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CONTENTS 2
Toddy: our backyard beverage
4 Cover Story: Cricket World Cup 2011 11 The legend of Madho Singh Rawat 13 पड़ाव 16 Reshma 18 These make me
I
MY SPACE
have been fortunate to be constantly surrounded by people who love to read and write. My childhood and adolescence was spent immersed in my mother’s collection of Hindi literature and my father’s light Hindi and English fiction. Through my high school years I read a lot of classics. In college I got hooked to science fiction and fantasies. Finally from last year I began reading a lot of diverse non - fiction ranging from mountaineering to philosophy, adventure to politics and religion. Lately I also followed online posts of a lot of contemporary writers, including some friends. And I have started to write regularly, articulating my thoughts.
The magazine idea struck me when I realized I wanted
to read more from people who I know personally, whose thoughts I could relate. I also want to arouse people around me who need a push to share their experiences and use their creative juices. I want people young and old, friends and family to get involved. I pushed my seniors to start using computers and the internet. The initial response was positive but reserved. But gradually people showed interests, promising to contribute in some way or the other. Some entries got delayed and so have been pushed to the next issue. But I promise to keep the magazine going even if I have a single entry every month. So let the crazy bug inside you loose people!
- Basu / Malli / Mallik / Mallikarjun
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TODDY - OUR BACKYARD BEVERAGE
Kallu as we call it in
South India. “Mula pal kainechto kola pal”. This line means after mother’s milk its coconut flower’s milk.
Once upon a time in Kerala kids
were given toddy, when they were ready for external feeding after mother’s breast feeding. Fresh toddy was directly given to them before it fermented. One of the best super food, this is no longer prevailing after Kerala governments law for extracting kallu was restricted in the year 1957 to only licensed persosn and they have to give a particular amount to the society where kallu is collected and later distributed to local Kallu shap (local bars which specialize only in toddy and serve it along with delicious dishes).
Kallu is an offering to God. While
performing Theyyam, person who enacts the God fasts for almost a day and only feeds on Kallu. It is documented that in some parts of Asia where toddy is extracted, when crops failed, for months people survived on this drink.
Described below is my first
hand experience of how kallu is extracted (Toddy Tapping). First step is to pick a blooming coconut tree. It should be bearing a lot of coconut fruit buds. New unopened buds of the palm flower are cut leaving 95% remaining on the tree. The whole bud is then beaten and pound with a hammer or a knife (katiaal) used to cut the bud, which gets swollen. Each new bud can be used until it ceases to provide sap or if it gets infected. A good bud usually last for maximum 2 months. Then the bud is bound with a
small rope ahead of the cut part, and taali leaf paste is applied on the cut portion. It is used to keep out bacterial infection and makes the bud ooze sap, not allowing it to dry. Some people use a certain type of clay instead, which is ideally not good for the palm. The clay helps in extracting more toddy than the traditional way, but it smells and tastes a little different. After beating it for almost a week flower bud begins to ooze sap which can be collected twice daily. The same steps are followed repeatedly – cutting, beating, applying taali. Paani (earthen vessel) is fitted covering half of the bud in a fashion that the sap drips into the vessel.
A personal tip: You can add a piece of white pumpkin to toddy to stop fermentation, so you can keep it fresh in the long run.
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TODDY - OUR BACKYARD BEVERAGE It also improves the quality of blood and supplies the necessary vitamins and nutrients for all the organs, nerve and tissues of the body.
Toddy ferments automatically
Chethukaran (toddy-tapper) has to
climb the same tree thrice daily – in the morning and evening to collect toddy, and in the afternoon to stop sap from dripping – as it helps the palm to recover. But the last step is not practiced everywhere. A lot of insects, some of which may be poisonous are attracted to this divine drink. So the beverage is filtered before it is ready to be served.1 to 1.5 Litres of toddy can be extracted from each palm tree.
Some products derived out of
toddy are: Jaggery, vinegar, arrack and yeast. Toddy is claimed to be having considerable nutritive value and is rich in sugars and vitamins.
after sun rise. Amount of alcohol present in toddy is up to maximum 8% on the 3rd day of toddy extraction. After this acetic fermentation starts, bringing down the alcohol content. Fresh extracted sap will have below 0.6 % alcohol. If allowed to ferment beyond 3 days or more, it will yield a stronger, sour and acidic vinegar which has a short shelf life. All toddy kept or offered for sale should be of good quality and unadulterated. Nothing must be added to it to increase its intoxication or for any other purpose, as per law. The ethyl alcohol content of toddy should not exceed above 8.1% v/v 5.2% v/v and 5.9% v/v respectively." However these days local toddy shops mix spirit or other intoxicating substances in toddy. So beware when you drink toddy from an unknown kallu shap. Kallu shap disconnected from city and town should ideally have unmixed toddy.
These days toddy extraction is
facing challenges. The young generation is not interested in learning the art of extracting toddy, nor do they climb coconut tree to pluck coconuts. One of the reasons is Kerala has progressed or is progressing at a fast rate, and people are more inclined to work in industries or offices than in coconut groves or fields. Kerala government has started an initiative to stem this rot. Toddy is now available in tetra packs. Kerasudha “God's own” drink is a Kerala govt initiative to get toddy in tetra packs. So everyone can enjoy toddy and not get zonked!
