This is the first of our monthly blogs to chronicle our experiences of traveling to (and through) and living in India through 2014. We intend for all 7 of us to take turns writing this monthly blog, and I (Saurabh) am the opening "voice". BTW 7= Saurabh, Shibani, Rishabh, Aadya, Aarushi, Manju (my Mum) and Satyen (my Dad).
Why have I called the blog "An unexpected party"? Well the truth is that many friends unexpectedly showed up to say farewell throughout Sunday - at the annual Baker Parade street party (pictured) as well as later in the evening at Mum and Dad's place (we moved in with them that weekend). And so I had intended for just this blog post to be entitled "An unexpected party", fashioning it after the first chapter in my beloved book, "The Hobbit" (thanks again Adit!). But that accidentally became the title of the whole blog instead of just this first post. And when I thought about it, what better than an aspiration that this next year ends up being an unexpected party rather than a miserable slog?
Why have I called the blog "An unexpected party"? Well the truth is that many friends unexpectedly showed up to say farewell throughout Sunday - at the annual Baker Parade street party (pictured) as well as later in the evening at Mum and Dad's place (we moved in with them that weekend). And so I had intended for just this blog post to be entitled "An unexpected party", fashioning it after the first chapter in my beloved book, "The Hobbit" (thanks again Adit!). But that accidentally became the title of the whole blog instead of just this first post. And when I thought about it, what better than an aspiration that this next year ends up being an unexpected party rather than a miserable slog?
Why?
So back to my story - much deliberation of should we's, can we's, and how will we's ensued. The "where will we" was fairly clear - either Haridwar (pictured) or Rishikesh, two quaint towns in the foothills of the Himalayas and on the banks of the Gunga (I much prefer this original Sanskrit word to the anglicised "Ganges"). "But why not Delhi?" a lot of people have asked, "Don't Shibani's parents and most of her extended family live there?". Indeed they do. Two problems - one, most people with whom we will have contact in Delhi actually speak in English(!), hence negating the main reason we are doing this, and two, Delhi's psychotic heat.
What followed was a "let's suss it out" trip early this year, then more speculation, churning, questioning, confirmation (Haridwar it is - good combination of old world sentiments and modern infrastructure), and then a good nine months of preparation, and here we are.. Shibani and Rishabh flew out to Bangkok two days ago. Aadya, Aarushi and I are set to do the same in two days' time. Do you like that symmetry? It doesn't stop there - we go from a large city based around a small river, to a small city based on a large river. And then the motherlode - the name Haridwar means "Gateway to the Gods". Guess what Kobe means in Japanese?
I am pleased that we have at least some small things figured out for now:
1. Travel arrangements between now and February are sorted (see map)
2. 2 trips into the Himalayas sorted. First in March to Ranikhet (near the Indian border with Tibet and also Nepal), and second big one up north in June to escape the heat, to Leh, Manali and Dharmshala (where the Dalai Lama lives). More on these as they happen..
3. Delhi Public School in Haridwar is happy to take the kids in into the same year levels where they would have been here
4. We have secured a furnished 8-bedroom house in Haridwar (pictured.. and you are most welcome to come and stay)
The big unanswered question is what will we (the adults) do in Haridwar? Dad is the closest to having some clue - he has lined up a voluntary lectureship in Mechanical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee (about 25kms from Haridwar). Mum seems to be happy enough to spend time with visiting family (of which there will be plenty, we are assured). Shibani is adamant that she wants to do nothing. As for myself, I have committed to my colleagues at Health Enterprises that I will be online for 50% of most working days. Beyond that I have some vague idea of significantly upping the ante with my Hindustani classical music practice, and also as is wont for most other men turning 40 (which I do in July 2014), getting fit (no lycra clad biking for me though...). That's about it.
And lastly, I hear you ask, "how are the kids coping?" Remarkably well I must say. They have each had a terrific year at school, in sports, and also on stage with drama, dance and music, so there is a natural high to offset the anxiety. I think they really are taking it day by day as they should. Rishabh is clearly enjoying the food and sightseeing in Bangkok. Aadya is so busy with this last week of primary school that she doesn't have time to really think (and what a build up it's been for her - her netball team played in the grand final on Saturday, she picked up the academic award at the graduation ceremony on Monday, and has speeches to prepare and give all week as school captain). Aarushi is really looking forward to celebrating her birthday on Sunday with almost the entire clan from Shibani's Dad's side gathered in Kolkata.
And so we take off. To those of you in India, see you soon! To those here at home and beyond, see you soon also!
