ಓಂತಾರಾ ಕಲಾ ಕುಟೀರದ ಅವಿಸ್ಮರಣೀಯ (Unforgettable) ಅನುಭವ

ಅಮ್ಮನ ಆ ಬೆಳಗಿನ ಪರಿಶ್ರಮದ ಫಲ ತಿಂಡಿಯು ಎಷ್ಟೊಂದು ರುಚಿ ಇತ್ತು, ನಾನೇಕೆ ಹೇಳದೇ ಬಂದೆ.....   

ಆ ಅಡುಗೆ ಭಟ್ಟನಿಗೆ ಅವನ ಅದ್ಭುತ ಅಡುಗೆಯನ್ನು ಶ್ಲಾಘಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಒಂದು ಮಾತು ಹೇಳಬೇಕಿತ್ತು.....  

ಆ ಕಲಾವಿದನ ಪ್ರಶಂಸೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇದೂ ಹೇಳಬಹುದಿತ್ತು..... 

ಆ ನಟನ ಅಭಿನಯಕ್ಕೆ ನಿಂತು ಚಪ್ಪಾಳೆ ಹೊಡೆಯಬೇಕಿತ್ತು.....  

ಆ ಕಲೆಯ ಬೆಲೆಯನ್ನು ಅಳೆಯಲಾರದ ನಾನು ಚೌಕಾಸಿ ಮಾಡಬಾರದಿತ್ತು..... 

ಇಂತಹ ಎಷ್ಟು ಕ್ಷಣಗಳು ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರ ಬಾಳಿನಲ್ಲಿ ದಿನನಿತ್ಯವೆಂಬಂತೆ ನಡೆದು ಹೋಗಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ಅಂತಹ ಒಂದು ಅನುಭವ ಸರಣಿಯ ಶುರು ಕಳೆದ ತಿಂಗಳ ಒಂದು ಗುರುವಾರ ರಾತ್ರಿ ಓಂತಾರಾ ಕಲಾ ಕುಟೀರದಲ್ಲಿ ಆರಂಭವಾಯಿತು.. 

ಕೋಟೆಯ ಅರಮನೆಯ ಬಾಗಿಲ ಹೋಲುವ ಮಹಾ(literally) ದ್ವಾರ ಅದರ ಸುತ್ತ ಹಂದರದಂತೆ  ಹಬ್ಬಿರುವ ಅಗಾಧ ಕಲಾ ಸೋಬಗಿನ ಮೊಗಸಾಲೆ (portico).. "ತಡೆಯಿರಿ" ಎಂದು ನಮ್ಮ ಒಳ ಹೋಗದಂತೆ ತಡೆದ ಆತ್ಮೀಯ ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸರ ಕೈಗಳು.. ಇವು ನಮ್ಮ ಅವಿಸ್ಮರಣೀಯ ಅನುಭವದ ಮೊದಲ ಕೆಲ ನಿಮಿಷಗಳು....

ಆ ಬಾಗಿಲ ಚಿಲಕ ಹಿಂದೆಂದೂ ಕಂಡಿರದ ಗಾತ್ರದ್ದು, ತೆರೆದಾಗ ಕಂಡದ್ದು ಆರತಿ ಹಿಡಿದು ನಿಂತ ತಾಯಿ.. ಆರತಿ ಬೆಳಗಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವಾಗ ಕಂಡ ಆ ಕಲೆಯ ದೃಶ್ಯ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ಮಂತ್ರ ಮುಗ್ಧರನ್ನಾಗಿಸಿತು.. ಬೇಲೂರು ಹಳೇಬೀಡು ಹಂಪಿಯ ದೇವಾಲಯಗಳು, ಮೈಸೂರಿನ ಅರಮನೆ ಕಲಾ ಸಂಗ್ರಹಗಳ ನೆನಪಿಸಬಲ್ಲ ಅದ್ಭುತ ಕಲೆಗಳ ಸರಣಿ ಆ ಹಾಲ್(hall)ನಲ್ಲಿತ್ತು     . ನಮ್ಮ suite ಕಡೆ ಕೈಸನ್ನೆ ಮಾಡಿದಾಗ ಅರಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿನ ರಾಜ ರಾಣಿಯರ ಕೋಣೆಯಂತಿದ್ದ ಆ ಅತಿ ವಿಶಾಲ ಕೋಣೆಯಲ್ಲ, ಸಣ್ಣ ಮನೆ.. ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಸಾಮಾನು ಸರಂಜಾಮುಗಳೂ ನಾವು ರಾಜ ರಾಣಿಯರೆಂಬ ಭಾವನೆಗೆ ಪುಷ್ಟಿ ಕೊಡುವಂತಿದ್ದವು.. 

