Kumarakom and Alleppey- The backwaters of Kerala

Our journey to the God’s own country began soon after the monsoon season. My husband and I as mentioned earlier are great travel enthusiasts. Our urge to travel to the most unusual places in this world often arises when we get exhausted with our mundane lives. Our enthusiasm goes to the extent of doing immense amount of research about such places. We both finally share the research with each other and zero down a place that we haven’t seen or heard before. The idea of Kumarakom happened in a spur of the moment. We wanted to see water this time, a choice that we preferred over the hills or the mountains. Kerala, we never ever visited before, people often discussed places like Alleppey, Bekal, Verkala, Munnar, Wayanad and  Kovalam etc. but Kumarakom is lesser known to people across India. I was overwhelmed by the thought that my husband wanted to take me to a beautiful place to celebrate my first birthday post marriage. Kerala is famous for its backwaters and hence we finalized Kumarakom as the destination for our haunt.

The day came soon by when we boarded the flight from Bangalore to Cochin and reached Kumarakom by a two to two and half drive from Cochin Airport. The drive was beautiful as the landscape started to change the further we moved towards Kumarakom. The landscape included hills and canals and gradually we entered the city of Kumarakom. Before I forget I must include that we stopped by a little at Cochin to buy few food munching items and drinks as we were informed that Kumarakom is a village and we would not find much assistance there except for the hotel in which we booked to stay.

We finally reached Kumarakom where we could see the canals, bridges, the lake, the beauty of God’s own country before our eyes. On our way we saw many house boat (Kettuvallam) booking agencies, Taj Vivanta Hotel, Lake Kumarakom Resort and many others etc. We had booked Zuri Kumarakom, this time and were beautifully greeted by the staff. Fresh coconuts drinks were served in jute baskets with straws, it was a welcome relief to us as we traveled a long way since very early in the morning and reached there in the afternoon. The staff took us to our rooms and on the way we crossed a wooden bridge that separated the great Vembanad Lake from the private lagoon that surrounded the hotel property. Post the afternoon lunch we slept and woke up at 5:00 pm to witness the evening drizzle all over the lake and the property. Our cottage was cozy and had a lovely view of the lagoon from the little balcony that had a chic tea table and chairs. The cottage was beautifully ornate with Kerala handicrafts and the washroom with bath, shower cubicle and little rustic outside shower faucet that we utilized early in the morning and post swimming.

The fantastic aspect about Zuri was its food, they served various cuisines including Kerala cuisine that we savored on lunch and dinner time. It was slow cooked in typical earthen pots. With our stomach filled with buffet lunch, we merrily walked in the light showers, with our own umbrellas (a saving grace rather) and moved all around the property. The infinity pool was filled with the laughter of young children who enjoyed the swim along with the heavenly evening showers. We had carried our costumes and it did not take us a lot of time to enter the pool to enjoy the rainfall. The best thing about the pool was that the water was warm and exactly the temperature that we desired.

After a great swim, we decided to go back to our room and enjoy a warm bubble bath in the bath tub of our washroom. The warm bath was followed by the amazing dinner buffet at the dining hall that had prepared some exquisite Kerala delicacies. There were a bunch of musicians who sang some good old English numbers. I could see people from across the globe sitting and enjoying the music, the only language that united all sitting there.The strumming of the guitar and candlelit dinner tables built up a quite romantic atmosphere. Thereafter we retired to bed early to wake up fresh in the morning.

Our hotel room balcony was adjacent the lagoon. The sun rays penetrated from the curtains and made me wake up at 6:30 a.m. I was greeted by my husband on my birthday.A little chit chat by sitting in the balcony was followed by some instant English breakfast tea. We immediately decided to take our tab, camera and tea mugs outside. The idea came quickly to us, basically to capture the early sun rays on the Vembanadu lake. With a lot of fun and frolic we walked over a wooden bridge inside the hotel and reached sitting place to overlook the lake and have the hot tea. With my crazy enthusiasm to capture shots through tab and camera…I cannot describe how mesmerized I was by the view. There were fishermen putting the net into the lake. The Kettuvallams (houseboats) sailing in the water, the quite lake, the sun rays on water, coconut trees…the typical Kerala landscape stood before my eyes. While taking the shots I often paused a while to catch the glimpse of various activities going on the lake. These were the moments that seemed to me  like “a host of golden Daffodils”(Daffodils by William Wordsworth), that would give me happiness in a pensive mood. That is the least to describe how beautiful Kerala was to me.

We decided to spend the birthday more fruitfully by quickly taking the open showers provided in our room. The breakfast was good and we were filled to the brim of a glass. Couples lay down and sun bathed near the pool that tempted us to take a swim at 11:00 a.m. in the morning. The water was wonderfully warm and we felt relaxed. We swam, sun bathed, drank some chilled beer and soaked up the sun for a while. Post the swim, we changed and decided to see and move around the village of Kumarakom. We walked down outside the resort a few miles and reached the main road. From the main road we found an auto and asked him to take us around and finally drop us for lunch at Lake Kumarakom Resort. We reached the resort in a few minutes. It was this resort that we had intended to book for our visit. Due to peak season it was fully booked and we had no option but to book the second best Zuri Kumarakom in which we stayed. After three meals at Zuri, we had decided to explore a bit and eat some authentic Kerala cuisine in a typical Kerala restauraunt. To our disappointment, we could not find any restauraunt but resorts one by one.  After much of thoughts we zeroed down on Lake Kumarakom diner. We ordered fish and lobster with rice and that was cooked perfect. The swimming pool of the hotel was booked by a group and pool party with blasting music was going on. The resort was constructed according to typical Kerala architecture. The ceilings, pillars were carved out of wood. The walls were ornate with various paintings of Kerala women dancing etc. wearing Kerala saris and dresses. The dinning hall was open from three sides and one could see the greenery all around the property. The canals were running through the property and various objects and handicrafts were decorated all around the hotel property. The staff including men and women was dressed in typical Kerala sari and lungi (long cloth wrapped around the waist to toe of men). After a sumptuous lunch we called our auto driver and roamed around the village to book a houseboat for the next day. After much of research and adventure we were finally able to book a single bedroom houseboat. We picked up a few munchies and drinks for the next days trip.

We reached Zuri amidst the usual evening showers and asked the auto driver to pick us up tomorrow for the houseboat trip. We went inside and reached the dining space to have some hot coffee, a perfect combination with the rains. After the rain stopped, we reached the room to immediately reach for the Asia’s largest spa -the Maya Spa of Zuri Resort to try the Kerala massage technique followed by some steam and sauna bath. After the relaxation, we reached the hotel room to change into our evening clothes for a formal dinner hosted by my husband. When we finished dinner a cute birthday cake arrived followed by a happy birthday song arranged by the hotel. The day was made with the lovely cake and dinner. We retired to bed to wake up early for the next day activity.

