Travelling through the misty mountains-2.

THE LIGHTS.

A chilly winter night.

Time- Somewhere around 11.00 pm.

Location- Somewhere on Mall road.

Your 'dinner and walk' programme has gone late. You are walking along the Mall road (which is quiescent by then) with friends, busy chitchatting. Somehow you manage to get the attention out of the leisurely winter walk to look down to the scene visible down the valley. And suddenly you shriek out- Aw mannnn!!!! Whatta scene!!

 You can see the entire expanse of Dehradun down the hills. Its glittering! One is ought to be awestruck looking at such pageantry of golden yellow and white lights. It feels like the entire galaxy of the sky is being reflected in a vast ocean. The chitchat suddenly turns into a eulogy of the spectacle…

                Then you happen to look at the hills above. The sight of Mussoorie is equally astonishing. The lights here are primarily white. The scene looks as if the hills are adorned with a glittering diamond necklace, wherein every diamond bead is shimmering with maximal intensity. And the stray, isolated lights in the neighbourhood give a feel of some diamonds which have been unchained from the necklace. Just look at the valley!  Its still and calm as a meditating sage…

                And then, your mind starts diverting towards the bookish stuff of human encroachment on nature. The scene you are enjoying now turns into a crisis in making. The horrors of over-possibilism seem real now. The unending festival of lights down the valley turns into an imagery of urban sprawl. The glowing hills turn devilish. You start to foresee possible hazards of this human bravado. From an aesthetic site-seeing chap, you turn into an environmentalist, worried about the future of humanity.

                Meanwhile you reach your destination. Your mind is now engrossed into the “what next” conundrum. The thoughts about human encroachment, future of humanity are now being gradually subsided. You start focusing on new challenges presented by the moment now. Life moves on. The environmentalist goes into deep hiding now. And all the bookish stuffs returns to the books now, with a fragile hope of entering somebody’s mind again…

               

YE INDIA KA CRICKET HAIN...

I am an Indian. So obviously, there’s a huge probability of me being a cricket fan- or even better- cricket devotee. Well that’s very much genetic. When I was a fetus in my mother’s womb, my Mummy spent time watching the 1987 World Cup. So I have been watching cricket even before my birth, I would boast!! :-)

 My first acquaintance with cricket was the 1996 Wills World Cup. Those were the days I struggled to understand LBW or Stumpings. But still it was fun to watch and play. That was  the era when Australia’ domination in cricket had just begun. Those were the days when the post-apartheid South Africa started choking at crucial moments. These were the times when Sri Lanka was a new star in cricketing world. And that was the epoch when Indian Cricket Team meant only one thing: SACHIN!!!

  As I look back to my childhood, I can relate it with the cricketing history of India. My generation has seen the rise of Indian cricket from chasm to climax. We have seen the rise of Dada, The Wall, Sehwag, Yuvi, MSD and Kohli. We have seen the passing of the legacies: Azhar to VVS in wristwork, Kumble to Ashwin in Topspinners, Sehwag to Dhawan in explosive openings, Srinath to Bhuvaneshwar (via Zaheer) in cutters. While summarizing the paradigm shift in Indian cricket, few moments come into my mind. I’m fortunate enough to find some pictures to revisit these memories. I consider these moments as the ten most defining moments of our times.

(Almost all the pics here are relating to batting. That shows how batting dominates the scene. Even today, its more of “Batting me Jalwa and Bowling me Halwa” for Indian team… :-))

1.       The moment-1983.

Well, this is the reference point for me.  No need to describe this one. 25^th June 1983: India wins the World Cup.

2.       The tearful exit.

Sri Lanka 251/8. India 120/8 in 34.1 overs. The team fumbles from 98/1 to 120/8 after Sachin gets out, which was quite usual those days. Eden Garden is seriously infuriated by this collapse. The crowd vents the disgust by setting fire in some parts of the stands and throwing some items on ground. The match is awarded to SL, who march to Finals. Vinod Kambli, like the Indian supporters is unable to hold back his feelings.

3.       The desert storm.

Its Sharjah.  The April of 1998. Australia seem to be in a great position to win the Pepsi Cup. But one man has other plans: Sachin Tendulkar! He hits 143 in league match to help India qualify for finals and then on his 24^th birthday, gifts himself and his team a brilliant 134 leading India to win the Finale and take home Pepsi Cup. This is the same series in which Shane Warne admitted his ‘Sachin Nightmares’. The last league match mentioned above also saw the desert storm in the stadium when all other players and umpires were searching for cover but SRT stood firm amidst the firm. No metaphor can describe the resolve and character of this little master better than this incident!!