ಶುಚಿಯಾದ ಊಟದ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಮಾಡಿದ ಭಟ್ಟರು ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ ಬಂಗಾಲದವರು ಆದರೆ ಬಡಿಸಿದ್ದು ಅಚ್ಚ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಪದಾರ್ಥಗಳು. ಊಟದ ನಂತರ ಹರಟಲು ಕೂರಲಿರುವ ಆ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಪ್ರಾಂಗಣ, ಅಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಶಿಲ್ಪಕಲೆ ಮತ್ತು ಶಿಲ್ಪಗಳ ಕೆಳಗೆ ಕೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆತ್ತಿದ ಶ್ಲೋಕಗಳು. ಒಟ್ಟಾರೆ ನಿಮ್ಮ ದಿವ್ಯಾನುಭವವನ್ನು ಪ್ರತಿ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆಯಲ್ಲೂ ಒಂದು ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ ಮೇಲೊಯ್ಯಲು ಆ ಓಂತಾರಾದ ಜನಕನ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ. 

ರಾತ್ರಿ ಮಲಗುವ ಮುನ್ನ ಕೆಲವು ಮಹಡಿಗಳ ಸಂದರ್ಶನ ಮಾಡಿಸಿ ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸರು ನಮ್ಮ ಅರಮನೆಯ ಸುಪ್ಪತ್ತಿಗೆಯ ಕನಸಿನ ಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಬರಲಿರುವ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳ ಪರಿಚಯವನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿಸಿದಂತಿತ್ತು. ಅತಿ ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಯೋಗಗೃಹ, ಪುಟಾಣಿ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಸಂತಸಿಸಲು ಅವರದೇ ಸಣ್ಣ ಲೋಕ, ಚಿಕ್ಕ ದೊಡ್ಡವರೆನ್ನದೇ ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ನಮ್ಮ ಪೂರ್ವಜರ indoor ಆಟಗಳ ಪರಿಚಯ ಮಾಡಿಸುವ ಆಟದ ಮನೆ, ಈ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಸ್ಥಳಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ಮತ್ತೆ ಶ್ರೀ ಆನಂತರಾಮರ ಕಲಾಪ್ರಿಯತನದ ತಪ್ಪಿಸಲಾಸಾಧ್ಯವಾದ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಠ ಛಾಪು.

ಮರುದಿನ ಮುಂಜಾನೆ:

ಬೆಳಗಿನ ನನ್ನ ನಡುಗೆಗೆ ಒಂದಿನಿತೂ ಬೆಚ್ಚದೆ ಬೆದರದೆ ಹಿಂದೆ ಹಿಂದೆಯೇ ಬಂದ ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ಸಾಕು ನವಿಲು ಶುಭ ಶುಭೋದಯದ ಸೂಚನೆಯಿತ್ತಿತು. ನಡೆವಾಗ ಅಲ್ಲಲ್ಲಿ ಕೃಷಿಯ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಗಳ ಕುರುಹುಗಳು, ಸುಂದರವಾಗಿ ಮೈದೂಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಹೂ ತೋಟ, ಚಕ್ರಾಕಾರದ ಬರಿದಾದ ಈಜುಕೊಳ. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲಸಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದ ಕಾರ್ಮಿಕರಿಗೆ ಬೆಳಗಿನ ಶ್ಲೋಕಗಳ ಪಾಠ 'ಕರಾಗ್ರೇ ವಸತೇ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ..' ಇಂದ ಶಾಂತಿ ಮಂತ್ರದವರೆಗೆ ಸುಮಾರು ಹದಿನೈದು ಶ್ಲೋಕಗಳು.

ತಿಂಡಿಯ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಮೇಲ್ ಮಹಡಿಯ ಹೊರಗಿನ ಪ್ರಾಂಗಣದಲ್ಲಿ. ಚಹಾ ಸವಿಯುತ್ತಾ ಚುಮು ಚುಮು ಚಳಿಯ ಓಡಿಸಲು ಶುಭ್ರ ಸೂರ್ಯರಶ್ಮಿಗೆ ಮೈ ಒಡ್ಡಿ ನಿಂತಾಗ ಕೆಳಗಿನಿಂದ ಬೆಳಗಿನ ನನ್ನ ನಡುಗೆಯ ಸಾಥಿ ನವಿಲಿನ ಕರೆ

ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸರು ತಮ್ಮ ತಿಂಡಿ ಮುಗಿಸಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಆ ದಿನದ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಕ್ಕೆ ಮುಂದಡಿಯಿಟ್ಟಾಗ ನಮ್ಮೆದುರು ತೆರೆದು ನಿಂತಿದ್ದು ಅಮರ ಅನಂತರಾಮರ ಭಗೀರಥ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನದ ಸಣ್ಣ ೨ ಘಂಟೆಗಳ ಟ್ರೈಲರ್/trailer. ಅರ್ಧ ವ್ರತ್ತಾಕಾರದ ಪ್ರತಿ ಮೆಟ್ಟಲುಗಳ ಇಳಿಯುವಾಗಲೂ ಪಕ್ಕದ ಗೋಡೆಯ ಮೇಲಿನ ಕಲೆಗಾರನ ಕಲೆ, ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಪುರಾಣದ ಕಥೆಗಳು, ಅವುಗಳ ಔಚಿತ್ಯಪೂರ್ಣ ವಿವರಣೆ. ಆ ಎರಡು ತಾಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸರ ಕಂಗಳ ಹೊಳಪಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಜೊತೆ ನಡೆದಾಡಿದ್ದು ಶ್ರೀ ಅನಂತರಾಮರ ಶ್ರದ್ಧೆ, ಕಲ್ಪನೆ, ಕಲೋಪಾಸನೆ, ಸನಾತನದ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠತೆ, ಪರಿಪೂರ್ಣತೆಯ ಪರಾಕಾಷ್ಟೆ. 