Zuri had a small island that provided complimentary yoga at 6:00 a.m. in the morning. The instructor told us to practice some stretches, bending exercises, followed by meditation. The background music was Om Shanti and the birds chirping from the trees in the early morning sun rays that fell into the lagoon and the bordering coconut trees brought a lot of mental peace and calmness to the mind and body.

We took our bath and breakfast to prepare ourselves for a houseboat trip at 12:00 noon and carried the munchies, drinks and camera. The auto driver came on time and took us to the jetty. As we stood before the booked houseboat, our excitement mounted and we quickly boarded to see it from inside. The boat consisted of a dining and lounge area on the front and the bedroom, kitchen and staff room at the back. As the boat started it moved from the canal towards the lake. The houseboat trip was to Alleppey and Virchur. We boarded the houseboat with our goodies and camera. They gave nice welcome drink obviously coconut water in coconut shells, the one thing which is available in plenty. The lake looked so beautiful, calm and serene and we could see all the exotic resorts around the water body. What is most striking about the water was various migratory birds could be seen sitting on water lilies and the vegetation floating on the water. The lunch was served with the famous started “Karimeen” (the pearl spot fish) abundant in the Kerala backwaters. What is to be noted that the fish does not have that fishy smell and if cooked with proper condiments and masalas it becomes quite tasteful. It was followed by Kerala chicken curry, dal, rice, two kinds of sabji, salad and rotis. We had a sumptuous meal and as soon as we finished lunch the heavy afternoon showers created mist in the lake. The beauty was unimaginable. The fanstastic cook on board served us hot pakoras and filter coffee in the evening. We preferred the day trip and after visiting Alleppey en route to Virchur reached Kumarakom by 5:00 P.M.

With great thanks to the auto rickshaw driver we reached the hotel premises. We didn’t have any whatsoever interest to dive into a buffet dinner as the taste of the lunch served at the houseboat lingered in our mouth as well memory for the whole evening. However, under a persistant compulsion of the mind to have dinner we indulged in pasta and salad meal late in the night at the dining hall. On the last night at the hotel property, there was a strange attachment to the beauty that was bestowed by nature in Kumarakom. The memory that will be cherished forever in our hearts and that “one” birthday celebration most worthwhile in a lifetime.

Coffee with me @ Madikeri (Coorg)

The virtual journey began over a deep discussion with my husband on a call. We shared views about Wayanad, Allepey, Munnar and all that was beautiful and breathtaking. My husband and I are travel enthusiasts and it doesn’t matter to us whether we romance with mountains, high seas or just the plains. This time it was our honeymoon so all our energy was exhausted by resolving the marriage rituals existing in the two states i.e. we both were travelling to and fro between these two Trans cultural boundaries. Our surreal charm for Greece, Prague, French Riviera and Peru collided with the paucity of time. We therefore decided to choose a destination that was close to Bangalore and where we could relax for a while before we started the ‘dal and bhaat’ life.

We chose the town of Madikeri that is popular for the destination called “Coorg” known as Mercara in their language. The misty Coorg reminded me of the hindi adaptation of Sussana’s Seven Husbands by Ruskin Bond and the captivating cinematic shots taken in the valley. Now, Mercara was almost five to five and half hours journey from Bangalore (it could be six if the traffic is high). The stoppage was at Mysore Adigas for breakfast. One must take travel necessities like tablet or ipad, medicines, cushions, wraps, ice-box, fans, sunglasses, sun-block, hand towels and munching goodies to have a comfortable journey. The road from Bangalore to Coorg has many wine shops though drunken driving is prohibited in the city of Bangalore yet alcohol is sold like mineral water.

We began our journey early in the morning to avoid traffic inside the city of Bangalore and its outskirts. Coorg is known more for its monsoon as it’s a rainforest hills of the Western Ghats bordering most of the town of Madikeri. The highway consists of beautiful palm trees and the scarce vegetation as grown in the rough red soil, geographically known to be a dry soil. March is not the weather for Coorg and the hill station is less visited by tourists. Orange County, Taj Madikeri , Tamara and Mahindra are the chief hotels that provide a very luxurious stay.

Coorg is famous for its coffee plantations and home stays exist in abundance inside these plantations. Sweet spring is the coffee blossom weather and the hills are filled with the smell of a lovely lingering  scent of the flowers. My suggestion to you is to stay for two days in the homestay and visit the famous places in the town of Coorg. The places are Buddhist Monastery (must watch), Abbey Falls ( it is haunted by tourists and has been witnessing littering by the them), Talacauvery (the origin of the Kaveri river), Omkareshwara Temple, Rajas Seat (where the King sat and saw the whole of Coorg at the highest point), Mercara Fortress where the British ruled Coorg for many years in the past, also consists of the mementos of the renowned Field Marshal - Kodandera "Kipper" Madappa Cariappa . Dubbare – the elephant training camp. Cauvery Nishadharma is a manmade island that didn’t seem interesting to us by its not so enticing photographs available at the reception of the hotel as well the internet. However Irupu Falls was beautiful and a must visit. Rajas Seat and Nishani Hills are considered to be the most beautiful sunrise and sunset point. We indulged in a wacky endeavor of taking a picture together in the famous Coorg attire and the picture seemed quite memorable to us as it shall remind us always of a distant memory.

Coorg is chilly in the night in March and it is not very easy to take a dip in the swimming pool of Mahindra or Orange County unless it’s a temperature control pool of Taj where we stayed. The Taj property is famous for its 180 acre of land and is overseeing the valley. There is the famous Nishani  Hyke where you can get to see Coorg  from the highest hill and the trek takes place early in the morning by the Taj trainers at the hotel.

The historical conservatory at Taj is worth remembering as it explains you the culture, art and history of Coorg.  The people of Coorg are knowingly or unknowingly famous for their greek origin from Alexander’s invasion of India and his huge army of Greek men. The people of Coorg eat vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian and the kings were famous for indulging in the game of hunting boars. It can be seemingly understood that the the people of Coorg are from the Kshatriya (warrior) clan and are quite united as a community.The quintessential Pandi Curry (pork curry) and Kodimbattu (steamed rice balls), oil lamp, brass dagger, brass urlis (bowls to fill water, oil lamps and flower to welcome guests and also for festival or religious purposes in South of India), brass steamer container are found in every nook and corner of the town hall.

