“Every child is a different kind of flower, and all together they make this world a beautiful garden.” This fascinating popular quote reminds us of the uniqueness of each child and the collective beauty they bring to our lives and the world. Let the world be free from the shadow of the Pied Piper, who led the children away from their village to the top of Koppelberg Hill, never to return. The street in Hamelin, called Bungelosenstrasse (street without drums), is believed to be the place where the children were last seen. Ever since, music and dancing is not allowed there. Children’s Day, however, is a celebration meant to overcome such dark associations. It is supposed to build on powerful child characters such as ‘The Famous Five,’ the hit novel of Enid Blyton, where children, while holidaying in an old dilapidated lighthouse, recover a lost treasure all by themselves. But the quintessential example of children’s day could be from the escapades of young bubbly Krishna in Mathura and Vrindavan. Did William Wordsworth think of child Krishna when he wrote, “Child is the father of the man”?
It is a day dedicated to celebrating children. The idea dates back to the early 20th century. The first official communique of Children’s Day was made in 1925 at the World Conference on Child Welfare held in Geneva, Switzerland. Since then, many countries have designed their own versions of the celebration. The day aims to raise awareness about children’s rights, their needs, and their well-being. Although celebrated on different dates around the world, the underlying message is universal: every child deserves love, care, protection, and theopportunity to grow in a safe and nurturing environment.While the day is often filled with fun and joy, its true essence lies in recognising that children are the future of the world.
In 1954, the United Nations declared November 20 as Universal Children’s Day. This was done to promote global togetherness, increase awareness among children worldwide, and improve their overall welfare.
In India, Children’s Day is celebrated to highlight children’s rights, education, and welfare. It is observed on 14 November each year, marking the birthday of the first prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru was known for his fondness for children. On this day, many schools across the country organise educational and motivational programmes. Some schools declare a holiday, while others host fairs and cultural events for their students.
The first Children’s Day was observed on November 5, 1948. It was referred to as the ‘Flower Day’. On July 30, 1949, “Children’s Day” received wider attention and was promoted through radio, print media, and cinema.
In 1951, V. M. Kulkarni, a United Nations Social Welfare Fellow, was conducting a study on the rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents in the UK. He discovered that India lacked a systematic approach to support underprivileged children. Inspired by Flag Day in England, which raised funds for the ‘Save the Children Fund’ on the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, he proposed that Pandit Nehru’s birthday be observed as Flag Day for raising funds for NGOs working for child welfare in India. Although initially embarrassed by the idea, Nehru eventually consented.
Though Nehru’s birthday, on 14 November, was celebrated publicly for years, it was only in 1954 that the day was celebrated as Children’s Day for the first time. Thousands of school children attended the celebration held at the National Stadium in Delhi.
In 1957, 14 November was officially declared as Children’s Day in India. On November 14, 1957, during the celebration, white pigeons were released into the sky. That same year, the government issued a special notification, officially declaring 14th November as Children’s Day in India. The Department of Posts and Telegraphs also released first-day covers and threecommemorative stamps in honour of Bal Divas (Children’s Day).
Jawaharlal Nehru was fondly called Chacha Nehru (“Uncle Nehru”) by children. As Rabindranath Tagore once said, “Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man.”
Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:
“Every child is a different kind of flower, and all together they make this world a beautiful garden.” – Anonymous. Let the world be free from the shadow of the Pied Piper, who led the children away from their village to the top of Koppelberg Hill, never to return. The street in Hamelin, called Bungelosenstrasse (street without drums), is believed to be the place where the children were last seen. Ever since, music and dancing is not allowed there. Children’s Day, however, is a celebration meant to overcome such dark associations.
It is a day dedicated to celebrating children. The idea dates back to the early 20th century. The first official communique of Children’s Day was made in 1925 at the World Conference on Child Welfare held in Geneva, Switzerland. Since then, many countries have designed their own versions of the celebration. The day aims to raise awareness about children’s rights, their needs, and their well-being. Although celebrated on different dates around the world, the underlying message is universal: every child deserves love, care, protection, and the opportunity to grow in a safe and nurturing environment. While the day is often filled with fun and joy, its true essence lies in recognising that children are the future of the world.
In 1954, the United Nations declared November 20 as Universal Children’s Day. This was doneto promote global togetherness, increase awareness among children worldwide, and improve their overall welfare.
In India, Children’s Day is celebrated to highlight children’s rights, education, and welfare. It is observed on 14 November each year, marking the birthday of the first prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru was known for his fondness for children. On this day, many schools across the country organise educational and motivational programmes. Some schools declare a holiday, while others host fairs and cultural events for their students.
The first Children’s Day was observed on November 5, 1948. It was referred to as the ‘Flower Day’. On July 30, 1949, “Children’s Day” received wider attention and was promoted through radio, print media, and cinema.
In 1951, V. M. Kulkarni, a United Nations Social Welfare Fellow, was conducting a study on the rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents in the UK. He discovered that India lacked a systematic approach to support underprivileged children. Inspired by Flag Day in England, which raised funds for the ‘Save the Children Fund’ on the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, he proposed that Pandit Nehru’s birthday be observed as Flag Day for raising funds for NGOs working for child welfare in India. Although initially embarrassed by the idea, Nehru eventually consented.
Though Nehru’s birthday, on 14 November, was celebrated publicly for years, it was only in 1954 that the day was celebrated as Children’s Day for the first time. Thousands of school children attended the celebration held at the National Stadium in Delhi.
In 1957, 14 November was officially declared as Children’s Day in India. On November 14,1957, during the celebration, white pigeons were released into the sky. In a rare and memorable moment, one pigeon returned and perched on Nehru’s head. That same year, the government issued a special notification, officially declaring 14th November as Children’s Day in India. The Department of Posts and Telegraphs also released first-day covers and three commemorative stamps in honour of Bal Divas (Children’s Day).
Jawaharlal Nehru was fondly called Chacha Nehru (“Uncle Nehru”) by children. As Rabindranath Tagore once said, “Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man.”
Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:
–Via a culture that’s open to change and normalises risk-taking–
The US-China big power competition is the defining geopolitical issue of our times. Undergirding this dynamic is the race for tech, especially AI. In The New Geography Of Innovation: The Global Contest For Breakthrough Technologies, Mehran Gul investigates whether US’s Silicon Valley still retains near-monopoly over cutting-edge tech, or have other global locations such as China’s Shenzhen and even the greater London area taken over that mantle. Plus, what’s truly conducive for creating a hot tech eco-system? Is there a secret sauce that America has and China appears to have replicated? The answers are complex. At first glance. China’s breakneck development in tech over the last decade appears to be eclipsing Silicon Valley. But closer inspection reveals a nuanced picture. True, Silicon Valley is undergoing change – described in the book as a vibrant rainforest being converted into controlled farmlands. But that necessarily doesn’t translate into US tech decline, the author says. New American tech hubs are coming up in New York, Miami and Austin that are taking the flame of Silicon Valley forward. China, on the other hand, has created its own tech champions like Tencent, Baidu and ByteDance in record time. It certainly has speed on its side, and it’s quality and volume of research has also improved tremendously. But it’s still not doing pathbreaking research like US. Why? A combination of factors that includes strict guardrails of the Communist Party -exemplified by the 2021 crackdown on Chinese tech firms – a Chinese university system that is not quite yet at par with American universities, and an environment where govt policy guides the direction of innovation. But to settle the debate, one statistic is enough to confirm US’s continued tech dominance: Apple became the first American tech company to cross a trillion-dollar valuation in 2018 with seven other American companies joining it since, but the rest of the whole world, including China, doesn’t even have one. What then is the secret to successful tech eco-systems? The author interviews scores of tech entrepreneurs and stalwarts across geographies and comes to a somewhat underwhelming answer: there is no set formula. Almost all successful tech companies look the same. But they can come up in very different circumstances. In UK, the Greater London area is where all the action is. But that has come at the cost of increasing regional disparity that not only puts London at a risk but also undermines the dynamism of UK’s tech story. This disparity was also a reason for Brexit. Switzerland and Germany have great education and no shortage of talent or infra, but their local cultural preference for stability over risk means they are just not able to realise the same tech innovation potential as US or China. South Korea and Singapore created their miracles through huge govt support. But there are also limitations to this approach as seen by calls to reform Korea’s chaebols. But one thing appears clear, according to the author; societies that are more receptive to change appear to have a better chance of fostering tech successes. That means openness to talent, openness to Innovation, and openness to risks. In the Indian context, we may have Bengaluru. But we need many more Bengalurus that incentivise tech entrepreneurship and risk taking. That means a policy framework that fosters innovation and a culture shift that normalises failure. India has lots of catching up to do.
Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:
With its breathtaking landscapes, Switzerland is a dream destination for travellers worldwide. On the 19th of August, our European tour peaked as we journeyed to Mount Titlis, one of Switzerland’s most iconic spots. Nestled in the Uri Alps, Titlis is a place that seamlessly blends natural beauty with adventure, offering an experience unlike any other.
We set out from our hotel at 8:30 AM and arrived in Engelberg, known as the “City of Angels,” by 10 AM. Engelberg serves as the base for the Titlis expedition and is renowned for its stunning views of the surrounding Alps. Mount Titlis rises up to 3,238 meters above sea level, offering panoramic views of the Western Alps, making it a truly captivating sight. Titlis straddles the cantons of Obwalden and Bern, with the summit divided into two peaks—Gross Titlis and Klein Titlis—both accessible by cable car.
As I stood atop the mountain, the scenes brought to mind both historical films set in these majestic surroundings and Bollywood classics like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, where the Alps became the backdrop to a romance that has remained etched in the hearts of many. The crisp, refreshing air at such a high altitude made the surroundings feel otherworldly, almost as though I had stepped into a postcard. The beauty of the place is a mystery that defies words or even technology, leaving one in awe of nature’s grandeur.
Reaching the summit, we were treated to unforgettable views. The illuminated glacier cave was a particular highlight, allowing us to step into the heart of a magnificent ice wonderland. The famous Titlis Cliff Walk, Europe’s highest suspension bridge, added an exhilarating twist to our adventure. As we walked across the bridge, we gazed out at the surrounding snow-covered peaks and glaciers far below, further enhancing the feeling of being on top of the world.
The journey to Titlis required two cable car rides: from Engelberg to Stans, and then from Stans to the summit. As we ascended, the views became even more spectacular, offering a 360-degree panorama of the Alps. At the top, we spent time exploring the shops, sampling Mövenpick ice cream, and simply soaking in the surrounding beauty. Paragliders soared gracefully through the crisp, clear sky, adding a sense of serenity to the scene.
The Ice Cave at Titlis was another must-see, with its incredible ice sculptures that seemed to defy the imagination. The Cliff Walk, with its dizzying heights and stunning vistas, provided the kind of thrill that only the Swiss Alps can offer. Though Titlis may be considered a more accessible option compared to Jungfraujoch for those seeking to explore the Swiss Alps, both are equally spectacular in their own ways.
By 1:15 PM, it was time to descend. We headed to Trubsee, where we were treated to a delicious Indian lunch featuring Pav-Bhaji, Dhokla, Gajar Halwa, Roti, and Rice. It was a welcome and flavorful meal after the exhilarating experience at the summit. After lunch, we made our way back to Engelberg before continuing our journey to Lucerne.
Lucerne, with its rich history and stunning architecture, was our next stop. Our visit began with the poignant Lion Monument, a tribute to Swiss mercenaries who lost their lives during the French Revolution. The monument, which depicts a dying lion, is a powerful symbol of bravery and sacrifice. Legend has it that the sculptor, frustrated with not being paid, subtly cursed the city by shaping the lion within the outline of a pig—a symbol of disrespect in the artist’s eyes.
Next, we visited Schwanenplatz, a bustling market area by the lake, where ducks leisurely lounged by the water’s edge. The market was a haven for souvenirs, with Swiss watches, knives, and chocolates in abundance. After exploring the market, we boarded a dinner cruise on Lake Lucerne. The cruise was a delightful experience, featuring Swiss folklore music and traditional instruments. The atmosphere was further enhanced by a Bollywood song and dance session on the upper deck, which added an unexpected touch of excitement to the evening.
By 9 PM, we returned to our hotel at Seedamm Plaza, reflecting on the many unforgettable experiences of the day. Mount Titlis, Lucerne’s Lion Monument, and the dinner cruise had truly marked the climax of our tour. An unexpected highlight was learning that Switzerland had honored Indian film producer Yash Chopra with a bust in Interlaken, acknowledging his contribution to promoting the country’s stunning landscapes in his films.
Our trip to Switzerland was nothing short of a magical spell. Whether it was the majestic views from Mount Titlis, the historical significance of Lucerne’s monuments, or the cultural richness of the Swiss folklore music, Switzerland proved to be a destination that offers something for everyone. It was a journey filled with adventure, history, and warmth, one that we will cherish forever.
Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:
Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:
Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:
NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION
Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)
IFSC code: BKID0006805
*
Publications of Kamlesh Tripathi
BOOK TITLE: GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE
(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in eight prestigious libraries of the US which include Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed at MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in the libraries and archives of Canada; the Open Library; Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai; Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India; Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh and Azim Premzi University, Bangalore and the Library of Cancer Aid and Research Foundation, Mumbai. The title also finds a mention in a book titled ‘Enduring Cancer: Life, Death and Diagnosis in Delhi’ by Dwaipayan Banerjee published by the Duke University Press).
BOOK TITLE: ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY
(It is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; It is also available for reading in the Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)
BOOK TITLE: AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES
(This is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity, which is the undying characteristic of Lucknow. The book was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2014. It is catalogued and included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K; Herrick District Library, Holland; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA; Black Gold Cooperative Library Administration, Arroyo Grande, California; Berkeley Library, University of California; The Peshastin Public Library and The George Public Library near Washington, a Northern Central Washington Libraries branch; the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library in Arizona in the US and the Salina Public Library, Kansas, USA.
BOOK TITLE: REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD
(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2016).
BOOK TITLE: TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN
(Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his way through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen but for any reader. The book was launched on 10th February 2018 at Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)
BOOK TITLE: RHYTHM … IN POEMS
(Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems are about our day-to-day life. Poems from this book have been published in Shillong Times, Bandra Times, Bhavan’s Journal and Arunachal Times. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)
BOOK TITLE: MIRAGE
(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)
BOOK TITLE: AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra
(It is the story of the man who received His Holiness The Dalai Lama and his retinue in 1959 as a GOI representative when he fled Tibet in 1959. The book was launched on 21st November 2022 by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at Dharmshala. The title is archived in the library of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) Government of Tibet, Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) and the personal library of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. The title is also archived in The Ohio Digital Library, USA. It was recently included in the digital library of the world-renowned company APPLE). Included in the library of Friends of Tibet.
