Rakshika E-Magzine - National Defence College

2013
Rakshika E-Magzine
INDEX
Sr
No
Article
Author
Page
No
1
Foreword for Rakshika E-Magazine
President Rakshika
4
2
Editors Note
Kamini
5
3
The Missing Chirp
Bindiya Narain
6
4
CASPER AND OTHERS (Cartoon)
7
5
COMMANDANT INTERVIEW (Cartoon)
8
6
DOMAIN EXPERTS (Cartoon)
9
7
GOLF CAPTAIN _ 1 (Cartoon)
10
8
GOLF CAPTAIN _ 2 (Cartoon)
11
9
QUESTION HOUR (Cartoon)
12
10
STRATEGIC SLUMBER (Cartoon)
13
11
RAKSHIKA MONTHLY REPORT (Jan to Mar 13)
14
12
Cartoons
20
13
Little Known Facts
25
14
The Terminal Patient
Goolrukh Anand
39
15
Kingdom of Dreams
Mrs Kapoor Shalini
41
16
RAKSHIKA MONTHLY REPORT (April 13)
17
FCST: TANZANIA AND PORTUGAL
Mrs Goolrukh Anand
45
18
FCST: LAOS AND SOUTH KOREA
Harkirat
47
19
FCST: NAMIBIA – GERMANY
Mrs Shalini Kapoor
49
20
Journey to the Great Wall
Mrs Bindiya Narain
52
43
2
21
FCST: NIGERIA AND RUSSIA
Mrs Seema Tinaikar
54
22
WISH IT HAD NEVER HAPPENED
Mrs Bindiya Narian
57
23
FCST: ZIMBABWE UK 61
Mrs Binny
58
24
SINGAPORE Dream Destination Part 1
Nitu Channan
66
25
SINGAPORE Dream Destination Part 2
Nitu Channan
68
26
NEVER GO OUT
Mrs Paramjeet Singh
71
27
Namaste
Jamuna Rangachari
72
28
RETURNING TO WELLNESS
MRS. JAMUNA RANGACHARI 75
29
LOVE, THE POTENT FORCE OF OUR WORLD
Jamuna Rangachari
78
3
FOREWORD FOR RAKSHIKA E-MAGAZINE
BY
PRESIDENT RAKSHIKA
It is indeed a matter of immense pleasure and pride for me to write the foreword of the first
edition of Rakshika e-magazine as we all have pledged to go green. I am doing this with a deep
sense of gratitude to all the members of Rakshika. Over the years the Rakshikas have built the
camaraderie that is strong as ever. Its circle has been expanding and fostering a spirit of happy
bonding in being together as a family. Rakshika e-magazine is intended to be a true reflection of the
essence of this inclusiveness and a helping attitude core to our belief. It is heartening to note that the
Rakshikas have displayed this spirit in abundance.
The Rakshikas are lovely women, and some of them seem almost familiar. Their individual
personalities are distinct and well presented. They tease and cajole. They are always willing to jump
in with an opinion. And they are grateful to one another. It makes me wonder, how likely is any
contemporary woman to be part of a tight-knit group as that of rakshikas, who can and will drop
everything when a rakshika is in crisis?
Perhaps it is this very implausibility that will make this e-magazine appealing to a great number
of readers, undoubtedly mostly female. After all, who wouldn‟t love to have a dedicated group to
whom she might take “every opportunity to vent, cry, swear and question”? As you will go through the
e-pages of this magazine you will realize that it has something to offer for those rare, calm moments
when you have the chance to reflect on joy, happiness and unique experiences which you all shared
with each other in past few months and how it helped to deepen the understanding and broaden the
vision of Rakshika. I believe that the coming days will bring in unprecedented moments of exotic
destinations and mesmerizing events. The memoirs of these everlasting moments will undoubtedly
find a place in this e-magazine.
It is with a strong sense of belief and conviction that I wish all our Rakshikas from Past,
Present and Future a fun filled, joyous and glorious innings. I would like to thank the editorial team,
contributors and everyone associated with this e-magazine for their valuable support and time. The
Rakshika e-magazine is for those who greet the arrival of a favorite women‟s magazine as a special
occasion that calls for a nice cup of tea and a quiet, solitary hour.
- Mrs Reena Lanba
4
EDITORS NOTE
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the first online issue of e Rakshika. What a great step forward from print media! And like everything
else that has been touched and changed by the new age automation, the
annual, yearend NDC magazine has transformed into e-Rakshika which
promises dynamism, interactivity and timelessness.
Well, like Issac Newton said, “I could see further because I was
standing on the shoulders of giants”, and so shall it be with e- Rakshika.
Further and further on the shoulders of Rakshikas. Your contributions in the
form of poems, thoughts, instructions, stories, and experiences will all carry
weight and will no doubt inform and educate, inspire and motivate, make
you think and laugh, and enliven and rejuvenate the spirit of belonging.
Rakshika’s it’s time to make a difference. So, get that pen and paper
or your laptops and that cup of tea. Put your favourite thinking cap on and
remember, if you have the guts and the imagination to improvise,
everything in life is writable in cyber space!
Kamini
kamini9463@gmail.com
5
The Missing Chirp…..
-
by Bindiya Narain
When I was a child, I took her for granted. I knew she would always be around wherever I went.
She had no value….so to say. She could be heard, she could be seen, sometimes alone and
sometimes in a noisy din…and slowly she faded away silently. Before I realised she was gone.
Incidentally, I am talking about the humble little sparrow that had the untidiest nests of birds that
one can come across. The sparrows were always a part of the house, chirping away endlessly. Now,
one does not even recall when we last saw one. The last time I saw them was in Subathu a couple of
years back and it gave me immense joy to see these soft feathered little friends.
The reason for their decline may be attributed to an unrestrained use of pesticides that have killed
earthworms on which sparrows feed. In the absence of their staple feed, sparrows die of starvation.
Another major cause of their decline is the modern architecture that is dominated by glass façades
and closed windows that do not provide space for nesting. There is, thus a steady decline in numbers
of these birds. The way ahead lies in curbing the use of pesticides and making changes in buildings
and modern houses to provide nesting places. This is not asking for the Moon we are sure, but a
concerted effort in our own small ways can make these little friends return to the households and we
would be hearing them chirp once more. If we continue to live mindlessly and insensitively to the
other species, and because of the prolonged exposure to chemical pollutants and environmental
toxins, we will definitely loose the humble sparrow. The harmful effects of these toxins will make us
more vulnerable to diseases such as cancer ensuring our extinction also. That apart…..I miss the
chirp I swear!
6
CASPER AND OTHERS
7
COMMANDANT INTERVIEW
8
DOMAIN EXPERTS
9
GOLF CAPTAIN _ 1
10
GOLF CAPTAIN _ 2
11
QUESTION HOUR
12
STRATEGIC SLUMBER
13
RAKSHIKA MONTHLY REPORT
JANUARY
The new course- NDC 53, started on January 07, 2013. With the onset of the course, the reins
of Rakshika Ladies Club were taken over by the new our President, Mrs. Reena Lanba.
Welcome Lunch for Mrs Reena Lanba
On January 09, 2013 a lunch was organised at Manekshaw Centre, by the faculty and staff
(FAS) wives to welcome her into the folds of NDC.
The get together was a great opportunity to open up and share views to help build a better
rapport.
14
FAS Wives Welcome NDC-53 Rakshikas – 16 Jan 13
President Rakshika greeted all the participant officer‟s wives, including our guests from
different countries.
15
Addressing the new comers on various events of the Ladies „Club, to add more fervor, Mrs.
Lanba introduced the concept of outdoor meets to break the monotony.
Building up on the networking circle of the Rakshikas, from around the world, and in an effort
to increase the interaction between them, the President has introduced e-Rakshika. It is a
much thought about venture in order to reach out to the maximum alumni from all course
years.
Taking the first step towards a socially successful year, all participants introduced themselves
to their fellow members and hence, the ice was broken.
Prerna
It is an organization looking after cancer patients in R&R hospital.
15 ladies from the NDC-53 have volunteered to be a part of the group.
Sankalp
It is a school for special children, run by the Naval Wives Welfare Association (NWWA), which
caters to students with severe learning difficulties and special educational needs.
Few ladies from NDC-53 course have co-opted as volunteers in the group for the durationof
the course.
Executive Committee Monthly Meet
To bridge the gap between the FAS wives and the Rakshikas, an executive committee has
been formed, comprising of the President Rakshika – Mrs. Reena Lanba, Secretary Rakshika
– Mrs. Anita Sharma and the various coordinators of the groups formed on the basis of
location of their respective residence.
The meets are organized on a monthly basis to discuss various issrues pertaining to the
concern of the Rakshikas.
16
FEBRUARY
Prerna
An orientation programme was organised, on February 06, 2013 at R&R hospital, for the
volunteers of „Prerna‟ group.
All the volunteers along with patients and doctors came together to provide care and emotional
solace to the cancer affected patients.
Each Thursday, this group spends about two hours visiting different wards and bring cheer to
the patients, many of whom are critically ill.
Patients look forward to these visits as our ladies spend time listening to them and encourage
them to think positively and fight the disease with all their inner strength.
Sankalp
The volunteers at „Sankalp‟ are able to contribute effectively in providing individual attention
and helping with class assignments formulated by the school staff along with conducting a
variety of extra-curricular activities such as drawing, painting, music and sports.
17
Visit to Akshardham
On February 22, 2013, the Rakshika team visited Akshardham temple in Delhi as part of
outdoor visit of the NDC ladies club. Mrs Reena Lamba, Mrs Anita Sharma and Mrs Mini Vipin
were also part of the team. The visit started with the Swaminarayan temple darshan, going
around and seeing the Akshardham premises. It was followed by :Hall of Values: Presented through audio-animatronics and light and sound diorama
presentations from the life of BhagwanSwaminarayan.
Giant Screen Film: A short film which portrays an 11-year-old child-yogi‟s epic pilgrimage of
India.
Boat Ride: A12-minute fascinating boat-ride experience of 10,000 years of India's glorious
heritage.
Musical Fountain: An intriguing combination of a large stone step-well and a Vedic
yagnakund with a colorful musical fountain that echoes Vedic sentiments and prayers.
All the Rakshikas enjoyed a sumptuous dinner at the Food court of Akshardham,sponsored by
Rakshika Fund and returned back home by 8.30 pm.
Executive Committee Monthly Meet
Important issues regarding welfare projects and Ladies Club were addressed and discussed.
18
MARCH
Prerna
A special cultural morning was organized for the patients on March 18, 2013 at Ayurvigyan
auditorium, courtesy Dance and Drama Division of Sanchar Bhawan.
In an attempt to add colors in the lives of the cancer patients, the Rakshikas celebrated Holi
and distributed gifts on the occasion.
Sankalp
Our volunteers were an integral part during the Sports Day and Annual Day celebrations.
19
Cartoon
20
Cartoon
21
CARTOON
22
CARTOON
23
CARTOON
24
LITTLE KNOWN FACTS!
