2012-01-26
Today is republic day, a very important day of India's democracy. A little history ( just because..) lesson...India got freedom on August 15 , 1947 and the constitution was drafted and implemented on Jan 26, 1950. So it is very appropriate to visit the , " father of the nation: Gandhi" today.
Last night we went to Sonu's( my nephew) home for dinner. Rhea has grown up as much, she is as tall as I am. Took Early morning flight to Ahmadabad. The airport has become very nice and clean but the security is crazy. There were cops with old guns everywhere and the airline person made us shuffle the load around ( very annoying) but the flight was good, only one hour. At the air port I heard Vande Matram ( Indian national song) after a long time, it was quite emotional.
Ahmadabad ( see the map below) is the biggest city in Gujarat state and the roads etc are quite nice, but it is still India. We drove through the city and are staying with a friend and his son ( tow grandkids and daughter in law) They have a huge house in the Satellite colony( India's first Satellite station on 70's, sort of like NASA of India). They have wild peacocks , monkeys and snakes in the back yard ( and lots of mosquitoes :(
I met up with Unmesh Sheth , president of ICA ( the NGO from bay area) and he took us around to show highlights.
We went to Sambermati Ashram . It is where Gandhi lived from 1917 to 1930. It is also where the freedom movement started with the 200km march to make salt at the ocean ( salt march). It is also where do met so many world leaders, gave sermons and held prayers every evening. It also has Vinoba Bhave's home too ( where he lived for 10 years) .
Just joining is it , "Manav Sadhna" a magical place run by Jeyesh Bhai and Charity Focus ( a non profit in bay area). They run classes and mentor kids from the slum across the street. Many young and old from USA come here to volunteer.
After this was a lesson in Older history: A well from 14th century , called VAV These are five stories deep ( or more) and are carved in sand stone and at the bottom of it is the water well. In old times this water was used for drinking and the place was used for water as well as for socializing. There are many wells like this in the area but this is the most elobrate one.
Back home, just relaxing and socializing with the hosts. The house has peacocks roaming in the back yard and walking around in the driveway. They fly in, hang out and fly back. It is weird to look out the window and see a Peacock fly by or hear the calls of peacocks. I will try to take few pictures tomorrow.
We went out for a traditional Gujrati meal and it was excellent. Ate stuff that i never ate before and on the way back saw a shopping mall. These are springing up all over India and people are quite happy to go in and just wonder around. Security to enter the shopping malls is quite tight and they do check people before letting them in for shopping ....:)
I am sort of tired now ( may be the Maleria pills)...Good night from the town of Mahatma Gandhi.
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