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COVER STORY
Cricket world Cup 2011 By Munendra Singh
THIS WITHOUT DOUBT HAS TO BE THE MOST OPEN WORLD CUP SINCE THE 1996 EDITION WHICH ‘SURPRISE SURPRISE’ WAS ALSO IN THE SUBCONTINENT. We can safely blame the arrogant, chest-thumping never say die attitude carrying bloody Aussies for that. They ruined it for us, for all of us. They haven’t lost (one tied match and what a match!) in their last 29 world cup games, a run which includes 3 consecutive successful campaigns. This dominance wasn’t like Pakistan sneaking out a world cup from somewhere in 1992 or Goran Ivanisevic somehow winning a Wimbledon. This was Phelpian or even Boltian in nature where you can start celebrating 10 yards before the finish line and still beat the crap out of a world record which was considered impossible to break. This is like The Great Khali beating Undertaker with his leg over the dead man’s chest. Ruthless is the word you are looking for. But the beast got old, thankfully, for I was wondering if I would live to see the day when the great ones crumbled under the pressure, when the selector’s decisions were questioned (correctly), a great captain’s head is sought out, close decisions go against them, and Aussies would lose to England a home Ashes with 3 innings defeat. But as Salman bhai say “Acche waqt ki ek burai hoti hai woh khatam ho jata hai aur bure waqt ki ek acchai hoti hai woh bhi khatam ho jata hai”.
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COVER STORY
So here we are, few days before the fun begins.
Given the format a team essentially needs to win 3 matches to lift the cup. I will try and analyze the chances of the teams I feel stand a chance – India, South Africa, Australia, Sri Lanka and England. I will look at their strengths and weakness and why I feel they can win the ultimate prize. But before that let’s have a look at what form teams are carrying into the cup. Among the 5 main contenders (Pak is my dark horse), Sri Lanka stands out in terms of form with a much superior win-loss ratio, overall and against other contenders.
Team Sri Lanka South Africa Australia India England
Overall Mat Won 25 17 21 15 32 22 32 19 24 13
Lost 6 6 9 13 11
NR 2 0 1 0 0
W/L 2.8 2.5 2.4 1.5 1.2
It also reflects how poorly Pak, WI, and Kiwis are doing as all the win-loss ratios fall drastically when you only look at matches among the 5 major teams. Against each other (Since 1 Jan 2010) Team Mat Won Lost W/L Sri Lanka 13 8 5 1.6 Australia 16 9 7 1.3 South Africa 8 4 4 1.0 India 19 9 10 0.9 England 12 4 8 0.5
For Indian supporters, the stat below is quite critical given Dhoni’s luck with the coin. India’s performance is highly correlated with the toss while Australia is good either ways.
Won the toss (Since 1 Jan 2010) Team Mat Won Lost W/L India 7 5 2 2.5 Sri Lanka 9 6 3 2.0 South Africa 5 3 2 1.5 Australia 6 3 3 1.0 England 7 2 5 0.4
Lost the toss (Since 1 Jan 2010) Team Mat Won Lost W/L Australia 10 6 4 1.5 Sri Lanka 4 2 2 1.0 England 5 2 3 0.7 India 12 4 8 0.5 South Africa 3 1 2 0.5
And for those who believe in Lady Luck, well Dhoni’s success rate has drastically fallen post marriage! Tests, ODIs, and T20s Dhoni Played Won toss After Marriage 23 8 Before Marriage 131 62
Ratio 35% 47%
Over the past one year, Aussies have been good
with both the bat and the bowl, scoring most runs per wicket (36.3) and conceding least (28.6). India has been struggling with both bat and the bowl. Also its easy to make out how much of a batsman’s game it is now with all the countries scoring and conceding more than 5 runs an over. Batting (Since 1 Jan 2010) Team Mat Avg Runs /Wicket Australia 16 36.25 South Africa 8 31.68 Sri Lanka 13 31.10 India 19 30.79 England 12 27.77
RPO 5.38 5.56 5.07 5.34 5.19
Bowling (Since 1 Jan 2010) Team Mat Avg Runs/Wicket Australia 16 28.62 South Africa 8 29.04 Sri Lanka 13 30.03 India 19 33.62 England 12 35.98
RPO 5.18 5.49 5.15 5.36 5.38
So we have established Australia is red hot on
current form and India needs to win tosses. But as the world cup happens in subcontinent let’s look at how these teams have fared in their matches here. India has been emphatic in subcontinent with a win/loss ratio of 2.
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COVER STORY Another thing to note is South Africa, England and
he got two good outings in the warm-up matches Australia haven’t played much in the subcontinent scoring 55 and 43. He is a great of the game and would be dying to make an impression in a part for the past four years. This can be a huge of the world which is not exactly his forte. Despite disadvantage as the conditions are drastically getting 73 against SA, Clarke is mentally a mess. He different and these teams may take some time to had a horrible summer against Brits and the loomadapt to the conditions. ing captaincy is only adding more pressure on All Matches since 1 Jan 2007 in subcontinent him. However, he is a wonderful player of spin Team Mat Won Lost W/L Ave RPO and has a very good record in India averaging South Africa 6 4 2 2.0 48.82 5.40 over 46. If he can get his mind sorted he will be India 77 49 25 2.0 37.28 5.59 a great asset as he is a decent left arm spinner too (anyone remembers Sydney!). Lower midAustralia 14 8 5 1.6 40.91 5.60 dle order looks shaky with Ferguson essentially Sri Lanka 55 29 22 1.3 30.89 5.03 a rookie. White and David Hussey may play a England 13 6 7 0.9 27.93 5.00 crucial innings here and there but lack any kind Pakistan 16 7 9 0.8 33.63 5.57 of consistency. Australia might feel the pinch if the top order collapses. As we have seen in the warm-up matches spin will play a significant part in this world cup. It may come down to who plays spin best and whose spinners bowl well.
