Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Paradise..Found...........!


"Beauty”, “Serenity” and “Joy” …. Mere expressions to the English language but to me…they are reminders of something to which mother nature has been so generous that the border between fantasy and reality seems really very thin.I am talking about a place that is often referred to as “Mini-Kashmir”… a small town situated on the outskirts of Uttarakhand – ‘Pithoragarh’.I was born, brought-up and built in the very place. I always felt as if I was actually living in a fairyland. During my childhood, all I knew were those small streets, ..the sky-scraping mountains and the clouds I used to play with. It might seem incredible but to be really honest, it was not to me till the age of 10. All the bed-time stories I heard were boring. I never enjoyed them to the fullest as I was actually living a part of them. This killed my power toimagine too. Usually, one is asked to close the eyes and think of a wonderful landscape in order to relax. I, on the other hand did quite the opposite. I kept my eyes open.
A fear drove me all those years. A fear of falling from the next peak as I believed that it was the extreme end of the earth and if I trip, I’m history. Thus, I never intentionally went to the top of any mountain. When I started watching t.v, I came to know of various geographical locations and believed that America is situated somewhere in my neighborhood, Australia is the place where dad’s office is and Switzerland was just another name to call the dominant peaks visible e outside my window. Ah, my hometown literally meant the world to me !
Pithoragarh is a small town, which gives its name to the district. It lies in the centre of the western half of the Soar Valley which resembles the Kashmir valley on a miniature scale.
It is basically a valley which is surrounded by four hills namely, Chandak, Dhwaj, Kumdar and Thal Kedar, and stretches in the southern flank to Jhulaghat demarcated by the Kali river
adjoining the barren peaks of Nepal Hills.Pithoragarh, is known as the gateway to the Himalaya's from the north, as pilgrims trek through this town to the Kailash Lake Manasarovar and Om Parvat.
I completed 10 major years of schooling from St. Don Bosco High School but wasn’t quite a good student ever. I have no shame in blaming the school authorities for that because they built it at such a pretty location.


My mind and eyes were neither in books, nor I’d concentrate on what the teacher was teaching as I found the window to be more alluring because it offered so much to look at.
There is one really amazing characteristic of the place.
It changes colours.6 months its sparkling green and for the other 6 months,
its golden brown. .but that’s
not all…




It turns a miraculous white as a surprise any random year.
Yes,
Snowfall...

Keeping the natural beauty aside, the best thing I like about
Pithoragarh is its lot of residents.
The spirit that lives in these people is just magical… always ready to help, always smiling and unbelievably, the entire town lives like 1 giant family.

Recently, there was a rare case of theft in a small cellular shop. The man lost all he had. He cried but he was not the only one. The entire main market cried with him. It was shut the entire day in response to the incident. Everyone generously helped him to get back on track and he was on a roll in no-time. I believe it’s the essence of being a human in true sense with God resting in their heart.


It is also known as “Devbhoomi” or the Land of Gods. It has many temples with huge mythological and historical beliefs. Namely,Mahakali Temple of Gangolihat : It is rich in folk culture, music and religious traditions and had been chosen by Sankaracharya for the installation of Mahakali
Shaktipith.

Nagmandir of Berinag : it is the location of the famous snake temple which is dedicated to one of several manifestations of Lord Vishnu.

Patal Bhuvaneshwar : It is one of the oldest caves in Northern India and is a complex of temples on the inside. It’ is believed to have its relevance in the epic Mahabharata. One attains all the blessings of the “Char-Dham Yatra” by just a single visit of this cave.
Nakuleshwar Temple : This temple has its location at a place about two km. removed from the village Shiling which it self is about four Km away from Pithoragarh. The architectural design of the main temple is splendid and appears to have been modeled on the stylistic pattern of Khajuraho.Arjuneshwar : Ten Km from the west of Pithoragarh town on the top of a hill at a height of 6000 ft. is situated the Shiva temple called Arjune- shwar believed to have been built by Arjuna the great warrior & the supreme archer.
And many many more…..

As far as giving and receiving is concerned, the place has given me many things that are impossible to express in mere words. 1 of them is the ‘lust for thrill’. The reason is very simple. Pithoragarh is an Adventure Sports’ Paradise. One can enjoy rafting and canoeing at areas close to Pithoragarh. Trout fishing can be enjoyed at the rivers in the district.
When people ask me, what’s your inspiration, what keeps you motivated, who is your ultimate guide..??
-->>I have just one answer : --> My Motherland, My Hometown, My Fairyland…. Pithoragarh. It has taught me the most important asset we Indians believe in… Values..!
When a good man dies, it is said that he goes to heaven. I have lived and loved heaven my entire life. If you are like me and cannot wait for afterlife, visit my hometown to let your heart truly say.. ."Wow.!”

