Top 10 Ragas to initiate you into Hindustani Classical Music

For all you folks out there who have the love for exploring new kinds of music, you should not miss the Hindustani Classical genre. And trust me, before I started listening to Hindustani Classical Instrumental/ Vocal, I had no idea about its sheer beauty. Infact, once you get a tryst of this experience, you will not find folk music as rejuvenating. So, if you are a beginner and have no idea what real Hindustani Classical Music is about, the following Ragas/pieces are sure to strike a chord with your soul and initiate you into this genre.

1. Tarana by Ravi Shanker (from the album Setu - bridges)

2. Raga Hamsadhwani (by Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia - album- God's own Breath- Raaga on
    Flute)

3. Bhimpalasri Fast Teental (by Nikhil Banerjee- Album- Afternoon Raagas)

4. Raga Zila Kafi : Gat in fast Teen Tal (by Nikhil Banerjee - Album- Immortal Sitar of Pandit  
    Nikhil  Banerjee)

5. Raga Basant : Gat in Madhyalaya Teen Tal  (by Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt ; Album - The
    Maestro of Mohan Veena)

6. Pancham Se Gara (by Anoushka Shankar )

7. Raga Piloo (Album - the very best of Ravi Shankar)

8. Raaga Kamod, Gat in Jhaptaal ( by Shivkumar Sharma & Zakir Hussain- Album- The flow of
     time)

9. Raga Darbari - Drut Gat, Teental (by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan )

10. Raga Kaushi Kanhara (Album- the very best of Ravi Shankar)

Applicability of the Employee Provident Fund Act to appointment of 'Consultants'

Growing Companies, especially start-ups, are after a point faced with a sudden host of statutory compliances, one  being registration with the Employment Provident Fund Organisation.

A lot of growing organizations tend to appoint ‘consultants’ or ‘retainers’ who may not be termed ‘full time employees’ in their contracts. Law firms, CA firms and other professional practices across the city of Bombay have adopted the practice to appoint ‘retainers’ who are not technically on their employee payroll, and are therefore outside the scope of Provident Fund. This practice ought to be reconsidered in the light of the judgments discussed below.

The Employees Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (“the Act”) applies to every establishment which is a ‘factory’ engaged in any industry specified in Schedule I of the Act and in which twenty or more persons are employed. However, in order to arrive at the figure of 20, which employees are to be taken into the headcount is a question that needs to be examined. The Act has no specific provisions or guidelines to determine this question.

Section 2 (f) of the Act defines who is an ‘employee’ under the Act. It provides :

“employee” means any person who is employed for wages in any kind of work, manual or otherwise, in or in connection with the work of an establishment and who gets his wages directly or indirectly from the employer, and includes any person,- (i) employed by or through a contractor in or in connection with the work of the establishment; (ii) engaged as an apprentice, not being an apprentice engaged under the Apprentices Act, 1961 (52 of 1961) or under the standing orders of the establishment

In Gain Financial Consultants Pvt. Ltd. Vs. The Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Maharashtra and Goa and ors. 2001(4) ALLMR55 the Bombay High Court has, following the Judgment of the Division Bench of Gujarat High Court in the case of M/s. Satish Plastics v. R. P. F. Commissioner, held that appointment of ‘retainers’ would be included in the definition of ‘employee’ for the purposes of applicability of the Act. The Gujrat High court in the said judgment has laid down certain tests to be applied to answer the question whether the person employed was an employee or not as follows :

"(i) Was he doing the work for monetary payment?

(ii) Was the work done by him the work of the establishment or had a nexus with such work?

(iii) Was the payment made wages, in the sense of being remuneration for the physical or mental effort in connection with such work?

(iv) Was the work such that it had to be done as directed by the establishment or under its supervision and control to the extent that supervision and control are possible having regard to the specialized nature of the work or the skill needed for its performance?

(v) Was the work of such a nature and character that ordinarily a master-servant relationship could exist and but for the agreement styling it as a contract common practice and common sense would suggest a master-servant bond?

(vi) Was the relation Indicative of master-servant status in substance having regard to the economic realities irrespective of the nomenclature devised by the parties?

(vii) Was he required to do the work personally without the liberty to get it done through someone else?"

This case has been relied upon in another case of Hindustan Lever Limited Vs. The Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner 2015(4) BomCR 75, and therefore stands to be good law.

However, in another case the Kerala High Court, has held that “consultants” or “retainers” would not be included in the definition of employee. Interestingly, this case had been distinguished by the Bombay High Court in Gain Financial Consultants (supra) on the premise that in the Kerala High Court case “The persons who were engaged by the establishment for their consultancy services were not roaming around for their work but the employers were approaching them in their office to get their consultation. Those consultants have their own independent establishment.”  

