Unsung, Burdened, Yet Tough and Smiling

As a traveler and nature enthusiast, I often seek out paths less taken - not just for the landscapes, but for the lives quietly unfolding in the backdrop of nature’s grandeur. On a recent journey through a remote stretch of the Kumaon hills in Uttarakhand, a turning point - literally - offered me a moment of quiet revelation.

There, by the roadside as I drove down, I noticed a woman - her frame upright and steady - even under the weight of a massive bundle of dry grass she had gathered from the hills. Fodder for her cattle. I pulled over and got out, not to interrupt, but to silently witness the strength she embodied. As she slowly walked past, I stood at the bend, quietly observing - paying silent respect to the load she carried, both visible and invisible (The grass bundle on her head weighed no less than 40 to 50 kilograms). 

“Must be heavy,” I asked gently. She nodded, a warm smile spreading across her face. “It’s my daily chore,” she replied, almost playfully. Then, with a spark of pride, she added, “If you want, you can click a photo. Show how we women in the hills work just as hard.”

I hadn’t stopped to take a photo - but her openness and dignity moved me. “I’m here not to click,” I replied softly, “but to learn silently.”

“Learn from me?” she chuckled. “The lesson is already there.”

I paused. Here we are, often consumed by the small inconveniences of city life - while she, carrying the weight of both grass and responsibility, offered no complaint. I asked her if this was her main task for the day. She smiled again. “No, I still have to cook and feed my family - children and cattle alike.”

I stood dazed at her strength. She had time for my questions too, perhaps sensing that her everyday reality - rarely acknowledged - held a quiet fascination.

“Did you click?” she asked again with a knowing smile. I nodded, with her consent - another subtle lesson in grace and agency.

As she disappeared down the steep trail toward her home, her image stayed with me - strength walking silently: unsung, burdened, yet remarkably tough and smiling.

It reminded me that strength doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, it passes by quietly on a mountain road - with a smile that speaks volumes and asks for nothing in return.

(Photo courtesy: Photo captured by me, with her kind consent - in honour of the strength and grace of hill women.)

What a Plight! The Forgotten Letter Box

In an age where instant messaging, emails, and social media dominate communication, the humble red-Letter Box has become a relic of the past. What was once an integral part of daily life, a symbol of heartfelt connections, now stands unnoticed, collecting dust instead of letters. This realization struck me deeply when I recently attended the Vasant Utsav (Spring Festival) at the Governor’s House in Dehradun.

As I wandered through the festival, capturing the essence of the vibrant celebrations, I stumbled upon a beautifully painted red Letter Box, prominently displayed by the Department of Post, Uttarakhand. It was a commendable initiative, likely aimed at rekindling the lost art of handwritten letters, particularly among the younger generation. The sight of it evoked nostalgia—a reminder of an era when people eagerly awaited letters from loved ones, penned with care and emotion, rather than the quick, impersonal texts we have become accustomed to.

Speaking for myself, I still use the letterbox, especially on special occasions, to surprise friends and relatives with greeting cards. I take great joy in posting letters, just as I did in my childhood.

Coming back to my observations at the festival—to my dismay, not a single young visitor paid any attention to this once-cherished communication tool. Despite outnumbering the adults, they walked past it without so much as a glance. It was as though this bright red box, which once held messages of love, longing, and important news, was invisible to them. This indifference made me ponder—have we, in our digital rush, completely lost the essence of personal, handwritten communication?

There was a time when writing and receiving letters was an experience in itself. From carefully selecting the paper to composing words that truly conveyed emotions, from walking to the nearest Letter Box to dropping in an envelope with anticipation—every step had meaning. Letters were treasures, often preserved for years, carrying stories and memories that could be revisited time and again. I still have some letters from my parents, friends, and loved ones as treasured keepsakes, not wanting to part with them even for a handsome price. Contrast that with today’s scenario, where messages are typed in haste, often lacking depth, and deleted just as quickly as they are sent—needless to say, most of them are even emotionless.

