Powerful Leadership Lessons from the "Missing Plate"
Once while on a business trip, I was invited by a customer delegate for dinner at an Indian restaurant somewhere in the San Francisco, Bay Area. The restaurant was managed and served by a sole waitress and the place was sparingly crowded. We were directed towards a table for four as we entered the restaurant. While the customer delegate and the other two inmates in our group took their seats, I rushed into the washroom for a quick one. When I returned to the table, it was noticed that the waitress had served only three plates on to the table. I took my seat. While the other two inmates started discussing the details on the menu, Indian savories and their preferences, the customer delegate looked uncomfortable. I unknowingly gauged the reason behind his discomfort as we learnt that the waitress was now busy attending other guests. It was obvious that the missing plate on the table was making him uncomfortable.
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| A silly picture I took outside my Hotel in the USA |
The next moment I found myself engrossed in conversations with the other inmates while the customer delegate stepped off the table, probably for a quick wash, I thought. When he returned, he was carrying a plate in his hand. It was not too difficult for me to realize that he had walked into the kitchen and grabbed a plate for me. While I expressed my dismay to him for his kind little gesture for me, he ignored it and joined us in rejoicing our experiences at the Golden Gate bridge from the earlier part of that evening.
This humble act of him left a big mark on my mind and imparted several strong learnings of leadership. While the debate of whether Leaders are born or made continues, this incident has taught me that there is a much more human angle to it.
Lesson 1: Leaders Respect
Respect is a powerful value. Respect is something we show when we treat each other right. In the above case, the customer delegate was our project sponsor and could have waited for the waitress to attend us. He could have called her and requested for the missing plate on the table. The customer delegate did notice that she was busy with other guests and hence, decided to take a small step to fix the situation he did not find worthy enough to live with.
Lesson 2: Living the change through collaboration
It was evident that the delegate was disturbed by the situation. Taking that extra step to walk into the kitchen and interacting for a fresh plate is a great example of collaboration that we see in Agile environments. The outcome was a faster time to value and a greater user satisfaction. Modern leaders do not order, they act.
Lesson 3: Imparting an Even Stronger Message
A message is strongly delivered through silent gestures and not through words. In a broader sense, the customer delegate was accountable for the successful delivery of the upcoming project – the reason for me being with him. He tersely demonstrated this by making me feel special by taking good care of me. Caring for one another is infectious and is a vital tool to make people feel responsible.
Lesson 4: Being Humble yet Effective
While in several Asian countries, the job of a waiter is not considered that respectable. Ones willingness to take up that task strongly advocates the effectiveness of servant leadership. While working in a team, being cross functional and self-organized promises the team’s velocity and predictability. Being cross functional makes the team member more effective and valuable for the team.
In most of the cases, leadership merely needs a compassionate heart, willingness to act and living up the change one wishes to see. Success is just a byproduct of such an act.
In our day to day life, a leader’s role is filled with several choices. A leader could escalate, request the missing plate, order it or opt to place it himself to bring in that human touch and effectiveness to meet larger goals.
So what's your take with that missing plate?
The Beaches, The Forts and the One Day Trip @ Alibaug, Raigad, Maharashtra
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| Beautiful view of the fort from Alibaug Beach |
Alibaug (Alibag) is a famous beach destination in close
proximity to Mumbai and Pune. It is merely 145 kms. from Pune and 30 kms. from
South Mumbai via. Sea route and 114 kms. by road. There are several beaches in
and around Alibaug; Alibaug beach, Thal Beach, Varsoli Beach, Akshi Beach,
Nagaon Beach, Kashid Beach, Korlai Beach to name a few. Beautiful Sea, a Fort
that gets surrounded by sea water, a few temples and a lot of fun. Alibaug is
the ideal place for a one day return trip. Alibaug is 145 kms away from Pune
and 30km to the south of Mumbai. There are some stunning beaches here along
with forts and temples! The Kolaba/Kulaba fort lies 2 kms inside the sea.
Kulaba fort gets surrounded by sea water at the time of tide. There are the Uma
Maheshwar and Balaji temples in Alibaug too.
Alibaug was developed in 17th Century by Sarkhel Kanhoji
Aangre the naval chief of King Shivaji’s Kingdom. Bene Israelite Ali was a rich
man in the city and owned many plantations of mangoes, coconuts in his gardens.
So the local people called the place Alicha bagh (Gardens of Ali) which became
in due course, Alibaug. Alibaug is the seat of District Administration of
Raigad (formerly Kolaba) district since 1852. The name Kolaba is attributed to
a Sea Fort Kolaba built by Shivaji the great Maratha Ruler, in 1680 to fight
the mighty naval prowess of the Siddis’ (Abyssenians) of Janjira and the
British of Mumbai. Kolaba fort is famous for many battles, between Siddis and
Kanhoji Angre, the British and the Portugese.
Korlai Beach: It
is a quiet serene beach with alternate white and black sands, along a serene
stretch of the Arabian coastline, adjacent to a village of Korlai Creole
Portuguese speaking Indians. Just across the bridge, to the right there is
Korlai fort within the sea and attached to the mainland by a narrow land strip
through the Korlai fort through the Korlai Village. It is supposed to have been
built by the Portuguese in 1521. The main gate has an inscription which means
‘no entry without a fight’. The fort has seven gates, a sweet water well, a
church in disuse, a Hindu temple and a Lighthouse.