The first major reason is to help the kids establish a strong sense of their Indian-Australian identity by becoming conversant with the Hindi language. Both Shibani and I see ourselves as Indian-Australians and we feel fortunate in being able to take the best of both identities and forego the worst of both (for the record and at the risk of stereotyping, in my opinion the best of Australia = egalitarianism, fairness, an easy-going confidence, adventurousness, friendliness, love of outdoors, emphasis on good health and team sport, and a culture of having a go and striving to do your best; the best of India = putting spirituality at the heart of all things, emphasis on hard work, tolerance of other beliefs, adaptability, resilience, and of course, the food, music, dance and colour of celebrations). So we simply want the kids to at least have the choice of identifying themselves as Indian-Australians. I know many of you will say "but surely you can expose them to these things in Melbourne itself? There are after all nearly 100,000 people of Indian origin living in Melbourne..". To that, I respectfully say "no, it's never the same". Actually I think we have done a reasonable job of exposing the kids to the "best of India" and "best of Australia" lists, but the vital missing ingredient is the language - Hindi. They do understand it, can speak it hesitatingly, and can also read and write a little thanks to the last year of Tuesday evening Hindi classes. But not nearly enough to really get it. For example, each time I read just the opening lines of Jai Shankar Prasad's epic Hindi poem "Kamayani", my hair (or whatever remains of it..) stands on end. Written in sublime mitre, they translate as - "Sitting atop a high mountain peak in the cool shadow of a rock, a lone man sadly watches the catastrophic flooding of the world (the "man" is Manu, a character in Indian mythology whose story is remarkably similar to that of Noah). There is water below and ice above, one fluid and the other dense, both manifestations of the same substance; just like our consciousness - dense when limited to the body, fluid when merged with the cosmic consciousness". I want Rishabh, Aadya and Aarushi to understand and be equally inspired by the emotion, faith and philosophy of this poetry.
Other reasons - for the kids to truly see how the other half lives and appreciate how good we have it here; for us to spend time with our family and friends in India; for Shibani and I to have a mid-career break; for us to travel across India, and particularly up and about the majestic Himalayas.
Also, I have some form on this. More by force of circumstance than by design, I had exactly the same experience at about the same age. We lived in Kobe, Japan for 2.5 years where I went to a local primary school, and then in Ballia, India for 1.5 years before moving to Australia. I credit those two stints respectively for instilling in me a love of all things Japanese, and also for helping me learn, understand and come to love the Hindi language.
So back to my story - much deliberation of should we's, can we's, and how will we's ensued. The "where will we" was fairly clear - either Haridwar (pictured) or Rishikesh, two quaint towns in the foothills of the Himalayas and on the banks of the Gunga (I much prefer this original Sanskrit word to the anglicised "Ganges"). "But why not Delhi?" a lot of people have asked, "Don't Shibani's parents and most of her extended family live there?". Indeed they do. Two problems - one, most people with whom we will have contact in Delhi actually speak in English(!), hence negating the main reason we are doing this, and two, Delhi's psychotic heat.What followed was a "let's suss it out" trip early this year, then more speculation, churning, questioning, confirmation (Haridwar it is - good combination of old world sentiments and modern infrastructure), and then a good nine months of preparation, and here we are.. Shibani and Rishabh flew out to Bangkok two days ago. Aadya, Aarushi and I are set to do the same in two days' time. Do you like that symmetry? It doesn't stop there - we go from a large city based around a small river, to a small city based on a large river. And then the motherlode - the name Haridwar means "Gateway to the Gods". Guess what Kobe means in Japanese?
I am pleased that we have at least some small things figured out for now:
1. Travel arrangements between now and February are sorted (see map)2. 2 trips into the Himalayas sorted. First in March to Ranikhet (near the Indian border with Tibet and also Nepal), and second big one up north in June to escape the heat, to Leh, Manali and Dharmshala (where the Dalai Lama lives). More on these as they happen..
3. Delhi Public School in Haridwar is happy to take the kids in into the same year levels where they would have been here
4. We have secured a furnished 8-bedroom house in Haridwar (pictured.. and you are most welcome to come and stay)The big unanswered question is what will we (the adults) do in Haridwar? Dad is the closest to having some clue - he has lined up a voluntary lectureship in Mechanical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee (about 25kms from Haridwar). Mum seems to be happy enough to spend time with visiting family (of which there will be plenty, we are assured). Shibani is adamant that she wants to do nothing. As for myself, I have committed to my colleagues at Health Enterprises that I will be online for 50% of most working days. Beyond that I have some vague idea of significantly upping the ante with my Hindustani classical music practice, and also as is wont for most other men turning 40 (which I do in July 2014), getting fit (no lycra clad biking for me though...). That's about it.
And lastly, I hear you ask, "how are the kids coping?" Remarkably well I must say. They have each had a terrific year at school, in sports, and also on stage with drama, dance and music, so there is a natural high to offset the anxiety. I think they really are taking it day by day as they should. Rishabh is clearly enjoying the food and sightseeing in Bangkok. Aadya is so busy with this last week of primary school that she doesn't have time to really think (and what a build up it's been for her - her netball team played in the grand final on Saturday, she picked up the academic award at the graduation ceremony on Monday, and has speeches to prepare and give all week as school captain). Aarushi is really looking forward to celebrating her birthday on Sunday with almost the entire clan from Shibani's Dad's side gathered in Kolkata.
And so we take off. To those of you in India, see you soon! To those here at home and beyond, see you soon also!
