ROSES IN DECEMBER 2.

This time my destination was Amraoti, as my father was transferred to this place again. I got easily admitted to a well-known school " Science Core High School."

The setting of the school was just below the hill famously known as MALTEKADI( A big hill ). 

         This place was famous for 1) temples of badi Ambamata and Choti Ambamata mandir. Both were sisters. Navratri was an a big event held annually. 2 ) Pola celebration, a festival dedicated to worship of bulls. On that day all the bull owners were assemble in the ground for the Pooja of their bulls. After the common Pooja individuals bulls are taken home to home for their darshana. Each house does  offer them puranpoli a famous sweet, a  roti made out of gud. 3) Ravan Dahan is  a well known event of the town. On the 10 th day of Navratri Dashara is celebrated and the effigi  of Ravana  is set to fire. It is packed with fire crackers and crackers  burst with loud sound throughing colour sparkles. In between in the evening as per the tradition people are going for Simolanghan ( crossing the border of the town) a symbol of winningthe territory. Coming home children were visiting nearby homes to distribute leaves of shami tree as gold and were given sweets br the lady of the hous

        My father being in the excise department public entertainment was under his control. We had a free entry to all the exhibitions held in the town, Circus , and all the Cinema houses . Sitting in the balcony and watching films ,we were considering ourselves to be highgly honoured gentry of the town.

        Coming back to schooling and studies there was hardly any progress in my studies. I was passing each year and being proted to the next class.I reached ultimately 11th standard. I was poor in mathematics and my teacher Mr. Deshpande was openly announced in the class that I would neve clear the matriculation examination. I felt insulted before my classmates.Grom that day I took challenge that I will pass this examination and prove my teacher to be wrong.Since that day I took studies seriously. Accepting challeng bacame a part of myife since then.I surpried every one bypassing the exams.It must have been a shoking news for my math teacher.

             From Amraoti one can foto Muktagiri ,a Jain pilgrimage centre located on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra is about 70 km. It is in the Betul district of MP. 

              There are 52 Jain temples built during 13rh century. These temples are dedicate d to Mahavir Swamy. Temples are built in marble rocks and beautifully carved.

               Another interesting place near Amraoti is Chilkhadara Hill Station. Thete is a reference of this place is in the Mahabharata which states of Bheema's glorious succession over Keechaka at this very place.

                It is a scenic place one cannot forget to visit. It is also famous for wild life.

I wish to stop here.

Will see you soon as soon as I pick up the next rose from the bouquet.

Until then ,

Bye,

Ashok Pradhan.

ROSES IN DECEMBER 5

JOINING DUTY :

As per the directive of the management, I reported for duty in December 1965 to Mr.N.C.Nandy, Superindent of the geology department at the head office in Jamshedpur. 

           The next day I was directed to proceed to Noamundi Iron Mine and report to Mr.A.K.Basu is a geologist in charge of geology operations.

            The next day morning I took a train for Noamundi. Traveling to Noamundi by passenger train was a nightmare for me. It carried along with passengers, mostly Adivasis chickens, goats, firewood, and not to forget jhaalmudi. This was a special preparation of puffed rice, mixed with chili powder, green chili, onion cut into small pieces, all ingredients mixed, and at the end top up with edible oil. The seller was making a brisk business. 

          Our journey was continuing. Train was stopping at almost every twenty minutes at stations with funny names like Zinkpani, Chaibasa, PadaPahar, to name a few. In the mean while a fellow passenger announced that the train is  expected to arrive at the Noamundi station in ten minutes or so. My expectations were a lot about the stations since I was arriving at a famous Iron ore mine of Tatas. But to my dismay, there was no platform and how to get down was a big problem with my heavy steel trunk. I was thoroughly disappointed but made up my mind that my life as a geologist will be full of such surprises in the coming future for me.

The coolie took my trunk and as I was about to get out of the station, a driver came to me and said " chalia Sahab" and I realized that suddenly I became a SAHAB. 

A green color station wagon had come to receive me at the station .I actually  felt like a Sahab.

The driver, Krishna, carried me to the geological camp through the labor hitting. At the camp office, I met Mr.A.K.Basu was a strong healthy person , chewing pan with Iiterally red teeth. The camp was located in a dense forest with large trees and a few huts in a row. I was taken to one of the huts with a front verandah central room, a small storeroom attached with a bath, and a toilet 

far away and detached from the hut.

         It was a month of December and nights were very cold. I had a dinner in the common mess. Being a forest area snakes were plenty.

After  dinner I came to my hut. In the night rats took over the charge of the hut. They were making noise and running all over the roof. It was a play ground for them 

It was impossible to sleep under such condition. There was no alternative but to accept the reality.

Next day  was my medical examination. Doctor Sengupta  came to the camp, chitchatted with me, and declared me fit. 

My joyong  as an Assistant Geologist was confirmed.

There are many interesting stories which I will tell you in my next episode.

Until then bye.

