SECTION 3,

Nuwara Eliya to banderwala is 2 hours by road .We did not wait anywhere on the road and went straight to a beautiful restaurant cum bar in the city’s centre. The weather was comfortable, around 22 degrees centigrade, and it felt a bit hot as it was a fully sunny day, and Nuwara Eliya was around 16-18 degrees at night. We three, including Nishi, sat at a four-seater table and asked for a beer. As usual, my wife went for soft drinks, and coconut water was available, her favourite; I told Nishi no more than one can as he had to drive another few hours. We slightly changed our travel plan and went to Bentota, where we booked a two-night stay; our tour operator made the necessary changes without additional cost. We discussed with some of the tourists from the south and the Manager and made some changes to our itinerary after consulting with some tourists at Banderwala, and we met the owner of our restaurant. With this temperature and the middle of the day, beer is quite comfortable, and I took one more by the time my wife and Nishi jointly decided on our lunch order; the waiter told us it might take half an hour, but we said that was ok. A hotel Manager is a man of around sixty years, and he came to us and gave us many tips; he has white hair and looks pretty cheerful. He recommended some changes to our itinerary. My wife was going looking the menu card for some special Lankan delicacies.  

Sri Lankan dish for lunch. It took some half an hour to serve. Nishi told us that while returning from Yale ( we have a two-night stay at Yale), he will arrange our lunch at one of his friend’s houses, who is running a small restaurant near the beach and on our way. We agreed immediately. The Manager was talking to us about the city, how he had started his restaurant nearly 20 years back and asked about our family. He wants to visit India, but for whatever may be the reason, it has yet to materialise so far. I told him to make a plan, and if he had informed me earlier, I could arrange some hotel for him and his family at a reasonably low cost as our department has a lot of Guest houses all over the country and putting a room will not be that difficult in those places which are pretty good. He thanked me. His elder son is an Engineer who passed out from Chennai in India and is now working in a company in Colombo.

We enjoyed talking to him and, during the process, took one more can of beer and enjoyed the whole ambience. The restaurant attracts many customers, and since it is peak lunchtime, it is almost complete, mainly tourists. Many customers were coming and going, some waving at us and some we talked with before changing our plan to go to Bentota. We waited outside, where there was small but beautifully maintained carpet grass and flower plants. There are swings in one corner, and I used them for a long time. It was delightful. There I met some more tourists. Also, all seemed to enjoy and relax during their visit to this small country, having every kind of weather and a reasonably developed tourist infrastructure. There is no language issue, and people can speak English well In most of the places we visited.

After nearly half an hour, we started to Bentota. If we had decided earlier, Bentota would be nearer to Nuwara Eliya; from here, it is almost four and a half hours. We chose and were happy later that our decision was correct for people of our taste. My tourist operator arranged this, and he charges nothing extra for the changes except the difference in hotel tariffs. Banderwala to Bentota is 265 km, almost 5 hrs, and has many hotels to stay alongside the beach. The road could be better, and we have to go slowly, again, no wait anywhere. The hotel manager gave me two cans of beer for the road, which became very useful. We reached around 6-30 pm and told the reception people to take us to the room straight. I was feeling for a bath badly and slept for some time. In all the hotels I have seen, there is an arrangement for the drivers’ accommodation and fooding as many tourists come by bus or cabs /car. If they do not provide the facility, the drivers or the tour operators will book you in another hotel. So competition helps the drivers for accommodation and food free from the hotel. Nice business arrangements.

When we reached the hotel, it was almost dark, and the hotel was lovely. The rooms are cleaned and maintained properly. Our room was on the first floor featuring a balcony with a beautiful sea view and the coconut trees enhancing the beauty, and dining was on the ground floor, with a village-like ambience created beautifully. Two artificial ponds were created inside the dining area with different varieties of sea fish.  Through the door, we can directly go to the beautiful beach, and there are few tents, and sitting arrangements are made where room service is also available. We decided to have our dinner early. We were also hungry and decided that tomorrow morning, we would go to the beach before sunrise.  

We got up quite early and went to the beach, which was clean, and the sea was also calm. We saw the sun rising gradually, and it was such a lovely view. Soon hotel residents started coming, and all were enjoying the scene. After some time, we decided to go to the sea and play with the seawater going and coming with the sea waves. How the time was going, we did not realise. After an hour, we came out of the sea and cleaned in the showers placed in one corner so that we should not carry the sand inside. We sat under an umbrella-like tent and placed the order for our breakfast which was complimentary. We sit there for a long time enjoying the sea views, and as soon as the sun rises, more and more people go to the sea. We came back to the room. I saw the TV and emails I had not seen for the last few days.

We had our bath, slept, and woke up only when the room intercom rang from the reception that lunch would be closed within some time and whether we would take our lunch.  I told him we would be dining hall within 10 minutes and have lunch. The receptionist, a young girl, was giggling and enjoyed my panic reaction of missing the lunch as I heard over the intercom. We reached the dining area within the next 10 minutes as no formal dress was necessary, and I wore shorts and a T-shirt. I asked Nishi whether he had his lunch, and he said yes. I told him I was not going anywhere today and told the tour operator to cut my two days stay at Colombo to one and increase my stay here for one more day. It was so relaxing here.