ಬೀಳ್ಕೊಡುಗೆಯಲ್ಲೂ ನಮ್ಮ ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯದ ಫಲ ತಾಂಬೂಲ. ಖಂಡಿತ ಮತ್ತೆ ಬನ್ನಿ ಎಂಬ ಭರವಸೆಯ ಸಂದೇಶ.

ಒಬ್ಬ ತಂದೆಯ-ಗಂಡನ ಕನಸನು ನನಸು ಮಾಡಲು ಆತನ ಕೈಗೆ ಕೈ, ಭುಜಕ್ಕೆ ಬಲ, ಆ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಬೇಕಾದ ಸಮಯ, ಸಹಾಯ ಮತ್ತು ಶ್ರದ್ಧೆಯನ್ನು  ಅವಿರತವಾಗಿ ಅಪೇಕ್ಷೆಯಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಪರಿಶ್ರಮಿಸಿರುವ ಅಮರ ಅನಂತರಾಮ ಮತ್ತು ಶ್ರೀಮತಿ ಜಯಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಿ  ಕುಟುಂಬದ ಸನಾತನ ಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆಯ ಕಾಪಿಡುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನವ ವರ್ಣಿಸಲು ಪದಗಳು ಸಾಲದು. 

ನಮ್ಮನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ತೆರೆದ ಕೈ ಮತ್ತು ಹೃದಯದಿಂದ ಸ್ವಾಗತಿಸಲು ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವ ಓಂತಾರ ಕಲಾ ಕುಟೀರಕ್ಕೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಮುಂದಿನ ಭೇಟಿ ಬಹು ಬೇಗ.

ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ಭಾವನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಹೀಗೆ ಕದಡಲು ಓಂತಾರ ಕಲಾ ಕುಟೀರಕ್ಕೆ  ಒಂದು ಅವಕಾಶ ಕಲ್ಪಿಸಿದರೆ ಈ ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಕ್ಕೆ ಸಾರ್ಥಕತೆ

https://omthara.com/about-us/creators-of-omthara-kala-kuteera/

ಶುಭಂ 

Maamaa... Maemustunnaaan (Maama/Chandamaama.. I am coming)

Maamaa... Maemustunnaaan (Maama/Chandamaama.. I am coming), was the title that greeted us the next morning at a restaurant in Sullurpete... Couple of friends (who met just a day before on this epic journey) exchanged heartfelt smiles at such a lovely and thoughtful title given to adviteeya (second to none) achievement of our humble scientists at ISRO... 

The thought was of witnessing one ISRO launch from SriHariKota after seeing umpteen ISRO launches on YouTube and feeling elated with goosebumps every such instance..

This thought had got a response from my Sihi, "Aanu, how many more places are on your list? When would you be able to get to all of these??!!"; 

Some thoughts get an approval from Bhagavantha The Almighty/UP there and everything starts falling in place one after the other...

A call to Appa to get our friend's number who worked with Master Control Facility at Hassan...

Appa sending the number after a reminder..

I missing calling the number for almost every day for over a week..

Finally managing to message and call to hear that he is retiring in July, however, he would try to share details once ISRO announces the dates...

A couple of reminder WhatsApp messages and calls to hear "wait, nothing yet...." ...

Suddenly one morning, a lengthy message about Ladakh Science Foundation's Chandrayaan 3 launch visit and details...

A quick "To Go" confirmation from Sandhya as the date of travel coincided with Sihi's last test of that series....

Payment done, leaves applied, awaiting confirmation on seats... This wait lasted for three days!!

As soon as the confirmation came, we were filled with joy and then we all were in a state of unclear thoughts on what to expect, how to prepare and umpteen such unanswered queries.... These were results of not having witnessed anything of this nature ever.... Sometimes that confusion and lack of clarity gives you immense confidence; in Kannada it is called Huchchutana :)... Way out is as simple as let things happen on their own, at their pace and at a time those want to happen....

Bags were packed on the D-1, as we had to board the bus as soon as Sihi is back from school, Sandhya  from office and I call it a day to work from home that day... and ironically, they happened in the same order!! We three were travelling in a bus together after a eons that evening...

Our wait at the designated place for the bus was greeted by Monsoon rain, forcing us to run for cover... and then that Thannn Thaann of the spatula hitting the kadhaai and irresistible fragrance of KadleKaayi Groundnut being fried in Maralu Sand hit us.... We three were relishing it together for the first time ever I believe.... Sandhya and I used to stop and munch when we were still waiting for Sihi way back then... Post that, this was the first... to our surprise, we finished two portions... and got three more portions filled in the same paper cones for the road....

