The Amber Grasslands of Ropa

It was somewhere around the beginning of June this year when I along with 4 others were undergoing our internship in a hydropower project going on in Sainj, Dist. Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. We were in the last phase of our training and our funds were drying up quickly. We were all going crazy being cooped up in that little town and wanted to go for a trek somewhere for some change, but, there was the monetary restraint applicable on us. We needed to go somewhere cheap, less known and where there was no need for a night stay. At the same time, the place must be a mesmerizing. After asking around for some information from the locals the name ‘Ropa’ came up. Best part, the place from where we were going to start our trek was nearby and it took only Rs. 10 per head to reach there by bus. 

There were a total of 4 of us. One of our friends preferred to stay at room for some reasons. So, from Sainj we took a bus for Shangarh. From there it was a 7 km trek to Ropa. On our way up, we met some people who warned us and asked to make it down quickly. The trek possessed a serious problem of rock slides and on that day the chances of downpour was there too, not that high, but, it is always good to be aware of all the possible problems and risks that you may face. 

The trek was really beautiful. No crowding, honking of vehicles, chattering of humans. There was only the sound of the blowing breeze, rustling of leaves, chirping of birds and occasional intersection with herds of sheep. It was the true definition of a Himachal country side experience.  

In the beginning of our trek, we asked for directions,but, forgot to take a water bottle from the shop. As a result, after only 2 km we had our tongues hanging out for water. I was feeling so thirsty and tired that I had to walk shirtless, it found itself tied around my waist. Whenever we saw somebody we were asking where we could find some water. After some asking along the way, we found a group of people busy clearing the rubble on the road. They told us that we could find a small stream of water at a 15 minutes’ walk from there. The problem was that those 15 minutes appeared to be 15kms to us. We were just walking and walking and walking. After going some distance, we saw a person at a U-turn carrying a bottle of water. Just by looking at him our hopes went all up. He told us that we would find a boulevard near the coming Y-turn and that one would take us to our little paradise of water. 

We got a glimpse of the feeling how priceless water really is for a thirsty wanderer. Finally, when we found our stream, I thought of nothing and drank the water along with all the tiny sediments that it carried along with it and then the rest of us reciprocated the same, but, it was icy cold. Who gives a damn about filtering it when you are so thirsty that it feels like you are dying? 

That stream juiced us up and we were on again. The Ropa grasslands were then nearby, just 1 or 2 kms away. The trek was easy but extremely beautiful. I especially liked the cow shed that appeared along the way, it gave a sense of antiquity. We didn’t even realize when we reached Ropa. Before going to its 130 bighas majestic central grassland we first went to a shop for some cold-drinks. There the shopkeeper asked us not to trespass beyond a certain point (near the temple). He told that the last time a tourist did so, he was fined Rs. 3500. 

Later when we asked more about the place, he told us that the forest beyond that point is considered as some sort of sacred grooves. That area is an abobe to one of the incarnations of Lord Shiva known as Shangchul Mahadev. It is said that deep within the forest, only a person having a thorough knowledge of the geography of that region could find a Shiva Linga. Its size isn’t that large to be visible to everyone, only after careful searching one can find it and only once a year it is allowed to go to that place.

A View of the Shangchul Nag Mahadev Temple

The above picture was taken from the other side of the grassland and the tree line that you see there behind the temple, that’s the line beyond which no trespassing is allowed. 

As you can see from these pictures the magnanimity and the serenity that rules this place can’t just be captured by words. One has to visit this place personally to see what it really holds. Don’t expect tourists. There aren’t many here as I have already mentioned. This place holds a special place in the hearts of the local residents. The come here from different villages to have their wishes granted. 

On further inquiring about the history of this place, the shopkeeper told us an interesting story about the origin of this place and this is how it goes:

Once, the king of Kullu, Raja Bahadur Sing had a dream. It is said that Shangchul Mahadev visited him and asked him to go to Shangarh. Raja followed his faith and when he reached Ropa a huge snake appeared. Initially, the snake struck terror in the heart of the people who had come to welcome the raja and the raja himself. Later they realized that the snake was none other than Shanchul Mahadev. As per the deity’s orders, the Raja donated the 130 bighas of land in the name of the deity and the occupants of that village. Athough, there was a particular spot left.

