Showing posts with label Yatra Vritaant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yatra Vritaant. Show all posts

Friday, November 22, 2013

Udaipur and Jodhpur Yatra

I had palnned Sikkim/Bhutan Trip in festival session of Nuakhai. That trip was cancelled due to backing out of the friends. Hence, I was looking towards other options. I do view it as a now or never situation in planning travel schedule. I took quick decision with help of my friend at IIM Ahmadabad. Udaipur and Jodhpur were prime destination of two days short trip of Rajasthan. I was lone traveler this time.

A balanced tourism is more about connecting with the local people and their culture, rather than site seeing like Maharajas of distant land. Talking for long session (1/2 -1 hour) with remarkable people like Shambhu (auto-rickshaw driver at Udaipur) and Yarden Gerest- Mar (Student of Computer Science at Hebrew University, Israel) were good experiences of the whole trip. Touring India is always mixed bag of praise, platitudes and panning. Foreign tourists are confronted with unfamiliar sights on a daily basis, such as open defecation that are no longer seen in the developed nation. India has both sides, some exciting and some negative.

Best moment was a small interaction with an unknown artist at Jaswant Thada. A great source of frustration creeps in people with a strong sense of entitlement face either unnecessary criticism or unmet expectations. Creative people like writers, actors, humanitarian aid worker or fashion designer have some similarity with such street artist as they work (initially) for peanuts in their respective professions. I was lost in bliss moments on listening to such beautiful music amid thirst and heat. Such non-material aspects of a life are truly divine.


“From the bastions of the Jodhpur fort one hears as the Gods must hear from Olympus,” said author Aldous Huxley about the Mehrangarh Fort ramparts. I covered Mehrangarh Fort early in the morning. Flying fox tour was too expensive (Rs 1500 for traveling to the wire around fort) and adrenaline rush doesn't suit me. What I like is slow and steady romance with medieval history and an ancient culture. I was unable to find location where a prison scene of 'The Dark Knight Rises' was shot. The exotic murals of the self-exiled Polish art Stefan Norblin in Umaid Bhawan are still fresh in my imagination.

Guided Trip in auto-rickshaw was plan for touring beautiful city of Udaipur. Most of the places shown were redundant for me. Folk Art Museum at Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir was a surprise revelation for the day. I watched Daily puppetry show and gathered information about popular Ghoomar dance. Both Lake palace and City palace were full of scenic beauty. Camera charges at city palace was so high that appears more irrelevant in this era of high resolution mobile camera. I was unable to visit Sajjangarh fort due to time crunch.

Medieval painting, historical exhibits and cultural objects like arms, protective elephant howdahs, palanquins, armors, turbans, costumes and paintings at both places were preserved with great care. Impregnable defensive architecture have always been plus point of forts of Rajasthan. I took audio tour at Jodhpur and personal guide tour at Udaipur. I find audio tour better for those who are alone and have plenty of time and interest. I have always been in dilemma that vacation can't be a photo opportunity. Sometime it seems wrong to constantly capture the beauty as champion trophy, instead of savouring the moment. Sometimes the wrong path can take us to the right destination. But, having an smart app like Google Maps was useful. 'Baati Dal Choorma' was the only local cuisine tasted by me.

Tour of Jodhpur belonging to Marwar state and Udaipur belonging to Mewar was completed. It was very hard to grasp disparity in lifestyle of Bhil culture as seenin folk museum compared to luxurious lives of aristocracy.  Boredom tends to cause excessive pleasure-seeking since, lacking other goals, people often use pleasure as a goal. Thus was the era of Kingdoms and Feudal lords full of extremes in war, love and art. As Walter Benjamin famously wrote, “There is no document of civilization which is not at the same time a document of barbarism.”

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Tawang: The Hidden Paradise.

I planned to Tawang for my dreams to see Buddhist monasteries . The three musketeers (Gautam, Mriganka & Himanshu) were the travelers. We had finalized our tour itinerary for Arunachal after reading all tour reports on travel sites. We started from Bhubaneswar and reached Guwahati via Kolkata. Route to Tezpur from Guwahati was unexpectedly a plain grassland and took nearly 5 hours with state bus service. We got our permits done at Tezpur office only just before closing of the office. It seems sad to take Inner Line Permit to visit in our own country. But when we have draconian acts like AFSPA in North east India, this seems to be less of our all worries. This part of India is seeing a grave human rights violation and things will go messy in future due to our state actions today.

