Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa is a beautiful city now.I grew up in Bhubaneswar. I have fond memories of Bhubaneswar as I spent my School days and College days there. Childhood friends from my Sainik School Days are the most dear ones, so far. So, its not an accident, if we meet. The meetings are followed by discussing chilhood moments spent together in the boarding school, which are very nostalgic and at times very funny while pulling each others legs. A Social Drinking is normally followed by meetings which is then follwed by food giving us enough time to discuss life as it passes by us.There are a lot of changes that we see in each other’s life as life goes by.
Its beautiful to be young and sorrounded by childhood friends who share their emotions with you as age catches up, with baldness and greying hair. We, the boys who joined Sainik School in 1976 met in Bhubaneswar on 17th July 2010. In an hour’s notice, we planned to meet in Crown Hotel at Nayapalli for cocktail and Dinner.
It was very memorable, seeing many friends after a long time.
Posted in Friends.
By AlokRanjan Pradhan
– August 7, 2010
![http://datastore.rediff.com/h5000-w5000/thumb/596569666C697372/oh5r5oqbt5610nxq.D.0.26784_1426280863851_1437679088_1135528_95800_n[1].jpg](http://datastore.rediff.com/h5000-w5000/thumb/596569666C697372/oh5r5oqbt5610nxq.D.0.26784_1426280863851_1437679088_1135528_95800_n[1].jpg)
OLD BOYS (SCHOOL) MEET:
Childhood memories are beautiful !The school-days spent during childhood is filled with fun and laughter.There is wholesome laughter and experiments with all, including nature and its surroundings!The life is carefree as one is not bothered about anything like a job, career or money. This is more so, when one is in a boarding school where one has a 24hours interaction with each other. We had a gathering as Old Boys Association of Sainik School, Bhubaneswar in New Delhi recently. All the Ex Students Of my school, that is Sainik School, Bhubaneswar who were in and around Delhi were invited to the OBA meet in an Officers Mess in Delhi Cantt. The programme was scheduled at 7:30 pm onwards! As expected the old boys started arriving from 7:30 pm onwards! I was there by 7:45 pm. As I entered, I came across some familiar faces, whom I had met in the last year’s meet . There was warmth , a sense of belonging-ness and and the pride to be an SSBian. The eyes, while meeting with the other SSBian expressed it. Oh! How we longed to be together, again ! The interactions started with drinks. Teachers Scotch for me! As the snacks did the rounds , we came across some familiar faces, some just immediate seniors, some very seniors, some like our father figures with their decorations in the armed forces ! It was a matter of pride, to be amongst the achievers, achievers in their own field. There was a sense of one-ness amongst all. The programme was lively with music and songs. It led to dance at times. The children who were accompanied by their parents were seen around playing There was a life, to the party! We all discussed about our life, career, family and kids and any future plans which we dreamt! I was very happy to meet some of my friends and seniors whom I met after a long time!
I met Rajendra Patra, who was one year senior to me. He was brilliant! A genius in his batch. Very ideal, disciplined, a role model to his juniors, who wanted to excel in academics. We shared the same hostels in school. Both in Narmada as Junior and Mahanadi as Senior Hostels. He is still the same. Very reserved, disciplined and idealistic to me. Although, I met him before in Delhi, it was after a gap of almost 15 years now that I was meeting him! There was warmth in his talks. He is now married with two kids, a son and a daughter. Now, as a father, he looked very happy. I remember spending my weekends, in his own house for almost a year in Delhi, which he bought after he was back from Dubai in 1994. He was single and so I enjoyed his company on Saturdays and Sundays, in his house discussing everything under the earth and life. He vividly remembered my days with him, in School! Once, he took out, a passport photograph of mine that he had taken from me in school as a token of memory. It was not a good passport photograph! It was the photograph that was taken by the photographer in school, who comes to take our photos to be attached in our class-X examination application form . My face was more oily and too black and odd-looking! These photographs are done in a hurry and that too taken in the Cycle stand with the wall of the notice board as the background which was just under the Tagore Assembly Hall in the School Building! My eyes moistened, seeing this photograph with RPatra. Then he said, “Look Alok, now I feel very haapy. Happy to say, that once two toppers of each class in their two previous hostels are together! Together, on this balcony of my home, sipping tea with the weather so beautiful, outside! It was raining. A shower of rain was outside as we faced the road on his balcony! I don’t know what happened to me, I had some water drops suddenly flowing from my eyes! Some four-five drops! May be, they were tears ! Tears, out of joy, belonging-ness, one-ness or affection, I don’t know. I am still confused to say, how it could happen! He is the RPatra that I met after a gap of 15 years! The years, have made me, as well as him a tougher man to face the life as it comes!