You can easily plan for additional excursions because of the
proximity of beaches and forts from Korlai. The beautiful beach of Kashid is
only 12.5 km from Korlai while the famous sea fort of Janjira is 30 km to the
south of Korlai, near Murud. The Karnala Bird Sanctuary is roughly 70 km away,
towards Panvel. White water rafting on the river Kundalika is another major
attraction. Visiting the Korlai fort today was a remarkable experience. The
fort looks devoid of maintenance and gave deserted looks. However, the view from
the fort was spectacular and offered a divine view of the sea and the shore.
Korlai Fort is a Nizamshahi-Portuguese fortification and was
built on a rocky ridge, ‘O Morro de Chaul’. In its heyday, the fort protected
the Revdanda Creek while also guarding its age-old companion Revdanda Fort on
the opposite side of the Kundalika River. Though the fort owes its origin
primarily to the Ahmednagar Sultanate, vestiges of the Portuguese occupation
are manifested in the distinct dialect of the Korlai villages’ inhabitants
which is Portuguese Creole. The fort had eight bastions and four entrances.
Inside, the architectural arrangement was unique with the fortification being
compartmentalized into eight quarters of irregular size, each with its own
arched entrance built in European style with steps and equipped with guns.
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| Magnificient View from the Korlai Fort |
Korlai village is at a distance of 25 kms from Alibaug.
State transport buses and private six-seater rickshaws regularly run from
Alibag to Korlai. A good motorable road from Alibaug en route to Murud takes a
visitor to Korlai, where the fort still stands in its full majesty because the
remains have been well preserved. Visitors can climb up to the fort in about 20
minutes via steps from two sides - the east and the west. The western approach
starts from a modern lighthouse. The eastern approach has a good view of the
river Kundalika and the Revdanda Fort.
Mandawa: It is
situated about 20 km north of Alibaug. The catamaran/ferry services are
available from Mumbai to the Mandawa jetty. Many Bollywood celebrities own
bungalows here.
Kaneshwar Mandir:
It is situated about 17 km away from Alibaug to Karlekhind – Chondi road.13 km
from Alibaug in Northeast direction is this very famous Shiv temple on a 900
ft. high hill. It is a 5000 ft. long climb on well paved stairs, which takes
around one hour. Landmarks along the route are tombs of MohanGiri and Balgiri,
Nagoba Rest, Jambhali Plateau, God’s stair, Gaymandi etc. It comprises various
small temples of Sri Paleshwar, Sri Hanuman, Sri Balram Krishna and Lord Shiv.
Kashid Beach: It
is 36 km away from Alibaug, on the Alibag-Murud highway, also this beach is
possibly one of the cleanest and most beautiful beaches in the region with
almost ‘white’ sand. There are many cottages and resorts available ranging from
around RS:1500 to RS:20,000. Prakruti resort is the luxury and the costliest of
all. One can find water sports facility and number of small shops for snacks.
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| Alibaug Beach |
The Everlasting Impression of the Elephant Show in Pattaya, Thailand
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| The Elephant Show at Pattaya, Thailand: Beauty and the Beast |
The elephant show at the Noong Nooch Village was a
spectacular experience while at Pattaya. Our rendezvous with these mighty
creatures at this show really made us believe that elephants are not any less
brainy and skillful than human beings. The show started with a bang as a trail
of elephants walked in the arena all arranged in a systematic queue arranged by
ascending order of their sizes. It was such a great fun to watch how their
sizes went up from the baby elephant to the mightiest one. Each of the elephant was holding the
tail of his predecessor by his truck. That was a warm welcome to the huge crowd
which had gathered to enjoy this beautiful show.
It is quite common to watch elephants in circuses performing
usual but marvelous skills like throwing a ball, batting, riding a bicycle and
bowing down at the crowd. These elephants were pretty much acquainted with
these usual skills. What really caught my attention was that some of these
elephants were real state of the art Painters. They were so skillful in gently holding
the paint brushes in their trunks and placing them artistically on the paper.
The paintings were truly remarkable. Such paintings would otherwise be
difficult for most of the men and women around. These brainy elephants managed
to complete the painting the T-shirts with oil paint so efficiently that the
owners of the show we easily able to make some money out of these
elephant-painted T-shirts. The was a corner beside the show arena where they
sold these T-shirts at premium rates.
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| A Warm Welcome by the Elephants |
Another thrilling part of the show was asking the volunteers
amongst the crowd to lay on the ground and few of these elephants enacting to
crush them up. Well, this really does not sound funny but this rather blew up
my mind. Interestingly, there were few crazy volunteers who came forward and
bravely laid down with full faith and confidence on these super mighty animals.
It was real scary to watch them walking over the human volunteers,
intermittently holding their one leg up over the chest of the volunteer. These
elephants were smart enough to play the game, ensuring none of their guests get
injured, rather getting killed.
This show left an everlasting impression on my mind about
this species of mammals. Elephants indeed are thoughtful animals. Lord Ganesha
is hence idolized not only in India but also across Thailand and other parts of
Asia and the world. The elephant god stands as an epitome of wisdom and
knowledge.
