16.11.14
At the almighty's house and town
@Jagannath Puri :
1# Chilka is as amazing as Brahmputra. So vast that one cannot visualize it through words. Still raw, and so beautiful to me. The water tastes a bit salty. I have been told that the division between the bay and the lake is removed. I worry and wonder about the effect on life in it. Local bakery biscuits are testy.
2# At chilka, happen to meet an Iserial young man who is deeply interested in Gandhi. Had a chat about Schindler's List-King Ashok and Palestine- Pakistan.
3# Konark is awesome. The Kamasutra statues eat up the beauty of History, Mathematics, sculpture and Indianness ; for common visitors.
4# The gate keeper was literary inviting visitors to visit the Tourism Department's restaurant instead of going to adjoining restaurants. He assured us about the quality, and he was right.
5# Be prepared for extra sweetness in almost all food items, particularly local ones. Bengal effect is evident. Where are those who say that Gujaratis user to much sweet!¿ Do visit Orissa.
6# No wonder that one finds Gujarati tourists in significant numbers. We had Bhavnagat fame 'ganthia' in our breakfast. I would like to offer our proverb for wishful travelling agencies : who keeps moving gets food, who remains settled would die of hunger ().
7# Bengan pakoda, Karela pakoda, Bhaji pakoda, Aaloo pakoda, bread pakoda and vada...savored dinner at 40INR.
@Bhubaneshwar
1#Lingraja Temple is impressive with its angular designs. One may not find it interesting after visiting Konark, but it is worth visiting. Pandas at Lingraj Temple are customer friendly. They don't follow you. They offer tour of the temple as a guide and then make you offer dakshina to HariHar. Our guide asked me three time : Maa, khushi se diya chchhe?
Pandas here were vastras with vibrant colours and beautiful borders.
This temple is also environment friendly with terracotta lamps and palm leaves prasad box. Though vendors offer the visitors polythine bag to carry flowers and Puja stuff.
2# Mukteshvar Temple is one of the Archeological sites and it is beautiful. It has beautiful carving on its ceiling and outside walls. Saved from the rush of pilgrims somehow, it looks serene. That's why it may have became a resting place for high school students.
3# I was told that Udaygiri and Khandgiri are waste of time, we have wasted ours.
4#Dhauligiri (Dhavalgiri) is like Kurukhetra, Haldighati or Panipat. No impressive monument yet the visitor get moved reflecting upon the history of the place.Looking at river Daya (compassion), which became river of blood after Kalinga war, one reflects : what flows in mind are thoughts or emotions or reflexes or reflections ? How humanly Gandhi carried forward the legacy of Buddha and Ashok! What a heritage one has!
@General
1# Bhubaneshwar has good internal transport system with buses as well as 'line auto'. Line auto costs double then the bus, but it is still cheaper than 'reserved' auto.
Puri also has different rates for tourists. Padel rixa is a good option in Puri as it moves slowly allowing us to view the town.
These vehicles moves quite slow.The bus took 3:15hours for 60km.
Auto drivers are simply shrewd and for a nearby place they insist for 'reserved auto' and may misguide the tourist.One would be extremely lucky if one finds a cooperative auto driver. We were lucky once.
2# PPP system is in function here. Important tourist places has already been given to private companies, like parking at Uday-khandgiri,safari at Nandankanan and Bhitarkarnika. The outcome, high cost without any notable positive change in our familiar system.
3# Where Gujarati and Hindi speaking persons use 'kripa' in speech, Odiya people use' daya'. It was strange to my ears to listen 'daya kari dhyan aapo'.
4# Food at ISKCON is a good experience.
5# Planetarium has a show in Hindi at 3pm and in English at 4pm.Science center is worth visiting if one has curiosity bug. Both are nearby. (Rabindra Mandap is also near to them. )
6# 'Excuse me' is a word of guides at Konark. Don't get impressed by it.
7#Pink seems the prominent choice of Odiya people.
