Hemkunt Sahib : He's actually there..

Hemkunt Sahib a Sikh Gurudwara, located in Chamoli district of Uttar Pradesh, is dedicated to the tenth Guru of Sikh religion, Shree Guru Gobind Singh Ji..

I have visited many religious places but my experience of Hemkunt Sahib is very unique and at the same time strangest too.. It is “UNIQUE” because first time I was allowed to go out alone just with my friends and without any family member.. now why am I calling it strangest?? because I have had no idea about its location, popularity and the religious relevance.. To be very honest that mad group of my friends were just excited with the idea of getting “FREEDOM” from all the dictators of family and school.... It was a ten days trip.. We were dreaming about mountains covered with silver shine snow, the greenery, exotic nature scenes total masti, dhamal blah, blah.. par ye kya the moment we entered in our tourist luxury bus, we got the first shock as to many of our other companions were old people with a particular religious mind set.. Oh GOD save us.. and actually God saved us because in that bus few young, good looking guys were also travelling with us.. later on we all became good friends and they used to visit our homes too.. It's been many years now but really I would like to visit this place again and again..

So let’s come to the main point.. “GURUDWARA HEMKUNT SAHIB”..
It is a unique star shaped Gurudwara.. and is situated on the bank of a holy-sweet-chilled-water lake called “Amrit Sarowar”.. The place is a narrow valley surrounded by seven peaks (Saptashring).. Like other hilly pilgrimages this place is also inaccessible during the winter season.. Even in summers it is visited only during the day time, because lack of enough oxygen at that height all the pilgrims including the Granthis (Priests) have to come back to another Gurdwara Gobind Dham..
Till 20th century, this place was completely out of reach from the people..

The autobiography of Gobind Singhji has clearly mentioned in a verse about Hemkunt Sahib..
Hemkunt Parbat hai jahaan, Sapt sring sobhit hai tahaan
but people did not believe this as there was no sign of such place.. then Pandit Tara Singh Narotam, a nineteenth century Nirmala scholar (an old form of an academic degree) got inspired by his dream and became the first person to trace the geographical location of Hemkunt Parbat (The Mountain)..
Later on Sant Sohan Singh of tehri Garhval actually did a survey of this area and found the place in, and with the financial assistance and encouragement from Bhai Vir Singh, he constructed a 3-metre square shrine..

As I have mentioned earlier that there is a small lake near the Gurudwara, called Amrit Sarovar, is considered as very holy and there is a ritual to take a bath in this lake.. Though the lake remains frozen for almost entire year, but it doesn't stop the devotees to take a dip in the freezing water of this lake.. It was an unforgettable Experience.. and one must visit this place if you actually want to feel the peace, the nature’s beauty and above all “HIS PRESENCE”..

Kashmir : The Mother of Earth..

Sometime ago I met one of my old journalist friend who informed me about Prof Fida Mohammad Hassnein and that he has been finally got a reorganisation for his prestigious contribution to the history of Jammu and Kashmir॥ I only met him once but I felt good for him and If I was happy to hear this news then one can easily imagine his state of mind.. He must be on cloud nine for being awarded with Lifetime Achievement Award by the state government..

He is the only Kashmiri writer (researcher) whose work has been appreciated by the foreign writers and researchers.. He has written more than 35 books based on Jammu and Kashmir’s history, religious places and different other issues, out of which several books have been translated into different foreign languages..
Professor Fida Mohammad had started his career in 1953 as Professor and retired as Director of Archives, Archaeology, Research and Museums in 1980..

I did a story on his huge and impressive collection of Puranas, ancient geographical and other historical books॥ in television interviews we have to be strict with the storyline and duration॥ So my information bank about his work and personal life is not so great and vast.. Many of my memories are fading out since it’s been years now when I met him.. Moreover I am completely out of touch from the NEWS WORLD.. what I still remember is that he made me astonished when he shared a fact about the “emergence of Kashmir out of a sea”.. It is clear that 7500 years ago the valley emerged out of the Noah's Flood.. or as mentioned in the Nilamata Purana (An ancient Kashmiri literature) this happened during Vedrishi Mannu's (creator of famous Hindu Grantha Manusmriti) period..
However, I don’t want to get involved in any debate but the fact is that based on Prof Fida Mohammad’s research a Japanese scholars terms “Kashmir” as “Mother of the Earth”.. I really want to know more about it.. and surely I will try to enhance my knowledge about this..