The Department of Post’s effort to showcase the Letter Box at such a grand event was indeed praiseworthy. Perhaps their intent was to subtly remind people of a time when patience and personal effort were the essence of communication. Perhaps it was also an attempt to encourage people, especially youngsters, to take a break from excessive screen time and reconnect with the joy of writing.

In an era where digital overload is a growing concern, should we not encourage the younger generation to experience the charm of handwritten letters? This in no way means we should not patronize today's quick forms of communication. We should, but we must also remember that handwritten letters not only foster better expression but also enhance mindfulness, creativity, and emotional connection. Moreover, they contribute to a healthier lifestyle by substantially reducing screen time. Schools and communities should consider promoting letter-writing activities to rekindle this lost art.

Seeing that ignored Letter Box at the festival was an eye-opener. It made me question—are we so consumed by the fast pace of technology that we no longer value the simple, meaningful ways of communication? Perhaps it’s time we make a conscious effort to revive this tradition, one handwritten letter at a time.

The aroma of wellness!

Passing by the once large open field in the midst of the Doon Valley, the Parade Ground, now a smaller, beautified space overshadowed by various practical yet seemingly out-of-place establishments, reducing the area of the once magnificent ground to a much smaller open space. Let's not dwell on its transformation. Instead, I will focus on the title of this piece. Yesterday, while on my way to my bank, driving past the transformed parade ground, I found myself stuck in a chaotic tangle of traffic—vehicles crammed into no-parking zones and some blatantly ignoring one-way rules, much to the frustration of traffic cops doing their best to manage the mess.

 

Amid this chaos, my attention was drawn to fluttering flags in a large section of the ground's boundary announcing the 10th World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo. Intrigued, I also decided to park my car at a corner with the cop's consent. The parking lot is said to be a kilometre away on the EC Road—a claim I didn’t verify.

 

At the registration desk, I was handed the conference schedule with a menu outlining fees. Caught unprepared, I enquired about the Expo's entry and was relieved to learn it was free. Entering the arena, I was greeted by a bustling crowd of all ages, eagerly navigating their way to exhibition booths. Hundreds of Ayurvedic companies generously offered souvenirs and medicine samples, while government Ayurveda agencies encouraged visitors to download apps promoting various schemes and their benefits. It was an engaging showcase of traditional wellness amid urban chaos.

 

The aroma of wellness filled the beautifully designed makeshift enclosure, reminiscent of an Ayurveda medicine plant. The fragrant blend of herbal medicines was invigorating. The Expo displayed the aromatic benefits in various practices, from yoga and meditation to skincare and spa treatments. Beyond personal care, the aroma of wellness extended, offering a natural, accessible path to nurturing overall health and well-being. 

The aroma of wellness I am mentioning signifies the profound connection between scents and holistic well-being. Aromas, derived from essential oils and natural botanicals, have been celebrated for their ability to influence mood, reduce stress, and enhance physical and emotional health. This concept is rooted in aromatherapy, which harnesses the power of fragrances to promote relaxation, focus, and rejuvenation. 

 

My exploration began with the leading names in Ayurveda—Himalaya Wellness, Dabur, Zandu, Multani, Baidyanath, Patanjali, Sri Sri Ayurveda, the National Institute of Ayurveda, Amritdhara, SKM Siddha Ayurveda, and many others from across the country. While overseas participation may have centred on the conference running parallel, I noticed the presence of a few attendees from African nations, adding an international flair to the event.

 

During my interaction with numerous exhibitors, a small but impactful moment stood out. Noticing my intermittent cough, an attendee at the Himalaya Wellness pavilion where I was viewing the display handed me a strip of their cough-relieving lozenges, Koflet-H. Trusting the safety of the product coming from Himalaya, I tried two lozenges on the spot. By the evening, after consuming the entire strip of six lozenges, I experienced noticeable relief only to go to a pharmacist to get some more.