The red in flowers turns pink here. There is pink lebeled autos which are called women friendly autos. Girls with uniformed hairstyle wear pink ribbon.The students look cool in their pink and green instead of blue, cream and gray.
Almost all the self-financed colleges have 'uniformed' students. (some colleges in Gujarat also follow this fashion.)
It seems that secondary level onwards, the girl students do not have uniform hair style. Gujarat should adopt this freedom. There is a uniform for all level teachers here; Orissa should learn from 'us'.
I asked one college student : isn't it boring? She said she finds it ok. Well, I find it horrible to spend most part of life wearing uniform. One teacher told me : 'Now-a-days all have uniform. You see, seles persons and all.' Thakur, 'prahar karo...jagao mera desh...'
8# Tribal museum is worth visiting. I appreciated the interactive audiovisual in each gallery, and was told that it was prepared by a Gujarati firm and the designers are very much in the museum. Had a lovely chat with both( Nikita & Lokesh ) the enthusiast and creative designers.
1# We Gujarati has no common tradition dance or singing style. Certainly some communities do have but they are still in primitive form, not upto the 'classical' standards. Why so? Classical forms has its own discipline and learning them helps (certainly, not necessarily) one imbibe discipline.
2#
14.11.14
ટોળું
ટોળું, ભઈ અમે ટોળું
ભળાવો ઇ ભાળીએ ઈમ ભોળું
અમ્મારા ઘા ઈની આપે ભરાય ઈને ઉઘાડા પડ્યાનો ના છોછ
તમુની સેવકતા ચય્મ ગાય મારાં દુખણા ઈમાં ના ડૂબે મારી ચોંચ
કરવ્યે આકરા તમ બોલવું સુંવાળું
ધોળામાં સોહે જ્યમ કાળું
રૂપાળા જણ રુપાળે માંડવે ગજાવે ગનાન મુંને રોકડાને પોટલીમાં રસ
ઈમના હમાણાં સપનાં મારી ઝેણકીની આંખ્ય ભાળે તોય બાપુ મારે તો બસ
હંધું વાયદા ચેડે રમતું માળું
લસપસતી જીભ્યો સાચ પર તાળું
ભળાવો ઇ ભાળીએ ઈમ ભોળું
અમ્મારા ઘા ઈની આપે ભરાય ઈને ઉઘાડા પડ્યાનો ના છોછ
તમુની સેવકતા ચય્મ ગાય મારાં દુખણા ઈમાં ના ડૂબે મારી ચોંચ
કરવ્યે આકરા તમ બોલવું સુંવાળું
ધોળામાં સોહે જ્યમ કાળું
રૂપાળા જણ રુપાળે માંડવે ગજાવે ગનાન મુંને રોકડાને પોટલીમાં રસ
ઈમના હમાણાં સપનાં મારી ઝેણકીની આંખ્ય ભાળે તોય બાપુ મારે તો બસ
હંધું વાયદા ચેડે રમતું માળું
લસપસતી જીભ્યો સાચ પર તાળું
5.10.14
The first step
It was back in 2001, my first ever l.o.n.g train journey. A group of familiar persons were going to Haridwar for ten day to participate in a religious programme. I joined the group, to be on the safer side. My idea was, while mom happily participate in the religious activities, I shall move around on my own. By the way, it was my first ever traveling plan and I didn't know how to book a ticket in a train.We boarded 'Daheradun Express' from Godhara station.I was excited and happily curious.
Once the train entered Madhya Pradesh, now and then it would stop at anonymous places and local people with bunch of wood and other stuff would enter into our sleeper compartment. I asked my relative about it and he said it is a regular scenario with trains passing through a jungle.
