NAMASTE

I found this photo on Facebook Dalit Freedom Network USA

I have found the Indian people to be very open and friendly.  When we go for a walk we are always greeted by a head nod or Namaste greeting.  In Sanskrit the word is namah + te = namaste which means “I bow to you”.  Namaste also has a spiritual significance.  It recognizes the belief that the Divinity in me is the same in all of us.  Acknowledging this oneness with the meeting  palms, we honor the God Presence in the person we meet.  I am privileged to live in a country where spirituality is honored.  I was missing that when I lived in America.  Namaste.

SAINIK SCHOOL GHORAKHAL, NAINITAL, UTTARAKHAND

Last week Ram and I were invited to attend the Annual Exhibition and Cultural Function event at Sainik School in Ghorakhal.  The Sainik School System was established in 1962 by The Defense Minister of India to improve the class and regional imbalance of officers in the Indian Military. This school is a residential school for boys, grades six to twelve and is one of twenty four schools throughout India.  This school prepares students for the All India Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (Class XII) as well as the UPSC Examination for admission to the National Defense Academy, Khadakwasla.

Classes are taught in English. The curriculum includes Math, Science, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, English, Art, History, Computer Science and Geography.  Physical fitness and overall development is one of the main goals of the school. A variety of sports are played throughout the year including hockey, football, cricket, badminton, volleyball, basketball, lawn tennis, athletics and gymnastics. A new indoor swimming pool has just been completed.  Extracurricular activities include Gardening, Photography, Art, Radio and Debating in English and Hindi.

The Principal, Headmaster and Registrar are serving officers of the armed forces.  The staff lives on campus.  Children of the teaching staff including females are also able to attend this school.  However they must reside with their parents in the housing for teachers.  

I was privileged to meet the students and view their exhibits.  I found the students to be very articulate and knowledgeable.  I was also treated to a talent and cultural show put on by the students. It is obvious that these students are receiving an excellent education.

SAINIK SCHOOL GHORAKHAL

ASSEMBLY BEFOR PRESENTATION OF EXHIBITS

GREETING  VISITING MILITATY DIGNITARIES

ART EXHIBIT

 MODLE OF SAINIK SCHOOL CAMPUS

PULMONARY FUNCTION DEMONSTRATION

BLOOD TYPING

CHEMICAL SNOWFALL

TALENT SHOW NUMBER

TALENT SHOW DANCE

Official web site of Sainik School Ghorakhal   http://www.ssghorakhal.org/

HINDU WEDDING

HINDU WEDDING

This afternoon I almost did not take my camera when Ram and I went on our afternoon walk.  I did out of habit.  As it turned out we came upon a new bride and groom on their way to Golu Devta Temple after their wedding ceremony was completed.  You will notice the bride is crying.  This is partly due to tradition.  In earlier times the marriage was arranged when the girl was very young.  Ram's mother was fourteen when she was married.  The new bride cried when it came time to leave the only home she ever knew to go to her in-law’s and husbands home.  Now the bride must be eighteen and the groom twenty one before they can legally marry. This still is most likely an arranged marriage.  She may have meant the groom once or twice.  She would have had the opportunity to say no.  She will be leaving her family and going to the home of her new in-laws and groom, strangers.  This home will become her home.  Her parents-in-law will treat her like own their daughter. They honor her because she will, in time, mature and care for her husband and his parents as they grow older.  If the groom has any siblings, there will be much laughter and teasing between the bride and her brother and sister in-laws.  The bride will slowly grow into the role of a wife.  She will at first care for any Younger children in the home and be given small household tasks to complete.

FARMING IN INDIA

Considering the area of India is one third the size of the United States, I find it interesting India ranks second to the United States in agricultural production.  Even more interesting is most of the farming in India is still done by hand and with the use of farm animals on small family plots versus large mechanized farming found in the United States.  I find myself more appreciative of the food that is on my table and for the hard work of the Indian farmer.

Tea Garden Near Munnar

Image by jonbrew plantation workers pick tea

Potato Farm Near Dhanachuli

Wheat Farms  Near Bhimtal

Harvesting Wheat

Photo from meetinglunch.wordpress.com

WE HAVE MOVED

WE HAVE MOVED.

