चाकोरी

सहज गुणगुणताना गाणं मुखी आलं : नित्यानंद स्वरूपी सम दृष्टी सर्वांसाठी, दोषमुक्त आदिशक्ती माउली मुक्ताई. मागे दूरदर्शन वर मुक्ताई नामक मालिका असायची त्याचं हे द्योत-गीत. विचारांची मालिका ह्या गाण्यावरून सुरु झाली. मनात दुसरं गाणं आलं, "ज्ञानदेव बाळ माझा, सांगे गीता भगवंता". वाटलं त्या काळी कोणी चाकोरीबाहेर वागलं तर त्यालाच काय त्याच्या निष्पाप मुलांना देखील वाळीत टाकलं जायचं. आज तरी काळ कुठे बदलला आहे?

मागे facebook वरचे काही प्रसंग, केजरीवालांना डोक्यावर धरायचे दिवस होते तेव्हा सगळे जणू केजारीवालचे PR machines होते. मग त्यांनी राजीनामा दिला आणि त्यांच्यावरची जनतेची छत्रछायाच उडाली. मग पप्पू ची खिल्ली उडवायचे सुदिन आले, आणि चुकून एखादं काँग्रेस च सत्कृत्य कोणी चारचौघात उच्चारलं तर त्याची facebook वर अगदी टर उडवली जात असे. काही दिवस होत नाहीत तोच काही देशात इतरत्र राहणाऱ्या ईशान्य भागातल्या भारतीयांचा जीव ते बाकी भारतीयांसारखे दिसत नाहीत म्हणून लोकांनी मेटाकुटीस आणला. एवढं कमी होतं की काय म्हणून माझ्या सुधारकांच्या महाराष्ट्र राज्यात भर दिवसा नरेंद्र दाभोलकरांची हत्या होते. का तर म्हणे अंधश्रद्धेला हात घातला तर लोकांची श्रद्धा डळमळीत होते.

संगणक घरोघरी पोचल्यापासून लोकांना virtual  bullying करायला आयतं साधन मिळालंय. आता कोणी एखादी अप्रिय comment केली तर हमखास एक तरी comment "आधी नीट इंग्रजी लिहायला शिक मग इथे बोल" या आशयाची असते. कोणाला जर इंग्रजी येत नसेल तर काय मत व्यक्त करायची त्याची लायकी नाहीये?

"People unlike us" ना कमी लेखायचं आपण अगदी बालवयापासूनच शिकलोय. मी अहमदनगर हून पुण्यात आले, तेव्हा शाळेतली बाकी मुलं KG पासून एकत्र होती आणि त्यांच्यासाठी मी "outsider" होते. काही वर्षांनी माऊ शाळेत नव्याने आली तेव्हा तिला आमच्यापेक्षा जास्त चांगलं संस्कृत येतं एवढ्या एका कारणानी तिला ओळखतही नसताना तिच्यावर आगाऊपणा च label लावणाऱ्यात मी देखील होते. शाळेत माझ्यानंतर एक वर्षाने, आणि माऊआधी एक वर्ष आलेल्या दुसऱ्या मुलीने आमचं parochial वागणं आम्हाला दाखवून दिलं तेव्हा कुठे आम्ही काहीतरी चुकीचं वागतोय हे तरी आमच्या लक्षात आलं. नशीबाने  स्वतःची चूक समजण्याइतके समजूतदार होतो म्हणून आज माऊ माझी जिवाभावाची सखी आहे.

Weird for you might be regular for someone else. लहानपणी रात्रीच्या जेवणात भात अगदी गरमागरम, नुकताच शिजवलेला असायचा. इतका गरम की बोटांना चटके बसायचे आणि चमच्यानी खाण्याची घरी तऱ्हा नव्हती.  तेव्हा मी स्वत:पुरतं solution म्हणून पोळीच्या तुकड्याने भात कालावायचे आणि मग तो पोळी-तुकडा  भातासोबतच खायचे. घरी कोणी पाहुणा आला की माझा तर उद्धार व्हायचाच पण आईचा पण व्हायचा. त्या सर्व लोकांना खास burrito खाऊ घालायची माझी जाम इच्छा आहे. (ज्यांना माहित नाही त्यांच्यासाठी: burrito हा mexican खाद्यपदार्थ आहे, ज्यात पोळी च्या गुंडाळीत भात, वाटणे आणि भाज्या भरलेल्या असतात)
पण मी कितीही प्रेमाने त्यांना burrito दिला तरी त्यांनी खायला पाहिजे न!! We are highly resistant to change! मागे मैत्रिण तिच्या घरच्यांसोबत conducted tour ला US ला आली होती, तिथे अख्ख्या trip भर ते लोक फक्त भारतीय खानावळीत जेवत होते! USA ला melting pot म्हणायचं मात्र तरी vietnamese वेगळ्या enclave मध्ये राहणार तर chinese त्यांच्या chinatown मध्ये.