At Haridwar, we stayed in a dharmshala(a relatively pocket friendly boarding house with basic/primary facilities).There was no thought of staying in a hotel.We were told that the religious cult which has organized the big programme will provide food. On the very first day we walked nearly five km and took the lunch (rice, dal, vegetables, laddu) in a common kitchen which was not very organized and clean as per my standards. I decided, we are fine with paying for our lunch and dinner.At that evening, we(I and Mom only)went to a nearby rerestaurant for the dinner. We found that the price is within our reach and we can afford paid lunch and dinner for next nine days. With this knowledge, the idea of searching for a hotel room popped up. It occurred to me that staying in a hotel room might not be very costly and might not be a risky one, too. The word 'hotel'used to bring forth a suspicious filmy (Bollywood) image in my mind. Overcoming those impressions, I started searching for a hotel room for two.Eventually, we stayed at that same dharmshala, in a separate room.
For the next two days,while mom go with our group for religious activities, I started moving around in the town.Whole town was under the pomp of religious functions as there was one more religious cult with its own religious processions. With my awe,wonder and respect for Haridwar and Ganga, I started strolling in the town, observing it and searching for nearby tourist places. On the fourth day, we hired a pedal rickshaw and visited femous religious places. The fifth day, which was a free day for the participants in the religious programme, the whole group booked mini buses to visit nearby places. On that trip, I saw a Buddhist gompa for the first time and come to know about a sport called river rafting. In same trip, at Masoori, I was thrilled with the feeling that I am in the town of Raskin Bond and where the brightest brains of India(UPSC toppers) were learning their first lessons of administration. And at one of those Masoori hilltops, I touched clouds, for the first time.
Third day onwards, I started visiting nearby ghat during late evening. I wanted to witness local life, how a Haridwari lives in Haridwar?I saw families coming on bikes and enjoying food at small stalls.Once, I went to a stall and served myself with Delhi chat, which I have tasted for the first time and at the middle of my eating I realised that I haven't any money with me. My right hand with a spoon hang in the middle of the air. The chatwala, even though busy with other customers, captured my confusion and turned to me: ' forgot money? Do not worry. I come here every evening. Pay me tomorrow.' That was such a relief!
Next day I promptly went to the ghat with money in my hand but the chatwala was not there. I asked other stall owners. They have no idea about him. I was dumbfounded. Next day and the next day, I went to the ghat in search of the chatwala, holding my purse and returning empty handed. After three days, I found him there and I rushed to him with a ten rupee note in my hand. He recognized my worried face and laughed. His face is still before my eyes.
At that same night, I was strolling around the ghat enjoying the cool wind of November. It was nearly nine o'clock. I felt like abiding goodbye to Ganga as I was planning for early return. When I was stepping down to put my feet into the water, I heard a local young boy calling me hurriedly and trying me to stop. The first thought that flashed in my mind was that of security. So, I stopped where I was. He reached near me and said, 'Hey, don't step in Ganga with your footwear on.' I showed him that I have already removed my footwear at the ghat. He smiled in reply. I liked this feeling of respect even though I knew how much Ganga is polluted and how.
I informed my relative that I plan to return early. He said we have return tickets and we can not get tickets as we wish, not with a margin of few hours. I said, let me try. I went to the railway station, stood in a queue finding a good number of people trying hard for tickets. When my turn came, I said: two tickets for Ahmedabad ,today evening,please. The man at the Window smiled at me and said,' That is not possible. Not in this way.' I said : 'OK.Tell me what I need to do so I can get tickets.' He smiled again, asked me if I can fill up a form or not. I proudly announced that I can fill up any form after reading it. He handed over me two form, one for ticket cancellation and the other for new tickets. I stepped out of the queue, filled up the forms and...got two tickets. Now, as I know how to book tickets and how is it to get a ticket with Indian Railways, that incident seems like a miracle.
On our return journey, to my surprise,the train (I forgot the name) took different route and lesser time. Then only I come to know that Daheradun Express offers the passengers longer travel time at lower rates.
This is how the adventure bug in me has taken the first step.
Once the train entered Madhya Pradesh, now and then it would stop at anonymous places and local people with bunch of wood and other stuff would enter into our sleeper compartment. I asked my relative about it and he said it is a regular scenario with trains passing through a jungle.
