Haven Home: A heaven in Kanpur

As I entered the gates two smiling faces greeted me. I felt as if I have just returned from school and my mother was opening the gate for me. The home from nowhere looked like an orphanage. I have been to many orphanages before, but this one was entirely different. In this small home lives a family, and the love present all around and the nature of caretakers even made me feel as if I was a part of this family. The three caretakers Ms Promila, Ms Manjuli and Ms Deepali take care of thirteen children living there, twelve of them are girls. Most of the kids were abandoned by their unmarried mothers right after birth. But in this home they never get a feel that they don’t have a mother. Children call Ms Promila as “badi maa” and Ms Manjuli as “chhoti maa”. The kids are smart, intelligent, well-mannered and study in good schools. They are known across the society for their singing talent. This home celebrates all the festivals. The birthdays of kids are celebrated very specially. Promila and Manjuli didn’t get marry for the sake of these children and even left their precious jobs. The home runs on charity. Sometimes they do face financial problems because of not having an earning source. Also there are only three rooms so a bit of space problem too.

How the journey started?

Ms Promila, a graduate from Delhi University was working for a private firm in New Delhi, earning a handsome salary. One day when she returned from work, she found a crowd standing in front of her house. When she went there, she saw a new born child lying in garbage being bitten by dogs and pigs. She was shocked by the cruelty of the world. This scene changed her life completely. A month later she was in Bangalore for official work. She was waiting for someone outside a bakery on the glamorous MG road. Few rag picker children were picking trash there. A luxury car stopped by and all the children went to the person coming out of the car, asking for some food. But that person kicked them away. She was watching from a distance and couldn’t resist. She held the hand of one child and took him inside the bakery and bought some food. The child after going back, called all his friends and shared the sweets with them. In her own words-“From a distance I saw them smiling and laughing. I thought that if a hundred rupee note can bring so many smiles, then certainly I can do a lot better to this world.” On returning back she shared her thoughts of bringing up abandoned children with her sister Manjuli. She came along with her to Kanpur. Promila left her job. Initially her family was against this move but later they started supporting. One of the family members gave them a small house to live. In 2002 they brought home first girl from a hospital in Kidwai Nagar. Slowly number of children increased. Manjuli used to work as a Head Constable in Unnao and Promila took care of children. But when children increased, management became difficult so even Manjuli left her job to devote her full time to the children. They had to pass through many tough phases where they didn’t have sufficient money to take care all children. But with God’s grace everything went well. Bursting in tears, she said “We are hurt the most when we are not able to save life of new born children. Many of the children have died while taking them to the hospital after rescuing from pathetic conditions.” She blames Government hospitals for ill management and says that now she takes the newly rescued to private hospitals no matter how much money is spent.

For them these kids are their life and they will never let them go. Last year they married their eldest daughter. “Mai jaldi hi naani ban ne wali hu”, with a smiling face Ms Promila says. Her dream is to bring up at least hundred such children. With hopes in her eyes she says, “Even if 20 of those hundred will do for the society what I did, I will think my life has been successful”.

I would request you to support her in whatever way you can. You can take my word, it will be an out of the world experience.

Address of Haven Home- 4/10, New Azad Nagar, PAC By Pass, Opp Shyam Nagar, Satbari Road, Near First Christian Church, Kanpur, UP.

Mobile: 9335247165/ 9335841065

Please do take prior permission from Ms Promila Ingle, if you want to visit the Home. 

Adhikaar mangta hu mai...

A composition on "Human Rights Day"...


pet me lagi jo bhukh aankh se jhalak rhi
dhudh kaise mangu dekh maa bhi hai tadap rahi
chaar roj gujre tan daane ko taras raha
aur tere ghar me kaisa swaad hai baras raha

na subah ki chay na sham ka tandoor
pure din me roti ek bar mangta hu mai
jo diya khuda ne par chiin tumne liya
pet bharne ka adhikar mangta hu mai..

baap ne karaj liya,kaam mai hu kar raha
vo to mar chuka hai,pr aaj mai hu mar raha
kheti-bari chhod mal-mut tak utha liya
apne swabhiman ko nam aankho me gira liya...

na mantri ki kursi na hi afsari ki naukri
sar uthane layak rojgaar mangta hu mai
jo diya khuda ne par chhin tumne liya
Kam karne ka adhikar mangta hu mai...

