In November 2017, I spent a few days in our ancestral village, Dasbidyadharpur (Satyabadi, Puri, Odisha), where we still own some land. It must be a few decades since I spent more than a day at a time there. It is a deeply rural place, both in terms of infrastructure and cultural setting. Most of the villagers recognised me as the grandson of so-and-so and the son of so-and-so. It was an encounter with my faded past. People there uphold a form of life that is rooted in centuries of tradition, which seemed to have been undermined variously by the new developments in post-independence India. In the few days I lived there, everyone was eager to share with me their personal stories of triumph and tragedy. These stories gave me a feel for the complications of being a paddy farmer in India today. But the village air was clean and the nights were starry. Around the village, vast paddy fields laden with paddy kernels rolled out far into the horizon. The experience led me to imagine some kind of a retreat there, where people from different contexts could come to engage in activities and conversations with the villagers, to enhance mutual understanding and envision new futures.
Showing posts with label outing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label outing. Show all posts
Sunday, November 12, 2017
Encounter With My Faded Past
In November 2017, I spent a few days in our ancestral village, Dasbidyadharpur (Satyabadi, Puri, Odisha), where we still own some land. It must be a few decades since I spent more than a day at a time there. It is a deeply rural place, both in terms of infrastructure and cultural setting. Most of the villagers recognised me as the grandson of so-and-so and the son of so-and-so. It was an encounter with my faded past. People there uphold a form of life that is rooted in centuries of tradition, which seemed to have been undermined variously by the new developments in post-independence India. In the few days I lived there, everyone was eager to share with me their personal stories of triumph and tragedy. These stories gave me a feel for the complications of being a paddy farmer in India today. But the village air was clean and the nights were starry. Around the village, vast paddy fields laden with paddy kernels rolled out far into the horizon. The experience led me to imagine some kind of a retreat there, where people from different contexts could come to engage in activities and conversations with the villagers, to enhance mutual understanding and envision new futures.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Sarawak Cultural Village
Memorable time @ Sarawak Cultural Village, Kuching, Sarawak, East Malaysia.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Eastern Ghats Trek
Just completed a trekking expedition in the Eastern Ghats mountain range, which was being organised by the Andhra Pradesh State Branch of the Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI, http://www.yhaindia.org/). The 6-days' trek covered the picturesque Araku valley and the breath-taking Borra caves.
PROGRAMME
Day 1: Report at base camp, Shivalingapuram, near Visakhapatnam
Day 2: Trek to Ceraku Madta
Day 3: Trek to Valasi
Day 4: Trek to Sunkara Metta
Day 5: Rest day: Visit to Araku town
Day 6: Trek to Borra caves; drive back to Shivlingapuram; valedictory
PROGRAMME
Day 1: Report at base camp, Shivalingapuram, near Visakhapatnam
Day 2: Trek to Ceraku Madta
Day 3: Trek to Valasi
Day 4: Trek to Sunkara Metta
Day 5: Rest day: Visit to Araku town
Day 6: Trek to Borra caves; drive back to Shivlingapuram; valedictory
Wednesday, May 3, 2006
Shodh Yatra (Koraput District, Orissa)
Shodh Yatra is organised by Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institution (SRISTI) every year, as a search for traditional knowledge and local innovations in the remotest parts of India. More ...
I am going to join the Shodh Yatra this year, which is going to be organised in the hills of southern Orissa, covering the stretch from Semiliguda to Sabara Srikhetra (Koraput District, Orissa), during 9-16 May 2006. I may have something interesting to say after I return.
[May 21, 2006] Wrote a poem to capture my state of enchantment, on returning from Koraput:
SCENTED LIFE
Enchanted with the Deomali peak;
Rose apples, demsa dance;
Enchanted with infinite trust.
Enchanted with a culture of giving;
Music of mountainous springs;
Enchanted with directness.
Enchanted with the kumkum tree;
Magic millet, distant river tamed;
Enchanted with grit.
Enchanted with the shweta-arka flower;
Humble delights, scented life;
Enchanted with a dream.
[June 15, 2006] My detailed reflections titled "Expressions of an Enchanted Diku: On Attending Shodh Yatra in the Hills of Southern Orissa" is appearing on the SRISTI website, for your comments please: http://www.sristi.org/cms/dasdesh
I am going to join the Shodh Yatra this year, which is going to be organised in the hills of southern Orissa, covering the stretch from Semiliguda to Sabara Srikhetra (Koraput District, Orissa), during 9-16 May 2006. I may have something interesting to say after I return.
[May 21, 2006] Wrote a poem to capture my state of enchantment, on returning from Koraput:
SCENTED LIFE
Enchanted with the Deomali peak;
Rose apples, demsa dance;
Enchanted with infinite trust.
Enchanted with a culture of giving;
Music of mountainous springs;
Enchanted with directness.
Enchanted with the kumkum tree;
Magic millet, distant river tamed;
Enchanted with grit.
Enchanted with the shweta-arka flower;
Humble delights, scented life;
Enchanted with a dream.
[June 15, 2006] My detailed reflections titled "Expressions of an Enchanted Diku: On Attending Shodh Yatra in the Hills of Southern Orissa" is appearing on the SRISTI website, for your comments please: http://www.sristi.org/cms/dasdesh
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