'Pani-Puri' and the Visit to Mauritius
It was not too difficult for me to establish a friendly
relationship with Asim, my chauffeur during my business visits to Mauritius. With
his honest and friendly nature, it was too easy for me to mingle with him in
conversations which helped me to explore the new country, its culture, places,
landmarks and his personal life too. He was a man who was born in Mauritius,
stayed for his entire life on this island and humbly stated, “I have never ever traveled
outside Mauritius”. He lived with his wife and a two year old daughter who
shared similar past. It was a wonderful experience for me to get to know his
family during one of my visits to this island. The family spoke the local
language Creole. French is widely spoken across Mauritius for official and
casual purposes.
I got to know more about Asim and his family when they
joined us during our sightseeing tour one fine Sunday morning. Just like most
of the other Mauritian locals, the couple were a great fan of the Bollywood
movies. More importantly, Salmaan Khan. Asim’s wife proudly flaunted her
experiences when she publicly kissed the actor while he was on a shoot in Mauritius.
It was then when I complimented Asim for being such an open hearted husband.
Why should I feel bad about she kissing Salmaan, he said as he reiterated that
he himself is Salmaan’s greatest fan. This couple indeed depicted the
simplicity and innocence of an unadulterated human mind living on a beautiful
island. Movies was one of the biggest topic amongst the family even at home.
One of the questions which Asim asked me during most of our
conversations really touched me. “How does it look in India?”, he asked as he
stared at me for a satisfying answer in return. I was unable to understand his
question in the first shot. “Does everything in India seem the way it seems in
Mauritius?”, he asked as he clarified his earlier question. Well, it took a bit
of time and explanation for me to make him realize that Indian cities are bigger
than Port Louis and more polluted and corrupted than his innocent mind.
Everything else looks the same, the sun, the cars, the buildings, the trees and
the sky too, I tried to explain him in better words. I invited him to India and
offered him to stay at my place if he ever planned to visit. But, it seemed
like a dream to him, a dream of which a poor chauffeur like him was unsure of
its realization. “Yes, I will”, he mumbled.
That Sunday, when I was about to get dropped at the Guest
House where I was resided, I heard Asim’s wife and Asim murmuring something amongst
themselves. I was about to travel back to India the other day and Asim was
pretty much aware that I was scheduled to travel back to Port Louis a week
later. Probably, he had shared this information with his wife too. I realized
that there was something Asim’s wife was trying to instruct him on. When I
interrogated, Asim opened up. “Can you please get Pani-Puri for us from India?”,
he asked hesitantly. We have watched Bollywood actresses craving for it in the
movies. We really wonder how it really tastes there in India. I was flabbergasted
by their simplicity. Spontaneously I promised them that I will bring it next
week.
Carrying a bunch of Pani-Puri without breaking them in the
check-in baggage was quite a challenge. I was not sure if carrying a water
bottle filled with the sweet and spicy Pani (water) was a good idea. I must
thank my smart wife who suggested me to carry the water concentrate which gave
the same effect. It was too difficult for me to resist carrying a few other
Indian sweets which would really amaze Asim and his wife.
It was such a wonderful feeling when I handed over the
Pani-puri to Asim during my next visit to Port Louis. He was very much amazed
to see me keeping my promise. “My wife will be very happy to taste this!”, he
spoke as he was overwhelmed. When I started back to India after the business
visit was over, Asim came to drop me at the airport. This time he was with his
wife and little daughter. Initially, I thought that they were just along but
later Asim clarified that they had been with him to accompany me to the
airport.
“Hi, Good Uncle”, said the three year old as she smiled at
me.
“Aapki wajah se mera barson ka Pani-Puri khane ka sapna poora
hua”, Asim’s wife said as she thanked me from the bottom of her heart. I had
never imagined that eating Pani-Puri, for someone in Mauritius, would be such a
big dream. I was mesmerized by the impact I had unknowingly left on their
minds.
“We have come just to see you off to the airport and we are
not sure if we could ever meet you again”,
Asim’s wife said as she handed over a soft toy to me. “This is for your little baby!”,
she said. I accepted the gift after she insisted. I left the island for one
last time with a very heavy heart.
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Asim and his family
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Experiencing the Reign of the Peshwa Rulers at Modern Pune, Maharashtra
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| The fortified palace of Shaniwar Wada that once stood strong is today just a remains |
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| The pathway from within the palace to the fortified wall which even today stands firm |
The Shaniwar Wada, built in 1732 CE is one of the greatest
identity of modern Pune which embarks the glorious past of the Peshwas, the rulers
of the Maratha empire in 18th century. The monument today stands
still despite the trauma it has suffered in the past. The palace was constructed by Bajirao I in the 1730. One of
the buildings in the Shaniwar Wada was 7 storied. There is a story told about
why this place was chosen for the construction. The Thorale (Elder) Bajirao once
saw a rabbit chasing a dog at this place. Inspired from this Shaniwar Wada was
built, a place which would never see defeat. It used to be the headquarters of
the Peshwas and it symbolizes Pune's culture even today. Looking at the
construction one understands how the structure was built giving highest priority
to the security. The main entrance is known as 'Delhi Darwaja', others have
named like Ganesh, Mastani, Jambhal, Khidki. There is a statue of Bajijrao I riding a horse in front of Shaniwar Wada. This statue is prominently seen from the main street as well. Inside the Shaniwar Wada, one can see the Ganesh
Mahal, Rang Mahal, Aarsa (Mirror) Mahal, Hasti Dant (Elephant Tusk) Mahal,
Diwan Khana, Fountains. Currently renovated and also have a light & music
show. The main part left is Nagarkhana which gives glorious inside view.
