Ab tera kya hoga Kalia...

Is it a bird...is it a plane? No it is the Superbaba who is back with a bang after rest and recuperation of about a week. He gave interviews to all theTV channels yesterday on how he is going to remove the scourge of black money.

Ab tera kya hoga Kalia (short form of Kaladhan)....

Kuch Na Kaho, Kuch Bhi Na Kaho ... ...

This was about ten years back. I was working in Koraput in Orissa. It is a tiny little town at an elevation of about a thousand meters and surrounded by lovely green hills.
During my 2 years stay in Koraput none of my relatives or friends visited me- none except my brother- in- law and sister- Dr. Narendra Wig and Veena. In fact when they first told me that they were planning to visit me at Koraput, I was greatly surprised as they were staying in Chandigarh and coming by train all the way to Koraput appeared to be very brave and adventurous.

I drove down from Koraput to Raygada, the rail head, about 120 kms away towards the East Coast to receive them. The train was in time and we all drove back to Koraput. During the next 6 days we travelled to various interior parts of Orissa at a leisurely pace. The weather was heavenly and their company made it absolutely great. As it happens, the good times appear to pass very fast. Soon it was time for them to leave. Another road trip through the lovely green forests and we were at the Raygada Raiway station once again. The train was to come from Vishakhapatanam, and not taking any chances with the trains and the roads, we reached a good one hour before the schdeuled time. And what does one do in such situations? Yes one falls back on hot cups of tea.

The man preparing and serving tea at the stall on the platform appeared to be in his sixties. He was making tea for two persons who were before us. The effortless ease of his movements drew our attention. Dr. Sahib wished him with folded hands and said “Namaskar Ji”. The man was taken aback and almost spilled the tea in the utensil. But then he composed himself and returned the greetings and replied in chaste Hindustani “Inkay baad aap kay liyay chai banaoonga”.

And soon the conversation started. Why did you feel startled when I greeted you, Dr. Sahib asked him. Not many clients wish me and none has ever wished me with folded hands, was his candid and simple reply. His name was Ramdhan and he originally belonged to Bihar. Soon we got our glasses of tea. It was a cool and cloudy day and we enjoyed every sip of the hot tea. The conversation progressed and Dr. Sahib asked him since how many years had he been in that business. He did not respond immediately as he was desperately trying to fight his tears. He failed and wept like a child. And then he replied. Dr. Sahib, he said, I came here with my father when I was twelve and this was fifty years back. His voice choked again. Dr. Sahib went closer to him, and hugged him but didn’t say a word. There was nothing more to be asked and nothing more to be said.

And this was good two years before Munnabhai first talked about his “Jadoo Ki Japphi”........

Muggy Manali

Last two days in Manali have been disappointing. Days, and especially the nights have been warm and humid- with no provision of any fan, much less of air-conditioner in the hotel room.

So to get up today with the sound of pitter patter of rain and clouds moving around has been a real mood brightner.

Hoping that the clouds and the mood will last through the day....

The Sunday Tribune, Spectrum,

June 26, 2011
Old is bold
The thrill of adrenalin-pumping adventure is not just for the young, but alsothe old who’re youthful in spirit. These senior adventure lovers may be latestarters but it’s better late than never, writes Mehak Uppal

THERE is a magic that creeps into our lives, unannounced, when we discover the fun activities that bring unbridled joy and thrill, especially at an age and stage when one is thought to be beyond the call of the wild.

It must be because of this experience or exhilaration that people aged 50 and above get hooked on to adventure. Pardeep Gupta, a 58-year-old businessman, is busy getting all his documentation in order these days. There are so many clearances to be taken and licences to apply to the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India. Simultaneously, he is seeking guidance from people around to overhaul his Grand Vitara and introduce some modifications.
All this activity has been to participate in the Mughal Road Motor Rally in Srinagar this month-end. The preparations started a month back as he discussed detailed plans with his friend. This trip is special, as Gupta’s 18-year-old son Anmol Ratn is accompanying him, before leaving to pursue his higher studies abroad. "We need to go rallying together dad, at least once!" his son had been telling him since long.