We took a 6 days tour package from Tezpur ASTC agent Miraz. The route from Tezpur to Tawang have patches of really bad road. Bhalukpong was the start of Arunachal Pradesh. There is a proposal of train line to Bhalukpong. 370 km route was covered in two days with a transit stay at Bomdilla. We traveled through West Kameng, home to the Sessa Orchid Wildlife Sanctuary but March was not the right season for their flowering. Tawang is a beautiful place. Local people talk about Koyla Movie shooting and 1959 escape of 14th Dalai lama to India. We were lucky to get permit to visit Bum-La Pass. The road to Bumpla Pass from Tawang is of strategic importance but badly constructed. I will assume that a certain level of corruption in this. We trekked nearly one and half km on the road to Bumla pass as our vehicle can't go due to fear of slipping on the road. It took really some effort to walk and enjoy beauty of Bumla pass situated at 15000 ft. Seeing a Madhuri lake on the return was a most calming thing on our nerves in the whole journey. We returned to Tezpur with one night stay at Derang.

Gautam and Mriganaka at Sela Pass
We @ Bum La Pass
Indian Army with Us
Madhuri lake View
Tawang Monastery
Sela Pass during snowfall

I had not talked much about tour itinerary, hotels and cuisines here. Momo and Thupka are really things to try out there. Chinese items were flooded in the market. So decide oneself what to purchase. We did learn about 1962 war through memorials of Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat and Subedar Joginder Singh Sahnan. Nature lovers can enjoy Rhododendron and orchid sanctuary in their flowering seasons. This trip takes us through Fall, lakes, valleys, mountains and passes with all season of Rain, snow & sunshine coming together in six days.

There are ample opportunities to develop tourism here. There is a high unemployment rate while road construction, military contracts and tourism industry are only booming ones. Irom sharmila chanu and Mary Kom are well known and represent Manipur but there is no famous personality except Dorjee Khandu in my knowledge from Arunachal Pradesh. Our drivers(companions)told us about many problems faced by NE states. They were especially extortion and kidnapping by Bodo in Assam, insurgency in Nagaland & illegal migrants of Bangladesh. They even claim (not sure) of open for sale market of AK 47 and pistols at Dimpaur. Vulgar remark about the driver and army people on their need of women wherever they go left a bad taste in my mouth.

Ethnic people consist of Nepali, Garo, Bodo with Buddhism and Christianity as emerging religion. I learn that Buddhism have different sects and even more rituals than other religions. 'Om Mani Peme Hum' is the most widely used of all Buddhist mantras. It was again told to us that Christianity is having soothing effect on tribal people (not sure of this). Muslim -Tribal tension is really building here. It seems that a lot of money is pumped by central government but there is misuse of funds by local political leaders, military and bureaucracy. North-East region has sadly turned into one of the worst-hit conflict zones in Southeast Asia.

What I like was the whole society has given more liberty to women in every aspect than their northern or southern Indian counterparts. It is a shameful and racist act to use word Chinki for them. Continuous use of that word "chinki" represents ignorance, bigotry and deep rooted callousness even in our well educated class. Now can we start respecting NE people by not calling them Chinky? While Super Mom Magnificent Mary is making India proud more than any of us, its shame Northeast women are often stereotyped as "cheap" and "easy".

I need to read more about history of NE region. Any reader can suggest me a good book. That will be helpful.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Get the picture without the photo

To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries. ~Aldous Huxley.

The reality of India depends on where you stand, what you seek and how you choose to live. I went to Kolkata for two days with Gaurish in Durga Puja festival. This travel tour was a way forward to learn about diverse cultures as I know very little about my own country. And, yes this was welcome break from avalanche of bullshit mountain of patriotism on the virtual word of facebook. This travel tour was a chance to enjoy a festive season with Bengali people.