At Haridwar, we stayed in a dharmshala(a relatively pocket friendly boarding house with basic/primary facilities).There was no thought of staying in a hotel.We were told that the religious cult which has organized the big programme will provide food. On the very first day we walked nearly five km and took the lunch (rice, dal, vegetables, laddu) in a common kitchen which was not very organized and clean as per my standards. I decided, we are fine with paying for our lunch and dinner.At that evening, we(I and Mom only)went to a nearby rerestaurant for the dinner. We found that the price is within our reach and we can afford paid lunch and dinner for next nine days. With this knowledge, the idea of searching for a hotel room popped up. It occurred to me that staying in a hotel room might not be very costly and might not be a risky one, too. The word 'hotel'used to bring forth a suspicious filmy (Bollywood) image in my mind. Overcoming those impressions, I started searching for a hotel room for two.Eventually, we stayed at that same dharmshala, in a separate room.
For the next two days,while mom go with our group for religious activities, I started moving around in the town.Whole town was under the pomp of religious functions as there was one more religious cult with its own religious processions. With my awe,wonder and respect for Haridwar and Ganga, I started strolling in the town, observing it and searching for nearby tourist places. On the fourth day, we hired a pedal rickshaw and visited femous religious places. The fifth day, which was a free day for the participants in the religious programme, the whole group booked mini buses to visit nearby places. On that trip, I saw a Buddhist gompa for the first time and come to know about a sport called river rafting. In same trip, at Masoori, I was thrilled with the feeling that I am in the town of Raskin Bond and where the brightest brains of India(UPSC toppers) were learning their first lessons of administration. And at one of those Masoori hilltops, I touched clouds, for the first time.
Third day onwards, I started visiting nearby ghat during late evening. I wanted to witness local life, how a Haridwari lives in Haridwar?I saw families coming on bikes and enjoying food at small stalls.Once, I went to a stall and served myself with Delhi chat, which I have tasted for the first time and at the middle of my eating I realised that I haven't any money with me. My right hand with a spoon hang in the middle of the air. The chatwala, even though busy with other customers, captured my confusion and turned to me: ' forgot money? Do not worry. I come here every evening. Pay me tomorrow.' That was such a relief!
Next day I promptly went to the ghat with money in my hand but the chatwala was not there. I asked other stall owners. They have no idea about him. I was dumbfounded. Next day and the next day, I went to the ghat in search of the chatwala, holding my purse and returning empty handed. After three days, I found him there and I rushed to him with a ten rupee note in my hand. He recognized my worried face and laughed. His face is still before my eyes.
At that same night, I was strolling around the ghat enjoying the cool wind of November. It was nearly nine o'clock. I felt like abiding goodbye to Ganga as I was planning for early return. When I was stepping down to put my feet into the water, I heard a local young boy calling me hurriedly and trying me to stop. The first thought that flashed in my mind was that of security. So, I stopped where I was. He reached near me and said, 'Hey, don't step in Ganga with your footwear on.' I showed him that I have already removed my footwear at the ghat. He smiled in reply. I liked this feeling of respect even though I knew how much Ganga is polluted and how.
I informed my relative that I plan to return early. He said we have return tickets and we can not get tickets as we wish, not with a margin of few hours. I said, let me try. I went to the railway station, stood in a queue finding a good number of people trying hard for tickets. When my turn came, I said: two tickets for Ahmedabad ,today evening,please. The man at the Window smiled at me and said,' That is not possible. Not in this way.' I said : 'OK.Tell me what I need to do so I can get tickets.' He smiled again, asked me if I can fill up a form or not. I proudly announced that I can fill up any form after reading it. He handed over me two form, one for ticket cancellation and the other for new tickets. I stepped out of the queue, filled up the forms and...got two tickets. Now, as I know how to book tickets and how is it to get a ticket with Indian Railways, that incident seems like a miracle.
On our return journey, to my surprise,the train (I forgot the name) took different route and lesser time. Then only I come to know that Daheradun Express offers the passengers longer travel time at lower rates.
This is how the adventure bug in me has taken the first step.
4.10.14
Somras
I have been to Somnath in 2002. That visit made it THE only temple I would like to revisit. But, not anymore.