Hello everyone, now that we are all set to go to interesting places around the world, I thought
this might arm you with little known facts about some of them. So put on the enlightened halo
and have a grrrreat trip. ....Kamini.
1. Sudan Has More Pyramids Than Egypt
Sudanese pyramids
photo source
Sudan has more pyramids than any other country on Earth - even more than Egypt.
There are at least 223 pyramids in the Sudanese cities of Al Kurru, Nuri, Gebel
Barkal and Meroë. They are generally 20 to 30 metres (65 -100 ft) high and
steep
sided.
25
2. Countries Driving on the Left
Red - drives on right; Blue - drives on left source
Although people in the majority of countries of the world drive on the right side of roads,
there are some fifty nations in which people drive on the left. These include England and
many former English colonies such as Australia,New Zealand, India...etc... but not
the U.S. or Canada. There are several non-English countries where people also drive on
the left including Japan.
26
3. Country With More Horses Than People
Mongolian horses photo source
The Mongolian horse is the native horse breed of Mongolia. The breed is purported to
be largely unchanged since the time of Genghis Khan. Nomads living in the traditional
Mongol fashion still hold more than 3 million animals, which outnumber the
country's human population (2,75 million). Despite their small size, they are horses,
not ponies.
27
4. The Most Linguistically Diverse Country
Port Moresby - capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea photo source
Papua New Guinea is the country that is home to the most languages, over 750 in
all! The most commonly spoken languages in Papua New Guinea, however,
are Motu andpidgin English.
28
5. Alaska Has a Sand Dunes?
photo source
The Great Kobuk Sand Dunes lie 40 miles above the Arctic Circle, yet summer
temperatures there can soar to 100 degress Fahrenheit! One of Alaska's true oddities, in
some places, the sand stands 100 feet high. The three clusters of dunes within the
park — the Great Kobuk, the Little Kobuk, and the Hunt River Sand Dunes —
cover 25 square miles and constitute the largest active sand dunes within arctic
latitudes.
29
6. Strange Windmills in Ireland
Elphin Windmill, Ireland photo source
All windmills in Ireland turn in a clockwise direction, while the rest of the windmills in
the world turn counter-clockwise.
30
7. London Bridge Over Lake Havasu?
photo source
The original London Bridge was shipped stone-by-stone and reconstructed in Lake
Havasu City. When the bridge, built in the 1830s began to sink into the Thames River
in the1960s, it was replaced by a more modern concrete bridge. Then, England put the
stones up for sale in 1967. A man named Robert P. McCulloch Sr., purchased the bridge
on April 17, 1968, at a cost of $2,460,000. The 10,246 blocks were shipped to
Arizona and reassembled over a lagoon at the edge Lake Havasu at a cost of $3 Million.
The Bridgeopened in 1971.
31
8. The Most Isolated City in the World
photo source
Perth,
Australia,
is
the
most
isolated
city
on
miles across impenetrable desert from the next city of any size.
the
planet. 200
32
9. Power of Amazon River
photo source
The Amazon River pushes so much water into the Atlantic Ocean that, more than one
hundred miles at sea off the mouth of the river, one can dip fresh water out of the
ocean.
33
10. The World’s Longest Train Journey
photo source
The Trans-Siberian Railway offers the world’s longest train journey. It takes about 7
days to travel the 5,580 miles or 9,000 km between Moscow and Vladivostok.
34
11. Deforestation
photo source
About 22% of the earth's original forest coverage remains. Western Europe has lost
98% or so of its primary forests; Asia 94%; Africa 92%; Oceania 78%; North
America66%, and South America 54%. Approximately 45% of the world's tropical
forests, originally covering 1.4 billion hectares, have disappeared in the last few
decades.
35
12. Shortest Intercontinental Commercial Flight
photo source
Shortest Intercontinental Commercial Flight in the world is from Gibraltar (Europe)
to Tangier (Africa.) Distance is 34 miles, flight time 20 minutes.
36
13. World's Widest Bridge
photo source
According to the Guinness World Records, Sydney Harbour Bridge is the world's
widest long-span bridge - 16 lanes of car traffic - 8 lanes in the upper floor, 8 in the
lower floor (double-decker bridge). The 49 metre (161ft) wide deck makes Sydney
Harbour Bridge the widest long-span bridge in the world. It is also the fifth longest
spanning-arch bridge in the world, and it is the tallest steel arch bridge, measuring 134
metres (440 ft) from top to water level.
37
14. World's Largest Palace Complex
Aerial view of the Forbidden City, Beijing photo source
The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end
of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, China, and now houses the
Palace Museum. For almost 500 years, it served as the home of emperors and their
households, as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government.
Built in 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 buildings with 8,707 bays of
rooms and covers 720,000 m2 (7,800,000 sq ft). The palace complex exemplifies
traditional Chinese palatial architecture and has influenced cultural and architectural
developments in East Asia and elsewhere.
38
I became a Prerna member in 2009 and continued to remain one till 2012.
During the first six months, I remained tongue-tied. I did not know what to do or
say that would make difference. Then as always, I was helped along by the
patients themselves. They became my guides. I let them lead me along and I
took strength from their strength. Together, we were able to form bonds of
friendship, trust and inspiration.
This is the story of one such noble person.
THE ‘TERMINAL’ PATIENT
One Tuesday as I walked into the ward, a well-built man sat up upright in
his bed and enthusiastically beckoned me to come over. I did not recognize him,
but that was no deterrent as looks can dramatically change as a patient improves
or comes back from home for a
re-evaluation.
As I reached him, he could hardly contain his excitement. He said, “Madam,
I was waiting to see you” still not recognizing him, I asked, “were you waiting for
me in particular or were you expecting any Prerna member?”
“I wanted to see you Madam”.
I was flattered, but I still had to know the reason.
“My family brought me here because I had a fever that was not responding
to medication. I was diagnosed with blood cancer and admitted to the ward. My
condition deteriorated very fast. I was weak with diarrhoea, lost my hair and my
appetite. I saw some patients around me pass away and I thought I was going to
die. As I was preparing a mental image of my funeral, you came up to and asked
me how I was feeling. I told you that I would soon be gone from this world. You
looked me in the eye and asked me who had told me that I was going to die. You
suggested that I have a frank chat with my doctor. After you left I reflected upon
the fact that nobody had told me anything about death. I had wrongly convinced
myself about my terminality and prognosis.”
“The next day I spoke to my doctor, who discussed everything quite frankly.
I started responding to treatment. I was sent home on 2 months of sick leave and
39
I am back for a check-up. That is why I was eagerly waiting your arrival. I wanted
to tell you the good news that I am in remission.”
It is now more than 2 years since this conversation took place. I never saw
him again, so I presume that he is still in remission. He had the courage to turn
his perceptions around. More than the prerna or inspiration I had given him, he
has inspired me.
Goolrukh Anand
40
VISIT TO KINGDOM OF DREAMS: RAKSHIKAS AND RAKSHAKS
1.
13 Apr 13 was yet another unusual day – Rakshikas dated the Rakshaks in the
royal environs of the Kingdom of Dreams (KOD)! The warm afternoon threw up a
cloudy pleasant evening with cool breeze and a serene weather. Love was as much in
the air as on ground. The visit to KOD was organised by NDC and the show was
conducted with full gusto and aplomb.
2.
1700 Hours saw three NDC buses packed with enthusiastic NDC 53 families
on the Delhi Gurgaon Expressway christened as National Highway NH 53! 136 strong
contingent including the Comdt and SDS cruised to unleash the course spirit of NDC
53 and witness the bonhomie in the Kingdom.
3.
1800 Hours saw arrival at surprised Kingdom, who found larger than life size
kings and queens alight onto the Kingdom before time!! A warm reception at KOD saw
everyone being given a paper rakhee and vijay tilak on the forehead. A Rs 300.00
family wise photo-shoot paved the way for a series of group photos with enthusiasm
writ large on everyone‟s persona!! The Culture Gully showcased an elaborate
culture, arts, crafts and food boulevard. The virtual sky caught the fancy of everyone
as much did the food court and the grand architecture – not to miss Bombay Victoria
Terminus!! There was Lucknowi andaaz, Punjabi punch and rajasthani dhani and more
amongst cultural dances from all over India!! Our foreign friends were mesmerized by
the sheer display of unity in diversity as were most of us! Some tried their calisthenics
with bhangra, bihu, kathak and the like- it was good josh!!
4.
1930 Hours saw everyone in the Nautanki Mahal and guess what was
unleashed - a spectacle so grand that it could fit only in a dream – stage in front,
screens on the sides and maidens on the roof – it became difficult to capture the
colorful drama marquee spotlighting Indian mythology. The high energy performance of
Zangoora and the team of performers went past so soon that intermission was
construed as a show stopper!! Discharged and recharged by a simple snack the
second half went by even faster! Time and tide wait for none but it went faster that
night-so say all of us! The Zangoora, a nomad, got his throne at last, after a three hour
dance and drama show done with perfection, consistency and perfervid zeal while the
rakshaks and rakshikas came out wet, with entertainment having rained cats and dogs.
5. How do we describe this experience? Simply expressed it was SHOCK AND AWE
with a difference – yeh dil mange more!! The fabulous Kingdom brought to our lives a
blend of India's art, culture, heritage, craft, cuisine and performing art...all with the
41
technological wizardry of today!! The course promises to be back yet again - to witness
Jhumroo – with the same course core spirit of togetherness!! So much for now on the
ultimate entertainment at the leisure destination - Kingdom of Dreams!!
Mrs Shalini Kapoor
Chief Coordinator
Rakshika 53 NDC
42
RAKSHIKA MONTHLY REPORT
APRIL
Executive Committee Monthly Meet
The meeting was held on 05 Apr at Air Force Briefing hall NDC. The meeting was chaired by
the President Rakshika. Secretary Rakshika, Chief Coordinator, Group Coordinators and Editorial
Team members were present. Important issues regarding welfare projects and Ladies Club were
addressed and discussed.
Rakshika Outdoor Visit to Kingdom of Dreams
The visit to kingdom of Dreams was conducted for all the Raksikas their spouses and family
members on 13 Apr 13. This well planned and executed event was the most subscribed event of the
53rd NDC course. It was a cultural extravaganza and a paper book family entertainment destination. It
is planned to conduct the visit again for all those who could not make it the first time.
Rakshika Indoor Meet April 2013
On 17th April, the Raksha Bhawan Rakshika‟s(Group1) hosted the first indoor Rakshika Meet of
the NDC 53 ladies club at NDC Hunt lounge. A total of 61 ladies attended the meet. Along with Mrs
Reena Lanba, Mrs Kavita Saran, Mrs Chetna Srivastava, Mrs Mini Vipin and Mrs Anita Sharma were
the other senior Rakshikas who attended this Hats and Heels evening. The meet started at 4.30 pm
when Mrs Lanba arrived and was received by Mrs Shalini Kapoor and Mrs Beena Chandran. The
Hunt Lounge looked very different with Hats and heels décor tastefully done up.The sequence of
events for the evening was as follows:1. Opening Address- By Mrs Anita Sharma
2. Welcome Speech- By Mrs Beena Chandran
3. Egyptian Group Song- By Phirangi Rakshikas of Raksha Bhawan
4. Hats and Heels Pageant
5. Topi Tambola
6. Visual Game
7. NDC song-By Raksha Bhawan Rakshikas.
8. Prize Distribution - By Mrs Reena Lanba
9. Vote of Thanks – By Mrs Kamini Singh
10. Navratra High Tea
The rhythm and beat of the Egyptian group song was applauded by the audience. The Hats and
Heels Pageant started with modeling by few Raksha Bhawan show starters. 15 contestants took part
in the pageant and Mrs Claire McQuaker was crowned as the „Lady of the Day‟, Mrs Anu Chawla was
declared, „Rakshika of the Day‟ and Mrs Mona Singh was given „Innovative Lady of the Evening‟ title.
