Mount Abu The Abode: October 2008

Friday, October 31, 2008

Mount Abu Mini Nakki Lake Location

Nakki Lake Location Mt Abu

Mini Nakki Lake

I’ve had quite a few queries as to the location of Mini Nakki Lake hence I’ve decided to enlighten and bring those of you who left Abu eons ago up to date. This artificial lake came up as a result of famines that struck this state (Rajasthan) over the years, the authorities to alleviate the plight of the farmers and the labour class began this project some 25 years ago. The work under the tenure of Collector Brandon while here in Sirohi saw its completion.
The labours who worked on the project were compensated with grain to help them tide over the drought period. Not a bad deal it’s like a drowning man grabbing for a straw. Today this water body can be seen when one is driving up the road to Guru Shikhar, the snap above was taken from a vantage point a half a Km or so from the Oriya check post, yea they now have a check post outside both Oriya and Trevor’s Tank. I presume they will also have a check post in place once the new road is completed. The water of this catchment is pretty clean only hope it remains this way after the road becomes operational , humans are humans and are the most unpredictable species . I think I’ll go down there in a day or so and put up a sign “Spare this water Body” it’s the drinking water of the animals, please dispose off your litter on the way out at the dumps.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Mini Nakki Lake Mount Abu

Upper section of road below Wordsworth Farm

Middle section of road

Final lap to the mini lake

Freshly pitched tents to attract the tourists

They requested me to furnish information on the Abu Uttarayan farms whether it was operational as a hotel, guest house, or resort. Being an Abuite, it puzzled me that I could not place this spot. My curiosity got the better of me and I made inquiries regarding this unusual place. My queries drew quite a few blanks at first, but then I was given a lead, it’s probably a new name given to Mrs Wordsworth's Farm en route Guru Shikhar. I have been to this place over the years; the earliest was in the 60’s when the austere, grand old lady from New Zealand was alive and after whom the farm was named. I have not been to this place in quite a while, so I picked up my camera, kicked my bike, picked up a friend on the way and headed for the farm. The drive to the farm is lovely and peaceful but today it was anything but peaceful. There was mind-blowing traffic of Diwali holidaymakers. On reaching the junction that branches off to the farm it surprised me to see a broad road being prepared. I drove along this unfinished road and reached the farm. There was a gate with a lock on it; yes it was the Uttarayan farm all right as on the left side a board bore the name. I was pretty keen to take a few snaps of the cottage where Mrs Wordsworth lived so that I could write a few words in praise of this ascetic and mysterious foreigner who lived here out in the wilderness. On asking the chowkidar and the present manager if it was possible for me to snap the forlorn cottage, they became quite hostile. I was pretty shocked at their uncouth behaviour, it was as if I had threaded upon some mystery they did not want me to stumble upon. I then asked the manager if they used the main building opposite the cottage as a tourist haunt to which he curtly replied “NO” it's private property. While I was there, what caught my attention was the big concrete road being built right along the boundary of the farm. My friend Harry, who had accompanied me to the farm, found out that this road was being built from Mini Nakki Lake to the main road. We took a hike down the road and walked to the water’s edge. I took a few snaps of the surrounding area and headed back up the road. It looks like the forest department is all out to promote Abu as one glorious tourist destination. They should complete the road in about 10 days. This place is going to draw crowds of holidaymakers because of its unique location and a new picnic spot. Already tents have been pitched opposite the main road to entice tourists for a stopover for snacks and a quick meal. In a few years' time, I see this place being highly commercialized, and with it, the woes of modern pollution disrupt this once quiet and peaceful environment enjoyed by the New Zealander who lived here to her very tragic end.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Christian Brothers in My Life Mount Abu

Yesterday I received a mail from an ex-class mate of mine, the mail is as follows
Dear All,
I don't know whether you knew Hughie O'Neill who was stationed in Abu in the 60's. Later he left and married a lovely girl, Joan, and raised a beautiful family. He passed away on Friday night last and was cremated yesterday here in Dublin. His wishes were that some of his ashes would be spread on Mount Abu ... So he will be coming home at last. May he rest in peace.
Please do pray for the support of his wife and family as well as for his friends both in India and in Ireland

Brother O’Neal was an extraordinary Christian Brother. He was a good teacher loved to play games and loved to be on jungle walks with the boys on Wednesdays and Saturdays. He was a great football fan and a wonderful inspiration to our school football team.
He taught me in my final years in school, he had great mood swings he could be a terror one moment and a jovial person the next. I remember vividly while teaching he had the habit of twirling a pencil between his fingers, another one of his extraordinary traits was that when he was angry he never shouted or raised his voice in fact his voice lowered to a whisper or more like a hiss which always had the desired effect. I loved to be with him on our walk as he would weave some really intriguing stories that would keep us always wanting more.
It was good to hear that he had settled down in life with a life partner after he gave up his vocation of being a Bro. As can be seen from the mail he has made a request that his ashes be spread in the hill and dales of Abu. I guess anyone who has spent a part of his life in this Abode of ours longs to be back with the Gods. God rest his soul. He will once again come home to his final resting place. It’s sad but the ultimate reality is one by one the brothers who taught us will pass away. This year we lost another great brother Br “Larry Kelly” the legendary ambidextrous science master, he passed away on the 17Jan 2007 in Ireland. My heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families of these great men who were our teachers and mentors.

Sunday, October 05, 2008

Bosky My Basset Mt.Abu

Bosky

Sandy -Kalu-N-Jerry

Bandu N Kail

Bosky posing

Bosky N Tom

Bosky N her favourite Minni

Minni having her fill

Mao posing

Bosky and her foster babies

Boski N Mao Napping

Bosky nursing second generation babies

My Basset Hound Bosky is a cat fanatic; she never ceases to amaze everyone around her. Growing up as a pup she had an immense affinity for cats. She was gifted to my bitter half by a very good family friend, along with her he had also brought a kitten for another of our friends, who at that time was out of station and hence she was given to us. We named her Mao.

Bosky and Mao became the best of friends.
In the course of time Mao had her first litter, five little kittens. These five took to Bosky like a duck to water. Bosky had just come off season, her first but ended up having something like a false pregnancy. To our amazement one fine day we found the little kittens suckling and Bosky grooming the cats, she took care of them as if they were her own pups. Liz my bitter half on seeing this strange phenomenon immediately phoned the vet and explained the predicament her dog was going through. The vet had a hearty laugh and told her not to worry as no harm would befall either the kittens or the bitch, in fact both would gain from it. The kittens had a ball on Boesky’s milk, they became little puff balls and it was hilarious to see her strutting about with the five in procession.
People who passed by the house would inevitably stop to glance at this astonishing spectacle. If a strange dog entered the vicinity Bosky would immediately stand up to defend her babies. In the course of time the other dogs who visited the premises for a free meal all got used to the growing kittens. Bandoo, the bandy-legged Romeo, Kalu the long legged shank, and Sandy the over grown mongrel, all had to bear with Bosky’s foster babies, these kitties treated these dogs like one of their own. They would brush, cuddle up and entice these grown dogs to have a game with them. Friends who dropped in would be thrilled to see these worst of enemies living in peace and harmony.
Bosky once again is going through another phase of false pregnancy as there are no male Bassets in this glorious oasis of ours. This time she is nursing the kitties of the previous batch, I’m sure she must feel more of a cat after nursing two generations of cats. I really wonder what would happen if she was to have her own litter in the future how she would will react. Bosky is the heart throb of all the little children around.