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Kedarkantha: A Journey To The Himalayas
by Shoumodip Roy, Dee Kay.
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The first thing that attracts one to the book is, apart from the title and subject, of course, the cover.
Not just the beautiful Himalaya, but the very ones that stand at the head of the Kedarnath valley, at the end of a journey when one has trekked up, facing one. And some thst stay behind, not revealing themselves to those looking up.
Chaukhambha, for example, which stands like a Sutradhaar, holding strings to the various major tributaries of Ganga in glaciers that stream from it - Bhagierathie, Mandakini and Alakananda.
Within a page or so, one begins to suspect it's not a journal of a trek, but a novel.
Is it at least based on a real trek?
But there's a surprise waiting, for those not used perhaps to modern world of the internet dependent IT execs - Kedarkantha, another peak, is nowhere near Kedarnath, and the cover might after all be not what one thought, although it does look like it is!
There's far too much of verbose pontification and attempted expression of introspection without introspection in fact, coupled with forced lingo of what's supposed to be current generation, for the book to be considered anywhere near good writing.
And by the time one realises that one's been deceived by the title and the cover, one's almost halfway. It's not about Kedarnath, or about Himalaya at all.
Another shortcoming here is severe - the authors English is more broken and made up out of translations from another language patched up with what's considered avant-garde US English, and its about as smooth as a moraine leftover from a glacier retreated.
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Has the latest Hindi film so far titled Tamasha become a trend, or did it come when it's theme was already a trending movement in corporate IT sectors with Indian youth suddenly finding success, money, everything their parents had striven lifelong for?
Here, of course, it's mountains and trekking, not street theatre - or literally, tamasha. But latter is easier to show in a film.
YJHD showcased former in first half, but dropped it for photography, supposedly, as passion of the hero - and then took the even cheaper route, since a lifetime of passionate photography across the world would be beyond what the shortcut director could manage to showcase.
So song-and-dance routine, by the supposedly studious boring would be medical student turned svelte half-naked young woman who "did her routine job" until her ex turned up at the friend's wedding at the designer venue, a swanky palace, it was!
Is medical career a "routine, boring" job? Not if one has known pre-med and medical students. Bit films, hindi films especially, do papagate such lies, especially during last two decades.
Or did she fail to get into medicine, and director failed to mention that, because it was unimportant? She certainly didn't have the personality, the aura of a doctor.
Message, as ever, opposite of the My Dinner With Andre, namely, stick to home and routine.
On the other hand, mountain trek for a week or two, and writing it up, is easier in life. Than, say, proving FLT. Or photographing the world, or anything of a lifelong worthy passion - followed consistently.
And this disco generation isn't about lifelong steady following of one's star.
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INDEX
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Episode 1 – The Idiotic Passion
Episode 2 – Wings For Winds
Episode 3 – The Strangers Tribe
Episode 4 – The Summit
Episode 5 – The Invisible Mountain
The Sweet Sixteen
Safarnama By Akshay Deora
Acknowledgment
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REVIEW
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Episode 1 – The Idiotic Passion
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"For a person like me who dares to accept their non-synchronicity from the aforementioned life, a general stigma is being passed on by one and all. The branding is that everyone nowadays wants to be a photographer, traveler or blogger. For us, passion has become the most misused word and we throw it at everyone to sound like a cool dude. In reality, I neither have any intention to be that cool person nor have any reason to be one.
"I just wish to find myself. I just want to be not lost anymore. I just desire to find peace and calmness at heart and mountains were the antidote to that handed to me by none other than Misha. She has been the epicenter to this typhoon."
"I have never been to the mountains. Never been on a trek. I did few a college treks but those were more of a pleasure fun group trips focused more towards picnic on the top of a grassy plateau that was not even close to a small hilltop. Moreover, with increasing responsibilities at the workplace, I have been completely inconsistent with my fitness regime and nutritional diets. Seems these are heavy excuses for not going on a trek."
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Has the latest Hindi film so far titled Tamasha become a trend, or did it come when it's thrme was already a trending movement in corporate IT sectors with Indian youth suddenly finding success, money, everything their parents had striven lifelong for?
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"Naman knew exactly what I had been up to since the last week he mentioned about accompanying him on a 5-day trek to the Himalayas. It was going to be a solo trek with only him being the person I would know in a group of fourteen other strangers.
"It was the perfect opportunity to do what I had been planning for such a long time with no fear of being judged of my actions and thoughts."
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August 30, 2022 - August 30, 2022.
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Episode 2 – Wings For Winds
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"Delaying my intention to get in the bus in the hope for an SUV option ride while evading the social connect, I ended up sitting in the last seat of the minibus. By the time the SUV arrived, it was packed with inventories for the trek and the seats in the minibus had already been occupied by others.
"As I entered the bus, I met eyes with every member of the trek group. It was the most diverse group I had ever been a part of; ages stretching from the 20s to late 50s; a fine balance in gender and relationships; a duo of daughter-father, lovers, childhood friends and just-formed buddies. As I listlessly made my way to the last seat, I kept on analyzing the stories that lay hidden behind those unknown smiling faces."
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"The mini-bus began the 10-hour journey through the serpentine roads that spiraled around the mountains towards the base camp village: Sankri. ... The greenery around the valley assured us that majestic moments were in store for us. The river flowing down the gorge reverted with a promise of sharing with us the exquisite experiences of a lifetime."
