KOTDWAR : YET TO COME OUT OF ITS COLOUR

Dear Candy,

"This would probably be my last blog of the year as your mom and me are here for a week in our farm house in the native town of Kotdwara (Garhwal) looking for a peace of mind, after you depart. Leaving my birthday and New Year celebration aside, we wish to refill fresh spirit in ourselves for a new start on the advent of upcoming year. This blog cum travelogue just for you and our near and dear. Hope my friends on Orkut communities would digest it well.
Love, I have plenty to describe about my place (unfortunately which you haven’t been and seen) which will be coming up in my later blogs.
Stay connected."

Your loving Dad
Sudeep Rawat


….. And here goes my travelogue:

My ongoing visit to my native town of Kotdwar made me nostalgic as my community on Orkut was one of an inspiring factor. Beside that, unfortunate demise of my almost two years old beloved undesirably allowed us little time ease off for a change. My journey starts from my hometown of Chandigarh leaving aside my routine business, relatives/near and dear and city’s blitz, just for a peace of mind which was desperate requisite for a highly mourned couple.

Call of the thick green lush forest of Lansdowne range, spiritualism of Sidhballi, faded memories of fishing at the river Khoh, Sailing self made paper boats on stream lane (nehar) of Devi Road, unforgettable taste of Mangoes from own orchards took me no time to steer towards my “own” place. The visit indeed was a pilgrimage as we were leaving there since dates back even before the formation of Uttranchal or Uttrakhand. Hectic driving enroute Dehradun, Haridwar and Najibabad finally made us enter to Hemvati Nandan Bahugana Dwar, which made our formal welcome to the Devbhoomi or Uttranchal/ Uttrankhand. First time I was truly realising the absence of the interference of my loving Candy on my gear pad. Wished if, she continue to do so for more.

My weeklong stay in my native town offers in plenty especially when I am in Youngistan, cannot resist myself commenting on youth. Cheerful and well attired youth spotted at streets are the testimonies of their self confidence. Jeans clad girls on their small scooties beeping their horns escaping their ducks (vehicles) without caring my Car’s honking. And boys are boys….. Known for their ‘tripplee’ on their bikes … knows every art of fleeing themselves through the narrow streets. Hats off their confidence level for having that sense of enthusiasm. Tourist Sweet Shop at Station Road is not only the single hang out for youth but numerous spots like Hot and Cold, Sidhballi Sweets, Bikaner Sweets, Eats and etc. are mushrooming and getting their hold day by day. Dating is not limitised upto these eating joints but Poonam and me, while our drive found their dating destinations are as far as Kanwaashram, Dugadda and Lalpaani. Yahh, its mentionworthy here, that Durga Traders near Hanuman Mandir has maintained its taste of his confectionary products. A bite of his oven heated patty realised me its taste as good as any baker of metro. Station road got a new look with the ease off running traffic their. But creaky kiosks selling audio cassettes playing incomprehensible pahari number continues to be in fashion.

Good to see school kids braving chill of the mounts making their way to schools giving enough strength to Govt’s Sarv Shiksha Abhiyaan. I was told by a local educationalist, that in the recent time, local English medium schools outnumbered the traditional govt schools, which mean local Garhwalis now have realised the importance of English and quality education for the upcoming generation. Or is that mean I am blaming ruling Govts (time to time) of newly formed state. Could be ! That is why both counterparts play dirty politics even for the change of state’s name. Sometime I rued on that “Naam mein kya rakha hai”. It’s better if I don’t pollute my blog with the xing of dirty politics.

Newly formed bus stand near Sitabpur, dividing lane of Devi Road, establishment of shopping complexes (not shopping malls), beautification of Kotdwar Railway Station (which is the last one enroute to Pauri), investment on resorts like Ashirwaad Resort on the bank of Khoh near Sidhballi made me happy and proud on a first impression. People are banking highly beyond Sidhballi towards Saneh for their final dwelling after their retirement. Is that the booming sign for real estate industry in Kotdwar ? Buck up those who have not yet planned for their Ashiyaana. Ohh Yes, Sidhballi. What a delight to see it in the evening. We noticed the beautification and maintenance of this shrine helped in its popularity a lot and now Sidhaballi Management Board (or may be Trust) in association with local administration organises “Sidhballi Mahotsava” like any other festival.

Jhanda Chowk named after the tricolour being installed in the middle, which I reckons never been changed since its inception. Right guys!! It actually disappoints me, the place which is the oldest landmark of the town and hunted by many footfalls, got such a miserable state of patriotism. I don’t know, weather local administration knows about their basic fundamental duties. But wowww !!! Jhanda Chowk never lost its charm. From trading communities to labourers (making endless wait for their wages), from a commuter to road side romeos, it has plenty to offer for everyone. I had made my brief halt for paani ki batashey (golgappas). This time on paper made bowl not leaves folded single use bowls (donna) and moved ahead. Midway I dropped my plan to watch movie at old fashioned talkies or cinema theatre. Not a good idea when you are accompanied with your highly qualified engineer wife. We both gave up with a mutual consent. Don’t ask why ? All I can only say, it will take years to come even think of its new conceptualisation.

Hardly a half kilometre away from Jhanda Chowk, another famous chowk dissects two routes i.e. Najibabad and Sattichaur (and numerous chaurs). I still remember my cousin’s friend’s shop near the chowk allows enough time to sit there and to observe different walks of lives. Alas ! Gone were those days. Also, there was the absence of hawking conductors for alluring commuters to fill their jeeps for uphill drives -Lansdown and Pauri and Yesterday, I just parked my Car without caring the no parking zone and trying to feel that place as much as I can. Auto rickshaw stands still same as it is but disappointed to see the non functional of the lighting system installed at the middle. Ohh dear fellow citizens of Kotdwar, don’t you want systematic flow of your traffic. Raise you concerns if you are reading my blog. Development of the place lies in your hand.

Please stand me correct, if I rate Kotdwar like any other ordinary town of India (siding metro status and B category) with its handsome literacy rate (higher than native literacy rate) and per capita income due to its natural blessings. A place where internet café are easily accessible but the hoardings/billboards of Paan-Biddis/Zardaa continue to dominate. My observance says, a youth wearing his best never hesitate to pillion his octogenarian granny or grandpa on his vehicle, thus continued his mark of respect for elders. Mallika Sherawat which could be easily visible by the means of DTH even at the far flung, but the institution of Goddesses resulted construction and maintenance of temples at every corners. The town and its people which never allows go begging the martyr of any Army jawan and lend his name to a respectable street, park or chowk.

During my weeklong stay here, I somehow realised this part of the world has really progressed leap and bound in the recent years but also gets the feeling that Kotdwar has yet to come out of its colours.