Global Warming : an "Inconvenient Truth"

We all are facing the critical effects of Global Warming.. Rising temperature, evaporating water reserves, diminishing forests cover, sinking islands and melting ice caps.. well each word represents a scary prospect of unmanageable disaster.. We really don’t have time to even think, stand and stare.. Many efforts are being made by various countries, non profit organizations (NGOs) to slow down the rate of global warming.. but we need rapid individual as well as collective efforts to save this planet, Our very own Mother Earth..
Global warming, has another interesting side of this episode.. there are people who do not take global warming as something that is building up any tension..I would call them sceptic, careless, irresponsible people or group of morons...
Still I am hoping that no one is sceptic here about this waking up call of Nature.. People do talk about the aftermath of Global warming but I would like to share the remedies to be friendly with our environment.. For that we have to reconsider and redesign our lifestyle to survive further on this planet..

We cannot shut down our computers, Mobile phones and other electronic gadgets “Right” but can we try to minimise their usage?? For example a computer that runs 24 hours a day, uses more power than a refrigerator.. I know people who spend hour and hours to down load movies and games from computer.. Please don’t be merciless and watch your favourite movies in cinema halls or buy DVDs.. another solution is use a laptop to save energy.. Laptops are more environmental friendly than a desktop.. It consumes five times less electricity.. Don’t not over charge your laptops, cell phones and digital cameras.. and save electricity, water and environment.. Set your computer on Sleep-mode when not in use it saves energy by 40%..

Then we can replace the glowing bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). These use four times less energy and last some eight to ten times longer than the normal lighting equipments.. Can we keep an eye or be little careful while filling up our water tanks and coolers.. also don't over-water your garden.. Plants in our garden or pots need watering once a week or max twice.. do watering early morning for minimal water evaporation.. it is the best way of water conservation..

Let me be very honest I am going to talk about one of my bad habit, I do not turn off tap while brushing my teeth and soaping my hands.. Nothing but just laziness.. henceforth I will change myself and help to save water..

Drive less to save fuel (I know it’s impossible but try) try to walk (if the distance is not longer) use bike, carpool or take public transport once a week..

I cannot stop paper consumption.. So I will not give such kind of advise.. but we can stop using tissue papers.. go for the ancient way and use handkerchiefs instead. Because tissue paper is a major source of paper wastage.. It takes 6,000,000 (Six Lakh) trees per year to produce tissues for whole world.. Then avoid unnecessary paper printing.. recycle the paper as and when possible.. Please, please and please use both side of each paper for writing.. One much simpler and easier way to cut down the use of paper is to go for soft copies instead of hard (printed) copies to get the information and data stored in your computer..

It takes only a second to waste a beautiful sheet of paper but decades for a tree to grow..
Help.. Fight Global Warming..

Ye hai Bombay meri jaan..

It s been more than four years when I shifted to Mumbai.. A city where anything and everything is possible.. There are many similarities between Delhi (the place I born and brought up) and Mumbai (my present address).. Just like Delhi in Mumbai also I found carbon-dioxide more than oxygen, so have had no breathing trouble.. sach mazak nahi.. Like Delhi here also the roads are mostly used as a dustbin and cycle reaches faster than a car, same things happens in Delhi as well..
But still I found Mumbai is special and at the same time strangest place in many ways.. It is a craziest city to live in — a place you want to run away from but then you will always realise that you cannot live anywhere else now..
Lets talk about the strange things I got to know know about this place called Mumbai..
Mumbai’s ancient name was BOMBAY.. and why Bombay?? when it had no bomb and no bay either..
A very famous (and close to my heart) place called Churchgate, but actually it has neither a church nor a gate.. It is a Railway Station meant only for local trains..
I used to live in an area known as Andheri.. but trust me there was no darkness..
The list is huge, lets have a look..
· Bandara is a posh area of Mumbai.. but I have never seen or heard about even a single monkey (Bandar) in that area..
· Lower Parel is at the same level as Parel..
· The famous Mahalaxmi temple is at Haji Ali not at area known as Mahalaxmi..
· Teen bati is a junction of 3 roads, and has no lamp..
· No Iron smiths stay or work at Lohar chawl..
· There are manny Lokhandwala complexes now but not even one Lokhandwala has any Iron and steel market..
· You will not find ladyfingers at Bheendi Bazaar..
· Mirchi Gully does not sell chillies.. Like in Delhi Paranthe wali gali is famous for the prantha makers and you can have a variety of delicious paranthas there..
· Figs do not grow in Anjir Wadi..
· Sitafals do not grow in Sitafal Wadi..