With arrival in Kolkata, I was caught in the race of hundred of people looking for exit at railway station. Watching the city for the first time was like reading through the pages of history with one's own eyes. The city was dipped in colors of Puja festival and I was trying to figure out the spirit of the Kolkata as few call this as city of joy. And yes, everything was either appearing either holy or historical.

While traveling around Kolkatta I saw many people of the different strata in the crowd. There was an urge to take blessings from deity but a sense of joy was on their face. For one night, it was not important whether they earn little or more, have a stomach full of food or not, it takes just plain devotion and faith to smile despite severe odds....

I am a non believer in a true sense. FYI, being an atheist is not an issue in India. An infidel like me can flourish in the social space only if I don't raise voices against caste discrimination and sexual inequality. In my many years of existence, I had learnt not to take anything from anybody and criticize unless one can give something better in its place.

I was amazed by creativity of the artisans who have designed Pooja Pandals. Innovators and Designers are not celebrated in India. There is no lack of quality and competition but general Indian psyche respect power more than creativity. May be its the prejudice of the mediocre nation who could neither understand nor respect the great flights of innovative individuals and intelligence of few. What I like was that celebration were not loud as few have consciously chosen substance over style and it was also reflected in the absence of any over-the-top band baja music.

Roaming around city in the night on foot shows different face of Kolkata. It was quiet but not peaceful. There were so many poor, cripples, migrant labours and destitute on the road that it shatters the myth of incredible/ rising/ shining India. These people might will disappear as will I, it all matters nothing, life goes on meaninglessly. Pity is what you feel for those for whom there is no hope. What pity leads to is becoming insulated from poor, even closing the eyes, and trying to make the end as easy and comfortable as possible. In the face of extreme poverty only, a person choose the path of crime in India. Otherwise, I believe India to be a very silent and non violent country amid such repressive social and economic order.

There is too much pressure on us of hoarding degrees, internships and job experiences in the early stages of career. With gathering experiences by travels and meeting different people, one gain insights of numerous aspects of life. Eventually through these type of travelogues, I want to see through unintelligible chaos of life and refine them in a simpler manner to the next generations as legacy. I traveled without camera to get the picture without the photo. The overall effect without any camera is a montage of memories that sparks flashes of warmth and subtle smiles. These tours are only prelude for setting out for a long nomadic existence called life.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Banaras: A Bitter Memoir

I was reading a Jug Suraiya's column : Atheism is the best worship recently. I sunk deeply in the memories of city that I detest heavily. That city is Varanasi, notorious for touts. I will quote a paragraph here for the context :

A French sociologist has likened personal prayer and the giving of votive offerings to bribery. He has noted that in countries where the tradition of personalised God-worship is most entrenched –as in India, and in Roman Catholic Italy – the incidence of bribery in everyday life is also proportionately high. If God himself is a Babu who can be bribed to do your bidding with a prayer and a few diyas or candles, where’s the harm in slipping some currency notes to a bureaucrat or politician or policeman to do what you want done? Doesn’t God himself teach us to bribe? In which case, how can bribery and corruption be bad things, if they’re God-given?

Varanasi is the city of the old people and orthodox practices. There are lot of peoples with power and money without any sense of future. They live with same aura of timelessness that has surrounded this city from long times. The traditions and orthodox habits are only adapting comforts and avoid any drastic social changes in the veil of cultural preservation.

The scoundrel priests who extort money from the pilgrims & tourists with a blessing while reading few Sanskrit hymn and dab of powder on the forehead needs more than a few coins in return! These will be starters on the menu while main course of fraudulent nature appears gradually. One has to give up the baggage of tourist and interact with the people as of their own neighborhood to understand the minute details of the ruthless face of the town. This city always looks backwards for hope and stories. People here will always go into memories when they were somebody, who were loved and honored. Only saving grace in the city is BHU campus full of natural beauty and young students.

It is too overwhelming to see the sunsets and sunrise on the Ghats. What I found most amazing is our quality to ignore the desperate beggars, widespread poverty and flies swirling around atop a garbage heap on the edge of a river. The ancient traditions of this city fly in the face of modern rules of sanitation and public health. The filth of the daily life practices and prevailing hypocrisy in rituals in this holy city of Hindus reflect real condition of Hinduism. A religion filled with great philosophies and discriminative social culture at the same time.