बरं फक्त चार चौघांसारखं असणं एवढा एकच निकष असता तर रंग उजळवणाऱ्या लेपांचा धंदा भारतात इतका तुफान का चालतो? यात पुन्हा छुप्या bullying चा दर्प येतो. आपल्यावर राज्य करणाऱ्याचा रंग काळा असता तर कदाचित आज आपल्याकडे तोंड काळं करणाऱ्या लेपांची चलती असती. मी जसा पोळी भात खाल्ला तसा कोणी ताज च्या chef ने नवा पदार्थ म्हणून काढला असता तर माझ्या समस्त नातेवाईकांनी त्याचं "पूर्णान्न" म्हणून कौतुक केलं असतं.

On death and dying

A Jain friend of mine posted on facebook about his grandfather choosing death after a fulfilling life through Santhara, aka religious fasting unto death. I was quite surprised reading his post because India considers suicide as a cognizible offense. However, from the friend's post it seemed like by undertaking Santhara, his grandfather was regarded as a saint, the Santhara a public event and there were relatives posting about the Santhara in the terms of "darshan ka labh leve".

My colleague lost his young niece to cancer 3 years ago. He participated in a fundraising run, the proceeds of which go towards research to find a cure for neuroblastoma (the type of cancer his niece died of). I recently read a blog by the niece's mom, which detailed all the rounds of chemotherapy the little child had to undergo, till finally it was time to let go.

Another colleague had to put down his dog. She developed a tumour which caused internal hemorrhage. Their options were surgery and letting her go. They chose the latter because greyhounds have very low body fat to be anesthetized. My colleague said that the dog had a good life, she only had 2 hours of suffering in her 13 years of life.

Humans are supposed to be rational beings. Secretly everyone hopes for a quick, painfree death with little burden on their caregivers. Why do we have such a hard time in delinking hope and suffering?  Atul Gawande says that most healthcare goes to terminal patients, and that too in last two months of their lives when the medicines are of little help. A vet has no qualms about suggesting that a beloved dog be put down, then why are doctors so sure about their ability to play God?

Then there was this Amish girl, whose parents decided to stop chemotherapy, so that they can make her death as painfree as possible. The hospital and the courts found this incomprehensible and are prosecuting the family. The family argues that there was a high chance of the cancer relapsing. Of course this is a decision that a doctor can take the best, but one often finds that the doctors are not upfront about all the pros and cons and treatment options.

Conversely, I read another blog, this time by an adult dying of cancer. He was a Professor of Psychology, and he chose when and how to schedule the chemotherapy which would leave him fatigued,  so that he could take time off with his wife, and live his remaining life to the fullest. He very clearly differentiates quality of life Vs quantity of life. His choice was quality, but his doctors or family wanted to prolong the quantity. Just because he was an adult, and how to end his life was his own decision; his dying wish was considered valid enough that he was not hounded by the judiciary.But the law gets murky when the patient is not a legal adult, or is senile, or is in a vegetative state. An excellent plot about a patient who wants to let go but her mom isn't allowing her to , Proceedings of appeal on behalf of Aruna Shanbaug

In the case of my friend's grandfather, the days leading upto death was a celebration of his joyous life, and his passing considered spiritual and peaceful. Death is supreme and inevitable, and its high time judiciaries, doctors, patients and their family stop fearing it. Afterall to a well organized mind, death is but the next adventure.

Fall colours trip

Pre-script: I took 8GB worth of photos (basically filled up iphone's memory card) in this trip. You have been warned about the length of this plog.

