Paramathma

The beautiful world I create; breathes its life every second,

Illusion of magic around it would never end..

The feel takes its form.. Vision is just what is seen,

I create them with purity, rest it in calm and live the glories.

I am Paramathma.. The supreme of the Self Beyond!

The life you look around; sounds with differences you hear,

Tastes of love to the warmth from the loved;

Different thoughts to the changing minds;

Different colors in different forms; innocence of oneself is mine..

I am Paramathma.. The Primordial Self!

Your identity stretches to infinity; your life is beyond the visions,

Today’s air is tomorrow’s fire. I play my game serving you all..

Every soul lives with limitations; dimensions of my own creations,

Destiny is larger than life, purpose of “Atman” is greater than the “Jeeva”.

Within you and around you is the divine existence,

Eternal time, without beginning and end, the all-pervasive one

I am Paramathma .. The Supreme controller!

The Tale of two birds :-

Two birds, beautiful of wings, close companions, cling to one common tree: of the two one eats the sweet fruit of that tree; the other eats not but watches his companion. The self is the bird that sits immersed on the common tree; but because he is not lord he is bewildered and has sorrow. But when he sees that other who is the Lord and the beloved, he knows that all is His greatness and his sorrow passes away from him. When, a seer, he sees the Golden-hued, the maker, the Lord, the Spirit who is the source of Brahman, then he becomes the knower and shakes from his wings sin and virtue; pure of all stains he reaches the supreme identity.

Now playing - Aigiri Nandini, Coke Studio 

Mt Kedarkantha, the great Himalayan experience

   "The land north of Gangadwar is known to the wise as Paradise Ground. Apart from this  land, the rest is called Earth elsewhere.” ~ Himalayas!

    Here is my tale trekking the Himalayas.. Kedarkantha Peak. One such trekking would need lot of planning and dedication to make it a success with flying colors. But trust me folks, the satisfaction you get once you are back to your cosy beds and think of all the beauty and serene mountains you saw, it’s incomparable to all the hardships you took to trek. Especially in Himalayas!

This is how it started...

After my first real time trekking experience with my friends to Roopkund, I am kind off addicted to trek these snow capped mountains. Though I am the least exp’d and amateur in this world of trekking, it’s HIMALAYAS. You can never be in your cities and jobs without thinking of it once in a week and crave to see it once again.

My wife and I were thinking to travel somewhere on leisure and trekking to Kedarkantha struck my mind. Though sceptical since it is her first such trek if she joins, I just suggested the plan. Luckily she showed interest and planning started.... First task was to choose a location. She being a first timer, I couldn’t choose something tough or challenging. And also we had very less time to prepare on our physical fitness. After 2 days of Google and various websites help, we finalised Kedarkantha peak (Easy to Moderate difficulty & 4 days of trekking) which suited our plan. Then comes the company / group we shall join for this trek, I couldn’t get slots for our dates in YHAI and India Hikes (reputed groups). Finally found one group “Himalayan Trekkers” which suited all our requirements. Trekking, flights, buses, travel bookings were done. Phew! One leap to our trekking the Mt :)

“Chasing angels or fleeing demons, go to the mountains.” - Jeffery Rasley

Next comes packing – We carefully choose not to overload our self. Maintained minimum 4 layers of clothing and one thick jacket. Gloves, woollen socks, trekking shoes came to the basics. Thanks to my brother Vinay for lending few things which came very handy while bag packing. The things to carry were check listed, ticked, piled in one side of the room just to make sure we do not miss anything.. After all, we shall be in some remote place of India... fear factor - happens isn’t?

We started on Dec 19^th – Let me be very crisp!! Thanks to my little brother Mohan..

-- Got up early... packed the rucksack ... took a lengthy bath (we won’t for next 6 days)

 - Mohan’s car drove us to Airport ... reached Delhi

 - Now what? Dammit... our bus to Dehradun was at night 11 PM and we are in Jantar Mantar        time passing on the lawn...

 - Swati’s brilliance – Movie ( 3hrs exact passed)

 - Took a bus to Dehradun – Trust me guys, Uttrakhand Volvo’s are good for a night sleep.      Dehradun to Sankri starts ->

 Rana bandhu a cabbie drives all of us to Sankri.

Sankri is one tiny village in the North West Uttrakhand. It ends in one road and that’s the world for the people in Sankri. I have lot to say on people we met, I have lot of thank you’s to be written to those wonderful people of Sankri which will come as days pass :)

From left - Myself, Swati, Anirban Deb, Arpan Roy, Anirban Chakladar, Santanu Pathak, Santanu Banerjee

On the 21^st morning in Sankri, batch of 7 trekkers including Swati and myself start off to climb the peak Kedarkantha along with our guide Chan Singh Rana. Day 1 was tiring... we exp’d snowy paths, slippery edges, wet mud etc making our climb little bit challenging. At around 2 PM we reached our first day stop point “Jula Talab”. And it’s wow.. The Talab (pond) was all frozen; pine trees covered with snow around the talab was beautiful. We all grouped, acclimatized, played with other camp members and yes, it was all fun and sleep post dinner inside our freezing tent at -3 degree Celsius. Uufff that fire outside our camp area was life.