It’s not the Ghats, the water or the spirit that is most breathtaking, but the corruption and deception. My stay at Varanasi is not the story of vanished moments. It is a mad tale of people asking for 'Moksha' and bribes in the same breathe. Amid chaotic and overwhelming city environment, the college life was full of relief.

In this tourist city, foreigners arrive with a certain image of India in mind, then only to have it shattered by teenage youths at the McDonald’s counter. Cultural shock for them ! A tip to pilgrims is popular as proverb in local culture.

Hindi Proverb: रांड़, सांड़, सीढ़ी संन्यासी। इनसे बचै तो सेवे काशी।।
English translation: Be on your guard against prostitute, bulls, stairs(of temples, bathing places etc., which may be very steep and dangerous), ascetic person but often a mendicant and then you may worship at Kashi (Varanasi).

I loved my college with the appreciation what life has to offer in various ways. In India when people want to die, they go to Varanasi to live there and to die there. No old man can believe that the days are good now – they were always in the past, the golden past, the good old days when things were like this and that. I also remember college days when everything was good. Now, I have become an alumni, the whole college world seems to be old and golden. But the world remains the same, only we go on changing. That I learned from that old and damned city.

Things to do in Varanasi:

1. The Sunrise along the 84 riverside ghats
2. Take a hand pulled boat ride down the Ganga River
3. The evening Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dasashwamedh ghat
4. The Burning Ghats at Harish Chandra and Manikarnika ghats
5. Ram Nagar Fort Museum across the river Ganga
6. Sarnath Museum, Ashoka pillar & Buddhist Sites
7. Chill out with students near Vishawanath Temple in the Banaras Hindu University campus.

I have seen many picasa photo albums and photo blogs of Varanasi. Best of all is : Visions Of Varanasi.

No tour of Varanasi is complete without Benarasi Paan. In the words of a foreign tourist : Be prepared to face the devastating power of Banaras Paan, a local betal nut product wrapped in a edible leaf and filled with molasses, rosewater, tutti fruiti, licorice, cloves and poisionous lime paste. Enjoy!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Travelouge

In plucking the fruit of memory one runs the risk of spoiling its bloom -Joseph Conard.

A journey back to Nanital has keep me guessing about this quotes. I have grown up in Nanital till the age of five years. There is always a sense of excitement attached to old memories. Especially, of the places where one grows up.

Memories are altered by present day reality and the sweetness is lost. We are grown up on the tales of childhood and in weaving an endearing and engaging past times. There is tale made by elders about ours association with these places. Only fogy scenes appear in the mind about childhood days when even memories were not even saving in the brain. Back then, life was blossoming with the present. Neither care for future and nor drag of yesterday.

When I want to re cherish those moments and reached to the place after twenty years, everything was changed. I was hoping for the time frozen land of my memories welcoming me with a cheer. All the landscape was different than imagined. Strangely, I met the faces who shared their time with me in long back. The passing age had taken place the effect and photographs of the memory were becoming altered with present.


I visited my LKG school back after 22 years. The school has become remain scant of the past. The walls are falling and the church appears as centuries old due to poor maintenance. The whole place appear as an archaeological site but the schooling is still continued. there. New people are there in the school and few classes have been converted to boarding. Memories have fallen into a abyss and given place to the reality.
I didn't visited my UKG school and old house due to this fear of change. A lot have been changed there. UKG school has been converted into hotel. And new constructions and roads have changed the old landscape. This was for the good for the people. I need store of memories to tell stories in the old age. Reality will tamper the timelessness of memories and tales.

May be I am in a making stage of romantic. Preservance slows down the decay yet life always looks full of energy in the past. Only youth and old can bear the risk of being romantic. One full with dreams, enthusiasm and idealism & another with experience and memories. A Realist turns into romantic is a sign of old age. My mind is aging faster than the body !

I am alone and thinking a line of Fyodor Dostoevsky : The characteristics of our romantics are to understand everything, to see everything and to see it often incomparably more clearly than our most realistic minds see it...