One must make a visit to the chic eatery called Raintree (and choose any coffee drink from the world map) that serves you fresh coffee from the  brewery station of the restraint in the town hall. Another interesting joint is Taste of Coorg where the authentic Coorg cuisine is served. The Coorg cottages are beautiful as each house has thatched roofs due to the heavy amount of rains in the town and the doorway has an interesting pool that collects water drained out fresh from the roof in the rainy season. Bamboo trees exist in plenty and objects like masks are carved out from the same in abundance by the local craftsmen. The art of choosing coffee and knowing its flavor can be tested by visiting many recognized coffee estate shops like Golden Coffee Estate in the town hall. Always choose coffee beans and get it grounded in front of you at the shop. There are two kinds of famous coffees. One is Plantation Arabica and the other is Plantation Robusta. Plantation Arabica is the gentle coffee and is suitable mostly for a relaxed evening and after spa therapy just like sipping of green, chamomile or jasmine tea. Plantation Robusta is a strong aromatic coffee and is savored by people who have a taste for cappuchino. Coorg grows its extremely good masalas like cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, staranise, bay leaves, pepper, honey, coconut oil, toffees, chocolates and all are available at the recognized shops. One must choose the aforesaid from the recognized shops of the State Government. Please be careful in buying the same. The local fruit wines are strong and have a similar pungent taste like Feny from Goa. The famous fruit vinegar and chillies used in pandi curry are also available in shops.

A medium distance from Coorg is the amazing and one of the best forests of India boasting of flaura and fauna alongside the peaceful Kabini river, a tributary of Kaveri is “Nagarhole National Park” also known as the Rajiv Gandhi National Park. Orange County is a must visit and oversees the tributary. Bio-diveristy includes large number of flaura and fauna like tigers and wild elephants and many other species. We decided to make a separate visit to the forest in one of the weekend getaways. It is also worthwhile visiting Bandipur National Park. The details of these two parks shall be covered soon by me for you all.

The people of Coorg are extremely united and it is commendable that they care for conservation of the plants and trees on the hills. Plastic is banned in Coorg and the citizens follow the strict laws. They worship the river Kaveri and she is their goddess for all kinds of festivities. In short, the town is peaceful and a must visit during the Monsoon season. Taj Madikeri , Orange County  and Tamara are the best in the lot. Tamara is rated as the best romantic resort in the world map.

Taj grows its coffee and has a lovely farmland. All food is cooked out of the farm fresh vegetation and plenty of herbs like rosemary, sage, oregano and fruits like strawberry are available. A tour of the magnificient property is undertaken in a buggy ride by the staff. The Jiva spa, temperature controlled pool (one of its kind in India after Oberoi- Shimla), conservatory, hykes and vivid occupying activities enthrall the tourists. The Buddha Garden is amidst the giant statue of the bust of Buddha, a little stream, wooden bridged, trees, shrubs and the forest passage is lit with oil lamps to place romantic dinner for couples in the night. Before we get endorsed anymore for praising the property my suggestions to you is to visit the lovely Coorg when the Indian rain god Indra drenches it.  A five day relaxed stay is enough to finish all the destinations in Coorg. Keep reading !  J

The Feudal Flavors

The word Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) brings forth two things in my mind. One is subjugation by the feudal lords and the other is the blue blooded families. People have distinctly carved Uttar Pradesh as the realm of feudalism devouring its subtle taste from British and the then Zamindars (land owners) who had a dichotomous peonage. U.P. has its many hidden treasures and this treasure shall unleash with my visit to certain key places of, rather the CAVAL towns of U.P. The CAVAL towns were named by the British as follows:

C was for Cawnpore, now Kanpur. 

A was for Allahabad, now Allahabad.

V was for Varanasi, then Benares.

A was for Aligarh, now Aligarh.

L was for Lucknow, then Avadh.

We shall discuss the CAVAL towns as well as other prominent towns in Uttar Pradesh.I will bring to you Lucknow and Aligarh soon enough, the intriguing cities with muslim population in majority.

Kanpur

Kanpur, fondly called the Manchester of the East with its numerous factories and colonies of its workers. The town was filled with smoke and had large brick red houses. It had prominent textile mills of the tatas and many others. The leather factories had shrouded a permanent residence and are still growing in leaps and bounds. It takes a huge part in the amount of in bound and out bound trade. Like it is observed, UP has its upper class and lower class. Kanpur too is divided between the same. It has prominent families, brick red houses, wooden floors and sky high ceilings. They sit near the fireplace in winters with their kashmiri carpets spread out and their mastiffs in deep slumber. The colonial houses are in brick red colour which were the official bungalows of the officers who were incharge of the factories. There is strange fun in and around the city like observing the vintage cars parked outside many of the houses. The memsahebs (the ladies) of the factories are driven down by a chauffeur, a black ambassador more likely and the foreigners visiting the factory are given quick snacks made of crackle topped mayonnaise. The foreigners are keen visitors to Kanpur and they are delighted to see ambassadors, cows in the polluted areas and the stark difference between the world inside the factory premises and outside it. The large business houses buy paintings and treats them as a purpose for investment. The house of the district magistrate, other officers are worth to look at. The house of the municipal commissioner is a giant mansion keeping fourty four servants at 24 hour service and is located near a small lake called Moti Jheel. 

However, some parts of the city dirty due to the pollution caused by the factories and its workers. Poverty line is high and high are the cleanliness activities. The cleanliness driver undertaken by the Municipal Corporation is challenging. The city has its markets like gumti number panch (hindi name of a market), wave mall that houses a famous bakery called the Upper Crust. A famous restraunt called Derby prepares wonderful continental dishes.

The markets are flooded with local materials especially leather shoes and things made out of leather. The city’s upper class has been educated in convent schools and has a massive university that has a wonderful helipad for helicopter landing for inspection and numerous facilities for students staying in the campus. The students passed out mostly move out to the metropolitan cities or enter into entrepreneurship by managing the factories. The most prominent, beautiful is the railway station of Kanpur. The mode of transport is buses, auto rickshaw and human rickshaws.

Allahabad

The name Allahabad comes from the name of a king called Raja Ila and was named after him as Illahabad. The hindi version is still spelled like the aforesaid. The British gave the name Allahabad and built the Oxford of the East known as the "Allahabad University" which has a huge clock tower that rings its bell that can be heard in the night. The city was known for its plush bungalows and beautiful gardens. The Allahabad High Court is a highly acclaimed court that disposes various prominent cases and thus the city commands the elite brainstorming lawyers with their well established practices. The city of the late Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. Their palatial mansions are built into museum, also observes a toddler orphanage and planetarium. The city is more or less quite and often called pensioners paradise with many parallel roads and huge buildings like the Office of the Auditor General of India (AG Office) and the Board of Revenue to name a few.  The Airforce Station and Army Station has beautifully established the Cantonment area. The city has a huge population consisting of Anglo-indians, Bengalis, Christians, Muslims and Hindus. Allahabad is treated as the education capital of Uttar Pradesh and has numerous colleges including MONIRBA, Agricultural University etc. The catholic convent schools are St. Marys Convent and St. Josephs School and College. The protestant institutions are Girls High School, Boys High School, Bishop Johnson and Mary Lucas. The city celebrates the major festivals and Durga Puja or the Navaratra is celebrated with great enthusiasm in every nook and corner of the city.

