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सर्दियाँ आख़िर आ ही गयीं। इस समय रात का एक बजा है और कडाके की ठण्ड पड़ रही है।  इस ठण्ड में आख़िर नींद कहाँ आने वाली है। सोचा क्यों न कुछ लिखा जाए। सर्दियाँ आते ही मुझे अपने गाँव कोटगढ़ की याद आती  है। बचपन में स्कूल की छुट्टियां सर्दियों में ही होती थी। तो बस स्कूल ख़तम हुए नहीं के हम सभी बच्चे कोटगढ़ का रुख कर लेते थे। और यह दो महीने पूरे साल के सब से यादगार पल होते थे। दो महीने बस धमाचोक्ड़ी और कुछ नहीं। शिमला की तंग गलियों से निकलकर गाँव के खुले खेत खलिहान खूब भाते थे। साथ में दादा दादी का दुलार जो हमें इन दो महीनों में बिल्कुल बिगाड़ देता था।

हम भाई बहनों की दिनचर्या सुबह सात बजे शुरू होती। उठे और पकड़ लिया बल्ला। नौ बजे तक क्रिकेट खेला जाता। बीच में माँ आकर कई बार खाने के लिए बुलाती पर सुनता कौन था? सुबह  की रसोई नौ बजे बंद होती थी इस लिए मन मार कर खाने के लिए आना पड़ता। खाना खाया, स्नान किया और फ़िर चल दिए मैदान की ओर। माँ घर के काम से फारिग होती तो हमारे पढ़ने का समय हो जाता।   ग्यारह से एक बजे तक पढ़ाई होती और माँ  फिर दिन के खाने में व्यस्त हो जाती। हम लोग दिन का खाना लेकर खेतों में जाते जहाँ दादाजी और बाकी गोरखा कर्मी  हमारी राह देख रहे होते। वह लोग खाने में व्यस्त हो जाते और हम उनके औजारों के साथ धींगामुश्ती करते। इस के बाद शुरू होता पेडों पर चढ़ने का खेल।  कौन सब से ऊपर वाली डाल पर चढ़ कर दिखलाएगा। जो जीतता उसे गाँव के बाजार भेजा जाता दिन का अखबार लाने और साथ में मिलता एक रुपया बख्शीश।

हम बाकी बच्चे खेतों में चर रही गाय लेकर उनको घर वापिस ले चलते। जेसे ही हम दादाजी की नज़रों से ओझल होते हमारा अपना खेल शुरू हो जाता। कौन गाय के थन  से धार मार कर सीधा मुहं में दूध पिएगा। आनन् फानन गाय के लिए घास का प्रभंद किया जाता ताकि वह एक जगह खड़ी रहे। हम लोग बारी बारी गाय का दूध पीते । इस खेल में मेरी मास्टरी थी। हम सब बच्चे लगभग दो किलो दूध पी जाते। घर पहुँचने पर जब गाय को दुहा जाता तो वह दूध कम देती। सब हैरान। रात को जब खाने की बारी होती तो हम सब भूख न होने का बहाना करते। भला दो किलो असली दूध छकने के बाद इस छोटे से पेट में कहाँ जगह बचती थी। उस ज़माने में टेलीविजन नाम की चिड़िया नहीं होती थी। रात के भोजन के बाद दादाजी खँजरी लेकर पहाड़ी गीतें गाते और हम बच्चे नाचते। शायद इस से बेहतर कोई मनोरंजन नहीं हो सकता था। हम तब तक नाचते जब तक थक हार कर वहीँ सो नहीं जाते थे।  दादाजी हम सब को बिस्तर पर छोड़ कर आते और अगले दिन फिर वही धमाचोक्ड़ी मचती।

लोहड़ी आती और घर में उत्सव का माहौल बन जाता। पहाड़ों में इसे मकर सक्रांति के नाम से मनाया जाता है और पहाड़ी भाषा में इसे ‘माघ साजा’ कहा जाता है। दादाजी बताते थे कि माघ और ब्राघ राते में ही निकलते हैं याने इस रात को बर्फ गिरती थी।   माघ साजा पर घर में कई पकवान बनते। सुबह पाँच बजे उठ कर स्नान होता और मुहं अंधेरे में पाजा के पत्तों के साथ हवन किया जाता। फिर गाँव के मन्दिर में जाकर ग्राम देवता के दर्शन किए जाते थे। वापस आकर माह की खिचडी मिलती और साथ में ढेर सारा घी। हम बच्चे खूब छक कर खिचडी और घी का आनंद लेते। इतना खाने के बाद तो सिर्फ़ आराम ही किया जा सकता था। बाद में बच्चों की टोली जुटती और सब निकल जाते लोहडी मांगने। हमारी जेबें रेव्ड़ी, गच्चक से भर जातीं। कहीं कहीं तो एक या दो रुपये भी मिल जाते। पैसे हम माँ को दे देते और रेव्ड़ी गच्चक संभाल कर रख लेते। भला बचपन में पैसों का क्या मोल? घर पर तब तक पकैन, बड़े, चूरे, संनसे बने होते थे। यानि एक और भोज। अगले दिन यह पकैन आदि घर की बेटियों को उनके ससुराल भेजे जाते जिसे पाओड़ कहा जाता है। यह काम भी हमारे ही जिम्मे आता और हम चल देते दो-तीन दिनों की मेहमानी पर।