![http://datastore.rediff.com/h5000-w5000/thumb/596569666C697372/er0qhn8s4ki882p2.D.0.OgAAAOz9K3hBOHtqMxxcDw4PGXfUSZ_EMspTcwhZVWzfGEyZUyJ7DcQQM6fgDR0OGeV_KO1XL0Cm0uUuBskJdhDO4G8Am1T1UPkPC_Asa7ctRfFcpm_spKUCh-fD[1].jpg](http://datastore.rediff.com/h5000-w5000/thumb/596569666C697372/er0qhn8s4ki882p2.D.0.OgAAAOz9K3hBOHtqMxxcDw4PGXfUSZ_EMspTcwhZVWzfGEyZUyJ7DcQQM6fgDR0OGeV_KO1XL0Cm0uUuBskJdhDO4G8Am1T1UPkPC_Asa7ctRfFcpm_spKUCh-fD[1].jpg)
I met Salil, my classmate in School here. We were admitted to the School in Class VI on the same day , that was on the 5th of July 1976. He is as happy, as he was in School. Very sensitive. Very polished, in his mannerism and approach! I remember he used to hum the song ” Suno !, Kaho !, Kuchch Hua Kya ?” after we headed to have tea after the afternoon-games though the parade ground. This was when,we saw films on Saturdays in the School. The songs and dialogues were normally enacted by all, during leisure-hours by all the students, who fancied Films and Cine-Stars! Almost everyone did and fantasized to be a Dharmendra romancing Hema!
I met PRPati, two years senior to me in School here too.I remember him as a handsome, healthy and a fair guy, who was once scolded by one Mr.Mallick, the Physics Lab-Asst. He was doing some practicals on the corridor on “Resonance”. Our class was quite close to the Physics-labs.The scolding was hilarious! It made our class roar with laughter! Mr.S.Mallick had then just shouted to PRPati ” PRPati ! Don’t show your Doo..ddha (Breasts) to me. Apparently, it was due to Pati ’s chest-button being open which had irritated Mr.Mallick. Opening of chest button in school days, meant a sense of superiority to us. Keeping one’s shirt out , Wearing Chappals to every activity, Wearing dirty dresses, uncut hair were some of the traits of superiority, that only seniors or brave kids dared!
![http://datastore.rediff.com/h5000-w5000/thumb/596569666C697372/t2fjcqj8sze60i2k.D.0.OgAAAKwx9HuwJ8R6Vv6sqcL2_w9kQ9XQqgcygOwzFCBUWBpBvrGEWGfAusOUYS4gpLYm_PN0aZWZ5zDvmdM9o_9R-v8Am1T1UEb5UqZX4phck_qLuAO9i_STkrl7[1].jpg](http://datastore.rediff.com/h5000-w5000/thumb/596569666C697372/t2fjcqj8sze60i2k.D.0.OgAAAKwx9HuwJ8R6Vv6sqcL2_w9kQ9XQqgcygOwzFCBUWBpBvrGEWGfAusOUYS4gpLYm_PN0aZWZ5zDvmdM9o_9R-v8Am1T1UEb5UqZX4phck_qLuAO9i_STkrl7[1].jpg)
Then I met PKSatpathy, two years senior to me in school.He was very popular in school-days as he was the House Captain of Yamuna House. Very smart and active,in thosedays! He is smarter even today! I remember him during my days in JNU, while we were students. He was a very happy,romantic and yet a very emotional guy in JNU.I remember once, when we were having tea once, around Ganga Dhaba, in JNU and there was some discussion about family and mothers..There was this Satpathy, who said his mother was so happy once, to receive a money-order from him that brought tears to his eyes! His emotion was equally shared by each of us who knew the essence of the mother.His mother boasted about her son caring her so much amongst her neighbours that,he almost choked to complete er feelings! We shared the same emotions sometimes or other in our life. So, everyone of us there, were misty-eyed hearing him! That’s him!