anguthachaap tha jo mai,gharbar sara chin gya
sau rupaye ke note ko,mai das hazar gin gya
atyachar shoshan hai, pr mai lad nahi sakta
niyam kanoon sab to hai, mai padh nahi sakta

na takneeki gyan na hi ved na hi shastra
bs kale aksharon ka adhar mangta hu mai
jo diya khuda ne par chiin tumne liya
padhne likhne ka adhikar mangta hu mai...

kisi ka sar kata to kisi ke tan ko hi kuchal diya
jo bach gye un sab ka dharm hi badal diya
manjil to ek hi hai, bs raaste alag hai
kyu fir ek dharm sahi aur dusre galat hai...

na mandir na masjid na church na gurudwar
apne dil ka tukda hi udhar mangta hu mai
jo diya khuda ne par chiin tumne liya
moksh pane ka adhikar mangta hu mai...

mai jo gya mandir mujhe nich kah bhaga diya
kam manga to pakhane ki safai pr laga diya
meri parchhai ko bhi chhut mante hai sab
insaan hu par zinda bhoot mante hai sab...

na ijjat na shohrat na rutba na dolat
saanse chal sake bs utna pyar mangta hu mai
jo diya khuda ne par chhin tumne liya
zinda rahne ka adhikar mangta hu mai...

अधिकार मांगता हूँ मैं ...

"मानव अधिकार दिवस" के समर्थन में एक प्रयास- 

  

पेट में लगी जो भूख आँख से झलक रही,

दूध कैसे मांगू देख माँ भी है तड़प रही,

चार रोज गुजरे तन दाने को तरस रहा,

और तेरे घर में कैसा स्वाद है बरस रहा|

न सुबह की चाय न शाम का तंदूर,

दिन में रोटी एक बार मांगता हूँ मैं,

जो दिया खुदा ने पर छीन तुमने लिया,

पेट भरने का अधिकार मांगता हूँ मैं ||

बाप ने करज लिया,पर कम मैं हूँ कर रहा,

वो तो मर चुका है पर आज मैं हूँ मर रहा,

खेती-बारी छोड़ मल –मूत ताक उठा लिया,

अपने स्वाभिमान को नम आँखों में गिरा लिया|

न मंत्री की कुर्सी न अफसरी की नौकरी,

सर उठाने लायक रोजगार मांगता हूँ मैं,

जो दिया खुदा ने पर छीन तुमने लिया,

काम करने का अधिकार मांगता हूँ मैं ||

अंगूठाछाप था जो मैं, घर-बार सारा छीन गया,

सौ रुपये के नोट को मैं दस हज़ार गिन गया,

अत्याचार शोषण है पर मैं लड़ नहीं सकता,

नियम कानून सब तो है पर मैं पढ़ नहीं सकता|

न तकनीकी ज्ञान न हि वेड न हि शाश्त्र,

बस काले अक्षरों का आधार मांगता हूँ मैं,

जो दिया खुदा ने पर छीन तुमने लिया,

पढ़ने लिखने का अधिकार मांगता हूँ मैं ||

खून बहा सर कटे, तन को ही कुचल दिया,

जो बच गया उसका तो धर्म ही बदल दिया,

मंजिल तो एक ही है, बस रास्ते अलग है,

क्यूँ फिर एक धर्म सही और दूसरे गलत है|

न मंदिर न मस्जिद न चर्च न गुरुद्वार,

अपने दिल का टुकड़ा हि उधार मांगता हूँ मैं,

जो दिया खुदा ने पर छीन तुमने लिया,

मोक्ष पाने का अधिकार मांगता हूँ मैं ||

मैं जो गया मंदिर मुझे नीच कह भगा दिया,

काम माँगा तो पाखाने की सफाई पर लगा दिया,

मेरी परछाई को भी छूत मानते है सब,

इंसान हूँ पर जिंदा भूत मानते है सब|

न इज्जत न शोहरत न रुतबा न दौलत,

साँसे चल सके बस उतना प्यार मांगता हूँ मैं,

जो दिया खुदा ने पर छीन तुमने लिया,

जिंदा रहने का अधिकार मांगता हूँ मैं||

~ 'शेखर'