Monday, October 20, 2008

Travelogue : Make my Trip


The world is conquered by the travelers. Voyage of Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, Vasco da gama has changed the course the history .The boundaries are for weak and xenophobic people. The brave wanders without borders. He always led mankind in the frontiers of each field. Nation or society is only misguided by self proclaimed intellectual rusting at a place. Every country falls in dump where inhabitants rest at a place. The world is conquered and ruled by the people who left the home to achieve something. The water of river may be polluted somewhere, but constant flow makes it clean. The water of well appear sweet for some days but become polluted with time. Traditions are always spread by the roaming ambassadors of the culture. Any person or society can only be prospered by coming in contact with each other.

Boundaries of India were extended to Cambodia, Malaysia & Indonesia. Then preachers of Hinduism decided to reside at home. Crossing to seven seas was losing the religion. Orthodoxy was absorbed due to this reason. Muslims, Portuguese, French and British attacked and plunged whole Indian subcontinent. They were travelers and defeated population was idler.

Spiritual Gurus like Swami Vivekananda, Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Shankaracharya were first class travelers. They conquered India with their foot and message. Means are secondary but enthusiasm to discover the frontiers is primary .Their biographies of great persons form the history. They are full of travel stories and contact with lost or undiscovered civilization or community. Preachers were foot soldiers of Buddhism, Islam and Christian; they traveled across the globe for their religion without any fear only with light of faith in their heart.

Africa, Australia and America were discovered by few enthusiastic people from Europe. Now India and China are fully packed with people. This is heaviest price for one place dwellers. Spanish, English, French and Portuguese had become international language of previous century. Jews are spread across the world. They were looted and tortured both by Muslims and Christian. The vagabonding of 2000 years makes them realize their ancient glory and need of reunification. Israel was formed in between the heartland of Arabian countries. All Arab nations came together to crush this small country but all of them are defeated in battles. Eminent position in American economic circle is occupied by Jews. Traveling is the international religion of mankind. Unlike religious preachers, Travelers share their experience and find happiness in travel account of others.

Half of world is in books and rest is spread across the globe. Hence, be dynamic as a traveler and static as a reader. Life will be balanced in middle path between dynamics and statics. Each scientist, artist and even mathematician has traveled in search of true knowledge or mentor.Art Tourism provide tours and travel facilities to provide knowledge about richness of art culture and artworks, styles, school existed in ancient India. Indian subcontinent is well diverse in each aspect of culture. Only Europe can match its diversity but not quality.

This post is dedicated to Rahul Sankrityayan for his inspiring book Ghumakkar Shastra. This book is first hand guide to young mind to unshackle the chains of home, friends and family. Be a perpetual free rider in this transitory world.

Novice Travel Guide

Che Guevara is the role model of many youths across the world. Everyone can feel the voice of Latin America in his thinking. A young man pursuing medical course was transformed into revolutionary by a travel. As a young medical student, Guevara traveled throughout Latin America and was transformed by the endemic poverty he witnessed. His experiences and observations during these trips led him to conclude that the region's ingrained economic inequalities were an intrinsic result of monopoly capitalism, neo-colonialism, and imperialism, with the only remedy being world revolution. He became the eminent face of communism in 20 century.
Now, compare yourself with him. You will be the person who has not traveled so far yet.But who am I to tell you to do these adventurous things. Simply NOBODY;Stop reading here if you will be stuck in same place after these lines OR just hear what I want to say.

I started reading novels with “Gulliver travels”,"Around the world in 80 days" and "Sindbad the sailor". 'Triyatri' and 'The Motorcycle Diaries' were inspiring movies for me.

Traveling without an open heart is the loss of time and labor. Make yourself free from previous life experiences and relations.Age is no bar to traveling but young time is preferred. When endurance and passion is high, Traveler can push through stones on the road to his personal milestones. Labyrinth of living and earning consumes your energy level with the age;

“Saer kar duniya ki gafil zindgani phir kahaan,Zindgani gar rahe to, Nazawani phir kahaan”
-Ismael Meeruti.