TO BE CONTINUED

SECTION -2

 CONTINUED from section -1,

After seeing the map and discussing it with our favourite Nishi, we almost fixed our plan for the next day and told Nishi to report at 8-30 am and to leave by 9 o’clock. The place to be seen was almost decided. But there was rain for some time at night. I was hoping there would not be rain tomorrow. The room was comfortable and cold towards the morning, but AC was unnecessary. Here individual room ACs were fitted, and the room was comfortable. 

The hotel is at a height from where we can see the lush green tea gardens in the morning. It is an eye-catching view. I am told that Nuwara Eliya is the leading tea-producing and exporting area of Sri Lanka. The morning was sunny, and the fresh air made our day fabulous. We were ready and finished our breakfast when Nishi came. We took a backpack only with us with our camera and went out, telling the receptionist that we were not coming for Lunch and we would check out early the next day. 

Nishi told us that the area near Nuwara Eliya has a few breathtaking waterfalls, tea plantations, a beautiful hillside grassland, a lake, and so on. The impressive colonial architecture may be more than a hundred years old, which increases the charm of this place.

We have rechecked the list and found three powerful waterfalls: St. Clair’s, Ramboda Falls, Laxapana Falls, Aberdeen Falls and Bomburu Falls, etcetera. And several beautiful tea gardens, especially, The Pedro Tea Estate and Bluefield Tea, attract many tourists. The Horton Plains National Park was another major attraction. To reduce our travel time, we decided to go only to one fall, the grassland and the lake, and the National Park, and return to the hotel early to walk through the city of Nuwara Eliya.

We immediately started for the National Park, which is around 30 km, and took nearly 40 minutes. It is at a height of 7000 ft from sea level. About 30 km away from Nuwara Eliya lies on a plateau. The park is famous for leopards, but unfortunately, we did not see any. From the top, the city looked great, and I was coming back lazily while Nishi was saying to go back early to cover the other places. World’s End viewpoint is lovely and passes through Bakers Falls, our next destination. These are also trekking routes, and tourists enjoy trekking through these routes.

We then proceeded to Gregory Lake, an ancient lake almost as old as the town. It was constructed to supply electricity. It is now a popular tourist destination. 

The lawns around the lake are a jogger’s paradise, and street food vendors are getting their livelihood from their small shops in these areas. We got our cardamon tea here, which was very good, and I took two cups and filled my flask full, which would be sufficient for me till reaching the hotel. We used the paddle boats look like a swan neatly arranged at one end of the lake to take us around for what can only be described as a ‘surreal’ ride.

We were already late from our schedule and moved to Victoria Park, which is also ancient but nicely maintained. Nishi told us that most of the trees here were once brought from Scandinavian countries by the Britishers. A dedicated kids’ section with playgrounds and other facilities was also available to entertain its young visitors. Nishi told us that the park also has many migratory bird species, and we could see if we came in the morning. The area is extensive, and we cut short our travelling around the park so that other places are noticed.

Moon Plains is about 12 Km from our hotel, The Second Worlds End. Almost all famous peaks of Sri Lanka are visible from here, including single-tree mountain, Piduruthalagala, kirigalpoththa, and these areas produce much potatoes in Srilanka. We have seen a herd of buffaloes and deer on our way.

We dropped our visit to Hakgala botanical garden as we had already seen the National Park. It is at an altitude of around 5000ft, and we were told it has a massive collection of different species of trees and orchids. Since it is not the flowering session, we may not have the flowers blooms at this time of the year.

Galway’s Land National Park is inside the city and is a comparatively new and small wildlife sanctuary for birds and flowers mainly and protects few endemic species. Barking wild deer and the wild bore is also available, and it is open throughout the year, Nishi told us as we skipped this place also. 

One more day was required here in Nuwara Eliya to cover all the sites, but we had to leave the following day and skipped whichever was not very important or came in the same category.

Lover’s Leap is a beautiful waterfall and a collection of streams falling from around 150 ft from the peak of Piduruthalagala. Nishi told us that there are some exciting stories of this fall near the city, and the route going through a beautiful tea plantation where the tea leaves are now coming up, and plucking has just started.

Nuwara Eliya Golf Club has one of the world’s oldest golf courses and owes its existence to the British colonial rulers of the time In the hilly terrain of the Golf Club. It is as old as 1889. The grounds are very well maintained, and visitors are allowed to play, unlike most golf courses in other parts of the world where only members are allowed entry.

We just had a bird’s eye view of the Golf club and were hungry too; we told Nishi to go to a roadside Dhaba(restaurant) where good Indian food was available. Nishi took us to a small but spotless restaurant, and we got the menu card after thorough research of the menu card; we finally selected our food, but the waiter was having a language problem, so Nishi was talking to him in his language. We had pretty tasty food but a bit spicy, but we enjoyed it; we were too hungry.

