Incredible India !

A Life In Big City

(La vie dans grande ville)

Traffic in market at night

Everywhere people

I, being a resident of a small country’s small city, it is obvious to be surprised and strange while experiencing life in a big metropolitan cities. Though metro-cities are full of everything, one finds emptiness in him or her in everyday life in such cities.

It is very strange that one falls into such a life style that one has no control over it. Life moves on and you have no other choice than following it or be left behind. It may not take long time for any new comer to fall in that trap.

Evening market life

Right from early morning a unique life pattern starts which I would like to term as ‘Robot-life’. Yes, it is very close and right word to express a real city life. I categorize people of big cities in generally few categories like – service holders, business people, students, workers, housewives and wanderers.

The mechanism that keeps on running the system in big cities is very strange and non-understandable as well to normal people. It does not matter which category people fall into but everyone’s life is like ‘Get up, stand up, and fight for your life’ – mission.

Government service- holders, private job holders, students, businessmen and general people start rushing from early in the morning. Anyone can be wandering where all these people coming from and where they are going to – while watching people’s moment every day. No one cares about anybody. People seem to be so self-centered. It is not their fault at all; but that’s the way it goes on here.

I, being a watcher and having not engaged in city life, have had numerous opportunities to watch city people and experience their life style. I am like a be watcher here. I am not engaged in service of any sort of job nor am I a student. Neither do I have to do anything with business, nor am I a citizen of this country. I am just a traveler and am here for my sojourn in this country.

But my short stay here has made me familiar with so many experiences; they are simply remarkable and great.

                                         Having breakfast on street


                                          Enjoying snacks on streed



                   Eating on street is a common practice in big city

As daily life starts by grabbing whatever available for breakfast at home or on street followed by journey to destinations by various means of transportation like own vehicle, public buses, metro, and so on here, you can see a real example of contraction and expansion in public transportation system.

One needs to have gut to hang on buses

A bus or train or metro can take as many people in as available at bus stand or metro station. People get sandwiched everywhere. They get contracted while they are in public means of transportation. But at destination the volume of people expands in such a way that one could hardly believe that they all came out from the same unit of transport. Crowd gets dispersed and scattered in a haphazard way like a bunch of ants has been disturbed by something. The movements are so radical and impatient that a new comer gets stunned everywhere watching such activities.

 People coming out of CST Station in Mumbai

                   Coming out of local trains in Mumbai

         Waiting for bus at a Bus Stand is a part of daily life

Trying to get off from a Metro

Trying to get in Metro

If you get lost or want to know direction you want to go, you will be surprised when you approach people for help. Few things you will experience will be; firstly, no one has time to guide you. People wear very good and expensive watches but none has time. In case by miracle if anybody helps you trace your direction, they will say “ I don’t know. Go ahead and ask someone else.” If you happen to meet very serious people they will show you any direction they like. You can imagine what an awkward situation you will find yourself in. If you decide to rely on auto rickshaw or taxi or rickshaw pullers, they will insist you to use their transportation in order to let you reach your destination.

By the way, if you decide to rely on yourself by following a map of guide book in your hand, then very obviously you will be noticed by hungry-eyed people. You will become a ‘point of target’ for them and soon you will find yourself a midst them.

Though this city is big one and millions of people live here, you would be surprised to know that how lonely people are in this big city. Everyone is feeling lonely and one can get lost in this city very easily. It is strange, is not it? Yes, although it sounds strange, it is true that everyone is alone here. Because, normally about 70% of the population here belong to other states or cities and most of them are without their families here. 

Everywhere people

To be alone in crowds is very strange experience but it is very common and one can feel it very much in big city like this easily. You have yourself only in place like this - what a reality!

For people coming from small cities, it would really be a shocking experience. But, in the course of time, one becomes a part of the system automatically willingly or unwillingly. One got to be part of this society and becomes a component of it. What a life it is. One comes to realize very often – almost every now and then.

One gets confused in the beginning to accept the life style and practices as well. It is strange in various ways. For example, when you come to realize that it is a country answer of any question is given in a question. Sounds funny no? But, slowly you will realize it.

When you ask someone “What is the time?” “Why do you need that?” “Where do you have to go?” will be generally followed. If you ask, “What do you have for lunch?” You will be asked “What do you want?” we have rice and rot.” “Does a bus number 485 stop here?” You might hear “Where do you have to go?” “Yes, it does stop here.”

You must be thinking I am joking but it is real and especially when someone comes to India for the first time, it would be very strange experience and one would be confused most of the times. Yes, It is really a ‘wonderland’. Further you get shocked to know that it is perhaps the only country where distance is measured or expressed n terms of time.

What? Yes, you heard it correctly. Upon asking any place like “How far is Connaught Place?”

Most probably you are likely to hear “It is 20 minutes away.” “How far is the nearest post office?” People would respond “Very close. Just 5 minutes far.” After hearing such answers, I am sure that you would believe the facts as I have mentioned above.