A special Topi Tambola conducted by Mrs Bindiya Narain, Mrs Sangeetha Sangwan and Mrs Beena
Chandran turned out to be informative and interesting as types of hats and heels with pictures were
43
flashed on screen, and read out instead of numbers. Mrs Kamini Singh, the MC of the evening
conducted the Visual game,in which ladies had to guess the correct idioms, proverbs and phrases
related to „Hats and Heels‟ from the visual clues projected on the screen. The ladies thoroughly
enjoyed the game and 12 ladies got prizes. The highlight of the day was a special NDC song”College
ye Mastiwala….” written by one of the Rakshaks, Brig Sangwan, on the tunes of the Hindi song”Kajra
Mohabbetwala…”
The meet came to an end with Mrs Reena Lanba giving away the prizes to the Raffle winners,
prizes, crowns and sashes to the pageant winners. She then addressed the ladies and thanked the
organisers for an enthralling evening. All the Rakshikas team members had sumptuous high tea of
special Navratra food at a very ethnically decorated dining area.
Prerna
It is an organization looking after cancer patients in R&R hospital.
15 ladies from the NDC-53 have volunteered to be a part of the group.
Sankalp
It is a school for special children, run by the Naval Wives Welfare Association (NWWA), which
caters to students with severe learning difficulties and special educational needs.
Few ladies from NDC-53 course have co-opted as volunteers in the group for the duration of
the course.
44
FCST
TANZANIA AND PORTUGAL
The United Republic of Tanzania is the largest country of Eastern Africa; born of the union of
the republics of Tanganika and Zanzibar. It is also known as the cradle of mankind and the home of
the Safari.
We landed at the Dar-es–Salam Airport on 12th May. It was the start of a fabulous journey
along the Eastern coast of Africa.
We had been warned not to go out alone and always take care of our belongings. However,
we found the locals warm, courteous and helpful. The ladies were all addressed respectfully as
„mama‟ and the gents as „baba‟ or „buana‟. What impressed me the most was the traffic discipline.
Lane discipline was maintained. Never was a car horn being honked. Trucks also drove silently. If
there was a bottle-neck, no second lane blocking the oncoming traffic, was formed.
Dar-es-Salaam boasts one of the finest natural harbours in the world. Dhows still ply its
waters. Our Hotel was situated right at the mouth of this beautiful harbour. From there, we visited
the slipway, which has magnificent array of shops. Ladies went wild purchasing masks, wooden
animal figures, ebony masai figurines, walking sticks and T-shirts.
The rare and beautiful blue gem found only in this area, is the Tanzanite. A special screening
on how it is formed and mined was held for us and some ladies are now, the proud owners of a bit of
the Earth‟s geological history.
From here we went to Zanzibar by ferry. Until 1961, Zanzibar was part of the Sultanate of
Oman. It once boosted of a large Parsi community. Even today there are a large number of Guajrati‟s
here. Zanzibar is made of up two islands. We visited the main one, Unguja. The large spice
plantations reminded us of the ones in South India. The air was fragrant with the smell of cloves,
pepper, cinnamon, turmeric, mace and cardamom. The Zanzibar market provided us with a large,
array of „khangas‟ (shirts) and „kitenge‟(skirts). The old part of town is called Stone Town and has
many Arab houses with large wooden carved doors. Freddy Mercury lived here as a teenager and
his house is still an object of interest.
Zanzibar was also the hub of the slave trade. Slavery was abolished by the British in the late
nineteenth century. A church has been constructed over the site of the old market. On the altar is a
spot which marks the spot of a tree used as a whipping post. If the slave cried in pain, it meant he
was weak and would not fetch a good price.
We flew to Arusha to meet the Secretary General of the East African Community. Then the
most exciting part of our journey began. We sat in land cruizers and proceeded towards the
Ngorongoro crater. It is a world heritage site and a conservation area. This is the home of the Masai
and also 30,000 animals. We saw lions, elephants, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, hippo, rhino, ostrich,
and warthog. In the centre of the crater is the Olbalal Swamp, where we saw a lion pride stalking a
herd of buffalo. It was like watching National Geographic video in action.
From here we traveled along the Northern Circuit, one of the best developed tourism routes, to
Lake Manyara National Park. This is the home of giraffe and the elusive tree climbing lions. The
rumor goes that the lions here took to climbing the tall acacia trees because, they were tired of the
large herds of wildebeest, elephants and zebras constantly disturbing their siestas.
45
We bid farewell to this fantastic country, but I can still hear this song:
Jambo, abari gyani (hello, how are you)
Nzuri asan, wageni (I am good my friend)
Wakari bishwa (You are welcome)
Tanzania (To Tanzania)
Hakuna matata (Have no worries)
Jambo
We flew to Portugal with a brief halt in Amsterdam and thus began our European leg of the
tour. Portugal is a small but proud nation. At the edge of the Iberian Peninsula, the people here have
maintained an independent identity. Sea-farers, traders, artisans, weavers, all wrapped in centuries
of tradition.
Lisbon, or Lisboa, is one of the most beautiful European capitals. It is full of roads paved with
cobblestones. While we wore comfortable walking shoes, the Portuguese ladies all wore pencil slim
six inch heels. In the late 18th century, a large earthquake destroyed most of Lisbon. The rubble was
made into cobblestones and used to line the wide streets of Lisboa.
We lived in the old part of the city. It is on the banks of the river Tagus. Due to this proximity to
the city center, we could roam around till late at night and catch up on sleep in the bus the next
morning.
Every morning after a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel, we would head out to explore Lisbon
under the tutelage of our two guides (students of defence studies and international relations).
Portugal‟s favorite symbol is a rooster. The legend of the rooster is a story steeped in myth
and religious fervor. It has many versions, but the main characters and the end results is always the
same. A pilgrim, tired and weary, entered an inn and ordered a meal. The waitress, who was serving
him, fell in love with him. The pilgrim, who professed his love only to God, spurned her advances.
Angry at his rejection she decided to frame him. She surreptitiously placed some silver cutlery in his
bundle and accused him of theft. As the silver cutlery was found in his possession, the pilgrim was
hauled off to the magistrate. The magistrate was just about to eat his dinner, a rooster. As the pilgrim
pleaded his innocence, the impatient judge handed his verdict – if this rooster, that I am about to eat,
will get up and crow, it will prove your innocence and you will be a free man. As legend goes, the
rooster did crow and thus is famous the Galo de Barcelos.
A little away from Lisbon, we visited the medieval town of Sintra, We could get some local
handicrafts. I met a girl who had stayed in India for six months, because her brother works in
Mumbai. Just as Indians once went to work abroad, many Portuguese come to work in India. They
like the food here as it is quite similar to theirs-vindaloo, sorpotee, guava chesse.
Lastly, we visited the beautiful city of Porto, the home of the port wine. We visited the
Burmester caves and enjoyed a wine-tasting session. The highlight of our visit was a stop at the
shrine of the lady of Fatima.
The visits to Portugal and Tarzania were a big success. We had a good mix of business with
pleasure. All this would not have been possible without the hard work put in by the respective
Defence Attaches and their teams.
-
Mrs Goolrukh Anand
46
FCST – LAOS AND SOUTH KOREA
We all were so excited about our foreign tour….. those planning sessions (I
mean the most crucial decision making of what to carry), those cribbing sessions that
why the airlines are so stiff about the baggage weight, the uncertainty till the last week
about the finalisation of the destination ……. but we got over it all and it was time to
start our FCST to Laos & South Korea.
Our first destination was Laos, which is supposedly an underdeveloped nation
located between the rugged mountains and the fertile low lands of Mekong. The
nature and natural beauty is at its best. People are simple and even the most modern
cities give a very sleepy kind of a look. Buddhist temples and stupas further enhance
the peace of the environment. In the capital city Vientiane, we visited a number of
Buddhist temples, where we could easily identify with the customs and traditions; Our
visit to Laos National Museum enlightened us about the country‟s history and the
struggle of Laon people for the freedom of the nation; Our visit to the Hydel Power
Project was a memorable one as we got a glimpse of their countryside in that journey;
The boat ride in the catchment area of the lake was another amazing experience; A
quick shopping at the night market and buying some precious stones jewellery was
another highlight of our stay in Vientiane.
Then it was time to move to Luang Prabhang, which is truly described as the
„Jewel in Laos Crown‟ and leaves an everlasting impression on the visitor‟s mind. The
picture perfect beauty, tropical climate, French architecture and a laid back life make it
a different world altogether, which has been rightly declared a World Heritage Site by
UNESCO. We visited Patuxai or Victory Gate, Royal Palace Museum, Phu Si Hill and
many famous Buddhist temples. It was a culturally enlightening experience to watch
hundreds of Buddhist monks walk down the streets collecting alms at the break of the
dawn. The river cruise in Mekong was another memorable experience. The
picturesque mountains and blue waters of Mekong river make a wonderful combination
which leaves the viewer simply spell bound. Our visit to Kuang Xi Waterfalls was
probably the best part of our Laos visit. The picture perfect waterfalls tumble over multi
tiered limestone formations into cool and clear pools where you can beat the tropical
heat of Loas. We all were so fascinated by the beauty of the place that each one of us
enjoyed it fully – whether it was splashing water on each other or just chilling out in the
cold and clear water.
Our next destination, South Korea, was another enriching experience. Its cold
climate was quite a contrast to the hot & humid climate of Laos; the fast paced life was
extremely opposite to the sleepy life of Laos; the high rise buildings of Seoul were a
different world altogether when compared to the 18th Century architecture of Laos.
Thus we were fortunate to visit two entirely different nations.
47
Each one of us was thoroughly impressed by the organised and orderly way of
living in South Korea. It has a very self disciplined society. People are financially
stable, extremely health and beauty conscious and are very particular about their
dressing sense. Culturally they are quite close to us because of their Buddhist roots
but socially they are way ahead of us for being a completely crime free nation. One
noticeable fact is that most of the shopping areas are run by the females and most of
the shopping malls cater to the needs of the girls only.