 

Wait for the bus slowly became almost two hours.... and I had to login to this marathon five hour mandatory training call!! This made me miss all pleasantries while entering the bus to my sahaprayaanikaru co-passengers...

When I said HE plans everything, I firmly believe so....

Laptop needed charge, I fortunately found charging point just behind the driver, Jayaprakash shared name with my father ... that is when I got to interact with passengers in front seats, who were quite pleasant and kind enough to lend their helping hands... I found a seat next to two fantastically pocket sized pataakis who were curious about the laptop... Those two were THE best companions of the entire trip... at one point one said 'Uncle, Neevu thumbaa maataadteera/you talk a lot'... I was like 'Yaay, neen maataadiddakke naanu uttra kotte adhengo jaasti aaythu? Yaay.... I responded to your queries/talk, how did that become a lot?... That is the point when Bengaluru traffic was blessing us with the Clutch-Brake-Gear-Accelerator tests to the driver and the bus in descending order!!! It took more than 3 hours to cross Bengaluru to get to the highway.... However, our funny chit chat of more nonsense and less sense helped sahaprayaanikaru of first few rows and the driver not to react to the usual "Bengaluru Trafficcooooo..... Kharma" feeling and on the contrary enjoy the witty conversations of boys of 1st and 3rd standard.... The call ultimately ended while having dinner and I could speak with my family and the extension of it sitting all around us there... I was back with life...

Instructions were to be ready early in the morning to be at the launch site... Enthusiastic we and each one there were all wearing the Chandrayaan-3 t-shirts created and shared by the organisers.... Lots of tricolours, 'I love ISRO' banners and LSF banners made all of us to be identified and helped us to stick together too...

Little did I know about SriHariKota until I booked this trip, it is a beautiful island covered on one side by Gangasagar (Bay of Bengal) and the other side it has a huge lake Pulikat, which is a bird sanctuary..

The stretch across Pulikat lake is beautiful with water on both sides and you could see many many birds... Since there were CRPF and police personnel preventing any traffic issues on that narrow stretch, we were directly taken to the parking area of SriHariKota's Satellite Launch Viewing Gallery... it was around 11 AM and the crowd had already started gathering... Scorching heat and driest land around were being ignored, such was the conviction of each around there to witness the once in a life time event...

Post several group photos with flags and banners, we started marching towards the gallery, it was a good 2 kilometres with two check posts... One at the very beginning of the march and one just before the gallery... The place was well equipped with drinking water, food carts etc on the outside... Inside there was AC and we were like "Yaay.... AC" and in that area were all accomplishments of ISRO displayed in every possible form... Since our aim was to secure a seat and to see the launch, we all briskly went to the gallery... a curved stadium like stepped structure that could hold at least 10,000 people.... first thing I did, asked the security personnel 'where is the launch vehicle?'.. they pointed me to a tree and three poles and told it is there, you could see it only after the take off... 

Other things I found out, this place is 6.5 kilometers from the launch site... before the launch all ISRO personnel would be moved at least 3-6 kilometers from the launch site...

The wait seemed eternal since we were there almost 2.5 hours before the launch.... Slowly and steadily we started realising the organiser's idea of getting there early.... the place was packed to the tune of at least 15,000 to 18,000 just before the launch.... no space to go around anywhere... and the reverberating Bhaarat Maata Ki Jai, ISRO ki Jai, Vande Maataram, Jai Shri Ram, I-S-R-O ISRO were continuously getting chanted throughout.. A partial success was received for the ISRO Wave planned by the masters of ceremony....

Then came the moment, the BIG TV Screens around started showing the master control centre, count down timer...then the crowd went 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-0 with a near deafening loud cheer and everyone was waiting to get a glimpse.... the first glimpse came just around T+3, and then there were loudest of cheers, screams and reverberating Bhaarat Maata Ki Jai, ISRO ki Jai, Vande Maataram, Jai Shri Ram again...

Slowly we started witnessing vibrations where we were standing and the sound of the rocket... we standing 6.5 kilometers and feeling this made us realise why the ISRO SHAR residents and occupants are kept far away from the launch site..

The bliss of witnessing the dream and lack of words to describe it... A perfect combination which wouldn't help to blog that... I would suggest please travel for the next launch and see if you overcome this dreaded combination... 

Visit to the SHAR the next day and the things we learnt about rockets... coming soon....

Ciao!!

ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆ/React (Harsh FB Post) Vs ಸ್ಪಂದನೆ/Respond (This Blog)

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ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆ/React (Harsh FB Post) Vs ಸ್ಪಂದನೆ/Respond (This Blog)
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ಮೂವತ್ತು ನಿಮಿಷಗಳ ಸೈಕಲ್ ತುಳಿತ, ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ಆವೇಗಗಳ ಗುದ್ದಾಟಗಳ ನಡುವೆ ಮೂಡಿತು ಈ ಕಾಲ್ಪನಿಕ ಕಥೆ.