To experience strange and abnormal things, moments and issues, I think one should visit India. You will have lifetime remarkable memories from here. In reality, India is really ‘Incredible India’ – as proclaimed by the tourism department. India is full of fantasies, myths, and incredible moments and so on. One got to be here to witness its offerings and experience them to their full extent. Wonderful, incredible and daydreaming country and existed anywhere else in this world.

Human train crossing river

A very unique and full of diversities! It is said that the taste of water and culture change in every ten miles (of course, one can imagine the physical size of this country). Yes, paani and vaani (dialect) change in every ten miles of distance. It is estimated that over about 1,000 dialects are spoken in the whole country. Wow!

Apart from that it is one of the colourful cities where people of various neighboring states live in a harmony. City celebrates different cultural aspects to respect various people’s ethnic heritages. The majority of religious reflects Hindu mythology. An overwhelming response from this religion is widely seen and experienced in general.

Great festivals like ‘Dussehra’ and 'Diwali') are celebrated with an enormous enthusiasm and great entertainment - almost throughout the country. But cities manifest symbolically but with great interest. Festive seasons are observed in possible high attention and great respect among the devotees in every religion. This is really a beauty of joy. Festive seasons are worth experiencing as they could be a lifetime experience for strangers and foreigners who come from different world with different religious backgrounds.

A diversity and still unity can be seen vividly here. 

There is a UNITY in DIVERSITY and DIVERSITY in UNITY in this great country -  an INCREDIBLE INDIA!

                                      DROWNING INDIA

VEGETARIAN LIFESTYLE

Why adopt a vegetarian lifestyle?

“Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances of survival of like on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” Albert Einstein

You are what you eat. When a person discovers within that his spiritual nature is awakening, many changes start taking place. A spiritual awakening always makes a person more sensitive. Subtle energies become very tangible and the individual notices very clearly whether something taken into the body is toxic or healthy.

The Rajyogis of Brahma Kumaris practice lacto-vegetarianism, which is also called Satvic diet or sentient food. This energy force is characterized by purity, self-awareness, love, peace and joy. This category of food includes fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, grains, milk and dairy products. This means that no meat, fish, poultry, or eggs are ingested. Satvic diet keeps the mind and emotions in a tranquil state. Being vegetarian ensures a healthy body and a healthy mind. Besides providing much better nutrition than non-vegetarian diet, the veg-food also guarantees a positive a positive karmic account with nature.

Food feeds more than the stomach; its subtle energy influences the mind

Importance is also given to the way in which the food is prepared. Just an energy levels in foods influence us, the reverse occurs as well, our thought patterns (negative or positive) create an aura of energy around us and any physical matter, be it living or non-living is influenced by it.

Health factors of vegetarianism good health is our birthright, it is time we claim it.

Practicing meditation makes a person tend towards vegetarian diet, and vegetarian food will tends to keep a person closer to spirituality and is conductive to taking time for contemplation and introspection. This very healthy and restorative combination is especially beneficial in modern stressful lives.

“As a person eats, so he thinks.  As a person thinks, so he acts .As a person acts, so he becomes.”

Spiritual and ethical reasons:

Non-violence is the essential characteristic of the spiritually awakened individual. The essence of the human should is peace, tranquility and stillness,. The inner stillness of quiet contemplation of one’s essence comes easily when the body is naturally ingesting Satvic food.

The vibrations of the violent death of an animal are imprinted in its flesh, and then taken on by one who eats the meat. This robs one of one’s natural serenity.

There is a phrase in Hindi that says “jaisa ann vaisa mann” implying “as your food, so your mind’”

Being vegetarian ensures a healthy body and a healthy mind.

Good health is our birthright, it is time we claim it. Non-violence is the essential characteristic of the spiritually awakened individual.

“As your food, so your mind’” There are many reasons that make people decide that vegetarianism is the best lifestyle choice for them. Some people do not eat meant because of religious, spiritual or ethical reasons, others adopt vegetarianism for health related concerns and still others choose vegetarianism as a means of supporting the environment. How a vegetarian lifestyle supports the environment? In this age of overpopulation, a vegetarian lifestyle takes economically from nature and prevents environmental degradation.

Because:

•  Worthwhile use of food a steer that provides 200 kg of meat enables the preparations of about 1500 meals; with the cereal it ate, about 18000 meals could have been made.

• Worthwhile use of water; 1 kg of meat requires at least 15000-30000 litres; 1 kg of wheat requires just 1000 litres.

•  Worthwhile use of soil, a field of land can produce 6000 kg carrots, or 4000 kg apples, or 1000 kg cherries, or only 50 kg meat

• Preventing deforestation: about 70% of arable land on earth is used for cattle-raising and growing cereals to feed them; enough land to feed the whole world population many times with vegetarian food;

• Preventing air and water pollution: about 50% of water pollution in Europe is due to intensive animal farming; the pollution comes from slurry, manure and chemical fertilizers; every day, 2 million tons of these wastes pollute the earth’s water.

By adopting a vegetarian lifestyle, more land, more water and more food are available and less nature is destroyed or polluted. “Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances of survival of like on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” Albert Einstein. (Purity Bureau

•  Sources: “Livestock’s Long Shadow (2006) – FAO, for the environment Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic diseases (1990)- WHO.