Adams Peak is one of the most revered religious places at 700 ft. The significant foot-shaped location there is believed to be the footprint of Buddha, and the Hindus believe it to be of lord Shiva. We avoided visiting the place as it needed climbing up many stairs, and my wife needed help walking those uneven stairs. We prayed from the area till which the car could go and come back. 

Seeta Amman Temple,  Seeta being the wife of Lord Rama, it was believed that Sita was born not from her mother’s womb but from the earth, and people pray to her as the daughter of mother earth. The footprints of Hanumanji are there, as believed; this is the famous Ashok Vatika where Sita, wife of Lord Ram, was kept by Ravana after the kidnapping, which became the cause of the famous war of Ramayana.

Ambewela Farm is a lush green farmland known as the New Zealand farm. The blue skyline and tall mountains and famous for organic cultivations there. About 20 km from Nuwara Eliya, a very peaceful place. People come for a picnic, having a lot of small coffee/ tea stalls. It has the flavour of a typical village atmosphere with countryside charms. I would like a place like this to spend my days after retirement. Tea plantation is abundant in and around Nuwara Eliya; whichever way you move, tea plantation is visible.

  We were pretty tired when we reached our hotel, and my wife told me she would not go for the city walk and rest. A had a hot bath and immediately went to the Bar, had two rounds of whiskey fast, and was about to leave for the walk. A gentleman came to me, and we got introduced. I was lucky; he was also looking for someone to go for the city walk. We started. He is from Denmark and seems to be very happy visiting the place. He has two girl children working in the UK now, and he divorced a few years back. Now, whenever he can, he visits a few countries yearly. He is a lovely gentleman who likes to speak and goes on talking about his country, but he comes back every time, why they divorced and he did not marry again. Soon we became good friends, and till today we are mailing each other or talk.

Walking around the city was an excellent experience, and my new friend Victor made it more interesting.

The walk taking us through its colonial bungalows keeps, yet nicely, the beautiful streets, temples and churches. The town beautifully waves itself with nature, and you can walk by jungles upon jungles and tea gardens not far away. We walked for an hour and a half, returned to the hotel, and went straight to our favourite destination, the Bar with dim lights welcoming us. Victor, by this time, I am calling him as Vicky ordered two whiskeys, and soon we give a repeat. I called my wife, but there was no response; the second time, she picked up hers, and from her voice, I understood that she was fast asleep when I called her. She asked me the time, and it was 9-45 pm. I told her to come to the restaurant for dinner, and in the meantime, Victor ordered the third. We were about to finish when my wife arrived, and I introduced her to my new friend Victor. 

After a light dinner, we parted, telling each other, Brother, we will meet soon. He was such a nice guy.  I was pleased.

We told Victor we would leave early after breakfast and may not meet tomorrow. Still, we will meet somewhere someday, but we will keep contacting. In the morning, we were taking breakfast and checked out. Nishi has already arrived. I was astonished to see Vicky waiting for us to say bye. We hug each other and leave.

Our next destination was Hambantola via Bandarawala.

TO BE CONTINUED

THIS WILL HELP ME CORRECTING MY SHORTCOMINGS IN MY FUTURE POSTS’

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এটা অণুগল্প

কালি মোৰ খুব ভাল  বান্ধবী এজনীয়ে এটা গল্প পঢ়িবলৈ দিলে পঢ়ি আগ্ৰহটো লাগোতেই গল্পটো শেষ, ম‌ই

 কোৱাত তাই জনালে,এইটো বোলে অণুগল্প,  আগতে জনা নাছিলো  অণুগল্প কি । উওৰটো মই এটা

অণুগল্পৰে দিলো কেনে হৈছে কবচোন ।

বজাৰত গৈছিলো শাক-পাচলি কিনিবলৈ এই গৰমত ফুটপাথত বহি বৰ কষ্টৰে দুপইচা ঘটিছে | মানুকেইজনীক দেখি দাম কৰাৰ মন নগল, কি কৈছে তাকে দি বস্তকিপদ চাইকেলখনত তুলি ঘৰলৈ বুলি উভটনি কিন্ত্ত কি, চাইকেলখনৰ যে দুয়োটা চকা puncture , ওচৰত দোকানো নাই ঠেলি ঠেলি চাইকেলখন লৈ ঘৰ পালোহি | মুখত মাত ওলাবলৈ অলপ সময় লাগিল পানী গিলাচ খাই

SECTION -1

We landed at the Bandaranaike international airport, Colombo, after a nearly 3-hour flight from Kolkata. The driver was waiting in front of the arrival with a placard with my name and his company’s name.  