As you can see in the above picture, there is a small patch of stones emerging from the earth. As a matter of fact, in the entire grassland you won’t even find a hint of stones exposed anywhere else. It is the only place. This exposed surface acts as the throne where only the king of this land is allowed to sit for offering his prayers. As per todays scenario, someone from the lineage of the present Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Mr. Virbhadra Singh.

Kids from the local school

 

While the three of us started running and jumping around the place, our friend Himesh was busy erecting his tripod for taking some clicks. It was then, when we saw from a distance that our dear friend was swarmed by a party of kids from the school located just beside the ground. The got him surrounded and started requesting in choir to take their pictures. As Himesh got himself busy, we couldn’t help but laugh.  

Finally, we ended up having a mind-blowing experience and pics of ourselves in all sorts of absurd but comic acts and postures- running, jumping, fighting, kicking, even flying and somersaulting. The ground was so appealing that it brought the true ourselves that was hidden somewhere inside of us. The other side of ours that wanted to deny the fact of maturity and enjoy some moments of utter stupidity. There are so many such amazing places around us. When you have the leisure try to have some moments with them as each of them has a different and wonderful story to tell.

Raj, Nishant, Gaurav and Himesh (from the left)

This is us. The four musketeers, defying the boredom and monotonous routine of our day to day lives. Out to enjoy some moments that will help us revive whenever we find ourselves around the same lies.

Special thanks to Himesh Rahi – The Librarian who took these and many more awesome clicks. A true librarian to carefully collect various memories and to keep them safe and sound. 

When I Call You a Behari...

The nationwide famous tag of “Bihari”. Is it used in the sense of appreciation or like some sort of disapprobation? We all know the answer. What is the reason behind this sentiment’s origin? On what reasons is it based on? Are those reasons just? Where does the origin of those reasons lie? Are we sure that we aren’t hiding our incapability behind the tag?

I will try to address these questions according to my views and research. I may or may not satisfy everyone, but, I request you to ponder on the issue and fathom the depth of this threat, a threat not only to our nation, if we look at the bigger picture we should see that such tags are a shame to the word ‘humanity’.

What I found was that somewhere around 1990s the economic health of Bihar was extremely detrimental and folks around there had to migrate to other states as a result of that. Their basic motive – a piece of bread and a roof over their heads. If we try to look at the reasons behind this economic crisis we are encountered by the following three points –

1.      Flooding by river Kosi (Sorrow of Bihar)

2.      Poor governance

3.      Rise in criminalization (especially in politics)

If we talk of the flooding caused by river Kosi, it is a problem that can be solved easily compared to the latter two problems. Why?

The answer is that when it comes to poor governance and criminalization, such trashes comes from the depth of the human nature and is not that easy to eliminate. As a matter of fact, we all realize within ourselves that these two hurdles are those which if solved could make the entire humanity to travel an entirely different and obviously peaceful course.

I am not going to go into the details of various criminal acts of the political parties in Bihar and of other places which have a direct influence on Bihar because they are a topic of huge and controversial debates of which we all know the answer deep within ourselves.

I will rather choose discussing about those points which matters in our day to day lives. Matters on which if we focus we can change a lot of things inside and outside us.

Here is a screen shot that I took from one of the links of ‘Quora’:

 

What this guy has shared is undeniably true, something that we have seen from our own eyes. We make the rules ourselves and then break them just for the sake of our convenience and fun. Two very common examples, over-taking from the left side and throwing the wrappers on the road or along if side even if the dustbin is just 10 ft away, the attitude says ‘who cares’.