Australia
Four time world cup champions (won the last three) are on a 28 match winning streak in world cups. They have also won 22 of their last 32 ODIs and despite their landslide in test matches is still a force to reckon in ODIs. But Australia does look vulnerable and have developed a tendency to lose close matches. It will be interesting to see how the team handles the pressure especially with all the critics after their necks. They bowled well in India’s match and batted well against South Africa. The struggle will be to put both the elements together as the team has increasingly become volatile. Team Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Callum Ferguson, Cameron White, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Jason Krejza, Brett Lee, Dougie Bollinger Batting Opening pair is in the form of their life especially Shane Watson who is playing like a dream. He is getting good company from Haddin (who is an excellent keeper as well) and between them they form an explosive opening pair who can take advantage of flat pitches and powerplays. Contrary to popular perception, Ponting has a good record in subcontinent and averages a healthy 39 with 4 hundreds. Problem is his recent form. He has averaged 26 in the past 10 months (10 innings). But
Bowling Australia have brought an out and out fast bowling attack in form of Lee, Tait, Bollinger, and Johnson. However considering that this is the end of India’s cricketing season and how things have gone in warm-ups, these bowlers may struggle. Extra pace on the bat will only help batsmen to hit through the line and unless these bowlers adapt to the conditions and start bowling a lot of cutters, they will struggle. Krejza is the fourth choice spin bowling option (as the previous three got injured) and that says a lot. However, Australia does possess good part time spin options in form of Hussey, Clarke, and White. We may see these three bowling a lot of overs. Player to watch - Shane Watson Averaged more than 50 in 7 ODIs against England . Even impressive is his bowling with an average of less than 25 last year. His stint with IPL will help him a lot as he knows the conditions and was the main performer for Royals. His popularity with Indian crowd can be surmised by this slogan. “Rajasthan ka ek hi son, Watson Watson”.
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COVER STORY India
No 1 test team in the world, No 2 in ODIs and if you go by betting pundits, the Favorites. The team has developed a tendency of playing well under pressure and has lost by less than 30 runs or less than 5 wickets only 5 times in past 2 years (66 matches). On the other hand, team has won 7 such matches. Recent form hasn’t been the best with a w/l ratio of 1.5 since 1 jan 2010 but given that we have never played with a full strength side, this is a reasonable return. Emotions are running high with this being Sachin’s last world cup and Kirsten’s last series as coach. But under Dhoni’s captaincy the team has the ability to soak up the pressure and go all the way. Team Sachin, Sehwag, Gambhir, Kohli, Yuvraj, Dhoni, Pathan, Harbhajan, Chawla/Munaf, Zaheer, Nehra. Batting Top three haven’t played a lot of ODIs in past one year. Sachin has only played 2 games since his 200, Sehwag and Gambhir have only played 12 and 14 matches, respectively. However they will get a decent outing before the knockouts and Indian supporters would hope that they can hit form by then. Kohli is the only batsman who is rich in form. He is the fastest Indian to 1000 runs and seems to have gained mental balance suddenly (which Rohit Sharma so badly lacks). Yuvraj has been struggling for some time now and seems to have got fatter again (his performance is inversely proportional to his weight). He is in the team only coz of his bowling and Raina’s poor form. Dhoni seems to have hit some form with a scintillating century against the Kiwis. His form is very critical to India’s fortunes as the middle order looks a little shaky. Yusuf Pathan is the most dangerous batsman at 7 and is capable of doing impossible deeds especially in Indian conditions. If Chawala/Ashwin plays than we will have a strong tail in form of Bhajji, Chawla/Ashwin, and Zak. Bowling Indian seamers were horrible in warm-up matches and given Dhoni’s reluctance in bowling them we might see two full time spinners playing. Zaheer is a canny bowler with his variations of slower balls and yorkers. But India don’t have a partner for him who can maintain the pressure at the other end. Nehra, Munaf, and Sreesanth have all been tried but with limited success. Dhoni is not a big fan of Sreesath and
Munaf and this favors Nehra who with his experience may get the go ahead. Harbhajan the bowler has behaved like two face Harvey. He will be brilliant one day with his flight, drift and guile and then suddenly he will be completely flat and start bowling in high nineties the other day. We need him as an attacking option and the senior spinner has to step up. Chawla becomes a natural choice as the second spinner coz of his variation but Dhoni does like Ashwin (team mate at Super Kings) who can bowl under pressure and is much more economical. Will be interesting to see what combination we go for. India is currently spoilt with spin bowling options which may become vital as tournament moves on and pitches get slower. Yuvi has bowled quite well in the recent past and can on his own bowl the full 10 overs. Pathan, Raina, Kohli, and Sehwag are other options which can be readily employed to change things around. Player to Watch – Yusuf Pathan He announced himself on world cricket with his 37 ball century against Mumbai Indians in last year’s IPL. The guy nearly pulled off a series win in SA with his 70 ball 105. No ground is big enough for him and even his mishits go for six. Among all players who have hit more than 30 sixes he has the highest sixes to fours ratio (.7). Plus he can bowl and is a good slipper and an outfielder.
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COVER STORY South Africa
The chokers. As a much as they hate that tag, their recent defeat against India highlighted the fact that team struggles under pressure. For the talent that the country has produced, the team has nothing really to show. This should make them even hungrier this time around. Team is well-balanced and knows the conditions well thanks to their players’ stint with IPL. Their major test will be how they play spin and how well their spinners bowl. India and South Africa will be fighting for that all important top spot in Group B as in all probability then you get to play the Kiwis in the Quarters. Both teams will kill for that.
the regular bowlers. Player to watch – Hashim Amla He has an outstanding average of 60 in his 42 matched with 7 hundreds. He is averaging 72 in his last 20 matches with 6 hundreds, talk about being in form! Amla however has played with a lack of responsibility recently, and generally plays one shot too many to get himself out. If he improves on that he can prove to be a match-winner. His game is ideally suited for subcontinent and his performance will be key in deciding South Africa’s fortunes in the cup.