22^nd morning – Started towards our next stop point. Well, this is bit tricky – reason? More snow, more slippery, lesser temperatures. But happy moment is we heard our next camp site “Luhasu” is just 2 hrs climb and it was. Joy moments indeed... Luhasu is the base camp site for the Kedarkantha peak. Let me explain a bit of this base camp site.  5-6 ft snow, freezing as usual, open valley for the chill breeze in plenty, congested due to many people camping at the same time. It was a long day spent at this place... again that fire lit outside saved us all. Thanks to Chan Singh, he broke all the rules according to other trekking groups, still we lived warm that day... :P

23^rd morning – Plan was to start our trek to the peak by 5 AM to avoid the melting snow while climbing down. All of us woke up at 4 AM and right on time, we started with small torches in the path to see that majestic peak which we all were waiting for... travelled from different parts of the country that day just to touch that tip. It was a great exp to say... -10 degree Celsius.. Moonlight.. 7 trekkers ... snow up to your ankle ... :)

We reached .... We reached .... see below the view. Man! Didn’t I say in the first – it’s addictive?

            

In all this rush hush, I had forgotten one very important task ie: drinking water. This is a vital element which keeps your body hydrated and also to get acclimatized in the altitude. I started getting stomach cramps. Swati since day 1 she had bad cold and cough. Poor she, climbed till the peak with all this.. Seriously a commendable job by a first timer. And mistake of mine, brought me down so soon.. I started puking and stomach cramps and added to it hiccups. We both decided, with this condition we shall not be in the position to camp for a night on the peak (Jula Talab it was). It’s better take some pain and reach Sankri the same day. After approval from Chan Singh, we started climbing down. I was scared of my condition... I couldn’t figure out, was it a food related issue or AMS. Started our journey to Sankri at 1 PM ...

On the way back to the base camp, believe it or not, it was one of the most romantic sights anyone can see in their lifetime. It was just both of us climbing down, huffing puffng with all the illness we have but outside us, it was a valley, it was a small ice path, it was full of life, it was snowing, it was marvellous. I tried my best to click some pictures but we were running short of time. At any cost we should be reaching the base by 5 PM to avoid darkness and bad weather. However we both were, the scenic path down of ours is one of the most beautiful I have seen and I recommend the readers to try it once to be mesmerized.

We reached Sankri at 5:30 PM due to our slow pace and very slippery track. If you all want to know, in Sankri there is a man named Rajan who runs a lodge and rents his property to trek groups. But for Swati and me he was a life saver. No wonder I like people from Garhwal region – sweet, caring and always ready to help. Once we reached his place, first thing he did was keep us calm by telling “kuch nahi hoga, aap tension kyun lete ho... yeh sab toh common hai”. This was something we needed after a lonely 4 hrs walk and fear of losing out completely on health. He immediately called a local doctor, arranged for hot water for my hiccups, tablets, food and neat room with blankets. I love this man and I thank him for all his being human nature. On a lighter note, I am not sure how this linked... my body acted weird. I used to drink water, hiccups used to stop, I wanted to pee and before I even close my zip, hiccup starts.. WTF? I hated this.... however, all went fine later on and by 9 PM we both were having a cosy sleep with temperature outside 4 degrees Celsius.

Ah! I am so tempted to end this long story, but how can I miss our journey back and some of my praises to the people in Uttrakhand’s way of life... how I cherished them all.. :)

One love, One heart, One destiny.. ~Bob Marley

To keep it short though, we left Sankri next day ie: 25^th Dec by 8 AM, reached Dehradun by evening 6 PM. A journey filled with pain in muscles, ouch ouch sounds in the cab, Swati’s motion sickness made her puke 2 times. phew... so much! Well, in Dehradun our condition is this – No bath for 6 days, tired, big dirty back pack, muddy shoes, just want to sit somewhere and relax. Our bus to Delhi was at 10 PM and we have 4 hours to pass time, we thought let’s try sweets and local street food of Dehradun and also walk a bit closer to bus terminal. Gulped some golgappas, had sweets, momos and that filled our stomach very much to survive till morning. Interesting about people there, they extend their helping hands so much that we so called metro crowd get scared of being taken for a ride and get cheated. Truly, it’s not that, people help travellers because every household there is directly or indirectly depend on the travelling crowd and they have learnt it so well, never kick your own eating plate J Anyway – coming to my experiences, Swati and me were walking on road, one guy voluntarily calls me up to say “bhai, apko fresh hona hai toh waha ek dharmashala hai, chale jao.. rooms pe paise karch na karro” (isn’t this sweet?). While we are walking, to check on the route we stopped by a local pan shop, an old uncle in his 70’s probably, helped me with route and 500 rs change. Later, he forced us to take “Vikram” a local shared auto which ply’s around the city. His version was, why you need to spend money on rick’s and taxis when you can go in just 20 rs till your bus terminal. Wow feeling!! Crazy uh, this Vikram driver was another example of being a true professional. Our ride fare was 17 rs and I gave him 20 rs and offered to keep the change. I might have got slapped for being so negligent and casual :P he almost fought with me to collect my 3 rs change back. Oh god! I pray to god, these people never travel to big cities. They are complete, happy and lovely in their own way and for us it’s a treat to watch. In metro’s people just want to take advantage of tourists and here I was treated so well by these people. I was no one to all of them... I might not see them again... but they made a print in my mind... thoughts... life! J To conclude, thanks Chan Singh, Rajan, Rana Bandhu and above 2 unknown people who helped us when we needed in their own style.

