Trip to the mountains

Himachal is a state very close to my heart. I was fortunate enough to spend a part of my childhood in Shimla, the capital city of this beautiful state, and even the name of the state brings back vivid  memories of a very happy childhood spent there. Thus, it was nothing short of a very pleasant surprise when I got to know that I would be travelling to Himachal, as part of the Lakhon Mein Ek Campaign being conducted by Pratham. Travelling for work isn’t always fun, but if your organization is sending you to the place where you can reminiscence your childhood, who would not love to go!

I arrived in Shimla a few days ago. It was like stepping back in time. Everything seemed to be just the same as I had left it, a decade ago. My favourite eateries on the Mall road were just the same, with the signboards intact as they had been back when I was a child. The shop across Town Hall selling hot gulab jamuns was still brimming with tourists and locals alike – and need I mention that the taste was heavenly? The Krishna Bakery on the Mall road still sells its world famous momos – and I could even recognize the owner there! The optical shop next to Gaindamall Stores which gave me my first pair of spectacles was still there – it hadn’t closed down, nor had it expanded! The familiarity comforted me like little else can. While of course, in ten years the city had changed, but these little things were what made me feel closer to 13 year old me.

I digress. The purpose of my coming to Himachal wasn’t reminiscence, but to assess learning levels of children, and help them improve, in whatever little way possible.  And today, I visited the first of the many villages which I will be visiting in this week. I would love to use words like how inspiring the visit was, and how it has motivated me even more to work for the development of the society– but honestly, I only felt jealous. Jealous of the simple life the people are leading, jealous of how the people are so loving and caring – not just to each other, but even to strangers like me. I was forced to sit and eat lunch with them, and that reminded me why Indian hospitality is unmatchable!

Not to forget the kids! It was because of them that I was here, after all. It is always refreshing to talk to kids – and here when we were giving them group activities to be done, it was such a delight watching them help and tease each other!  They started an impromptu competition amongst themselves (They called themselves Tiger v/s Cheetah); and each group promised me that it would be the winner the next time I visit them. Which led me to ask what they would like as a prize for the winning group; and their answer really did inspire me-

“Didi, please notebook le aana! Bohot kami rehti hai”

“Aur pencil bhi chahiye!”

And that, was the end of Day 1. Looking forward to more inspirational days ahead!