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Random Thoughts.....

Since decades.......we have been using the unit --> "kilometers" to measure distances in India...we still sing "MEELO k hain fasle....." ..!! Strange...
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If being a non-vegetarian is bad because we kill and eat animals 'who have life'....then I'd say vegetarians are the biggest hypocrites !! Don't plants have life too..?? Ever since 3rd grade when we were forced to study biology , we've been told that its a scientific fact..."PLANTS ARE LIVING CREATURES"..! Just because the poor creature cannot express its pain while being killed......killing and eating it pure..?? Oh Common...

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GOD lives in Darkness... NOT GHOSTS.... yup...u read it right...Remember the old mythological beliefs...any religion u may belong to... it is said .................... ::
_
<<< When the world did not exist, it was all DARK.... then God created the world >>>_
GOD has always lived in the "DARK".....before the world was even made...before any of us were even born...when nothing was there except the black dark null feeling....So the next time you enter a dark room, feel something spooky, just put ur hand above you heart and say "ALL IS WEL" coz its GOD that's around whom you feel..not any devil spirit.. :)

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In bollywood movies....through a song sequence.. The Directors project that the actors are singing and reacting ...but WHERE IS THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC COMING FROM..?? "Are the trees playing guitars, .. buildings the drummers.. and are the mountains and rivers busy with the keyboard...???? huh..?? SILLY..!!

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Sunday, March 28, 2010

Terrorism stays as long as mankind

Fighting terrorism is just like fighting a deadly cancer. It can't be
treated just by curing where it's visible - every diseased cell in the body must
be destroyed.
So what is terrorism ? Terrorism is a term given to those violent acts
which are intended to create fear .
Such acts existed right since the evolution of mankind and will stay
till the end of it.
In the prehistoric times, when man was a beast, he used to bully his
fellowmen for food, partner and to show his dominance…..
Man has evolved from a ferocious beast to a sophisticated creature but
the essence of terrorism remains the same. He still fights to bully the
masses and to show the dominance of his varied religious or social beliefs.
Strange but true,..this is human nature and will live till the human
race lives.
Now, terrorism in its ruthless acts is on the move to spread dominance
through blood of the victims and tears in the eyes of their loved
ones..!!
We cannot stop it even if we end the lives of all the so called terrorists. There
will be someone who’s mind, though living in peace will have an adenine
rush and will be a budding terrorist. All we can do is reduce it to the
minimum level. Efforts should be taken to create a comparatively calm
and friendly atmosphere but an objective to banish terrorism from to
the root will be nothing but a waste of time and effort.
It is not to favour terrorism what my arguments seek to do..but to
bring-out a practical reality in everyone’s minds…
Terrorism has lived, is living and will live till mankind faces its
ultimate demise.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Without Fortune,..even the Bravest will be stuck in their graves..!!

"Haani laabh…jeevan maran….jas… apjas…

VIDHIHAATH"

No less a poet and saint than Tulsidas himself has held that Profit and loss, life and death and fame and infamy..are all in the hands of Almighty Fortune…

There is hardly anything else in man’s life which is beyond what fortune rules.

A farmer even after back-breaking work in his fields has a terrible year because the monsoon has failed.

There was nothing lacking in his efforts but that it was so willed by fortune.

Albert Einsten… the great scientist had admitted that fortune had as much hand in his achievements as his rational deductions. On most occasions he had stumbled on to his conclusions by a mere stroke of fortune.

In fact, most of the equipments we use today such as a computers, cell phones, ballpoint pens, air-conditioners, the internet and many more were discovered by accident….fortunate accidents that is….

If the accidents would not have happened, then ours would be a completely different world.

I am reasonably certain that there is no one denying the obvious fact that bravery, hard work etc…have got absolutely nothing to do in being born with a golden spoon ….or with degrading poverty….

If intensity of labour could remedy that then there would be no poverty to talk about and no poor to suffer.

Thomas Gray in his famous elegy written in a country churchyard laments the lot of those unfortunate villagers who could not rise to fame like Melton or Hampton because of the lack of suitable opportunities. Their intentions were as noble and humanitarian as that of any other person of fame, their will to work beyond doubt but heir fortune forbade them.

You can indeed never predict what a man can achieve no matter how bold and intense his efforts might be if he does not have a smiling fortune to back his efforts up.

Even the bravest and the daring who flount chance and fortune have to bow before it because …

"Bhagyam falati sarvatra…na vidya ..Na cha paurusham"…which means it is always fortune which prevails, neither knowledge nor enterprise.