The city has the famous Alfred Park that reminds us of the assassination of Chandrashekhar Azad, the Fort of Akbar that houses the famous Akshayavat tree from the times of the Mahabharata. The Fort is now taken care by the Indian Army. The Minto Park where the famous Queens Proclamation was read during the pre-independance times. The city houses the bungalows of the famous hindi writers and poetess like Prem Chand, Harivansha Rai Bachan, Mahadevi Verma etc. 

The city comes in full light during the period of the Mahakumbh Mela that comes once in twelve years. The mighty ganges flows through the city and creates the sangam with the blue waters of the river yamuna and the saraswati. The Kumbh Mela takes place every year during the December-January and attracts large amount of pilgrimage from the world map.

The city hosts many functions of the Theosophical Society of India of the late freedom fighter Ms. Annie Beasant. I will update you more on this city. This city is like an old pure burmese teak wood furniture found in your antique. You cannot throw it away from your attic but you can always keep it, polish and place it distantly in your memory forever. The city is so British in its outlook and english is definitely the second language of the elite here.

Mirzapur  

The small town is located near the ganges bordering the vindhyachal range. It has a huge population consisting of hindus, muslims, christians, bengalis and foreigners across the globe. Basically called the carpet industry area where huge factories have been established and carpets are exported around Indian and abroad. The vindhyachal devi (goddess) temple is enshrined in the vindhayachal range and a must visit for every hindu.

This quaint town consisting of a major carpet industrial area has given a new culture to the city. On one hand there are people who are rural and on the other hand there are people who are extremely urban and educated. The urban crowd consists of carpet industrialists, government officers, professors, foreigners  doing business in carpets and other raw materials. The city is filled bungalows of colonial architecture and plaush gardens with servants dressed in white attire. Grand parties are hosted in such bungalows and soulful western music is played to entertain the guests. Food is brought from abroad and Delhi, Mumbai to serve the invitees.

Mirzapur has a market place called Wasligunj, locally adapted from the name Lord Wellsley [*] of the pre-independence period. Diwali, Holi, Durga Puja and all other Hindu, Muslim and Christian festivals are celeberated with great fervor. The children of the urban population generally study in schools of metropolitan cities in India or abroad. The local rural population however send their children to the local schools in the town. The famous Chunar Fort of Sher Shah Suri, the Mughal Dynasty is located near Mirzapur and is fun to explore. It is also interesting to note that the colorful Indian pottery is made in Chunar and is known to be an important destination for tourists coming to the State of Uttar Pradesh.The notorious Bandit Queen of India the late Phoolan devi’s constituency was Mirzapur and her funeral pyre was burnt with full homage by guards and wreaths near the ganges.Mirzapur is a city of the ganges and the hindu godess vindhyachal devi and attracts a lot of hindu pilgrimage across india.

 Varanasi (Benares)

Varuna and Asi rivers makes it Varanasi.  Varanasi is acknowledged as the city of ghats. The city is older than the city of Babylon and is filled with lanes and older structures. It has a running population of foreigners close to six lakhs. It has an international airport and attracts tourists from India as well as the world.

The city is famous for the Vishvanath Temple (shiva temple) and the mosque named Gyan Vapi that was built by Aurangzeb, the king from the Mughal Dynasty. History narrates that Aurangzeb had demolished the original Vishvanath Temple and constructed the Mosque with the stones from the temple. However, the temple was again rebuilt by the Hindus. Shringar Gauri is the place near the temple and bordering the mosque where every year hindus gather and present their offerings to the god. It is a tense situation for the local administration often getting succumbed to a law and order situation as the wall of the Mosque is near Shringar Gauri . This is a unique example of Hindu and Muslim architecture and culture.

Vishwanath Gali is the lane approaching the temple. This lane consists of shops selling offerings for god like garlands, sweets, fruits etc., also seen are betel nut sellers, local drinks like bhang and thandai (drink), wooden toys, kachauris sabji (flour breads and curries). The whole building of the temple and the Mosque is a high security area and has armed officers in positions, control rooms, cctv cameras and local spys. It is a treat for the foreigners to visit the temple.

Varanasi commands most of the five star hotels and the hotel industry is at its booming best in this city. Investors around India look for lucrative opportunities in this sector. Music, dance and theatre are seen in big fashion in the Benares circuit. The famous Nagri Natak Mandali (Auditorium) hosts music and dance of renowned artists. Also the Ghats hosts functions near the ganges for artists like Sitara Devi, Girja Devi, the late Bismillah Khan, Birju Maharaj etc to name a few. This city is the home to “Benares Gharana” (house of Varanasi music).  All the music stalwarts across india were mostly born here and excelled thereof.

The age old architecture of Varanasi is beautiful. Houses are mostly overlooking the ganges and have in dependant bathing ghats for the royals. The rich live in enormous mansions inside the lanes and their house entrance still has beautifully ornate “palkis” [*] of their ancestors. It’s a historically rich city and home to many famous people of India. The drawing rooms have white bread spreads and cushions and the ceilings have chandeliers of ancient era. I can bet that each house of old Benares takes you on a journey of history of the then period.

Benares is a city of temples, it has the famous Kaal Bhairav, Sankat Mochan, Durga Kund temples that enshrines the hanuman (god) and durga (goddess) idols. There are numerous temples in every nook and corner of the city.

For you people who are reading this note I would like to highlight the festival called “Dev Dipawali” this is a diwali of hindu gods celebrated quite beautifully in Benares. The ghats are adorned with earthen lamps (diyas), fireworks take place in the sky and the houses in and around the ghats are decorated with diyas. Live classical music is conducted on “bojra” (boat) and food like benares chaat is served on the boats. Tourists sail in the ganges to watch the fireworks, music and eat the freshly cooked food served on the boats.

Benares is close to a place called Sarnath, the place where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon. The place has Buddhist buildings and beautiful gardens. There is a museum also that has the Ashok Sthambh, the national emblem of India.