(POEMS AND ARTICLES OF KAMLESH TRIPATHI PUBLISHED IN JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES)
BHAVANS JOURNAL
Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3. Eagle versus Scholars, June, 15 & 20, 2020; 4. Indica, 15.8.20; 5. The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6. Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9. The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10. Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11. Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12. Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13. Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14. A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15. Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16. Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17. Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18. Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19. Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20. Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25. Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26. The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22;27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29. Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34. Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35. When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. The Nag Mandir 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23; 43. The Tale of Genji 15.10.23; 44. The Soul Connection 1.12.23; 45.Book review: Jungle Nama … a story of the Sundarban 16.3.24; 46. Book review: A Forgotten Chapter 16.5.24; 47. Exploring Ancient Egypt, 1.8.24; 48. The Story of Dhruva, 16.8.24; 49. Two Hundred Years of Tea in Assam 16.9.24;
THE SHILLONG TIMES
Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: Happy New Year 8.1.23; 2.Poem: Spring 12.3.23; 3.Poem: Right and Wrong 20.3.23; 4.The Gush of Emotion—Writing, 26.3.23; 5. The Nag Mandir, 7.5.23; 6. Poem: Mother 7.5.23; 7. Poem: Rain Rain 9.7.23; 8. Poem:You Come Alone You Go Alone 6.8.23; 9. Poem: Rain Rain (Second Time) 10.8.23; 10. Poem: Guru Teacher 1.10.23; 11. Poem: Autumn … The Interim Heaven 15.10.23; 12. Poem: Happy Diwali 12.11.23; 13. Overcoming Blindness: Learn it the John Milton Way 10.12.23; 14. The Happy Prince and The Happy Man’s Shirt 31.12.23; 15. Annus Mirabilis -2024 7.1.24; 16. Gandhi to Mahatma Gandhi- Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa 28.1.24; 17. Poem: Together But Not Made For Each Other, 11.2.24; 18. The Birds Bees and The Spiders of Nicholas Guildford and Jonathan Swift 25.2.24; 19. The Overcoats of Nikolai Gogol and Ruskin Bond 10.3.24; 20. The Ethnic Colours of Holi 24.3.24; 21. A Lesson from Dalai Lama, 21.4.24; 22. Poem: Morning Walk 28.4.24; 23. Trip to Rhine Falls, Switzerland, 19.5.24; 24. Poem: Hurt 2.6.24; 25. Poem: Your Conscience Was My Sign On 16.6.24; 26.Poem: The Eerie Ways of Time 7.7.24; 27.Poem: Celebrating the T20 World Champions 14.7.24;28. Read to Rise above mediocrity, 4.8.24; 29. Poem: Desire vs Reality 11.8.24;
THE ASSAM TRIBUNE
Article: 1. The Magic of Reading 11.12.23; 2. Gandhi to Mahatma 29.1.24; 3. Geography of Solitude 8.4.24; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 22.4.24; 5. A Source of Inspiration, 29.4.24; 6. The Four-LeggedLibrary, 12.5.24; 7. Age and Achievement, 10.6.24; 8. Read … To Rise Above Mediocrity, 1.7.24; 9. Crusade for a College, 25.8.24;
THE ARUNACHAL TIMES
Poem: 1. Hope—In The Arc of Twilight, 13.8.23; 2.Poem: Spring 3.3.24; 3.Poem: The Morning Walk 10.3.24;
BANDRA TIMES, MUMBAI
Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: SPRING, 1.4.23; 2. Poem: Mother, 1.6.23; 3. Poem: Rain Rain, 1.8.23; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 1.6.24; 5. Read to rise above Mediocrity 1.8.24
ARTICLES IN THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE ESAMSKRITI
29.12.2020: Indica by Megasthenes; 14.3.22: About The Dimasa Kingdom Assam; 10.12.22: Grand Trunk Road–Uttarapath; 5.10.23: The Ghost Town of Kuldhara Near Jaisalmer;
(ALL THE ABOVE BOOK TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE ON AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)
19 of August was a highlight day of our tour to Europe. On that day, we travelled to Mount Titlis in Switzerland. Switzerland is a dream destination for anyone. We left our hotel at 8.30 in the morning and arrived in Engelberg, the base camp at 10 AM. Engelberg is also called the ‘City of Angels’. Mount Titlis is part of the Uri Alps, a mountain range in Central Switzerland and also a part of the Western Alps, and straddles the border between the cantons of Obwalden and Bern. The main summit of Titlis is sometimes distinguished by the names Gross Titlis and Klein Titlis. They both are located between the municipalities of Engelberg on the north and Gadmen on the south.
Titlis reminded me of the many movies made on World War II that were shot there. It also reminded me of the famous 1995 Shahrukh Khan blockbuster ‘Dil Wale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge.’
Why is it that some places like Switzerland are scenically and nature-wise so rich and some are not? And are people living in these extraordinarily beautiful places extraordinarily blessed? I thought stupefied. Even the most relatable and descriptive prose or poetry would not be able to describe the inherent beauty of Engelberg and Mount Titlis for sure I surmised. And even the most high-tech camera will only capture those lofty magnificent sights and colours, frame by frame, yet the real fragrance and feel of it will remain aloof till one has been there. ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever’ wrote the handsome romantic poet John Keats in his brilliant poem Endymion … but was it for Switzerland’s Titlis I pondered. The air was easy to breathe. At 3,238 metres above sea level, it was the highest summit of the range, north of the Susten Pass on the Swiss Alps, between the Bernese Oberland and Central Switzerland. Titlis is mainly accessed from the side of Engelberg a municipality in the canton of Obwalden in Switzerland. Engelberg is famous for being the site of the world’s first rotating cable car. The cable car system connects Engelberg at 1000 m to the summit of Klein Titlis at 3,238 m through the three phases of Gerschnialp at 1,262 m, Trubsee at 1,796 m and Stands at 2,428 m. In 2016, a direct route was created that bypassed Geraschnialp, going directly to Trübsee.
We arrived nice and fresh in Engelberg. That indeed is the beauty of the weather there. A short queue was there for the cable cars. We finally got into one. The journey to the top was completed in two cable car rides. Engelberg to Stands and Stands to Titlis located at an altitude of 10,500 feet. The 360-degree panoramic view from the cable car was splendid. There was a 5-storeyed building there. The ground level of the building had both the entry and exit gates for the cable cars. It also had retail shops where we went shopping for souvenirs and later had Movenpick ice cream. The weather was unusually warm on that particular day. Perhaps, a sign of global warming. With ease, we were roaming in half-sleeve T-shirts without any woollens. We could see some people paragliding from a spot there. The Titlis Cliff Walk and the Ice Cave were on the first level. At Klein Titlis, we experienced the illuminated glacier cave from the entrance within the cable car station, which also included shops and restaurants. The Titlis Cliff Walk is the highest-elevation suspension bridge in Europe, opened in December 2012, giving some lovely views across the Alps. Many people use Titlis as an easier option than Jungfraujoch, a glacier saddled on the upper snows of the Aletsch Glacier. Both Titlis and Jungfraujoch are terrific. One should not miss the ice sculptures and cogwheel train to the top.
We were there till 1.15 PM. Later we came down to Trusbee where we had an Indian meal of Pav-Bhaji, Dhokla, Gajar Halwa, Roti, and Rice. After lunch, we went down to Engelberg and travelled back to Lucerne City.
It was a memorable day. In Lucerne, we first went to the Lion Monument dedicated to the Swiss Mercenaries who were killed during the French Revolution by stealth. The sad face of the lion there is dedicated to them. Since the artist who sculpted the Lion monument was not paid his due, he was annoyed, and he cursed them by keeping the lion within the outline of the swine which is considered an abuse.Then we came to Schwanenplatz the busy market area of Lucerne. It is next to the Lucerne Lake which has a sizeable population of ducks on the shore. There was so much to shop starting from Swiss watches, knives, chocolates etc. At 6.30 PM we were off to a dinner cruise. There we had the pleasure of listening to some Swiss folklore and local instruments. We also chorused Bollywood songs and danced on the upper deck of the boat. After enjoying the sail and dinner we left at eight for our hotel Seedamm Plaza. We were there by nine. It was the climax of our tour: Engelberg, Mount Titlis, Lion Monument, Lucerne Lake and the dinner cruise. We learnt that the government of Switzerland had installed a bust of Indian film producer Yash Chopra in the city of Interlaken because he promoted Switzerland in his films.
Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety in content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause? The bank details are given below:
NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION
Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)
IFSC code: BKID0006805
*
Kamlesh Tripathi’s Publications
GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE
(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in 8 prestigious libraries of the US which include Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed at MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in libraries and archives of Canada; Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai; Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India; Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh and Azim Premzi University, Bangalore).
ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY
(Is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; It is also available for reading in the Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)
AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES
(Is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity, which is the undying characteristic of Lucknow. The book was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2014. It is included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K; Herrick District Library, Holland and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County in North Carolina, USA; Black Gold Cooperative Library Administration, Arroyo Grande, California; Berkeley Library, University of California).
REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD
(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2016).
TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN
(Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his way through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen. The book was launched on 10th February 2018 at Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)
RHYTHM … in poems
(Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems describe our day-to-day life. A few poems from the book have been published in Shillong Times, Bandra Times and Bhavan’s Journal. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)
MIRAGE
(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)
AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra
(The story of the man who received His Holiness The Dalai Lama and his retinue in 1959 as a GOI representative when he fled Tibet in 1959. The book was launched on 21st November 2022 by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at Dharmshala. The title is archived in the library of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) Government of Tibet, Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) and the personal library of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. The title is also archived in The Ohio Digital Library, USA. It was recently included in the digital library of the world-renowned company APPLE).
BHAVANS JOURNAL
Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3.Eagle versus Scholars June, 15 & 20, 2020; 4.Indica, 15.8.20; 5.The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6.Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9.The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10.Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11.Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12.Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13.Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14.A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15.Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16.Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17.Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18.Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19.Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20.Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25.Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26.The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22; 27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29.Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34.Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35.When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. THE NAG MANDIR 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23; 43. The Tale of Genji 15.10.23; 44. The Soul Connection 1.12.23;
THE SHILLONG TIMES—SUNDAY EDITION
ARTICLES & POEMS: 1. POEM: HAPPY NEW YEAR 8.1.23; 2. POEM: SPRING 12.3.23; 3. POEM: RIGHT AND WRONG 20.3.23; 4. THE GUSH OF EMOTION—WRITING, 26.3.23; 5. THE NAG MANDIR, 7.5.23; 6. POEM:MOTHER 7.5.23; 7. POEM: RAIN RAIN 9.7.23; 8. POEM:YOU COME ALONE YOUGO ALONE 6.8.23; 9. RAIN RAIN (SECOND TIME) 10.8.23; 10. POEM: GURU TEACHER 10.8.23; 11. POEM: AUTUMN … THE INTERIM HEAVEN 15.10.23; 12. POEM: HAPPY DIWALI 12.11.23; 13. OVERCOMING BLINDNESS: LEARN IT THE JOHN MILTON WAY 10.12.23; 14. THE HAPPY PRINCE AND THE HAPPY MAN’S SHIRT 31.12.23; 15. ANNUS MIRABILIS 2024 7.1.24; 16. GANDHI TO MAHATMA GANDHI- Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa 28.1.24; 17. POEM: TOGETHER BUT NOT MADE FOR EACH OTHER, 11.2.24; 18. THE BIRDS BEES AND THE SPIDERS OF NICHOLAS GUILDFORD AND JONATHAN SWIFT;
THE ASSAM TRIBUNE
ARTICLE: 1. THE MAGIC OF READING 11.12.23; 2. GANDHI TO MAHATMA 29.1.24
29.12.2020: INDICA BY MEGASTHENES; 14.3.22: ABOUT THE DIMASA KINGDOM ASSAM; 10.12.22: GRAND TRUNK ROAD-UTTARAPATH; 5.10.23: THE GHOST TOWN OF KULDHARA NEAR JAISALMER;
(ALL THE ABOVE BOOK TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE ON AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)
Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety in content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause? The bank details are given below:
NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION
Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)
IFSC code: BKID0006805
*
Kamlesh Tripathi’s Publications
GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE
(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in 8 prestigious libraries of the US which include Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed at MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in libraries and archives of Canada; Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai; Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India; Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh and Azim Premzi University, Bangalore).
ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY
(Is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; It is also available for reading in the Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)
AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES
(Is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity, which is the undying characteristic of Lucknow. The book was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2014. It is included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K; Herrick District Library, Holland and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County in North Carolina, USA; Black Gold Cooperative Library Administration, Arroyo Grande, California; Berkeley Library, University of California).
REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD
(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2016).
TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN
(Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his way through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen. The book was launched on 10th February 2018 at Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)
RHYTHM … in poems
(Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems describe our day-to-day life. A few poems from the book have been published in Shillong Times, Bandra Times and Bhavan’s Journal. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)
MIRAGE
(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)
AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra
(The story of the man who received His Holiness The Dalai Lama and his retinue in 1959 as a GOI representative when he fled Tibet in 1959. The book was launched on 21st November 2022 by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at Dharmshala. The title is archived in the library of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) Government of Tibet, Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) and the personal library of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. The title is also archived in The Ohio Digital Library, USA. It was recently included in the digital library of the world-renowned company APPLE).
BHAVANS JOURNAL
Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3.Eagle versus Scholars June, 15 & 20, 2020; 4.Indica, 15.8.20; 5.The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6.Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9.The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10.Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11.Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12.Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13.Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14.A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15.Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16.Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17.Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18.Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19.Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20.Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25.Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26.The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22; 27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29.Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34.Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35.When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. THE NAG MANDIR 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23; 43. The Tale of Genji 15.10.23; 44. The Soul Connection 1.12.23;
THE SHILLONG TIMES—SUNDAY EDITION
ARTICLES & POEMS: 1. POEM: HAPPY NEW YEAR 8.1.23; 2. POEM: SPRING 12.3.23; 3. POEM: RIGHT AND WRONG 20.3.23; 4. THE GUSH OF EMOTION—WRITING, 26.3.23; 5. THE NAG MANDIR, 7.5.23; 6. POEM:MOTHER 7.5.23; 7. POEM: RAIN RAIN 9.7.23; 8. POEM:YOU COME ALONE YOUGO ALONE 6.8.23; 9. RAIN RAIN (SECOND TIME) 10.8.23; 10. POEM: GURU TEACHER 10.8.23; 11. POEM: AUTUMN … THE INTERIM HEAVEN 15.10.23; 12. POEM: HAPPY DIWALI 12.11.23; 13. OVERCOMING BLINDNESS: LEARN IT THE JOHN MILTON WAY 10.12.23; 14. THE HAPPY PRINCE AND THE HAPPY MAN’S SHIRT 31.12.23; 15. ANNUS MIRABILIS 2024 7.1.24; 16. GANDHI TO MAHATMA GANDHI- Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa 28.1.24; 17. POEM: TOGETHER BUT NOT MADE FOR EACH OTHER, 11.2.24; 18. THE BIRDS BEES AND THE SPIDERS OF NICHOLAS GUILDFORD AND JONATHAN SWIFT;
THE ASSAM TRIBUNE
ARTICLE: 1. THE MAGIC OF READING 11.12.23; 2. GANDHI TO MAHATMA 29.1.24
29.12.2020: INDICA BY MEGASTHENES; 14.3.22: ABOUT THE DIMASA KINGDOM ASSAM; 10.12.22: GRAND TRUNK ROAD-UTTARAPATH; 5.10.23: THE GHOST TOWN OF KULDHARA NEAR JAISALMER;
(ALL THE ABOVE BOOK TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE ON AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)
EXPERIENCE THE RHINE FALLS: Unforgettable sights at the largest waterfall in Europe. Enjoy the best view of the largest waterfall in Europe
From the Cuckoo Clock factory in Germany at 3 in the afternoon, we left for the Rhine Fall in Switzerland located in the municipality of Neuhausen Am Rhinefall. While negotiating, the scenic mountain windings in the Bavarian Alps, I kept nostalgically recollecting my bygone life in the thick of those absorbing musical instrumentals of my all-time favourites streaming in a sequence on my mobile. I was reminded of the best scene of Dr Zhivago when Omar Sharif runs up to the room above, and breaks the glass pane to have one last glimpse of Julie Christie from the window as the image of the sledge pulled by horses, carting her, starts diminishing in the snowy surroundings. This is when the melodious tune of ‘Lara’s theme’, fills the ambience in the hall. This is followed by the ‘Love theme’ from Romeo and Juliet, by the Dutch violinist Andre Rieu, and then comes the famous Scarborough Fair (some call it a hymn) by British flautist Adrian Bret. What followed were the memories of the great Richard Burton and his famous Alistair Maclean movie ‘Where Eagles Dare’, which had so much to do with the Bavarian Alps located in Germany and Austria.
Pamphlet showing aerial view of Rhinefall
We were at the Rhinefall at five. It is the most powerful waterfall by flow rate in Europe. Earlier there were only rocks and stones there but when the water arrived it turned into a horizontal waterfall. The falls are located on the High Rhine, on the border between the cantons of Schaffhausen and Zurich, between the municipalities of Neuhausen am Rheinfall and Laufen-Uhwiesen/Dachsen, next to the town of Schaffhausen in northern Switzerland.