4.       The VVS-Wall show.

Kolkata. 2001. Aussies, who are on a 16 match winning streak, are leading the series 1-0. In second match too, they lead India by 274 runs after first innings. Well, the series seems sealed in Australia’s favour.  But VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid put on a mammoth 376 to set up a stiff target for the Kangaroos. Turbanator continues his dream run to get Aussies bowled 171 runs short of target. History is created.

5.       The broken jaw.

One of the most respected cricketer from India- Anil Kumble- further increases his reputation by bowling with a fractured mandible bone. He leads his team’s quest for victory against the Caribbeans on their home ground with his dedication and commitment. And to make it even more commendable, he picks up Brian Lara’s wicket too!

6.       The flying chase and the flying shirt.

2002 Natwest series final on Lords. Nasser Hussain leads England to 325. India slide to 146/5 after a fantastic start by skipper Ganguly. Not many spectators hoping for India to win. Two young men viz. Yuvraj and Kaif add 121 in no time. Kaif continues with the tail-enders and dives on the third ball of the final over to make it 326/8. India win. Celebrations start on the field. But ohh… There’s something going in the Lords balcony too! Aw mannn… That’s Saurav Ganguly taking off his shirt and flying it frantically in the air. An answer to Flintoff’s shirtless celebration in India earlier. A gesture full of aggression from a captain who taught Indian cricket team to play aggressively!!

7.       The era of T20 arrives.

Its 2007 monsoon. People are skeptic about this T20 thing. This won’t be a success in India, many feel. There is a gloom after 2007 World Cup debacle. Plus Sachin, Saurav, Rahul decide to skip T20 World cup. Young MS Dhoni is given the reins. Still people aren’t upbeat about the tournament. In the first match played, India tie with Pakistan and win in the shootout. One fine evening, Yuvi hits 6 sixes in an over. Then India defeats mighty Kangaroos. And in a dream finale, India win the heart-throbbing and nail-biting contest with arch rival Pakistan to lift the trophy. This is new age cricket. This is new age Indian team!!

8.       The newfound aggression.

The youngsters are now knocking doors. They have a different cricketing culture as compared to their seniors. They are aggressive, with rush of young blood. They run hard between the wickets. They dive around like its routine.  They respond rough talk from opposition by hitting six sixes in an over. They answer bowler’s sledging by looking into his eyes before hitting his ball out of the field. They don’t get pressurized even if the target is 350 of 50 overs. This is the generation of non-conformists. For instance: Yuvi’s cameo versus Australia in 2011 World Cup quarter final or Virat’s annihilation of Sri Lanka when India chased down 320 in 40 overs.

 9.       The moment of glory.

Well, I would just quote a piece of commentary from Cricinfo.

"48.2 India need 4. Kulasekara to Dhoni.  INDIA WIN!! A stunning, crashing blow to achieve it.  It was a full delivery and Dhoni has sent the white ball flying over long-on. Indian contingent have gone mad. The dressing room erupts with joy. Dhoni had a poor batting record in World cups. 34 was his highest. And what does he do? He promotes himself and has played a fine knock to pull this off. Yuvraj envelops him with a hug. What a knock from Gautam Gambhir and Dhoni. Spare a thought for Mahela Jayawardene who unfurled a sublime knock to set up this target. It's Dhoni’s night though. Its India’s night. The Indian huddle is on the ground. They hop and jump in joy.  The players have tears in their eyes. Last time Sri Lanka won the tournament, and beat India, one Indian cricketer left the arena in tears of sorrow. Now it's the opposite. Meanwhile Tendulkar is being carried on the shoulders of the players. What a moment!!"

10. The era ends.

15^th November 2013. Sachin Tendulkar is carried on the shoulders of Indian cricketers once again. One last time. The master blaster retires. An era ends. A new era begins…

Solitude.

Solitude is addictive. Solitude is pleasure during leisure.  A long distance train journey with no companion, the time spent on bed when the sleep is eluding,  enjoying a walk alone along empty streets, looking at rains from the balcony sipping coffee- Solitude has the power to make these things pleasant. To quote Stephen Alter, its because of solitude that his walk becomes first draft of his story. Artists have often resorted to solitude. In fact, Einstein said that solitude stimulates a creative mind.
                Solitude not like loneliness, which hurts you deep down. Loneliness is pain. Its different from solitude. Loneliness is being away from others. Solitude is being with oneself when nobody else is accompanying. As Paul Tillich says, loneliness expresses the pain of being alone and solitude expresses the glory of being alone.
                One needs some time for self in the hectic world. I would call it recovery time. The proceedings of the world are seldom in harmony with one’s soul.  It takes a lot to fight in this world when there is a basic incongruence in the internal and external environment. In such case, we need some time to recuperate. It helps us meet our better selves. This is the time that one can use for self-talk, self-assessment and self-motivation. Solitude is inspirational. Moreover, it is freedom. Freedom from the expectations and manipulations of the world…
                Such moments are indeed required to think on one’s embarrassments and achievements, to think of the darkness within and to create own sunshine. Being with own self, accompanied only by the rhythm of our heart, and melody of our soul. It ignites the fire within. And this is the fire that can make the soul smile, and blossom.
“I have never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude.” ~Henry David Thoreau, Walden.