The tests laid down by the Bombay High Court may be kept in mind by growing businesses while drafting their employment contracts. It is seen that if these consultants have an ‘independent establishment’ of their own, as indicated by the Bombay High Court, they may not be considered within the definition of employee. However what then, constitutes an 'independent establishment' for this purpose, is yet unclear.

It is understood that the Bombay High Court has given a rather wide interpretation to ‘employees’ for the purposes of applicability of the EPF Act. Although the position may differs in various states, may be the Supreme Court, or an amendment to the Act, can provide some clarity on the issue. 

Rape Cases in India- A tool for political conspiracy ?

In December 2012, India was shaken by a brutal gang rape and murder of a 23 year old woman in a private bus in the Capital City of New Delhi. "Nirbhaya" she was named, by the millions of social activists, media and general public who took to the streets in large numbers to protest against this inhuman act. The wounds of Nirbhaya were felt by every Indian woman who loved her right to live with dignity, and every Indian man, who understands and respects this right. The people wanted justice. They wanted the perpetrators to be administered with the most severe punishment that could be given. The safety of women in India became a question of national importance. 

When the law enforcing authorities could not deliver speedy justice, the Government was condemned, effects of which were seen in the General Elections in 2014, the following year. People had lost faith in the UPA Government. They were convinced, that a political party which cannot deliver justice effectively, cannot be given the reigns of the country. By a thumping majority, the Bhartiya Janata Party led National Democratic Alliance was elected to rule India. 

But as we say, history repeats itself, or not yet ? Come 2018, again a year before the 2019 General Elections, India is faced by not one, but 3 cases of Gangrape and Murder. Kathau, a small village in Jammu and Kashmir, was the source of one of the most heartbreaking, horrific acts ever inflicted on humanity. The case was that of a brutal Gangrape of an 8 year old child. One of the perpetrators was alleged to be a member of the ruling party. Soon,  the nation was flooded by media reports sensationalizing the issue. The fact that the girl child was a Muslim and that the Rape took place inside a temple awakened the suppressed animosity between the two religions. 

This incident left a strong impact on the people of the country (or may be, this was the goal). Candle marches and campaigns were being organised in every city. Social media became the most sought after means to display their anger. No doubt, it is a good sign that the people of the nation, by voicing their opinions are now taking social issues more personally and playing a pro active role in governance. After all this is the true spirit of a democracy. But in their blind sentiment for seeking justice, are they failing to see the true picture? or might i say, the larger picture ? 

Rape, no doubt, is an act which deserves the highest order of punishment. But are we forgetting, that our Indian principles also believe that punishing 1 innocent person is worse than leaving a 100 criminals unpunished. The fact that the Kathua Rape case suddenly gains media attention, comes just a year before the General Elections and involves a Hindu- Muslim angle to it, are all fumes of the fire of a larger political conspiracy. 

Sensationalizing such issues only increases the frequency of the cases. The Rapists and Perpetrators are encouraged by the inefficiency and lacunae in the Justice Delivery System and feel themselves to be powerful. Are we, as the people overlooking all this ? Is voicing concerns over Social Media going to lessen the pain of the poor victims family, or even come close to serving her with justice ? or is it only going to give more power to Opposition parties and Media houses to fulfill their own selfish ends? 

I leave you all with this fodder for thought. Do think about it.

Ikigai- the Japanese method of finding your life purpose.

A lot of us are still struggling with this question- “What is my purpose in life?” While mechanically following the orders of our seniors at workplace, or just while lazing around on a Sunday afternoon. We are often asking ourselves, “Am I really made for this?” or “Is my job really adding any meaning to my life”.Well, the Japanese seem to have a method to really get the root of this question. They call it the Ikigai.

Ikigai literally means “purpose of life” or something that gets you out of the bed in the morning. It is nothing but a method to really evaluate what is it that is the real purpose of your life. So, what is this method?

The Ikigai is nothing, but the common answer to these four questions :

·        What do I love doing?

·        What does the world need?

·        What am I good at?

·        What can I be paid for?

This can be better understood by way of a Venn Diagram  

 

Sounds Interesting, but no idea how it works? Well, all you need to really do, or rather how I worked around it, is jot down answers to the above questions on a piece of paper in one word, and while jotting it down see which word repeats itself 4 times (the word which is an answer to all four questions). In all likelihood, this is your Ikigai.

So, we what are we waiting for, let try this method today and see if it helps us solve our dilemma!     

'My Raw Self' -- Musings of a Working Mother.

On the occasion of International Women's day, here is a piece written by an incredibly strong Indian Woman, whose words provide deep insight into the importance of personal well being. Reflective, and inspiring, this piece is sure to resonate with every working woman who constantly does the balancing act of fulfilling her dreams and taking care of her family. 