Dehradun to Delhi was a peaceful drive in the bus, caught up with a room, freshend up our self completely.. God! Heaven after 6 days. Had a heavy lunch and took our flight back to home sweet home :)

With this I finish my story telling on our Kedarkantha trekking, situations we faced and warmth we felt. By doing all this, I just carried back a refreshed life filled with lots of love to people and family. I wish to do such travels many many more and keep sharing my thoughts to my near and dear ones.

Cheers!

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”  ~ Marcel Proust

Republic India

 

A new name to me which I received on 26th Jan 1950,

Over the years I was changed from Bharat to Hindustan.

I saw peace; I saw blood, dreams of harmony always,

Many kings ruled, some failed, many successful.

My children the people of this land want me pure, generous

Now, I am India, I justify their needs!

 

Passion and courage in my pupils to protect my importance;

Those tears and laughs in my down’s and up’s

That anger and revenge against the forces that harm

I am thrilled and I want to survive, I want to live longer.

As said, I want to see Sanskrithi overcome Prakrithi;

Rule of nature tamed and polished by rule of culture: The Dharma.

I am India, land of richness, history of 10000 years!

 

I have darkness, but I have been shown the distant light; the saviour

The burns of my past should be the mark of my legacy,

Youth of this land is whom I rely; they see my future in them.

I want to see the innocence back; people help the needy, destroy the greedy;

Guide me through the vastness, feel my length and breadth with respect.

Women of this land feel safe, elders be treated with respect, have self-dignity;

I am a 64 year old Republic nation,

I am India, land of divinity, largest democracy!

 

Now Playing - Vande Mantaram

The World Stage

Stand alone on the plinth with billion to share,

A cold laugh within to bare the plentiful eyes watching;

End up talking myself, with a smile and approval in expression.

Is there a crowd to hear my voice, I ask always

No to realise, it’s I and always I to respond and  re-respond to oneself.

unaided  journey on this highway, success and failure is you who see;

illusion of hear and see of many, unrealistic is the colour of presence.

A walk with union was a topic to confer, how I find myself alone with no start and no end;

This contrast brings a perplexity to exist but, aren’t we all same in the race?

When stage is set with limited authority to talk, walk, reason to assess; we learn -

World seen by us is through us!

 

Now playing - One of the few, Pink Floyd

Hidden Wish

Soft jabber aloud from an infant, unaware of the horizons ahead;
Radiant eyes giving out a message to be firm on small surprises,
Heard and seen the harmony around, a try to express to the people around;
Many desires felt to be asked, and how soon they feel scarcity of time;
Giggle and laugh is the routine expression, glee become hymn’s,
Shouts and cry as the bare depression, hidden wishes are erased with time.

Life gives a halt to fulfillment, compromises sadden the youth phase;
Mind ponders on existence! It’s always a struggle to find questions for answers;
Boiling thoughts to give success a meaning, adds oil to the flame.
Responsibility to showcase will be a commitment than the dream saw at night,
Youth is in a dilemma of stability, unaware of the future which got to end someday;
Wishes remain unsaid in fear wondering how many can they be hidden.

Sense of completeness still in a half way, though age shows its lines on face;
More to accomplish with something lacking to achieve hurts the old heart.
Shadow of death can anytime merge into the light of life, in hurry to tick the wish list;
Ignorance prevail in loved ones, ageing life weeps for the warmth they are missed;
Final adieu to enigmatic world which always dismissed the needs, wishes unsaid buried along.
Almighty convinces the soul of another leased life, more wishes, incomplete, goes on!

Skandagiri Sunrise

Forbidden ...!!!

Emotions are carried rock hard, happiness display like a moss on a wet life;
Wishes are abundant to an energetic mind; prospect of hope is all left to outshine the fear of loss.
Mind and Body work on the notion of attainment, sense of hot air into a balloon about to take off.
Destiny written is worse to let know, to be glad is forbidden; it is late to comprehend the turmoil.

Savior was the love it showered on, many to offer, one to receive;
Every phase was blessed and life was delightful with the prized ones around, a desire to have it eternal crept in;
Small deviation was hard to blend, life was costumed like a rubber way; polluted world was with diluted dreams, it shrink the longitivity;
Imposed life took the hit, a fall from soothing warmth to an objecting abhorrence; forbidden was the word to the desired existence.

Now Playing - Buffalo soldier (Bob Marley)