Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Lok Awas Yatra (http://www.lokawaasyatra.net)

Day 1:

The first thing that strikes in Shimla is the chill. Even with three layers of warm clothes, I was shivering. A hot cup of coffee did a world of good.

The day began with ‘mooli paratha’ and ‘achaar’. Registration of ‘Yatris’ was to begin by 9.30. So, we rushed to the conference hall of Indian Institute of Himalayan Studies. A small but well-equipped room.

The presentation introducing ‘Lok Awaas Yatra’ was attended by the ‘Yatris, DA (Delhi and Shimla) and research officers of IIHS. Mr.Bansal, head of IIHS was the guest of honour.

After lunch, began the never-ending journey to Koti village. The roads are treacherous and all of us had to taste the soil of Shimla, such was the dust in the air. The journey took us almost 5 hours, 5 hours of jumping about in the bus.

But the visit to Koti was worth the journey. One has to see to believe that a small village, tucked away in a corner of the hills of Himachal, having a population of hardly 500, has invested so much in terms of non-conventional energy and development of basic rural infrastructure.

The winter night had started creeping in by the time we left Koti, with all its darkness and chill. At 11.30pm, after a whole day’s rumbling about, simple roti-subji with a glass of piping hot tea never tasted better. And at 1am, the bed never felt warmer.

Day 2:

Time:11.30pm
Place: Jibbi
Atmosphere: Clear sky dotted with innumerable stars. Many many more than you will get to see in Delhi.
Altitude: Around 3000m
Temperature: 2 degrees below zero. I think they should start measuring temperature in Kelvin, here in these parts. 271oK looks hot!!

Wooden floors with a green carpeting makes for a cozy room. One though needs to think twice before drinking water, for then, arises the needs to relieve. Which, I can assure you is an experience in itself. The bathroom is attached....to an open balcony, which is attached to the room.

At the ATC, we saw a prototype Trombe wall, a thermosyphonic air heating panel, a window box heater, at HimUrja we saw a central blower, all for heating up rooms. WHY DID NOT THEY USE ANY OF THESE HERE??

A few lines dedicated to the driver who brought us here. A young fellow with a love for cheesy Hindi songs (ones like ‘mera dil jiss dil pe fida hai, ik bewafa hai..’). And one who seems to know every third person on the roads. Though his driving skills are never in doubt. The way he is negotiating the curves gives one the creeps sometimes. At one point in our journey yesterday, we missed a turn. So, we had to turn back from a dead end. The ease with which he negotiated the turn, while we panicked, was an example of the safe hands (and feet!) we are in.

Day 3:

India, is such a land of diversities. Goes the cliché. It becomes more and more evident as you see different parts of the vast country. The topography, the food, the culture, the people.

The beautiful landscapes have to be seen to be experienced. The car manoeuvring snake-like winding roads, with a rock cliff on one side and a gaping valley on the other. A stream gushing some where below. The sound of flowing water rising above the drone of the engine and the tyres displacing small rocks off the roads. Then as the covering of trees clears, one can see the water flowing, making white frothy formations over rocks coming in its way.

On all days, we have broken the fast with ‘Paraathas’, of different flavours of course. The lunch has been at different places, so the quality of food also has been different on all days. Same goes with dinner. But a common point for all meals is that they are invariably followed by steaming tea. Tea, with some spices to keep you warmer. Another speciality we tasted today at the Great Himalayan National Park, was ‘Seddoo’. A momo like steamed preparation which has a rich filling consisting of apricots, groundnuts etc etc. Unlike a momo, the skin of this one was much thicker. Most of us said they could not eat one full, but I managed to eat two. Another difference with momo was, it is supposed to be eaten with desi ghee. And you have to do that fast or else the ghee will harden on your plate.

As for the culture and the people, it is too early to say anything. One needs to stay and interact more with the locals to understand the culture. One thing that I did mark was that the people are generally more cordial. Especially compared to the kind of behaviour we are used to in Delhi.

Another thing noticed was a school in progress in Jibbi. All children lined up for the assembly in a sunny, flat piece of land and began the day with some exercises. Prayers followed, beginning with “Vande Mataram” and a prayer that went, ‘agar kissi ka achchha nai kar sakte to bura bhi mat karo’. Then one of them who seemed to be the eldest muttered ‘attention-stand at ease’ a few times. The others moving about their legs at will. Then classes began. In the same piece of land. Under the winter Sun. The benches lined up in rows. How the teachers decided which class was supposed to do what, was a question that remained unanswered as we had to move on to our next stop. It was a great idea nevertheless. To study, and beat the winter chill at the same time.

The chill is getting on to me now(though its much better than yesterday, when the fingers had started turning blue with the cold). More for tomorrow, which promises to be another hectic day.

Adios.

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