KEEPING THE SPIRITS HIGH: Old Monk is a group of adventure lovers named after the famous drinkroadies: Pardeep Gupta (L), a 58-year-old businessman and adventure enthusiast, is taking part in the Mughal Road Motor Rally in Srinagar this seasontrekker’s trail: K.J.S. Chatrath, a retired IAS officer, has trekked to the Yamunotri, Gomukh and Pandori glaciers and even visited (above) Machu Picchu in Peru

Car rallying had always attracted Gupta but he felt bound by family obligations and professional commitments. Then one day, he decided to take part in a St John's Old Boys Association (SJOBA) rally, a small platform to test the waters. And, as they say, after that he never looked back. From then on, life took on another meaning as he ensured his participation in at least one rally every year.

"It is something I had always wanted to do. It had been all around me in the form of newspaper stories and television shows," shares this member of Old Monk, the name of their group of adventure lovers, derived from their favourite drink. "This name quite suits our team in more ways than one," he smiles.
There is bound to be hesitation about taking those wobbly baby steps into adrenalin-pumping adventure at a ripe age. There is likely to be some inhibition about venturing out of the comfort zone. "I found it a little awkward to go trekking for the first time because of the age disparity with others in the group. But everyone around was so supportive and made me feel at home. It ensured that that the self-consciousness lasted only the first time," explains K.J.S. Chatrath, a 68-year-old retired IAS officer who has trekked to the Yamunotri, Gomukh and Pandori glaciers, among other places.

An avid traveller, he has journeyed to a place where human habitation ends and witnessed the midnight sun at the Arctic Circle. He has also touched the other end of the earth, the Antarctic Circle. It is the fascination of exploring a place and stories that come along with each one of them that touches something inside him. One can make that out as he talks fondly of the thrill of being on the same land that Charles Darwin visited on one of his expeditions.

"It gives you a chance to communicate with people you would have otherwise never talked to. Apart from exposing you to different styles of thinking, the travel also proves to be a great lesson in geography and history."

In fact, it’s the "newness" factor that seems to be casting a spell to ensure that many senior citizens stay charmed. "With a new place comes a new culture, traditions and values. It is intriguing to discover places, which are almost a century behind us in terms of development. Their lifestyles in themselves are so thought provoking," says 71-year-old Suresh Mohan Uppal, a retired Class 1 officer from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, who has been on bike/scooter expeditions to destinations like Marsimik La, situated at a height of more than 18,000 feet near the China border.

"I visited a place in Himachal Pradesh where no one ever visits a hospital. Local doctors give credit for this to the clean environment around!"His eyes confirm the grit and determination that his stout back and long moustaches bear testimony to. "This is not for the faint hearted. I have retired from work, not from life." His daughter nods in agreement and tells us stories about how her fatherattitude ensures that he still shoulders household responsibilities.
It seems to be a chain reaction: the youthful spirit of these senior enthusiasts ensures their participation in advnture at a ripe age and these activities further fuel their spirit to live life to its fullest. "Now, there’s something to look forward to in life rather than going through it mechanically," explains Gupta.

They talk about being late starters, even though the mind had always craved for a life of adventure. But it was only when they became a little free from family and work responsibilities that they followed their heart to do what they had always yearned for. "I started travelling only after I hung my boots. I was posted in Orissa and did not get much chance to be near the mountains during my work tenure," shares Chatrath.

The wisdom that comes from age ensures that the enthusiasm they bring to adventure activites is well measured. They take part in relatively softer categories of these sports and take full care to not to overdo it. "There are proper health check-ups to keep a tab on blood pressure etc. before starting out on a journey. Also, two doctors always accompany a group to be of help in case of any exigency," informs Suresh Mohan. He adds, "There is a long checklist to ensure a smooth execution of the travel plan. The weather reports are studied along with identifying good places for night stay. Tents are also carried along in case one needs to take a halt in the middle of nowhere because one avoids travelling during night for the fear of landslides."
But being cautious certainly does not mean that they do not excel in what they do. Suresh Mohan was chosen the "leader of his team" for a 10-day tour to Khardung La Pass, Leh.
Gupta, who was awarded a special trophy for being among the "elders who gave tough competition to younger competitors" in Desert Storm, 2009, shares an incident, "One becomes very involved in these activities. I remember having driven for three consecutive days while participating in Raid de Himalaya. On the fourth day, an unexpected snowfall set in and the rally had to be cancelled. Being just 200 km from the destination, it brought me on the verge of crying."

