Lepchakha : The Nature's Cradle (Part 1)

The colours of the tripping season had started; and it took our steps to the beautiful hues of un-explored Himalayas. Its a general belief that the mountains will always have a different picture, in every nook and turns you take and Lepchakha was not a mistaken choice by the team of 14 strong members. Difficult to forget but again difficult to remember all the spots; hence it's better to go there by yourself and experience the beauty of nature. The beauty of Lepchakha.

We contacted a domicile resident, Mr. Ram Kumar Lama (8016671734). The unknown alleys of Lepchakha, to be reached touching the heart of Jainti, a small village within the Buxa Reserve forest, seemed quite exciting. The majority of the members were first timers in trekking, but to stay on in the flattened jungle, beside the Jainti river was an experience without recall. It was second to nothing and with the full moon shining, the pebbles of the dried up river bed shone like calcite deposits, making a trail up into the mountains, that would lead to Lepchakha, a journey that would be par an ethereal experience!

Jainti River Bed, Jainti, Buxa Tiger Reserve. (c) Somnath Paul.

Day 1 was full of journey. We reached the base camp, at Jainti. Since, it was the season of colours, it was beyond doubt we would spare it from our lives! That lead us to be at the dried river bed, where we did have some bath in the staggering water, most of which drizzled through the crevices of the pebbles galore! Post lunch, we took a trek to Pokhri Mai, a sacred rain fed lake, about 800 meters high, 4 Kms from Jainti village. The first taste of trek was good and people managed to gather strength for the next day, which we had no idea as to what it would offer us!

Travel of 4Kms to Jor Pokhri (In Lepcha term, Pokhri means Lake). (c) Somnath Paul.

The journey ended on a blunt note, when we had to stop abruptly and walk our way up!

800m Climb to Jor Pokhri. (c) Somnath Paul.

The secluded lake at Jor Pokhri, the cat fish growing in isolation  was huge, feeding upon the puffed rice (muri) and two Ma Kali idols to worship. It was a virgin trod, within the remote place of the nation, where mobile towers failed to kiss. Technical reason: its a reserve forest!

The lake at Jor Pokhri. (c) Somnath Paul.

(to be continued....)

Project Travels: A Diary

Thanks to PhD at CSIR-IICB, I have cherished the opportunity to see Incredible India. A travel heart by birth, exhaustive field work in Assam, Bihar and West Bengal have yielded loads of tough memories with sweet tunes in between. I remember the humming tunes of "Country Roads" and its full of unparalleled experiences.
Starting from the dusty roads of Bihar and Assam plains to the lush green heritage of Bengal's Murshidabad, I have seen it all. Made friends for a day with several unknown passengers over discussions ranging from Politics to Cricket; even a few passing around the cards at 29. Project travel have shown me all. I would like to share some excerpts in this space, where I feel would be apt to exhibit that Epidemiological Survey work has its pros and cons, if considered that way.

(c) Somnath Paul. 2012. Borring in Bihar.

My travels started in 2011, November. Assam. The first going was exciting, as I had mentioned earlier. But the access through to Silchar from Guwahati was dusty like nothing before. An almost 14 hour ride through the bumpy road, after we crossed Shillong. Food was scarce and if any, were more dust than quality. But a Bengali can digest any thing, I was no exception! Drilling for soil samples at Silchar's outskirts is persuation and quarel. The quarel was not for why, but where! The places are so sparsely located that it took us to tribal areas where Bengali was not the dialect proper and we faced difficulty in communication. A house or two away, you will find a Naga or a Manipuri or a Mizo. The vibrance of the nation was pouring out but in the Sun, we too were draining without a cause but delay. 

(c) Somnath Paul. 2012. Sample Collection in Assam

Where tribe is a problem, caste system comes upfront in Bihar. Higher castes wouldn't allow any driller to drill for sample in his courtyard. He would check the caste criteria and truly speaking it burns your senses when you come across such divide, 60 years post independence and into a century where we, scientists are trying to prove a co evolution at the molecular level. Guess arsenic will not affect a Bihari differently than an Assamese! Will it?
But, the sweet tunes mostly lie enroute Guwahati to Silchar and back. The mountains; the Garo, Khasi n Jaintia ranges weaves a miracle of green and colours. After 3-4 days of hard work amidst dialect problem, it was always a welcome relief. A small note to add; it was blazing hot in Silchar, April 2012. But on our way back after work to catch train from Guwahati, passing through Shillong made us shiver. It was cloudy and mist set on, making our clothes wet. I realized the success of the name Meghalaya and thanks to Rabindranath Tagore, it was really cold at 'Chill-on', Shillong.

(c) Somnath Paul. Mr. Jayanta Das, Assam, 2011.

The name Murshidabad infuses history of Bengal in the chain of thoughts of any person concerned. But, thats for those who make leisure trips to the place. Ours was always scientific business, but to go in an arsenic infested area and if people know we are in for the work, they will treat you lord almighty. They are so simple. Starting from countryside fruits to tea and what not, they would offer anything, but with a request in local dialect: "When will we curb their arsenic problem?" It feels very bad see their conditions, affected with arsenicosis symptoms; old & young. And we offer the only answer to their dismay; we only analyze and are not implementers of policy or remediation! Still they offer a smile and replies, "abar asben". (Come Again) It touches the core of your heart.
Epidemiological work creates a good interactive spectrum within you. If you are clever, you will know how to enjoy it. This excerpt I am writting from my present travel to Assam again. I hope to gain some more into it.

Excuse Me India : They are FEMALES and not FREE-MALES!