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"“and this group of adventurers will be called???” He signaled, prompting us to choose a name for the group.
"“Sweet Sixteen…” one of the ladies sitting in the front spoke with a tinge of hesitation. Everybody burst into laughter, finally agreeing in unison that it was the best name for us.
"Sweet Sixteen was just perfect. We were sixteen members, many of us novice to a Himalayan trek experience. We had our own reasons to come search for answers in the wilderness. A bit of uncertainty, a chunk of madness and a lot of confusion are what that make the sixteen sweeter and we all had that within us. Fears have their own sense of bringing people together. Alone you are sacred but together the group can stand brave."
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August 30, 2022 - August 30, 2022.
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Episode 3 – The Strangers Tribe
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"We reached our first base camp, that was around 7500 feet above sea level. It wasn’t the camp that was planned as per the itinerary rather an emergency transient site to battle with the heavy snowfall. It had been snowing for last few weeks and so the original schedule had to be modified for the previous trek groups. To give you a picture of it, let me tell you that the first camp should have been at the height of 8800 feet “Juda ka Talab” which now transformed as the summit for the trek groups previous to ours. We were at the mercy of the weather in the mountains if we wanted to see the end till the summit of 12500 feet."
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"The thunders accompanied the splashes from the heavens as the evening drifted into the night, making us finally call it a day. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the next day as I mentally took note of how much the temperature had taken a dip. I am sure tomorrow it would snow heavily just like a previous couple of days. Maybe we won’t even get to make the summit if this weather pattern continued and frankly, I wouldn’t even complain. I readily prepared the sleeping bag for the much-needed rest after a long day of trekking."
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"I never realized how such insignificant acts as washing the face in the mountains seem like a herculean task."
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August 30, 2022 - August 31, 2022.
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Episode 4 – The Summit
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"After trekking for more than 2 hours in snow level that has been constantly rising all the excitement that I had at the beginning have vanished in thin air. The body was demanding more oxygen while the thin air at these heights deprived me of the simplest of necessity; ample oxygen. ... "
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"Ram was leading the way as he took on the task of making the trail while Naman followed him and me at the end. He would from time to time chant Shiva’s name after all he is also known as the God presiding over the Himalaya. The surge of excitement and energy pushed us forward at a steady place while the body began to show signs of the long trek."
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"“See that... that’s the summit...”, Ram said pointing towards the now visible summit. I moment my lay eyes on the summit there was a sudden boost of energy from within even when the terrain became steeper than usual as we entered the final 10 meters. I planted my feet then pushed myself forward with the help from the walking stick. The goal was not just visible but also within my reach."
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"Finally, I set a foot on the summit as a flood of emotions took over me. I could hardly stand straight but the feeling of reaching the impossible goal was just ecstatic. The euphoria of accomplishing a target that was beyond the capabilities that I possessed was such that it brought tears into my eyes. There few other members already there as they cheered us the moment we reach the summit. I don’t know when this small personal triumph became a matter of celebration for the whole group as they rush in to hug us. A few days ago, we were just a bunch of strangers on an adventure while now we are sharing our happiness of reaching the summit."
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August 31, 2022 - August 31, 2022.
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Episode 5 – The Invisible Mountain
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"“It must be tough being a doctor”, someone asked as we sat around the bonfire.
"“Not as tough as washing your face in subzero degree..”, he said as we all cracked up."
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"I made sure that I at least get a couple of moments with every single member of the sweet-sixteen group so I could immortalize them into my memories. Mittal and Deepali, the two friends on their first trek together reminded me what friendship means. Sahana and her father, Suresh Sir, was a perfect example of how once in a while a kid can be their parent’s teacher while a parent can take up the role of student. Viggi, the guy from Delhi whom I had mistaken as a YouTuber on the first day. Anish and Nisha, the couple in their own world yet so present in this naive world of ours. It was time to say my final goodbye to them with a hope that someday our paths might cross each other."
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"By evening, we reached Delhi as I bid a hard goodbye to Naman who played a big role in making me take this trek in the first place. I couldn’t thank him enough but then we are men so we just made fun of each other only to control our emotions. He sent me off to the airport with a big hug as I continued onto the journey back home. The whole cab trip to the airport made me pull back into the trance of what the mountains induced. The snowflakes still dropped into the memory world of mine while I could still see my footmarks."
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August 31, 2022 - August 31, 2022.
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The Sweet Sixteen
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Nice photograph of the bunch, March 19, 2019.
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August 31, 2022 - August 31, 2022.
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Safarnama By Akshay Deora
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Urdu verses attempt fashioned after that from ZNMD.
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August 31, 2022 - August 31, 2022.
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Acknowledgment
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" ... This journey would have been much harder if it wasn’t for you, special few. Also the ‘Trek the Himalayas’ team for the memorable trek to the Kedarkantha peak and the sweet sixteen tribe for a wonderful trek."
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August 31, 2022 - August 31, 2022.
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Kedarkantha: A Journey To The Himalayas
by Shoumodip Roy (Author), Dee Kay (Author)
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August 20, 2022 -
August 30, 2022 - August 31, 2022.
Purchased August 20, 2022.
Publisher:- Dee Kay & Roy (23 September 2019)
Language:- English
Format: Kindle Edition
Kindle Edition
ASIN:- B07Y9TPR2T
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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4931382308
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