I was worried whether he would be there and this was my first visit to Colombo and all the arrangements and bookings, a new travel agent made this time. The driver immediately escorted my wife and me to his beautiful white colored car and put our luggage in the boot space. He was a young man with a lovely smile and maybe around 25 years old and spoke fluent English. He told us that during the whole tour, he would be with us in his car, and he would also act as our guide. We were delighted at the very first introduction to him and with his mannerism. The tour operator printed your program and was with our driver, and he gave me the same, which was as per our booking. Today we will be relaxing in an excellent hotel in Colombo, and the next morning, we will start our actual program immediately after breakfast. The hotel staff were terrific hosts and led us to our designated room. The lady who came to drop us in the room described all the facilities the hotel provides and how we can get any assistance required from the hotel. She gave us the intercom list, bar, and menu card and told us that the bar and restaurant are available till 11 pm and breakfast is complimentary, and starts from 6-30 am in the open restaurant on the ground floor. The Lunch and dinner and the bar are on the first-floor restaurant. She was a thorough professional and spoke in excellent English, very polite, a charming girl maybe of around 25 yrs of age with a long bunch of hair and wearing a beautiful flower in her hair. She looked very beautiful in a white saree with red borders and a red blouse, she was adorable, and her smile made her more beautiful. We thanked her, and I decided to have a bath before going to the restaurant for our buffet lunch instead of ordering room service as it allows us to meet people and take food together instead of having food alone in the room.

 It was 2-30 pm local time when we reached the restaurant, which was nearly full. I took a Vodka, and my wife started with some soups. The food was delicious, and all kinds of foods were available, and especially for us Indians, there was no problem with the food. All the restaurant people have a smile on their faces and are always prepared to see if you need any help. It was a lovely time. We spent nearly an hour there before coming back to the room. The weather was very comfortable, and I kept the room temperature at 24 degrees in the central AC and decided to sleep and plan for tomorrow. The Itinerary we made in a way that we should relax more than running from one place to another as happened in a conducted tour. We made our stay a bit longer enough, and our main objective of the visit was to relax for a week before going back home to again get busy with our hectic schedule.

The next morning, we start our day early. Having a cup of tea in the room, I went to the pool to spend some time in the beautiful atmosphere. I returned to the room, my wife was ready, and I hurriedly took my bath, and we went to the ground floor restaurant for breakfast. The hotel boy came to me and informed me that our car had already been reported. The relaxing atmosphere of this open restaurant made us very happy. We got introduced to many families from the USA, Canada, European countries, China, and many people from India. Soon we checked out of the hotel, and our driver, Nishantha, put our luggage in his car. We started calling him Nishi, and he was pleased.

Nuwara Eliya is our destination today. We selected the road via Kandy from Colombo; Nuwara Eliya is well connected from Colombo either via Kandy or via Hatton; if traveling by road, Nishi told us, Both the roads are not in good condition to drive to Nuwara Eliya, but the Kandy road offers excellent scenic views. Nishi told us that we would go through Kandy, and it would take nearly 7-8 hrs, considering the time for Lunch and photography on the way. The distance from our Colombo hotel to Nuwara Eliya is almost 175 km. In Sri Lanka, this township is one of the most suitable and famous tea plantation sites and a hilly place with comfortable weather at this time of the year. As I am from Assam, we have enough experience of tea garden views, but we still want to see the place on a mountain slope. The road could have been better, and we had to go slowly. Nishi is giving us a complete description of the area, people, and their food habits. I told him to play some Singhalese fast music in his car music system, and he played some fast music which was very entertaining. The communication between these places is very good for Colombo. The city of Colombo is the nearest airport to Nuwara Eliya. One can reach the city by taking a flight to Colombo; the tourist can take a cab from there to the beautiful mountainous paradise. Nuwara Eliya is very well connected from Kandy and Hatton, and frequent bus services are available. Nishi told us that Hatton Road and Kandy for cars and vans are almost the same, but Kandy Road is steeper and more beautiful though it takes some more time. We told him to go whichever way was better, and we were enjoying the natural beauty. It was the month of January, and Colombo was quite comfortable, but as we approached our destination, we felt cold and took out our warm clothes.

Kandy is connected by bus or train journey and a beautiful hill station. The fare is quite nominal. It is around 115 km from Colombo.

Kandy is a major city in Srilanka’s central province. Nishi, Our driver cum guide, goes on explaining every small thing we are crossing, and it seems that he is a master of the subject. On asking, Nishi told us that he had been in this tourist business for a pretty long time, and said with a beautiful smile that he was working in the company when he was very young and continued working with the tourist bus operator carrying tourists and learned all this information from the guide who travel in that tourist bus, Soon he started driving a car in the same tourism company. Only last year purchased his car with a loan and is now independent and better off. He got his customer from the tourist agency, which took a commission from him. During this period, he heard the guide explaining to the tourist, and he learned about these areas. Kandy is in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau and was once the capital during the king’s era. There are several tea plantation areas here, and they have breathtaking views. Kandy, in the central province, is both an administrative and religious city.  

