Mr. Mountain

This sudden outburst of words from me has left me with no other options, but to write! I had been reading so fast that my word-bank got a little stuff to show off. Vedic culture, life, religions, root of humans etc were my materials. I always have this liking for our past, history and the unknown power God. My brief reading on these topics has stirred my thoughts and finally prepared me to scribble something, let loose my block I had been suffering from for past few months [years?]. I had once written about mountains, but not shown it the ‘light’. Let me attempt it now. I was born in a very calm and quiet village in the outskirts of the valley of the Western Ghats. I used to wait for the monsoon floods to settle down so that I could easily take a walk to the middle of the paddy fields, gaze at the mighty mountain range and see the thin silver lines on Him [I follow the Indian way of assigning sex for the mountain, I prefer called it Him]. The rains would have, as I told, brought narrow water falls on the ranges, that can be easily spotted by naked eye even at a distance of 20-30 kilometers. The clouds would lazily move blocking my view; I had to wait patiently, requesting my grandfather to stay with me till I saw the falls enough. Grandfather was always patient enough to accompany this silly girl’s strolls for such simple joyful experiences. That is why I miss him so much in my life. His death was a blow I could ever take; I don’t think I will ever have to face anything worse. The school where I had done my ten-year education was blessed with the horizon marked by Him. My classrooms for upper primary education was all in a row in the first floor of the new block of our school. The elevation very well permitted me to continue gazing at my piece of wonder for six long years. I had silently prayed to get the side seat of benches so that my window and I could see the mountain stay there, calm and like a mighty young man! Yes, by the time I did start see the young man in Him. I was well fed by my grandmother on the Hindu Mythology. For me myths were as good as real. I learned that Shiva was powerful Lord who danced and smoked. He was not liked by all but still loved by the eternal feminine power Shakti. I did start empathizing with most of the mythological situations by then. ‘I learned’ that Krishna was very cunning and smart that he did all possible mischief to get things done. I started having a dislike for him. All that stories of his innocence and goodness was brushed away by the prejudice [well I am not intending to pick a fight with Krishna devotees, neither am I going to conclude that I eventually fell in love with Krishna]. Along with the huge portions of butter, my grandmother gave me all that spiritual education for a lifetime. The mountain had his mood fluctuations according to me. He was clear and happy through the months October, November and December. He preferred to meet his dry days rather calm, during our summer break. Monsoon, he celebrated. Was it my mind or the Mountain? My long chats [or chants] with him lasted to be strong and silent. Our communications remained very relevant to each other. The chat was taken to better ways when He took me to his lands. My pre degree education was done in a very strange place, and the only resort for me during my solitary hours, were the hills around. I had witnessed a few forest fires laying their borders in the dark- crimson red. The evening skies atop the hills were a feast for me. They spread a new pattern for me every other day. I was away from my home, in a hostel for the first time in life, and all I missed was Him near my school. But He was so kind to surprise me with His hills to entertain me through. He assured that he was there by my side. Graduation was done back in hometown. I was a very bad teenager to my parents. Rather a trouble maker. The only consoles for my unsure activities were my silent prayers to Him. For the first time, He suggested me a friend. The Ocean. I could view Her from the huge windows near my seats. Three long years, I tried rather hard to focus on Her, knowing very well that it was not what I wanted. Urbanization was more of a ‘term’ for a small town girl. I have read it in plenty in my history texts. But nothing more that the word meaning I could experience till I was rooted in the commercial capital of the state. My post graduation was in a town where every bit of the nature-lover in me was disappointed with. Smoke, soot, population, dirt, mosquitoes…the best part of those days I admit are my friends who last for my lifetime. I had to take sneak peeks into the nearby waterfall [a large one], to satisfy my longingness for greenery. The rains I have felt atop the falls, I have and will never again feel in my life. I terribly missed the Mighty presence. But all I could do was to wait. I was given a window seat for my maiden flight to Mumbai. My husband was so thoughtful to make sure that I get a full view of the land below. I had the full view of the land beneath… I flew over Him… it was sad. His fellow hills being carved and robbed. It looked as if the land was bleeding. The greenery gave way to sad shades of urbanization below my feet. The flight descended to the slums, they greeted me with sarcasm. I was helpless. The giant mouth of Mumbai gulped the energy in me. I was little curious to learn about the ‘progress’ man made there. I could not wait till I found myself seated at the rear seat of a car, free to gaze at the unending roads that took us to Rajasthan. The destination was Mt. Abu. We climbed the roads listening to our friend’s lecture about the oldest of mountain ranges in the country- the Aravalli. I recollected my boring geography lessons which were surrendered to Him. My teachers then had taught us to mark the ranges on the map, we learned like puppies. Had they told us how important they are, I would have leaned forward to remember them for life! I also heard him say that the mountain is facing threat of illegal mining. How brutal man can be. He sees the nature giving, he robs her, leaving her with little options, but to rob him back- rather uproot him at times! I am no activist, I am active and alert when I take decisions. I consider the blessings of nature when I make a choice and I never let Her be the second priority. I see that it is not a big task; it is so simple to live nature-friendly. Who is making it too big a thing? We need mountains, rivers, wind, fire and ether. I intend to raise no eyebrows. I intend to stimulate a thought. Those who find time to read this, please. Let us think alike, do a little so that the future gets to see nothing really bad!