View of the falls
The falls cannot be climbed by fish, except by eels that can worm their way up over the rocks. At 5.40 PM we boarded a forty-seater yellow boat. It took us to the rock island at the centre of the fall. We climbed the steep stairs to reach the top of the rock island to have the amazing three-sixty-degree view, where one could feel droplets of water falling on your face from the plunge pool.
The nearest town to Rheinfall waterfall is Neuhausen am Rheinfall, just north of the Rhinefalls, where tourists can view the Worth Castle, and the Laufen Castle overlooking the waterfall. Access to the other side of the river is possible through boat services or via a sidewalk on the railway bridge (Rheinfallbrücke) upstream of the waterfall.
Various views of the falls
Away from boat tours to the Rhine Falls’ rock (Rheinfallfelsen), there are also viewing platforms with views of the waterfall built on both sides of the Rhine River. These are reached via steep and narrow stairs. Even elevators exist in some places.
Guided tours of various lengths starting from Laufen Castle on the Zurich side of the falls are also there. A youth hostel is also located in Schloss Laufen. Various restaurants are located in Schloss Laufen, Schlössli Wörth and the Rheinfall park.
The train that takes you to the boarding station
The Rhine Falls was formed in the last ice age, approximately 14,000 to 17,000 years ago. About 132,000 years ago the course of the river changed southwards at Schaffhausen and formed a new channel, which also filled up with gravel. Part of the Rhine today includes this ancient riverbed. There is a long history of Rhinefall that cannot be told in this short column. The formation of the Rhine Falls is at display in a permanent exhibition at the Museum zu Allerheiligen (a former Benedictine monastery) in Schaffhausen.
Fahrplan (German) … Timetable (English)
After having a clear all-around view we returned to the boarding station from where we had boarded the same forty-seater yellow boat. The river water was crystal clear and blue. We could see several shoals and many of them were quite colourful. Upon reaching the boarding station we were in for a pleasant surprise as we were served Indian Masala Tea and Mumbai’s famous Vada-Pav right at the heart of the Rhine Fall in Switzerland. After the Rhine Fall, we travelled for two hours to reach our hotel Seddam Plaza in Seddam Centre in Pfäffikon, Switzerland. With that, the long journey across the Black Forest in Germany and the Rhine Fall in Switzerland came to a pleasant end …… Woh Indian sham kuch ajeeb thee, yeah European sham kuch ajeeb hai.
Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety in content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause? The bank details are given below:
NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION
Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)
IFSC code: BKID0006805
*
Kamlesh Tripathi’s Publications
GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE
(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in 8 prestigious libraries of the US which include Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed at MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in libraries and archives of Canada; Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai; Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India; Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh and Azim Premzi University, Bangalore).
ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY
(Is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; It is also available for reading in the Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)
AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES
(Is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity, which is the undying characteristic of Lucknow. The book was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2014. It is included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K; Herrick District Library, Holland and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County in North Carolina, USA; Black Gold Cooperative Library Administration, Arroyo Grande, California; Berkeley Library, University of California).
REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD
(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2016).
TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN
(Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his way through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen. The book was launched on 10th February 2018 at Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)
RHYTHM … in poems
(Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems describe our day-to-day life. A few poems from the book have been published in Shillong Times, Bandra Times and Bhavan’s Journal. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)
MIRAGE
(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)
AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra
(The story of the man who received His Holiness The Dalai Lama and his retinue in 1959 as a GOI representative when he fled Tibet in 1959. The book was launched on 21st November 2022 by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at Dharmshala. The title is archived in the library of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) Government of Tibet, Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) and the personal library of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. The title is also archived in The Ohio Digital Library, USA. It was recently included in the digital library of the world-renowned company APPLE).
BHAVANS JOURNAL
Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3.Eagle versus Scholars June, 15 & 20, 2020; 4.Indica, 15.8.20; 5.The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6.Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9.The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10.Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11.Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12.Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13.Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14.A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15.Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16.Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17.Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18.Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19.Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20.Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25.Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26.The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22; 27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29.Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34.Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35.When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. THE NAG MANDIR 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23; 43. The Tale of Genji 15.10.23; 44. The Soul Connection 1.12.23;
SHILLONG TIMES—SUNDAY EDITION
ARTICLES & POEMS: 1. POEM: HAPPY NEW YEAR 8.1.23; 2. POEM: SPRING 12.3.23; 3. POEM: RIGHT AND WRONG 20.3.23; 4. THE GUSH OF EMOTION—WRITING, 26.3.23; 5. THE NAG MANDIR, 7.5.23; 6. POEM:MOTHER 7.5.23; 7. POEM: RAIN RAIN 9.7.23; 8. POEM:YOU COME ALONE YOUGO ALONE 6.8.23; 9. RAIN RAIN (SECOND TIME) 10.8.23; 10. POEM: GURU TEACHER 10.8.23; 11. POEM: AUTUMN … THE INTERIM HEAVEN 15.10.23; 12. POEM: HAPPY DIWALI 12.11.23; 13. OVERCOMING BLINDNESS: LEARN IT THE JOHN MILTON WAY 10.12.23; 14. THE HAPPY PRINCE AND THE HAPPY MAN’S SHIRT 31.12.23; 15. ANNUS MIRABILIS 2024 7.1.24; 16. GANDHI TO MAHATMA GANDHI- Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa 28.1.24; 17. POEM: TOGETHER BUT NOT MADE FOR EACH OTHER, 11.2.24;
THE ASSAM TRIBUNE
ARTICLE: 1. THE MAGIC OF READING 11.12.23; 2. GANDHI TO MAHATMA 29.1.24
29.12.2020: INDICA BY MEGASTHENES; 14.3.22: ABOUT THE DIMASA KINGDOM ASSAM; 10.12.22: GRAND TRUNK ROAD-UTTARAPATH; 5.10.23: THE GHOST TOWN OF KULDHARA NEAR JAISALMER;
(ALL THE ABOVE BOOK TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE ON AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)
There are two things that a man cannot do even if he devotes all his life to it. The first is he cannot read all the literature available in the world during his lifetime. The second is he cannot behold all the wonders on earth created by God Almighty. But yes he can visit many of them if he sincerely endeavours to. We attempted to do that.
On 13th August 2023, we left on a group tour of Europe. Our tour operator was Kesari Tours, Mumbai. Our first take-off was an early morning three-hour Indigo Flight from Mumbai to Doha. It landed in Doha the capital of Qatar, where we had a two-hour halt. Thereafter, we were on a Qatar Airways 7-hour flight to London.
We landed at Heathrow London, Terminal 4 at around 2.30 PM London time. It took three hours for the group to clear immigration. By the time we were out of the airport, it was 6 PM. We reached our Hotel, Holiday Inn Express Terminal 5, at seven. The check-in was followed by dinner. The day in London appeared longer than Mumbai, say till nine in the evening in August, as a result, one felt as if one had just finished lunch instead of dinner.
14.8.23: We left for local London sightseeing after an English breakfast at nine in the morning. We travelled to London City Centre crossing zone 3, 2 and 1. Our local travel guide was Sari and coach driver was Sam. We visited the Natural History Museum followed by Victoria and Albert Museum. There were several unique and brick-laden houses on the way that gave a grand look to the city. We passed through the Piccadilly Circle, Hyde Park, Hyde Corner, the statue of the Duke of Wellington straddled on his horse, the Fountain of Opera, Trafalgar Square—Nelson’s Column and its four lions considered zero miles in UK where plenty of Bollywood movies have been shot. Soon after we saw the ‘change of guard ceremony’ at 11.30 in Buckingham Palace which is held every alternate day. We were lucky to be there on the right day which was Monday. It’s an old royal tradition and we were able to video shoot the ceremony. The royal family guards change their shifts under a proper ceremony along with the marching band. The next on the sightseeing list were the Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Parliament Square and 10 Downing Street. When I crossed the Thames River it reminded me of the old classic song, ‘Scarborough Fair’. The ‘London Eye’ was fascinating. We then saw the symbol of the two dragons indicating you’re entering London. The actual London city is colloquially called the Square Mile. It is 2.90 km square, in area.