Now some important features of a Mumbaikars life..
· Train timings (9.20, 7.50 etc) are very important events of life..
· People spend more time in travelling than they spend at home..
· Here people call an 8′ x 6′ clustered room a Hall..
· They have different sets of friend like school friends, college friends, office friends and a very unique community called Train Friends..
· Only in Bombay, I eat Chinese Dosa and have seen people ordering for Jain Chicken..

Who controls "Destiny" ??

"Destiny is not a matter of change, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."

--William Jennings Bryan

This quote looks so impressive but is it true? Good thoughts, nice feelings to motivate a dead heart or the one who has lost interest in life and also hope to live, to struggle, to achieve something in life.. Otherwise I am little apprehensive and wonder how close is this to the reality of Life??
Destiny, is it really a matter of choice?? Can we choose our destiny??
If this is the Truth then why Priti could not shared the joy of becoming a parent with her husband?? Why Priti’s little daughter Prachiti, who was born soon after her father slipped into coma, has never played in her father's lap.. Has they selected their own destiny??
Well if I recall my meeting with 24 year old Priti Sawant, the answer I get back from myself is a big “NO”, It’s not us who choose our destiny..
Ok, Let me first introduce you to Priti..
Priti Sawant is wife of Parag Sawant, the last victim of Mumbai 7/11 Train blasts, Parag was travelling in the Churchgate-Virar train when the bomb went off on the same date.. Since then he has been in “COMA”.. In a simple language doctors describe it a vegetative state–neither alive nor dead.. or when a patient cannot feel any pain or emotions..
A few months ago I have read in a news paper that Parag has started recognizing his mother and now can also do simple math.. A 28 year old guy, who had been an assistant manager with a city-based construction company, can now tell you the answer of what is 6+2.. Well I was happy to know about Parag’s recovery.. and at the same time I was feeling sad to see how innocent people suffer at the hands of Destiny?? (well here i dont want to talk about the social insects also known as The Terrorists)
My personal meeting with Parag and his family happened around 2 year ago.. As usual I was looking for cases of coma patients..
A compiled information of Parag is, that he had got married just seven months before Mumbai Train Blasts, and at that time Priti was pregnant..
Soon after the good news of Priti’s pregnancy.. Parag was planning to change his unborn child’s destiny when he got a call of his own Destiny.. He fought and survived a long battle between his life and death, now again he is taking the initial lessons of life and simultaneously his daughter too.. Little Prachiti who knows nothing about life, destiny or this tragedy, is also learning some hard lessons of life..
That’s why I have named her Prachiti, means “Experience”.. as Priti said and was trying hard to match her smile with Prachiti..
Priti had no complaints against her or her daughter’s destiny.. rather I feel we are lucky enough that God has given us a chance to fight and win this battle.. Parag is alive and so does a hope of living a normal and happy life is also alive..

“Kismat uss din inhe (Parag) apne sath le zarur gayi thi par sath wapis le bhi aay.. warna kuch bhi ho sakta tha, jis aatanki hadse mei 187 logon ki maut huyi aur 900 ghayal huye wahan 187 ka 188 number banane mei kya der lagti, par kismat hum par meharban thi”..
Again KISMAT means DESTINY comes in the picture.. Most of us believe in the nature of justice.. If someone do something wrong we expect him/her to get punished for it.. So what about Destiny?? Who would punish her and when?? More difficult to understand is why good people suffer by the hands of DESTINY??
So don’t look back in past and don't look too far ahead either.. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time..

Well there's only now, there's only here.. No other path, no other way.. No day but today.. LIVE AND LET LIVE..