When I was going through some links I found a compelling point put forward by the other party. According to them, Beharis have a tendency to dominate the local traditions and sometimes trying to overwrite them. Well, this is really a serious problem? What is its solution? I am not sure right now if I can answer about this correctly or not. The voices that I am hearing within me have the following words to say:

 If someone really believes in one’s own culture and teachings, I believe that it is really difficult to distract such person no matter how hard others try as Lord Krishna says “even if a person chooses to shut their eye lids, he/she can see the light in front of them. In a similar way even if a person chooses to do something wrong, deep inside he/she always know what the right thing to do is”. My point, we have fallen so low that we do the wrong thing consciously even when we know what the right thing to do is.

This Bihari sentiment and many similar ones have led to widespread violence. The following facts are picked straight from ‘Wikipedia':

1. In 2003, the Shiv Sena alleged that of the 500 Maharashtrian candidates, only ten of them successful in the Railways exams. 90 per cent of the successful candidates were alleged to be from Bihar. Activists from the Shiv Sena ransacked a railway recruitment office in protest against non-Marathi's being among the 650,000 candidates set to compete for 2,200 railway jobs in the state. Eventually, after attacks on Biharis heading towards Mumbai for exams, the central government delayed the exams.   
2. In 2000 and 2003, anti-Bihari violence led to the deaths of up to 200 people, and created 10,000 internal refugees.

Revenge makes us so blind that we end up harming countless other for something that they had to part in and then this cycle continues. This attracts the hyenas who seek their benefit amidst this confusion and adds more fuel to the fire.  I understand that sometimes situation arises where it is very difficult to curb the problem right at that moment. In times such as those the last thing we want is to act on a barbarous animal instinct. Patience, calmness and intelligence are the words that should guide our further actions.  

We tag others with the term ‘behari’ and filling this term with our own meanings. When we move on to some serious topics like nationalism, socialism and some other catchy words like that we completely skip the part where we have to look within ourselves before debating, lecturing and talking on them. We completely deny to see the fact that we are sometimes a part of the same rubbish that we despise so much. We all may have different culture, teaching and religion. As you all know, the common thing among them is the teaching to love others and unfortunately this one is the most misunderstood one. 

My point: when we indulge in acts that we know realize are wrong but still go with it, that is where the main evil lies. Solve it and we win over so many evils like dowry, bribery, corruption, terrorism and one can go on like this forever.

An Essay for Breathing

‘An Essay for Breathing’, how did this title or heading came into being. Well, it is somewhat like this-

Everyone needs to breathe, to breathe the air in. it is must to make one stay alive. Now, the question that remains – What one really needs to breathe except the monotonous air? Not to stay alive, but, to feel alive.

For me, I think it consists of four main blasts,

One, Cricket,

Second, Books,

Third, may be one of the most important things, a nice company,

And, now, finally the last but not the least, a piece of paper and pen to write myself down.

Today’s article of mine is about the last one and its passage through the first one. This article, this essay itself, right now, is the air that I need to breathe in. For this moment it is like my only survival instinct, just penning my thoughts down, all of them. I just want to go on writing about anything that comes not to my mind, but, to my heart.

Cricket. It feels like ages since I last swung a bat and felt its edges, its strokes; held a ball to feel its seam and the smoothness that rules a new ball, the aroma that endorses it. I am missing the adrenaline that rushes inside me while I make a dive to save some run, to have some wickets and to save mine. I just miss the air of the pitch and yards laying all around it.

It has been sometime that I came to realize the truth about my first and I guess the only love, ‘cricket’. For quite some time I blamed others for being the reason that halted me from going to a proper academy and to have the chance to train under a good coach, to take my level right to the apex. Today, I know the truth, realized it. I love playing cricket, not watching it, not reading about it, just one and only one thing, playing it. I can atmosphere that feeling flowing right through me just by holding my bat in hands, in my rooms, and, hitting some shadow balls right to the boundary.

I have got just the right words to conclude my essay. These words are from Nicholas Spark who wrote ‘A Walk to Remember’,

Love is like the wind,

You can’t see it, but, you can feel it.