By Col Prem Bahadur Thapa (Retd)
The old order changeth… and a very eventful year is coming to a close, while the bells go up across the world in unison of prayers to ‘ring in the new…’ for a better tomorrow. These thoughts came to mind while watching the sun set from Mussoorie during these last few days of December, as it goes down into the inky depth of the Winter Line on its tireless journey. Recollecting the days gone by are perhaps best collected from these silent heights and it’s a moment not to be missed.
In it perhaps lie hopes for better days ahead however difficult the passing year may have been. There were many setbacks but there were happier moments, too, and maybe it’s time to thank them before memory fades in new schedules that will engage our daily routine; and first things first… is a sincere thanks to this daily ‘Post’ that indulged one’s amateur efforts to share some experiences gathered in life’s sojourn with the intent these might generate more thoughts where necessary or find information that might indulge readers’ interest. That is the general aim and there were many who enlightened us with their ‘briefs’ besides the frank discourses from the Editor’s desk on a variety of subjects far and near. And may Garhwal Post continue to flourish.
Moving on to the wider spectrum of events that the world experienced, and many of them are best forgotten while praying for the continued success of others like our country’s overall economic advancement despite many challenges. It went to the polls for general elections and the noisy allegations and counter allegations made were intense though not unusual… and, frankly, it was no surprise that the country decided to continue with the present government since the alternatives were rather limited. If the world was also happy and the stock markets shot up with Foreign Exchange Reserves touching new highs, it augurs well for the country. Imagine our country as the fastest growing economy in the world and what could be better than that.
But, otherwise, intense conflicts between many nations threatening the world order; with constant irritants that engaged us also like Pak sponsored terrorist activities or PM Justin Trudeau’s absolutely unnecessary stand off to his own disadvantage in the long run, etc., continued to hog the limelight. Our country’s foresight to steer clear through these choppy waters deserves a ‘Yes‘. To list them all would be futile but some happenings closer home might be indulged to consider whether it could have been better. Dehradun and Uttarakhand are our immediate destiny and these went through equal experiences of high and low, and many of these were wrought equally by man as by nature.
Our immediate concern as in previous years was still the continued exodus from the hills. Pictures of ghost towns appearing regularly are indeed disturbing. Hopes of it being addressed soon, in at least those areas where people are still holding out are regularly thwarted when natural disasters continue to rise and wash away all efforts through landslides and flood zones. This year it was unprecedented with a bus accident killing 40 passengers and injuring many in Kumaon later in the year, only one of many such fatal accidents that hit the headlines (and our state was in the news for all the wrong reasons on such incidents, occurring almost regularly).
However, the annual pilgrimage to the four religious sites (Char Dham) broke all records of previous attendance. The State’s effort despite difficult conditions caused equally by the surging crowds and the rains, still prevailed, and ended on a happy note of satisfaction. The yearly devotional mega-event also generates much needed source of income for the local traders and all those connected with it. Thus, its importance cannot be diminished though casualties were also many. But winter pilgrimages also to the Deities winter abodes came as a bit of surprise. Reservations on its rather hasty announcement couldn’t have been better analysed by the ‘Editorial’ of Garhwal Post, dated 10 December ‘24, and needs to be considered. Risking life and labour in these sub-zero Himalayan snowy winters without comprehensive study, sounds uncomfortable for commercial gains alone.
But tourism in all its ‘other forms’ is also still our best hope, and the increased footfalls are encouraging. There is wide scope yet and needs to be extended further into the unexploited hinterlands, to not only disperse the overcrowding at the favoured destinations, but also spread the benefit where it is needed equally if not more. Tourism can be a boon and a bane, both, and we perhaps need to give further attention on management planning since stations like Nainital and Mussoorie are pushing dangerously towards the edge.
And our Capital town turned a city is reaping the fruits of its selection (by design or default is immaterial now). Old residents continue to lament the loss of their old town while the new arrivals are literally savouring its pristine locale with their noisy-speedy lifestyles, totally crowding the streets and its past glory. Readers might recollect an article in this very ‘Post’ by a lady who came all the way from America or England to live out her old age in its quiet surroundings that she recollected from her younger days and was so disturbed that she immediately went back from where she had come. Construction of flyovers and elevated ring roads are in the news to take care of traffic woes and that should be welcome news and let’s hope it succeeds.
Some more surprising happenings that agonised the people in ‘Doon Valley’, was the unusual summer heat jumping over 42 degrees Celsius followed by equally uncomfortable high humidity during the rainy period … and still followed by smog that crossed 300 AQI! Schools had to be shut down or run during cooler hours … (and the birds vanished from my garden trees despite placing water pots all around); and those who could made hasty escapes to nearby hills. One wonders how it will be in the coming years, but hopes are dim.
Still selecting a new year resolution? Why can’t it be ‘Back to the Hills and Save Yourself’!
Trust me … in the days to come, our only refuge will perhaps be the hills… because there is going to be no Climate Control down below. It’s a mirage that the world is chasing. But for the present… a New Year is round the corner, so let the world go on its way because winter holidays and picnics with baskets of cakes and ale can still be enjoyed under some greenwood tree… or (still better) … the hills of Mussoorie.
