As I liked it!!!

You can call it laziness or utter forgetfulness, wrote this poem to capture the finer moments of my trip to Ladakh, but never found time for over a month now to edit and post it. Finally, after much effort, here are the Things I liked in the trip to Ladakh:

Mighty Mountains stretched all the way!

In all shades 'n' colours - green, brown and grey

One was even pink, topped with some snow

Like a chocolate cake, or brownie sundae!

They held us in awe

By their sheer size

No hills i saw before

Were as tall as they raise

Roads curved into loops

Or spiralled down the side

With bridges big and small,

Built for a smooth ride

With landscapes rolling past

Like a fast changing dream

They took us through the passes

Close to valleys and streams..

Streams ran across the roads

Marked with funny sign boards

"Be soft on my curves", was a good one

"I love you, but not so fast",to slow down the run

Rapids not so fierce,

Made rafting a fun,
Paddling thru the waves

which tossed us in return,

At night we camped, near Zanskar

Watching the sky, spotted a few shooting star

Pleasant were the Sounds of the river flowing beside

And sight of the moon dancing on the tide

We crossed a weary desert,

To reach Pangong,

Our pains were forgotten,

Its beauty was worth a song

Pagal Naala's chilling waters,

Put us to test,

We formed a human chain

And crossed the river with zest

Zozila pass was God's beautiful stroke

On hills with Clouds rising like smoke

As if rays of sun was kindling the fire within

Dazzling the valley and the river flowing in

Off to Srinagar to spend a day on Dal,

A Cabin by the lake and ride by nightfall,

Fireworks and flowers brightened our stay

Better than the gondolas in gulmarg, i would say!

We hoped to see the Golden temple

By sunrise

But rain poured in

Picture perfect in our eyes

A note in the end

About the food we had

Fried Makhan fish

And tandoori chicken to add :)

Those were the nicest

Memories i picked

Too long for a poem

Much short for an epic!

What is love?

A sign board on the entrance to the Kargil War Memorial near Drass said "I only regret that I have only one life to sacrifice for my country". I was shocked rather confused. What is love? I love my family, friends, books, art and everything beautiful in nature. But I question myself whether I can sacrifice my life for someone or something dear to me in my life, or atleast would be facing a challenge of that sort.

Bible says, "There is no greater love than to lay your life down for a friend", but what kind of love is it, to lay down your life for the homeland, for the unknown many who don't even know you existed and died to save them or worst who don't care even after you did indeed!


What is about this land that one decides to die for it? All over the roads on the Drass valley I saw sign boards quoting, "Thank you. Your visit inspires us" What have we as Indians, who live our lives in our own shells done, to inspire the soldiers who fight the fierce enemies and harsh weather?

Will a short trip to their graves or a small prayer in their tombs account for the sacrifices they have done, unasked for?

A tribute to the heroes of Kargil

I had been to Ladakh recently for a two weeks vacation. On our return trip we took the Leh-Kargil-Drass-Srinagar route. I had the oppurtunity of visiting "Vijay Path", the war memorial for the soldiers of Kargil war 1999. Inspired by the sacrifice of our Indian soldiers, I am posting a blog on them trying to replicate what I saw there.

The entrance to the War Memorial:
The memorial:

Description of the events of the period: An inscrition in the wall which lists the names of those killed/wounded in the war, it says "Flowers will be strewn every year on the graves of the matyrs, this is what will be the reminders of those who lay down their lives for the country"


Wall of Fame I would say, list of the matyrs and the wounded:

A few verses which depicts the true spirit of Patriotism, it goes like this, "I dont want to be part of the garland meant for Gods or beloved ones, but pluck me and strew me on the paths the soldiers march to sacrifice their lives for the motherland"In the War Gallery: Key locations where the Kargil war was fought, a kalash (ash of the matyrs) on which prayers are offered each year by priets of various religions, Ode to the faceless soldiers who died for the Nation and the complete list of Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra awardees! A tribute I could do...

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