This is an expansive palace with its impressive fountains and gardens. The
palace was the seat of the Peshwa power which was later destroyed by a fire in
1828. Today’s remains of this great monument are the walls that fortified this
palace, with their sturdy doors, studded with spikes for added protection.
Nearby is a street where the Peshwas unleashed elephants to trample dissidents
to death. This palace is
today managed by the Archaeological Survey of India and the tourist visiting
hours are between 8 am to 5 pm. I had visited the Shaniwar Wada earlier at an
entry fee of Rs. 5/- but now the visit fees have been increased to Rs. 15/- and
that made my total spend for the day to Rs. 35/-. Kids below the age of fourteen are allowed free of cost.
The visit to the historic Shaniwar Wada brought be closer to the era of the Peshwas. Reading through information scribbled about the palace, it really brought be closer to these historic men and women. I spent some time at the Mastani Darwaza (door) which was the door meant for the beautiful second wife of the Bajirao Peshwa I. My thoughts wandered and imaginations went on and on. It was a divine feeling to experience standing on the land where these rulers of the past once stood and stayed.
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| View of the Bajirao I Statue from the Delhi Darwaza depicting the glorious history of the Peshwas |
Later, I spent some time at the Saras Baug. Watching the fish inside the beautiful pond in this garden is a very serene experience. There is a beautiful Ganesh temple right in the center of the garden. Beside the temple there is a small museum which has a beautiful collection of various antique Ganesh Idols. This museum has no entry fee.
Reaching the top of the Parvati Temple from Saras Baug was a bit tiring experience. I managed to reach the Parvati temple without a halt which gave me a sense of accomplishment but really made me feel hungry. To my amazement there was a small canteen on the top of the Parvati temple which came to my rescue. I grabbed a couple of Wada Paav (famous Indian Burger - Rs. 12 each) and a bottle of water - Rs. 20/- which made my spending for the day to Rs. 99/-
Besides the Parvati temple, there is a beautiful Peshwa Museum. This palace where this museum is built in was originally built by Shrimant Peshwa in 1795 CE. Part
of the same has been converted into Peshwa Museum. Being a lover of antiques and being a numismatist myself, I visit this museum every time I visit Parvati temple. It is a great collection of Peshwa Paintings, old coins, weapons, toys, clothes, utensils and documents. The entry fee to this museum is presently, Rs. 10/- per adult. Near the museum is situated the Samadhi Sthaan of Shrimant
Nanasaheb Peshwa, who died here due to the intense grief experienced by him
when his son Vishwasrao and elder
brother Bhausaheb lost their lives in the historic war of Panipat. The Peshwa Museum has been built using part of the Peshwa's
Mansion, using many old carved wooden pieces and displays a collection of items
belonging to the Peshwa Era. The museum contains paintings of all Peshwas, Maratha
Sardars, their family members along with the arms, articles and coins which
were in use in Peshwa era. The entire palace of Sardar Bhuskute of Burahanpur
(M.P.) has been installed in the museum. The rare collection is displayed in
the museum and hence treated to be the most important museum connected with the
history of Pune and Peshwa Raj. Samadhi
Sthan of Shrimant Nanasaheb Peshwa is now renovated and converted into sabha
mandap where the paintings relating to various battles fought by Marathas are on
display. Some of the beautiful paintings of Peshwas are also displayed in the
hall.
The Majestic Matheran, Raigad Is a Perfect Weekend Destination
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| A Majestic View from the Alexander Point in Matheran |
In city life we stay & travel in cement jungle. We can not experience true nature and its love. We always think for go to outstation to relax, to stay from busy & hectic life. But it’s not always possible to get away from city within two-three days of time. Where Matheran is really such amazing place where nature is playing active role with you and where you can enjoy every breath with nature within in the weekend time.
Matheran is a most famous and coolest Hill Station situated in Karjat Tahsil, Raigad District of Maharashtra, India. Matheran is the smallest hill station of India. It is located on the range of Western Ghats at height of 800 m (2625 Feet) above sea level. The name Matheran means either ‘Forest on Top’ or ‘Woodland overhead’.
Matheran is located around 90 km from Mumbai, 120 km from Pune and about 320 km from Surat.
Matheran is awesome place for to spend weekend.
Matheran as a Hill Station was discovered by a British, Mr. Huge Mallet, the then Collector of Thane, in 1850.
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| A local Matheran Villager heading back home |
Matheran is an eco-sensitive region, declared by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India. It is one of the few places in the world where vehicles are not allowed, which makes the place different from others. Matheran takes you over a hundred years back in time when there were no vehicles. Because of vehicles being banned in Matheran, the place is quite peaceful despite the thousands of lakhs coming to visit throughout the year.
There are lots of lookout points that provide spectacular views of the surrounding hills and valleys. Matheran has a reasonably dense forest cover.
Matheran was discovered by Hugh Poyntz Malet, the then district collector of Thane district in May 1850. Lord Elphinstone, the then Governor of Bombay laid the foundations of the development as a future hill station. The British developed Matheran as a popular resort to beat the summer heat in the region.