The original name of Kandy was Katu Bulu Nuwara, but the more popular historical name was Senkadagalapura. I asked our driver Nishi, several times the words so that I could keep the same name in my memory after reaching the hotel; I can keep those in writing. The name Kandy was most probably given by the English from the word interpreting the land on the mountain. The city is in a loop of the River Mahaweli, the largest & longest river on the island, and the climate changes, and we gradually feel comfortable coming out from the hot and humid climate of Colombo. This area is famous for its Tea gardens, rubber plantation, and paddy fields, a perfect site for our eyes. And Nishi goes on to talk about all those places; he speaks perfect English and describes things in such a way that becomes so interesting. This area also produces a lot of bananas, pineapples, mangoes, and other fruits, and going up the hill, we found cinnamon and nutmeg plantations also. Nishi told us that during the week, he would be with us till dropping us off at Colombo airport for the return journey; he would take us to a place where Cinnamon is planted in a big way and produce the Cinnamon ready for sale stage. We told him that we would definitely like to go there. Nishi and my wife went on talking, as there was no end to the question from my wife, and he answered all such things with a smiling face. I noticed sometimes he talks to someone when he does not know the answer and then tells us. We were too happy with him.

From Colombo, We first visited the glorious Kelaniya Royal Temple, which is around 10-15 km from Colombo. This place is of significant spiritual value to Buddhists, and the temple stands majestically on a higher plain of the west bank overlooking River Kelani (Kalyana) that flows right in front. There was calm and peacefulness in the entire place, no other sound than the chanting of the monks, most soothing to the ear. We make a round there and sit for some time and feel fresh. We passed through various places, and with advice from Nishi, we skipped most of the sites except, Pasgama tourist village, Miriswatta (Uruwala Temple, Henarathgoda Botanical Gardens), Kegalle, Pinnawala elephant orphanage Spice Gardens, The Millennium Elephant Foundation, Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens with River Mahaweli flowing right behind it. We took tea (red) wherever we got some shop as I need tea very frequently and 8carried a flask of tea. We did not go to the tea center as my state Assam is famous for tea, and we saw lots of tea gardens. We did not wait anywhere between Kandy and Nuwara Elia as it was already late, and since we would be staying one day more, we postponed those places for the next day.

 Because of our on-road activity, we reached the hotel late, after 7 o’clock, and I went for a hot bath and then went to the bar to have a peg of scotch. Next to me was a Spanish couple sitting with their drinks, and we went on gossiping after the introduction. Their English could have been more fluent, and a lot of the time, we were explaining things with our hands and facial movements. They are friends who have not yet decided to get married and live together. They told me that they usually, for a few months in the year, rent out their property, and with that money and from their savings, they roam around the world every year. We went on refilling our glasses, and by that time, my wife had also joined us and participated in our conversation. They also told me their intention of going to India from Sri Lanka, but they only knew about my state Assam if it is full of jungles and famous for rhinos. It took me some time to give a lecture on Assam and how beautiful it is. They were surprised and told me if they could manage, maybe in two or three days, they may come to Assam. They took my numbers and never called again. Maybe their plan for visiting Assam could not be materialized.

We planned our tour to reach Colombo on the west coast and then go south to the central province of Nuwara Eliya. From there, we are going towards the east coast to the south. 

TO BE CONTINUED

We came out of the factory about 2:30 PM after a whole day’s effort, putting all our knowledge and experience to rectify a fault in a machine, but all our efforts were in vain. The machine responded for some time and again the problem started. Me being the official expert engineer  from the manufacturers service […]

The Fateful Night

There are festivities everywhere as the Durga Puja was only a few weeks away. My colleagues were preparing to go on leave and some others were thinking about going to visit various tourist destinations. But I was stuck up in one of my serious problems with my department. I was selected for overseas training by a very reputed institute. However I need a No objection certificate from the department stating that my organization has no objection and my absence during the training will be treated as on duty without any traveling/daily allowance being paid. All traveling, accommodation, pocket expenses and food will be arranged by the organizer. My file was moving from one table to another table without any decision being taken. I was so frustrated and personally met those decision makers, all of them had promised prompt action but final approval was not coming. In the meantime, I received the air tickets and an invitation letter from his excellency, the President of the host country and I have practically very little time to apply for a visa. Without seeing any hope with holidays coming after 10 days or so, I went to my home to be with my family and forgot this whole affair as I lost all my hope to get the certificate.

I had a very close friend who had a reputable bookstore and I used to be in his shop whenever I was at home. He was one of my closest friends whom I lost a few years back. I was in his shop but he understood that I have some problem going on and I was looking very depressed. He arranged tea for the two and he asked me what the problem was. I told him the whole story and he was thinking something without saying a word. When I was done, he told me whether my bicycle is with me or not. I was surprised, instead of saying anything to console me he asked me for my bicycle. I told him Yes I have the same in good condition. He then told me to be ready with my bicycle in my house at 5-30 the next morning and he will meet me in my house by that time. He also told me to take a few leaves of Tulsi and some grains of rice with me. I asked him what was happening and what was in his mind. He did not tell me anything but I know he was a very serious person, a book worm who rarely opens up and only with close friends. I did not pursue him further and the next day, I was ready as advised by him. I have taken the Tulsi leaves and the some rice grains in a small paper. He told me that we are going to meet a very special person around 8-9 km from my house. We started immediately.

