76. Bridge

To travel in Sikkim in the month of August is such a joy. But at the same time, the rivers frightened me. Especially to watch Teesta and Rangeet, was a mixed feeling.

It was two years ago that I visited Sikkim and have fond memories of the days that I spent there. Here is a view of river Rangeet, in Sikkip block in  South Sikkim district. 

It is not easy to cross this river. 
But here comes the bridge.

A closure look.

And meeting these two kids was a joyful experience. 

With th the same photographs, you can have more details about the experience here: http://thistimethattime.blogspot.com/2012/08/178-innocent.html

68. Birds: 1

The perspective of human beings is different from other species around us. 
For example, who would call a stream, mostly carrying drainage water beautiful? Who would say it is essential? 

But it is very essential for the birds. 
See Intermediate Egrets and Indian Pond Herons together here.

Their peaceful coexistence for the use of limited resources is a lesson to all of us.  

63. Karaikal

I don't know why I suddenly remembered Karaikal today.
I mean there was nothing which was associated with the place.
That is one of the mysteries of the mind.

 This came from nowhere.

I still find peace in the memory of that spot.
Maybe I should visit the place again. 

60. Fast Indefinite

I hope you have read my earlier post on the same blog - Development?? 

Unfortunately the story continues. 

Four of them (two women and two men) enter into 8^th day of their indefinite fast.

Kamal Mohite,  Balkrishna Patil,  Dilip Kadam, and Suniti S R are fasting along with number of villagers at the gate of Collector Office, Satara (Maharashtra).

 The Wang Marathwadi dam affected people are fighting peacefully for their rights for many years and have recently intensified their fight. What are their demands?

  They seem to be simple and rightful. They are:

1. Rehabilitate in the same area (in the villages that are going to be benefited by the dam)
2. Until the rehabilitation is complete, don’t store water in the dam (which submerges living villages for last 3 years)
3. The loss of crops for last three years should be compensated.
4. Complaints registered again peaceful protesters should be withdrawn. 

As a person who is not at all connected with these villages, I don’t understand what is wrong in these demands and why government has failed to implement its policies regarding rehabilitation.

Even after a week-long fast the energy levels of these four persons is very high; they are actively involved into proceedings. This shows their commitment to the cause.

Today everybody gathered at the fast site too will observe fast. Not only that; today the dam affected villages have decided to observe “Chulha Band” – nobody will cook and nobody will eat except for the patients and young children.

Hope the meeting with the Chief Minister of Maharashtra today is fruitful. I hope that government understands the reality and the rightful demands are met at the earliest.  

59. Crab Catching

First I saw their colony.

At glance I could count at least 50.

As the day progressed; they too progressed towards the human residence.

However, only us – the outsiders – were either amused or scared or interested.

First it was Neelesh – a 12^th class student – who caught the crab and threw it.

Second time when another crab appeared (or was it the same?), Yogesh – 10^th class student was around.

Have a closer look.

No, it is not only the expertise of boys. They remember one of their taai (sister, actually one of the elder girls) , who used to catch many crabs and cook for the entire group. Lately she has not been around.

“Ah! That is the reason their number is increasing,” I commented.

“Oh! No! They are not enough to make our one meal,” a spontaneous reply from another 10 year boy.

“Hmm… since these boys are educated by people like us; by next generation this art and skill will completely wither   ….” I was sharing with my colleague.

  “Don’t worry. Will teach our children how to catch crabs”, Yogesh assured me.

58. Development??

Another day.

Another village; another area.

Another scale. 

But the story is the same. 

We never learn. 

We never want to.

People against big dams have valid reasons. 

Small dams are not a problem, we thought. 

But when I visit village Umar Kanchan in Patan block in Satara district (Maharashtra); it is the same story again. 

A small dam, of 2.73 TMC (proposed) with  0.60 TMC present capactiy.

4 villages are completely affected by it; 5 partially; in total 1862 families are affected and need to be rehabilitated. 

The project started in 2000; and 60% of the families are yet to be rehabilitated. Since 2011, villages - LIVING villages - are getting submerged into water.  The crops are destroyed every year and villages get cut off. Protesters are jailed and later have to appear in  court regularly. How can rightful and especially peaceful protest can be a crime? 

Yesterday, National Alliance of People's Movement (NAPM) organized a meeting, in which along with many villages and Andolan volunteers, Medha Patkar addressed the meeting. 

After having experience like Sardar Sarovar Project (popularly known as Narmada Dam), I thought Government has learnt right lessons.
Unfortunately, we have not.
We keep on ruining people's lives in the name of Development!

Is it Development? 

45. Umiam

On the way to Shillong from Guwahati is a scenic water body.

What is it - I ask as usual.

"It is Umiam Lake." comes the answer.

Umiam Lake View 1 Shillong, August 2011

It is so peaceful - to watch it is a god's gift indeed.

Umiam Lake View 2, Shillong, August 2011

I keep on watching it every day. Why is it called Umiam Lake? 

Because, it is the product of a dam built on River Umiam. The dam construction started in 1965 to create first Hydel Power plant in the North East. 

Later I am told that the term Umiam in Khasi language means "Crying River". 