Our stay in South Korea was a real memorable experience, whether it was the
fun filled Eland Cruise or visit to the peaceful Buddhist temples, we enjoyed every bit of
it; Our visit to DMZ (De Militarised Zone) was an amazing one as we walked through
the tunnel dug by North Korea, almost 80 mtrs below the ground; Our journey to Ulsan
by the bullet train was another highlight of tour, where each one of us was glued to the
screen to check the speed of the train which was around 300 kms per hour; Our visit to
Hyundai Shipping and Hyundai Auto left us awestruck when we saw massive ships in
the making or hundreds of cars being assembled within hours; a visit to Samsung and
SK Telecom gave a glimpse of the futuristic world enabled by State – of – the – art
technologies; Our visit to the Seoul TV Tower gave us a bird‟s eye view of the city; the
cable car ride to the tower was thrilling, and the laser show on the tower was a unique
experience.
Whether it was sightseeing or shopping, formal interactions or just having street
food, we enjoyed it fully. But as all good things come to an end, so did our tour. I still
don‟t want to acknowledge it that it‟s over but those sweet memories I‟ll always cherish.
- Mrs Binny Harkirat
48
FCST: NAMIBIA – GERMANY
The morning sun on 11 May was complemented with a cool breeze,
perhaps a welcome whiff from the Atlantic Ocean, as the Namibia –
Germany team embarked on the FCST. It was NDC all over at IGI Airport,
till the 32 of us boarded the Emirates EK XXX (FUN).
Dubai was the first halt. Fresh and bubbling we took off for the city
tour- Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, musical fountain and moonlit cruise. The key
takeaways were captivating beauty, absolutely pristine lush green
surrounding in a well laid out concrete maize laced with the silence of
heaven (no honking horns). We were all spell bound by the splendor.
Is Namibia a developing country? With popped out eyes prying at
each other, the first impression were shock and awe. Windhoek was a well
laid out town with state of the art infrastructure and a good mix of local
flavour of handicrafts. The evening with the High Commissioner was a treat
for the eyes. The house perched on a hill top gave a commanding view of
the town. The Group moved to Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, singing with
enthusiasm, to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Salubrious weather
greeted us as we checked in a hotel „to ourselves‟. Walks to town, sea side
strolls and roof top MTR dinners bonded the group. The Rakshaks got to
business while Rakshikas hit the ground and found exciting markets
wherever they went.
„Silence please‟ – yes, these were the whispers onboard the
„Catamaran‟ on the Atlantic Ocean. We had a surprise visitor Miss SEAL,
so friendly and playful, hugging all NDC mates and their spouses. It was a
voyage of a life time and two hours passed in a jiffy.
Sun City was the next destination. The bus journey and the lady guide
were both interesting who enthralled us with her histrionic narration. The
49
excitement new no bounds at „The Raj‟ in Sun City Hotel where we had a
hot Indian meal, which was a rare feast. The walk around was captivating
thanks to Aishwarya Rai who introduced Sun City to us way back in 1994.
The Palace, the Casino, the Entertainment Centre and the monorail, an
ambiance par excellence weaved a story writ large and difficult to pen!!
Adrenalin went wild in the Pilanesberg Wild Life Sanctuary when a pair of
lions and lionesses majestically dawned in front of us at 0500 hours
followed by giraffes, wild elephants, rhinos, zebras, wild boars and
crocodiles - the big five and more!
It was time for business again, as we flew over Berlin – a city which
looked splendid …… and so it was. It was exhilarating driving through the
welcome drizzle from the Airport to the Hotel. A spectacle epitomizing a
„clean and green‟ environment, the route was punctuated with beautiful
monuments of contemporary architecture. As usual, the ladies found P&G,
M&S and the likes literally piercing holes in the pockets, the gentlemen were
into cerebral pursuits at the Ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs and the
Indian Embassy - a sand stone architectural marvel like Jantar Mantar.
The Berlin wall remnants were a grand spectacle and spurred thoughts
of “Unity is Strength”. The infrastructural developments on both sides gave
us an insight into the psyche of what happens when East meets West.
„Potsdam‟ was next – a traditional tour which retained its „old times look‟
with a big wind mill, sprawling palaces and lush green lawns. „Dresden‟, yet
another traditional town had footprints of modern day infrastructure laced
with contemporary architecture. The visit to transparent Volkswagen factory
was a unique experience. „An idea can change your life‟ was demonstrated
here, when we were
told how a customer could custom build his/her car. If our visits to Namibia
and South Africa were crowning glories, Germany was the jewel in the
crown. Business done, it was time to mix pleasure in the week that
followed.
50
The Europe tour started with visit to Dacan at Munich – the
concentration camp of World War vintage, was a shocking revelation. The
roads led to Salzburg and Innsbrook in Austria- abode of Mozart and the
lush green country side. The drive on wheels continued to Rhine falls and
Mount Titlis, Switzerland. The weather was at its „May‟ best in Zurich as we
cable carried to Mount Titlis. Atop the glaciated mountain, adventure was
unleashed as one and all skied through improvised slides. The icing,
however, was the hot sumptuous Indian lunch which was relished. „Paris
here we come‟ and lo and behold, the Eiffel Tower stood, tall as we sailed
on Seine River. Giving the Delhi feel we enjoyed the Louvre Museum and
the rich heritage of Paris. Paris done, we headed for the sex capital of the
World Amsterdam.
Paris and Amsterdam provided an opportunity to the ladies to give
finishing touches to their Euros. The walk through the oldest professional
street was an experience which was fearful for some and exciting for others.
And then back to Delhi after sorting out the Dubai Duty free!!
Time and tide wait for none; the three weeks passed in a jiffy but left
an indelible impression and built bonhomie of a lifetime. Moments captured
in the eyes of the Kaleidoscope remind one of the tete-a-tete of moti deans,
ghadhi – goothi, cycle the mantra of Haryana and of course the „kambal
mein mangal‟ episode.
Happy moments do last and we all continue to cherish the rich whiff of
nostalgia of the Namibia – Germany Tour!!
---- Mrs Shalini Kapoor
51
Journey to the Great Wall
The much awaited FCT has finally come to an end. It was a Bollywood style ending of
‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’. Everyone came back with amazing experiences and immemorial
memories.
They say that a journey of thousand miles begins with a single step. Well, my journey
began with the first step at Raksha Bhawan and culminated in scaling the iconic ‘Great Wall of
China’. The greatness of it we have heard of but it is something else to be able to feel it. It was
a heady feeling as I set my eyes on the great wall. The sight of it was phenomenal and I felt the
rush of adrenalin through my blood. As I look back, it was expected for the wall to have an
impact…..it is the unexpected that shakes you. The whole concept of the country that China
is…is unbelievable. It is unbelievable to think that a world like that exists right across the
border. We were lucky to have visited the most iconic and character filled cities of Beijing,
Nanjing & Shanghai. You name it- and this mammoth of a country has it! Infrastructure, goods,
beauty, people, roads, cleanliness, discipline, architecture, food, culture, entertainment and
history. Phew! The list is endless my dear. If you have not been to this oriental land I swear
that you will have to take another birth.
Just like the Chinese Tom Yum soup had all the ingredients one could look for….the
three cities made our perfect ingredients for the trip. Breathtakingly beautiful, we saw plush,
verdant green fields embedded with beautifully laid out villages, which were comparable with
our 2nd tier cities. The modern architecture was mind boggling leaving us with one
question…they are the most populated…how do they do this?
Had never dreamt of it….but if I had…then this was a dream coming true when one
visited ‘the Forbidden City’, temple of heaven, Tiananmen Square in Beijing, Confucius Temple
in Nanjing & the Pearl Tower in Shanghai.
China is so close and yet so alienated that we almost know nothing about it! Exploring
the bits of the country was like unfurling a secret. One had a chance to sample the famous
Chinese tea and buy it too along with the cuisine of another level. The famed china ware we
think we are familiar with…is mind you very different when bought in China.
Last but not the least the company matters. It was the great bonding of the group that
was the winner all the way. We explored each other in the foreign land. There was not a
moment without laughter, not a moment when one felt lonely and not one when one felt
52
helpless. Every breath spent there was like a song of time cherished and blessed…..this is what
binds us together- whether from the Army, Navy or Air Force…it was Trishakti all the way. It
was humanity that was the winner in the end. I just loved it and so did you I am sure. I came
back with a lot….the wrapped sparkle of the Shanghai skyline for the time being is mine to
cherish.
Mrs Bindiya Narain
53
FCST NIGERIA AND RUSSIA
The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a West African nation. It has about 500 ethnic groups. The name
“Nigeria” is derived from the river “Niger”, which flows through the country. It is the seventh most populous
country in the world.
Lagos is the old capital and a very important commercial center. However, our halt here was brief and
we proceeded to Abuja, the capital city.
Abuja is a planned city, built mainly in the 1980’s Abuja’s geography is defined by Aso Rock, a 400
meter rare monolith, created by water erosion. The other landmarks here include the Millennium Tower
(under construction), the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian Presidential Complex and the Ship House,
which is the defense headquarters. The golden domed Abuja National Mosque is also very beautiful.
We were given a breakfast briefing on the country by the High Commission of India, which was
educative and gave us a good perspective of this beautiful nation and its people. A visit to the local art village
was a shopper’s delight. Ebony carvings, masks, African jewellery, figurines, walking sticks and colorful prints
were all reasonably priced. The local people were very polite and friendly. The ladies looked very beautiful in
their colorful attires and headgear.
The Governor of the Federal Capital City Abuja invited us to his Assembly where he briefed us on his
plans to develop Abuja as one of the premier cities of the world by 2020; with modern transportation,
housing, sanitation, parks and stadiums. He laid out his entire vision, which was unfolding gradually but
steadily. The Governor was kind to host a sumptuous lunch attended by important members of his cabinet.
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area, by population, in Nigeria.
It stands at the junction of the savannah and the forest. Its principal inhabitants are the Yoruba Muslims. It
boasts of the Cocoa House, the first skyscraper built in Africa. The Chief Minister and his gracious wife hosted
a lunch in our honour.
From the summer heat of Delhi, to the mild autumn of Nigeria, we arrived into the chilly spring of
Russia.
Our hotel overlooking the Moskva River transported us into the land of fairytale Russia. The onion
shaped domes and the gilded church domes reminded me of yagababas and sorcerers. This is the land of Leo
Tolstoy, Anton Chekov, Nijinsky, Dostoyevsky, Nureyev and many great men and women.
The famous Faberge eggs were on display in every nook and cranny, but sadly, none of us had pockets
deep enough to purchase one.
The Kremlin and the Red Square certainly lived up to our expectations. The large onion domes were
designed by neoclassical Italian architects, and are not of Russian design. The Church of Christ the Savior has
quite a history. It was originally built to commemorate Russia’s victory over Napoleon. It was demolished by
Stalin in 1931. The rubble was used to construct the metros of Moscow. However, in the year 2000, an exact
replica was constructed on the same spot. It depicts all the slain Romanovs as saints.
54
The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts comprises of three buildings and has a superb collection of statues
and paintings spanning the classical period to the modern. There are priceless collections of Monets, Cezannes
and Picasso. The collection is so vast that we were like kids in a candy store.
The Victory Park and Museum were built in 1986 to honor all those who died in the Second World War,
or the Great Patriotic War, as the WWII is known in Russia. The museum maintains an electronic “memory
book”, which attempts to record the name and fate of every Russian soldier, who died in the war. The Hall of
Remembrance and Sorrow has glass beads strung from the ceiling, symbolizing tears shed for the dead.