Matheran is connected to the town of Neral which lies at the base of the hills. A tar road connects Neral to Dasturi Naka which is 9 km (5.8 miles) from Matheran. In order to maintain Matheran's uniqueness,no vehicles are allowed beyond this point. The other mode of transport is a 2 ft (610 mm) gauge narrow gauge railway, which links the town to Neral. Neral also has a broad gauge station which is on the busy Mumbai-Pune route. Neral is well connected by railway line with Karjat being the nearest Junction. The Matheran Hill Railway was built in 1907 by Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy and covers a distance of 20 km (12.4 miles), over large swathes of forest territory. The Matheran hill railway had been inspected by UNESCO world heritage site officials in the last week of October 2009. The official declaration of its status as UNESCO world heritage site like other hill railways of India like Kalka-Shimla, Darjeeling hill railway & Nilgiri mountain railway will be declared by July 2010. The railway officials are very hopeful of getting the UNESCO world heritage status from the views expressed by the inspecting officials. The heritage status will boost the tourist activities in the area.
In the floods of July 2005, around 70% of the railway lines were damaged and did not reopen until April 2007 after repairs at a cost of Rs 2-2.5 crore.
Matheran has been declared an ecosensitive region by the Union Environment Ministry and can be called a Health Sanatorium in itself. The only form of automobile allowed in Matheran is an ambulance operated by the Municipality. No private automobiles are allowed. Within Matheran transport facilities available are horses and hand-pulled rickshaws.
Matheran is one of the popular getaway for people from Mumbai and Pune, it is a quiet hill station located on the Sahyadri range. Matheran, Meaning 'forest on top', was discovered in 1850, by a district collector of Thane, Hugh Poyntz Malet, and the foundations for its development was laid down by Lord Elphinstone, the then Governor of Mumbai. Matheran has been listed by the Union Environment Ministry as an eco-sensitive region and is connected to the closest town of Neral by a narrow gauge railway, operating since 1907. As no vehicles are allowed in Matheran, one has to drive up to Dasturi Point, 11 km ahead of Matheran, from where you could reach the main bazaar either by foot or on pony.
Matheran lies in an elevated region, enjoys a cooler and less humid climate which makes it popular during the summer months. Temperatures range from 32 °C (90 °F) to 16 °C (61 °F). Matheran has a huge number of medicinal plants and herbs. The town also has a large monkey population, including Bonnet Macaques and Hanuman Langurs. The nearby Lake Charlotte is the main source of Matheran's drinking water.
Languages spoken include Marathi, Hindi, and English. There are a lot of Parsi bungalows. Beautiful old British-style architecture is preserved in Matheran. The roads are not metalled and are made of red laterite earth. There are many "points" (viewpoints) in Matheran which give a panoramic view of the plains below. On clear nights, the lights of Mumbai are claimed to be visible.The Baal Dhamaal Experience Made Me A Better Parent
The Sunday of January 10, 2016 was a big day for me and the school students of the
various Government Schools of Pune who participated in the unique event called “Baal
Dhamaal” organized by the Indian Sponsorship Committee (ISC). The committee has
been arranging this event for several years for now. My participation as
volunteer in this event has taught me newer lessons of Humanity and a better
sense of Parenting our kids. With nearly 650 kids participating from the age
groups ranging from six to fourteen years, the event seemed like a herculean task
without the support of the Volunteers who volunteered from several Corporates
in Pune viz. Zensar Technologies, AXA, Tech Mahindra and Symbiosis . This was
my first activity being a Zensar volunteer and as an active member of our
Corporate Social Responsibility team. Undoubtedly, after this day long event I
walked away as a different, changed and a very improved person. What a way to
start the year!
Zensar has been consistently providing financial and
volunteer support to ISC for several years in order to arrange and execute this
event. This year we had been looking after the kids of 9 and 11 years of age
group. Specifically, I was looking after the 11 years group right since their
buses off-boarded them at the venue, the Loyola School Grounds, Pashan. Almost
all of these kids hailed from the economical weaker sections of the Society.
Their parents toiled hard under the sun as laborers at the brick building
workshops. The fact these poor parents managed to send their children to School
was a great thing in itself. I was informed that during the past few years, these
School kids participated in the Baal Dhamaal event, played games without footwear
or shoes. This year, the main sponsor of the event had sponsored Sport Shoes
for all the kids which was one of the best gifts a Corporate can donate in the
context.
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| Inaugural Briefing at the Baal Dhamaal 2016 |
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| Zensar Volunteers for Baal Dhamaal 2016 |
After the breakfast and inaugural speech, the kids were
really excited to exibit their spirit of Sportsmanship with the games that we
had arranged for them. The day continued on the sunny playground and we managed
to conclude the toughtest task for the day – finalizing the list of winners.
With all the energy these kids brought up on the table, it was a very difficult
task to choose only a few winners. But, this is what the spirit of
Sportsmanship is all about, isn’t it? The kids had a great learning and their
faces were filled with delight which spoke it all.
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| Drenched in the same color |
After the lunch and prize distribution ceremony, it was hard
to bid a good bye to these awesome little kids. A few of these kids managed to
build up a very special bonding with me and several other volunteers. I am sure
they would remember me for a few days as an “Uncle” who served me food, a “Sir”
who took us to the toilet and brought us back to the group or as that “someone”
who tied up their shoe lace. Whether or not these kids would remember me, I am
sure to remember this act of humanity for the rest of my life.