ಒಬ್ಬ ಇಪ್ಪತ್ತರ ತರುಣ ತನ್ನನ್ನು ತಾನು ಹಿಂದೆಂದೂ ಕಾಣದ ಜಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಂಡು ಆಶ್ಚರ್ಯಚಕಿತನಾದ. ಅವನೆದುರಿರುವ ಗೇಟ್ ತೆಗೆದು ಒಳಗೆ ಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸಿದಾಗ ಕಂಡ ಮೊದಲ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯ ಕೇಳಿದ 'ಇದು ಯಾವ ಜಾಗ?'

ಚಿತ್ರಗುಪ್ತ ಉತ್ತರಿಸಿದ 'ಇದು ದೇವಲೋಕ'

ಕೋಪದಿಂದ ಕುದಿಯುತ್ತಾ 'ಇಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಹೇಗೆ ಬಂದೆ? ಅಪ್ಪ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಗೆ ಕರೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಹೋಗುವಾಗ 'ಧೈರ್ಯದಿಂದಿರು ನೀನಗೇನೂ ಆಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ' ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ನಾನು ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಗೆ?'

'ಮಗು, ನೀನು ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆ ತಲುಪಿದೆ. ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ಡಾಕ್ಟರುಗಳು ಅವರ ಎಲ್ಲ ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸಿದರು. ಆದರೂ ಸಫಲರಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ. ನಿನ್ನ ಅಪ್ಪನಿಗೆ ಹೇಳಿದರು 'ಅರ್ಧ ಘಂಟೆ ಮುಂಚೆ ತಲುಪಿದ್ದರೆ ಬದುಕುತ್ತಿದ್ದ'

'ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆ ಮನೆಯಿಂದ ಬಹಳ ದೂರವಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಆಂಬುಲೆನ್ಸ್ ಕೂಡ ತಕ್ಷಣ ಬಂದಿತ್ತು. ಆದರೂ ಹೀಗೇಕೆ?'

'ನಿನಗೆ ನೆನಪಿಲ್ಲವೇ ಮಗು. ಆಗ ಬೆಳಗಿನ peak hour ಟ್ರಾಫಿಕ್. ಎಲ್ಲಾ ವಾಹನ ಸವಾರರಿಗೂ ಮೊದಲು ಕೆಲಸಕ್ಕೆ ತಲುಪುವ ಆಲೋಚನೆ. ಕೆಲವು ಲಗೇಜ್ ಆಟೋಗಳಿಗೂ, ನೀರಿನ ಟ್ಯಾಂಕರ್ ಗಳಿಗೂ ತಮ್ಮ ಕೆಲಸ ಬೇಗ ಮುಗಿಸುವ ಕಾತರ. ಹೀಗೆ ರಸ್ತೆ ತುಂಬಾ ತಾವು ಸರಿ ಸಮಯಕ್ಕೆ ತಲುಪುವುದು ಆಂಬುಲೆನ್ಸ್ ಗೆ ದಾರಿ ಕೊಡುವುದಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿದವರೇ . ಅವರಿಗೆ ಒಳಗಿರುವ ನಿನ್ನ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿ ತಿಳಿದಿದ್ದರೆ ಹಾಗೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲವೋ ಏನೋ .

'ಇಲ್ಲಾ.... ಅದು ಬಹಳ basic civic sense (ನಾಗರೀಕ ಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆ) . ನನ್ನ ತಂದೆ ಯಾವಾಗಲೂ ನನಗೆ ಹೇಳಿಕೊಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ನಾನು ಯಾವಾಗಲೂ ಪಾಲಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದೆ ಮತ್ತು ಉಳಿದವರಿಗೂ ಪಾಲಿಸಲು ಆಗ್ರಹಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದೆ. ನಾನಿಲ್ಲಿರುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ಅವರೇ ಕಾರಣ. ನನಗೆ ಅವರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಬೇಕು. ಸಿಗಬಹುದೇ?'

ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನದ ನಂತರ ಚಿತ್ರಗುಪ್ತ ಅವನಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ಪಟ್ಟಿ ಇತ್ತ . ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತಿ ವಿವರ ವಿಡಿಯೋ ಕ್ಲಿಪ್ ಸಮೇತ ಇತ್ತು. 'ಇದರಿಂದ ನೀನೇನು ಮಾಡುವೆ?'

'Ditto' ಎಂದ ಆ ಹುಡುಗ

ನಮಗೆ ತಿಳಿದಿರುವಂತೆ ಮರಣ ನಂತರ ಪಡೆದ ಹೇರಳವಾದ ಶಕ್ತಿ, ಚಿತ್ರಗುಪ್ತ ಮತ್ತು ಯಮರ ಸಹಕಾರದಿಂದ ಕೆಳಗಿನದು ಬಹಳ ಬೇಗ ನಡೆಯಿತು.