Travelling through the misty mountains-1.

First things first! This is not a write up about my experiences at Mussoorie. Neither is it a diary. It can be called as a compilation of thoughts, that too a very random one. I will be posting these thoughts one after the other. One more clarification. This is not through the eyes of an Officer trainee or a student. This is a reflection of mind of a traveler, who travels through every moment…

  

1. THE MIST.

 

I admit. I am more than mesmerized by the mist here. The mist is not merely present here. It flows here.Its pure, uninhibited,unrestrained. It appears when it wants and vanishes at its own will. It surprises with untimely, unexpected appearances and leaves everyone amused. Doesn’t that make it something like happiness?

The mist knows no boundaries. It flows here through the roads and boulevards, valleys and swales, forests and woodlands… Its just like a stream of milk that runs through the hills, perhaps to cleanse the hills, for man has left no stone unturned to discolour the pristine greenery in the hills. I hope this mist is able to wash off this blot. Or else, it might need another fierce flow of water like the 2013 Uttarakhand catastrophe to purify the muck humans have spread…

The quest for you...

 

Here is a beautiful poem by my friend Yashvant Chavan. I have attempted translation for readers not well versed with Marathi…

I espied your fragrance at an enamored dawn,

And the agile heart went astray,

The heart wandered through the ruts, still robbed of what it craved for…

Even the verdure lost the fragrance,

The nippy trees offered me momentary solace,

But I yearned for your companionship in those moments.

The heart fell for you,  and digressed with you,

And I lost myself, in the quest for you…

 

An Unexpected Party.

Mistakes can be glorious. This happened during our district visit to Amaravati in January 2013. We were in Melghat, totally isolated from rest of the world except intermittent but weak mobile network signals. The trip was going really good, both on counts of academics and fun.

 It was a hectic day when we visited Bairagad which is on Maharashtra- Madhya Pradesh border. While returning we came across an indistinct milestone which showed a way to some village Katkumbh 3 km away.

                We were told by some friends to visit Katkumbh to study public health system. But the map showed we were on wrong location. Out of mobile phone coverage and totally disconnected from the world, we had no means to verify. Finally we decided to take the plunge and go ahead to that village.

               As we entered the village, our fears came true. We were in the wrong Katkumbh. A shy tribal woman told us that we were about 100 km away from the other Katkumbh.  We had two options: to return back on track or to explore the mistake. Fortunately, we chose the latter one.

        By now we had realized that we had an unexpected scene to welcome us. Almost the whole village was gathered at a place for some purpose and they were amused to see us. This added to our amusement too. Destiny was playing games with us!

       The gathering of villagers was not a coincidence. It was a party celebrating a tribal marriage that took place two days ago. We got to know about the tradition in Korku tribe where the would-be-bride elopes with the would-be-groom before the marriage, spends some time with him and returns to get married only if she finds him good enough. The groom’s family compensates the bride’s family with money- kind of reverse dowry.

      

          The whole village celebrated the marriage in their own way, completely oblivious to the traditions of the so-called educated world. Men and women of all ages were happy to be under influence of Mahua liquor- an essential ingredient of tribal culture. Women were merrily chirping songs and dancing in round with occasional rounds of liquor. The bride and the groom were in another room with a few people busy in some ritual.

                People outside were served with special meal- mashed boiled corn and lamb meat curry. Starchy corn and delicious but minimally spiced curry made everyone go crazy there. The tribals insisted us to taste the food. We were lucky to taste the simple yet mouth watering meal (and luckier to resist the insistence to taste liquor!).

                Then came the turn of the mandatory photoshoot. Everyone wanted to be captured in our cameras, though they knew they won’t see the photos again. An old lady had a special request to take a snap of her daughter. Till the time we left, all the attention was on us, the uncalled guests. Poor newlywed couple!!

                I am happy we made a mistake that day and went ahead to explore it. We would never have got such a close insight in the lives of the tribals had we returned back immediately. Mistakes teach us a lot. Not every mistake is a crime. Because as I said earlier, mistakes can be glorious….