Team Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB Devilliers, JP duminy, Colin Ingram, Johan Botha, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Imran Tahir. Batting Smith hasn’t been in great form and generally doesn’t like the low bounce of subcontinent. Amla on the other hand is in rich form and is more suited to subcontinent with his wristy shots. He with Kallis holds the key as they play the long innings and are very good players of spin. Middle over promises a lot but somehow fails to deliver. Trio of Ingram, Duminy , and de Villiers are susceptible against spin. Maybe SA can experiment with splitting Amla and Kallis apart and pushing one of them in middle-order but I don’t really see that happening. As Kallis won’t be bowling much SA will be forced to play an extra bowler thus giving them a long tail very unlike a SA team. Batting looks top heavy and may fail to recover from a top order collapse. Bowling This is their stronger side. In Steyn, Morkel, and Tsotsobe they have the best pace bowling attack. Steyn has evolved into a smart bowler and has shown amazing fitness levels. He can bowl at 145 for his full spell, no problem. And he has support from two hit the deck kind a tall fast bowlers. If anyone will be able to get some bounce from subcontinent wickets, then it has to be these two. Their spin options look weak. Botha is more a containing bowler and Tahir is unknown property. They don’t have much depth in bowling department as well and Duminy is basically the only option apart from
Sri Lanka
They have been playing really well recently and have won 17 of their last 25 matches. There is not much hype about the team but on paper they might be the strongest contender to the cup. They are the only team to have all their bases covered and are in excellent form. A batting order which can provide stability as well as explode plus which plays spin exceptionally well. And a bowling attack with healthy balance of pace and spin. They also always seem to gel well as a team and are a very
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good fielding unit.
COVER STORY
Team Tharanga, Dilshan, Sangakkara, Jayawardane, Samarweera, Matthews, Perera, Kulasekara, Murali, Mendis, Malinga Batting Sri Lankans are very good players of spin which makes their batting extremely strong. Top order is a little volatile in Tharanga and Dilshan but is quite capable of ripping attacks apart. It’s their middle order which will worry oppositions. It might be the best middle order in the world especially in the subcontinent. Sanga and Mahela have been in sparkling form with both averaging more than 45 in the last one year. Samarweera has been batting at 43 against a career average of 27 during the same period. And in Angelo they have one of the most improved cricketers in the world. His recent batting average is 54 against career average 35. In Perera and Kulasekara they have decent support down the order but it is hard to imagine their lower order getting much exercise given the strong batting. Bowling Malinga is one of the best ODI bowler with all his variations. Kulasekara may struggle though as he is more of a swing bowler. Perera is a hit the deck kind a bowler and has been bowling well for some time now. Will be interesting to see how Murali performs as he hasn’t played much international cricket recently. Mendis is half the bowler he was two years back and I would be tempted to play Herath in his place. They also have good back up options in the form of Matthews and Dilshan. Player to Watch – Angelo Matthews He is in the form of his life both with bat and bowl. His batting average is 54 and bowling average 33 which makes him a proper all-rounder. He has a sensible head on his shoulders and can play the dual role of stabilizing the innings in case of a top order collapse and big hitting in case the slog overs are on. His medium pace is extremely handy and the guy has an uncanny knack of picking up wickets. He is an excellent fielder as well and for me a potential Lankan captain
England
Many believe that this might be England’s best chance of winning the cup. They seem to have a great bunch of players and have just won the Ashes, in Australia! Agreeably the team does seem to possess a sense of belief which English teams of past have never really possessed. However, they haven’t really set the one day stage on fire. Recent debacle against Australia is proof enough. Main problem with the team is lack of match winners. Apart from Pietersen it’s hard to see anyone being capable of winning a match on his own. Morgan’s injury was a big blow. Team has lots of utility players but they all of them will have to click at the same time for the team to stand any chance. Team Strauss, Pietersen, Trott, Bell, Collingwood, Bopara, Matt Prior, Bresnan, Yardy, Swann, Broad, Anderson. Batting Strauss provides stability at the top and would look to bat through the innings. Pietersen is an interesting bet as an opener. He hasn’t been in great
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COVER STORY form but the guy loves the big stage and it doesn’t get bigger than this. In Trott and Bell, England has immense talent in middle order but both fail to have a sense of responsibility and are individualistic players. Collingwood is a hard working utility player but he won’t win you matches. Bopara will be a wild card at 6. Not the best option down there as his hitting skills are questionable but with Eoin Morgan out with injury Brits don’t have many options. They have a weird tail in the sense that it starts early but goes really down. Prior, Bresnan, Yardy, Swann, and Broad are all useful batsmen but you can’t really rely on them. The thing with their overall batting is that they are all good enough but apart from Pietersen no one is special. Bowling This is their stronger side. However the problem is that their bowling is more suited to conditions which support swing. So their seamers look quite ordinary here. Broad has got smarter but will find it tough. So will Bresnan. And Anderson should bleed runs on flat decks. The Swann and Yardy combo is potent. Swann is more a classical kind a bowler and may find it tough if he runs into a big hitter. But the pitches will be supportive and he has enough in his armory to pose a serious threat. Yardy is a very effective cricketer. He knows what his strengths are and generally sticks to it. In a containment role he should be really good. Pietersen, Trott, and Collingwood provide decent support to the main bowlers. Player to watch – Jonathan Trott He has been scoring tons of runs lately. Again a player with lovely wrists who should love the subcontinent conditions. He likes to play big innings and number 3 position is ideal for him. His medium pace may also come in handy as he bowls a lot of cutters.