ಆ ನಗರದ ಸ್ಮಶಾನಗಳು ಬಿಡುವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ದಿನಪೂರ್ತಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಿದರೂ ಮರುದಿನಕ್ಕೆ ಮಿಗುವಂತೆ ಕೆಲಸವಿರುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಎಲ್ಲ ರಸ್ತೆಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ವಾಹನ ಮತ್ತು ಜನರಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಎಲ್ಲರ ಪ್ರಯಾಣ ಸರಾಗವಾಗಿತ್ತು. ನಾಗರಿಕರಿಗೆ ಇದರಿಂದ ಉಳಿದ ಸಮಯವನ್ನು ಹೇಗೆ ಕಳೆಯಬೇಕೆಂದು ತಿಳಿಯದೆ ಬೇಜಾರಿನಲ್ಲಿದ್ದರು.

ಅದೇ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ದೇವಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಆ ಹುಡುಗನಿಗೆ ಇನ್ನಿಲ್ಲದ ಆದರ ಮತ್ತು ಅಭಿಮಾನ ದೊರೆಯಿತು. 'Ditto' ಜನರು ತಮ್ಮ ತಪ್ಪಿಗಾಗಿ ಪರಿತಪಿಸಿದರು. ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಮುಂದಿನ ಜನುಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೀಗಾಗದಿರುವಂತೆ ನೋಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತೇವೆಂದು ಪ್ರಮಾಣಿಸಿದರು.

--ಶುಭಾರಂಭ ---

We-I-Are-Us and not VIRUS

My assumption that I would have been one of the very few who would have turned up to be a volunteer was shattered on my first visit to The Department of Information and Public Relation (DIPR) office in March. I was one of 5000 at that point in time. 4,999 of whom were up and running almost 4 weeks before I went there.

This Crisis has shown the world that when I becomes V by stretching your arms to unite as US, the journey towards post COVID becomes blissfully fulfilling.

My journey started with filling up a google form for Corona Warriors, a call from DIPR and meeting with key stakeholders to plan distribution of physical ID cards for volunteers. Each one in that room was a volunteer. However, when I had to choose between this and cycling as a Relief Rider, I had to let go former.

Relief Riders was a movement started by BicycleMayor of Bengaluru, to help senior and immobile citizens with essentials on a bicycle. We recorded a whopping 250+ sorties right across Bengaluru in just a couple of months. Mention of a couple of rides is essential here. 

- A kid on hearing aid for both ears, was using just one to aptly use available batteries (lack of availability). Our network of cyclists found these batteries in one part of Bengaluru and a relay of 5 cyclists delivered it to a smiling child.

- A person in Electronic City needs Oral Chemo medicine for his ailing Mother, it was available only at one hospital in Bengaluru. We pulled it off by doing a relay of 4 cyclists. 

- An old age home needed groceries for 12 dwellers, a group of four cyclists, completed this in one go.

We have in excess of 250 such stories in ReliefRiders.

Each such ride resulted in a few sighs of relief and smiles at the recipient's home. Also, it showed us the watery eyes that wanted to greet us the way they could have greeted us PRE COVID.

The gesture by the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru to invite us over on our bicycles and extending their gratitude was an icing on the cake.

With Unlock in progress, and reduced relief calls, focus shifted to Home Quarantine Neighbourhood Watch and Care task. The task of calling, consoling, convincing and re-assuring the citizens under home quarantine is being run by only volunteers. Each call to a new person is to spread awareness and hope.

One of the doctors in a WhatsApp video was mentioning about roles and responsibilities of each citizen in helping severely stressed administration in this first of its kind crisis. At this point in time, these wouldn't be called giving it back, it would working together as US.

Just look around and get going. We-I-Are-US.

Ciao!

Oh My God! What did I sign-up for....

The title precisely tells about the day 1....

It all started with keeping things ready for the next morning, taking out what to wear, filling water bottles, Energy Bars, Shoes, Socks... the list went on and on... I was just aping my roommate while he was setting his stuff up... While doing that did I realise, I was a kid in front of this PRO-Cyclist..
We planned our bathroom timings, and said our good nights..

I realised, I didn't talk about the bike I was going to ride... I was very keen on having a look before I hit bed... Upon insisting, I was taken to basement room where all bikes were kept... This was really the closest I could have gotten to the Scott Addict Carbon Frame Bike I had purchased before the trip in India... Similar colours... Wilier was the make.. I was hearing the name for the first time, however, all my fellow cyclists were like 'That's one of the best bikes to be on'... That was a HUGE assurance I could take back and sleep on that night..

Next Morning,
I was expecting myself to be one of the firsts at the breakfast area... I was super surprised to see host of them already there... I wasn't quite sure of a few dishes being vegetarian, where my fellow cyclists helped out.. One thing that was standing out was I saw most of them eating heavy breakfasts... I again got back to my aping without realising the repercussions...

Many of them felt I was overly dressed rather wearing one too many for this ride... I did inform them the reason for sleeves on hands and legs to cover my Psoriasis* spots... (*that's the next topic I would cover in a detailed write-up, for a starter, I have been living with this chronic disease for about 9 years now)... and the gamosa was for wiping the sweat off.... My rubber shoes were where most of eyeballs around on... each and everyone there were super surprised and many voiced their concern too...