I asked him who the man was and why we were going there, he did not tell me anything except that the person is very special and I will make my own assessment after coming back from him. It was the month of October and winter has just started. I was not using my cycle for quite some time and after cycling for around 5  km, the rest of the journey was a narrow lane  through a paddy field for nearly 4 km. After that we reached a better road and nearly after 200 m there was a SHIV TEMPLE. My friend Gyan told me to wait outside. He went inside and found it was locked. We kept our bicycle there and as led by Gyan, we entered a house just nearby after crossing a big water tank (Pond). I saw a man coming crawling towards us in a special cycle with hand paddles. Both of his feets were amputated and his hands were also very thin and bent. It was a very difficult scene for me. Gyan must have been coming here several times and the man recognised him and smiled. He with our help, sat in the hand paddled cycle and reached the Temple and was given the key to open the Temple door. The temple was made of bamboo walls pasted with mud, with a thatched roof. The floor was earthen and at the center of the room there was a Shiv linga and this area is concreted. a earthen pot was hanging from the top with rope and was over the shivling and water felt drop by drop over the linga.  A lady came and broomed the floor and then cleaned with water. We were waiting outside and looking at what was happening. I was totally in deep thoughts about what was happening. Soon after I came to know she is a neighbor of the special person whose title was Gogoi.

Gogoi then went inside the temple and told us to wait. He was inside for more than half an hour and during this time I was totally engrossed in my thoughts and not even talked a single word with Gyan. After half an hour or so, the door opened and he called us inside. He was sitting in one corner over a mat on the earthen floor and some more mats were lying nearby. He told us to use those mats and sit in front of him. A sarai was in between us .

Gyan only introduced me as his friend and he smiled.

He also told him that I wanted to know about my future. 

I have no idea about astrology, palmistry sort of subjects as I never read about these and therefore was not interested about such things. It is not that I believed or not on these subjects but were not interested as I had no knowledge about these matters. Therefore, I never visited any astrologer or palmist. As I do not know the subject, I never felt it was a superstition and may have some scientific background. 

The belief that particular events happen in a way that can not be explained by reason or science at my level of knowledge. May be there is some scientific basis which I don’t know .

I was sitting in front of him and there was a sarai in the middle. He asked me if I brought some rice and Tulsi leaf with me from my home .

I told him yes.

He put one Tulsi leaf in my left hand and put some rice that I had carried from my house.

Then he took out the Tulsi leaf from my palm and told me to count the number of rice that was in my hand. 

He was wearing a rudraksha mala and started praying, taking the mala in his hand for a few minutes and I started counting the rice. Before I finished counting he wrote something in a piece of paper and kept the sarai in reverse position, so that I could not see. I finished counting and told him the number. I still remember it was 324. Then he gave me the sheet of paper where it was clearly written as 324. 

I was shocked and he was smiling.

Then he gave me a second sheet of paper, where some alphabets were written.

I asked him what it was. He asked me to go from left to right and whether the alphabet represents the first letter of the name of my family from oldest to the youngest. It was perfectly correct. 

Gyan told me later that, if the number and alphabetic of names are not correctly told by him, he will not tell anything further to the person and call him for some other day.

After that he goes on praying for sometime with the rudraksha mala on his forehead with his hand. 

After sometime he started talking without waiting for my reaction about my family, my job etc. Then suddenly he told me that on a particular date I am going out of the country to a quite far off place crossing the sea and will return on another date.

I was damn shocked as he had told me the exact date of my departure (I already got my tickets) but return date he told me was one day late. I was just looking at him in astonishment as he neither knew me nor my family and Gyan also simply introduced me as his friend. He also did not ask me anything about my family, job location, education etc.

After some more time with him, we came out. But on the way back, I was thinking about this man. It is neither astrology or any other science, I know about. But he was dot accurate except telling me that my return journey will be late by a day from the tickets I have.

Next day I went back to join in my duty and my friend, who was from the HR department, was frantically looking for me. I went to his room and to my utter surprise, he handed me the No objection certificate 5 days before my scheduled departure. The same day I came back to Guwahati and the next day went to Delhi for the Visa. With the presidential invite in hand, it was easy for me to get the Visa the same day but as the number of people applying for Visa in the Embassy was quite large, it was almost 5-30pm that I could get my visa.

Even after getting the Visa, I have faced a lot of problems from my organization till the last moment but finally, I was able to go on the same day Mr. Gogoi (The Surprised Man) predicted.

We completed our course successfully and nine persons from India participated along with similar teams from quite a large number of countries. This was a great learning experience and luckily, I did not miss it by grace of God. We really enjoyed every moment of it and after so many years, it is still a very fond memory to all of us participants who are still in contact with each other after internet helped us to do that .