Delhi's Street Food | Parathe Wali Gali
The North Indian Food has been an identity of India for ages and nothing can beat the taste of Delhi's street food. Delhi's Parathe Wali Gali viz. Delhi's Paratha Avenue in Chandani Chowk has been serving hungry food loving souls for decades or probably centuries. This place is situated right besides the Gurudwara Sisganj Sahib in Delhi. I traveled explicitly to this place from the New Delhi Railway Station by a local taxi.
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| Parathe Wali Gali |
A Paratha is essentially made of whole wheat flour and traditionally stuffed with vegetables like Potatoes, Paneer (a milk product), Vegetables viz. Raddish, Methi etc. Apart from the traditional flavors of Parathas, in modern days, there are more than 20 varieties of Parathas available here. The prominent ones being the Kaju (Cashew) Paratha, Chilli Paratha and Papad Paratha.
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| The Kaju (Cashew) Paratha |
Parathas are traditionally served with sabji (vegetable curry) or curd (yogurt). Other servings accompanied with Parathas may include sweet tamarind chutney, mint chutney, mixed vegetable pickle, paneer and potato curry, potato and fenugreek curry, and a sauteed mash of sweet pumpkin. The curry essentially consists of vegetables such as muttar (green peas), Aaloo (potatoes) and so on. The banana chutney which was served to us added to our amazement.
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| Curries Accompanying The Parathas |
Kulchas, a type of leavened bread are similar to Parathas but the main ingredient in it being Maida (fine wheat flour). In the state of Punjab it is also known as Amritsari Naan. The Parathe Wali Gali served us a delicious dish of butter filled Kulchas with Boondi Raita (Yogurd Dish) and Curries.
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| A Kulcha Dish with Boondi Raita, Choley Sabji and Paneer Curry |
Although the place is known for Parathas, it was amazing to see several other delicacies served here. The Raj Kachori is something that really caught my attention. The mouth watering huge Kachori looking like the famous Pani Puri (Golgappa) but had a huge diameter. It was stuffed with traditional chat ingredients, curd, sabji, slices of potatoes, sweet sauce etc.
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| The Raj Kachori |
Rabri was another notable dish I really enjoyed at the Parathe Wali Gali. This dish made from milk is not for the calorie cautious or a weak hearted. Rabri is a famous North Indian sweet dish made with dahi / curd (yogurt), flour, and a combination of bajra floor. Flour of Pearl millet (Bajri) is mixed with buttermilk to make a thick sauce which is kept in the sun to ferment. After about 3 to 4 hours, it is cooked by boiling until the flour is cooked properly.
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| Rabri |
The Parathe Wali Gali has been well-known for serving old traditional vegetarian food since long. Some of the shops here are as old as a couple of centuries. The owners of these shops are mainly Brahmins by caste and do not use Onion and Garlic in the food they prepare and sell. This may be an added motivation to Jain families who prefer a confined and very picky vegetarian food.
Grand Himalayan Adventure At The Bagini Glacier, Uttarakhand, India
There is a thin line of separation between adventure and craziness and a real vagabond and a good trekker knows this limit. The thrill lies in knowing this boundary yet attempting to test one’s limits thereby redefining this line of separation resulting in expansion of one’s adventurous space. Our trek to the Bagini Glacier in the Uttarakhand region of India was indeed one such experience. The summit was hosted by Grand Adventures India in May 2015 and was led by Rajender Singh (Raju), the Managing Director of Grand Adventures India. The 12 day event was an amalgam of fun, adventure and wilderness.
The Bagini Glacier trek was approximately 8 day event which included travel from Haridwar to Jyotirmath (lately Joshimath), Joshimath to Bagini Glacier via. halts/camps at Jumma, Ruing and Dronagiri villages and back to Haridwar via Joshimath. The 12 day of expedition includes rail travel from Mumbai to Haridwar via. New Delhi. There are several rail and road options available to reach Haridwar from New Delhi and back. Several trek organizers provide packages from Haridwar to Haridwar. Our decision to trek with the ever enthusiastic team of Grand Adventures led by Raju undoubtedly turned out to be the best decision. Our excursion team included a team of 8 novice trekkers, 2 cooks, 4 helpers and 6 mules to carry our material and supplies.
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| Towards The Bagini Glacier With Mr. Rajender Singh |
Journey from Haridwar to Jyotirmath (Joshimath), Uttarakhand
Although the journey towards Haridwar was a long and tiring one, the mesmerizing view of the mountains and the curvy roads kept us awake and alert. This 9 hour journey made us realize that we were actually traversing through the land chosen by the Gods. We felt the sense of accomplishment as we crossed each milestone of our this journey viz. Rushikesh, Rudraprayag, Srinagar, Karnaprayag, Devprayag, Pipalkoti etc. Watching several small teams queuing for river rafting at the river in Rushikesh was a beautiful experience. All these small towns were well established across the river flowing down from the various Himalayan peaks and we were quite aware of the fact that reaching Joshimath would be just the beginning of our adventurous climb of the Gadvaal Himalayan ranges.