लाल अमरुद

(इस कहानी के समस्त पात्र एवं यह कहानी स्वयं ही पूर्णतः काल्पनिक है| इसकी किसी भी जीवित या मृत व्यक्ति या वस्तु से समानता मात्र एक संयोग है|)                                                                                  

आज रोड पर टहलते हुए अमरुद का ठेला दिख गया| अमरुद और मूंगफली के बिना सर्दियों का मौसम गुजारना बड़ा ही मुश्किल काम है| ठेला देखकर मुझसे रहा न गया और जाकर आधा किलो अमरुद खरीद हि लिए| बचपन से आदत रही है अमरुद को बिना धोए बिना कटे सीधे मुह से खाने की, उसी आदत को जारी रखते हुए मैंने एक अमरुद बाहर निकाल लिया| मुह से एक टुकड़ा काटा हि था कि अमरुद का रंग दिख गया – लाल| अरे वाह! ये तो लाल अमरुद था,मेरी खुशी का कोई ठिकाना ही न रहा| मेरी दादी कहा करती थी कि गर्मियों में जिसका खरबूजा मीठा निकल जाये और सर्दियों में जिसका अमरुद लाल निकल जाये, उस से खुशनसीब इंसान कोई नहीं हों सकता| उस एक लाल अमरुद ने हजारो यादे ताजा कर दी| बचपन में कैसे छोटी छोटी बात पर खुश हों जाते थे हम- वो चाहे लाल अमरुद हों , या आम के बाग में पहला पका आम ढूँढना या शक्तिमान का गुंडों को मारना, वो दादा जी का जलेबी लेकर आना या किसी इतवार दूरदर्शन पर अमिताभ बच्चन की फिल्म आना| और अमरुद को लेकर तो न जाने कितने युद्ध हुए है घर में हम भाइयों के बीच, उस एक छोटे से लाल  अमरुद के दस टुकड़े होते थे| ऐसा कुछ खास स्वाद में फर्क नहीं होता है पर फिर भी हमें मस्ती करने का बहाना जरूर मिल जाता था| एक ऐसी ही किस्सा है बचपन का –

क्लास 7^th की बात है| मेरा तबादला नए स्कूल में हुआ था | ये हमारे छोटे से शहर का सबसे अच्छा स्कूल माना जाता था| सारे अमीरजादे रईसजादे यहीं पढ़ने आते थे| एक से एक स्मार्ट लड़के, खूबसूरत लड़कियाँ| आप सोच रहे होंगे इतनी छोटी उम्र में ऐसी बातें, अरे हुस्न को निहारने सराहने का हुनर मुझ में तब से ही है|और  बचपन से ही मैं आशिक मिज़ाज रहा हूँ ,बाकी बच्चो को जितनी जल्दी जुखाम और खांसी होती थी, मुझे उतनी ही जल्दी इश्क होता था| पुराने स्कूल में भी मुझे  दो तीन लड़कियों से प्यार हों चुका था, या आजकल की भाषा में कहिये तो मेरा कृश था| मुझे याद है पहली दफा इश्क मुझे 5^th क्लास में हुआ था| जो लड़की दो चोटियाँ करके आती थी, उस पर तो मैं पक्का फ़िदा हों जाता था| इस नए स्कूल में भी एक ऐसी हि लड़की थी, बहुत ही प्यारी| बताने कि जरूरत नहीं आपको, शायद समझ हि गए होंगे कि वो टॉपर थी, हमेशा फर्स्ट सेकंड रैंक लाती थी| मैंने भी तब ठान लिया कि इसको तो पीछे करके रहूँगा| बहुत पढाई करता था उन दिनों, न टीचर की मार के डर से, न पापा कि डाट के डर से.. बस उसे पीछे करने की धुन में| खैर उसे पीछे तो मैं नहीं ही कर पाया कभी स्कूल में| नया नया स्कूल में आया था तो मैं सबसे शर्माता भी बहुत था| लेट एडमिशन कि वजह से मेरा कुछ काम छूट गया था| क्लास टीचर ने उसे मेरी हेल्प करने के लिए बोला| मै उसकी कॉपिया ले जाता था| उसकी हैण्ड राइटिंग तो उससे भी खूबसूरत थी| पर उससे बातचीत कुछ ही दिन चली, जब मेरा सब काम पूरा हों गया उसने ज्यादा बात करनी बंद कर दी| मै तो मन ही मन फ़िदा था उसपे, वो जब जब सामने आती मेरी तो सिट्टी पिट्टी ही गुम हों जाती| ऐसे हि एक बार टीचर्स डे के दिन वो सब को क्लास में चाकलेट बाँट रही थी| मेरी बेंच पर भी आयी, मेरे सामने पूरा डब्बा कर दिया| मैंने शरमाते हुए सर हिला दिया कि मुझे नहीं लेनी | उसने अपने आप दो चाकलेट निकाल कर मेरे हाथो में थमा दी और कहा- खाने पीने के मामले में शरमाते नहीं| हाय ! क्या बताऊ मै, मुझे तो हार्ट अटैक ही आ गया| फिर मैंने वो दोनों चाकलेट दो हफ्तों में धीरे धीरे करके खतम की| मैंने उससे दोस्ती करने कि बहुत कोशिश की, पर जब भी बात करने जाता था मै शरमा जाता था| उसका घर भी मेरे मोहल्ले में ही था| कई बार स्कूल से वापस घर जाते समय वो मेरे सामने से निकल जाती थी पर मै कुछ न बोल पाता था| समय बीतता रहा| सर्दिया आ गयी|