 (Source: PURITY, Vol. xxx No. 2)

(Compiled By: Roshan Singh)

BEAUTIFUL NEPAL

NEPAL 

(Never Ending Peace And Love)  

 

Nepal is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People’s Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India. With an area of 147,181 square kilometres (56,827 sq mi) and a population of approximately 30 million, Nepal is the world’s 93rd largest country by land mass and the 41st most populous country. Kathmandu is the nation’s capital and the country’s largest metropolis.

Nepal is commonly divided into three physiographic areas: Mountain, Hill and Terai. These ecological belts run east-west and are vertically intersected by Nepal’s major, north to south flowing river systems.

The southern lowland plains or Terai bordering India are part of the northern rim of the Indo-Gangetic plains. They were formed and are fed by three major Himalayan rivers: the Kosi, the Narayani, and the Karnali as well as smaller rivers rising below the permanent snowline. This region has a subtropical to tropical climate. The outermost range of foothills called Shiwalik or Churia Range cresting at 700 to 1,000 metres (2,297 to 3,281 ft) marks the limit of the Gangetic Plain, however broad, low valleys called Inner Tarai (Bhitri Tarai Uptyaka) lie north of these foothills in several places.

The Hill Region (Pahad) abuts the mountains and varies from 800 to 4,000 metres (2,625 to 13,123 ft) in altitude with progression from subtropical climates below 1,200 metres (3,937 ft) to alpine climates above 3,600 metres (11,811 ft). The Mahabharat Range reaching 1,500 to 3,000 metres (4,921 to 9,843 ft) is the southern limit of this region, with subtropical river valleys and “hills” alternating to the north of this range. Population density is high in valleys but notably less above 2,000 metres (6,562 ft) and very low above 2,500 metres (8,202 ft) where snow occasionally falls in winter.

 Nepal is commonly divided into three physiographic areas: Mountain, Hill and Terai. These ecological belts run east-west and are vertically intersected by Nepal’s major, north to south flowing river systems.

The southern lowland plains or Terai bordering India are part of the northern rim of the Indo-Gangetic plains. They were formed and are fed by three major Himalayan rivers: the Kosi, the Narayani, and the Karnali as well as smaller rivers rising below the permanent snowline. This region has a subtropical to tropical climate. The outermost range of foothills called Shiwalik or Churia Range cresting at 700 to 1,000 metres (2,297 to 3,281 ft) marks the limit of the Gangetic Plain, however broad, low valleys called Inner Tarai (Bhitri Tarai Uptyaka) lie north of these foothills in several places.

The Hill Region (Pahad) abuts the mountains and varies from 800 to 4,000 metres (2,625 to 13,123 ft) in altitude with progression from subtropical climates below 1,200 metres (3,937 ft) to alpine climates above 3,600 metres (11,811 ft). The Mahabharat Range reaching 1,500 to 3,000 metres (4,921 to 9,843 ft) is the southern limit of this region, with subtropical river valleys and “hills” alternating to the north of this range. Population density is high in valleys but notably less above 2,000 metres (6,562 ft) and very low above 2,500 metres (8,202 ft) where snow occasionally falls in winter.

Geography of Nepal:

Nepal is of roughly trapezoidal shape, 800 kilometres (497 mi) long and 200 kilometres (124 mi) wide, with an area of 147,181 km2 (56,827 sq mi). See List of territories by size for the comparative size of Nepal. It lies between latitudes 26° and 31°N, and longitudes 80° and 89°E.

Nepal has a rich geography. The mountainous north has eight of the world’s ten tallest mountains, including the highest point on Earth, Mount Everest, called Sagarmatha in Nepali. It contains more than 240 peaks over 20,000 ft (6,096 m) above sea level. The fertile and humid south is heavily urbanized.

 

 History of Nepal

A monarchy throughout most of its history, Nepal was ruled by the Shah dynasty of kings from 1768, when Prithvi Narayan Shah unified its many small kingdoms. However, a decade-long Civil War by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and several weeks of mass protests by all major political parties led to the 12 point agreement of November 22, 2005. The ensuing elections for the constituent assembly on May 28, 2008 overwhelmingly favored the abdication of the Nepali monarch Gyanendra Shah and the establishment of a federal multiparty representative democratic republic. The first President of Nepal, Ram Baran Yadav, was sworn in on July 23, 2008. 

Nepal was formally renamed the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal when it became a federal republic.

A LAND OF LORD BUDDHA

PASHUPATINATH TEMPLE - SITUATIED IN THE WORLD'S ONLY HINDU KINGDOM

By some measures, Hinduism is practised by a larger majority of people in Nepal than in any other nation. Buddhism, though a minority faith in the country, is linked historically with Nepal. Many Nepali do not distinguish between Hinduism and Buddhism and follow both religious traditions. There are 3 different buddhist traditions: Himalayan Buddhism, Buddhism of Kathmandu Valley (mostly Mahayana and Vajrayana), and also the Theravada Buddhism.

A Beautiful Typical Village House

A Video With Glimpses of Nepal