I met Jagdish Pati, too who was one-year Junior to me in the School. I know him as a gentle and caring one.I met him in the Indian Military Academy in Dehradoon in 1987 , after I left the school in 1983.I went to IMA to witness the Passing Out Parade and to decorate the ranks to DKAcharya my batchmate and hostelmate in School who was passing out from IMA. So, it was a matter of great honour, for me to visit IMA then in 1987 as the guest of Acharya. I reached there, two days early. It was in December.I had dinner in their IMA mess, where I met Sabuj Panda who was so drunk that instead of welcoming me, he was very offensive verbally in English and Hindi, that is very typical of NDA/ IMA guys, very Chieselled vulgarism in English! All that I could make out from what he said repeatedly then, was that he had eaten one snake that too,raw which he caught live in a jungle and boasting it as a survival trick that should be practised by people in defence personnel at war! Survival instinct! What survival instinct ? I asked Acharya who said it’s a survival instinct, trained to people who are lost in the jungle during a war and have no food to survive themselves! But, now since he is drunk that thought of snake eating had screwed his mind! I did not mind, as I knew him as an affectionate kid in school, who was also my Hostel mate in Mahanadi. The next morning before we could wake-up in the Barracks, we were surprised to hear knocks on our door. While DKAcharya,opened the door, we found Sabuj had arrived on his bicycle,to beg apology from me, saying someone in his barrack said he misbehaved with a schooltype!I was very touched by his gesture! The same day, I went to Mussoorie to see the place, which Acharya said was beautiful and very near by. As the passing parade was on the next day,I went to visit Mussoorie. After seeing all the places around Mussoorie, I went towards the IAS Academy (Lal Bahadur Academy of Administration)where I enquired about N.K.Sundar Ray who was a probationer there from Debabrat Kantha who was also a probationer from Orissa with Andhra Cadre. Sundarray was very happy to receive me as we knew each other well in JNU and in BBSR as our homes were very near to each other. He asked me to spend the night in the Academy. It was a great feeling of honour to me, as I also wanted to be one IAS someday! We went around the Academy campus , had a great dinner in their mess which was sumptuous ! He got me introduced to some of his friends. But I liked one Vinny Mahajan , the girl who was from IIM Calcutta and the 17th ranker in the IAS list then. She was supposed to drop me near IMA, the next morning for the Passing Out Parade Ceremony as they were supoosed to pass by IMA, on their route for Bharat Darshan.I was very happy to meet such a friendly girl from Delhi then! She was very bright and well mannered. However , on the next day when I reached IMA, the Entry gates were sealed for visitors due to security reasons and the arrival of the Chief Guest for the Parade. I was very worried and felt very sad.. There was no mobiles nor telephone contacts in the Barracks to inform Acharya about the mess!I kept waiting outside while the ceremony was on! Then after waiting for two hours or so, I was allowed to enter the IMA campus alongwith others, who were waiting outside. I felt very sad as I was helpless outside. There was no way , I could convince Acharya about the mishap!My purpose of going to IMA was not met. However,with a heavy heart I went near the auditorium where the newly commissioned officers were coming out, after the ceremony. I tried to look for Dillip Acharya at the entrance and beyond! A few minutes later I found Dillip Acharya coming out of the hall with his cmmissioned officers rank on his soldiers. Alongwith him came JCPati who was commissioned on the same day, with his brother and his parents. Seeing me,Acharya rushed towards me and hugged me. Tears rolled down from his eyes, as he thought I might have had met some accident in the landslides that was a common occurances in the Mussorie valley then. I felt relieved that atleast he was honoured by Pati’s elder brother in the ceremony, who was present there.We moved around IMA in the evening and left for New Delhi by IMA bus.On the way we halted at Saharanpur where me met NKSundar ray who was on his way for Bharat Darshan. Sundar Ray was very happy to meet Sabuj Panda who looked like a mini Idi Amin then! Dillip Acharya was also very happy to meet Sundarray. We had beer and dinner in a near-by bar and then left for New Delhi.
![http://datastore.rediff.com/h5000-w5000/thumb/596569666C697372/w6kb9t5xv1jaq5j8.D.0.n1437679088_363230_912817[1].jpg](http://datastore.rediff.com/h5000-w5000/thumb/596569666C697372/w6kb9t5xv1jaq5j8.D.0.n1437679088_363230_912817[1].jpg)
Posted in MEMORIES.
By AlokRanjan Pradhan
– April 27, 2010
Bribes in India is almost an institution. At least 80% of people in India believe that to get anything done smoothly in India, you need to bribe the person, who deals in your work especially when it comes to matters like getting your money for your work, or asking for a loan from your organisation,or any favour that is very essential in your day-to-day life.
