Category Archives: Dehradun- Views from the valley

Dehradun- Views from the valley, Wellness

Forever young – The brotherhood of the big field

October 9, 2014 Dinkrit Sethi Leave a comment

The child in you never dies. The memories and nostalgia from your younger days last you a life time. Some manage to stay forever young, while others only depend on memories. But everyone gets excited when they are presented with an opportunity to revisit their childhoods. Reliving the playfulness of yester year is too powerful an enticement for anyone to forego. As a part of you wants to be forever young.

So whenever you have a function in school, a party with old friends you haven’t been in touch with, a sports reunion or simply a rendezvous with with a fellow alumnus, you tend to get excited. These gatherings represent opportunity for you to take back the clock to those golden old days when your life was independent of worldly worries, your minds unhindered by material gains and your heart as pure as they can be.

Schools lay the perfect foundation for unconditional comradeship, a feeling hard to replicate as the years go by. This is why a reel from those memorable years starts playing in our minds, as soon as we sit and reminisce. While every aspect of school life nurtures comradeship, none more so than the sporting activities organised by the school.

The brotherhood of the Big Field

The bonds which were built on the sports field, where energies combined for a common goal, where you pushed each other to your absolute best, where the spirit of brotherhood out weighed all materialistic wants, where bruises symbolized the medals of war, were unparalleled.

When you look back even the dropped catches, lost matches, bunked classes, misplaced passes, front rolls, own goals, in-game fights, sleepless anticipatory nights, appear pleasurable. These along with the match winning shots, gripping plots, comeback wins, top spins, splendid smash, talking trash, dribbling skills, endless drills, surpassing limitations, coach imitations,backhand winners, celebratory dinners, all make up for an exhilarating experience to savor for the rest of your lives.

And if you are lucky enough to find an opportunity to relive those moments again, you will most definitely put your best foot forward and shoot to score.

Old in mind young in spirit

Although you grow up and change after the magical years spent at school, somewhere inside you is the child who wishes to go back to those fond memories. This youthful spirit persists in all of you, in-spite of all your attempts to subdue it and it rekindles as soon as you see your old arena.

Whenever you find an opportunity to meet old friends or replay those fond memories, you should make full use of it. Although, time takes everyone on their own path, and people don’t get much time to communicate, but bonds made at school don’t take too much time to rekindle. Reliving those years not only gives you a much needed break from the hectic pace of normal life, but helps you see the journey you and your friends made from the same classrooms, fields and courts.

Though a few faces around you might change, what connects you is the feeling of having competed on the same fields wearing the same jerseys.

When you go for such a reunion you also come across others who are connected with the same feelings, this provides a perfect setting for reliving the cherished moments once again. Although the faces around you change, yet what connects all of you is love for the game and love for your field.

The mind and body might get older by the day, but when you set foot in the arena where you used to perform in your prime, you are recharged with a youthful energy. You might not be able to be forever young, but this exuberant energy puts a spring in your step and smile on your face.

Have a Good Day.

Dehradun- Views from the valley, Wellness

Weekend wandering- Listening to nature speak

September 22, 2014 Dinkrit Sethi Leave a comment

The trickling streams of an untouched mountain tell you stories beyond the realms of audibility. These stories defy logic and fill your hearts with gratitude, not allowing your mind to resist.

The roads less traveled always hold a mesmerism to themselves. The anticipation for nature to unfold something new from its box of infinite wilderness has an allurement which dwarfs most other attractions. As your cup of awe overflows on such exploratory excursions, you are confused whether to tell others about this magnificent mysticism or let nature be in its natural form.

I happened to spend the Sunday,seeking some respite in the comforts of the most captivating landscapes the lower Himalayas have to offer. As we went higher, it appeared as I was transcending a new plane of understanding. Till a point when nature itself started to speak. Or rather I could hear it as I got a hold of the super frequency of the cosmos.

Here are some things I heard nature speak:

1. Contribute, don’t be too full of yourself– The center of the universe for most of you lies within the confinement of your physiological self. At the base of these colossal mountains, with river beds wider than the eye could see, I realized we are nothing but the trickles of water coming from different sides of the mountain. We might have our own paths down the mountain, but all of us contribute to the same big river. Thus, the center of the universe is not within us because the universe is capable of going on without us. We can just contribute to it in our own little ways.

Nature9 — The universal river bed we all trickle into

2. Flow,there is a way around everything– The streams gently trickled along their own path. Dodging huge boulders, avoiding fallen trees, making a path of its own. Though it might be capable of taking everything with it in all its fury but it avoids this situation till extremities arise. Hearing a gentle stream trickle down an untouched mountain soothens the soul and renders a calming effect on your identities. It shows the easy by which one can avoid all conflicts by just flowing.