हमारे स्कूल के बाहर तरह तरह की चीजे मिला करती थी| एक बूढ़े बाबा भी थे जो अमरुद बेचा करते थे| उनका बच्चो को लालच देने का तरीका बहुत ही बेहतरीन था| एक रुपये का एक अमरुद देते थे| और जिसका अमरुद काटने पर लाल निकलता था, उसे वो फ्री में ही दे देते थे| उनके ठेले पर छुट्टी के टाइम बहुत भीड़ लग जाती थी| बच्चे अमरुद खाने कम, किस्मत आजमाने ज्यादा जाते थे| मै भी जाता था, और मेरी किस्मत कुछ ज्यादा ही अच्छी थी, मै जब भी अमरुद उठाता था, अधिकतर वह लाल ही निकलता था| कुछ दिनों बाद तो मेरे दोस्त मुझे अपने अमरुद चुनने के लिए ले जाते थे| बुड्ढे ने ये देख लिया और मुझसे कहा कि मै दिन में एक ही अमरुद खरीद सकता हूँ , अपने लिए लू या दोस्तों के लिए मेरी मर्ज़ी| खैर फिर मैंने जनहित करना बंद कर दिया| एक दिन ऐसे हि जब मै वहाँ पर खड़ा था, वो भी वहाँ आ गयी| उसने मुझसे कहा- “यार सुना है तुम अमरुद के सेलेक्शन में एक्सपर्ट हों, प्लीज़ मेरे लिए भी निकाल दो”| मैंने बिना कुछ कहे एक अमरुद उठा दिया| उन दिनों किस्मत भी साथ दिया करती थी, अमरुद लाल निकला| वो बहुत खुश हों गयी| अब क्योंकि मै दुबारा ले नहीं सकता था, मैंने उसको बिना कुछ बताये कहा कि वो मेरे लिए उठाये अमरुद| वो मुस्कुरायी और उसने उठाया,पर इस बार हमे पैसे देने पड़ गए| खैर उस समय मुझे अमरुद से कोई मतलब नही रहा, वो जिस तरह मुस्कुरायी थी उसे देख कर तो मेरे होश उड़ गए थे| कोई लाल या सफ़ेद अमरुद क्या,ज़हर भी खिलाता मै खा लेता| उस दिन हम बात करते करते साथ ही घर गए| साथ में मेरा छोटा भाई भी था, और वही सेंटर ऑफ अत्रैक्सन बना रहा| मुझे आज तक नहीं समझ आया कि लड़कियों को छोटे बच्चे ही क्यों क्यूट लगते है,भले वो उनसे दो तीन साल छोटे हि क्यों न हों| उसके बाद स्कूल से छुट्टी के बाद का वही सिलसिला रहता था, अमरुद लेना साथ में और वापस साथ साथ घर जाना| लाल अमरुद ने उससे दोस्ती करा दी, जोकि ऐसे तो मै कभी न कर पाता| उन दिनों मै इतनी कोशिश करता की भाई अपने दोस्तों के साथ चला जाये, या रिक्शे से ही चला जाये| एक दिन मेरा भाई बीमार पड़ गया| उस दिन मै बहुत खुश हुआ, शायद मैं ऐसा पहला भाई हूँगा| ऐसे तो वो कितना भी बीमार पड़ जाये,कितने भी बहाने मार ले,मै उसे छुट्टी नहीं लेने देता था पर उस दिन मैंने खुद उसके लिए लीव एप्लीकेशन लिखी वो भी तीन दिन की| उन तीनो दिन मै अकेले ही उसके साथ आया| आज भी ये सब याद करके बहुत हँसी आती है| फिर सर्दियों की छुट्टियाँ हो गयी| बाद में उसके मम्मी पापा ने घर बदल लिया और उसे साईकिल भी दिला दी| अब तो वो साईकिल से ही आती जाती थी| फिर से हमारी बातचीत कम हों गयी क्योकि स्कूल के अंदर तो लड़के लड़कियों का आपस में बात करना पाप के समान था| और  इससे पहले कि मै कुछ कुछ करके अपना घर बसा पाता उसके पापा का ट्रान्सफर दूसरे शहर में हों गया| 