The soothing aroma of essential oils and natural herbs that filled the arena during my two-hour visit likely complemented the lozenges’ effect. This made me reflect on the profound potential of Ayurveda, the ancient Indian medical system with over 5,000 years of history. Rooted in nature, Ayurveda offers remedies that not only address physical ailments but also promote mental well-being. Imagine the possibilities of this holistic, nature-based approach—capable of alleviating both minor discomforts and more serious concerns, should one ever need it.

"Ehsas-e-Mohabbat" - Literary work full of emotions

Poetry allows one to express their feelings, fears, joys, and memories in a creative way. It can help make sense of complex emotions and provide a means of catharsis. It would not be wrong to say it allows communicating fears and passions and joys and memories in a way that preserves them, honours them, and lets others interact and share in those moments, too.

In the same way, Urdu poetry, with its lyrical cadence and profound depth, possesses an unparalleled ability to articulate the intricacies of human emotions.

So, you may be wondering why I am emphasising poetry and how it encourages us to put words to feelings that we can't otherwise describe. Well, to cut things short, the reason why I am emphasising the power of poetry in this piece is simply because I never knew that a person I have been knowing for some years and meeting him on different social platforms has the power to encapsulate human emotions in his writings. 

What further surprised me was a book he presented me a few days back, a collection of his over 6 decades of penning down different forms of emotions in poems, gazals, Urdu couplets, songs, and satire that takes you on a roller coaster ride where one experiences happiness, laughter, humour satire, sadness, disgust, fear, surprise, and anger—all forms of emotions—in the 155 pages studded with the different forms of poet’s feelings and calls that he makes through some of his poems. 

The best part of the book "Ehsas-e-Mohabbat" (एहसास-ए-मोहब्बत) is that it perfectly portrays a poet's true calibre of writing with ease in Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, and English languages, all of which form part of the work.

You must be desperately waiting to know who this personality the poet is. Well, Dr. Raj Bakshi, or "Gumrah," as he loves to be called, is the man behind "Ehsas-e-Mohabbat" (एहसास-ए-मोहब्बत). He substantiates the meaning of the title "Gumrah" as saying the couplet: “मैं गुमराह नहीं गुमराही का एहसास है मुझे एहसास-ए-मुहब्बत है वफ़ा का पास है मुझे”

A long-time resident of the Doon, he first got inspired to pen down his poetic lines in English at the age of fifteen after hearing the late Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru speech in Parade Ground in Dehradun, which were highly appreciated by all as coming from a child. The encouragement acted as a catalyst, and there was no looking back for Dr. Bakshi, and his poetic journey continues till today, even at 80.

A former ONGCian, Dr. Bakshi, besides his poetic eye, is equally at ease writing short stories, plays, and social commentaries.

Reciting a few of his favourite lines and couplets from the book as we both were chatting over a cup of tea in his heritage home of 1950 or even earlier, I realised sitting on a couch created a perfect ambiance for listening to a poet.

Much younger than Dr. Bakshi, I saw the poet enjoying reciting his work in the company of an audience no bigger than his son. Though I have a taste for such literary work, I truly felt elated for someone as senior and a literary person considering me good for his work review. Thank you, Dr. Bakshi!

The book has foreword by eminent personalities like Dr. S. Farooq, philanthropist, social worker, and Chairman, Himalaya Wellness Company; Mr. Indu Kumar Pandey, former Chief Secretary, Government of Uttarakhand; and Prof. Dr. Ram Vinay Singh, Department of Sanskrit, DAV (PG) College, Dehradun.

The sum total of what little I have described about the book pre-launch and the personality behind the work—a true valuation can only come when one goes through the thought-provoking over six decades of poetic work easily understandable by all of Dr. Bakshi.

The book will be formally launched at the Doon Library and Research Centre on September 8, 2024. Your presence to hear from the poet about his journey, the nostalgic moments of writing, and listen to the poems and couplets can be a true encouragement to a literary work. Needless to say, such literary work needs to be preserved and encouraged in today's times of materialism, when the need to be grounded is most required.