Jyotirmath got it’s modern name viz. Joshimath from the Indian Army men. This is the last town where you could buy supplies and equipments needed for your trek. Joshimath is believed to be amongst the 4 major maths (institutions of religious teachings) established by Adi Shankaracharya. During my course of stay at Joshimath, I visited the Jyotirmath and witnessed that sanctity of the Kalpavriksha (Immortal Tree) where Adi Shankaracharya is believed to achieve enlightenment. The math today is a home for few Sadhus who take care of an ancient Shankaracharya seat with a deer skin on it. We met one of the Sadhus who encouraged us to donate something for the ashram. Later, we also had a chance to visit the Lord Narsimha temple which is just a 10 minutes walk from the Jyotirmath.
We reached Joshimath early evening and rested at the Birla Guest House, inaugurated by the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1960. The place was one of its kind with a majestic view of the snow capped mountains and various species of flowers waiting to welcome every visitor of the place. After almost 10 hour of our journey, a place like Birla Guest house was all that we longed for to have a hot water bath and a good night’s sleep.
Joshimath to Ruing Village (via. Jumma)
The very next day was the first day of our trek and we started early morning at 7 o’ clock after a quick breakfast and a clean bath. We knew that this would be the only proper bath we could have for another 6 days. The earlier night we spend few hours in buying small yet crucial things that we would need for our trek at Joshimath. The most crucial amongst them was a battery operated torch. We were about to reach a place which was not trespassed by the urban dirt – the place that lacked even basic amenities like electricity.
Joshimath to Jumma village is approx. 45 kms. travel by road. We took a couple of gypsy vehicles that carried our food supplies, clothes, tents, sleeping bags and cooking equipments. I am grateful to our 6 mules who selflessly accompanied us all throught our trek. Their owners, however charged us Rs. 200/- per day for each extra bag. The road to reach Jumma is well built by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) except a few patches that may need some repairs. After reaching Jumma, each one of us got equipped with their shoes, walking sticks and much required high spirits and will power.
The journey from Jumma to Ruing village begins by crossing a big metallic bridge built across the river Bhagirathi (Ganga). The sheer view of this bridge was so adventurous that it was enough to give us a glimpse of the kind of time we were going to have in the next few days. The winds blowing across the bridge was so powerful that it could have easily swept away a toddler if he had attempted to cross it. With much effort and calmness of mind, each one of us was successful to cross this bridge which marked our first accomplishment.
Joshimath to Jumma village is approx. 45 kms. travel by road. We took a couple of gypsy vehicles that carried our food supplies, clothes, tents, sleeping bags and cooking equipments. I am grateful to our 6 mules who selflessly accompanied us all throught our trek. Their owners, however charged us Rs. 200/- per day for each extra bag. The road to reach Jumma is well built by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) except a few patches that may need some repairs. After reaching Jumma, each one of us got equipped with their shoes, walking sticks and much required high spirits and will power.
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| Towards Ruing Village: Crossing the Iron Bridge at Jumma Village |
Camping At The Ruing
Jumma bridge adventure was just the beginning and reaching Ruing village was a 3 kms. trek – a steady climb over the mountain offering serene view of the mountains over the horizons. It was 11 o’ clock in the morning and the walk was rather sweaty but was enough to warm up our bodies.
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| A Breathtaking View from the Ruing Village Camp |
Reaching Ruing was one of the memorable experiences we had. Although Ruing was our first camp site, it was the most beautiful places we camped right in the heart of the snow capped mountains, on lush green lawns.
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| At Ruing: Is That Just a Ray Of Light Or The God Himself! |
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| With The Local Kids Of The Ruing Village |
The next day we got up early and headed towards Dronagiri. The mountain of Dronagiri has a Hindu mythological significance. It is believed that Lord Hanumana, in search of a herb called Sanjeevini Booti, chop lifted the Dronagiri mountain in order to save the life of Lord Laxmana. It is believed that this act of Hanumana was not welcome by the then villagers of Dronagiri and that they even do not pronounce his name after this ancient event. I personally had a word with a couple of Dronagiri villagers and learnt that they have a firm belief in Hanumana and they are not happy with his act. The villagers showed me a cliff they all venerate till date as a mark of respect to Dronagiri Mountain. Although the mountain is far off from the actual village, this cliff which is venerated is an epitome of the Dronagiri Mountain. The actual Dronagiri Mountain is covered by snow since ages and the snow it is wearing dates back to centuries. After a careful glare of the Dronagiri Mountain, it was rather difficult to figure out which part of the mountain was actually chopped off by the Monkey God Hanumana. Amidst such mythological beliefs, most modern people find it interesting to hear such stories and get entertained.
Moving ahead from Dronagiri was another 9 kms. of trekking experience. It was Day 2 of our excursion and we were exhausted after we reached the village of Dronagiri. This trek spanned every aspect of trekking we had every imagined. Walking through rain forests, waterfalls amidst the Mountains, crossing the deepest valleys, crossing risky landslides on the Mountains, walking over uneven and slippery pavements was very much common by now.
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| The Most Challenging Patch (landslide) At Dronagiri |
The riskiest part of the 9 kms. long trek was the patch with landslide. Any uncalculated step would have landed us more than 200 feet down the valley. This patch was landslide prone and any daily attempts by the Public Works Department (PWD) proved futile to fix the path. This was a real challenge esp. for a first time trekker. The fact that there was no other option than to cross the patch gave the push to each one of us. The sense of accomplishment and grand feeling of achievement after overcoming this hurdle cannot be penned down literally.
