Bharat Darshan: Perhaps the most glamorous part of training.
Its definitely exciting to explore the lengths and breadths of a country which
is as good as a sub-continent. But giving a deeper thought, it was more of an
opportunity to study the idea of India in nuances, by observing places and
people. Not to forget, it was more about people and less about places.
While
looking back at this span of two months, where life was moving at scorching
pace, I tried to spot some key moments. And look what did I get!!!
A for Andamans.
The highest point of our journey!! Andaman Islands are
altogether a different world, a surprise indeed for all carrying the Kaala
paani perception. Its simply awesome in the span of October to April.Navy made
it even more memorable- especially the Floating Dock.
And the icing on the cake happens to be
Havelock island. One of the cleanest beaches you can ever see lies here-
Radhanagar beach. We also had some adventure here in Scooba diving, a chance to
fight some fears within…
B for Borders.
Its always a thrill to explore borders. We were lucky to see
the LAC with China at Dichu in Arunachal as well as International border with
Bangladesh at Agartala. At LAC the situation was really tough. Hats off to
jawans of Indian Army and ITBP who protect the nation despite rough terrain,
erratic connectivity and harsh weather.
In Agartala, it was a more
friendly affair. Still the flag ceremony in evening raises levels of patriotism
and adrenaline. Land, people, environment- everything was absolutely
indistinguishable on the other side. The tales of partition can still be sensed
in the air…
C for Chill-ong.
Scotland of the East- They call Meghalaya. Its unique- in
history, geography, culture and many other things. This land of hills is ruled
by Shillong. There’s something soothing about this city. We had a great time
here. The Air Force attachment, Cherapunjee, Root bridge, Shillong peak
everything was as pleasant as the weather. And moreover, it feels great to celebrate
birthday in a chilled out city!!
D for Dressing.
Being an official affair, dressing mattered throughout the
Bharat darshan. There were many questions:When to (and when not to) wear
formals, Why to carry Bandhgalas, What to do with winter clothes in South
India, Why we did not get army uniforms, all of which were consequently
answered. It was fun to get a tourist look on the islands, to buy sarees in Chennai and to lookout for authentic local clothes in the
vibrant markets of North east.
E for Entertainment.
Entertainment adds zing in life. Thankfully, we got our own
share of entertainment in the tour. It came in different forms. We enjoyed some
movies, watched some and tolerated some. Songs were regular entertainers,
especially the song dedication for groupmates. Moreover, we even had a Sangeet
Rajani arranged for us. And when the time came, we ourselves turned
entertainers on demand!!
F for Food.
Being a foodie, Bharat Darshan offered an opportunity to
taste cuisines of the nation. Litti-chokha, Kheer-sag, Roshogullas, Thupka,
Ghee roast dosa,Bisbellibhaat, Four Uthappam, Hyderabadi Biryani, Prawn
achaar, Zunkaa, Kharchoon Parantha….
That explains why India is a dream destination for food lovers. And yes- Our NGO attachment was related to
food- Akshaypatra.
G for Gurudwaras.
We started our journey with the blessings at Harmandir Sahab
Patna and ended at Nanded’s Huzur Sahib Sachkhand Gurudwara. In Nanded, we had
an attachment with Gurudwara. It felt blessed to pray and have prashad at
langar there.
H for Heritage.
Be it limestone caves of Cherapunjee or Pancha Rathas of
Mamallapuram or British era buildings in Kolkata and Chennai, India stands tall
in heritage. This heritage is not merely about buildings and architecture, its
more about the link with history and traditions.
I for Indianness.
India is a mammoth and complex entity. This journey helped
us to understand the idea of India. The diversity, common socio-economic
underpinnings make India a very complex idea. Many factors help to weave the
fabric: progressive thought, armed forces, movies, cricket and many such
linking pins. P.S. For sceptics, youth in Arunachal were playing cricket,
listening hindi songs. It is India.
J for Jamui.
A small, neglected district on Bihar-Jharkhand boundary. An
unknown name, which became a defining feature of our tour. We saw the realities
and challenges of Naxal-infested region. Our visits in the interior areas were cut
short because of information about some mobilization in the forests. There was
a tension in the ambience- in schools, temples, CRPF camps. The challenge needs
some serious consideration, addressing the root cause.
K for Kolkata.
This metro city has its own enigma, its own culture. The
trams, small and congested lanes, street food,Kaali ghat, Park Street-
everything just gives this city a different aura. It was fun welcoming New Year
in the Roshogulla city.
L for Luggage.