It’s very un-ethical but but people do bribe to avoid harassment or delay in getting their work done. No one wants to waste time, making rounds to ask for his requirements which is very time-consuming and money-consuming that is through travel or transport missing family or work. Sometimes,it is very disturbing and irritating!But people do. I at times, feel pity for the person asking for bribe, from anyone for any particular act.I consider it as an act, equal to begging. People need other’s money when they don’t have enoough to survive or make a living.But to enjoy one’s life at others’ cost is mean and immoral!
In my office where I work, an accountant is so much addicted to bribes that he does not spare even Fourth Class employees. The fourth class employees who are paid some 250 rupees allowance for their uniforms annually, pay 50 rupees to him to get the money without hassles. This money which he gets, is usually spent by this Accountant and his gang on alcohol which they consume in the office itself after office hours. Very well organised loot, by these people.Its difficult to face them when they are together. With 20 years in the same post, they think its their birth right to demand bribes!I am sure the authorities are aware but helpless!May be they need them for their work at times and so keep a safe distance to question them!
A country like India, where the heads are puppets or dummies , what else can you expect from these ordinary mortals !
But one thing is certain , for sure. These people do not last to see the colour or the pleasure of the money they make, by immoral means. They die a very un-natural death. Their dependents are widowed, or killed or handicapped. If the amount is very high that too from the public’s money where the public are poor, then they die a dreadful death. It’s the God, that takes care of these evils by eliminating them or their happiness from the world.
*****
Posted in IMMORAL ACTS.
By AlokRanjan Pradhan
– April 6, 2010
TEACHINGS BY KARMAPA :I was very fortunate to attend a two-days teaching programme by His Holiness the Karmapa in Delhi on 19th and 20th of February 2010, which was held in the India Habitat Centre in NewDelhi.The teachings were basically about cultivating Compassion on a day to day life. The programme was very interesting and was a very good learning experience. Karmapa this time, was very matured in his teachings and in handling question-answer sessions.I had attended one, last year around this time.His examples were very practical this time with more humour that added to everyones’ interest.
The invitees included around 250 people of which around 100 were foreigners: mainly westerners. Many of them were monks or nuns or Lamas. So it was a very peaceful and learned gathering.I happened to meet some of my old friends who are used to the practises of meditation and spiritual interests.So it was a very well gathering of people with similar intersts and practises. The two-day session ended with good memories of the lectures and some photographs with Karmapa.
Posted in COMPASSION.
By AlokRanjan Pradhan
– March 22, 2010
BOOK LAUNCHES IN NEWDELHI:
Book launches are a great time to interact with the author of the book in person. It gives the perception of the author’s first-hand information and clears the doubt of any intentions. It is also a great time to share your views alongwith other’s-take on the author and his writtings alongwith his skills in articulating.
I attended a Book Launch titled “Tibet ” by Pervez Dewan (A bureaucrat by profession who headed ITDC ) on 8th Dec 2009 at 6 pm at Hotel Lalit (Previously Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza). His description of the book was very informative, like Lhasa which he says, is very modern in its outlook and urbane-ness. It was definitely very interesting to hear him speak about Tibet . That’s what we know of Lhasa, as a great tourist destination. The book was released by Kumari Selja, the Union minister for Tourism .
Yesterday ( 9th Dec 2009), there was a book release function of Dhyaan Foundation at Hotel Le Meridian. The book described some 51 miracles by the Yogi through his disciples. It was narrated and discussed where the persons who experienced the miracles, were also present. One needs to hear their experince to believe. I am a believer. I believe in miracles and God. So, to me, it was like ” Yes it is possible and can happen”. There was a live interaction with Yogi Ashwini who is the master or the spiritual Guru of the foundation. His answers were very direct and convincing! It was a real treat for me, as a spiritual seeker. I wish to join the foundation as early as possible and seek spiritual solace and contentment !
The programme ended at around 10 pm with a lavish spread of Dinner.
Posted in BOOK LAUNCHES.
Tagged with Add new tag.
By AlokRanjan Pradhan
– March 22, 2010
Hi All !
BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR-2010.
ALOK R PRADHAN,
NEW DELHI.
Posted in Friends.
By AlokRanjan Pradhan
– January 1, 2010
Music in the park sounds very interesting. It’s really, very interesting. Last Saturday ( 5th Dec 2009) , there was a Musical Concert of Pandit Ravi Shankar alongwith Anoushka Shankar in Nehru Park , Chanakyapuri,New Delhi.
These are some rare occasions, that one must not miss in life . I wanted to hear their music… live, from ages. But due to non-availability of passes or tickets for these rare musical events,in Delhi , I could not. It is through the advertisements on the signboards, that I came to know of the programme which was for free !
