In search

International Mountain Day is being celebrated the world over today especially by the Darjeeling Himalayan Initiative (DHI) and The Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI). This year's theme is 'Biodiversity of Sikkim Himalaya' and a broad range of issues was discussed by the expert panelists.  The major question or questions were "How do we mainstream/ bring discussion on Biodiversity in our day to day lives? Where and when did our disconnect with nature happen?" The panelists provided really great insights on the role of education, media, and social media in bringing back this connection. I think there is no easy and quick answers to these really difficult questions. Maybe there is a greater need for reflection and analysis. That wedge of disconnect with nature is growing into a gorge. Who is to be blamed? What is to be blamed? Or is blaming enough? Are there any solutions and would they work? The disconnect is there in how we live, what we eat and what we grow...

Google+ Reflecting the first rays of the sun-Morning Click on image to enlarge view Enveloped in Fog - Daytime Click on image to enlarge view The lights are on- Dusk Click on image to enlarge view Darjeeling is this beautiful land that lies on lap of Mount Kanchenjunga. It's the land of the two river goddesses the Teesta and the Rungeet. It's the land of the clouds, mountains, ravines and forests. This is the view from my home, where one can get a partial view of the Kanchenjunga. The land plays hide and seek behind the clouds and seems to change in the blink of an eye. A bright sunny day gets enveloped in fog by noon and ends in rain. People mostly grumble on the finicky nature, but in reality it's the most beautiful and amazing natural phenomenon-the water cycle!  Yesterday I was chatting with my Dad enjoying this view from my verandah. He recalled how the landscape was covered with forests with only a few houses dotting the hills. Even I remem

Flying away into the sunset. .. This is evidence of how each year trees are being cut to make space for human settlements. The last of the birds leave their habitat to search for better homes. I remember how we used to play in the jungles. Today very small patches are left of our playground and the homes of the birds and the squirrels. The face of the hill has now been plastered with concrete buildings. There's a small patch of jungle in front of my house that is thriving with birds, squirrels and insects. We throw leftover rice and roti into the jungle which creates a lot of activity within the bushes. It's a magnificent ecosystem! One that lends freshness and beauty to our home, one that doesn't need or depends on us. My wife and I contemplate if this jungle will remain till the next ten years. We have less hope of this jungle surviving. Deep inside my heart I wish to buy this patch of land, so that I can preserve it for my son and for our retirement days! I gue

Its said that you need to take time out for the things you wanted to do rather than regret not having taken the time to do so. The New Year is an excellent time to review this list. For me, one of the many things I have not taken out the time for is this post, which I meant to write on New Year's day. So finally here I am busily punching on my keypad at a children's park in Siliguri.  My wife is lazily sifting through the Sunday newspaper while Appa seems pleasantly satisfied on his wheel chair basking in the warmth of the winter sun. Chunki our Tibetan abso is now finally resting after all the running and chasing. My wife steals occasional glances as I bury myself into this gadget aware of her disapproval at my preoccupation. Well the thing is that much happened in 2012 and so in retrospect here's my top three wishlist for 2013. 1. Firstly a prayer and wish for the Delhi Rape victim, that her death and suffering will not go in vain. Like everyone else he

 The HImalayas Having grown up on the beautiful lap of Himalayas, the omnipresent sight of the mountains has always brought joy and peace into my heart. Later I was told that the people of my tribe hold the mountains sacred and pray to the mountains. They said it is the source from where all things begin and end, and it’s the doorway to the fabled Mayal Lyang (paradise) of the Lepchas where time has no beginning and end. In the initial part of my life I never tried to understand what the mountains meant in my life or why it meant so much to me. I only knew that every time I looked at the glorious Kanchenjunga my heart would leap with joy when I was sad, it would calm me when shaken and confused, and help me reach to the sacred part of myself that I now call soul. I revere the mountains because of its beauty and magnificence. It shows me how pure, sacred and pristine it is covered in a halo of snow. Its so beautiful and yet stands alone, unmoved in solitude with unmatched