Ashok Pradhan

          

ROSES IN DECEMBER

ROSES IN DECEMBER (2)

I was confused this time to pick up a rose. Which one I should pick up? In the confusion , however, I picked up a rose looking fresh in the bouquet.

         This time I was very excited and interested to know what surprise awaits for me. I want to hear from you  🌹 tell me about secret. The rose was very friendly and it took me to a State of Madhya Pradesh, a town called "Hoshangabad" .This city was situated on the bank of river  Narmada .It turned out to be a paradise for me.

It so happened that my  Dad was transferred from Amraoti to this place. It was a Hindi speaking region. 

        I was admitted in 7th standard in a " Multi Purpose Higher Secondary School". The teaching language was Hindi.I found it difficult to pick up the language as my earlier education was in Marathi.

         The school had an impressive building of on the bank of the  river Narmada. 

          At this school I had an opportunity to learn Swimming Batbinton,Hockey, Volley Ball Fishing, and conoeing.

         The school also had   neuematic boating facility.

        Our residence was also at the bank of the river. It was a big bunglow which was shared between us and Mr, Varma ,Inspector of Schools.

This bungalow was old and dialapilated and was sorrounded by big banian trees and neem trees. 

 Snakes were regular visitors during rainy days. Some time they were seen inside the house. I remember a day when it entered our bathroom and got vanished in a small opening.

On another occasion a big snake came in our kitchen which was , however,was killed by our servant. 

                The toilet was detached from the bungalow and was located far from it. Also I remember an insidence that  my sister once  was returning from the toilet and she was barely a few feet away from it she  suddenly heard a loud noise and later on found that the toilet had collapsed. She was saved from the major injury.

               Green pigeons were regularly visiting our banian tree durig fruit season. Casual hunters were hunting them and they were falling dead in groups.Some times they were hanging upside down and was remainig in that  position for quite some time and then falling. 

                Our school Principal was regularly visiting Mr.Varma who was our neighbour. The Principal came to know that I was his ( Mr. Varma's )  neighbour. 

From thar time on words I had a royal treatment in the school. I remember when I was going for NCC camp the  Head Master had sent me a tanga ( horse cart) to pick me up from my residence to drop at the railway  station  and  similar treatment was aslo extended to me while I was returning home from the camp.I was enjoying his blessings and favours from time to time. The other students were jealous of me. 

The school  administration had made me incharge of the neumatic boats as they were a prestigious possession of the school. They were kept under lock and key. Being incharge , the  keys of the nuematic boat were  with me.

             I along with my friends were  rowing  in a these boats  the Narmada river during off time. It was a great fun rowing a neuematic boat in those days. Later  on I found that rafters using same boats for rafting in rivers which  I had used  in the year 1956. 

            My days at this place were full of adventure and enjoyment.

During summer days myself and my friend were crossing river which was  almost 1/2 a kilometer wide just to steal water melons which were  grown in the sand on the other bank of river by village farmers. The  farm owners were resting in the afternoon and we were taking advantage of their absence from the farm to steal the water melons.These were brought to the bank nevigating them by applying our head as they were floating.To eat these stolen melons was a great joy . This was our regular pass time during summer vacation.

           In those days (before the merger of  states) Bhopal was an independent state on the other side of the bank. Gentry of the Hoshangabad  town was hiring  boats on the day of Kojagiri night and taking the boats on the other bank of the river to enjoy drinks.

            On the market day at Hoshangabad, villagers from Bhopal state were conoeing between Bhopal and Hoshangabad to sale their agri products. The conoes were anchored  at the bank and the were returning only after 4 to 5 hours selling their produce. We were in the mean time  taking advantage of their  asence. We used to unrope the conoe and take it for rowing. It was a great pleasure conoeing in the river.

I was also a good  badminton player, representing my school in the tournaments. The tournaments used to be held in Bhopal and we were regularly visiting Bhopal.

Such were the wonderful days I  spent  at Hoshangabad. 

The story of this rose is coming to an end I will pick up another rose on some other day to continue my story of Roses in December.  Until then good bye.

Ashok Pradhan .

 

 

          

          

          

Arrival and Departure

 

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

 

Arrival and Departure

Are the twins of the same coin like head and tail

You spin it 

And you get either of it

It's your luck

When you will arrive in this world 

No one can predict your arrival 

At the same time your departure is equally unpredictable

Arrival is always full of Joy

Where as departure is not

         LIFE IS Full OF arrivals and                  departures

Someone arrives at the same time someone departs 

IS IT NOT SO FUNNY?

A baby arriving in the faEmily

Is an occasion to celebrate

And when departs leaves sadness behind

Arrival and Departure are the laws of nature

We have to accept it

Migrant birds do arrive and depart on scheduled seasons

Their arrival is a happiness 

And departure is unhappy

Seasons arrive and depart

the arrival of fall brings a spectrum of colors into the nature

This happens at the sacrifice of leaves

The arrival lounge is separate as also a departure

No one knows when

Who will occupy

Which lounge during

His/her journey of life

Remains mysterious

 

 

Ashok Pradhan