We have rented a two bedroom two bathroom cottage that hangs off the side of a mountain in Ghorachal.  Kamla continues to surprise us.  While we were still trying to figure out the logistics of the move itself, Kamila had already found a truck and extra men to help us.  I figured it would take a day Indian Time.  She said that we would have breakfast at the old cottage and lunch in the new cottage.  That is exactly what happened!  The truck arrived around 9 AM and was packed in 30 minutes.  Mind you we have no furniture.  Kamla and the truck left.  Ram, our dog and I followed by taxi, probably a fifteen minute drive at most.  When we arrived, we found the landlord and the cleaning crew finishing up.  Our landlord drove us to a shop back in Bhowali where we bought a mattress for our bed.  The store owner tied the mattress to the top of the car and we were off to the cottage again.  By the time we arrived back the truck was unloaded and Kamla had the kitchen put together and was fixing lunch. 

Stair to front door

Living Dining and Kitchen

Kitchen

Master Bedroom

Master Bedroom

Balcony off both Master Bedrooms

The water that is available to us here will require a water filter.  However a number of the local people walk to an unpolluted spring to get their drinking water.  Kamila insists that that is what she wants to do.   She wants us to get a large container so she can carry it on her head.  I think she is nuts.   The spring is about a half a mile away.  She says, “Why waste money?”  I’m thinking, how is this going to be practical during the monsoons?

Our cottage still needs a few things to make us more comfortable.  It came furnished with bedroom furniture, four patio chairs and a wobbly dining table with no chairs. That is more than I expected.  The water heater has not been hung in the master guest bathroom or the kitchen.  These things will work themselves out in Indian time.  Now I’m happy to be out of the ghetto as Ram describes our old cottage neighborhood.

KAMLA

KAMLA

Kamla has been with us for a month and a half now.  I have had a chance to get to know her a little better.  She is a mountain girl born and raised in Ghorakhal near Bhowali.  Her marriage is what she calls a “love marriage", rather than an arranged marriage.  Her husband asked her to marry him.  She knew him by reputation and knew him to be a good man.  She asked her family to arrange the marriage. 

Kamla says her husband has had a rough life.  His parents died when he was five.  He was then raised by his grandparents who also died.  He was then sent to live with his Aunt who was mean to him.  He completed the fifth grade and has been working odd jobs to survive ever since.

Kamla loves her husband dearly.  When she was sick he carried her miles several times to the Doctor on his back.  She says not many husbands would do that.  We have had the opportunity to meet him.  He seems like a kind and decent man.  One can tell he cares very much for her also.

Kamla has three children, boys eight and ten and a daughter three and a half.  She is working to provide them an education and a better life.  In order to save money Kamla chooses to cook over a wood fire rather than spend money on gas.

In the short time Kamla has been with us, I have grown to care for her.  She is smart, resourceful and shows initiative.  She is always laughing.  It was Kamla that found the cottage we are going to rent.  While we were talking about how to manage the move she had already arranged for a pickup truck and help! I was astonished.

My husband and I both feel that Kamla will be a part of our lives for a long time.  While we cannot help all of India we can help one family.  We will help educate Kamla's children and help with other family expenses as well.  In short Kamla and her family are becoming a part of our family.  

FUNNY HOW THINGS FALL INTO PLACE

It’s funny how things take a turn when you least expect it.  We thought we had found the perfect long term rental in Dhanachuli.  However, the owner asked an exorbitant monthly rent, 100000 rupees or $1851.00 USD per month.  We decided to rethink living in that particular are for several reasons.  One- the area seems overpriced, two- the weather is quite cold and three- there are were no larger hill stations close by.  The cold would ordinarily be a problem for us, but in India homes are not built with insulation and there is no central heat.  We have found the space heaters do not work that well either.

Ram and I were becoming disillusioned with the area our cottage in Bhowali was located. When we first looked at the cottage all was quiet.  However the multistory apartment complex across the street consists of mostly 2-3 day rentals.  Families were arriving at all times during the night.  It did not suffice just to knock on the door to announce their arrival.  No one must honk the horn many times.  Then the loud reunion in the street begins followed by loud music. 

 Kamla mentioned she knew of a good place to rent.  Ram and I were skeptical but we decided to take a look.  Kamla arranged for us to meet with the owner of the cottage.  She was right.  We saw the cottage, immediately liked it and rented it on the spot after some negotiations with the owner.  The area is so peaceful and beautiful.   It is in Ghorachol near the Sainik School.  This is a residential military school for boys ages 10-18. Bhowali market is 4 kilometers or 2½ miles away.  Golu Devta temple, the temple where my prayers were answered and are still answered is a 10 minute walk through the Sainik school grounds from the cottage.  Best of all, Kamla’s will be able to continue to work for as her village is still within walking distance.

Balcony View

Balcony View