I have always said so, heard being said so; to get touched at free will, to fulfill the malicious desires for free, to be kept for torment and played with your masculine power for free; Excuse me India, I am a "Female" not a "Free-male"!!

Sometimes, I guess why is Delhi still the capital of this country? But again, where would you make the capital of this nation, which has many eunuchs crossing the streets at free and then pouncing upon soft targets for soft meat? You have Kolkata? It had it's sporadic episodes of being raped! You have Mumbai, it too has her own story lined within the shabby dark corners of the city that never sleeps! You have Delhi, highlighted like the role model... come on! If the capital can have so many, then it comes to be licensed by all! And then you have the enlightening leaders who have their excuses against the ladies of the nation! Provocative dresses!! Oh yeaahhh.... Seductive walks!! Yeaaahhh Yeaaahhh Yeaaahhh... come on! These are the licenses of the being preyed upon, have the freedom to be inserted with anything; personified with the drop coin  weighing machines!!! You insert a Rupee coin and the you get your weight! Here too, you have rods, candles, knifes and what not to be inserted for free and let all the blame be on the victimized girl, for she was seductive, provocative... you have your cards!!! Some banners will rise high for few days and then everything shall be pointed towards the girl... for she was freemale. Excuse me India, they are FEMALES and not FREE 4 MALES!

But the incident reported nationwide about the 5 year being raped! She was wearing a frock! Thats provocative!!! She tried to get a hug from you or ride your back! Come On! That's very much seductive! How can you resist your leaking pipe from being opened up, pouring the white filthy fluid upon her! She tried to hug you, I do remember!!! Or may be she was licking the lollypop that you bought her on her 5th birthday and reminded you of some good licks and sucks of your... you know what! Come on, how can I mention that on the public portal, you have your honour nah! The 5 year old punter's honour is FREE for sale!! She is a FREE-male for you; but not for us... the many Indians who would like to lick your balls with acid!!! Don't worry, we taste better things, I think acids are better your scrotum! Too much hot! needs to be hotter I guess... Nitric Acid would suffice, right?

I am sorry.... Sorry that you were present in the wrong place. May you get on with life and believe me, the Indian Government should make a new law... Acid Test! For advice, see Ajay Devgan starrer, Gangajal.

A Circus Called Bengal

To a Bengali research scholar, field trip means loads of knowledge explored from the unknown corners of the world. Work, mixed with intellectual visualization and realization of the senses, fulfills the thirsty mind of a bengali. But sometimes, the intellect can face a dumb road block called over-thinking and mis-management of thoughts, that makes Bengal and Bengali, the most colourful Circus of the present era.

I was realizing the variety of Bengali dialect that is present from the Sundarbans to the hills of Jalpaiguri and then spanning across the border, into Bangladesh and re-entering the region of Assam and Tripura. The dialect varies in term, tone and mode of speaking that will always ear-mark from where the Bengali comes from. But, that's a cultural variety, loved by all and called as one of the sweeter version of human languages ever evolved from Sanskrit.

But, to think of the thoughts that run under the political banner, it is can be believed that is this the place where the great minds like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Rabindranath Tagore, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Vivekananda, Ram Krishna Paramhansadev, etc have come up from? You fight on... for no reason! I know, it is Bengal who showed the violence against the British, that muscle can be an option to free the Motherland, but here? Muscle to voice as to who is powerful?

I condemn!

Be it Red or Green or Orange or any damn party, you cannot come to violence as an answer that will turn as a question for the next day which will be answered by violence again! I believe, the minds are in good place and the party leaders will "train" the dogs to be responsible. If not, then you will be the loser, because if Nasiruddin Shah can kill terrorist being a common man, another common man will do the same, by not voting for you. As it is, all political leaders are great... its the perspective you look into.... I look into....

Well its highly condemned!

The Shells at Tajpur

Another destination explored. Starting from 2011, it has been a constant movement onward, to places and marking my footsteps on google map. But as the commercial says, every trip has a reason, let leisure be the reason for this one. Celebrating the anniversary of my friends, a pair of couples on the beach was beyond doubt; enjoyable. Friends from the root hold, past as in Masters, the congregation upon the beach was nothing more than breach of the notion of boredom!

Budha-Ankita and Avisek-Soma; they were the reason and alcohol made it prominent across the bon-fire roasting the meat!

(l-r) Avisek, Budha, Ankita and Soma

The toast was on them and some of rum in the Bonfire!

A one day trip, it could have been hectic as we never stayed back in the hotel for more than 24 hours. But, this trip made me realize some aspects of being happy together. Yes, there were news of few parting friends, who would move along in their life. It did hurt a little, but then the smile always made it sure: All the Best for your endeavours.

Me too. At the end of my PhD, I shall move along outside India, for a better post doctoral opportunity. Then too, their and mine hearts will pump a little more blood full of adrenaline. May be, the meat was roasted and eaten, digested or excreted; but friendships shall never pass away so easily. 

The clear sky and the virgin beachline made me realize, wishes will always be pinned down with the desire to meet in such a manner, many a times in future.

Tajpur Beach: Virgin.

Luck offered me an opportunity to silently place the wish. With thousands of stars shining within a dark background and my camera trying to eye the star trail; it captured a shooting star. People believe it to be a wish filling sign. I had several things in mind. The fire was warm, so was the rum and the friends beside made it warmer. I could have wished many a things; but then, I realized; its better to leave in the hands of time. When the tooth will be lose, hanging as the last man stand; I know, my friends will be there; tucking my problems within their cusps; just like the way, I try to do it for them!