow, I wanted to leave the place and head for the Golden temple at Amritsar which was my next destination point. So, instead of checking into the hotel I headed for Amritsar from Pathankot thru Chamunda and Kangra Valley. I rested for a while in Amritsar Railway Station.
In Amritsar , I visited the famous Golden temple and had the Langar food for lunch after having the darshan and Kadah Prasad.The place was too crowded although very well managed. But I feel, the Gurdwara at Bangla Sahib in New Delhi is much better in cleanliness and management. Golden Temple is huge in size and richness as it receives huge donations but the place and the city is over crowded with too much of air pollution, due to dust and smoke and over-population...
I came back to Delhi through Ambala and reached home at around 6 pm on 3rd of December 2010, exhausted, physically. It was a good experience although ill-timed.



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BHUBANESWAR." My Hometown".

Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa is a beautiful temple-city now. I grew up in Bhubaneswar. I have fond memories of Bhubaneswar as I spent my School days and College days there. Childhood friends from my Sainik School Days are the most dear ones, so far. So, its not an accident if we meet. The meetings are followed by discussing childhood moments spent together in the boarding school which are very nostalgic and at times very funny. Social Drinking is normally followed by meetings which is then followed by food giving us enough time to discuss our life as it passes by us. There are a lot of changes, that we see in each other's life as life goes by. Its beautiful to be young and surrounded by childhood friends who share their emotions with you as age, catches up. We, the boys now men, who joined Sainik School in 1976 met in Bhubaneswar on 17th July 2010. In an hours notice, we planned to meet in Hotel Crown at Nayapalli for a cocktail and Dinner.
It was very memorable, seeing many friends after a long time.

MEMORIES TO CHERISH

OLD BOYS MEET:

