They say its easy going with the flow but very difficult going against the flow. In this case, going against flow is impossible but going along itself is a challenge. here i mean literally. I am talking about white water rafting.
Rishikesh was a place which fascinated me since 1989 when i went there first onwards for a trek in garhwal. The charm and romance of Ganges flowing first time onto plains itself is an event to witness. Add to that mysticism of Hills which are very tall. The anticipation of approach of The Nagadhiraj or the king of mountains the Himalayas. Narrow road adjoining the flow of Ganga which is deep down the valley. And some religious fervour makes it a special place.
Heard that in Rishikesh you can go upto level 6 of rapids. Maybe only ladhakh/beas can offer those. Rishikesh has gained popularity as it can offer rapids from level 1 to 4 suitable for novices as well as its proximity to Delhi/Dehradun.
This year we had planned to spend a weekend in rishikesh while attending a family event in Delhi and a meeting. Few friends roped in and we were set.
We reduced travel time by using overnight trains from Delhi and Dehradun so we get two full days in rishikesh. Our hotel was 25km from Rishikesh towards Devprayag. Thus we went upstream and air became more refreshing , cool . The entire region is scenic. And what a view from the rooms.
After a good north indian breakfast, we went towards marine drive (not the one in mumbai) a place where road and stream of ganges lie side by side for a very small patch thus maybe the name. That was the starting point.
Our instructor deepak rana explained basic commands, dos , dont, safety tips. He warned us that falling outside raft is very common and nothing to panic. Thats the best preparation you need. Problem is that water is very cold. So he made us jump to acclimatize. You lose all senses once inside the cold river. Hope all our sins were washed by Holy Ganges.
First track from Marine drive to Shivpuri (12 Km) has 6 rapids which are uniquely named for eg Good morning, Tee off, 3 blind mice etc. The rapids are smooth and good for beginers. Maximum rapid is level2. But still its thrilling as your raft wobbles and you need to really concentrate and hold over raft even at level2.
The arms start making their protestations as you have to do forward/backward oaring insite of being with flow either to navigate or balance or move ahead. Ours was team of six , guide and his helper. Helmets and life jackets are compulsory.
The next patch from shivpuri to laxman jhula in rishikesh has 10 rapids with two most rapids are level 2-3 and two of them level4 (roller coaster and golfcourse)
Level 4 is some experience. All three boats accompanying us upsurped. All the contents: people. oars, chappals, water bottles start flowing with stream. all you have to do is not panic. Hold your head, legs pointing downstream, Head upstream, start flowing till you reach calm. Your life jacket will help you stay afloat (depth of water some places is 50 ft). Only thing to avoid is getting hit on head and body by boulders on side. And dont panic. Experts are around. They will rescue. Our boat had honor to be only boat not to capsize. So we conducted rescue for two other boats. Only mishap was one of our friend (amongst group of 6) fell off . but she was cool and being good swimmer helps. This was at first level 4 . The second one golf course, the amount of water rushing makes it tough. Thats where mountain dew ad is shot. Its amazing experience. Then we had another experience of body surfing. Thats when you knowingly jump out of raft, hold the lifeline on side and cross the rapid along raft while inside water. Thats when you remember your Nani( grandma).
Then at another rapid you are supposed to leave life line and have a free flow. That was fun for swimmers like me. Finally we had cliff jumping. To jump in river from 17 ft cliff. you have to make final resolve prior to jump . Thats it. I had jumped into 30 ft well when i was 6 yrs. I was given prize by A B Vajpayee for doing that. That exp helped maybe. But thrilling exp nevertheless. After 5 hrs of rafting we ended at Muni ki reti and headed towards hotel for heavy heavy lunch which was needed.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
To gain india its rightful place in the world
When we were young we used to have a pledge. In that there was a mention of we striving hard to gain India its rightful place amongst the countries of the world.
I think we have lived up to that pledge. When i say we, i say the foot soldiers of New Indian Economy. Proof of concept is the Obama speech in parliament.
I know that these speeches are empty rhetorics and carry no significance. But inspite of cynicism, the proof of imminence of India lies in fact that in first ten yrs of new milleniun US presidents have visited us thrice. It took fifty years for US presidents to visit India thrice in 1900s. Things have changed.
I remember we (India as country) meant nothing for international community read western world. We were a closed society with dubious political inclination towards Russian block. We were on wrong side of cold war. Troubled by treacherous neighbours like Pak and China, we had no voice . Though congress and nehru vision may sound gaga over NAM etc. Those were useless initiatives. Only high point of our international relations were winning of wars against PAK inspite of being at wrong side of world opinion.
The process of change started with IIT grads and medical students starting going out in 70s and 80s. They showed that Indians are equal if not more in adopting to best practices. International media and movies used to depict us as land of snake charmers, and tigers roaming around. Though our movies had impacted russia, central eastern asia, china and south east asia , gulf,etc but the western world or the image makers of the globe found us worth neglect and disdain. Cricketers from Eng, Australia, NZ used to find excuse to avoid indian tour.
Amidst this visionaries like JRD Tata, FC Kohli , Narayanmurthy saw value of computers and its impact on all other sectors. We also were lucky to have been ruled by Britain instead of other Europeans which resulted in young indian popultion getting educated in English.
Then came rajeev vision where he had opened small window for world helping indian technology, real estate. telecommunication revolution came in with cities and towns getting connected. All this helped IT and new economy.
Thankfully we had green revolution in 70s to feed our population which again helped increase purchasing power of Indian Populace. During and say 25 yrs after indian independance we struggled with agro economy and were unable to look beyond food security. Thus many western multinationals were attracted to purchasing power and numbers of Indian middle class.