Think out of Box is nice proverb of English Literature. In Hindi literature, “Koop Manduk”: Frog of well is well defined terms for static people. When you stay for long period of time at anywhere, importance of yours is lost. Your observation skill vanishes due to adaption in monotonous condition.The sense of wonder is lost amid surrounding.Immense knowledge can be incorporated from visiting place. Dissolve in local culture and feel the joy. You will truly feel small and ego will be lost on discovering new world around you. This false egotism comes from ignorance. The more you know, you will become modest and wise.

You have not come this far just to applaud beauty of a building and city. Historical and traditional survey perspective is necessary for getting clear image of society and country.
First hand Tips for Travelers:

· Vagabondage is apart not wholesome of traveling. Read and listen (Observation skills) about the people and visiting places.
· Good Hotels, means of transport and food will not be in your service. Make yourself a rough rider.
· Cultural, Linguistic, geographical and wildlife diversity of the region gives a rough idea about the traveling path.
· Observe the nature. They give the feeling of eternity and transitoriness at same time.
· Not stones but contact with people is significant. Talk if you can to locals about their habitat.
· Traveler should neither hope for eternity nor for the fame. His main concern should be walk less traveled road.
· Lonely planet and Discovery travel and livings are best television shows about traveling.
· Do not wait for Travel grant or reimbursement in future.
· Maintain Travel Diary. It will refresh and inspire you and others in future.
· Last but not least, safety is primary concern. Prefer visiting public places and get your timing of tour synchronized with the local customs.

Each of the readers has lived enough life of Mr. Anderson (Matrix). Do not get the bundle of baggage ready in preparation for departure. Get, set and go neo;Currently, I want to read a book named:The Motorcycle Diaries by Che Guevara;Just read the lines from the book....

"The stars streaked the night sky with light in that little mountain town and the silence and the cold dematerialised the darkness. It was as if all solid substances were spirited away in the ethereal space around us, denying our individuality and submerging us, rigid, in the immense blackness."

Monday, September 22, 2008

Azamgarh:The Gulf Connection

I was once asked about famous people hailing from my home town, Azamgarh. I cannot name even one of eminent fellows. Few of us will know the name of Rahul Sankrityayan or Kaifi Azmi. Fewest of us have heard the name of Ayodha Singh ‘Harioudh’ & Shibli Nomani. These names are not even famous now in Hindi or Urdu speaking belt of India. Contrary to this, Dawood Ibhrahim, Abu Salem & Ejaj Lakedwala are renowned names from Azamgarh to Dubai.
I have mentioned them in my previous post:Welcome to Azamgarh

Now, Abu Basher has added his name in this eminent list of role models. It is slight different case now. All of the previous names were criminals but now emerging names are terrorists. There is a place called Saraimeer in the Azamgarh district. It is strong hold of Muslim population. Sadly, most of the wanted criminals originate from this place. But in truth, Azamgarh is like a dormant volcano. Only lava of this volcano is erupting and causing destruction at different places.

Some clues to Azamgarh's troubles are to be found in its economy. Despite being home to 4 million people (of whom 58 per cent are Hindus), the district has no industries worth taking note of. Despite a more-than-evident desire to acquire the tools to succeed (computer training and English speaking institutes are a rage), there are no universities or engineering colleges. But there is money. In Sarai Meer, Sanjarpur, Beenapara and the neighbouring areas, big, gleaming cars jam narrow lanes, tiny shops yield the latest gadgets and acres of green fields are broken up by tall white mansions. It's not money from the country's economic boom but from the Middle East where almost every family has a member.

Majority of the young people left here for various places in the search of job. From 08/09/2008 to 21/09/2008, 1125 people applied for passport from this region.90% were destined to go to gulf countries. This place is really prosperous without any industries. There is continuous flow of petro-dollars from the gulf. There are branches of 4 nationalized and 2 local banks in Saraimeer. Monthly turnover of the one branch of nationalized bank is about Rs. 5 crores. The Hawala exchange also generates the Rs. 25 crores per month. In short, there is monthly turnover crosses the record of Rs. 50 crores. Any entrepreneur is listening to this!!!! Still most of my fellow ITBHUians have not heard of this terabithia. Pay attention to this, Azamgarh is just 99 km away from the Varanasi.