3. Focus, the task at hand is paramount– As I went further up the mountains, my primordial teachers divulged more knowledge. A cloud cover engulfed the entire valley. Initially I was a little irritated as it obstructed the beautiful view. Then the relevance of the task at hand dawned upon me. Instead of being distracted you should focus on inhabiting the moment. If you are too busy enjoying the view, you overlook the task at hand. Temporary satisfaction might help you float but it wont keep your boat up for too long.

Sooner or later, your lack of focus would prevent you from reaching the very peak, where the actual treasure or satisfaction lies. So do take a break and enjoy where you have reached, but don’t lose focus, because the real prize always lies ahead. Don’t be disheartened by the clouds which hide the view(problems which camouflage happiness), just keep going because at the peak lies the real prize.

4. Be friendly, nature does respond– All natural calamities are a response not an action. Greed conquers us all. We build dams, pollute sea and land, blast mountains for lime, hunt animals and as a result we see delayed responses from the universe. We initiate the imbalance and then blame someone else for it. If you go into the wild with an open mind and a considerate heart, it will always respond positively, and spell bind you with its awesomeness.

I happened to be fortunate to meet “Bissu” (Biss means 20 in hindi, it was named Bissu because of its 20 nails, considered as a local mark of a well bred dog) an Indian mastiff who took up the responsibility of our body guard/guide. A cosmic body guard is one for the MARVELS, but it is what it is.

5. Appreciating the insignificant makes us enormous– Nature instills in you a stillness to acknowledge its beauty and be grateful for the little things. These things often go unnoticed when you are busy occupying your office space or other portions of the cemented cosmos. You as big as you can notice. Trivial tasks can be learnt by repetition, but it takes a lot to go out of the way and notice the apparently insignificant things and gestures. But these minute things are the ones which actually make you stand out of the crowd.

Natures ability to make you open our eyes to the tiny things keeps you in good stead in your daily lives. You notice and deduce more from the same scenario keeping you ahead of common though patterns and mundane perceptions.

6. Breathe, you will be inspired– True inspiration lies in absolute solitude. My rendition of solitude is, in oneness with the self and nature. With no other mind to hinder your thought process, you will be inspired to achieve beyond you think you can. Embracing nature in its purest form guides you in ways you cant even imagine. All you need to do is to leave your stress at the base of the mountain, and let the roads take you higher, both in body and thought.

You are grander than you can imagine

Although you are dwarfed by the infinity of the cosmos, yet the fact that you are a small part of something so huge is awe inspiring. If you embrace this feeling and strive to stay in unison with the elements, you will be empowered and energized to face anything that life brings your way.

You would not only be a spec in the vastness but a spec capable of making a difference. Share knowledge, inspire who you can, help the needy, respect what supports you.

Have a Good Day.

Dehradun- Views from the valley

A rainy day…

August 11, 2014 Dinkrit Sethi 1 Comment

The blanket of clouds transfigure the sky into a fluffy white, trickling streams echo through the valley with no intentions to spite.

A breath of the freshest air you ever breathed, while seeing the pastures submitting to the heavenly siege.

The first sip of tea makes your heart glow, the grass appears greener than before.

The low clouds elevate the birds into a festive mood, the ones nestled in the sheltered boughs, a happy brood.

If ever you could pause a moment and save it in time, in this moment you would find Gods magnificence defined.

For the slaves unrelenting Autumn is upon us, for us, the less privileged, something awesome is upon us.

Rain coats, Umbrellas, gum boots as our shining Armour, we head out to savor mother earth, no intentions to harm her.

While dodging puddles we hop in coherence with the frogs, the rainbow in the backdrop of the dancing peacock indicates the limitlessness of the beauty we can applaud.

While acquaintances make plans to meet when the weather clears, we look around to see friends, who are actually near.

It is easier to find your way when the sun is shining, true friends are the ones who are willing to walk with you into oblivion when the mist is blinding.

While the racing rats are too busy trying to fill their coffers, only a few see through the moment and harvest all that it has to offer.

Perception deciphers reality and connects things in a funny way….at the end….Es war nur ein Regentag, C’était seulement un jour de pluie….It was just a rainy day……

Closure

As humanity blinds itself to the magnificence of simplicity, there is bound to be a backlash of emotional instability. Your social media influenced minds can find peace if you learn to sit still and admire simple things, instead of trying to capture each moment and wanting appreciation for it. Relieve yourself from the pressures of constantly trying to prove a point to someone else, there are too many who will never admire your beauty,irrespective of how great you might think you are. Focusing on simpler things has become more worthwhile than ever.