The city has prominent hindus including bengalis, jains, gujratis, marwaris, muslims, christians and others.  Benares has its ancient Benares Club that is frequently visited by the urban population. The city is mysterious and has a strong influence to the taste of foreigners.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Port Blair is the capital of Andaman and Nicorbar Islands and airport that connects Kolkata and Chennai. To start with, Andaman and Nicobar has many Islands and Andaman can be divided into North, South and Middle and has many cities and villages that are connected by roads and ferry. Andaman Islands are a place of great adventure and energy. One has to plan the trip accordingly and to note carefully the group of islands can never be finished in a seven day trip. It would need more than that so plan a trip only after a proper research.

Port Blair being the capital is connected to all these cities and villages and has some lovely beaches like Colvin. Port Blair itself has the Peerless Portico Sarovar, Fortune Bay Hotel, Sea Shell and Shompen (named after a famous tribe of Andaman and Nicobar), to name a few.

The main islands for a traveler’s itinerary are the Havelock, Neil, Mayabunder, Ross, Smith, Jolly Boy, Ross and Viper. The Ross and Viper Island are reachable through a ferry. Ross consists of the remnants of the British Settlement and now an Indian Naval Base. It has some lovely remnants of a british bakery, church, water distillation plant, swimming pool, cemetery, clubs etc. It is said that during Tsunami, the island acted as a wall for Port Blair and faced the onslaught of the giant waves.

Viper Island, it has remnants of a jail where the Indians and others were kept in isolation during the pre- independence period by the British. The city of Port Blair has a fisheries and anthropology museum and has some lovely artifacts. Another island is called Chatham which is very near to Port Blair and connects itself through a bridge built by the British. It has now been renovated by the Government of Port Blair. The Chatham Island has an ancient saw mill which is in running condition and has a small museum consisting of wooden artifacts out of the wood from the giant Paduk trees (of the size of 35 to 40 meters), considered to be a high priced wood carved out of the Paduk trees from the deep deciduous forests of the Andaman and Nicobar jungles. These woods are exported to various countries abroad, specifically Burma. There is giant pith inside the compound of the Chatham Saw Mill that was caused by the British bombs on the Japanese occupation of Andaman and Nicobar.

Port Blair has some lovely pearls, coral, shells and artifacts carved out of the wood from Paduk trees and can be carried as a souvenir for the trip. One of the interesting areas around Port Blair is the Jarawa tribal Reserve Forest, especially if one is looking out for serious adventure. The forest is located at Baratung and one has to wake up at three am to reach there on time. On time is the important quotient of the trip, reason being, the convoy of cars and buses opens at six am sharp for entry in the forest and closes at around 4pm. The forest strictly bars photography and videos of jarawa tribes in the forest and any such act invites imprisonment of seven years and a fine. One can see lovely trees, one being the Paduk that is visible to the naked eyes as enormous height of towering amongst the others. Baratung has a jetty and one has to travel in a cargo ferry to reach the other bank. The other bank consists of speed boats that take people to the Stalagmite caverns inside the forests, mangrove trees and a mud volcano. One can also visit the Jarawa village and Mayabunder city that has turtle breeding reserve, pearl culture and Avis Island.

Port Blair is well connected to Havelock Island and can be commuted through cruises both private and government. Havelock Island consists of there beaches Radhanagar beach, Kala Pathar beach and Elephant beach. Havelock Island has the famous Bare foot resort and other cottages where one can unwind and relax. Scooters and cycle is available to commute in and around the island. Foreigners always make it a point to visit this island.

The famous Neil Island is close to Havelock and can be reached by a speed boat. Jolly Buoy island is also nearby and commutation is available.  Jolly Buoy is famous for its various coloured coral reefs.

Port Blair has varied places to visit and a seven days  is not enough to visit. The must visit for Port Blair is the Cellular Jail Museum and its light and sound show that narrates the story of its close to six hundred inmates consisting mostly of the Bengali patriots that fought for the independence of India. The cellular jail was also visited by Shri Subhash Chandra Bose during Japanese occupation of these islands and hosted the country’s national flag.

So visit Andaman Islands for its lovely beaches and history. Nicobar islands are also famous for its various tribals but however they are strictly protected by the government and avoid any public interference. The government offices are there in Nicobar Islands and only the government officials are allowed to enter the same. One must enjoy the great seafood and the beaches. One may choose the crab and lobster for your curries in most local restaurants.

A word of caution, Andaman and Nicobar Islands are surrounded by sea and one must be careful to swim in the beaches. Many saltwater crocodiles surround the mangrove trees and the beaches specially the Radhanagar Beach in Havelock. The mangrove trees are the breeding place of sea animals like crab, lobster, crocodiles. The beaches though have some boards indicating presence of such predators and one must be careful in observing adequate precautions regarding the aforesaid.

Manali - Travelogue

It was a bright monsoon day when parents and I took off for a trip to Manali. It was a long distance drive. We travelled by road from Lucknow to Delhi. The newly built Yamuna express highway was a beautiful path. We moved again and stopped for lunch at a nearby dhaba then we kept moving ahead and reached Delhi.

We haulted in Delhi for a day and then again started for Manali the next morning. At 5 in the morning we started driving down to Manali and reached a wonderful Dhaba that served us breakfast. It is to be noted that Punjab and Haryana side has more developed Dhabas and highway inns. The word “Haveli” is used for denoting a dhaba or an inn and has comfortable stay and relaxing packages. The highways have all basic amenities including shops and malls.

As we started reaching Manali we saw the Beas river right aside us from our car window. The sight of the Beas river and the beautiful snow laden mountains made us feel having come into the Indian Switzerland. The Beas river was sea green in color right near the Radha Swami Satsang Ashram. We stopped at Manali for some tea and again started driving down alongside the mighty Beas river.

We crossed a dark tunnel which was lighted and was ranging for about 2.5 to almost 3kms. The picnic spots were beautiful and were in plenty alongside the road to the top of Manali. The picnic spots were small places aside the Beas river and provided Hotel accommodations, cafes and tea points. The drive is long and it took 16hrs in total to reach our destination.

We reached in the late evening and our Hotel was Portico Sarovar that was built aside the Manalsu river. Manalsu river is the river that flows there and the name Manali is derived from her.Early morning when we opened the curtain we saw the beautiful Himalayan range shrouded with Deodar trees. The day was followed by a buffet breakfast at the hotel and then we visited the lovely Manalsu river and dipped our hands and feet into it. We clicked pictures and laughed and played with the stones of the river.

Next day we visited market i.e. the Mall of the hill station. We purchased typical Manali wear and other items from the Mall. The himcoop products are quite authentic, supported by the HP Government and consist of the best fruits of Himachal Pradesh (“HP”). HP is considered to be the fruit bowl of India. Two days went by walking down the mall, observing the Manalsu river and visiting the Hidimba Temple.