It were calamitous years of evil regimes of VP singh, Chandrshekhar, that drove us to BOP crisis. This made liberlization only option for MMS and PVN to follow. P V Narsihnarao along with Dr Singh deserves a mention in this indian story. More often due to dirty politics of seculairism he had been vilianized.
That drove world to India as a market. indians went out going to attract export business in technology. There was Y2k and dotcom windfall. Indian economy was found stable esp after 97 asian crisis. Our diasporia already had broken stereotypes with great success stories on foreign shores. Thus we entered new millenium
New millenium mantra is money. Thus our economy helped us to gain political weight in world forums. Terrorism was common problem which india faced since mid eighties with punjab earlier, and Kashmir later. With 9/11, US and western world empathized with us. Energy , Climate were hard fought issues with western world which alienated india from developed world. But with Civil nuclear deal and with acceptance of climate change resolutions we do not pose threat value to westerm world. Till say 2008, we were just an equal entity amidst many other alies for western world.
Ofcourse oue cinema was truly global with our stars getting global recognition (in terms of popularity and not substance). Our cricket has attracted millions. Cricketers from Aus, SA, England crave indian riches.
2008 financial meltdown tilted balance finally for India. Indian was only place which seemed to survive in competition to hegemonial china. So now India is best bet for western world to stand against chinese domination while it was also found capable to create business opportunities for western world and help them survive the downturn.
Thats where Obama speech comes from. Thus the words...
That made me feel part of process to gain indian right place in world. India internally has enormous challenges to be able to be a great country: Terrorism, Corruption, rich poor divide, education, environment, naxalism, energy.... List is daunting and not much seems to have been done. we have to make a start..
Ofcourse, now that platform is set. Its upto our action that will define further course of political history. But economic position is irreversible. and that is an achievement from the days when i used to say pledge in my school.
I think we have lived up to that pledge. When i say we, i say the foot soldiers of New Indian Economy. Proof of concept is the Obama speech in parliament.
I know that these speeches are empty rhetorics and carry no significance. But inspite of cynicism, the proof of imminence of India lies in fact that in first ten yrs of new milleniun US presidents have visited us thrice. It took fifty years for US presidents to visit India thrice in 1900s. Things have changed.
I remember we (India as country) meant nothing for international community read western world. We were a closed society with dubious political inclination towards Russian block. We were on wrong side of cold war. Troubled by treacherous neighbours like Pak and China, we had no voice . Though congress and nehru vision may sound gaga over NAM etc. Those were useless initiatives. Only high point of our international relations were winning of wars against PAK inspite of being at wrong side of world opinion.
The process of change started with IIT grads and medical students starting going out in 70s and 80s. They showed that Indians are equal if not more in adopting to best practices. International media and movies used to depict us as land of snake charmers, and tigers roaming around. Though our movies had impacted russia, central eastern asia, china and south east asia , gulf,etc but the western world or the image makers of the globe found us worth neglect and disdain. Cricketers from Eng, Australia, NZ used to find excuse to avoid indian tour.
Amidst this visionaries like JRD Tata, FC Kohli , Narayanmurthy saw value of computers and its impact on all other sectors. We also were lucky to have been ruled by Britain instead of other Europeans which resulted in young indian popultion getting educated in English.
Then came rajeev vision where he had opened small window for world helping indian technology, real estate. telecommunication revolution came in with cities and towns getting connected. All this helped IT and new economy.
Thankfully we had green revolution in 70s to feed our population which again helped increase purchasing power of Indian Populace. During and say 25 yrs after indian independance we struggled with agro economy and were unable to look beyond food security. Thus many western multinationals were attracted to purchasing power and numbers of Indian middle class.
It were calamitous years of evil regimes of VP singh, Chandrshekhar, that drove us to BOP crisis. This made liberlization only option for MMS and PVN to follow. P V Narsihnarao along with Dr Singh deserves a mention in this indian story. More often due to dirty politics of seculairism he had been vilianized.
That drove world to India as a market. indians went out going to attract export business in technology. There was Y2k and dotcom windfall. Indian economy was found stable esp after 97 asian crisis. Our diasporia already had broken stereotypes with great success stories on foreign shores. Thus we entered new millenium
New millenium mantra is money. Thus our economy helped us to gain political weight in world forums. Terrorism was common problem which india faced since mid eighties with punjab earlier, and Kashmir later. With 9/11, US and western world empathized with us. Energy , Climate were hard fought issues with western world which alienated india from developed world. But with Civil nuclear deal and with acceptance of climate change resolutions we do not pose threat value to westerm world. Till say 2008, we were just an equal entity amidst many other alies for western world.
Ofcourse oue cinema was truly global with our stars getting global recognition (in terms of popularity and not substance). Our cricket has attracted millions. Cricketers from Aus, SA, England crave indian riches.
2008 financial meltdown tilted balance finally for India. Indian was only place which seemed to survive in competition to hegemonial china. So now India is best bet for western world to stand against chinese domination while it was also found capable to create business opportunities for western world and help them survive the downturn.
Thats where Obama speech comes from. Thus the words...
That made me feel part of process to gain indian right place in world. India internally has enormous challenges to be able to be a great country: Terrorism, Corruption, rich poor divide, education, environment, naxalism, energy.... List is daunting and not much seems to have been done. we have to make a start..
Ofcourse, now that platform is set. Its upto our action that will define further course of political history. But economic position is irreversible. and that is an achievement from the days when i used to say pledge in my school.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)