Let go of your data connection for a while. Call an old family member, go meet a friend, smile at a stranger, help someone in need, spend time with your dog, learn to admire the abundance of this cosmos, you will sleep happier.

Dehradun- Views from the valley

The Winter Line- A secret natural spectacle

January 13, 2014 Dinkrit Sethi 1 Comment

Natures soul enriching magnificence never fails to overwhelm the ones who embrace their organic surroundings. At times, unaware of the splendor that surrounds us, we give nature a chance to dazzle us with its infinite hidden secrets. The winter line is one such secret.

I happen to have come across the winter line by accident. On a typical Sunday exploratory session, I sound myself at a remote spot neighboring the queen of the lower Himalayas Mussoorie. Mussoorie is aesthetically pristine by itself but not many know about this rare natural marvel. the winter line.

What is the winter line?

From mid-October till January, with the setting sun, the western horizon is replete with myriad shades of yellow, red, orange and mauve. This is known as the winter line. The phenomenon is unique to Mussoorie and a certain place in Switzerland only …The sun drops behind what is essentially a false horizon, a grey and mauve coloured strip, and there is a bright line of yellow and orange colours at the upper end of this strip. The colours are so spectacular that onlookers are left spellbound till the sun finally sets.

Sometimes we are so occupied with the unnecessary that we become oblivious to the obvious. The world boasts of a multitude of such phenomenons waiting to be unearthed.But instead of finding solace in our surroundings, we are bound to wander aimlessly. Marvelous people and places are all around us, but we ignore these for distant alternatives.

Nature, being the best teacher has a lesson in every revelation. The subtle subliminal hints can be decrypted by those in harmony with the flow of the universe.

We are surrounded by gems of both natural and mortal kind,

Camouflaged by our ignorance, we miss out on these gifts divine.

Superficial knowledge is rendering the world blind,

Disdainful towards what makes itself available, we chase the strange sublime.

If we open the windows of our minds we will realize, the universe is grander than it meets the eye,

Everyone has some magic inside, and yes there are diamonds in the sky.

Dehradun- Views from the valley, Fitness

Himalayan highs-The healthy habit of hiking

January 4, 2014 Dinkrit Sethi 1 Comment

Doorways to the next dimension

Its hard to express the unparalleled euphoria of exploring a pristine dimension to unearth the ultimate sanctum in words. Although it has no door but the doorway into the infinite abyss of uncertainties can only be unlocked by a key of guts and passed by a spirit full of adventure.

Anyone dwelling in a valley would testify that the surrounding mountains allure you sooner than later. Dehradun is one such valley, ideally located at the lower Himalayas. The 10-25 km trails to surrounding peaks are a perfect platform for novice hikers.

Hiking or simply running up a mountain (without spraining your ankle or bruising your knee) is one of the best cardiovascular exercises. Moving up a mountain is an absolute physical and mental workout, specifically challenging the pillars of your frame( your lower body) and the resilience of ure brain. It also makes your lungs suck in more oxygen and your heart pump more blood, thus making both these vital organs function more efficiently.
Anyone looking to overcome health concerns this new year, can take up hiking. Although the health benefits are only a bit part of the overall package that hiking offers. The interaction with nature, typical to the specific terrain, infuses calmness and serenity to the hikers paradigm. Simple things teach you much more than elaborate researches and Byzantine texts.

Hiking up a mountain can be quite debilitating by itself. But it will test the resolve of the toughest men if it follows their lower body workout day. My spirit for adventure overruled my lower body’s plea for recovery when an acquaintance made a spontaneous plan to backpack up the 18 km long path to Mussoorie, the queen of the Himalayan hill stations.

What to carry in your backpack?

I have made around 6 backpacking trips to Mussoorie and each time the backpack has gotten a little heavier. Our latest journey was much more organised as compared to the first one. So for anyone starting off with hiking here is what you can carry for your short trips:

1. Water Bottles- The elixir of life is the ultimate essentiality,.

2. Something to Eat- Carrots, Bananas, Chocolates, Chick peas and protein.

3. Army knife- Just in case.

4. Camera- So that you can share better photos than I am.

5. Footwear- How can I forget footwear, I slipped so much the first time. Footwear with good gripping is a must.

These might not include everything but they are definitely enough for simpler terrains.

You might get tired and want to turn around and go home where all the comforts of the world await, but then the feeling of reaching the peak,even of a hillock, cannot be mirrored by any luxury that your house beholds.

THE URBAN YOGI