"Women are natural caregivers and relationship builders.However, in todays time, stress, disappointment or negativity is all too common. Women should work towards shifting to a positive outlook, learning from failures, facing their fears and turning weaknesses into strength.

I have been a working mom for over a decade and a half and i was often caught in a crossfire between the needs of my proffession and the needs of my family.I was scared to take my proffessional dreams higher while raising a young family .Personally i have been very fortunate in that my children made me more creative.They completely redefined my multitasking skills and as a result i could deliver much more than expected.Yes,undoubtedly overcoming adversity can be quite empowering.Finding time to take care of yourself may be the bottom of a working moms list but nuturing oneself is the key component to find time to do it all.If your mind is at ease and your body feels good you are able to do much more for your family and achieve much more at work.

To learn and keep learning is the mantra not to forget.I believe that equipment and technology upgrades are not expenses to be endured. They are necessary reinvestments to protect and enhance the value and to keep you at the leading edge of the proffession with international standards and competent colleagues to achieve your ideal destination across the globe.Insight, experience, dedication and all round client care are a few qualities that earns us the position against many.

My life has been mentally and physically demanding. Running in proffession and caring for a family are two demanding jobs that often seem to be competing against each other.Remaining committed even through hard times,to believe in yourself and cherish the blessings of being a women whom God has given incredible power.

I firmly believe that happy parents equal happy children. My life partner ,who respected my opinions and decisions, held my hand when i faltered, and took pride in the smallest of achievment, inspired me to aim higher, he never stepped back from the promises he made and cherished our relationship.He never let his concern or protective instincts interfere with the freedom and space i needed.He has always been there,is there, and always will be there with a gentle heart.It is our virtues and mutual respect for each other that makes us so special.We in the family should stay united and celebrate each others success and also support each others goals and dreams.

And now to sum up and end it all i would say "Success is all in your attitude. Keep it positive."

At this point of life
‘Practically’ I have no aim
And as a matter of fact
For that I have no shame
I no longer want to be
This or that…
I no longer wish to be
Little bit thin or little bit fat
I now only wish to embrace fully
what I really am
I now only wish to do with great love
whatever little I can
I only want to cherish
My ‘raw self’ as such
I want to speak & write
But without a care what others think
If it was dull or bright   "

The Solicitors' Exam - All you need to know

Desirous of qualifying as a 'Solicitor' at the High Court of Bombay ? Want to know what is the exam conducted by the Bombay Incorporated Law Society all about? Here are answers to the most FAQs :





Q. Who are Solicitors? Is their role different from that of Counsels? Are Advocates and Solicitors different?

'Solicitor' is a designation earned by a lawyer who clears the gruesome Examination for Articled Clerks conducted by the Bombay Incorporated Law Society, which is a society affiliated to the Bombay High Court. Strictly speaking this is an English Concept, currently unique only to the city of Bombay. Although the rest of India only has one class of legal professionals- the Advocates - governed by the Advocates Act, the old city of Bombay especially in the Bombay High Court, still has, in practice, two distinct kind of Advocates - the 'Solicitors' and 'Counsels'. Traditionally Solicitors were the legal professionals who did all the drafting and consulting. They almost never appeared before a judge in court. Counsels were the class of professionals who specialised in argument and appearance and did only that. So how this would work is, the solicitors would be the one taking instructions from the client, preparing the pleadings, and would then 'brief' or prepare the counsel to argue the matter in court. So, Solicitors would be the ones doing the drafting and preparation of papers, and the Counsel would specialise ONLY in arguing the matter in court.

Q. What are the requirements to be a Solicitor?
To be designated as a 'Solicitor' one has to do a 3 year Articleship with a Solicitor firm in Bombay (yeah, much like a CA articleship).  The Articles of Agreement can be signed only after completing 3  years of the five year law course or 1 year of the three year law course. The Articles of Agreement have to be submitted with the office of the Bombay Incorporated Law Society, situated at the PWD building of the Bombay High Court. At the end of the 3 years of Articleship, one has to take the Solicitors' Exam and clear it to be designated as a Solicitor.

Q.  What are the subjects and passing requirements ? Is it difficult to clear ?
The Solicitors' Exam comprises of 6 subjects. 1. Practice and Procedure 2. Corporate Law 3. Conveyancing 4. Taxation 5. General Acts and 6. Modern Commercial Laws. There is no fixed paper pattern. The questions are usually a mix of theory, legal and logical reasoning. It tests the practical thinking and problem solving ability of the candidate from a legal perspective. One needs 50% marks in each of the six subjects and an over all aggregate of 60% to successfully clear the exam. The pass percentage of students is very low. Each year around 2% of the candidates clear the exam . So, yes, it is a difficult exam to clear. You have 6 attempts to clear it.