No article on World Cup can end without mention of the God, Sachin Tendulkar. I don’t
have to go into his records, his current rich form, his previous world cup exploits and the fact that he will be carrying a country’s expectation into a sixth World Cup. The guy has nothing to prove nor is there any record left to be broken. But something tells me that he wants this cup more than any Indian. Maybe coz he was only ten when he saw what Kapil’s team achieved and it got stuck in his brain. Maybe coz he is the ultimate championship and this is his final chance. Whatever the reason rest assured that even after so many years he wants it bad. And the story is just too good to be ignored. It’s his last cup with the final happening in his backyard. Picture this – Sachin announcing his retirement from ODI’s holding the World Cup in his hands. I am sure many a cricket fanatics foster this dream ever since Wankhede got chosen as the venue for the finals. We can only hope that sometimes fantasies do come true. I only wish that I am there when it all unfolds so that I can tell my grandkids that “I was there”.
About the Author:
Munendra Singh is an engineer from IIT Powai, an investment banker, and a wannabe entrepreneur and stock market expert. But for me he is family. We share our passion for cricket. Barring that we are poles apart in every respect. Perhaps that is why we enjoy each other’s company and point of view.
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THE LEGEND OF MADHO SINGH RAWAT
By Harish Kapadia
In a remote eastern valley of Kumaun in Himalaya
live hardy people. The area is called Johar. Johar means people who reap their crop in autumn season, much later than others who do so in summers. For people of this valley are traders. In summer as the snow melts from the higher passes, they pack their goods – wool, food grains and local produce on mules. The long mule caravan slowly winds its way up the Milam valley. They face harsh terrain and steep climbs. Many mules die on the way. Their food is plain roti with a little meat. They cross the high Unta Dhura Pass to descend to a high plateau near the Tibetan border. After spending a night in this cold and windy terrain, they start early next day to cross Jainti Dhura pass into Tibet.
Tibet is a vast and windy plateau. In about two
days of travel they reach one of the many markets set up by Tibetans to barter goods with the Indian traders, like at Gartok. These markets are temporary and are housed in huge Tibetan tents. Tibetans bring their goods on strong and sturdy Yaks. They travel across long distances too, to trade their salt, gold and meat – products for which Tibet is
famous. The Tibetan rock salt is very nutritious and is good food for mules and animals in the Indian valleys. It makes them stronger and they live longer. The salt is beneficial to humans too, as it contains many ‘salts’ essential for the body.
Often these caravans spend a lot of time at the
Gartok mandi (market). Some traders go on a pilgrimage to Tirthapuri or Kailash. They stay in many small Tibetan villages en route. But as autumn approaches, it is time for them to return to the lower valleys of Milam and India. They pack up their wares, count their profits, and with their cargo of Tibetan goods start their journey home. Again they cross the high Jainti Dhura pass to descend to a high plateau before crossing the Unta Dhura to lower valleys.
Between Jainti Dhura and Unta Dhura passes
many caravans used to suffer badly. Many animals and people died when struck by a storm or sudden gusts of strong winds. No food or shelter was available. Sometimes the storms would last a few days. Without fodder the mules would perish, leaving behind a large load of cargo.
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THE LEGEND OF MADHO SINGH RAWAT If we stop, we stand rooted like great mountains, If we walk, we sail through life, We remember you at each step, And in doing so, make you immortal. Madho Singh and his legend lives today as children sing this traditional song. Selfless service has made him immortal.
A villager named Madho Singh Rawat had
travelled this route for many years. Even though he was old, he decided that his people must have a refuge between these two passes. Selflessly he built a good shelter of stones on this plateau. Large stones were not available there, so he ferried them on mules for a year. He constructed the shelter single – handed. Then he stored grains, food and lots of tea for the journeymen. He stocked clothes, blankets and plenty of firewood to keep the stranded travellers warm. By this free and selfless service he saved lives of many traders trapped on the plateau. Many animals were saved and soon Madho Singh became a legend, both in Johar and in Tibet. People knew of his service in lands far away.
Even after he passed away the tradition continued
and other villagers stock up the kothi (stone hut) and serve others. All caravans climbing up from the valley sing praise of Madho Singh Rawat:
About the Author: Harish Kapadia has explored many parts of the Himalayan range over past 50 years. He is the scion of Indian mountain literature, having published numerous books about his explorations and climbs, and has recently retired as Hon. Editor of the Himalayan Journal after 35 years of service. He has received several awards including the Patron’s medal of the Royal Geographical Society from Her Majesty the Queen of England.