Travelling for two months with average 25 kg weight is a
management exercise in itself. Getting down at Durgapur station with 40 bags within
1 minute wasn’t easy too. And then the eternal air traveller’s balancing act of
avoiding extra charge had also to be performed…
M for Madras.
Chennai- Filter Coffee, T nagar, Kancheepuram silk, Lungi, Marina
beach, Malls, Jewellery shops, Port, Larger than life posters…. Chennai is
fun!! It’s a place to be for a foodie with ample variety in veg and non-veg
food. Its bliss to enjoy the mountains of rice and fountains of Sambar!!
N for NPA.
We had the privilege to visit the prestigious National
Police Academy, Hyderabad- the alma mater of Indian Police Service. It was
great to reunite with our Foundation course batchmates. NPA made the Hyderabad stay
special, overshadowing SERP attachment and Paradise Biryani.
O for Officers.
One purpose behind Bharat Darshan must be to observe how the
officers work and manage things on ground level. We met many officers, each
having a different personality and different style of working. And there was a
lot to learn- Determination in Patna, enthusiasm in Jamui, IAS-IPS camaraderie
in Gaya, presence of mind in Durgapur, sincerity in Guwahati, humbleness in
Agartala, efficiency in Chennai, dedication in Hyderabad, calmness in Nanded
and much more…
P for Pobitora Rhinos.
We weren’t really excited to visit Pobitora sanctuary after
Kaziranga was cancelled. But we forgot Kaziranga when we saw Rhinos within 15
min after entering the sanctuary. Makar Sankranti/ Bihu couldn’t be better…
Q for Questions.
Serious questions, unanswerable questions, obvious questions,
rhetorical questions, funny questions… A lot of questions were asked in
different attachments. Even a Question Policy was framed. Impact of the policy
was questionable too!!
R for Religion.
Religion runs through the very fabric of this nation. And
the values of secularism and tolerance run parallel to it. There were many
religious moments in our tour: Bodhi temple at Bodh Gaya, Lachhuar jain temple,
Christmas celebrations in Patna, Kamakhya temple at Guwahati,Meccah Masjid at
Hyderabad, Sachkhand Gurudwara at Nanded- the journey was full of religious
places.
S for Steel.
Durgapur Steel Plant is a microcosm in itself. It has
entirely different ways of work. One of the most valued PSUs in the country; DSP
has a bureaucracy of its own, professional ethics of its own. It still stands
proud as a witness of India’s story of development.
T for Tripura.
Tripura is quite different from the other states in
North-east. Its very much like Bengal in its lifestyle and culture, despite
having a distinct tribal identity. Tripura has many tales to tell from the
past- including the royal legacy, temples and of course, the Burmans.
U for Urban India.
Cities in India are growing at a booming rate. And each city
has a different identity. Patna is moving ahead. Kolkata is balancing
traditions and modernism. Guwahati is fast becoming the commercial and cultural
hub of the far east. Shillong stands vibrant in the hills while Agartala is in
transition phase. Port Blair has a class of its own. Chennai, Bengaluru,
Hyderabad are progressing at a scintillating pace. But still, there are many
issues to address in these growth centres. The Janaagraha attachment was
focussing on the same.
V for Virtual world.
E-governance is now becoming the reality in government
business. The RTPS implementation with help of e-governance in Bihar was an apt
demonstration of the fact. Administration is transcending into virtual world.
The real world is happy to welcome the virtual space. Our group also used ICT
to coordinate in form of Whatsapp.
W for Walong.
The peak point of our Army Attachment- the legend of battle
of Walong. The story of valour and sacrifice, the tale of fearless patriots. It
was an honour to visit the sacred battlefield. Our feelings had no words,
except for the Walong sonnet.
X for X-factor.
India has something that makes this nation special, despite
all its problems. This is the X-factor which drives India. Its about those
frugal innovations, the jugaads that help Indians to cope with scarce
resources. Common sense works big time in India. For instance, to improve
attendance of children in Anganwadis, Tripura government allowed their
grandparents to accompany. Result: Increase in attendance, adult literacy and
happiness!!
Y for Yaari dosti.
To ensure a travel to become memorable, make sure your
companions are good enough. We were lucky to be an awesome group. We had a
great camaraderie which helped us create some wonderful magic memories together.
There was a lot to learn from each other. Great to have such buddies!
Z for Zero mile.
After being on the roll for 52 days, we ended up where we
started- Delhi. We had attachment with Parliament and call-ons with
dignitaries. Amidst this busy schedule, we also found time to enjoy the essence
of Delhi. It turned out to be an apt climax of Bharat Darshan…