Moscow has the second largest number of billionaires in the world. Yet, strangely, there were no banks
visible on any of the main streets of Moscow. Probably, the average person prefers to spend rather than save.
Most Moscovites are very fashionably attired. The ladies wear short skirts and high heels, despite the
chilly wind and cobbled streets. The Old Arbat Street is a street lined with cafes, which serve Western food.
Many tourists from all over the world flock here to see the ‘fun’ side of Moscow.
The grandeur of Moscow gives way to the effervescence of Saint Petersburg on the Baltic Sea. Founded
by Tzar Peter the Great in 1703, it was the Imperial Capital. It is the most Western city of Russia with a
dynamic and cosmopolitan population.
Unlike Moscow, where old buildings were demolished to make way for ten lane highways, most of the
monuments of Saint Petersburg have survived the Bolshevik revolution and the Stalin era. The Tzars loved to
show their pomp and grandeur with the liberal use of gold. There are golden domes, gilded rooms and even
golden statues in the garden. Peter the Great loved landscaped gardens and fountains. The Tzarina Catherine
the Great loved intricately carved furniture with gold leaf. Peterhof is the existing proof to their fondness for
the good things in life.
The Hermitage is the largest museum of fine art in Russia. It has the famous “Mother and Child”
painting by Leonardo da Vinci. It also boasts of a collection of Van Goghs, among other artists. The Church of
Christ of the Spilt Blood was built at the place of assassination of Alexander I. During the war it was vandalized
by the Bolsheviks and even used as a morgue.
One relic of the recent past, which nobody seems to be in a hurry to restore, is the KGB Street, the
headquarters of the Russian KGB. The buildings are drab, shuttered and closed. The ‘Big House’ is the main
building and it is rumored to have 28 stories and bunkers below ground level.
There are many draw-bridges along the Neva River, which flows through the city of St Petersburg and
joining the Baltic Sea. It is a part of the Volga-Baltic Waterway. We embarked on a cruise along the river in an
open boat at midnight under bitter cold (with wind chill factor, if I may add). The cruise company thoughtfully
provided Vodka on the house to all passengers. After a couple of pegs of Absolut, the chill seemed to have
vanished from our bones.
The grand finale of our trip was an evening at the Russian State Ballet. The Swan Lake by Peter
Tchaikovsky was performed with grace and perfection. Saint Petersburg had also been the home of two world
famous ballet dancers, who defected to the West, Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov. As the dancers
danced and did pirouettes, my heart leapt along with them.
55
Mother Russia had welcomed us with open arms, but it was now time to bid farewell. In a part of my
heart, I will savor the memories of the FCST, the warmth we shared and the experiences we enjoyed. Thank
you NDC.
-
Mrs Seema Tinaikar
56
WISH IT HAD NEVER HAPPENED…..
When a child reads history in school the date 15th August 1947 is etched permanently and is
accompanied by a feeling of celebration of some kind. Mind you- this came about with a great price
paid by humanity. The two communities and households that shared food in the ‘mohalla’ were now
daggers drawn. One reads about the horrendous tales of partition with a shudder. It is the greatest
migration of people. It is hard to believe that Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs who shared histories and
myths ended up hating each other. People who shared customs, habits, superstitions, culture,
language, food were daggers drawn.
In all probability political alliances and the idea of a ‘new nation’ got the better of the political
class. At that time this idea seemed ‘fresh’ and ‘new’ to the political class of both India and Pakistan.
The idea of ‘you live in your house, I live in my house’ stuck a mystical chord with the people of the
subcontinent... It was like a romantic dream. The consequences and manifestations were not even
imagined. The loosely woven idea resulted in death of half a million people. I think about it very often
how our map would have looked like. Ours would have been a huge nation with unlimited wealth of
resources, big rivers and what have you. But the biggest attribute would be that there would be no
emotional scars that we heard of from our grandparents. We grew up listening to the tales of riches,
love amongst communities and then suddenly……everything changed. History, geography,
demography, changed for good. Wish we all could still work out a solution and defy all preset notions
and wish peace prevailed forever and ever…..Imagine all the people…the song by Lennon holds such
deep value.
-
Mrs Bindiya Narian
57
ZIMBABWE – UK GROUP
ADVENTURE AND
EXPERIENCE
Nitu
Channan
From Amman to Harare
Jordan was a much awaited destination – a cradle of civilization with its ancient
roots and the rejuvenating power of the Dead Sea salts. However, providence chose
Zimbabwe for us and before we could even find it on the map we were on our way.
The last minute change of destination across continents required us to obtain Yellow
Fever vaccinations, change our travel schedules and take new visas all in a matter of
four days! Hectic, but in the long run well worth the effort.
NDC 53 at Dubai
The Indira Gandhi International
Airport
appeared to be an extension of the
Raksha
Bhawan on the morning of 11 May as
four of the
six groups were checking into the
Dubai
bound flight. The flight was even
better – we
could well have had a Rakshika Meet
on
board
with catering courtesy Emirates
Airlines.
Three hours later we were at the
swanky
Dubai International Airport for an overnight layover at this modern desert city. A
windshield city tour and we were transferred to the Desert Safari. We screamed our
guts out as the Hummer vehicles slid and shashay-ed over the narrow sand dunes till
we finally rode into a beautiful desert sunset. At the campfire by the dunes, we
enjoyed a sumptuous barbeque dinner and belly dance. Some of our men turned
stone when the dancer threw the gauntlet inviting them to join her on the stage. Stoic
Soldiers! Shopping always brings out the best in us ladies so after getting back to the
hotel we managed a quick late night round of the City centre Mall.
58
Welcome to Zimbabwe
The nine and a half hours flight to Harare
via
Lusaka was a long haul indeed. We reached
Robert
Mugabe International Airport at 6 pm in failing
light.
After immigration, we reached our place of stay through
dimly lit streets and alleys in the sleepy downtown area.
„Meikles‟ is a typical colonial Hotel with its old world charm
and runs a good service despite its 100 years of
existence. We delved into or pre-cooked meals stock to
rustle up dinner. The electric kettle and the adaptor really
came in handy as did the tea stock we were carrying.
Manisha‟s (Kshirsagar) kettle was booked by the hour and
Dolly (Joshi) started her shopping in earnest right away – she was caught smuggling
loaves of bread into the hotel.
While the husbands (and Mrs Shalini Misra) embarked upon the official part; the
spouses took off to the Harare National Game Park where we saw the big cats
sprawling around in gay abandon. The keepers handled the beasts with effortless
ease and the Lions too responded like tame puppies. Truly, Zimbabwe is a richly
endowed country, with vast natural resources, flora, fauna and warm friendly people.
The Heroes Acre is a War
which records the sacrifices
thousands of „comrades‟
down their lives in the
for independence. The visit
nearby museum was both
and humbling.
Memorial
of
who laid
struggle
to
the
poignant
Mrs Suman Tripathi,
the
Ambassador‟s wife is a
charming
host and a superb cook.
She
hosted us all to a reception
at the well
appointed India House and treated us to an authentic Indian spread. Her collection of
pickles was amazing as was the paan which she conjured up after dinner. Kudos ….
Our next days schedule made us climb a fairly high hill up to the Dombella caves.
We were really spread with super spouse Ajay (Msihra) reaching the top while some of
59
us were still half way up the hill. The caves have some prehistoric paintings dating
back to 2000 BC. Nice but would have been nicer without the trek. All fatigue was
forgotten as we reached the flea
market
and Sam Levy‟s Store.
This
was
bargain hunting at its best. The
evening
was hosted by Mr Singla,
country
head
of
TATA
MOTORS
Zimbabwe at the Star Sports
Club.
Apart from the minor mix-up
which
resulted in leaving our SDS Maj
Gen
&
Mrs Saran and Mr & Mrs Neeraj
Srivastava behind along with
Brig
Sudhakarjee; the evening was a wonderful affair – warm and effusive. The Indian
community played a wonderful host.
Harare to Bulawayo
The embassy organized a 50 seater coach for our onward journey from Harare to
the Southern city of Bulawayo. The portends of an adventure were visible from the very
beginning. We started late, had a refueling halt for nearly an hour and were accosted
by belligerent traffic policemen every fifteen miles. By sunset we had only covered 450
kms of the 600 km journey and the reception hosted by the locals at Bulawayo seemed
improbable. Suddenly, in the middle of the bush lands the tyre burst leaving us
stranded by the night. While the driver struggled unsuccessfully to change the tyre;
the melancholy changed to merry making with an impromptu campfire and singsong.
Liquor was rummaged out of the luggage as were the snacks and Shalini produced an
unending supply of Thepla.
There we were enjoying the moment unmindful of the
wildlife around, the incapacitated bus and nowhere to go in an alien country way down
in the southern hemisphere. An evening we still remember….
Raju Bhai Patel is a maverick and a brave heart. Migrated to Bulawayo fifteen
years ago he has in the short span established himself as a leading businessman in
Southern Zimbabwe with his chain of superstores. As our host for the evening he was
in constant touch with our movement and was the first to respond. He reached the
spot within an hour with his car, bus and a pickup truck. After a quick transfer, we
were on our way again and reached Bulawayo past midnight. The Indian community
which was expecting us at six in the evening were still waiting and served us a
magnificent barbeque with the finest Scotch whisky at one. It was touching to see the
60
warmth and hospitality of the people who had patiently waited into the middle of the
night to honour us. Mera Bharat Mahan…. Jai Ho!!
Hwange Jungle Safari
We persisted with our coach the
next day
as well as much as our troubles
persisted
with us. After a slow winding drive
from
Bulawayo the coach finally gave way
and
refused to move after the first halt.
Local
transport was hitchhiked from the
roadside
and we proceeded to our destination
in myriad
means from rickety open Jalopy to a
swanky
Merc! Swapna (Anand) and Meenakshi (Sudhakar) journeyed on a bench atop a
ramshackle jeep. We all did finally reach the Hwange Forest Lodge by afternoon and
were ready for the evening jungle safari.
The two hour long
was an experience to
cherish … with most of us
making good sightings. The
evening
chill
got
unbearable as the evening
on and we reached back to
lodge for a nice campfire
dinner. Truly a wonderful
relax after an eventful two
safari
wore
the
and
way to
days.
Victoria Falls
Our next halt was
Victoria Falls – one of the
most
magnificent sights in Africa and possibly the world !! We reached the falls after a
healthy monsoon and the falls were swelling to their fullest best. Mesmerized by the
sheer magnitude and the multitude of rainbows we put our raincoats to the side as we
soaked in the up wash of this natural splendor. These two hours shall remain the most
mesmerizing moments and the highpoint of our visit to Zimbabwe.
61
A cruise on the Zambezi River was an opportunity to bask in the sun and enjoy
the wildlife alongside this one and a half
km wide
river. We lazily sailed into a famed
African
sunset to end a wonderful Zimbabwe
trip.
The evening was spent in the Hotel‟s
Discotheque and by the end of the
evening
most of the locals were dancing to
bollywood hits.