पड़ाव
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ले�खका अच�ना �संह
रे ल के �ड�बे म� �हचकोले खाती शाि�त बनाम श�नो मीठे – मीठे सपन� म� खोयी �नं�दया रानी के �हंडोले म� झल ू रह� थी �क कान म� अचानक माँ �क आवाज के घघ ँु � बजने लगे – “श�नो बेट� उठो ना भ� ु कुआ उग गया ब�छया हुंकार कर तु�ह� बल ु ा रह� है उसे दो घास दालकर दल ु रा दो न!” पल ु के पाय� क� खटर–पटर एवं सीट� क� चीखती हुई आवाज ने उसके सपन� को र�दकर याद� के ��णक सख ु को लट ू ह� �लया. श�नो यथाथ� के पंज� म� फंसी हुई उं नीद� सी उठ� व अपने जीवन–या�ा के पड़ाव� के सं�मरण खोज–ढूंढकर इक�ा करने म� जुट गयी. चल�च� के परदे पर याद� �च�वत गज ु रने लगीं. पहल� कोख क� जायी श�नो होश संभालते ह� सन ु ने लगी दाद� के आह भरे
आ�वासन�स�त �वर – “दे वी
माँ ने बेट� �दया तो उ�ह� क� कृपा से वंश चलाने वाला बेटा भी होगा ह�.” म�ने एक �दन ढ�ठ बनकर पछ ू ह� �लया - “दाद�जी म�ने वंश को बढ़ाया ह� है , �फर चला �यँू नह�ं सकती. आप बेटा–बेटा �य� रटती रहती ह�.” दाद� ने मेर� तरफ दे खा और �यार भर� �झड़क� के साथ बोल�ं – “अर� नासमझ! तम ु तो दस ु रे क� अमानत हो. तुमसे वंश कैसे चलेगा. जाओ खेलो!” श�नो ठगी सी कुछ दे र खड़ी रह� �फर खेलने चल� गयी. न�ह� क�पल होने के नाते वह बड़े लाड़–�यार म� पलने लगी. उसक� सार� आकां�ाओं क� पत ू � पलक झपकते हो जाती. उघाम �हरनी क� भाँ�त म�ती के आलम म� झम ू ते इतराते �दन गज ु रते गये �क अनायास एक �दन डाँट–भर� �झड़क� सन ु ने को �मल ह� गयी – बैठक म� �या करने गयी थी! चौपाल क� पंच बनोगी �या? अंदर जाओ बहू–बे�टयाँ दहल�ज के अंदर ह� शोभा पाती ह�. श�नो के कोमल �नरं कुश मन म� �व�ोह के अंकुर फूट पड़े. आज ऐसे �वष बझ ु े बाण� क� बौछार �य�? दे हर� क� सीमा लड़�कय� के �लए ह� �य�? ऐसे ह� ढे र सारे ��न� क� लहर� उठती–�गरती रह�ं पर�तु श�नो
A 14
पड़ाव तो �वार–भाटे क� तरह सम� ु � तटबंध� को पीछे छोडती �नबा�ध दौड़ने म� �व�वास रखती थी. हर मिु �कल को दर�कनार करती श�नो हँ सती–खेलती कुलांचे भत� बाबज ू ी के संग मेल–े ठे ले घम ू ती �फर रह� थी �क एक बज ु ग ु � ने टोककर सब गुड़– गोबर कर डाला. मझ ु े सर से पाँव तक घरू ते उ�ह�ने कहा – “�य� बउआजी अभी भी �ब�टया को काँधे से लगाए चलते हो अब तो इसक� बरात सजाने क� भी सोचो.” श�नो तो ठगी सी मंह ु दे खती रह�. लोग� क� कंट�ल� नज़र ने एकाएक बड़े होने के आभास म� उसे गले तक डुबो डाला. वह तड़प उठ�. बड़ी होना शायद एक गुनाह ह� है िजसक� सजा क� तरक�ब खोजी जा रह� है . च�ककर वह सजग होकर ग�लयारा ढूँढने म� लग गयी. हाय! �य� जीवन क� रात आ गयी �क ताला लगाने क� ज�रत आन पड़ी. घर–आंगन तो अब जेल क� चाहरद�वार� बन गयी िजसके अंदर उसे चन ु �दया गया था. इससे तो �दन �क �तल�मलाती धप ु ह� अ�छ� थी िजसक� ��णक छाँव भी सख ु के ग�े दे जाती दे जाती थी और दौडती भागती श�नो थककर सख ु नींद के सपने म� पसरकर �म�ी डल� क� भाँ�त घल ु जाती. अब तो कभी – कभी सोच और भावनाओं पर भी पहरे पड़ने लगे. दख ु ी श�नो यह सोचने लगी �क कब वह खुल� हवा म� साँस लेगी �क �बजल� क� क�ध क� भां�त एक �वाब आया और दःु ख के बादल� को उड़ा ले गया – स� करो श�नो शाद� के बाद तो आजाद� �मलेगी. सामिजक ढांच� क� सलाख� म� से एक �वार खुलग े ा, बंदनवार सज�गे िजससे गुजरकर तुम बेखटक आ – जा सकोगी, सज-धज कर अपने �पया के संग. पर�तु हाय रे व�त का छलावा! ससरु क� दे हर� पर दे ग भरते हुए तो उसके पाँव पहले ह� मन� बो�झल हो चक ु े थे. अब तो उसक� �वाभा�वक हरकत� भी ससरु ालवाल� को खटकने लगीं. घर का वातावरण और भी दमघ�टू लगने लगा. श�नो अतीत के प�ने �गनने लगी. सामने दाद� खड़ी–खड़ी कह रह�
थीं तु�हारे
बाबा को यह च�ू ड़याँ ये पाज़ेब �पसंद नह�ं थे. बड़े नए ख़याल के थे वो. कहते थे ये सब तो लड़�कय� के �हलने–डुलने पर नाकेबंद� करने क�, बंद� बनाकर
पड़ाव
A 15
रखने क� सािजश है . हमार� बे�टयाँ गाय–गो� क� तरह मोती मनके नह�ं पहन�गी. पर�तु कहाँ रहे वे अपने सपन� को साकार करने के �लए, और दाद� �क आँख� भर आयीं. म� सोचने लगी आ�खर बाबज ू ी क� सोच भी बाबा क� तरह �ग�तवाद� �य� नह�ं. काफ़� अरसे के बाद इंतजार क� घ�ड़याँ �गनते–�गनते आ�खर वह �दन आया जब श�नो वा�पस अपने बाबल ु के आँगन म� खड़ी थी अजनबी सी. सब कुछ बदला–बदला सा लगा. शायद उसका अपना गेह ह� प�रव�त�त हो चक ु ा है या�क उसका अपना नज�रया! मायके के �वशेष लाड़–�यार भरे माहौल म� अब वह अपनापन नह�ं! और उसे लगता �क कोई उसे पीछे खींच रहा है , पक ु ार रहा है – श�ना डा�ल�ग! �य�? मजे म� तो हो न! कुछ �दन तो फरफराते हुए बीत गये पर�तु अब गाँव का ठहरा गा जीवन उबाऊ लगने लगा और उसका मन शहर क� और छलांग भरने क� सोचने लगा. इस बार बस िजद करके अपने प�त के साथ शहर चल� ह� आई. श� ु म� तो �नयोन–लाइट क� चकमक बड़ी भल� लगी पर पडोसी क� आवाज एक-ब-एक ध�का सा दे गयी – लगता है बेचार� नयी नयी दे हात से आई है . जीवन क� गाडी पहले खरामा–खरामा ससरती रह�, �फर भागती–दौड़ती िजंदगी म� �दन, मह�ने और साल मंब ु ई क� लोकल के �लैटफॉम� क� भां�त गज ु रने लगे. �य�त जीवन क� थकान के बीच बचपन क� याद� के �ससकार� भरते झ�के पल�छन को ह� सह� अपव ू � �सहरन का सख ु �बछा दे ते ह� और �फर फूट पड़ता है एक आह भरा �नःशेष �वर – “गाँव से ऊबा तो शहर म� डूबा!”