LONDON EYE
The London Eye gives a panoramic view of the city of London. It has 32 capsules. It takes 32 minutes for a circle with 32 people, reminding you of the 32 boroughs of London. One capsule represents one borough. The next to see was the Phantom of the Opera, the tower bridge on the left of London Bridge. We drove past the London Bridge and the fire monument of the 16th century. Our lunch was at the Bangalore Express Restaurant. This was followed by a long stroll and shopping in Oxford Street, followed by dinner at the Hot Plate Restaurant and then we returned to our hotel.
15.8.23: On Independence Day we were up at three in the morning. The need was to catch the famous Eurostar train to Paris and Brussels from St. Pancras International Station, London. The train was at 7.01 AM. We left the hotel at 4.30 in a coach to be at the station by five. The security check at the railway station was quite tedious because of the heavy luggage that we were carrying. After the security, one technically leaves the territory of the U.K. and enters Europe on a Schengen visa. Twenty minutes before departure we were informed about our gate number. We sat in bogies 12 and 13 after walking past gate number 10. Soon, the Eurostar train number 9004 to Paris, left platform 10 from St Pancras Railway Station. After a point, it entered Europe leaving behind the U.K. It took 2 hours and 20 minutes to reach Paris. We were there at 10.20 AM which was exactly two hours and twenty minutes of travel time, but going by the clock it was three hours and twenty minutes because the continent of Europe is one hour ahead of the U.K. time. Our immigration process was held in London station itself. There are tunnels under the English Channel. The train crosses them in about 15-16 minutes on its way to Paris-Gare-du-Nord railway station in Paris. On the way, we ate breakfast along with hot coffee. The local tour guide in Paris was one Mr Senthil, an expat Indian from Tamilnadu. He started the city tour with a Vannakam—Tamil Namaste. Soon Paris started unfolding in front of our eyes. The tour began with the Opera House and The Greek Church—rich in Greek architecture. Then we saw the Golden Flame and the bridge where Lady Diana died in a car mishap. Then followed the Place De La Concorde Square, Macaline, Shawn Elizey, and the famous Eiffel Tower.
15TH AUGUST 2023, WITH TIRANGA FLAGS NEAR EIFFEL TOWER IN PARIS
We celebrated Independence Day with the Tiranga singing our national anthem in front of the Eiffel Tower. Later we visited Napoleon Bonaparte’s tomb in Les Invalides. Lunch was at ‘Welcome India,’ an Indian restaurant, after which at 2 PM we left for the Eiffel Tower. There was a huge crowd there with several souvenir shops. The names of Jules Verne (the author of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea) and Victor Hugo (the author of Les Miserables), both French authors, find their names mentioned in many of these shops and even in some public areas in Paris. Just as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s bust is seen in Baker Street, London. Do you recall the mention of Baker Street in the Sherlock Homes novels?
It took us two hours to get across the security gate alone and reach the summit level of the Eiffel Tower. The aerial view of Paris city from there was gorgeous. The summit level was earlier closed. Later they opened it. We were lucky to get the tickets for it. There is a Champagne bar there where we had a drink. The Eiffel Tower has three floors. The first level, the second level, and the summit level. The pillar elevators and the stairs take you to the first and second levels. To reach the top of the Tower from the second-floor platform, one needed to locate the separate elevator meant for it. In the same sequence, one can come down. After beholding the Eiffel Tower to our fill, we undertook a river cruise in the Seine River which was breathtaking.
THE CITY OF PARIS FROM EIFFEL TOWER SUMMIT
Our dinner was at Mewar Restaurant at 7 PM and by eight, we were back in our hotel, Novotel. The roads in Europe were quite open without traffic jams so one could accurately calculate the travel time. After an hour of free time in the hotel, we drove down to the main Paris city which included ‘The Champs-Elysees’, the main street of Paris that in some ways resembled the ‘Kartavya Path’ in New Delhi where we had a photo session in the glittering lights. After that, we went to the Eiffel Tower again. And wow!! It was an amazing sight to see the entire Tower lit up at eleven in the night. We returned to our hotel at midnight. The 15th of August was the longest day of our tour—from 3 a.m to midnight and from London to Paris.
16.8.23
The next day our coach rolled out of the hotel at 8 AM after a sumptuous continental breakfast. Soon it started negotiating the wide roads. Today, we were to travel from Paris to Brussels the capital of Belgium. Belgium is also the capital of the European Union. From Belgium we were to travel to the Netherlands. We realized the uniqueness of Europe: It was breakfast in France, lunch in Belgium and dinner in the Netherlands. It took three and a half hours from Paris to Brussels. The drive was picturesque with the ongoing green landscape and flowing rivers off and on. There was no honking. The drivers in Europe were disciplined and didn’t drive outside their lane, something that needs to be appreciated. Our coach driver was Michelle who hailed from Italy. All along there were small and big villages, all neatly manicured, and all with a church tower. The landscape was verily verdant with a river or two flowing near Belgium where we had a filling meal at the Wonders Restaurant. Thereafter we visited the city centre called the La Grand Place in Brussels, a beautiful square that houses the Town Hall, the Gilded Age houses and the circular monument. There is an old folktale behind the ‘Mannekin Pis Statue’ … ‘The Peeing Boy Statue’ at the nub of the Square. There was hectic shopping in that inviting market. There were photo-ops too followed by a session of delicious ice cream. At four in the evening, we left for Atomium, and it took us an hour to get there. It was again a photo-op point with a long history. The place houses a huge atom structure with 9 spheres and 21 cubes. It is part of the gate built in 1957 considered an icon of Belgium. After the Atomium, we left for Amsterdam, the Netherlands. We crossed Valenciennes—the France – Belgium – border. Then we crossed Breda which is the Belgium- Netherlands border. But before that, we crossed a small town called Antwerp which is famous for its diamond market. In and around Antwerp we could see many windmills, canals, lakes and village houses. My spouse and I were thrilled to see this exquisite face of nature. In the evening we entered the Netherlands through Hazeldonk. Our dinner was in an Indian Restaurant called ‘Bollywood’ in Amsterdam. By 9 PM we had checked into Amedia Hotel, Amsterdam.
17.8.23
After local sightseeing in Amsterdam, we were to travel to Germany. At 9 AM, we left for Madurodam a miniature park in Amsterdam.
MADURODAM, MINI AMSTERDAM
Madurodam Park is also called mini-Amsterdam. Amsterdam gets its water from the North Sea. It is known as the city of cycles, canals and rivers. It remotely reminds you of Venice. We entered Madurodam Park at 9.45 AM. We were supposed to be there till noon. There were many things to be seen there along with the mind-blowing landscape. Whoever built that park must have been a genius. There was a 3D flight ride in a stationery Dakota Plane with high sound effects. There was so much to photograph there, like the verdant garden with miniature canals, boats, luxury liners and the draw-bridges that lifted when the toy ships passed—a real entertainment for children and even adults. The landscaping was just awesome with miniature hills and forests and the modelling of canals, windmills and rural houses were amazing. The souvenir shops were so well laid and with so much merchandise that it could have tempted anyone to buy in droves. We were to leave the park for lunch but on that day our appointed Guru Restaurant caught fire and we were accommodated in Rangoli Restaurant. It’s so nice to see Indian cuisine reaching the nooks and corners of Europe, but you need to book it in advance because the capacities are still low. The blessing in disguise was that the Rangoli Restaurant was just a 5-minute walk from the Lovers Canal Cruise Station so we were able to meet our schedule. We reached the Restaurant at 1 PM. After a quick bite, we were at the Lovers Canal Cruise for a boat ride at 1.45 PM. The canals reminded me of the last scene (a motorboat chase) of Alistair Maclean’s famous movie ‘The Puppet on a Chain.’ Luckily we had the best of both worlds—the lunch and the canal cruise.