We saw the lovely ice-capped mountains while sipping tea and coffee at the hotel. Most of the hotels were built of wood and glass windows in order that the tourists feel the surroundings while having food at the café.

There is a Manu temple also that is built in Manali is dedicated to Manu who is considered a saint. Manusmṛti (written also as Manusmriti or Manusmruti) (Sanskrit: मनुस्मृति), also known as Mānava-Dharmaśāstra (Sanskrit: मानवधर्मशास्त्र), is one metrical work of the Dharmaśāstra textual tradition of ancient Vedic Sanatana Dharma, presently called Hinduism.^[1] Generally known in English as the Laws of Manu, or Dharmic discourse to vedic Rishis, on 'how to lead the life' or 'way of living' by various classes of society.

The text presents itself as a discourse given by the sage Manu, to a congregation of seers, or rishis, who, after the legendary great floods in the vedic state of Brahmavarta in India some 10,000 years ago, beseeched him to guide them in how to face such calamities in future though an organized life with "guidelines for all the social classes".^[2] His response was captured and preserved in memory as a dialog between himself and the sage Bhrigu in some 2685 ślokas, the compilation of which is called Manusmriti.

What I could gather by the Manali trip was that the trip should be splitted in various parts. From Lucknow to Delhi, then from Delhi to Ambala and finally from Ambala to Manali. This causes less exhaustion to the traveler and keeps the energy quotient alive as the road gets covered into milestones.

In memory of Late Rituporno Ghosh - Drafted in Bengali

“Jokhun podbe na mor payer chinho………..eyi  ghaate” – 

Tokhun baaje atta…amar alarm clock ta bajlo tung tang kore. Ami aaste aaste konorokhume uthlam. Raatire besh kota bhalo boyi ghaanta ghaati korechilam. Din katlo jemni kaate…hothat dupure pishi phone korlo baba ke lunch er shomai aar khobor ti dilo. Khobor ta pey hotash holam aar silent hoye gelam. Pishi  aar Pishe Kolkataye well connected aar praye onek tollywood er shilpi der jaane.

Odhbhut laage….eyi genius er cholochitro gulo, ami baar baar dekhtam. Ekta chobio miss korini. Protik ti chobi te he never compromised on the quality quotient. Ekta notun story hoto, with a strong messge, script, cinematography, symbolism, sequence, depth aar puro paraphernalia ta nijer haathe toiree korto. Theek mone hoto Satyajit Ray er direction aar Rabindranath er mind ke meshano ekta odhbhut akriti prostut hoche chokher shaamne. Or cinema bangali der heart ke emun bhabe touch korto jeno mone hoto e toh  protek bangali jiboni ba badir golpo lagchey.

Shey chilo Rituporno Ghosh, ekta odhbhut manush. Personality te ekta odbhut magnetism chilo.  Or prothom chobi release hoye 1992 te…taar naam chilo Hirer Angti. Tokhun ami khub chotto. Or chobi ami dekhlam 1999 e…....naam chilo “Unishe April”, shey ek odbhut ma meyer golpo. Research korlam toh jante parlam Ingrid Bergman er Autumn Sonatar opore based kora chobi. French film with English subtitles chilo, besh bhalo.  Onar mritur khobor pe infact I was reminiscing Unishe April’s er first scene jekhane shobai beareved hoye condolence dite esheche. Ritu da’r bishoi shob jaante parlam internet theke ebong or shonge je shilpi ra kaaj korto. Tader interviews jokhun hoto tokhun buste partam real life e o kemun chilo. Or nijer library chilo, photography, admirer of flora and fauna, bhalo khetey, portey bhalo basto, very aristrocratic and his aesthetic sense was impeccable and matchless. Paint kora, make up kora, costumes choose kora aar shanghatik voracious reader chilo. Puro desh ghure chilo aar na na rokhumer writers der golpo national international aar films of different genre ja brevity of thoughts aar courage diye  potray korto sheta bhaba jayena. Nari shokti te nije ke ebong nijer mayer support ke identify korto.

Ritu da college er shomai naki jholar modhey besh ko ekta film society er boyi niye ghure bedato aar class room student chilo na..…eyi shob interviews e shunlam aar mone mone hashlam, ashol shilpi jonmaye shotontroto poribeshe, khola hawar modhey. Theek jemun Rabi Thakur, Einstein eder moton, jader creativity taarai jane bojhe aar aaste aaste nijer foundation toiree kore ekta beautiful aar intriguing Alpine Mountains hoye daaraye. College daze e nishchoi ekta odhbhut flamboyance thaake aar jaara jonmaye talent niye taara aro beshi energetic hoye aar knowledge gain korar ekta passion thaake tader modhey. Ora holo eyi shrishtir shobche shreshtho intellect, creativity, multi-dimensional, deep, extremely emotional with racing thoughts and ekanto aar peace bhalobashe jekhane nijer masterpieces ke jonmo dite pare. Ritu da advertising er jogot er shilpi chilo, borolene er jonno ekta caption toiree kore chilo. Ad world er lokera bolto je his captions had a middle class appeal. Ritu da’s films potrayed people from the society not fiction. Though the characters he drew were from proletariat as well as the bourgeoisie. His films were above stereotype societal norms and catered mostly to the classes not the illiterate masses. It is often revealed that Bengalis thronged the theatres and awaited his films, much to the dislike of the commercial film-makers and shallow audience, the echoes “what Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow”. Eyi rokhum honour er aro filmmakers achey like Shyam Benegal, Sudhir Mishra who made “Hazaron Khwahishein Aisi” that was remarkably dedicated to a spirited woman called Renu Saluja. It is also noticed the Mishra has touched the north with  films of audacity like Sardari Begum etc.

Bengalis’ generally adore Robi Thakur, Satyajit Ray, Aparna Sen, Ritwick Ghotok,  Mrinal Sen, Kaushik Ganguly etc. Ontotoh most of them Michaelangelo, Leornado – Da Vincir moton oshadharon bhabe supersonic intelligence, sensitivity aar  multi-faceted personalities hoche.

