The Whiz’s Crucible

3rd Oct

Awake at 3:30 a.m. The whole household is slowly waking up. Got to catch the bus at 6amThe usual worries – Water shortage in overhead tank-try to obtain more water-everyone has to take a bath. The usual stuff and again, as is usual, all problems are ironed out and people are ready to go. Unluckily I could not go due to very bad stomach. I tried my best and was all ready, looking dapper and all, but at the end I was not ready for taking a risk with a six hour journey and uncontrollable plumbing:(

Ended up missing out all the fun and an interesting trip. Kangda seemed to be a great place in the … Close to Dharmshala. Damn my stomach! Will make that trip one day though!!!

Went over to a dr. Karbanda Singh who gave me a combination of allopathic and ayurvedic medicine. Whatever it was it was damn effective and put a stopper in my works. Like the attitude of the doc – allopathy, ayurveda or homeopathy, prescribe anything as long as the work gets done:) Maybe IT engineers should learn something from this!

Spent a large part of the day resting, in other words living the Amritsari way. Had some fabulous dal chawal with curd and felt much better. Later, on a whim, took the opportunity to go with my cousin to Wagha border. The border itself was interesting and in some ways different from the idea of a border that one learns about in text books. I mean somehow I expected there to be some differnce in the landscape. i don’t know what I was expecting – maybe I thought Pakistan would be completely wrapped in an Isalmic green colour or some such bullshit. There is no damn difference – the same land, the same water, the same palnts and the same people. Just an electrified fence pulled across the face olf the land. Borders are much easier to define on books and maps, methinks.

The ceremony was more confusing.. The actual “beating of the retreat” was interesting but the action was some distance away; and with the large crowd that had gathered to watch the proceedings it was difficult to watch every detail. The disappointing part of the proceedings was that it is being promoted as a show with jingoistic overtones. There was this commentator exhorting people to keep repeating ” Bharat ma ki jai” and all that stuff. I expected a solemn ceremony and it was more like a carnival show

Did not have my camera with so could not take any pics. However it is not the best of places tot ake pics from the Indian side as the sun is in our face, due tot he event happening during sunset

What I really really liked about the trip to wagha border was the beautiful semi-rural area around Amritsar. Someone should buy a farmhouse there – real fertile land and wonderful people. No wonder most people who have visited the Punjabi countryside always come back with love for Punjab.

Then it was back home and lots of discussions, debates, arguments and generally pulling each other’s legs. And this was just 3-5 of us who had not amde the trip. The actual party returned from Kangda at 1:00 am and still had the energy to discuss all the happenings there.

All in all a jolly family get-together:)

In my last post I forgot to link to the Wikipedia Site on Amritsar
My tayaji stays next door to the famous Khalsa College just off the Grand Trunk Road(which is history itself). Here is the photo of the beautiful building it is housed in:

Also found this article on the ceremony at wagha border. Will i think it is just posturing and not as serious as the writer protrays there are many good points made in the article.
Another interesting site I found was this blog site with lots of pics Beautiful pics from the top of the Harmandir Saheb.

In Swarna Shatabdi

All ready for Amritsar! I love this train – this one and the Rajdhanis. One almost feels that like royalty in these trains. They are not only clean they also provide good food – at least according to me. Thankfully they could get me non-veg breakfast.

I am writing this life after having my breakfast. It is only 8:56(the train started at 7:20 and I am already stuffed.) First there were Marie biscuits with tea. Then there was an omlette with peas and French fries, and bread butter. I am happy as a clam.

The one beautiful thing about going by train is the beautiful scenery. Man, India is so gorgeous. Within the city limits you do have the morning squatters but once you are in the countryside it is paradise. The only jarring point in this train is the controlled a/c environment due to which one cannot smell the country air.

Time for a snooze.

Funny thing about the Indian rail (and maybe of all rail journeys)- you always feel that the seats are uncomfortable and that you are never going to be able to sleep, especially with kids shouting nearby. However a full tummy and the narcotic rocking of the train always lulls one to dreamless stupour.

I had a good nap. Caught a glimpse of some of the places that I have heard of all through my life, like Karnal and Kurukshetra. Another place we stopped at was Amballa cantonment. Woke up at Ludhiana. Weather outside is fine. The sun is shining brightly but it is more pleasant than hot. The countryside in this part of the world is just breathtaking. Makes me wonder about many things about which I will speak later (eg. about the rural world versus the urban world).

As I was writing the last lines there is an announcement that we will shortly be reaching Phagwara.

Ludhiana and Beas gone and I am at the holy land of Amritsar(literally lake of nectar). Amritsar also seems to be expanding – I could see lots of construction while pulling into the city.

The whole possé is waiting for me. Masadji and mama and Simpoo. After landing it is a short ‘tempo’ ride to tayaji’s place and very soon I am lapping up a delicious mutton curry made by tayaji. An absolutely mouth-smacking dish with succulent pieces of meat so soft that it melts in ones mouth. Beautiful!!!

The day is full of fun, meeting all the saalas and saalis I had not met before, meeting relatives in general from Amritsar and partaking of all the fun and goodies that go along with the overall atmosphere of an Amritsari Punjabi wedding. I am at Masadji’s place and having fun just conversing, debating, drinking tea and eating all the time. The grand finale was a tumbler of hot milk – by tumbler I mean a real Amritsari tumbler, huge is an understatement for it.
We all know that we have to sleep early as we have to go to Kangra (Himachal Pradesh) in the morning. Still with the whole family around one cannot just go off and sleep. All of us are on the mattresses (no there was no Mafia war going on) on the floor, debating, arguing having a gala time and as people reach their limit they fall off to sleep. Typical timepass as at any Indian family gathering.

Love it !!!

I was going to post this pic later – but I could not resist Click on the thumbnail to see one of the phtos that i am really proud of. I am also putting up the pic of Harmandar Saheb as it was in the older days.