Someone explains that it is not actually 'Crying River' but 'Flood of Tears". 

Why the beautiful waters has such a name?

Because the river used to flood regularly and take many lives each year. 

So, the name is indeed very relevant. 

Umilam Lake View 3, Shillong, August 2011

Is the river still crying because an obstruction is created in her way?

Or because the way human beings are using her? 

Or because she has become an object of consumerism? 

41. Bramhputra

When I was visiting Guwahati, how could I not visit Brahmputra?
I  have fond memories of this river.
The first glance was from the sky .. say from 10000 feet (or was it 20000 feet?)
It was frightening.

It must have affected lives of so many people. I could  do nothing else but just imagine their peril.

On the way to Kamakhya Temple, when I visited Brahmpurta, I was touched by its calmness. The evening was yet to approach but the atmosphere was peaceful. Some people were crossing the river. They must be doing it regularly - for them it is an everyday journey.

The river might be taking life once in a while, but it also provides livelihood to many.
On the banks, this woman is running some kind of shop.
River to her is life.

Brahmputra continues to flow.
As always. 

40. Shadow

Shadow is an inherent  part of our life.
We get so used to shadows that we forget that they have their individual personalities.

This one is observed in Karekal district in Pondicherry.

And the other is in the small desert in Badmer district of Rajsthan.

They are similar and yet distinct.
They have different stories to offer - if we care to listen. 

33, Narmada

My association with Narmada is more emotional than real.
I have been at the banks of this lovely river occasionally and have blissful memories.
So, the other day, when I watched her from distance flowing alone, a little deserted; I could not control the pain and sorrow in my heart.  The sorrow was not only  personal,  but of so many lives that were associated with her.

I am not sure whether Narmada feels the pain. In a way I think she has taken this change as her destiny.
Because after few moments I was blissful again - as I am always with her.

A visit to Sardar Sarovar  was again a mixed feeling.
The history of human civilization is a history of its changing relations with Nature.
Good, bad, or ugly .. whatever we say, it is inevitable.

I realized that Narmada is the same old one, only her outer form has changed, the spirit remains the same.

I know, it is the way we make ourselves accept the reality.

And the state administration has tried to keep the roots intact in some way.

For me, this statue does not at all capture what Narmada means, what she stands for, what she teaches me.
But to different people, Narmada means different things.
So, I accept these emotions and expressions like I accept everything else in life. 

4. Sea at Daman

Last month has been bit crazy .. I mean differently crazy. I had opportunity to visit four coastal places - and all the shores have its special beauty.

Daman I am visiting for the first time. Being ignorant about geography, one afternoon after lunch I could just smell the sea (without knowing the existence of Sea). I am right. We are at a walking distance from the beach.

The sand is blackish ( I have been through red sand experience earlier week) and it seemed to be a fishing hub - to watch this I must come here early in the morning.

Are these some kind of shops?

What are the people doing there at 2.00 in the noon when the Sun is shining? 

Well, I do not know.

Had no time to go and speak to strangers.

And the board creates another image of the Sea - not an 'all time friend' - but one that could turn out to be dangerous without any warning. What are the causes? What is the history?

My questions remain questions.

What is different about this board is - local language is the priority language!

I wonder how do authorities convey this message to people who cannot read? 

3. Moving Sand

Prior to this visit I had traveled from Patna to Chapara number of times.
It was during September 2010, I observed something different.
I had always watched Ganga water flowing and was surprised to see the sudden appearance of the huge amount of sand there. It was as if I did not know the road.

As we moved on, I saw it more closely. There were few small boats and they all seemed to be engaged in some kind of urgent work.

I was still clueless about what was happening. I thought maybe, people are using boats as a means of transport. We kept on moving and through the car window I could capture some more images.

After few more snaps, I realized what it was all about. I am a 'late' learner, by the way.

This is not a Natural Sand Movement.
It is actually Sand Mining.
Whether legal or illegal - I do not know.
What price people pay for such activities, we all can imagine.
But who cares? 

2. Mathur Aqueduct

Because of my association with Kanyakumari, I feel I know a lot about its surrounding. However it is not the case.

Yesterday I was in Marthandam in Tamilnadu. In between two meetings, we had some free time. I was taken to a spot whose name I was told as Thottipallayam.

We walk  across the bridge  and the view  is stunning.

The place actually is called Mathur Aqueduct. You read it right – it is Mathur. Initially I thought it must be the name of Chief Engineer who constructed the Dam . No, nothing like that. Mathur is the name of a hamlet.

As always, we all think that it must have been constructed by British! However, it is constructed in 1966 by Indians . You walk across the bridge and get surprised to observe a canal running parallel to it. That is amazing. The river downstairs is Pahrali . The canal is named as Pattanamkal – which carries water from one hill to another – above the flowing river.

It is now a tourist spot – entry fee for human beings is Rs. 2/- and if you carry camera you have to pay Rs. 5/- extra. Who is more valuable – camera or human beings – that is what I was wondering about!

 On the way, traders try to lure tourists – it is like a small mall. You name it and you have it.

Well, don’t  get scared. It is only Honey. Marthandam is famous for Honey production.

And women continue to carry the burden.

 For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathur_Aqueduct