After the completion of the program, the Indian team reached New York for our return journey to Delhi. We all boarded the flight and waited for the take off but there was a substantial delay. And at last moment, there was an announcement that due to a sudden strike by the Air India Pilots, the flight had to be canceled and we will be accommodated in different flights shortly.

During all these days, I forgot about Mr Gogoi who told me a month ago the journey dates and return date was one day later than the ticket I received then. I was not very serious about it. But the announcement took my mind to the prediction of Mr. Gogoi. I told my friends who were all from renowned organizations like IITs, Maharatna PSUs, NGOs, Film makers etc about the prediction and all were listening to me with great surprise. There was no scientific explanation about what I was conveying to my friends. I was accommodated in Lufthansa to Delhi via Frankfurt exactly as predicted by Mr. Gogoi. He was so accurate about my return being delayed by a day for and not as per my confirmed tickets I had. Till today, I do not know how he predicts the future so accurately without having any formal education or following some astrology-like system of predictions.

I came back and joined my duty. Soon I visited my native place and went to Mr. Gogoi. Like the first time, he predicted something which later proved to be 100 percent true.

As there were not many visitors to him that day, I was asking how he was able to make such accurate predictions.

He then started a long story. In short he told me that he was a well to do person and had sufficient earnings from agriculture though he had problems due to polio. But due to some accident he lost both his feet which were ampulated below the knee and it became impossible for him to carry on his agricultural activities. Survival was a problem for him and his wife and a boy child they have adopted. During this period a sadhu (saint) visited his place who stated to be  roaming around the country for six months and living on the food and shelter given by the villagers and balance six months in a cave in himalayas doing tapashya. When he saw the condition of Gogoi and his family, he stayed in his house doing tapashya  for 6-7 days and at night he took Gogoi near to a big banyan tree where later Gogoi built his temple and whole night. He prayed for 4 nights continuously. Before he left, one midnight he called Gogoi and put his hand on Gogoi’s head and told him that he had given some power to Gogoi. Gogoi realized immediately and as advised by the sadhu, he built a small temporary temple below the big banyan tree . For the last ten years or so, he has been practicing the same and he does not take any money from anybody. whoever wants to donate anything they can keep the same in a box placed near the shivling. The villagers have helped him to make the temple and and the visitors give him rice, fruits, money etc of their own and those who can not give anything, offered a betel nut with betel leaf which is a symbol of honor in the society. I asked him whether he is teaching these knowledge to someone, he told that he was told by the sadhu that he will be able to know when he is going to die and than only to pass on his power to someone who is needy to avoid misuse of power.

I told these to my friends and colleagues who also visited him and found him to be accurate.

I used to visit him several times and he told me so many things which came out to be true.

Once my elder sister, who lives in another city visited us. I told her the story of Gogoi and she wanted to meet him . I took her to his place. He told her a date and told her to be careful on that date which may be the last date of her mother in law who was otherwise healthy. My sister did not take it seriously. But I believed him. So on that particular date, I started to my sisters house which was about 6 hours journey only to find her mother in law expired early in the morning of that day because of a heart attack.

Mr Gogoi died a few years back. Till today, I do not know what is this super power Gogoi was having. Whether any scientific explanation is possible or not. But, I personally observed this power of prediction firsthand and hence have no other alternative but to believe this as some super natural power.

The definition of superstition as per dictionary is, the belief that particular events happen in a way that can not be explained by reason or science. So whether it is a supersition or our ignorance about so many phenomena is to be left to the readers.

Rajat     04/5/23

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We were around ten eleven people growing up together almost of the same age in our locality and always together. Getting ready for school quite early and shouting at each other from the front of their houses in full blast and another one came running from their house even though the uniform buttons were tied in the road . Reached school just before time as a lot of activities on the road were carried out and some days were punished with kneeling down in front of the class for reaching school late before the prayer . During going to school we discussed our evening plan we the friends  boys and  girls and our fertile brain comes out  with all kind of ideas to celebrate our evenings .Someone will come out with some information, like in which house in the neighborhood, what fruits etc. are available and we take quite long time in reaching home after school is closed and get busy in all our adventure on the road.  Grape Fruit (‘Robab Tenga’) was used by us including the girls in our group for playing football .Girls were generally goalkeepers. If not available , we are very busy with some kind of other games. After reaching home from school , immediately have our food as fast as possible and run to meet our friends . By the time we reached back home, it became nearly dark and our dress became full of dirt . Getting scolding was routine . After all these , when we reached our study table , we felt too tired and sleepy and were waiting for our dinner  and gulping  whatever was on the  table . Naughtiness is a part of those  days which when we recollect now , gives us enough enjoyment and those scenes are coming vividly in our front . We play in the open  when we enjoy ourselves with new inventions in our games ,there is no shortage of ideas. Discuss and carry out   all mischievous activities  and come to our house sometime late, frightened  to get the scolding of our parents .I still remember such happy days and those childhood friends are still getting crazy to meet each other when they get an opportunity   .