                                                                                  ~ 'शेखर'  

An appeal to my friends..!!

In a very unfortunate and senseless event in Student’s Senate , the festival coordinators of Antaragni have been impeached. Following which the Core team has given their letter of resignation. Being a part of the team, I know what kind of effort and dedication, my festival coordinators have put in to organise an Antaragni of this level. They started back in March, when everyone was busy preparing for exams, they spent hours to give structure, fix dates, theme and all. In hot summers when each one of us was on an internship and foreign tours, they stayed back in the 40 degreeC  to plan the festival. Hours of phone calling, numbers of meetings in Delhi and NCR to associate with Embassies and arrange sponsorship for the festival. Inspite of the importance of the summer internship in an IITK’s student’s career, they decided to think for the festival, to work whole heartedly for the festival. When Semester started, again everyone started preparing for placements. But I know they preferred meetings with sponsors over pre-placement talks, they preferred the completion of various deadlines over the numerous quizzes and assignments just to ensure a smooth festival. When everyone was busy with mid-sems, they were busy finalising the artists for professional shows. When everyone was enjoying the festival…they were running here and there, sleepless and tired to ensure a smooth conduction and maintain the decorum.When the President was standing in the front line along with the media persons in Sonu Nigam's concert and enjoying the songs,one of the festival coordinators was on the IIT gate to ensure no security mishap occurs.

I am really sad to say that all their hard work has been out rightly ignored by a bunch of people. They only see their ego. Out of around 40 members present inside the senate room, 20 wouldn’t have even come out of their rooms during Antaragni. It’s a clear misuse of power. I really fear that if such things prevail, any of the festivals could be conducted.

Earlier in one of our festivals, an incident took place named- "Papa CJ"... in which our respected faculty members were humiliated... But the profs were sensible enough to understand the hard work put in by the team and no such serious results were imposed....What happened in Antaragni... some people were just not allowed to enter hospitality desk, they did their every bit to impeach the festival coordinators.

Yesterday I saw a clear resemblance between the executives we elected and the politicians whom we keep on abusing. I feel shame to confess that I supported some of them during their election campaigning.

Anyways, for today I demand your support for my team leaders….

If you have enjoyed the Antaragni…

If you sang Maa Reva with the Indian Ocean..

If you went crazy with Faizal Khan..

If you danced to the beats to Sonu Nigam…

Support them!!!

The North Indian Thali

(This post is not inspired by any kind of regionalism at all. I very well acknowledge, appreciate and respect the different food habits of people of India which is an inseparable part of our varied cultural heritage.  The remarks are just for fun so please take it lightly.)

During my childhood in many movies and television serials, often I used to come across this dialogue, “Maa ke hath ke bane khane me jo baat hai vo kahi aur nahi”. Every time some Mr. Hero will utter this and my mother will point out to me, “Dekho kuch suna..aur ek tum ho jo khana dekh kr naak muh sikoda karte ho.. jab bade hoge tab pata chalega.” Honestly speaking at that time I didn’t like the food cooked at home. Those chapatis, plain simple vegetables seemed to be in no comparison to the spicy Kadhai paneer of restaurants, tadka Daal of dhabas and unlimited noodles and ice-creams at parties. Well after going to Kota, I too started believing in that particular dialogue. And then after staying in IIT Kanpur and eating in a Government mess, I started saying this very dialogue. From the past two months I am living in Bangalore and now I am ready to kill anyone who opposes this dialogue.