Q. What value does being a 'Solicitor' add to ones legal career? Does it entail higher salaries?
The Exam does go a long way in giving the candidate a broad perspective of the law, especially for one desirous of practicing civil and corporate law. This is not an exam for lawyers who want to practice on the criminal side. The exam teaches one to apply the law to the most tricky situations, and is very useful for someone who wants to master their knowledge and get stronghold over fundamentals. It does provide concept clarity which goes a long way in the legal career and ends up  giving you an edge over the other lawyers, in terms of legal knowledge. Basically, the long term benefits of the exam outweighs short terms results. Monetarily speaking, being designated as a 'Solicitor' does have weightage, but it depends on the firm or company you are working in. Some firms/ companies do not seem to give it the monetary value it deserves, especially if you chose to work as a fresher 'Associate' in one of the top tier firms. But a lot of other firms does give you a slightly higher bonus based on your designation. So, it really depends from place to place.

Q. Do Solicitors only practice non litigation ?
No. It is a misconception that Solicitors only do transactional practice. There are a number of Solicitors who practice in litigation as well. There is no such rule.




P.S. ;- The author is Sugyata Choudhary, an Advocate & Solicitor qualified with the Bombay Incoporated Law Society, High Court, Bombay.

Tiger Zinda Hai is not just another Sallu Bhai film - It is a message.

Tiger Zinda Hai is not just another larger than life ‘Salman Bhai’ movie. It is a message. A meaningful one. It was long since I watched a really good movie. And honestly, I didn’t think Tiger Zinda Hai (out of all) could be one. After all “how good could a typical Salman Khan Bollywood movie be” I thought.  It was just another holiday and this movie happened to be shown on television. Surprisingly, it was so engaging that from the very first scene it kept me glued to my seat. Apart from the jaw dropping action sequences, brilliant cinematography and, of course, Sallu Bhai’s swag, here are some pointers why I’d put this movie in my ‘WOW’ category –

1. Tiger Zinda Hai dares to bring to the audience a fresh perspective to the controversial love hate relationship between India and Pakistan. Tiger (Salman Khan) a RAW agent and Zoya (Katrina Kaif) an ISI agent come together on a mission to save Indian and Pakistani nurses trapped in a hospital in Iraq conquered by ISC (actually ISIS). It brings to life the real spirit of both nations which rest in the heart of their common man. Certain scenes beautifully express the animosity between the two armies, reluctantly so, united for a common mission- peace. In times where the two nations are trapped in the war of words and ego, the movie plays the tune of peace, reminding us that we are all actually victims of a larger scheme of things. 

2. Another plus was the power given to Zoya’s character. Where army and war is generally perceived as a man’s playing field, the film shows Zoya to be extremely sharp, thinking on her feet, strong army woman, who at times, even stole the show from our very own Tiger. While generally in action packed movies like these, the heroines are no more than emotional support for our male lead, Katrina has given a fairly decent performance as Zoya, bringing out the much intended woman power.

3. Lastly, the movie provides us all with an insight into the living conditions in the Islamic State conquered countries and leaves us pondering over how blessed we are to be immune from such atrocities.   It leaves one thinking in the end, that is this earth after all a humane place to live in?

All in all, I am no professional film critic, but I’d give this movie a 4.5 stars any day!

Offline uses of Cryptocurrency- lesser known facts

Unless we are averse to the digital world or have taken to Sanyasa Aashram, we would not have missed hearing about the “Bitcoin”. India, too has a rapidly growing crypto market, even though the regulatory policy continues to remain behind the bush. While we have already heard of Laxmicoin and Jiocoin in the pipeline, start-up crypto exchanges and wallets are making news every day. But does this "online currency" does have possible offline uses? Read on to find out some lesser known interesting facts about Cryptocurrency :-   

o     There are over 800 different types of Cryptocurrency

o     Peach Airlines in Japan accepts Bitcoin as a legal tender- Yes, you can actually buy an airline ticket using cryptocurrency. Japan has legitimized cryptocurrency in 2017.

o      Fidelity Investments allows its clients to use its website to view their holdings of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies held through digital wallet provider Coinbase [1].

o    The founder of this path breaking invention, is supposedly a Japanese individual called Satoshi Nakamoto. He is the 44^th richest person on earth. While there is dearth of information about his personal life or whereabouts, his concealed identity and low profile has caused governments and organizations to raise suspicion about him being linked to some sort of a terrorist outfit.