Chobi gulo protik ti bhalo hoye daariye chilo…. 1992 te Hirer Angti – ota directorial debut chilo, based on Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay's novel, 1994 e Unishe April , 1997 e Dahan 1999 e Bariwali, 1999 Asukh Bengali, 2000 e Utsab, 2002 te Titli,  2003 te Shubho Mahurat jeta Agatha Christie novel – The Mirror Cracked er opore based chilo, tarpor ashlo Robi Thakur er golper opore lekha Chokher Bali- Binodini tremendous psychological struggle in her mind, tarpor Katha Deithilli Ma Ku Oriya, 2004 e Raincoat Hindi tey chilo, ota O’Henry golpo “The gift of the Magi” er opore based chilo. Chobi jokhun dekhlam tokhun buste parlam je Ritu da’r mother tongue Bengali tai chobi ta bangle tey toire hole otar underlying pathos ta ontotoh Bengali intelligentsia feel korte parto, 2005 e Antarmahal, 2006 e Dosar that dealt with infidelity, 2007 eThe Last Lear 2008 e…etao darun chilo…kemun ekta Shakespearan era theatre actor ekla hoye geche with the passage of time but in manic and grandiosity he recites the verses of the bard’s literature with phenomenal grace and pathos. Khela film tarpor Shob Charitro Kalponik, tarpor 2010 e Abohoman, tarpor Tagore er Noukadubi – Raima ke ekta Bengali well read and taught princess legeche aar baba aar meyr relation tao khub shundor with Dhritiman’s character,  tarpor 2011e Arekti Premer Golpo directed by Kaushik Ganguly, that dealt with homosexual relationship, pher ashlo ekta darun powerful story jaatey Ritu da ke prothom baar ami dekhlam - Memories in March. Eta te ami Ritu daar acting er modhey ekta odhbhut pensive manush pelam je melancholy modhe ache ebong shei melancholy ta golper modhey diye audience ke ki taan che. Golpo ta chilo khub deep aar typical societal norms ke periye lekha hoyechilo. Ekta gay manush aar taar premik er maar shonge oshadhoran relationship toiree holo…aar aste aste oder dujoner modey je kaoke haranor ja grief ta chilo sheta jaayeni kintu onek komlo bhalobasha diye ek onno ke. 2012 e Sunglass er bishoye shunchilam kintu dekha hoye ni amar.

Ami bhalo koriye jaantam jokhun or cinema gulo dekhtam, ekta odhbhut though provocation hoto, or cinema ta prothomoto “golpo” was always empowering and direction ekta flowing river er moto lagto. Satyajit Ray moton micro detailing e jeto. Prothomoto story drafting, script, cinematography, kon actor ba actress suit korbe kon role er jonno. Or shobche bodo contribution chilo Rituporna di, jaar bhitore je ekta super enduring womanhood ache sheta ke tule dhora……sheta onek bodo contribution chilo. Dahan, Paromitar Ek Din, Utsab shobetey ekta soft, feminine grace anlo. Shunechi je onek jaigai je o make up khub pochondo korto aar actress der make up aar touches ditoh. Ghorer light aar setting, costumes shobe tey or ekta touch thakto. Nijer bachar moton toiree korto cinema ke. Protek technician aar puro film  making group taar shongey boshe golper script ta narrate kora aar suggestion newa. Even  kajoger columnists der criticism er o proshansha kora aar oder ke phone kore janono je criticism ta bhalo chilo.

Ritu da ke onek ra bolto lonely, baba maara giyechilo, tarpor ma maara gelo jaar shongey khub close chilo. Ma ke bodhai miss korto. Tai or bhabona aar emotion er shrot chilo or ma aar protek female character or cinema te powerful hoto theek Robi Thakurer er Street Potrer moton (infact ekta radio teh or streer potrer drama taar narration nije koreche), Sarat Chandra er golper moton ba Satyajit Ray er Ghaire Bairer moton. Jekhane puro desh ekta delhi rape case ke niye etoh affected, shekhane Ritu da koto bochor dhore feminity aar female er shakti ke durga hishebey dekhiyechilo. Antarmahal ekta ironical portrayal chilo….ek dike etoh dominance of staunch priests aar feudal lords of Bengal der, badir mohila der opore otachaar aar chepe rakha, aar arek kone dike female form Durga protima ke oyi ottalikar  modhe rekhe taar pujo kora aar je balika bodhu ke otachaar korto oyi badir feudal lord taar chokher shamne ekebare durga moton toiree kore dilo murti ekta shabanno artisan. Artisan taar jonno oyi balika bodhu chilo durga. Onek symbolism chilo….hoyeto eyi depiction chilo that the balika bodhu daringly breaks away from the confines of that palatial house and ends the continued suffering.

Ritu da was highly influenced by Tagore aar onek research korto protek golpo ke present korar aagey. Chitrangada  bola hoye ota or nijer golpo chilo. Janinia koto ta shotto eyi convention ta. Kintu bhebe dukhoyi hoye. Ekta shanto manush chilo shey je.

 Rudra Chatterjee i.e. played by Ritu da who has spent his life going against society convention. As a young man he defied his father's wishes to become an engineer and became a choreographer instead. As he prepared for a performance of Tagore's Chitrangada, he and his partner decided to adopt. But there was one problem: same-sex couples are not permitted to adopt children.

Jiban Smriti Bengali Documentary on Rabindranath Tagore based on Tagore's autobiography, 2013..ami dekhini aar Satyanweshi Bengali Unreleased  film hoche jeta edit hoyeni. Dekhar icche achey…aar jani nischoi bhalo hobe. Okey onek lok bolto, je stree prodhan golpo lekhey aar onek kichu. Kintu amar mone hoto je mohashota debi jokhun stree prodhan golpo lekhe tokhun to keu kichu bole na. Ta chara Autumn Sonata, The Gift of the Magi, Chokher Bali, Noukadubi, The Mirror Cracked e gulor story toh male aar female ra likheyche. Ritu da just was medium to convey it grandly before the intellectual audience national , international both. Shudhu meyer character keno, shob chele rao impressive hoto or chobi te prosenjit, Tota Roychowdhury der ke darun legeche. Ritu da ke gay icon bola hoye…am proud Bengal pioneered in this kind of rare species.

Shudhu Ektai kotha bother kor chilo je Robi Thakur aar Sotyojit Ray er majkhane je bridge ta chilo sheta kaal bhengey gelo…..aar judbe ke aar ki bhabe sheta jaanina, there is a massive void ? Amader ke or onek kichu dewar theke bonchito holam onek rokhum kore. Or bhitorer grief taar jonnie amra bangali ra onek kichu pelam….onek kichu feel korlam theek Kurt Cobain er moton. Or cinema ekta lyrical odyssey hoto, social message thakto, emotionally sensitive hoto aar incredible “intellectually” stimulating hoto….…shob kothai hothat hariye gelo….shudhu memories roye gelo through his cinema.