This time (too), I missed thinking virtual.I followed tips of friends. Even they missed that we were going to mess up with festive-holidays.
I have never came across this many South Indian people in a Northern state. Today(2/10/14), there are nearly 80% SI here. And we had dosa n Idli as our breakfast.
What a visit it was in 2002. I had reached Somnath around 6p.m. After bath at one of the trust guest house, I went to the temple. Hardly 50 people were there. Then I had lite dinner at the trust restaurant and again I returned to the temple campus. I can not recall the exect time but I guess around 9p.m. a police constable found me seeting on the back side wall. At that time the compound wall was like otta. One can sit on it. Constable asked me to leave the campus. I requested him that I wish to sit here just like that and I am good at my psychological health. He sat along me and we had a nice chat. After that the cosntable allowed me to sit at the Southern end-the point from where one reaches at the south pole if travel in a straight line and that too without comming across any land. I stayed there; me, Somnath and the Arabian sea, upto 1a.m.Alas, that Somnath doesn't exsist anymore. He isIin the hitlist of terrorist.
It is being said that deliberate distance generate attraction and reverence. This goes well with adventurous people, pilgrims and teenagers. At this point, I recall different kind of incidences, one of them is of Mirabahen(http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirabehn )-a British lady who followed Gandhi in his true spirit, but on 30th January 1948, she didn't rushed for Delhi. She stayed back at the place where she was working.This is how love acts. I am not Chaula anymore.
This time (too), I missed thinking virtual.I followed tips of friends. Even they missed that we were going to mess up with festive-holidays.
I have never came across this many South Indian people in a Northern state. Today(2/10/14), there are nearly 80% SI here. And we had dosa n Idli as our breakfast.
What a visit it was in 2002. I had reached Somnath around 6p.m. After bath at one of the trust guest house, I went to the temple. Hardly 50 people were there. Then I had lite dinner at the trust restaurant and again I returned to the temple campus. I can not recall the exect time but I guess around 9p.m. a police constable found me seeting on the back side wall. At that time the compound wall was like otta. One can sit on it. Constable asked me to leave the campus. I requested him that I wish to sit here just like that and I am good at my psychological health. He sat along me and we had a nice chat. After that the cosntable allowed me to sit at the Southern end-the point from where one reaches at the south pole if travel in a straight line and that too without comming across any land. I stayed there; me, Somnath and the Arabian sea, upto 1a.m.Alas, that Somnath doesn't exsist anymore. He isIin the hitlist of terrorist.
It is being said that deliberate distance generate attraction and reverence. This goes well with adventurous people, pilgrims and teenagers. At this point, I recall different kind of incidences, one of them is of Mirabahen(http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirabehn )-a British lady who followed Gandhi in his true spirit, but on 30th January 1948, she didn't rushed for Delhi. She stayed back at the place where she was working.This is how love acts. I am not Chaula anymore.
22.8.14
He is a leader and a gem of a person.
He is a
leader and a gem of a person.
So, I don’t want him to be recognized.
I want to
cover him up in a safe vault, like a precious gem.
He calls
each one of the students with her name.
He knows
the address and socio-economic background of each child.
He never
criticizes his subordinates and always takes side of them before outsiders.
He never
cancels any programme, in any circumstances. He finds ways to overcome
circumstances.
He takes
classes regularly and finishes the syllabus.
Any child
(girl) can go to him anytime.
He knows
why a parent or an old student is visiting him or the school, beforehand the
visit. He never makes the visitor wait for more than 30 minutes.
He opens
the school and closes it, too.
I don’t
want him to be known.
I fear,
they may kill him.
They may
make him run between different programmes, make him giving speeches on
leadership and make him a master trainer.
They may
pollute his work place by frequent visits, wasting his precious time and
energy.
They may
use his skills to settle their silly administrative tasks and political
deadlines.
They may
insult him with stupid awards.
He is a
leader and a gem of a person.
So, I don’t want him to be recognized.
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