These last two months I have been continuously experimenting with food. (Because that’s the only thing you can do to console your heart, tongue and stomach. Yes! It gives you some positive hope that something tasty might end up on your table). In have eaten Dosa’s- from paper to plain and from set to pyaaz; Noodles- form veg to Singapore, Rice- from fried to masala and from plain to Punjabi, Idli- with sambhar without sambhar and from plain to rava. There are countless dishes whose names I do not recollect. Many times I have taken the South Indian Mini Meals, the details of which I will discuss later. One can estimate my frustration that one day I even ordered “American choupsey”, the dish which I hate most. I didn’t leave a single bit of it in the plate and swallowed it with the help of cold drinks (Because I had no strength left to experiment some other dish at that time). I even tried food by changing the alphabets in a word, like we ate Paratha and then Parotha. One can not even imagine that changing an ‘a’ with an ‘o’ can make a dish taste like shit. Our each day remains kind of incomplete. There is always a desire in this heart. There is a sense of incompleteness in life- Oh its not about love or girlfriends… its about food!!

The Chow Chow Bath dilemma

From the very first day this object was coming in the Menus. It was there in all restaurants. The name sounds like Chinese so we thought that it will be some Chinese dish. Then we observed that it has Bath in the end, many south Indian dishes have Bath in them so it must be some south-indian dish. Then somehow a weird thought struck our mind- What if it’s a hybrid of a Chinese and a South Indian dish- “Chow Chow” and “Bath”. Fuck man, no way we are going to try it. For many days we avoided it. For our lunch we go to one restaurant which is the only good one near our office. After one month almost all the menu was experimented out so with all our courage we ordered it. When the dish came, we realized it was not a hybrid. It has two parts- one is sweet and the other is salty. It took us 15 minutes to eat it. For the first 5 minutes it was like, “Wow what a tasty dish, why didn’t we try it earlier.” In the next 5 minutes, “we can have it often during lunch. It somewhat tastes like Suji halva.” In the next 5 minutes, “Yar its too sweet to take in this much quantity. I can not take it anymore.” We started feeling vomiting till the end of it. Finally some spicy bhujiya saved us. We never tried it again.

Now the South Indian mini meals are another tragedy. It has Rice, Rice, Rice and Rice. Sorry I exaggerated it. Well you will find Sambhar, Rasam, Saagu, Curd rice, masala rice, plain rice and papad. One day my boss was saying, “You north Indians eat very spice food.” Well the Sambhar, the Rasam are no less a spicy affair in Bangalore. The Tamilians and Andhras scold the Sambhar prepared here. I bet even a Punjabi can’t eat full cup of it without water. Last month I went to Tamil Nadu on a trip. I got to taste the Sambhar there. Really it was mouth-watering. I asked the waiter three times to bring it again. Also there is a great consistency in the taste of dishes across Bangalore, I don’t know how it is. No matter where you go, the taste of dishes doesn’t change. The quantity of rice which I have eaten during last two months will be equal to the quantity eaten during my rest of life.

The North Indian Thali (Deluxe!! Mind it)

Many restaurants provide you the North Indian food. But the minimum cost of a vegetable (generally it is fried potato) is Rs 70. If you have to eat out daily then you have to consider monthly budget also. The problem is you can’t even ask for money from your family now, because they know you are getting a handsome stipend. Instead they all think that we’ll get them some gifts from our first salaries. Ok so one needs to save. So what an economic and intelligent guy ends up doing is taking up a Thal.

The cost of this Thali varies from 60 Rs to 150 Rs across different restaurants. I have eaten a lot of it. But the thing is that the contents and the taste again is consistent. Normally a North Indian Thali consists of Tandoori Roti, Rice and many UFO’s. UFO’s ??? Yes- Unidentified Food Objects. After days of research I actually found out the ingredients- its roti, rice, curd rice, fried rice, daal/chhola, palak curry/mix veg, soup and a sweet. The first question is why the hell these people think that North Indians take soup daily with lunch/dinner. Anyways that thing in a bowl is soup, is also tough to figure out. At first I thought it was some kind of curry so I ate it with roti. Later I came to know the truth. The second question, “Does a North Indian always eat a tandoori roti.” He will die of indigestion. Can’t you give plain simple Tava roti. And to your surprise most of the restaurants don’t have it in their menus. There is an interesting story with curd rice. For the first time, when the plate came before us we thought that it was Kheer. There was no limit to our joy. But when we tasted it, it was sour and salty. For many days I ate it with roti and then rice and what not. Then it struck to my mind remembering my roomie Sravan that he used to eat rice with curd, that its curd rice. Now I understand why the people around me used to smile when I ate roti with it.