Childhood memories are beautiful !The school-days spent during childhood is filled with fun and laughter.There is wholesome laughter and experiments with all, including nature and its surroundings!The life is carefree as one is not bothered about anything like a job, career or money. This is more so, when one is in a boarding school where one has a 24hours interaction with each other.
We had a gathering as Old Boys Association of Sainik School, Bhubaneswar in New Delhi recently. All the Ex Students Of my school, that is Sainik School, Bhubaneswar who were in and around Delhi were invited to the OBA meet in an Officers Mess in Delhi Cantt. The programme was scheduled at 7:30 pm onwards! As expected the old boys started arriving from 7:30 pm onwards! I was there by 7:45 pm. As I entered, I came across some familiar faces, whom I had met in the last year's meet . There was warmth , a sense of belonging-ness and and the pride to be an SSBian. The eyes, while meeting with the other SSBian expressed it. Oh! How we longed to be together, again ! The interactions started with drinks. Teachers Scotch for me! As the snacks did the rounds , we came across some familiar faces, some just immediate seniors, some very seniors, some like our father figures with their decorations in the armed forces ! It was a matter of pride, to be amongst the achievers, achievers in their own field. There was a sense of one-ness amongst all. The programme was lively with music and songs. It led to dance at times. The children who were accompanied by their parents were seen around playing There was a life, to the party! We all discussed about our life, career, family and kids and any future plans which we dreamt!
I was very happy to meet some of my friends and seniors whom I met after a long time! I met Rajendra Patra, who was one year senior to me. He was brilliant! A genius in his batch. Very ideal, disciplined, a role model to his juniors, who wanted to excel in academics. We shared the same hostels in school. Both in Narmada as Junior and Mahanadi as Senior Hostels. He is still the same. Very reserved, disciplined and idealistic to me. Although, I met him before in Delhi, it was after a gap of almost 15 years now that I was meeting him! There was warmth in his talks. He is now married with two kids, a son and a daughter. Now, as a father, he looked very happy. I remember spending my weekends, in his own house for almost a year in Delhi, which he bought after he was back from Dubai in 1994. He was single and so I enjoyed his company on Saturdays and Sundays, in his house discussing everything under the earth and life. He vividly remembered my days with him, in School! Once, he took out, a passport photograph of mine that he had taken from me in school as a token of memory. It was not a good passport photograph! It was the photograph that was taken by the photographer in school, who comes to take our photos to be attached in our class-X examination application form . My face was more oily and too black and odd-looking! These photographs are done in a hurry and that too taken in the Cycle stand with the wall of the notice board as the background which was just under the Tagore Assembly Hall in the School Building! My eyes moistened, seeing this photograph with RPatra. Then he said, "Look Alok, now I feel very haapy. Happy to say, that once two toppers of each class in their two previous hostels are together! Together, on this balcony of my home, sipping tea with the weather so beautiful, outside! It was raining. A shower of rain was outside as we faced the road on his balcony! I don't know what happened to me, I had some water drops suddenly flowing from my eyes! Some four-five drops! May be, they were tears ! Tears, out of joy, belonging-ness, one-ness or affection, I don't know. I am still confused to say, how it could happen! He is the RPatra that I met after a gap of 15 years! The years, have made me, as well as him a tougher man to face the life as it comes!
I met Salil, my classmate in School here. We were admitted to the School in Class VI on the same day , that was on the 5th of July 1976. He is as happy, as he was in School. Very sensitive. Very polished, in his mannerism and approach! I remember he used to hum the song " Suno !, Kaho !, Kuchch Hua Kya ?" after we headed to have tea after the afternoon-games though the parade ground. This was when,we saw films on Saturdays in the School. The songs and dialogues were normally enacted by all, during leisure-hours by all the students, who fancied Films and Cine-Stars! Almost everyone did and fantasized to be a Dharmendra romancing Hema!
I met PRPati, two years senior to me in School here too.I remember him as a handsome, healthy and a fair guy, who was once scolded by one Mr.Mallick, the Physics Lab-Asst. He was doing some practicals on the corridor on "Resonance". Our class was quite close to the Physics-labs.The scolding was hilarious! It made our class roar with laughter! Mr.S.Mallick had then just shouted to PRPati " PRPati ! Don't show your Doo..ddha (Breasts) to me. Apparently, it was due to Pati 's chest-button being open which had irritated Mr.Mallick. Opening of chest button in school days, meant a sense of superiority to us. Keeping one's shirt out , Wearing Chappals to every activity, Wearing dirty dresses, uncut hair were some of the traits of superiority, that only seniors or brave kids dared!
Then I met PKSatpathy, two years senior to me in school.He was very popular in school-days as he was the House Captain of Yamuna House. Very smart and active,in thosedays! He is smarter even today! I remember him during my days in JNU, while we were students. He was a very happy,romantic and yet a very emotional guy in JNU.I remember once, when we were having tea once, around Ganga Dhaba, in JNU and there was some discussion about family and mothers.There was this Satpathy, who said his mother was so happy once, to receive a money-order from him that brought tears to his eyes! His emotion was equally shared by each of us who knew the essence of the mother.His mother boasted about her son caring her so much amongst her neighbours that,he almost choked to complete his feelings! We shared the same emotions sometimes or other in our life. So, everyone of us there, were misty-eyed hearing him! That's him!
I met Jagdish Pati, too who was one-year Junior to me in the School. I know him as a gentle and caring one.I met him in the Indian Military Academy in Dehradoon in 1987 , after I left the school in 1983.I went to IMA to witness the Passing Out Parade and to decorate the ranks to DKAcharya my batchmate and hostelmate in School who was passing out from IMA. So, it was a matter of great honour, for me to visit IMA then in 1987 as the guest of Acharya. I reached there, two days early. It was in December.I had dinner in their IMA mess, where I met Sabuj who was so drunk that instead of welcoming me, he was very offensive verbally in English and Hindi, that is very typical of NDA/ IMA guys, very Chieselled vulgarism in English! All that I could make out from what he said repeatedly then, was that he had eaten one snake that too,raw which he caught live in a jungle and boasting it as a survival trick that should be practised by people in defence personnel at war! Survival instinct! What survival instinct ? I asked Acharya who said it's a survival instinct, trained to people who are lost in the jungle during a war and have no food to survive themselves! They tell you what you can eat, when you are struck up in a jungle during a war. And a snake, is one of the non-veg items that one can eat to survive.But, now since he is drunk that thought of snake eating had screwed his mind! I did not mind, as I knew him as an affectionate kid in school, who was also my Hostel mate in Mahanadi. The next morning before we could wake-up in the Barracks, we were surprised to hear knocks on our door. While DKAcharya,opened the door, we found Sabuj had arrived on his bicycle,to beg apology from me, saying someone in his barrack said he misbehaved with a schooltype!I was very touched by his gesture! The same day, I went to Mussoorie to see the place, which Acharya said was beautiful and very near by. As the passing parade was on the next day,I went to visit Mussoorie. After seeing all the places around Mussoorie, I went towards the IAS Academy (Lal Bahadur Academy of Administration)where I enquired about N.K.Sundar Ray who was a probationer there from Debabrat Kantha who was also a probationer from Orissa with Andhra Cadre. Sundarray was very happy to receive me as we knew each other well in JNU and in BBSR as our homes were very near to each other. He asked me to spend the night in the Academy. It was a great feeling of honour to me, as I also wanted to be one IAS someday! We went around the Academy campus , had a great dinner in their mess which was sumptuous ! He got me introduced to some of his friends. But I liked one Vinny Mahajan , the girl who was from IIM Calcutta and the 17th ranker in the IAS list then. She was supposed to drop me near IMA, the next morning for the Passing Out Parade Ceremony as they were supoosed to pass by IMA, on their route for Bharat Darshan.I was very happy to meet such a friendly girl from Delhi then! She was very bright and well mannered. However , on the next day when I reached IMA, the Entry gates were sealed for visitors due to security reasons and the arrival of the Chief Guest for the Parade. I was very worried and felt very sad.. There was no mobiles nor telephone contacts in the Barracks to inform Acharya about the mess!I kept waiting outside while the ceremony was on! Then after waiting for two hours or so, I was allowed to enter the IMA campus alongwith others, who were waiting outside. I felt very sad as I was helpless outside. There was no way , I could convince Acharya about the mishap!My purpose of going to IMA was not met. However,with a heavy heart I went near the auditorium where the newly commissioned officers were coming out, after the ceremony. I tried to look for Dillip Acharya at the entrance and beyond! A few minutes later I found Dillip Acharya coming out of the hall with his commissioned officers rank on his soldiers. Alongwith him came JCPati who was commissioned on the same day, with his brother and his parents. Seeing me,Acharya rushed towards me and hugged me. Tears rolled down from his eyes, as he thought I might have had met some accident in the landslides that was a common occurances in the Mussorie valley then. I felt relieved that atleast he was honoured by Pati's elder brother in the ceremony, who was present there.We moved around IMA in the evening and left for New Delhi by IMA bus.On the way we halted at Saharanpur where me met NKSundar ray who was on his way for Bharat Darshan. Sundar Ray was very happy to meet Sabuj Panda who looked like a mini Idi Amin then! Dillip Acharya was also very happy to meet Sundarray. We had beer and dinner in a near-by bar and then left for New Delhi.