   

o       You can buy over hundreds of products using bitcoin or various other altcoins at www.overstock.com ;

o    www.newegg.com accepts bitcoin as a payment for digital goods;

o       You can buy airline tickets from Virgin Atlantic Airlines using Bitcoin

o      www.Expedia.com supports Bitcoin as a payment method. So, planning your next holiday?     You can pay using Bitcoin.

o     Dell accepts Bitcoins as a payment option.

o   Many developed countries like the USA have ATM machines that support buy/sell and withdrawal of bitcoin. www.coinatmradar.com is a website which actually shows the location of various bitcoin and other cryptocurrency ATMs throughout the world;

o     There are about 1600 Bitcoin ATMs in the world, and growing in number every day;

o    Monero- is an Altcoin which enables its holder to conceal his/her identity. It has privacy features unlike other cryptocurrencies. It’s price spiked when it was listed on the Korean exchange.

o    Steem is a unique Altcoin. It has a portal called Steemit.com which enables users to earn steem coins by writing articles, blogs or by creating content. It can be traded on any crypto exchange. You can check out more on – www.STEEMit.com

o     Trezor is a hardware wallet which comes handy in storing Cryptocurrencies in physical form, just like money.

o     One can buy/sell cryptocurrency in decimals too. So. Yes, one can buy 0.0005 BTC (Bitcoin) or 0.09 LTC (Litecoin). We don’t need to have millions in our kitty to explore this investment arena.

o     Websites like Bitcoin Zebra, Moon Bitcoin, Weekend Bitcoin and Milli are known as Bitcoin ‘faucets’.  These websites give out Bitcoin on a regular basis for free. All one has to do is visit their website and sign up. They would not be giving out a large amount of Bitcoin, may be a small amount, but they do this to promote Bitcoin. These website thrive as an Affiliate marketing tool.

o    www.coinworker.com pays their user using Bitcoin for completing tasks such as filling up surveys, watching videos etc. This is called microtasking.

o    You can get paid with Bitcoin/ Cryptocurrency instead of fiat currency for offering Bitcoin related services. Example- www.coinality.com. This website contains posts about cryptocurrency related jobs, for eg. Blockchain developers, freelance cryptocurrency bloggers, etc. Check the website for more.

P.s :- This post is purely for study and information purposes and does not promote the buying/ selling of cryptocurrency and/or does not mean to be any investment advise at all.

---

[1] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-fidelity-investments-bitcoin/fidelity-allows-clients-to-see-digital-currencies-on-its-website-idUSKBN1AP0AO

Solo Trip to Rishikesh

While trying to cope up with crazy schedules of a high profile corporate job, the wanderer inside me knew that I wasn’t best suited for it. I was looking for something else. I was looking for answers. And I knew the only way I could find them is by unravelling the adventurer in me. On the hint of an impulse, I decided to take an unplanned trip to the Yoga Capital of India- Rishikesh. Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, Rishikesh offers a perfect blend of adventure, breath-taking natural beauty and spiritual awakening.

Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun is the nearest airport to Rishikesh. The Airport was one of the smallest ones I have been to but also one of the most beautiful one. It was a surprisingly cool afternoon in the month of June.  In India, June is a transit month between summers and monsoons. The sky was filled with dark clouds; the air was moist and chilly. The onset of the first monsoon winds came as a welcome relief to mother earth. “This is going to be a great trip” I thought.

Sunset from the Ghats

 “In Rishikesh, use public transport as far as possible” warned my father before I took off for the airport. Northern parts of India are generally notorious for its crimes against women. Cases of rape, and other heinous crimes against women are common. This required me to be on a high alert all the time. On landing, I immediately started my search for the nearest public bus station to Lakshman Jhula Road, the place where Anand Dham Aashram was located. Aashrams are essentially residential quarters of spiritual masters which were also open for travellers and devotees to provide for food and shelter.

When I came outside the airport gate I could not see a bus station anywhere nearby. “There are no public buses that run from Dehrdun Airport to Rishikesh, you can take a private taxi from there” pointed out the security officer at the airport gate. On my left, I could see a fleet of private taxis with all male drivers, eyeing every passenger as though searching for their next target. I had all sorts of imaginations running in my head. I knew I had no choice. I gulped some water, took a deep breath and walked towards the ticket window.

My diver, Manoj was a thin man in his late thirties with a significantly large moustache. I had insisted for an old and experienced driver. Probably he was the eldest they had. I took a picture of the number plate and car on my phone camera, just in case. Manoj did not seem to like the idea of me taking a picture of his car. He protested. I Ignored and took the picture anyway. It was an hour drive to Lakshman Jhula Road.

My phone battery was at 40%. “Should be enough” I thought, till we reached the Aashram. I was hoping it survives since I had to make sure Manoj was taking the correct route. Around 15 minutes through, we were going on the right route. I was relieved. Just when I thought of dismissing all thoughts of suspicion, the car changed the route to the left instead of right. My heart was in my mouth. “The road to the Aashram is towards the right” I said. No reply. Trying hard to keep my nerve, I asked again. He pointed out to a petrol pump on the edge of the road. “Sigh” I leaned back and stopped panicking, but still alert. While he was filling up the petrol tank I was studying the route on Google Maps to check if there were any back roads or jungle ways. The shortest route was a fairly straight highway. I was hoping he takes that. This was a decision which had pushed me to the edge.