Major portion of these petro dollars has been invested highly by the community only in building Madarsas. Now, it is claimed that new members of terrorist are breeding in it. Azamgarh is becoming nursery for terrorism. There is no direct control of educational policy in these schools by government. Government fears from the uprising on direct intervention with minority population. Some selfish people are nourishing unwanted elements in the protection of pseudo secularism.

Most of this money is spend in vain and no development of the place has taken place. Job scenario is still the same and flight of people to Bombay and gulf has not stopped. Previously all criminals were nobody at home. Like all those who have left this place, they have excelled in other place. But these terrorists have been trained at home only. Local leaders of Samajwadi party & Congress were advocating freedom of Abu Basher for vote bank politics. Local police shows zero resistance against criminal elements .It is not all doom picture here. There is enough socialism that no big communal riots have taken place here since independence. Hope, it will be maintained in future.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Welcome to Azamgarh

Do you know any city named Azamgarh?
Off coarse, you will be briefed by various news channel telling Azamgarh as den of terrorists. Azamgarh, a small sleepy town in eastern UP, is under scanning again, for all the wrong reasons in national bulletins. But,my amazement to these lies in the fact that this city is mine hometown.
I will give you 3 links to understand the unique background of this place.
1-Azamgarh in Wikipedia
2-Azamgarh in Government website
3-Azamgarh in Historical Percepts

Few days ago, I was tracing the roots of cultural,political and social fabric of this district.I have not lived at this place from my birth. My paternal side belongs to Azamgarh and maternal side belongs to Mau (a district formed by the division of Azamgarh in 1988). Still, except my father all my relatives are in these two district.This place really is far beyond any city in India at least 20 years.

Azamgarh backwardness lies in the mindset of the people residing there. People can't think beyond government job and mostly divert towards teaching profession. Their mentality is same as it was 10 yrs ago. Fundamental thinking here is based on, how to get a government job by any means if possible. This mentality makes the people frustrated when they didn't get a government job. Polluted politics and crime is another factor which are responsible for this worst condition of Azamgarh. Main problem is the participation of students in these act and lack of career orientation. Major cities near Azamgarh for higher education are Varanasi, Allahabad and Gorakhpur. Only few educational institutes has been opened here recently and progress is quite satisfactory. I am still working for more facts and will tell you soon.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Air India experience…


While going through Internet for Randy Pausch,i stumbled across one of the eye opener description about Air India.Before reading article,I became quite happy to see that he was an ITBHU alumni.Afterwards,i felt sorry for him.Narrator, Sharad V. Oberoi is pass out of 2005 batch of civil engineering.I think,my colleagues will remember it as a batch of person named MAKKU SHARMA. Ok,leave that stuff...Here is the link of the :Tour de Air India

Monday, March 31, 2008

Ajmer & Pushkar


I had completed my journey to 2 of the holiest places in India till 15th March.Khwaja Sharif at Ajmer & Brahma Sarover at Puskar were these two places.I had planned with Vijay to visit or wander in different places of India together.So the starting of multiple stage program began at Ajmer.I had taken Night out to prepare myself for tour.Train was direct and reaching Varanasi to Ajmer in 24 hours.It was much better option than catching Marudhar express for Jaipur and changing train for Ajmer.Itinerary was ready and so were us.Bond and Chandu dropped us at Lanka in the morning.There was perfect cleaning of road from railway station to BHU due to upcoming arrival of Dr. Manmohan Singh.He was the chief guest in the 90th convocation of BHU.
Arrival of Prime minister in university was of no concern to us.For most of guys, it is a minor incident as face to face interaction or conversation to PM or full day vacation on this occasion is not possible.

Journey till Agra was fine.In the night,there came a minor problem of food. Like any other train of Rajasthan,this train was already missing Pantry Car.Hence,we somehow managed food at Agra in 15 minute stoppage time.At 6:30,we were at Ajmer.After renting a room,we were ready for the trip.