 As we grow , friends are gradually changing and our ideas of our spending times change with new brilliant ideas . The participation of the girls were coming down , and as our studies keeping us busy , we get less time to spent with our friends .But when we get time one is running to others house , to spent some beautiful time and our parents also consider all of us as their child and whatever best was prepared in the family was shared with all our friends .The seniors of the locality , considered us as part of their family too and take care of us by a beautiful smile and a hug or scolding when necessary . That time though we feel bad , but as we grow up we understand their love for us and regard them . With the Changing of society ,the people are getting busier and busier and the competition to get a seat in all educational institute , taking away the childhood friends gradually away from each other , no one has time . Competitions everywhere make all of us mechanical and if a child has some spare time,  get busy with computer games or glued to the Tv thereby physical activities are coming down except for very few . Childhood friends are now gradually becoming a thing of the past to a certain extent specially in the urban areas .World is changing too fast and competitions are so hard that the younger generation of people hardly manage time like us in the earlier days. However, people can not survive without friends , because all need to discuss their ideas, personal matters with their friends and gossip which is a gift to the mental health of any person.There is always a need of a support system in place beyond the family with whom one can share their personal matters and have confidence with . So, new ideas of forming friendships are gradually coming into existence and people are happy using such technological facilities making new friends to share some quality time with them even if only a few of them met each other physically.

Good morning

Thank you for accepting my request

From the other side a thumbs up.

Gradually the conversation started , from hello , hi to longer sentences .With the increase in frequency of messaging . Without knowing each other, people are getting closer and closer spending hours with new found friends through the internet .  Everything in this world has some plus and some minuses, luckily, the numbers of pluses outweigh the minuses and social media like facebook and messenger are growing everyday . Everyday some friend requests were received or sent  and on acceptances , messengers started working with the newly found friend .However , some miscreants also sometime become friends who have to be deleted sooner or later. It is a totally different world and several groups of people got busy in this new world for different reasons . Lot of people are also using these social media for other than friendship purposes and a lot of people have become victims of trusting their new found friend.

The younger generation of people normally get engaged with their video games and also make friends for sharing their ideas and also getting advice from people of their interest as a friend . The introverts are more engaged for new realisation of the ease of communicating with the opposite sex without being met them face to face . Sometimes those lead to happy friendships later and sometimes have some very opposite kinds of realisations

Sometimes the conversations are very constructive and helpful to know the world and get a lot of information, if correct contacts are made .

The older generation , also getting very much involved and these activities are a very good way to spend their time as nowadays most of the nuclear families have their children out for studies or job and the old couple are left alone . In FB they found a very useful tool to spend time with all generations of the people and sometimes they can guide the youth with their long experiences of life and have gather ideas about the change in thinking of the new generations , but they are also become sometime victim of some scrupulous elements because they are new to this world of Information technologies  and new  tools and apps  are being used to lure them.

Another group of people who found this a very good platform and getting involved in this media are housewives who are not in any job and after sending her kids to school and husband leave for work , remain idle and passing time is becoming very boring . These media give them some company and friends and lot of new talents are coming out who never wrote a line earlier are publishing their poem and other writing skills .They also like people appreciate their work or photograph in different occasions  and therefore uploading them and communicate with their friends all about themselves whether going for some tour or some performances of them or their family . In seconds like or response started coming and it is a pleasure to read the beautiful comments of their new friends as no one normally writes the actual comments . Both will be happy . Then starts the process of sending reply likes and time passes very nicely .

This really a very different world being created and a gift to the human kind .However some people, even after becoming friends , never communicate and only enjoy the messages without any reactions . That may also be fun for them.

I also started spending some time in these media to refresh myself without being seriously involved but gradually  became addicted to these social media and tried to make friends with all age/gender groups after getting retired from services. I started making friends with all age groups and professions knowing fully well that hardly , I have any real friendship growing with most of them and only very few are becoming friends and we enjoy passionate time with those very few . For others , it is a routine hello/ hi and some like and beautiful comments on either’s writing sometimes even without understanding what actually he/ she wants to convey . But as a friend immediately liked that with a beautiful comment .So both feel good . If I take a photograph which is  uploaded and some friends write very nicely , Definitely it brings a smile to our face.So I started to study how the people react in these media and it gives me enough pleasure . One  more important media like whatsapp , new social groups were now created and people who were not in contact with their once close friends for long are now again getting connected through these social groups and getting together is becoming amongst them very frequent . Professionally also it helps in knowledge sharing and sometimes quick communication for management decision making with online discussions .A great thing our generation people have hardly thought about . Days of physically meeting and playing with friends are almost over , as no one has time . Both parents are working , school started early and kids are travelling long distances to and from school by bus or private transport and tuition starts after they come back home which most of the parents feel is necessary (unlike during our days) and till their  parents come back either they are alone or busy with video game or TV or may be with some caretakers. Days of Physical friendship are now limited to the school time only. 

TO BE CONTINUED

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