Though India has an Autumn season, I haven't seen leaves turning red during my stay in India. During my last Fall colours trip to Colorado, PB raved about Vermont Fall colours, he advertised that even the grass turns red in Vermont. So this fall, when I had to choose between Colorado, Blue Ridge Parkway or New England, I chose New England. A week was spent in mad planning about what hikes to go to, what routes to take etc. The earlier plan was to do a roundtrip from Boston. A friend from FC, AL studies in Penn State and said while Boston is too far for her to join, she can join me in the NYC area. Thankfully my ticket was via NYC and I decided to ditch the NYC to Boston part of the ticket and rent the car from NYC instead.

Day1: I Love NYwebsite predicted peak fall colours in Catskills and Delaware water gap area. AL and I decided that we will hike in Hudson Valley area, and then I can proceed to Catskills, and she can catch the metro back to NYC. I chose Bear Mountain area, and Anthony's nose hike based upon Bing's cover photo of Fall colours seen from Bear Mountain. AL had prints of the directions to the trailhead and description of the hike, both of which were very useful. She also had thoughtfully packed sandwiches from home.

Bear Mountain and Hudson River as seen from Anthony's Nose trail

Bridge on Hudson River at Beacon, NY

First hint of Fall colours after crossing Hudson River

I carried on alongside the Hudson till Beacon, crossed over the Beacon bridge to join the freeway to go to Catskills. The plan was to take the ski ride at Hunterr Mountain, see the Kaaterskill falls and proceed to Albany. But it was already sunset by the time I reached near the Katskills. Except for the extreme traffic in NYC and a minor fall over a smooth rock at Kaaterskills the day went hitch-free.
I met an elderly couple from Long Island while I was walking from the Kaaterskills parking to the falls. They thought I was going to hike up the falls and they basically freaked out because it was well past sunset. They waited at the parking till I came back to make sure I was safe. Kudos guys (I should have noted your names but I forgot them :( )

Day2: Somewhere in Troy, NY

Road through Green Mountain National Forest, VT

had to stop to photograph this beauty

The dogs at the farmhouse near this sign were extremely agitated as I stepped out to click the pic. I guess roadtrips are so common in the US that no one stops to click pic of entering a new state anymore!!

Bennington Battle monument

View from the top of the battle monument

Covered bridges are a speciality of Vermont, a bridge very close to the Bennington Battle monument

One of the points on Mount equinox road

Panorama from Mount Equinox summit

Getting little better at taking panorama

A private house on Mount Equinox road

The road behind the private house

near Londonderry, VT

A ranch near Londonderry, VT

By now I am getting addicted of clicking a white house surrounded by Fall foliage

A mill operating on visitor donations

Day2: Overpriced side trip to Mount Equinox. The road was very steep, wonder how driving in Spiti would be like!! A ski lift at Londonderry which I didnt stop at. The famed Vermont route 100. Another side trip to another ski area which appeared closed. Post sunset meandering over super windy roads. Scary but I survived!! Too tired for Day 3, might need a vacation from this vacation.

Day3: Tired, but excited to see the Kancamagus highway. Stop1 at Franconia State park, and ride to the top in aerial tram. Resplendent fall colors at Flume Gorge parking, but by that time I was running late and had to skip the Gorge. Driving from Lincoln NH to Conway NH on the Kancamagus highway. Mapquest takes me through another scenic road to get to jam packed I95. My approximate map.

I was nearly regretting driving all the way to Franconia when I saw this, and this considerably brightened my mood

Another mill on the river

The aforementioned stream

The 2 mountains between which the Franconia notch exists

The view from the aerial tramway

The mountains awashed in colors and the freeway I-93

Panorama from Cannon Mt

The aerial tram atop Cannon Mt

The Basin, Franconia Notch State Park

Parking lot for Flume Gorge

Parking lot for Flume Gorge 2

On the short trail to the bridge

Playing music to the winds

Sabbaday falls picnic area

A piece of paradise on route 153

Post script/ Observations/ Conclusions: The fall colors photos you see on the internet are most likely photoshopped. Or people just take photo of leaves from one brightly coloured tree. Colours pop out more when there's sun shining bright and clear. One more thing off the bucket list.