So, I reached at the venue early, at around 5 pm for the programme which was supposed to start at 5:30 pm. There was a very urbane and decent crowd for the event. Many young foreigners mostly Europeans were seen amongst the crowd. This is what makes their music demand go global and appealing !
The event started with a documentary film of Pandit Ravi Shankar for around 20 minutes that showed about his life and his family .The musical programme followed .
It was magic. The audience enjoyed every bit of the music through their silence and appreciation. The weather ( nice, cool winter) added to the charm. The place looked so colourful, with a variety of winter clothes worn by the audience.
The music left everyone present there, spellbound. It was really a masterpiece event for everyone present there.
I hope to see some more of these events in future !
So, Music in the Park, that too in Delhi’s Nehru Park is something that one must not miss in Life, especialy in winter.
Posted in Music.
By AlokRanjan Pradhan
– December 9, 2009
Hi Everybody !
MY BEST WISHES TO YOU ALL ,
FOR A HAPPY 2009..
Alok R Pradhan.
Posted in Friends.
By AlokRanjan Pradhan
– January 2, 2009
KASHMIR - A HEAVEN ON EARTH:
Kashmir is a heaven on this Earth. The nature is so beautiful ! .. , you wish the same should be all over around this world. The greenery, the mountains, the pine trees, the snow..,the Dal Lake in Srinagar. the Houseboats, the streams around Aru in Pahalgaon is so breathtaking…..!
I visited Kashmir in the month of March, some years ago while I was studying in Delhi University to meet one of my friends who was posted in Banihal as a Commissioned Officer in the Indian Army.
I reached Jammu by train early in the morning.There was an Army Bus waiting to carry Army Personnel from the Station in Jammu . As informed, an army jawan was there to welcome me aboard the bus.The bus started after an hour or so with a few passengers to Srinagar.The journey was pleasant with the nature through the bus window looking very beautiful with scenic pictures.There were snow on the roadside that were starting to melt due to sun’s rays with the day’s arrival in the form of stream. Beautiful young girls moved on and across the road with their herds of sheep. They looked really pretty with beautiful long noses and fair complexion.There were apple trees at higher reaches. The view over the mountain tops, as the bus moved, was very pleasant.
The bus reached in the evening.I went to meet the Commanding Officer (CO) alongwith my friend as a formal gesture of respect for the Colonel.The CO suggested me to visit a picturesque place called Aru in Pahalgam where some of the regiments’ troop were on some exercise.He advised me to go with them , the next morning.I was very happy to accept the offer and thanked him for his benevolent gesture.I visited Aru. It was very picturesque, the scenery was very pleasant to the eyes. The mountains around were covered with snow. A narrow flow of stream cutting through rocks nearby, was very beautiful with pure crystal-clearwater ( freezing cold).It was simply ” Beautiful “!The next day I visited Srinagar, Dal Lake, Shalimar Garden , Anantnag temple and some places of historical importance.The places were very calm and friendly (It was1988).There were no crowded places in these areas as found in other places in India.It was bliss.
Posted in Travel.
By AlokRanjan Pradhan
– November 20, 2008
HILLQUEEN SHIMLA :
For a change , I visited Shimla lastweek (21-27 SEPT’07 ). It was my fourth visit to Shimla in the last 5 years.There is not much change out there. It’s the beginning of winter there now. Mornings and evenings are cooler. But one change that I made this time was the travel by train from Shimla to Kalka while returning to Delhi . It was a very picturesque travel with mountains, tunnels, trees and natural sorroundings on the way. I started from Shimla in the Deluxe Express at 5:40pm to reach Kalka at 10:25pm.The train provided tea and snacks at the start of the journey. Later, at around 8pm it provided dinner (Chicken for me).The ticket was reasonably priced (Rs.280).The train with five bogies had around 70 passengers in all. Each compartment had 18 seats with deluxe push back chairs.It had decent passengers mostly honeymooners or young couples / lovers without kids.The travel this time was quite memorable.
If you are a member of Youth Hostel Association of India , you can stay in Satkar Hotel at Lakkad Bazaar near the Mall. It is opposite the Medical College there. Nearby Dhabas provide quite delicious food at reasonable rates. Although the local travel agents charge more for local travels , you can always bargain to see places of your interests. The places to see there are mainly Kufri, Green Valley, Sankat moc-han Temple and Taptapani. The night view by train or bus from Shimla to Kalka is colourful especially around Solan with its lights that looks like a Diwali festival there.
Posted in Travel.
By AlokRanjan Pradhan
– September 30, 2007
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