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| A Sense of Accomplishment Engulfed Us As We Headed Towards Dronagiri |
I could feel the agony and ecstasy on my wife Priya’s face after She successfully completed this hurdle. Being a first time trekker, She certainly deserved due appreciation.
Camping At The Dronagiri - 11,844 feet
Temperature dropped steeply as we moved and gradually climbed our way. Our next camp was Dronagiri. In the month of May, when the rest of the country is quibbling over the soaring heat, we had started adjusting our bodies with the temperature falls and high altitude sickness.
The village of Dronagiri seemed like a deserted village. It was a home for approximately 50-60 families but most of them had left the village to other places. The villagers here stayed for 6 months of the year and after the onset of the rainy season they stay at other places in Chamoli District.
“What under the sun makes you feel come here?”, I was interrogated by a curious villager.
She stated that Dronagiri was her in-laws place and that She had no choice than to stay in the village. The village lacked basic amenities of power supply, transportation, medical facilities and good schools. It is tough to build these facilities over a Mountain this high. I was speechless and was not able to answer her question. Probably, it was an irony that people who enjoy all such amenities feel like visiting such remote places in the name of camping. I was intrigued by the simplicity of the people living here and their generosity when they offered us tea and rice. It was so tough to get food supplies here and a good trekker would never want to steal away their supplies, I thought. The villagers here grew food esp. Rajma and Potatoes for themselves. Step farming was a common mechanism and most of the farmers grew food for themselves and the surplus, if any was sold away. We unanimously found the villagers here to be very friendly and sincere. Thankfully, the urban corruption was far away from their minds and souls.
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| The Dronagiri Villagers I Spoke With! |
We were tired to the extent of falling dead after we reached the Dronagiri camp. A two hour afternoon sleep was much needed to rejuvenate us back in action for the next day adventure. It was end of Day 3 of our camping and the journey was enthralling so far. Nights were very chilly; our lips had already started cracking and our skins had begun tanning.
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| Majestic View Of The Valley On The Way From Dronagiri To Bagini |
Dronagiri To Bagini Glacier Base Camp –
14,800 feet
The Bagini Glacier Base Camp was our final camp destination. We reached here from Dronagiri the very next morning after a 5 hour long trek. The Bagini camp was right in the middle of the river Bhagirathi (Ganga).
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| The Bagini Glacier Excursion Team |
The atmosphere here was filled with beautiful flowers, limestone deposits on the river bed and a majestic view of the snow capped mountains all around us. The beautiful glimpses of the wild deer added to the treat from the nature. The high altitude sickness had vanished by now and the cool breeze blowing from the Glacier was enchanting our minds.
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| The Bagini Glacier |
We camped at the Bagini Base Camp for 2 nights. The second day, we trekked towards the Bagini Glacier. It was summer time and the Glacier was constantly melting down to offer it’s pure water to the river downstream. Rainy season was fast approaching and it was time for the snow to get replenished. We witnessed the snowfall over the Mountain peaks intermittently. The weather changed drastically as we headed towards the Mountain Glacier. Climbing such a risky glacier was no child’s play. It is just then when a true adventurer has to spot the thin line between the thrill and the craze. The craze may lead a true mountaineer to the Summit and may also lead him below an Avalanche buried for years.
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| Looking Back: Success Is The Time To Review Our Past Mistakes |
On The Road Towards The Aru Valley, Kashmir
Imagine when a Mom asks her little child to close his eyes
and think of a fantasy world where nature flaunts it’s best imaginable view to
you. Walking down the meadows of the Aru Valley at Jammu and Kashmir was
exactly such an experience in this real world. A Vision as clear as a block of
crystal, you could almost see everything in high definition almost until the
horizon. The decision of visiting the Aru Valley was one of the best decisions
we have made during our trip to Pahalgam last year.
We started off early in the morning after a remarkable visit
to the Betaab Valley and Chandanwadi which took around 4 hours for us. We had
almost entire day to spend at Pahalgam. Hence, Instead of spending time at the
hotel, we decided to head up to the Aru Valley. Every single inch of the distance
we travelled to reach the Aru valley was photogenic and the landscapes that
passed by almost took our breath away every single moment. The snowcapped
mountains and the cool breeze was enchanting our minds and soul. Certainly, it
is not an usual experience in India to see clear river waters flowing through
the mountains beside the roads you are travelling on.
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| A Moment of Joy At The Aru Valley |
On our way towards the valley, we came across a wild life
sanctuary and a short glimpse of the spotted deer gave us an opportunity to
click our cameras. I wished that we could halt at every single meter of
distance to capture the gorgeous beauty of the mother nature of Kashmir! The hilly
roads were quite twisted and curved; quite enough to induce motion sickness for
few of us. But, the scenic beauty itself was quite enough for us to forget
every inconvenience that could have caused for us to reach the Aru Valley.
Ponies waiting for tourists and local kids and men playing
cricket amidst the beautiful mountains was a typical experience of the Aru
Valley. I feel too powerless a writer devoid of words to describe the ultimate
view I had after reaching there. Heaven on Earth, as someone has aptly tried to
express this feeling is what I could like to second.
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| The Beautiful View Of The Aru Valley |
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