Babaji ki Roti

After a month, we found out a small dhaba near our home. It is run by a Bihari old man and he serves Bihari food with lots and lots of onion. Although the hygienic conditions are not good there but we still have our dinner daily over there. He is the saviour whom God has sent to save us.

 Well, “ Babaji ki booti ke bare me pata nahi, pr Babaji ki sukhi roti me bhi  bahut anand hai” 

Coorg : A Land of Surprises (Part II)

                                                      Part I 

A meet with the Eternal: The golden temple

After a short lunch we headed towards the famous Tibetan Golden Temple. Our driver told us that this area was inhabited by the refugee Tibetans. They are quite hard working and have built the entire infrastructure there by themselves. Near the temple there were hostels for the monks (most of them were young). There are four temples there, two of them very big, built in Tibetan style.  On the central temple there is an arc on the top with golden roofing. I could not understand the religious significance of anything there but the place itself gave the feel of divinity. There was a strict silence inspite of a big crowd there. Only the sound of the drums and the hymns sung by the priests were in the air. As it was a prayer time, entry was not allowed inside. We went inside one of the temples where prayers were not being organised. As I entered the gate, I found in front of me three magnificent statues (idols). The centre one was of Lord Buddha-60 feet in height made of copper plated with gold. The very first look of the Buddha gave me a kind of shock. I felt if I was losing all my energy into that statue or I was gaining something. Whatever it was I don’t know but I was standing dumb and staring continuously at the centre statue with an expressionless face. Since my childhood I have visited so many temples but I have never found such a peace anywhere. I wanted to stay there and just stare at that statue. I fear if I visit that place few more times I might change my religion.

Nature’s Dhama: Nisarga Dhama

Nisarga Dhama is a protected forest area on the banks of Kaveri, with the river surrounding it from all sides. We crossed the hanging bridge leading in there. From the bridge one can see the fish in the clear waters. All kinds of trees (bamboo, sandalwood, teak) and shrubs are there. There was a deer park also. The deer were standing right near the protection cage waiting for the tourists to feed them. After walking for some time we went down near the river. The river was flowing in between the rocks with trees hanging in the water from both sides. It gave a feel of the mangrove forests. The place is full of greenery and natural beauty. We went a bit deep in the forest when I received a call from our driver asking us to come back. While returning back to Madikeri , driver asked me-“Are you married”. I said “No”. He continued “Then do come on a honeymoon trip here when you get married, I would love to give a ride again”. Interesting driver… Nice marketing skills J

A window to paradise: The Raja Seat

It was around 6 in the evening when we reached the park. Madikeri had just witnessed heavy rainfall for about an hour. It was cold and winds were blowing. I was dumbstruck on seeing the picturesque view of the valley and the hills from that place. After few moments I uttered few words- “What the fuck!!”, seriously that was a scene of paradise. The clouds were still floating with the winds, covering the hills, making them invisible at times. One can see the mist rising from the plants, forests and other places in the valley. In front of our eyes was an unending sea of greenery. The clouds were passing from the place where we were standing, with mist touching our faces. Wow standing in the clouds… an amazing experience. Thanks to the special timing of the rain.

Just outside the park there was a toy train. We took a little ride in it. While returning back to bus stand another interesting thing happened. I tried to initiate a conversation in Hindi with a group of kids to get directions. They were poorly dressed, with dirty clothes. After I finished my sentence, one of them replied-“Can you speak in English please” . Oh that was unexpected (on seeing them it felt as if they even don’t go to school). For the first time in all these months here someone has asked me to speak in English. I asked them again (in English) and they replied fluently. I was impressed… Completely. All the way back I was smiling because of those boys. Wish them a great future ahead.

That’s it.. my memorable trip to Coorg.