लेखक प�रचय: अच�ना �संह जै�वक �व�ान क� �श��का ह�. साथ ह� साथ वो एक अ�छ� कलाकार और ले�खका भी ह�. हालाँ�क उ�ह�ने मुझे उनक� �लखी �यादा कहा�नयां पढ़ने द� नह�ं, पर ये कहानी पाकर और पढ़कर म� काफ़� भावक ु हो उठा. आशा है �कआपको भी ये व�ृ तांत पसंद आये.
A 16
RESHMA By Alok Ajnabi
Chetan was driving through the lanes of Su-
jangarh, a hilly area in Satpura. He was here after a gap of four decades. The place had transformed into a new hub with malls and high – rise buildings. Large pastures and groves had perished along with peace and tranquility. The traffic was maddening him. He turned towards the highway and suddenly came across his college. He had studied here for two years. The old church – like entrance was intact but many new structures overshadowed it. Automatically he went towards Kanary hills, which used to be densely forested, with tigers around. Chetan was shocked to see new colonies and market complex there. A huge population now lived there without a trace of forest. His eyes were trying to locate an old styled mansion, the Nawab’s Kothi. All of a sudden he saw the big house resembling the Kothi. It was in a bad shape. Age and weather had left its mark on the monument. Chetan stopped at the gate and got down. A frail person approached from inside the gate and inquisitively looked at him. Chetan asked about Korra House and the fellow instantly told him that he was at right place. The man inquired about him. Chetan ignored the question and requested to be allowed inside. The man opened the gate and allowed him into the portico. The caretaker told him that the master of the house Nawab Sahib was no more and his family had moved to Dubai more than thirty years ago. The house was on sale and may not see the next winter. Chetan then asked about Zafar, personal assistant to the late Nawab. The man was astonished to hear it. He told Chetan that Zafar was also dead for long and identified himself as Zafar’s son Karim. Chetan then disclosed his identity. He recollected Karim as a ten year old boy with dark eyes. Karim was surprised to see Chetan and sighed that he had come too late. Chetan could not bear his piercing stare. He wanted to go inside as if he was looking for something. Karim unlocked the main hall. He opened door after door of the decrypt mansion. The furniture was still there, old and dusty with age and neglect.
His thoughts wandered down memory lane – his first day in college. Admitted to a renowned college after high school, a boy from the country side entered the classroom among curious faces. He moved to an empty seat beside a lanky smart boy. As the teacher entered silence ensued. After class Chetan introduced himself to the boy. His name was Aftab. He lived with his sister and brother in law in the same street where Chetan lived with his uncle. Slowly acquaintance grew into friendship, and Chetan was invited to visit Aftab’s brother in law, Nawab Shahib. His house was a mansion with beautiful gardens and countless trees. Chetan was greeted at the entrance by Nawab Sahib who gave him a hug. Aftab led him to inner portion of the Kothi – Janan Khana, to meet his sister. A chorus of sweet voices ran towards Aftab as they heard him approaching. Chetan looked in that direction – a bunch of boys and girls shouting Mamu ran out, but stopped when they saw a stranger. Behind them was a tall charming girl with brown eyes and golden hair – Reshma. She was eldest niece of Aftab. Formalities and pleasantries followed and Chetan was overwhelmed to see such a nice family and their gesture.