Africa gave us
everything that we had set about to
seek…
warmth, sunshine, adventure, thrill and
a load
full of memories to cherish!
The Longest Journey
On 18 May 13 we embarked upon an extraordinary journey from Victoria Falls to
Glasgow. It was really not as daunting as it appeared on paper though and we had
our fun. For the Victoria to Johannesburg leg the group split into the South African
and British Airways flights. The Johannesberg Dubai leg was catch-up time as we
joined up with the Namibia Group on its way to Germany. At Dubai, the changeover
was quick and we reached Glasgow in the mid afternoon, disoriented for time yet
raring to go.
The journey from Glasgow to Edinburgh is through some of the most picturesque
English countryside and we savoured every moment of it. Hotel Grand Sheraton
boasts of one of the finest spa in UK
and
it
really was. What better way to knock
of jet lag
than at a hydro pool on the rooftop!!
Enchanting Edinburgh
The weather held for us to have
a
remarkable stay at Edinburgh. We
boarded
the HMS Elizabeth, the Queens Royal Yatch and visited the Historic Edinburgh Castle
atop the Scottish Hill. The Princess Street and the Queen‟s Road were shopping
havens and the whisky trail is a firsthand experience with brew masters in this home of
Scotch Whisky.
62
The Indian Counsel General hosted a reception in the evening which formed a
platform to interact with the local Indian community. Food had been outsourced from
an Indian restaurant called „Kama Sutra‟ (Ughh). Surely food never had a KS
connection… or so I thought.
The evening drive to the fishing
villages by the North Sea was awesome
we stopped by the quaint Waverly
Railway Station and the Castle which
inspired the Harry Potter Series. The
Scottish villages were picturesque
indeed and the shops served some of
best Fish & Chips in the world!!
Scotland was a great destination which
you yearning for more ….
and
the
left
Namastey London
We arrived at our final
destination London on a bright
sunny
morning on the 22 May 13. Hotel
Crowne
Plaza, St James; our place of stay
was
within a few yards of the
Buckingham Palace and had
recently
been acquired by the Taj Group.
Upon
checking in we had a surprise guest… Colonel Khurram‟s daughter had carried lunch
for all of us. It was a wonderful gesture and came at such an opportune moment.
While the husbands got to official business, the Rakshikas with utter disregard to
their own safety and comfort embarked upon the shopping stops on Oxford Street and
the Piccadily Circus. Harrods, Selfridges, Louis Vitton …. We had a problem of plenty.
Vandana (Chadha) was our online reporter with every activity being prompted posted
onto Facebook, while Rupa (Dey) hunted for a possible birthday gift. Veena (Nagraj)
after dropping out of the holiday, suddenly found enough surplus to emerge the
shopper of the day…An honour she would hold for three clear days till the end of the
Portsmouth trip.
63
The next day was planned with a visit to Windsor Palace and Madame Tussads.
We saw the change of guard Windsor Palace and wax statues at Madame Tussads on
Baker‟s Street. The evening stroll past the Westminster Hall and a English Pub
experience rounded off a day well spent. We visited the coastal town of Portsmouth
which turned out to be sightseeing and shopping bonanza. The HMS Victory is indeed
an iconic ship... the oldest seafaring ship in service replete with history. It was a
privilege to see her as she stood proud in
the Portsmouth Bay.
The Indian High Commission
hosted a Social Evening at the India
House where the High Commissioner
welcomed us and explained the history of
the India House and our relations with the
UK. Prominent Indian politicians were
present amongst which Baroness Shiela
was irrepressible even at the ripe old age
of 80.
Sightseeing in London
We finally got a day to spend with our spouses as we undertook the city tour of
London on what was probably the wettest day of our trip. The city tour quickly turned
into a windshield tour amidst pouring rain as we were reminded of the (in) famous
London weather.
We saw Buckingham Palace, Scotland Yard, Lords, Chelsea,
Bakers Street, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Hall, Big Ben and the Victoria and Albert
Museum. Despite the weather that is quite an
itinerary and Janet our coach driver kept us in
good time despite an awful traffic. The cruise on
Thames was an interesting ride alongside iconic
landmarks that define London like the Globe
theatre, the London Eye, St Paul‟s Cathedral and
the Tower Bridge.
Like all good things must come to an end, so
did the FCST. We bade goodbye as few of us left back for India and others headed for
a spot of leave to European mainland. While the Ony (Khaled) and Sharmin (Ridhwan)
settled for a relaxed two week holiday; Dian and Petrus headed back to Indonesia. I
had a long holiday planned at London where I could ruminate on the wonderful
64
fortnight of fun and adventure that we had. Living and loving those wonderful moments
of camaraderie and bonhomie through this essay make me realize the worth of being a
Rakshika in this wonderful institution.
65
SINGAPORE
DREAM
DESTINATION
Nitu
Channan
Onwards to Singapore
They say all good things in this world
come at a price. The miserable Air India flight
is the cost you have to pay to visit Singapore.
Awful is a mild word really …. no
entertainment system, faulty air-conditioning,
stinking toilets, sparse food and unfriendly
staff ….. Welcome aboard the Maharaja! We
landed at Singapore early morning tired and
irritable. This was the only sad part in an otherwise wonderful week which lay
ahead of us.
Sunday ….Fun day
We reached early morning on a Sunday and had the whole day at our disposal.
After a leisurely check-in at the Holiday Inn and a nice Sunday breakfast, we all
decided to spend the afternoon at Sentosa Island. The first stop was the Universal
Studio. We were children once more as we roamed the Madagascar sets, jived with
the Shrek characters, roamed Jurrasic park and went down the ages to a land „far far
away.‟ The rides were great, we shrieked, freaked and at our age the bones ..well..
creaked. After a wonderful fun filled afternoon we went to the undersea world and saw
the famous dolphin show. It was WOW. The evening was spent sauntering around
Beach Station and subsequently we saw the spectacular laser and musical fountain
extravaganza „Songs of the Sea.‟ That was truly a wonderful but hectic Sunday.
Soaking in Singapore (Shopping, Casino, Nightlife)
66
Monday onwards the men got down to business and the ladies got down to our
business of exploring the shopping places and eateries with equal vigour. While the
men went around the High Commission of India and the Defence Ministry the ladies
had an even busier schedule with Ikea, Charles and Keith, Orchard Central, Zara,
Foreever 21 and the Chinatown all lined
up in a packed programme.
In the
afternoon, we joined up with the
spouses and visited the Urban
Redevelopment Agency. The detailed
planning and discipline for space
utilization of every inch of space is
indeed awesome.
Singapore has
developed into a top class world city
largely due to the effort of the URA. The
URA‟s award for best city planning is
considered the Noble prize of architecture. After an exhaustive brief we were taken
around a unique land management museum. We got back to spend a relaxing two
hours at the pool and the sauna to relax and recharge ourselves for the next event.
Marina Bay
In the evening we all
went to the Marina Bay
Area where we went
around the famous modern
landmarks
of
the
Singapore Flyer and the
iconic Marina Bay Sands.
A drink at the fifty seventh
floor with the entire
Singapore
looking
resplendent
in
myriad
lights is a sight worth a thousand words. We went around the shopping centre and the
Casino and saw the laser show at the Marina Bay.
67
SINGAPORE
DREAM DESTINATION
PART - 2
Army Museum & Jurong Bird Park
The next day we went down to Jurong area where we visited the Singapore Army
Museum. A short 4D film was the highlight of the presentation after which we toured
the Singapore Armed
Forces
Training Institute.
The
men
thereafter proceeded to
Changi
Naval base, ISEAS and
Foreign
Ministry while the ladies
continued
at Jurong with a visit to
the
botanical garden and the
famous
Jurong Bird Park. The
bird park
is a beautiful place to
spend the
afternoon with a rich
collection
of birds and really amazing ambience. The bird shows were a great experience as the
birds performed tricks with finesse. A short stroll on orchard road followed our return to
hotel after which we dressed in
our
traditional best for the evening
reception at the India House.
Mrs Vijay Thakur Singh
Mrs Vijay Thakur Singh is
a
charming lady and a lovely host.
She had
laid out INDIA HOUSE in a
most
beautiful manner with soothing
water
bodies and some exquisite
lighting.
The couple hosted the delegation with warmth and so much affection that we
overstayed our time … truly felt like home at India House. We had one of the most
amazing evenings and enjoyed every moment with the High Commissioner and her
staff.
68
History
and
Singapore
Culture
of
The history and culture
tour
of
Singapore was conducted in the
most
professional manner. Prof Jeya
Durrai,
the Director of Changi Musuem
carried
out a detailed and one of the
most
captivating briefings on the
history of
Singapore through the two Wars and beyond. Thereafter, we toured the length and
breadth of the country visiting the famous battlegrounds of Woodlands, the siege of the
causeway, the Kranji War Cemetry and the INA war memorial. It was with a sense of
pride that one realized that the largest numbers of troops fighting in Singapore during
the Second World War were 67000 Indian Soldiers and the records of the martyrs are
most assiduously maintained. However, sadly, the recognition in India of this aspect of
her soldiers is missing which was repeatedly brought out by Prof Jeya.
The tour was followed by a grand lunch hosted by the DA at an Indian
Restaurant.
Water Management Authority
Singapore faces an acute shortage of water and has to import nearly sixty
percent of her need from West Malaysia. The water management authority has put in
place a clear policy towards water conservation, harvesting and recycling of water to
ensure that self sufficiency is ensured in due course. The briefing by the director water
management authority was detailed and followed by a visit to the water conservation
museum which has been laid out with most high tech presentations and models.
69
Gardens by the Bay
The last visit of the tour was to the „Gardens by the Bay‟ which is one of the finest
flower and botanical gardens in
Asia. We
enjoyed the numerous gardens
laid out
with great ingenuity in limited
spaces
and the many had environment
like
tropical forest, misty clouds etc
created in
the enclosed environment. For
the
Rakshikas it was a dream
photo op.
Clarke Quay River Cruise
The evening was spent at the „hep‟ and happening Clarke Quay with a boat
cruise and dinner. This was largely a private engagement as every one wanted to
enjoy more of Singapore before this dream trip ends. Sadly, Air India gave us the rude
awakening and brought us back to reality.
While Seema Tinaikar, Vandana Bhatnagar, Punita Singh and Mrs Poonia
returned home the next day; Beena and Lakshmi took two days holiday at Malaysia
while I along with Shalini Kapoor, Ravneet Bhinder and Rupa Dey went to Bali for a
short beach holiday. But that is another story…
70
“NEVER GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO EXPLAIN TO SOMEONE ABOUT YOUR GOOD DEEDS AND THEIR FAULTS”
Because time has its own way of revealing the truth and can teach in its own ways......
During tenure at an Air Force station, I met a lady who was very adamant and never
extended a helping hand to anybody. Her final answer was always a “NO” for any help sought
from her. People kept very reserved relations with her. One afternoon, I received a call that
she, while coming back from school had met with an accident. Instantly, despite all my
ongoing, important commitments, I rushed to extend all help to her and be by her side. In the
next few days, I continued to help her in every way to help her overcome this incident.