BRIBES IN INDIA.

BRIBES IN INDIA :

Bribes in India is almost an institution.At least 80% of people in India believe that to get anything done smoothly in India, you need to bribe the person, who deals in your work especially when it comes to matters like getting your money for your work, or asking for a loan from your organisation,or any favour that is very essential in your day-to-day life.
It's very un-ethical but but people do bribe to avoid harassment or delay in getting their work done. No one wants to waste time, making rounds to ask for his requirements which is very time-consuming and money-consuming that is through travel or transport missing family or work.  Sometimes, it is very disturbing and irritating! But people do. I at times, feel pity for the person asking for bribe, from anyone for any perticular act.I consider it as an act, equal to begging. People need other's money when they don't have enoough to survive or make a living. But to enjoy one's life, at others' cost is mean and immoral!
In my office in New Delhi where I work, an accountant is so much addicted to bribes that he does not spare even Fourth Class employees. The fourth class employees who are paid some 250 rupees allowance for their uniforms annually, pay 50 rupees to him to get the money without hassles. This money which he gets, is usually spent by this Accountant and his gang on alcohol which they consume in the office itself after office hours.  Very well organised loot, by these people. Its difficult to face them when they are together. With 20 years in the same post, they think its their birth right,  to demand bribes!I  am sure the authorities are aware but helpless! May be, they need them for their work at times and so keep a safe distance to question them !
A country like India, where the Heads are Puppets or Dummies , what else can you expect from these ordinary mortals!
But one thing is certain and for sure. These people do not last long , to see the colour of pleasure of the money , they make by immoral means. They die a very un-natural death. Their dependents are widowed, or killed or handicapped. If the amount is high that too from the public's money where the public are poor, then they die a miserable death. It's the God, that takes care of these evils by eliminating them or their happiness from the world.


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CULTIVATING COMPASSION

CULTIVATING COMPASSION :



TEACHINGS BY KARMAPA :

I was very fortunate to attend a two-days teaching program by His Holiness the Karmapa in Delhi on 19th and 20th of February 2010, which was held in the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. The teachings were basically about cultivating Compassion on a day to day life. The program  was very interesting and was a very good learning experience. Karmapa this time, was very matured in his teachings and in handling question-answer sessions . I had attended one, last year around this time. His examples were very practical this time with more humor that added to everyone's' interest.
The invitees included around 250 people of which around 100 were foreigners: mainly westerners. Many of them were monks or nuns or Lamas. So, it was a very peaceful and learned gathering. I happened to meet some of my old friends who are used to the practices of meditation and spiritual interests. So it was a very well gathering of people with similar interests and practices. The two-day session ended with good memories of the lectures and some photographs with Karmapa.