That evening was a turning point in Chetan’s life
and it became a routine and habit to be at Nawab’s everyday. The children waited for him too and played with him. Only Reshma kept her distance stealing some glimpses, always around but never close enough for conversation. Chetan unknowingly followed her movements and felt fatally attracted towards her. A strong bond was developing between the two silent selves. But fate had different ideas. Chetan was very fond of movies. He implored Aftab to accompany him to a movie sometime. One day when Chetan was coming out after buying tickets for a movie, he heard someone call his name. Hey, it was Zafar with the entire family. Aftab’s sister insisted that Chetan will be with them. Chetan was delighted to see Reshma. There inside the theater hall Chetan was told to sit between Aftab and Reshma. As the movie began, in the dark, Chetan felt a soft hand on his own. A chill ran through his spine, But he somehow Chetan suddenly dashed towards a room. As he reached the centre of the room a gentle breeze ca- gathered courage to hold that hand. It appeared ressed him and a soft laugh greeted him as if some- that Reshma was trying to convey her feelings to him. Oblivious to their surroundings, tender hearts one touched him. Chetan tried to see but failed.
A 17
RESHMA were lost in their world of dreams. When lights came on Aftab had to arouse Chetan from this state of bliss. No one had an inkling of what had transpired that evening.
Chetan was restless the whole night and next day
he impatiently waited for evening to come. In the Kothi too, a frail heart was aching to see someone. When the clock struck six, Chetan was at the Nawab’s. Reshma ran down the stairs and stood before him like a goddess to be admired and worshipped. Chetan was speechless only gazing in awe. Silence broke when Aftab called for tea. The love kept on blossoming and days flew past unnoticed. Reshma’s birthday approached and party was attended by many including Chetan. He gifted her a singing doll while she gave him a tie pin depicting a heart of gems pierced by a golden arrow. Reshma’s eyes were glistening with deep love for Chetan. For him she was more than life itself.
Destiny however was weaving its own threads.
Noticing Chetan’s distraction from studies, his uncle reminded him of his dreams. Chetan felt as if he had woken up from a slumber. He was confused and told everything to Reshma. She was bold and unperturbed. She asked him to concentrate on his studies. Only his success could ensure a better life for both. Chetan cherished to be an engineer. He studied hard and was ready to face any exam. He surprised everyone by securing second position in the college. It was all for Reshma, who was overwhelmed. Nawab’s family was also thrilled as they treated him as family member. But Reshma grew sad as Chetan was to leave for admission to the Engineering College causing a long inevitable separation. He promised to comeback soon. They had vowed to remain one for ever but fate struck a thundering blow.
not to visit the house anymore as his life would be in peril. As her mother went inside to fetch something for Chetan, Reshma ran up to him, embraced and kissed his hand asking him to forgive her. She insisted that he should complete his studies and achieve what they had dreamt. Chetan’s heart sank at the moment, but Reshma’s assuring hand gave him strength. They decided not to see each other in future for family and society. Chetan returned to his new college and never came to Sujangarh. He completed his studies and was settled in life. But Reshma always remained in his heart inspiring him.
Suddenly Chetan’s thoughts were interrupted by
sobs. Who was crying and why? He found no one and turned back to Karim. Hesitatingly he asked about Reshma. Karim started crying and in choked voice told the remaining story. As Reshma turned eighteen she was married to a distant relative settled in the Middle East. Everyone was happy and Reshma agreed too. On the day of Niqah, people were ready for the ceremony. Elder women went to get Reshma from her room where she was dressing up. But she asked them for few moments of solitude. She closed the door lightly and went to the mirror. No one knew what happened next, but when the women returned to fetch her she was lying motionless in her bed with the doll on her body. She had kept her words. Nawab’s family was shattered and later moved to Dubai. As he heard this, Chetan dropped on his knees, tears rolling down his face and hands up in prayers for Reshma. Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulders. It was Karim . He hugged him, ran towards his car and sped away, never to see Sujangarh again.
When Chetan returned to Sujangarh after
admission, a riot broke out in the neighbouring village. Frenzied mobs became active even in Sujangarh, killing innocent people – both Hindus and Muslims. Chetan was worried about Nawab’s family. It was dangerous to move around freely. Although his friends warned him to avoid that area, Chetan risked his life and went to Nawab’s. On entering, there were unknow faces staring at him with hatred in their eyes.Aftab took him inside hurriedly.There he got the shock of his life. Reshma and her mother were in tears. Chetan was asked
About the Author: Alok Ajnabi is a Professor of Botany and a sports, travel, movies, music and books enthusiast. The story here is based on true events.
A 18
THESE MAKE ME By Pali Tripathi
A piece of heart and chunks from the following: Nostalgia – Seasoned yet fresh with mango flavored bits of memories Smell – From mom’s sari after her prayer Sight – Of grandpa quietly amused at the half eaten toothpaste in my mouth Conversation – With a stranger about to turn friend against the pitter patter of rain on the concrete Sound – From the rustle of dawn caught between night and day Curiosity – About the reflection in the mirror, neither child nor woman Taste – Of water mixed with tamarind laced tears Fear – Of yellowed future living upto expectations without me Touch – Of a hint at the corners of his mouth reflected in the glint in his eyes Calm – As I see myself counting waves by the sea and tossing ideas for my pen Passion – Wrapped in bubble shaped seconds that burst at uninvited intervals Paper – Printed, blank, written and read with words floating upon my mind Coffee and Tea – That break the average of a day with steam and tongue Friend – In the singular, she suffices, substitutes, suffuses Anger – not the strong and silent variety. Fragile and loud Delight – at whiffing the bold type faced unread mail running into pages Pain - from waiting behind doors locked from the outside for the sound of footsteps announcing sleep Loss – of bricks that could build castles in air complete with windows overlooking the specks below
About the Author: Pali Tripathi is a management consultant at one of the big four consultant firms. Poetry is a passion that keeps her going in a hectic corporate life.
Go India! For queries about contribution, comments, suggestions and complaints please mail me at: mallik.basu@gmail.com or drop a message on my facebook or twitter pages.