The Cologne Cathedral
In the afternoon we left for Germany. Our destination was Cologne. We were to visit the famous Cologne Cathedral after dinner at the Rangoli Restaurant there, (sunset in Europe is rather late during this time of the year so we could do sightseeing even after dinner). Since it was vacation time in Europe, there wasn’t much traffic either. We reached the restaurant by seven, in 4 hours. After dinner, we took a long walk to reach the Cologne Cathedral. It was still daylight. Cologne Cathedral is a unique landmark of Germany. It has a height of 157 metres and it took 650 years to build this cathedral. We clicked many pictures. Visitors who reached there early were able to enter the Cathedral to have an inside view. After visiting the Cathedral we undertook a 45-minute drive to arrive at the Mercure Hotel, in Bonn, where we checked in for the night. Most European countries are small in land area and one never comes to know when one has crossed over to another country. And while crossing over to another country your passport and visa are not checked.
18.8.23
On 18 August we were to travel across Germany through the Black Forest and reach the Rhine Fall (waterfall) in Switzerland and then to our hotel Seadamm Plaza in Pfaeffikon, Zurich. The drive was through the mystique Bavarian Alps with misty mountains and fast lane observing traffic. The weather was cold and overcast.
We started at eight in the morning, first towards the Black Forest. The Black Forest in the German language is called ‘Schwarzwald’ which is known for the Cuckoo Clock Industry, Cloud Fisheries Industry and the Black Forest Cake. The extended word is ‘Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte’, which translates into ‘Black Forest Cherry Cake’ which is the most famous sweet delicacy of that place. Cuckoo Clocks, Watchmaking, Skiing and Hiking are prime activities of the region. The Black Forest Clock Association includes producers, traders and experts. It provides certification to clock-makers who meet these requirements. All clocks are mechanical and are made by hand in Germany with wood from the Black Forest. During the World War, the area of the Black Forest in Bavaria was destroyed. People had become poor. But by starting these industries people regained their affluence. It became a major tourist centre and with that, the income of local people went up. The first stop of our journey was after 450 km which took us around five-and-a-half hours.
We reached the car park of the Cuckoo Clock factory at about 1.45 PM. The place is known as Titisee Brietnau, where clocks are manufactured. It also manufactures glass toys. We were given a live demonstration of how clocks are made. We also saw a live show of a Cuckoo Clock that squeaks and chimes at two in the afternoon and the dancing dolls come out to dance with their partners. In the deep recesses of Germany, we had a rather sumptuous lunch in great style and variety. We were served dahi vadas, veg pulao, grilled chicken, French fries, cutlets and pastries. The group shopped to its delight and was all for the traditional Cuckoo Clock.
RHINEFALL, SWITZERLAND
At 3 in the afternoon, we left for the Rhine Fall in Switzerland located in the municipality of Neuhausen Am Rhinefall. Earlier there were only rocks and stones there but when the water arrived it turned into a horizontal waterfall. At 5.40 PM we boarded a forty-seater yellow boat. It took us to the rock island at the centre of the fall. We climbed the rock island to have a three-sixty-degree view. And it was amazing. We then returned to the boarding station where we were in for a pleasant surprise as we were served Indian Masala Tea and Mumbai’s famous Vada-Pav right at the heart of the Rhine Fall in Switzerland. After the Rhine Fall, we travelled for two hours to reach our hotel Seddam Plaza in Seddam Centre in Pfäffikon, Switzerland. With that, the long journey across the Black Forest in Germany and the Rhine Fall in Switzerland came to an end.
19.8.23
19 August was the highlight day of our tour. We traveled to Mount Titlus in Switzerland. We left our hotel at 8.30 in the morning and arrived in Engelberg, which is the base camp at 10 AM. Engelberg is also called the ‘City of Angels’. From Engelberg, there are cable cars that go right up to Mount Titlis. The journey to the top can be completed in two cable car rides. Engelberg to Stands and Stands to Mount Titlis at an altitude of 10,500 feet. There is a 5-storey building on Mount Titlus. The level 1 of the building has both entry and exit gates. It also has retail shops where we went shopping and had Movenpick ice cream. The weather was unusually warm (signs of global warming). We were roaming in T-shirts without any woollens. The view from the cable car Gondola was just spectacular. We could see some people paragliding from a spot in Mount Titlis. The Titlis Cliff Walk and the Ice Cave were on the first level. We were there till 1.15 PM. Later we came down to Trusbee where we had an Indian meal of Pav-Bhaji, Dhokla, Gajar Halwa, Roti, and Rice. After lunch, we went down to Engelberg and travelled to Lucerne City. In Lucerne, we first went to the Lion Monument dedicated to the Swiss Mercenaries who were killed during the French Revolution by stealth. The sad face of the lion there is dedicated to them. Since the artist who sculpted the Lion monument was not paid his due, he was annoyed, and he cursed them by keeping the lion within the outline of the swine which is considered an abuse.Then we came to Schwanenplatz the busy market area of Lucerne. It is next to the Lucerne Lake which has a sizeable population of ducks on the shore. There was so much to shop starting from Swiss watches, knives, chocolates etc. At 6.30 we were off to a boat cruise with dinner. There we had the pleasure of listening to Swiss folklore and some special instruments. We also chorused Bollywood songs and danced on the upper deck of the boat. After enjoying the sail and dinner we left at eight for our hotel Seedamm Plaza. We were there by nine. It was the climax of our tour: Engelberg, Mount Titlis, Lion Monument, Lucerne Lake and the dinner cruise. We learnt that the government of Switzerland has installed a bust of Indian film producer Yash Chopra in the city of Interlaken for promoting Switzerland in his films.
20.8.23
On 20 August we left Switzerland at 9.30 AM for Wattens, Austria via Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein. Liechtenstein is a small country with a tiny population of 35000 people.
THE GROUP IN LIECHTENSTEIN
They too have their national day on 15 August. We took a guided Mini-Train tour around the city, and can you beat it, the pre-recorded running commentary in that describing the city was in Hindi of all the languages. As Indians, we felt proud. There was lots to buy in Vaaduz like liquor chocolates, garments, coins and souvenirs. There was also a big collection of stamps there for the stamp collectors. We lunched at Schlossle Mahal which is run by a chef from Assam, India. I was thrilled to meet him as I too have my roots in Assam. Moreover, he had studied at Darrang College in Tezpur, Assam. My father was the founder principal of that college in 1945. Indeed the world is small. After the splendid lunch, we departed for Austria which is landlocked with Liechtenstein. The first village that we crossed in Austria was Feldkirch which borders with Liechtenstein. We drove past the Inn River and arrived in Wattens, Austria at 4 PM. Here, we visited the Swarovski Crystal Museum, a wonderful complex. We couldn’t resist the temptation so we bought some crystal glass. Swarovski is a world-renowned brand that manufactures crystal glass. They also have showrooms in India. At 6 in the evening, we left for Innsbruck where we had a walking tour that took us to the Golden Roof, St. Jacob Dome, Inn River and Maria-Theresien Street. We clicked some pictures there. At 7.15 PM we drove to the mountain area—the top of the hill called Axams where we stayed at the Olympia Hotel which is a ski resort and where we had a filling continental dinner. In the evening there was a casual discussion on Mozart who hails from Austria. Recapping … on the 20th, we had breakfast in Switzerland, lunch in Liechtenstein and dinner in Austria.
