Arunachal 3

I really felt that I would be able to cover Arunachal in two articles but it's so beautiful that just to  wind it up, would be great injustice to the land.

Tawang monastery is second largest in the world, the largest in India, and is enshrined by Dalai Lama himself after he visited it in November 2009. In spite of strong protests by China he was welcomed by the locals whole heartedly and Indian Government stood behind them stoically. In war of 1962 China had occupied the monastery for 6 months ! [ In fact most of Tawang district was taken by China in 1962 war, later about that .]

Monastery in  itself is a small village, having many houses where citizens still reside along with monks, which are around 400 in number.

 

Being situated at the height of 10000 feet, the view of Himalayas from the monastery is truly liberating in every aspect.

We also visited a monastery on the way meant only for women monks. A small girls was practicing Monpa alphabets in full earnestness. The lady monk who was attending to her was asked, 'Are these Chinese alphabets ?'. She was incensed to the core, retorted bit angrily. 'Why should she learn Chinese? These are our alphabets like Ka Kha Ga  in Hindi !'
The Tibetans who fled from China after 1959 annexation still hope that they may return to their homeland. Considering China's power today, in all respects, the hope seems bit far fetched.



Tawang War memorial was next halt. The one whose eyes do not get wet after listening to the officer who takes you on the tour , is not a true Indian ! More than 2600 Indians gave away their lives in one way war. In 1962, we were so ill equipped , that in the end it was one to one war with daggers ! And every part of India made its sacrifice. Likes of Kanhaiyakumar who blurt in Delhi about the freedom must be given a tour of this war experienced part of India, or made to serve in army at least for an year or so, after which they would not utter a word about freedom of any kind in or out of Indian ethos !



What is being Indian? I don't know. As a common man I can't define it within the frame work of our constitution. I don't know whether RSS's patriotism is laced with Hinduism and Leftist's is not, all I came to know about my being Indian is, when the officer described the bravery of Indian soldiers, it gave me goose pimples and   choked my throat !




On the way to Kaziranga we visited a water fall, named after other female accomplice of Param Veer Chakra winner Hon. Jaswant Singh Rawat, Nura. Nuranang falls. The myth  that goes is, after the death of Jaswant Singh and Sela in the war, Nura went into depression and committed suicide by jumping from the top of the fall , so the name .

 The river below too is known as Nuranang river and has all the beauty that Himalayan rivers have.

 While passing through the Himalayas we passed through many small Monpa villages. In one such village the Monpa urchins oblivious of the intruders went on playing with their game of hide and seek. Though the common staple food is rice, one of the houses had corn on the cob hanged outside to dry, for use in rainy days.

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The last halt in Arunachal was, Orchidarium at Tipi which is 3rd largest in the world having around 7500 orchids from 300 species.

 This one was unique in its own way. On closer look , it turned out that it has flowers within flower.

 

 It was impossible to have even cursory look at every variety so when eyes cooled off we decided to turn back to the bus to take  arduous travel again. To say goodbye to Arunachal was difficult. It brought so many moments back, laced with a tinge of sadness because of loss at the war, at the same time the feeling of oneness with the locals that we almost forgot that we have to leave.

On the way back it was same tortuous road zigzagging through the Himalayas, only difference was the absence of snow ! The climate was very pleasant but the shiver that went through the bones was missing, and we really missed it, it had given that much zing !