NOMADS OR SEEKERS?
Some lucky Verdurians are planning to have a pleasure trip
to the only ‘heaven’ on earth Kashmir. I understand VAS and Savi are planning
to entertain the group with latest Bollywood dance steps.
Another 65 Indians have been selected to ‘one way’ ticket to
Mars. One Mr. Jain, an Indian, based in the USA is planning regular flights to
Moon. I too have travelled a lot for office work and pleasure and pilgrimage
after retirement and been to almost all airports, railway and bus stations in
India and a few in foreign countries. I can claim to be an International Travelers.
There is a community in Rajasthan called ‘banjaras’ who
never stay at one place for long. They move with their belongings and members
of the family from one place to another. For livelihood they do various jobs
like blacksmiths, potters, artisans and roadside circus performers called ‘nuts’.
They are true nomads. We have heard and seen the ‘backpackers’ from the West
called Hippies. Once I met a Londoner in the caves of Ajanta and Ellora who was
on the move for almost four years then. He started from London and went to
places and when money fell short did odd jobs, stayed in cheapest accommodations,
ate frugal food and fell ill too but nothing stopped him.
What takes us to
visit unknown destinations? Is it the
boredom of staying at one place or the inquisitive nature of humans to explore
new places, people and ideas? Are we seekers or simply nomads? And then we
return to where he started from, to our place of origin or roots. Strange it
may look but we have an unfulfilled desire to experience something new because
we are not satisfied with we already have.
Another equally strong logic may be to explore the unknown.
Our saints and sages have given their lifetime to bring to us the mystery of
the unknown as they experienced it during their own nomadic ways.
And then there are people who have not moved anywhere from
their place of birth. They lived and died there. They did not have resources
but more than that they did not have the inclination and courage to take risks
of travelling to unknown places, talk to unknown people and experience a
different culture.
Verurians in Kashmir will figure it out, I think. But for
this nomadic way of life Amarnath would have remained hidden from us. Thanks to
the Muslim ‘gadria’ (goat grazer) who saw it on his nomadic trails and informed
of the existence of ‘Shiva lingam’. Nehru used to get his quota of drinking
water from Chasme- Sahi. May be because bottled French water was not available
then. It surely was not for the love of his homeland.
WISHING YOU ALL A VERY REWARDING JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF
MAGICAL BEAUTY.
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