With that kind of involvement, no wonder they are busy thinking and planning their next move. Gupta has registered himself with the Indian Motorsports Marshall Club as a volunteer for the Formula 1 Grand Prix`A0championship to be held in October at Noida. "I also started the Chandigarh Offroaders Club two years ago. The members are those motor sports enthusiasts who own 4x4 vehicles."

Chatrath’s next trip is a trans-Siberian train journey. "I will be embarking on it all alone in two months from now."

As this tiny group of elders grows, one of the challenges it faces is not the lack of will but that of specialised clubs or guidelines for them. There is no recognition of them as a special category. "Western countries are in general much more organised than us and the same is this case with this segment. There are special groups for the senior category and one can easily be a part of one of them by registering online,"remarks Chatrath. Funds, too, leave much to be desired. "We have funded all these activities from our own pockets," adds Suresh Mohan.

But the fact remains that in spite of all the drawbacks, their biggest advantage is their determination to pursue their passion for adventure.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110626/spectrum/main1.htm

Yale's India Connection

Recently I had written to a French Professor in Paris, whom I know as an Indophile, informing him of my new website on European Graves in India. I received a prompt mail in reply telling me that he was, for a few months, in the US, at Yale University, for giving a course on "Popular Religion in India’ during the fall term. One of the top Ivy League Universities running a course on popular religion in India and a French Professor going from Paris to Yale for providing the academic inputs — this globalisation of knowledge set me thinking. why should Yale be interested in religion in India? And gradually, with the help of the almost omniscient internet and some books I discovered some fascinating details of Yale’s Indian connection.

But first about the India-centric courses at Yale. The University has a South Asian Studies Council which manages the Programme of South Asian Studies. Besides programmes on learning Hindi and Tamil, it also runs a programme on "Understanding Bollywood". It recently launched, and very appropriately at that, on August 15 this year "The South Asian Independence Movement Project" with a mission to preserve the broadest historical record of the independence struggle in colonial South Asia involving people in today’s nations of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Studying in one of the three top Ivy League Universities of the US— Harvard, Princeton and Yale is a dream of every university level student the world over. But few of us are aware of Yale’s Indian Connection-Elihu Yale. In 1718 he was requested to make a donation to the university, which he did, and in consequence the University was rechristened as Yale. He was born in Boston and joined the service of the East India Company as a "Writer" or a clerk at `A310 a year. He travelled to Madras in India in 1670-1671 where he remained for 27 years and made a fortune. He made a significant contribution to the development of the company. In 1684 he was appointed Acting Governor of Fort St George and confirmed in the post three years later. He remained as the Governor of Madras from 1687 to 1692.

In 1680 he married a widow Catherine Hynmer. His wife brought him a fortune. They had four children, three daughters and a son who died shortly after birth. A fort at Tevenapatam, near Cuddalore, was sold by the Marathas to the English East India Company in 1690. It was named Fort St. David after the patron saint of Weles as the Governor of Madras at the time, Elihu Yale, was Welsh. It is said that the naming also had in mind David, the young son of Yale who had died around that time.

Elihu was replaced as Governor in 1692 and he returned to the UK in 1699. subsequently, he became the Governor of the then British colony of New York. The last 22 years of his life were spent between Wales and London. He died in London and was buried in St Giles Churchyard.

The inscription on his tomb which he wrote himself reads:-

""Elihu Yale was buried 22nd July 1721

Born in America, in Europe bred,

In Africa travelled, in Asia wed,

Where long he lived and thrived —in London dead.

Much good, some ill, he did, so hope’s all even,

And that his soul through mercie’s gone to heaven.

You that survive and read this tale, take card

For this most certain exist to prepare

Where blest in peace, the actions of the just

Smell sweet and blossom in silent dust."

Two recent developments before ending this story. With history come full circle of sorts, in 2004, the university introduced teaching of Tamil amongst its courses offered, from the starting point of the then Madras, where Yale stayed and made his fortune. Secondly showing a healthy sensitivity, the university recently decided to "retire" one of the portraits of Elihu Yale with a dark complexioned servant sitting at his feet from the university since some felt that it had racial overtones.

(Published in The Tribune, October 14, 2007)

Sampoorna Swachata Abhiyan, U.P.

A Homage to Madhubala