Time passed by, and a few years later while driving on posting, passing through an Air
Force Station, I happened to meet her again. During the meal at their place, with tears rolling
down her cheeks, she narrated an incident of helping a lady who was suffering from breast
cancer. Though she credited me for this change of heart, I was left wondering at the
mysterious ways of time as a healer. It reaffirmed my faith that goodness always spreads like
the fragrance of flowers.
Mrs Paramjeet Singh
71
Namaste
The boy was waiting with his little sister for their mother to turn up. Their mother had
asked them to wait at the entrance to the temple while she went to finish some shopping… It
seemed ages since she went.
Whatever could have happened? Thankfully, his sister slept off on the steps otherwise
she could have become very cranky. They had come to Srirangam, their home town for
Grandpa’s 60th birthday which was to be celebrated in a grand way. His father, cousins and
other relatives were to arrive after a couple of days. It was pretty boring here– he should have
come with his father! He thought. He sat down near the steps beside his sister and waited
impatiently. “What are you doing here?” A man asked sternly. “Just waiting” answered the
boy, a little nervously.
Another man passing by said, “Come on, relax. He is not doing any harm.” Then, turning
towards the boy, he asked “Are you waiting for someone?” “You look a bit worried.” The man
was tall and muscular; He was wearing a long kurta and churidar. The boy noticed he had put
on very unusual slippers. The slippers were wooden with just a button like projection for
holding the toes. The boy remembered seeing such slippers somewhere, but could not
recollect exactly where… “I’m waiting for my mother she went to a shop, asking me to wait
here with my sister and said she will come back in ten minutes. It is now past half an hour” the
boy answered worriedly. “These shops are sometimes very crowded. Don’t worry she will soon
be back. Till that time, I will wait with you” the man said and offered the boy some peanuts.
The boy hesitated. He wasn’t sure whether he should accept these. “No thank you” he said.
“Hello Ramprasad”, a person called out and the man turned around and waved out. “Is
your name Ramprasad?” the boy asked “Yes, he smiled... I am Ramprasad Sheikh and what is
your name, young man?” “Siddart Iyengar” said the boy, pleased at being called “young man”.
It suddenly struck Siddart that the man’s name was very odd indeed. “What an odd name,
uncle, a Hindu first name with a Muslim surname!” he exclaimed. “Yes, it is odd, isn’t it? Well,
there is a story associated with my life” said Ramprasad. “Do tell me” said Siddart.
“I will” Ramprasad began “Tell me, have you heard of Gandhiji?” “Of course. Gandhiji is
the father of our nation” said Siddart, recollecting where he had seen those types of slippers
“Hey, now I remember. The slippers you are wearing are just like Gandhiji’s. I saw this in a
book” he told Ramprasad. “Good observation. Gandhiji had very few belongings. One of which
were these kind of slippers. My father was with Gandhiji when he went to Kolkatta after India
got divided into India and Pakistan. Hindus and Muslims were fighting with each other. A
Hindu man came to Gandhiji and asked “You expect me to forgive the Muslims. My little boy
has been killed by Muslims. Do you expect me to forget that? How do I forget my pain?
72
”Gandhiji said to him, If you really wish to overcome your pain, find a young boy, just as young
as your son was, a Muslim boy whose parents have been killed by Hindu mobs. Bring up that
boy like you would your own son, but bring him up with the Muslim faith to which he was
born. Only then will you find that you can heal your pain, your anger, and your longing for
retribution.”
“You see, Gandhiji knew that it was not any religion which was bad, but it was the evil in
people which was bad. My father was a great admirer of Gandhiji. He was thinking of adopting
a child at that time as he was childless. My father was deeply moved by Gandhiji’s advice to
the Hindu man and decided to adopt a Muslim child and raise him as a Muslim.” Ramprasad
paused for a while and then continued “My original name was Iqbal Sheikh. My father stuck to
his resolution to bring me up as a Muslim. He arranged for a tutor to teach me the Quran and I
was made to recite my Namaz without fail. “My mother was a wonderfully loving person. She
accepted me entirely. She called me Ramprasad or a gift given by Lord Rama “Naturally, I was
part of the Hindu pujas at home. My mother used to sing melodious bhajans and told me
many wonderful stories from the Ramayan and Mahabharat.” “I really consider myself a Hindu
and a Muslim. When I am required to fill in my religion in certain forms, I fill it as “Hindu and
Muslim” said Ramprasad. The story was fascinating.
“Is it hard, being both a Hindu and a Muslim?” Siddart asked. “There is no problem in
following both the faiths. But I have had to answer, “Who am I?” all through my life. You see,
people want to classify everyone; on the basis of the language they happen to speak, the color
of their skin and in their minds, the most important one, their “religion”. As I defy the normally
accepted rules of this classification, most people have been uncomfortable with my name. It
was frustrating to be viewed as an object of curiosity all the time. At one stage, I wanted to
change back my name to either fully Muslim or fully Hindu” Ramprasad said and became a bit
pensive… “And…?” Siddart prompted. “I still remember the day I told my parents about it.
Both of them became very quiet when I told them I was not too happy as “Ramprasad Sheikh”
My mother said “Do what your heart tells you, my son. To me, you will be my Ramprasad. No
one can stop me from calling you that.” My father said “Ramprasad, we in India greet
everyone with Namaste. Do you know what it means? I did not know then. “My father
explained that “Namaste means “the God in me welcomes the God in you” ... He told me “In
India, we believe that there is God in each of us. All religions are to be equally respected. That
is the tradition of this land, the heritage that we have inherited. You and your name are
symbolic of this India. Do you have the courage to carry that on your shoulder or will you
change your name because some people are confused about it?” “Such a small word means so
much?” Siddart asked, astonished. “Yes, it’s funny how the words we use most frequently are
the ones least understood” Ramprasad replied. “So, you decided to stick to Ramprasad
Sheikh?” Siddart prompted.
“Yes, my father’s words hit home. Now, I am traveling through India, discovering her in
my own way” In doing so, I have realised that, in our country, it was the act of worship that
73
was considered sacred. It had never mattered who or how one chose to worship. ”A classic
example of this is right here, in Srirangam. There is a goddess here “Thullukka Nachiyar” –
have you heard of her?” asked Ramprasad.
“No, but the name sounds as interesting as yours – Thulluka means Muslim and
Nachiyar, Hindu Goddess in Tamil”. “I know that” Srinvas replied. “Smart fellow. Naturally, her
name being what it is, this Muslim-Hindu Goddess is close to my heart!” Siddart’s sister got up.
“Where is Amma?” she asked, rubbing her eyes. “She will come soon” said Ramprasad and
kneeled down. “What is your name, my child?” he asked her.
“Suchitra” she said.
“Suchitra, would you like to know the story of a princess?” “Yes, I love stories” she said
“There once was a princess, whose father had taken away a Vishnu idol from the temple
here”. “This temple?” Suchitra said, pointing to the dome. “Yes, this one.” Ramprasad
confirmed. “An Idol is something like a doll?” asked Suchitra “Yes, something like that”. “I
guessed that – because Idol sounds like a doll” said Suchitra, happy that her guess was right.
Ramprasad smiled and continued “You are as smart as your brother.”
“Now, the princess fell in love with the idol. Then the priests of the temple had a dream
which told them where the idol was. They came to take it away. The princess was very upset
as she did not want to part with it, but she had to give it away as the priests wanted it back.
The princess could not live without the idol and so, came here, to the temple of Srirangam and
“disappeared” into the image of Lord Vishnu. Since then, she is considered a great devotee
and is worshipped here in this temple as Thullukka Nachiyar.” “Then I can see her?” Suchitra
asked. “Of course” replied Ramprasad. Almost immediately, the children’s mother arrived. “I
am so sorry, I got lost –in the maze of shops... Are you okay”, she asked the children. Both
children replied at once, “Amma, this uncle was sitting and talking with us. He has told us so
many interesting things” said Siddart. “Amma, Amma, let us go to see Thullukka Nachiyar” said
Suchitra. “Wait. One at a time” said the children’s mother. She turned towards Ramprasad.
“Namaste” said Ramprasad folding his hands and the children’s mother did the same. Siddart
smiled.
- Jamuna Rangachari
74
RETURNING TO WELLNESS
Hope is the only real antidote to any ailment or challenge. I had and still have a degenerative ailment
called multiple sclerosis, and am working on myself. The illness is not pretty. Wikipedia defines it as an
inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are
damaged, leading to demyelisation and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms. It is a
neurological condition in which the nerves lose their connection to the brain leading to numbness and other
symptoms. Yet, I have experienced substantial healing and I do believe this is because I did not allow my spirit
to weaken and energetically resisted succumbing to self-pity or the pity of others. This is the only way we can
remain strong, and create our own life.
The Diagnosis
“What is wrong, Jamuna?,” my aunt asked when she came six years ago to my home in Delhi in 2006.
She observed that my movements seemed to have slowed down and that I often went to the bathroom. Well, I
knew it too, but I sort of ignored both the issues, despite my husband’s periodic suggestion to go for a check-up.
My aunt practically forced me to go to the doctor. The result was multiple sclerosis (MS), which at that time
seemed like the end of my life as I knew it. I was young – 36 – with two young children and a husband with a
rising career in the Indian Navy. I had everything to live for, and now this...
I was awash with self-pity. I had recently left my career in software development, as I wanted to work in
the area of self-development as a correspondent for Life Positive, and wished to have more time with my
family. Was this going to be just a dream? Would I become worse with time?
The more I researched the more confused and depressed I became. Then I read the book, Tough Times
Never Last but Tough People do, by Dr Robert Schuller, who talks about people who have withstood whatever
difficulties life thrust at them. The book tells us how to build a positive self-image no matter what the problem,
and to create a positive world for yourself, regardless of what assailed you, be it unemployment, poor health,
loneliness, or fear.
I had recently left my career in software development, as I wanted to work in the area of selfdevelopment as a correspondent for Life Positive. I began to accept that I might have to live with the disease,
for which no one knew the cause. Once the acceptance seeped in, I became freshly aware of my many blessings
– a loving husband, great children, wonderful friends and relatives, a job and colleagues whom I loved.
Living in the present, and always being thankful for each little aspect of life was also something I kept
working on. I did do some research on why some people get this disease, attended a few meetings with the
support groups, but this did not help me in any way for I did not wish to keep thinking about the ailment, but
focus on solutions.
My children knew something was wrong, but my husband and I agreed that we did not want to tell them
too much at that stage. Children respond to life as we teach them to. Hence, we never allowed them to feel
something was wrong, or let their life be affected in any way.
75
Acupressure and Oil Pulling
Working with Life Positive turned out to be one of the acts of grace Providence was cushioning me
with. I was exposed to alternative therapies, and even more important, the holistic philosophy which proposes
that the body, mind and spirit are connected and healing is a composite of all three. I learnt acupressure points
from the well-known acupressure healer, Ketan Shah, who said it would improve my general immunity and
restore my balance in the body. I also learned oil pulling from him. One gargles a teaspoon of sesame oil in the
mouth for 15 minutes until it turns white and frothy in order to remove toxins in the body. I practise both these
techniques faithfully.
