Saturday, July 5, 2008

Rest, in peace



Monsoon had arrived in Delhi earlier than ever before. And it wasn’t in its usual scorching self. But the sticky humidity was nonetheless keeping up with its good work. That’s when I heard of my destination — Shilon Bagh. Being a Cancerian, water is what my inner self seeks. But given the sweaty conditions here, a ‘place near Shimla’ was music to the ears.






Interesting India

Having travelled quite a lot in the eastern Himalayas, especially Sikkim and West Bengal, the mystic beauty of Himachal Pradesh was still unknown to me. And Shimla any day is a good bet. So, I embarked on what later turned out to be a nine-hour journey to a small hilltop hamlet 10 kilometres before Kufri.
For someone who loves driving, it was tough to be just seated. Although the long drive may sound tiring at times, I engaged myself in discovering northern India’s heartland as I crossed three states — Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, finally. Though you might be getting impatient to reach Shilon Bagh, there’s one interesting observation I would like to mention here. Apart from the nice highway drive and the lush green-and-yellow mustard fields on the either sides, I noticed colonies after colonies of hatcheries, and in them millions of hens along with billions of eggs. But all through stretch all I got see was ‘Pure Vegetarian Hotels’!

Abode of peace

The misty hills had long taken over from the suburb-bustle, and I moved along the toy-train track towards my destination. And when I bifurcated from Kandaghat, keeping Shimla to my left, towards Chail, I realised a sense of peace seeping within — which was to be my soulmate for a long time to come.
Shilon Bagh has nothing to boast off if you search materialistically, or historically. It has no sunset points or heritage bakeries. What is in abundance here, is peace. Morning walks through the pine forests, trek trails to local temples, foggy evening brushing your cheeks while you listen to the chatter of ladies from a village hut from the opposite hill — yes, it’s that quite here — if these are what you crave for, Shilon Bagh is the perfect weekend getaway. A more paisa vasool Indian tourist has every right to question: “Why Shilon Bagh?” And believe me, I wont have the answer. Just as I didn’t have any when I questioned myself: “Why shouldn’t I go to Shimla, a place I have heard so much about?” The answer probably was, I just wanted to be at peace. I wanted to be with myself. Just wanted to be at Shilon Bagh.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Who’s day was it?



From school students to the office going babus, everyone had a perfect midweek break — at the name of those who never knew it was their day. Here's a reality check.


At nearly 43° C, it was a perfect start to the month of May in the capital city. But no one complained. After celebrating Delhi IPL team’s victory over Bangalore the night earlier, most Delhittes were in no hurry to scamper back to their 9 to 6 shifts — it was a holiday after all, courtesy the Labour Day, or better known as May Day!
Like many other facts of life, most Indians are blissfully unaware of the fact that this untimely holiday is a gift of one social movement in the 19th century that had finally forced employers over the world to recognise the labour workforce and ensure that they had a an eight-hour shift like any other person. Labour Day, in India, was declared as a national holiday in 1967, a day when the grass root workforce is recognised for their relentless service towards the nation.
But, who cares…buses and metros are empty by usual standards. Most offices had a deserted look, reminiscent that of usual weekends. But for the market and malls, it’s a busy day. And more so for the little Kamleshs and Sunnys — selling handkerchiefs to belts, while others busy washing utensils at the roadside stalls. It’s a holiday after all, and the business is brisk. Even 12 year-old Sudhir has no time to relax. He’s busy allocating parking slots to the early visitors at Sarojini Nagar Market. So the memsahebs and babus can keep strolling leisurely — after all, loves labour can’t be lost. Love for the labours can be.




And here we speak of social justice? Leave apart the grown ups, even these young ones have to work on a day specially dedicated to them. “It’s sad, but what can be done?” question college student Shruti. “Those who (ministers and bureaucrats) are liable to implement these should come and see,” opines Minakshi, another college student.
But aren’t we all responsible for this? Anyway, too much thinking is bad for health. So let us all chill — “Oye chhotu, ek thanda lana.”