Soon we found ourselves 25 minutes through the drive, steering through beautiful valleys and plains, on the Rishikesh - Dehradun Highway. Breaking the silence, he asked me if I needed to pick up something to eat or some water. I politely dismissed his question, now a little relaxed.

We soon found ourselves stuck in traffic, hinting at the start of civilisation. “It’s Yatra time and hence all this traffic” said Manoj explaining why the area was so crowded. The months of May and June are considered to be holy among pilgrims across India as this is the time when the gates of Amarnath Temple open. All “Yatris” or pilgrims generally flock this region during these months to get the first glimpse of “amaranth ji” the shiv linga made of ice. In order to make it to Amarnath, Rishikesh is generally their base camp. The traffic prolonged the journey by another 30 minutes according to Google Maps.

As we went farther along the way, Manoj and I became friends. We spoke about everything from tourism in Rishikesh to the people of Uttarakhand and Garhwali culture. He spoke about his journey from being a flood victim to taking up a job in a taxi company. He even spoke about his dream of starting his own private taxi business. I told him about my connections back in Mumbai and how I could help. He was delighted. He offered me to visit his home and said he and his family- his wife and 2 daughters would be happy to host me for tea. I found it rather ironic, that the same man, who I had pictured as a rapist just half an hour ago, was actually a decent man of character, who is trying to make ends meet to support his family and pursue his dreams.

As we reached the Ashram, I took down Manoj’s number and promised to call his services in case I needed a taxi. He also gave me his address and said I could reach out to him anytime during my stay in Rishikesh. I gave him a tip of 100 bucks. He smiled and drove away.

“Can I see Ram Baba?” I asked the thin teenage boy guarding the main temple of the Aashram. He took me to Ram Baba, a petite long bearded man nearing his eighties robed in his saffron dhoti and kurta. He gave me a warm welcoming smile, as though I did not need to give an introduction. His deep brown eyes widened as he looked at me. “Have you come alone all the way from Mumbai?” he asked while chanting on his rosary beeds. “Yes” I said. Giving an expression mixed with surprise and confusion, he guided me to my room. “Lunch is ready, do come out once you have rested” He said while closing the door behind me.

The Aashram was a simple place, reflecting the sheer simple living of the spiritual masters. It consisted of residential quarters of the Gurus, a kitchen and food area, a garden, a temple, a yoga hall, and a separate building having rooms for travellers and devotees for their stay in the Aashram. Behind the temple, there was a cowshed where the cows and their calves were fed and taken care of.

A still from "Anand Dham Aashram" at Lakshman Jhula Road.

The Ashram family was blissfully ignorant of urbanisation or westernisation in India. They never seemed to have taken the airplane or heard about the metros, restraunts, touch screen mobile phone or malls. It was overwhelming to comprehend a life that was so different and simple. They cooked food with simple utensils did all the accounting on pen and paper.

r

Lakshman Jhula Bridge- Rishikesh

Soon after breakfast the next morning, I decided to explore Rishikesh on foot, which was, of course, a bad idea. Since the famous Lakshman Jhula was close by to the Ashram I set off to explore the iconic bridge. It was flocked with tourists taking selfies, cattle and motorcycles. What was a rather unusual experience that when I was there I got stuck in a first of its kind Human traffic Jam. Since it was “Yatra time” the bridge was more crowded than usual. It actually took 2.5 hours for me to only walk through the bridge, which would otherwise take me not more than 10 minutes to cross on foot! It took a whole fleet of traffic policemen to clear the human traffic. This was the last thing I expected!

After a sumptuous lunch at the Little Buddha café and a rejuvenating head massage at a local ayurvedic centre, I headed off to Parmarth Nikean Asshram to witness the beautiful Ganga Aarti. The environ created by the Aarti left me infused with energy, much of what I needed for my adventure the following day. 

Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat

The next morning, I went to Shivpuri, near Rishikesh for an adventure with the white water rapids. Rishikesh is one of the most popular sites for white water rafting around the world. And it is true to every word. A host of adventure companies offer this activity in the mighty river with varied difficulty levels depending upon ones appetite for adventure.

Rafting in the white water

After experiencing simple Aashram Life, a human traffic jam, a rejuvenating massage and a satiating river adventure, it was time to explore the natural beauty of the Uttarakhand region. So, I decided to call Manoj and asked if he can take me to some interesting places around Rishikesh.