Ajmer is a popular pilgrimage for the Muslims due to Dargah Sharif-tomb of Sufi saint Khwaja Monuddin Chisti.We visited the tomb during span of 1 hour. Here we cloaked the fabric and tied the thread with asking for a wish. I will came back on fulfillment of my wish and unknit the thread. After that,we left Ajmer for Puskar.Puskar is 14 km way from Ajmer. Trip was made in 1/2 hour by local bus.Then we visited the Lord Brahma's sacred lake with 52 ghats. Lot of Foreigners were wandering across streets of town. Few chicks were quite sexy. The temperature was above 30. Solo Temple of Brahma and a Vishnu temple were only place to go. The above photo of no entry is of latter one. Hence,we return to Ajmer in evening.We were wandering till late night on the streets of Ajmer.Thus,2 places were toured by us.

Now,i will tell you about my experiences of the day. There is nothing enthralling in either Ajmer or Puskar. I was officially warned of pickpocketing in Ajmer at tomb. On visiting Puskar,I was filled by anti-religious feelings. Religion lacks spirituality at both places. If you are going to these places for search of peace,you are in mess;
Both Hindu and Islam are filled with orthodox elements. Priest clan in both religion were acting as a brokers between people and god. They were openly taking money for uttering Sanskrit(Vedas & Purans) and Arabic(Koran) versus. I was puzzled by the fact that why did not god know Hindi or Urdu for common masses. I was remembering Karl Marx in the streets filled with religious atmosphere. For novice readers, Karl Marx quoted"Religion is opium of masses". Spiritual walk at these holy shrines became disgusting for me.But, the world is a fine place and worth fighting for.

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Arrival In Germany

Continuing my journey from last blog post :

I met a person named Ram at Delhi Airport. He works in Kuwait in the petroleum sector. He was an IITB alumnus- 1983 pass out. It was really pleasure to meet him. He told me that he was more interested in music than studies in his younger days. A bit off talk take place and I was informed of a most amazing fact/fiction by him; That his interview of DRDO in 1983 at IIT-B placement was taken by President Kalam who was then Director of DRDO. I was tired and slept in the aeroplane. I have reached Kuwait from Delhi at 9 am( Kuwait timings). Then, we parted without saying goodbye to each other. My next flight was at 9 AM only but it became 1 hour late. Talking about Kuwait airport, I can only say a oasis made in desert from petro-dollars. Its like barren and sandy for miles around but i do not visualize country as a part of Arabian Nights.

Then, I met a German lady [40 years of age]. She was with me from Delhi but we never talked till Kuwait. We talked about India as a common matter of dialogue between two unknown persons. Flying in aeroplane was like dream coming true for me.Watching the marvelous scenario of sky and clouds was like dream . I am not getting proper word till now for describing those moments. Clouds seem to be like a foam spread in the sky. Looking down on the land was like seeing a place through Google earth. I reached Frankfurt after a long journey of 6 hrs. The plane landed at the grand looking Frankfurt Airport. I swear that to make such airport in India will take 20 years minimum.

Suddenly, I felt that I am in Europe. I took my luggage and walked towards Long Distance Railway Station. My train journey begins towards Bayreuth at 3:30 pm Train was late 5 min. I was shocked by alien environment. Just joking; I had taken tickets of ICE, fastest train in Germany. I had to change train for Bayreuth at Nuremberg.

I wanted to write poetry first but words were not coming to me. It was like unspeakable feeling. Then, I write prose on the train. Original Uncut Version is first time revealed here for public.

"This is my first visit to any country abroad India. Germany i.e. The place where i really see what the hard work and honesty means. I am watching the beauty of nature spread all across the country. There is a perfect Harmony between men and nature. I remember a person named Bismarck of Germany. He was called as man of iron and blood. I see the iron and everywhere in the construction, in the buildings almost in infrastructure. Lot have been invested in infrastructure since devastation of his place after world war. I am also moving forward like this train as economics is not my field. I am falling short of words describing the forest and concrete jungles have mingled here in Frankfurt. Mutually bonded by sense of human spirit seems this place. How beautiful a place can be..."

I reached Nuremberg and then to Bayreuth in Bavaria state. Now my journey was nearly finished at 8 pm in the new land (and it was still evening). I was amazed to know the that sun sets at 9 pm in summer season. That was really a new feeling...