Ritu  da my head bows down before you with a heart wrenched feeling that you gave us so much for the rest of our lives. Tomai Nondon, Robindro Shodon ba tomar studio te giye dekhte pelam na. Kintu tomar oyi sthir shorir dekhte bhalo lagto na amar…..….tomar teachings, haanshi, politeness with all, cinema, knowledge awakening kotha, emotion aar snigdho chehara bhalo lage. Tomai turban porle onek ta Swamiji moton lagto aar jokhun woman attires porte tokhun shotti khub charming lagto. I admired your sartorial clothing…theek bolte tumi je Jodi mey ra cheleder jama porte pare toh whats the harm in men wearing the same, after all men used to dress like this in ancient india….I salute the last maverick filmmaker after Ray. Thou shall live in a Bengali’s heart forever. Tomar jonno Bengal cinema prochondo rise korlo aar various international film festival e pouncholo. Tumi film jogot e shobai ke respectfully treat korte tai aaj protek ta manush tomar shroddhai tomai mone korche. Tumi state honor pele khub bhalo feeling holo…………..Beethoven er condolence mone hochilo.

Tumi Nari ke shomman dite, or shokti, intelligence, emotional strength  aar perseverance ke shomman dite eta ki khub bhul korte….ota toh nijer matribhumi keyi respect kora holo..tai na ?Tomar kotha bhable mone hoye ekta birat jahaj kothaye gobhir shomudror modhey dekhte dekhte …………….hariye gelo. Tomar Shubho Muhurat er chobi theke mone porey ekti robi thakur gaan…”Jibono moroney sheema na charaye…bondhu hey amar royecho daaraye”. Bondhu tumi puro baangali der buke……tumi chile ekta birat inspiration. Amar shudhu ektai biniti thakur ke…tumi jeno abar jonmao…eyi prithibi tey….onek kichu roye gelo…chere gelo mone hoye…..onek onek knowledge. Puro world bonchito holo bisri bhabhe…..world tumi shudhu mone rekho…eyi legend take Jodi er proti puraton prem dhaka pore jaaye aar notun aro filmmakers aashe. Shudhu eyi genius ti ke mone rekho !

By Mili Chatterjee

©Copright May, 30^th 2013

A New Year

The background music begins with a familiar sound of Christmas carols playing the “silent night and a holy night…all is calm all is bright, round the virgin mother and child..and Aparna Sen focuses the camera on the Anglo Saxon Park Street of the very bohemian Kolkata and its ostentatious opulence with huge Christmas icing cakes being served in the magnanimous “The Grand” ( fondly remembered as “Hotel Shah Jahan” of the famous book called “Chowronghee” by captivating author Shankar). Eventually the camera moves it to the flamboyant Anglos driving in the streets with balloon laden Standard Heralds, Austin Cambridge and all that’s vintage and grandeur to a dingy, dark railway bridge where a beggar women in torn clothes sits clinging and shivering with her child and the music in the background grows louder and piercing “round the virgin mother and child”. This was a small clipping from 36 Chowronghee Lane, much too now people’s delight, Aparna is known more for her placid plots and unconventional thinking in 15 Park Avenue, Titli, Sati, Unishe April, Paromitar Ek Din. Precisely, Chowronghee Lane with Jennifer Kendall (“Prithvi Theatres her brainchild”) was the beginning for her…and later won a national award in the early eighties of the modern century.

A divine 31^st afternoon when I visited a salon, where a typically shallow, flashy Punjabi lady (‘no offences to Punjab, just that most of them are rowdy”) sitting and doing her make-up and my attendant doing my hair spa. At the stroke of seven, everyone was rushing to their respective homes and the staff of the salon too waiting to leave for their houses. The owner of the shop was also Punjabi lady all dressed in black, wearing a micro mini dress, flaunting a loose cleavage with black stockings and boots (“giving me silent heart attack coz she was in her late fifties). One of the female staff members said “you are looking like a doll madam”, to which she gave a snooty and unpleasant forced smile showing as if this comment was not required from you.  A young lady was swabbing the floor and looked at me with a smile on her face. I smiled back and she replied, “Didi the haircut is suiting you, I said thank you and Happy New Year in advance”. After a while she came again and gave a watch that was lying at the massage room saying “I think you missed it there”, I said thank you so much. I asked her what she was doing on the New Years Eve, to change her mind. She said “Mam I do not have friends, neither can I afford to go to the dance parties” and looked at her colleagues who were also leaving. I said, “ok wish you all a very happy new year and no worries”, I am also staying home this eve so eat well, sleep well, love your family and begin your new year tomorrow.

And believe me that you all are going to celebrate the best New Year, take it from me. I am also staying home…tell me isn’t it better to watch television shows inside a warm blanket and eat home cooked food. The staff members greeted me with a smile and agreed. “One of them said, who kya hai na didi…hum se koi customer ache se baat nahin karta hai and jo karta hai hum unse wafadar ho jaate hai..aapko naya saal mubarak ho”. I had to slip away quickly from there before the owner would come and hang me somewhere on the wall on the grounds of infuriating her staff.

I was driving down in my car, buying few things from the market and had to stop to wish another one a new year wish. No no…this time it was the smallest black and white stray puppy on the planet lying around a municipal dustbin and poor children hovering around it. I stopped my car and realized that the puppy was bleeding and had got hurt. I had to pick up the dirty little thing in my car and rush to the nearest chemist shop. The chemist guy wondering what on earth I was doing asking for cotton and antiseptic cream on a new year’s eve. I tied a white bandage around its little foot and dropped it back near the dustbin where it was lying before. Fortunately its mother had arrived and I was relaxed and saved from adopting him (“though I know I cannot forget its docile face and contrarily the aggressive face of my landlord who would not have allowed a dog to stay in my paying guest accommodation).

My food arrives in the night, brought by a tiffin chappy whose a teenager. I opened the door and realized the chilly winter breeze and there he stood shivering and holding my tiffin box. I asked him as usual “ki korchish” he said..nothing didi, kichui na”, after a while he said…” tumi party teh jacho didi”, I said na re. Amio aajke tor moton badee teh thakbo, I’ll be staying home like you. I gave him some money and said do you like the hot chilly chaat of Noida. He said yes didi, then go for it tomorrow. He looked at me with a dazzling smile and believe me all of you readers, nothing in this world can replace the smile on that child’s face.He said “Thank you very much didi”, I said “Tui Engriji janish”, you know English. He said yes, I used to go to school. I said, what happened now? He said, well you know it I would not have been giving Tiffin’s from door to door. I realized and remembered my maternal grandma who used to say, “always look down below you will be complacent in life”, you will be happier in life comparing yourself with those who are have nots and not those who have. I have my house, food, parents, job and a decent life. I do not expect much and shall try to make other’s new years’ worthwhile rather than mine because the pleasure derived from this happiness is unmatchable and impeccable. Believe me!

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