We started off by going to a famous Shiva Temple called Neelkanth Mahadev literally meaning “the one with a blue throat”. Legend has it that this was the place Lord Shiva had come to meditate after inhaling the fatal poison of halahal which gave him a blue throat and he came to be known as the “Neelkanth”. Outside I temple, I noticed some local shopkeepers with a cart full of round berry like fruits and people crowding around them. Curiosity took me to observe what was going on. What I saw took me by surprise. The fruits that were in the cart were no ordinary fruits. They were the “Rudraksh fal”. On finding out from the shop keeper he told me “You chose a fruit from this basket and we will peel it for you. The seed of the fruit which lies beneath its outer skin is actually the rudraksh seed which has a great significance in Hindu mythology.” “It is said that the trees on which these fruits are borne grew out of the teardrop of Lord Shiva. These fruits are rare and are only found around this region. The seed can be of varied faces or divisions from 1 to 12, and each type of seed has a significance of its own. The seed with one face is said to be a manifestation of Lord Shiva himself.” He continued. I picked the Rudraksh with 4 faces, known to be lucky for higher education and learning.

After offering prayers at the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, we headed off for Mussourie, a tiny hill station to the north of Rishikesh. En route Mussourie, we visited a different kind of Shiva Temple. Manoj told me that this was the only Shiva temple in India where it was prohibited to make any monetary donations by devotees. This temple was not a public property unlike most other temples in India; this was a private temple belonging to a local Garhwal Brahmin family. I found this interesting and decided to pay a visit. The vibrations and peace of the temple was nerve chilling. Not many people knew about this temple. “Benefits of making a local connection” I thought to myself.

Sahastradhara falls, Enroute Mussourie 

It was around early evening by the time we reached Mussourie. While I was enjoying the breathtaking view of the hills from a local café, Manoj seemed to be rather unsettled. “What happened, Manoj?” I asked. “Madam, It will take us atleast 3.5 hours to get back to Rishikesh” before I could ask him what was unsettling about that, he continued “we need to get back before 8.00.p.m.”“We can leave by around 6.00 p.m. Manoj, the view from here is beautiful. I would like to stay for another half and hour and then we can leave.” Manoj reluctantly agreed. It was only two hours later that I realised, what was so unsettling about the 8.00 p.m. deadline.

While going from Dehradun to Rishikesh there is a road which is surrounded on both sides by thick forest. The forest is home to fierce, violent, wild elephants. Every evening after sunset, the elephants generally come on to the road and cause damage to any passing vehicle or human. Cases of vehicles smashed by the elephants was common and were reported by local media everyday. Due to this, the local people avoid taking this road after sunset. For people who have to travel after 8 p.m., the local police has deployed a special force to take the cars through the road to the end. For this, cars are only allowed to go in groups of about say 20- 25 cars at a time, led by a local police van. A single vehicle or two wheelers are not allowed through this road after 8.00 p.m. One can also not walk through this road on foot after sunset. The local policing is strict and the entire area is highly regulated. It was about 8:30 p.m. and were waiting with another group of 15 cars along with us. There were no street lights on the road. It was dark. We could hear a loud noise. Possibly a trumpet.

I was scared, and excited. The police van ahead of us signalled us to wait. They could not risk the cars going through. After about 30 minutes, the guard signalled green. We were 20 cars by now. All took off together, at the same speed. While we were halfway through the road we heard a loud “Thud”. “It is probably a tree bark thrown by an elephant” said Manoj. A part of me was hoping to see the wild beast in action while the other half wanted to get to the end of the road safely. “This trip turned to be more of an adventure than I had expected” I thought as we left the mysterious jungle road behind us and entered the town of Rishikesh.

My return flight back to Mumbai was at 2.00 p.m. the following day. Manoj was waiting outside the Aashram Gate at 12.00 p.m. sharp, as directed. I bid adieu to everyone at the Aashram, and donated a small amount towards maintenance of the cows as a gesture of appreciation for hosting me in this wonderful place. The small donation brought immense happiness to them. “It was great having you here, do visit us again” said Ram Baba.

On reaching the airport I cleared Manoj’s dues and walked towards the main gate. Before I went too far I heard Manoj call “Madamji one minute”. I turned around and saw him holding out a small box. “My wife had made this today, she has sent this for you.” The box contained ‘kachoris’ a local snack. I was overwhelmed by his gesture. “Thank you Manoj, this means a lot”

 
 

Love the idea of water adventure sports but hate the idea of swimming ? Here is your answer !

For all those who haven’t tasted the exotic and untouched beauty of the Mauritian Island, guys you are missing on something. Mauritius is a beautiful country, the best part being its small size, making it totally explorable within a matter of 4 to 5 days. Yes, 5 days is all you need to explore this magnificent country inside out.

Apart from the virgin white sand beaches, exotic wildlife and vast variety of flora and fauna there is one activity which totally sets Mauritius apart from the rest of the world. For all you adrenaline junkies (and pragmatic folks with a fancy for adventure) this activity is a must do. I am talking about Underwater Sea Walking. This activity is unique to Mauritius and oh! totally worth it. And it is actually what its title says- walking on the sea bed. 3.5 metres underwater, and no, you do not need to know how to swim ! Want to know more? Read on.