Post the briefing and photo shoot, we were OFF....
We were under a kilometer off and I realised one of us had made a stop... I felt, I should wait and I did... He was one of the nicest guys I had met and with whom I was tagged with through the trip. "The Tourists" was what we were referred to as...
As soon as he caught up, there was my first uphill, where I struggled... and obviously, got on to the last spot on the pack... I kept my spirits high and rode on for a few more kilometers, once in a while meeting one of our own fellow cyclists or other cyclists.... A nod, A hello or a smile.... and ride on...
All of a sudden I felt a severe pain in my right abdomen... It was like a catch, cramp or whatever one would call it.. however, the pain was deep... I tried to ignore and riding on... I couldn't.. I got off the bicycle, stretched myself, drank some water.. No, the pain didn't subside...Walk was the only possible option with which I barely managed to reach the support vehicle..
'Are you alright mate' was the first question 'No' my answer... 'Do you want to throw the bike in and hop on'... 'Yes'.. that was what I wanted to hear all through the pain... I took off the sleeves on my legs since they were causing a lot of annoyance before I hopped in between the two of them on the front seat... I checked and stopped my Strava, that got my morale to a super duper low... just under 12 kilometers...
I was dejected for the fact that I was not able to live up to the hopes my family, friends and a lot of people had in me which had got me here.. The support crew kind of read what was running between those ears... and told.. It is tough, the heat wave is not helping either... I told them, I really want to get back there on the saddle... 'We would drive you up to the middle of one of the groups and drop you there once you are OK.. riding in a group is definitely going to help you, the first timer' and that did the trick... I got two more as a company, one from Europe and one from UK who were taking it slow is what I thought, since they appeared to be pro cyclists...
We did pretty well for about 87 Kilometers, post which I was advised to hang in a support vehicle while the other two carried on for a little more....
It was a little more since the peak they were climbing had insane elevation, not so good a road and NOT A SINGLE SHADE of tree, neither were there any clouds... The SUN was in his full blaze, causing super dehydration...
I was astonished by the resilience of quite a few cyclists, who didn't give a damn and did reach the hotel on their saddle.. There were a couple who missed the hotel and went another 40 odd kilometers more..
The temperature that day was whopping 34 degree Celsius... All cyclists felt and inquired, 'Wasn't it more like in India?'... I was like 'NO' this is much more than anything we have in Bengaluru :)'. That gave all of them a relief and they were like 'Indian guy is saying it was HOT, which means it was REALLY REALLY HOT :)'
Some of them hit the swimming pool...
Some got appointments from the massage therapist and got their pains relieved..
Almost all went for a beer...
I was just watching and hearing most of their conversations... and was realising how far behind I stand in terms of knowing cycling and being a cyclist in front of these 30 GURUS of CYCLING...
See you on the other side with Day 2!
Ciao!!

Murkiness before clarity....

I hadn't imagined that UK VISA would take three weeks, cricket world cup happening had increased the number of applicants causing this delay. Relatively easy Schengen VISA was the next, by our schedule we had to go to a European country's consulate which could take another three weeks to process the VISA. Which meant, I would have the VISA post my supposed cycle tour end date. This did make all of us hit the panic button hard. One of my good friends who had been doing these for about 2 decades suggested an easier way out and Voila! the VISA arrived in within 24 hours from the application submission.
Then was the international driver's permit (IDP) to be able to drive a car in Europe. The connections of one to the other and in theory none of it could be done in parallel was giving me signs that I should have started some of these plans much before. IDP when it arrived appeared like a bigger passport :). It is another thing that I realised in Spain and in Norway that you do not need one to rent/hire a car, you would need it when police stop your car LOL!!
With some quick shopping for cycling gear for Europe's supposed cold and rain and to fill the missing items from the comprehensive check list provided by the tour organisers, I was ready to rock and roll. A birthday party marked a family get together at home on the eve of departure, all near and dear had dropped by to wish luck. Couple of friends dropped in to surprise.
The early morning flight from Bengaluru to Dubai was the first international flight after 8 years. There was a little sigh of relief with fewer steps of customs, stamping of the passports. All through I was making notes to help my wife and daughter on their travel a week later. This was a kind of first ever journey for them on their own minus me.
For a change the flight's in-flight entertainment had a host of Kannada movies alongside a big bouquet of good movies from across the world and representation from all Indian movie industries (identified by their languages) which would take you ages to watch!
I had to spend good 12 hours and more in Paris's Charles De Gaulle before my next flight, I was under the impression that it would be a little uncomfortable stay at the airport and wouldn't cause much hassle. I was wrong!. I regretted not booking my accommodation at Paris that night. However, these bitter experiences were eventually learnings for my girls on their travel. A map of different terminals of the airport. Where would they come out, what to expect when they come out. Where to wait, which terminal would my flight arrive at. These were few of the queries,  for which I noted down the answers with the map of the terminals.
Flight from Paris to Bilbao was a short and uneventful one.
My expectation of meeting a few of my fellow cyclists at the Airport and to travel along to the hotel wasn't to be. With my earlier experience of looking for 'i' for information, I managed to find and boarded a bus, which would take me to San Sebastian, the starting point of our tour. It was good distance from the bus station to the hotel and had to take a taxi. Where I met the taxi driver, who wasn't familiar with English at all :) my first such experience in sometime. However, that didn't stop me from conversing and getting to know a few things about him and the city. An elephant's idol was in the dashboard which was bringing good luck to him. Similar to our dashboards here. He was quite helpful and also was telling about how they the taxi drivers in some cities of Spain are keeping Uber away.
At the hotel, I had arrived good 4 hours before the normal check-in time! The receptionist had to do a lot of work checking out the fully booked hotel to get rooms for all of us who were flying in for the tour. About an hour later, I got a room, rather a small 3 roomed studio apartment. The surprises didn't stop. The shower pipe broke as soon as I opened it to take a much needed shower. I finished the shower from the water oozing out of the broken pipe and called for help. A lady plumber, again non-english speaking helped fix the shower pipe and cleaned all soaked bathroom floor too. A few words of Spanish, that I had picked from classes in the flight were of help to convey my gratitude to her.
I quickly realised, my international power socket adapter was of no use, found TV's USB socket to charge my phone and laptop :) Innovation Delivered or Jugaad.
Post that, I thought I could catch some sleep before our 7:30 PM dinner meeting with my fellow travellers' on the tour and dozed off.