Another technique that came my way while in Delhi, was foot reflexology. My supportive husband
actually learnt reflexology along with me. In the course of my work, I attended a talk by Dr Salila Tiwari, and
then took her therapy in naturopathy. This helped my energy levels. I did all the yoga asanas she recommended,
and made sure I always had a lot of fruits and vegetables. By 2008, thanks to these therapies, my incontinence
was much better, though not completely cured. I was walking independently, but I still used to wobble a bit,
raising quite a few eyebrows.
I found out about adult diapers, which I felt I might have to use in long journeys, and walkers, which I
thought I might have to use while walking. I never stopped going out though, knowing that I would lose
courage if I stopped.
Acupuncture
It was in 2010 that I read about acupuncture and Dr Muthukumar in Chennai. My brother’s baby
daughter, Aditi, had hydrocephalus, which even surgery had not rectified. I happened to read about Dr
Muthukumar, and on a visit to Chennai I took my young niece to him. When I went there, I found many people
who seemed to have benefitted greatly, so I could not help asking him if my disease too could be overcome
through acupuncture. He answered in the affirmative.
When I returned to Mumbai, one of our family friends told me about an acupuncture doctor, Dr SS
Rawal, in Colaba itself, where I was staying. He even managed to procure his number. This was serendipity at
its peak, as I had never expected a healer almost at my doorstep.
Improvement
I started going to him and in a couple of months, I had full control over my incontinence. After four
months, my son said, “Amma, you are looking and walking much better now. What are you doing?” This was
the first time he had actually acknowledged that I was not too normal earlier. My son’s observation was a clear
sign to me that acupuncture was working on me. In a few months, people began asking me what I was doing
that made me look and walk so much better. I had now became a symbol of how radically one’s health could
improve.
My husband’s colleague had severe back pain, and someone told him to ask me where I was going. I
directed him to Dr Rawal. In a matter of months, he became much better. When my neighbour became
bedridden from severe back pain, I convinced her to come with me and soon, in a couple of months, she too had
become much, much better.
As for me, I went to Dr Rawal morning and evening for one-and-a-half years. Even he was touched by
my constancy. Now, I am in Delhi and earlier I was in Lonavala. In both places, I have found an acupuncturist.
76
I am walking well now and have no real symptoms of MS. People keep telling me I look great with the
perfect weight for my height, and I certainly do have more energy. I even travel at peak hours in Mumbai local
trains, which indicates clearly that I am able to do all that I wish. There is a slight weakness and pain in my
lower limbs, which my acupuncture doctor says is a process of returning to normalcy. I am doing yoga and am
not on any medication. My recent MRI report showed my lesions have reduced – one more clear indication that
I am on the path to recovery.
Side-effects? Yes, there is one. The only side-effect acupuncture has given me is regularity in my menstrual
cycle, which Dr Rawal says is because acupuncture harmonises one’s body.
Normal life
Today, I am leading a normal life, and I have surely found the direction towards wellness in a drugless,
non-surgical way. Now, even my neurologist, a remarkably open-minded allopath, asks others to get in touch
with me to motivate them.
I do strongly recommend inclusion of alternative therapies in medical schools, as they can surely aid in
combating multiple sclerosis and many other ailments.
Am I hundred per cent all right? Well, there are still some lesions, but I am leading a hundred per cent
functional and independent life. I am sure this will continue to improve as Providence always has shown me the
path to wellness.
What the Docs Say
“I’m very impressed by Jamuna's determination to take her illness so positively. By getting relief from a
well-known alternative therapy, she has given hope to so many other patients to try it out for themselves. I feel
any safe therapy which gives relief is always welcome.”
– Dr (Col) JD Mukherjee, Head Neurology,
Max Hospital, Saket,
New Delhi: 110017
- MRS. JAMUNA RANGACHARI
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LOVE, THE POTENT FORCE OF OUR WORLD
Nowadays we all are surrounded by the media with negative news. While such reporting
is indeed necessary, let us also remember those who have served society and are continuing
to shape the world with their love. While words may not be enough, the least we can do is to
acknowledge them and support their vision of a world driven by love.
The Power of Love
How can we not remember Gandhi (1869-1948) today? Isn’t it ironical that while we
won independence through non-violence through the path shown by Gandhi, we lost and
continue to lose lives in the quagmire of violence? Well, we can get the answer to this query
only by thinking about what Gandhi would have done had he been around in today’s world?
Here, we will realise that no matter what the external situation, he would have continued
walking in the path of truth and non-violence, inspired by his pure love for his fellow human
beings.
So it is the case with St Francis of Assisi (1181 – 1226) who in a comparatively short lifespan lived so fully and so impressively that he left a lasting influence on the entire world. Even
Lenin, the founder of Russian Communism, is said to have remarked when near to death: "Had
we ten St. Francis of Assisi's, we would have changed the world far better." What made him
unique is that he served the poor, he served the lepers, he served the birds all due to his love
for humanity.
Swami Ramakrishna (1836- 1886) also experimented with other religions, notably Islam
and Christianity and said that they all lead to the same God inspired by his love for all,
whichever caste or religion they belonged to. Hence, though he quit conventional education,
he attracted the attention of the middle class, upper middle class and numerous Bengali
intellectuals as his vision of loving everyone was visible and seen by all. Swami Vivekananda
(1863–1902) too learnt from him that all living beings were an embodiment of the divine self
and hence, service to God could be rendered by service to mankind and energized the youth of
India to rise in the direction of service to humanity.
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Love, the Origin of Great Movements
Back in 1973, distraught at the violence and poverty around, Vinoba Bhave (1895-1982),
the great humanitarian and staunch follower of Mahatma Gandhi, left his ashram in Pavnar to
see how he could help the landless people in India. First, he chose to go to one of the most
poverty-stricken and afflicted zones, Pochampally, a village in Telangana. When he asked the
people if they could help the landless, his love for them inspired them to love each other and
thus was born a movement called Bhoodan —“land-gift.” “We do not aim at doing mere acts
of kindness, but at creating a kingdom of kindness,” Vinoba Bhave used to say. Bhoodan did
not succeed as much as Vinoba may have wished, but certainly a beginning had been made
and people remember these efforts whenever they think about how they can help the poor.
When Mother Teresa (1910-1997) came to India, she realized that in a country like
India, service to people who needed it most was what was required. When she saw a woman
dying on the street, she founded the Missionaries of Charity which in 2012 consisted of over
4,500 sisters and is active in 133 countries. Members of the order must adhere to the vows of
chastity, poverty and obedience, and the fourth vow, to give "Wholehearted and Free service
to the poorest of the poor". The Missionaries of Charity at the time of her death had 610
missions in 123 countries including hospices and homes for people with HIV/ Aids, leprosy and
tuberculosis; soup kitchens; children's and family counseling programmes; orphanages; and
schools. For over 45 years, she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying, while guiding
the Missionaries of Charity's expansion, first throughout India and then in other countries. Till
today, the sisters continue her mission.
Love, the Bond
Baba Amte, (1914-2008), one of India's most respected social and moral leaders, spent
most of his life for the care and rehabilitation of leprosy patients. His community of a few
thousand patients at Anandwan has done much to dispel prejudice against the victims of
leprosy and is still continuing to do so. In 1990 Baba left Anandwan with the words: "I am
leaving to live along the Narmada... Narmada will linger on the lips of the nation as a symbol of
all struggles against social injustice."
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I, for one, certainly paid more attention to this struggle after knowing Baba Amte, I felt
it was injustice. This had of course been pointed out long back by Medha Patkar, who founded
the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA). Till today, she remains one of its main catalysts,
strategists and mobilisers of this movement as her focus is on the people who may be
dislocated and her love for them.
Similarly, Sunderlal Bahugana wanted people to see the negative aspects of the forests
being increasingly felled for commerce and industry. He inspired the Indian villagers to protect
their livelihoods through the Gandhian method of satyagraha. In the 1970s and 1980s this
resistance to the destruction of forests spread throughout India and became organised and
known as the Chipko Movement. In the new millennium, Bahuguna has continued to warn
about water scarcity and to campaign for the protection of the forests. He has proposed to the
Prime Minister a Himalayan policy in which the mountain slopes would be covered with trees
giving food (nuts, edible seeds, oil seeds, flowering trees for honey and seasonal fruits),
fodder, fuel and timber, leaf fertilizer and fibre trees and has proposed that each family should
be given land to grow 2000 trees and a subsidy to rear these trees.
Anna Hazare, a former soldier in the Indian army, is well known and respected for
upgrading the ecology and economy of the village of Ralegan Siddhi which is located in the
drought prone Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra state. The erstwhile barren village has
metamorphosed into a unique model of rural development due to its effective water
conservation methods, which made the villagers self-sufficient. Earlier, the same village
witnessed alcoholism, utter poverty and migration to urban slums. Inspired by Hazare’s unique
approach of salvaging a hopeless village, the state government has implemented the `Model
Village’ scheme as part of its official strategy. Today, he may be better known for his anti
corruption drive. However his work in rural development in India, inspired by love for his
fellow villagers is unparalleled and continues to inspire many.
The Young Ones
At times, we often hear that the young ones are more focused on materialism today.
Actually, there is more of an urge today to make a difference to humanity and social causes
than ever before.
Let us look at Narayanan Krishnan, an upcoming chef who was going to Switzerland for
further studies. When he visited his home town, Madurai, in 2002, he saw a very old man
eating his own human waste for food and decided to change the focus of his life. He founded
the nonprofit Akshaya Trust in 2003. Now thirty one, he has served more than 1.2 million
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meals -- breakfast, lunch and dinner -- to India's homeless and destitute."Now I have a passion
and I enjoy my work,” he says, very happy that he is able to help the truly needy.
Another such person is Vandana Gopikumar, a mere student, who came across a halfnaked, mentally ill homeless woman in absolute distress on the road in front of her college.
She just couldn’t ignore her though nobody else seemed even to notice her. With the help of a
close friend, Vaishnavi Jayakumar, she tried to find shelter for the woman but was not
successful. Several more such encounters over the next few months left the idealistic duo
disillusioned. They decided to do something about the problem themselves epitomizing
Gandhi’s dictum, “Be the change you want to see.” They founded the Banyan in 1993 as a
shelter and transit home for homeless women for mental illness who had wandered from their
homes across the country and ended up in the streets of Chennai. One of her core beliefs was
that the women needed love and timely treatment and to be rehabilitated in mainstream
society. Sixteen years on, The Banyan is now able to reach out to women and men of a variety
of levels to support them on their journey to recover and her beliefs in the power of love has
been vindicated.
In Sum
As I began writing, more than deciding whom all to write about, it was whom not to write
about that was a great challenge as there are indeed many, many people who have acted out
of love. Doesn’t that say a lot about humanity, proving that the power of love is something
one can never, ever undermine?
Hence friends, let us never despair. Love has always been a catalyst, bond and the one
miracle to which we all have access to all the time.
- Jamuna Rangachari
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