Once you get to Mauritius, there are two places which offer this activity. One is at Blue Bay and the other at Grand Baie. I did this activity at Grand Baie. Getting to Grand Baie is simple. For economic travellers, you would need to take an express bus to Port Louis which could cost you anywhere between 20-60 MUR (about 40-120 INR). At Port Louis, you would need to go to the central bus station (there is only one there) and take an express bus to Grand Baie (which would cost you another 60 MUR). Taking a taxi in Mauritius is generally exorbitantly expensive costing anywhere between 500-2000 MUR for a one way ride to Grand Baie depending upon the location you are travelling from and its distance from Grand Baie. However, if you are willing to take that extra bit of spending, a cab ride is faster than the bus. You can choose to travel locally in a rented self-driven car too. This is usually the most popular option amongst Indians who can drive. However following the roads in a new country could be a challenge and unnecessarily stressful. 

Once you get to Grand Baie, there are a number of Adventure Sport Companies with their display boards on the main road. There is just one company called “Underwater Sea Walk” which offers this activity in Grand Baie. The best time to experience all water sports are the summer months in Mauritius which are from December to February. At this time, the waters are clearer and more predictable. 

Underwater Sea walk timings are from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The activity is conducted in a group of 5-6 in various batches. The entire activity takes about 1.5 – 2 hours including the 20 minute to and fro boat ride to the diving platform. The 2:30 p.m. batch is the last batch for a typical summer day, so you have to be on time to get it. The Activity will cost you about 1500 MUR if you go there and book on the spot. If you are a solo traveller or a couple, do not book in advance online as that would be for double the actual price. However, if you are a large group, prior booking may be essential.

The adventure starts with taking the group in a glass bottom boat to the diving platform which is about 20 minutes away from the shore in the centre of the sea. The ride itself is picturesque and thoroughly refreshing. Once the group reaches the diving platform, the head instructor gives an introduction to the activity. 

The group is provided with underwater walking shoes. You obviously have to be in water friendly clothes (swimwear is not necessary). For all those folks with eye glasses there is good news! You do not need to remove your glasses or wear contact lenses. Simply, because the helmet that is worn on the head while going underwater doesn’t let water inside it.

Now, another good news for partially hydrophobic people like me- You do not need to know how to swim. In fact, every person who goes underwater is tied a weight band on the waist so that the person sinks and does not float. That is precisely why I loved this activity- you do not need to know how to swim, but you must know how to walk!

Now, it was time to go underwater. Yes, I admit, it was scary for once, especially when you realise that the only thing around you is water, and nothing else. The group is accompanied by two divers who are essentially like guides and monitors. They monitor the overall performance of the person walking underwater and make sure the group is comfortable. 

Every person is made to wear a helmet containing oxygen before diving underwater. The shelf life of the oxygen in the helmet is about 15 minutes. That is the duration of the total time spent by us “walking” under water. There were a few cautionary measures explained to the group before taking the dive, which must be heard attentively. 

As for the walk itself, it was an experience that cannot be explained in words. It was a different world altogether. The depth of the sea bed was around 3.5 metres. It gets a little difficult keeping one’s balance while walking underneath, but you get accustomed to it after the first five minutes. Also, the air pressure causes ear ache, which almost as much as that in an airplane. Everything underwater seems to be going on in slow motion.

Any communication with the dive monitors can be made only by gestures since there is complete silence underwater and even if you speak, nobody will be able to hear you. The water monitors will also be filming the entire activity with their underwater camera, which you can also purchase after the activity for 2500 MUR. It would be cheaper to buy your own camera for 600 MUR, by doing that you get to keep the camera too!

The dive company generally gives each person a banner to hold while walking under water saying "My holiday in Mauritius" and captures it in the camera. When you look at it coming back home, it brings sweet memories back.

The dive monitors also give you crumbles of bread to feed the fishes. You see a large variety of underwater animals which is a wonderful experience. When the fishes crowd around your face, the feeling is very different. It feels worth it. After 10 more minutes of walking, the group is then taken up to the diving platform via a ladder.

Once you are on sea level again it feels like you are transferred into another world. The experience leaves you in a state of awe. You feel thrilled and overwhelmed. Remember to carry a large towel with you since that will be required to dry yourself. No matter the season, the boat ride till the shore is generally accompanied by cold winds. Sometimes there are also light showers. A sudden temperature change may not be good for the body so it is better to keep a large towel or a coat to cover your body and give it some warmth after the activity. 

Once you are back to the shore at the adventure company’s office you can collect your dive certificate and DVD/ pendrive of your amazing adventure and go back home with a treasure of memories.