An unfamiliar voice calling out my name loud woke me up. It was 7:15 and it was one of the riders whom I was sharing my room with. He told me I was so deep in sleep that he had to try for sometime before I opened my eyes.
I was warmly welcomed to the dinnner table, where I realised most of the riders there knew each other pretty well. Either through earlier tours or they worked together. I did find a bunch of vegetarians/vegans at the table which was surprising and at the same time reassuring :)
My request to gift each of the participants and support crew with Gamosa was warmly welcomed. I had to do a bit of introduction of the fabric too. I recalled Achinta Uncle who had got these arranged from Distant Guwahati, Assam wanted me to make a video of handing over of Gamosa. He had shot and sent out a video on the traditional way of handing it over too. One of my tour mates did help me there with taking video. All in all, this bit of interaction took me a little step closer to all participants. As I needed a bit of coaching from each one there, it was very important that I could connect well and from the word go.
On the other side is the grueling at the same time enchanting ride across Pyrenees...
Hoping to be able to take you there quickly with Christmas and New year break around...
Ciao!

Is the training right? Is that all you need?.... Preface 2

As I had started my last blog.. this was a perfectly unplanned-planned trip/tour/training and whatever that was needed for this dream tour....
Mid June, I hire a rented road bike for a day and realise my training needs to shift to a bike of this kind!! Its just 4 weeks to go for my Pyrenees Ride...
An unplanned spend for the new scott addict carbon bike extended the already stretched budget of this once in a lifetime trip... 'Passions don't come cheap' is what a friend told... which made perfect sense...
My training took a huge 4 minute jump in my first attempt with this new road bike.... and boosted the confidence many fold...
The roller coaster rides take huge ups and downs towards the very end.... So it was with me....
Had a super fall off my hybrid bike and got a Hanuman face :) for a couple of days...
A tooth extract leading to viral fever to a fall in bathroom (unconscious) getting hurt just above the right eye.... all these just 2 weeks before the journey... Which meant my training got hit....!!
I could manage just two NandiBetta rides with my new road bike and just one 100+ towards Magadi, which I did to seek blessings from Sri Nirmalji whom I admire since childhood... He was all admiration for me to be doing it at an age, where most prefer to look up to Vaanaprastha and stop self from venturing into such activities which are physically demanding...

While training to be physically ready for the tour, THE reason for the tour, to raise money for the charity of our choice was on. Our CSR team did help immensely to zero in on the charity, Cochlea-Pune. Cochlea identifies children needing support with hearing and speaking at an early age. Plan for a permanent cochlear implant while helping them to be ready for normal school curriculum by providing education. The target was to raise £750. Since it was the very first time for me to be raising funds, I was almost clueless on how to plan the communication. However, did manage to raise close to double the target amount with again no planned approach!. In this exercise found some super donors. All those messages along with those donations and the amount acted as the fuel for my tour.

Travel was another topic, that was happening in parallel. My plan to sandwich tour between two short trips across Europe with family. While seeing to it that they could get a glimpse of my tour was rightly shot down by a good friend. Sandhya did even send out a separate thank you note to him :). New plan was to start our trip of Europe after my tour. We needed two separate VISAs for the places we had planned to visit. Paris to visit DisneyLand and Eiffel and to show my girls beautiful (in every aspect) Norway needed Schengen VISA. To spend some time with a very good friend and his family in London needed UK VISA. Sounds simple right?, hell broke lose just two weeks before the travel... :) How could this go wrong is what you may think....
Preface 2 flowing in to Preface 3 (hopefully the last Preface) would have an answer....
Ciao!!