WATTENS, AUSTRIA
21.8.23
We travelled from Austria to Italy (from Innsbruck in Austria to Venice in Italy). It was a long drive. We left at 7.30 AM to arrive at the designated restaurant for lunch by 1.15 in the afternoon. Punctuality is very important in Europe. We reached the restaurant exactly at 1 PM. The restaurant’s name was Bombay Spice. On the way, we crossed Brenner-Pass over the Alps which is the border between Austria and Italy. We drove through the Alps and finally arrived in Trento. There was a 45-minute halt there after which the Alps were left behind. The landscape re-styled after that. We crossed the city of Verona which is the village of Romeo and Juliet in William Shakespeare’s play. Post Verona, we reached Padua which is an industrial zone. We were to return here for our night halt. After Padua, there is the town of Mestre. We had lunch there in the restaurant called Bombay Spice after obtaining a permit from the checkpoint. Soon after, we left for Tronchetto in Venice where a Vaporetto boat was waiting to take us to St. Marks Island. The temperature was 39 degrees, hot and humid but the group negotiated the weather quite well. After arriving at St. Mark Island we started our walking tour. We went past the Bridge of Sighs, the Canal Grande, the Rialto Bridge, Piazzo San Marco, Santa Maria, Murano, Dodge’s Palace, St Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, St. Mark’s Cathedral and a few more spots, all tourist attractions. In our free time there we did hectic photography and souvenir shopping. We then proceeded to Danieli from where we took the Gondola ride for about half an hour. Five people sat in one Gondola. Following that we had Gelato Icecream, and returned to Tronchetto in the same boat by six and then drove down to our hotel – 4 Points by Sheraton in Padua. The dinner was at eight. It came from the Rangoli restaurant in Padua. After dinner, we retired for the day.
22.8.23
THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA
Today, we were to travel from Padua to Pisa and then to Aritzo, the central part of Italy. It was a relaxed day. We left Padua at nine in the morning and reached Pisa at 1 PM. Pisa is famously known as the city of the Italian astronomer, Galileo Galilei. He was born there. We had lunch at Rajasthan Restaurant in the vicinity. Thereafter we explored the sight: The Square of Miracles which comprises the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Baptistery, the Cathedral, the Campanile and the Camposanto or Cemetery. We clicked pictures galore of The Leaning Tower in a particular manner as told by Rohan our tour guide. We shopped for souvenirs, had tea, coffee and snacks and then took the Mini-Train back to the parking area where our vehicle awaited us.
THE LEANNG TOWER OF PISA–KAMLESH TRIPATHI
Soon we left for our onward destination, Aritzo. In two hours we were there. We checked into Hotel Aritzo A-Point and called it a day.
23.8.23
COLOSSEUM, ROME
We were heading to Rome from Aritzo. It was the second last day of our tour and the last night in Italy. All roads lead to Rome as they say. After reaching Rome we had a photo-stop at the Colosseum. The Colosseum is an elliptical Flavian amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built in the world, despite its age. The construction of this amphitheatre was completed in 80 AD. It was constructed 2000 years ago and has a seating capacity of 50,000 to 80,000 spectators. Romans were considered cruel. They enjoyed bloodshed where male gladiators were made to fight animals, and slaves were made to fight Gladiators and in the end, whoever lost was subject to the spectator’s decision of being let off or being killed based on their thumbs up or a thumbs down. In case of thumbs down the loser used to be killed. After seeing the Colosseum we went for lunch at the Annapurna Restaurant. The good thing about Europe is that in every city you’ll find an Indian Restaurant.
St Peter’s Square, Vatican.
After lunch, we went on a guided tour to St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City. We were given earphones so that we could listen to our tour guide properly. We saw The Madonna della Pieta, informally known as La Pieta (Jesus in the lap of Mother Mary) a marble sculpture of Jesus and Mary at Mount Golgotha representing the “Sixth Sorrow” of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Michelangelo Buonarroti, now in Saint Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City. It is a key work of the Italian Renaissance sculpture and is often taken as the start of the High Renaissance. Down the line, we also got to see the Papal Tombs of the Popes who were buried there. Then there was the statue of the first Pope St. Peters. There was the bronze and gilded baldachin, the first work of Bernini (Bernini columns) to combine sculpture and architecture. We went past Michelangelo’s dome, columns, the Holy Water and the doors where you can wash your sins which open once in 25 years. Thereafter we had a photo session in St Peter Square and saw the two fountains created by Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. What was to follow was the residence of the earlier Pope and the gallery from where the current Pope Francis, addresses the public. After that, we left for our hotel Mercure Roma West.
AUTHOR KAMLESH TRIPATHI IN THE VATICAN
24.8.23
On the final day, we left our hotel at 11.15 AM. Lunch was in the Rome City Centre at noon. At 1.00 PM, we left for Trevi Fountain. It was a long walk to the monument as vehicles were not allowed there. We had a photo-op followed by last-minute shopping and a walking tour at 3 PM., of Rome Piazza Venezia (the square of Venice) a white-coloured monument building called the Typewriter Building or Wedding Cake Building, Mussolini’s Office, Town Hall and the Roman Forum Museum. At around 4.30 PM, we departed for Rome airport and reached there at 6 PM. We were to fly to Qatar by flight number QR 114 of Qatar Airways in the night. And from there to Mumbai on an Indigo international flight, and that was the end of this very exciting tour.
In a matter of 12 days, we drove through 10 countries and over 3000 km. This was possible only because of Kesari Tours, excellent roads, disciplined lane driving and the seamless borders of Europe.
Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety in content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause? The bank details are given below:
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Kamlesh Tripathi’s Publications
GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE
(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in 8 prestigious libraries of the US which include Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed at MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in libraries and archives of Canada; Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai; Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India; Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh and Azim Premzi University, Bangalore).
ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY
(Is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; It is also available for reading in the Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)
AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES
(Is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity, which is the undying characteristic of Lucknow. The book was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2014. It is included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K; Herrick District Library, Holland and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County in North Carolina, USA; Black Gold Cooperative Library Administration, Arroyo Grande, California; Berkeley Library, University of California).
REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD
(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2016).
TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN
(Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his way through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen. The book was launched on 10th February 2018 at Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)
RHYTHM … in poems
(Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems describe our day-to-day life. A few poems from the book have been published in Shillong Times, Bandra Times and Bhavan’s Journal. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)
MIRAGE
(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)
AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra
(The story of the man who received His Holiness The Dalai Lama and his retinue in 1959 as a GOI representative when he fled Tibet in 1959. The book was launched on 21st November 2022 by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at Dharmshala. The title is archived in the library of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) Government of Tibet, Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) and the personal library of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. The title is also archived in The Ohio Digital Library, USA. It was recently included in the digital library of the world-renowned company APPLE).
BHAVANS JOURNAL
Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3.Eagle versus Scholars June, 15 & 20, 2020; 4.Indica, 15.8.20; 5.The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6.Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9.The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10.Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11.Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12.Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13.Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14.A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15.Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16.Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17.Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18.Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19.Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20.Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25.Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26.The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22; 27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29.Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34.Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35.When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. THE NAG MANDIR 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23; 43. The Tale of Genji 15.10.23; 44. The Soul Connection 1.12.23;
SHILLONG TIMES—SUNDAY EDITION
ARTICLES & POEMS: 1. POEM: HAPPY NEW YEAR 8.1.23; 2. POEM: SPRING 12.3.23; 3. POEM: RIGHT AND WRONG 20.3.23; 4. THE GUSH OF EMOTION—WRITING, 26.3.23; 5. THE NAG MANDIR, 7.5.23; 6. POEM:MOTHER 7.5.23; 7. POEM: RAIN RAIN 9.7.23; 8. POEM:YOU COME ALONE YOUGO ALONE 6.8.23; 9. RAIN RAIN (SECOND TIME) 10.8.23; 10. POEM: GURU TEACHER 10.8.23; 11. POEM: AUTUMN … THE INTERIM HEAVEN 15.10.23; 12. POEM: HAPPY DIWALI 12.11.23; 13. OVERCOMING BLINDNESS: LEARN IT THE JOHN MILTON WAY 10.12.23; 14. THE HAPPY PRINCE AND THE HAPPY MAN’S SHIRT 31.12.23; 15. ANNUS MIRABILIS 2024 7.1.24; 16. GANDHI TO MAHATMA GANDHI- Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa 28.1.24;
THE ASSAM TRIBUNE
ARTICLE: 1. THE MAGIC OF READING 11.12.23; 2. GANDHI TO MAHATMA 29.1.24
29.12.2020: INDICA BY MEGASTHENES; 14.3.22: ABOUT THE DIMASA KINGDOM ASSAM; 10.12.22: GRAND TRUNK ROAD-UTTARAPATH; 5.10.23: THE GHOST TOWN OF KULDHARA NEAR JAISALMER;
(ALL THE ABOVE BOOK TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE ON AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)