अब तो यह सब एक स्वप्न ही लगता है। जीवन की व्यस्तता में वह दिन न जाने कहाँ छूट गये हैं। मैं जब आज के बच्चों के बचपन से अपने बचपन के दिनों की तुलना करता हूँ तो केवल मुस्करा कर रह जाता हूँ।

पेश है दुल्ला भट्टी का वोह गीत जो हम लोहडी पर गया करते थे। उम्मीद है यह अब भी आप सब को याद होगा

सुंदर मुन्द्रिया ..हो

तेरा कौन विचारा ..हो

दुल्ला भट्टी वल्ला ..हो

दुल्ले ने ती विअहियी ..हो

सेर शकर पाई ..हो

कुडी दे बोजे पाई ..हो

शाल्लू कौन समेटे ..हो

चाचा गाली देसे ..हो

चाचे छोरी कुटी ..हो

ज़मिन्दारण लुटी ..हो

ज़मिन्दारा सिदाये ..हो

गिन -गिन पोले लाई ..हो

इक पोला रह गया ..हो

सिपाही फरह के लेई गया ..हो

आखो मुंडाओ ताना ..

मुकी दा दाना ..

आना लेई के जाना

लोहडी और मकर सकरान्ति की अग्रिम शुभकामनाएं सहित आप सब को नव वर्ष में शुभ की कामना।

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On the state front, the stage too changed for the state actors. The green cap got replaced with the maroon one. BJP formed the govt. on it’s own strength. Nothing much changed for the common man. In Shimla, the water still came every third day. The roads are still in the same old condition. Earlier a visit to my village made me poorer with 1500. rupees, 500/ for the petrol and 1000/ for the repairs of the car. This figure went up by 30% in 2008. Thanks to the inflation and even worse driving condition on the dusty track called road! The year saw 150 people getting killed at Naina Devi temple where the govt. simply forgot to make arrangements for the large crowd. Another accident near Kufri killed almost all passengers in a bus where the driver  had no license to drive the bus. But it was business as usual for the sarkar as people got killed. Meanwhile the Govt. babus were busy calculating their DAs and other allowances. In between, there was no time left for some actual work for which they happen to get paid. The Congress leaders remained busy fighting among themselves. No one expected them to oppose the govt. as they had their hands full. Major Mankotia announced retirement from politics after completing his ‘defeat Congress’ mission. HP University still remains a hot bed of communists.

On the personnel front, the year went fine. I completed one year in my new job. Elders in the family were still not able to make out how I work from home with just a laptop and a phone and seemed always busy. This blog also completed one year and have reached 7,300 hits. Add to this 4,400 hits to the original Wordpress blog, the combined hits to 9500 ft in the Himalyas were over 11,000. Two of the stories got featured on Blogbharti. Not bad for a rookie! Made new friends this year and got involved with Himvani.  Thanks to Varun. Connected with old friends from Shimlahangout. This year did no major traveling except for a trip to Jallori Pass and to Dharamshala and Dalhousie. The apple crop was average but due to the trouble in Jammu during apple season got good returns. The orchard seem to be demanding more than what it is giving back. Add to this the massive labour problem with Nepalese not coming now, sustaining the orchard is going to be an uphill task.  Kaveri, the daughter will be 2 years old  on Lohri. It has been a joy to watch the kid grow up. Another member is expected to join the family by April.

Here is a wishing everyone a great New 2009. May the New Year bring peace and happiness to you and your family!

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Once there was a little island country. The land of this country was the tiny island itself. The total money in circulation was 2 dollars as there were only two pieces of 1 dollar coins circulating around.

1) There were 3 citizens living on this island country. A owned the land. B and C each owned 1 dollar.

2) B decided to purchase the land from A for 1 dollar. So,now A and C own 1 dollar each while B owned a piece of land that is worth 1 dollar.
* The net asset of the country now = 3 dollars.

3) Now C thought that since there is only one piece of land in the country, and land is non producible asset, its value must definitely go up. So, he borrowed 1 dollar from A, and together with his own 1 dollar, he bought the land from B for 2 dollars.
* A has a loan to C of 1 dollar, so his net asset is 1 dollar.
* B sold his land and got 2 dollars, so his net asset is 2 dollars.
* C owned the piece of land worth 2 dollars but with his 1 dollar debt to A, his net residual asset is 1 dollar.
* Thus, the net asset of the country = 4 dollars.

4) A saw that the land he once owned has risen in value. He regretted having sold it. Luckily, he has a 1 dollar loan to C. He then borrowed 2 dollars from B and acquired the land back from C for 3 dollars. The payment is by 2 dollars cash (which he borrowed) and cancellation of the 1 dollar loan to C. As a result, A now owned a piece of land that is worth 3 dollars. But since he owed B 2 dollars, his net asset is 1 dollar.
* B loaned 2 dollars to A. So his net asset is 2 dollars.
* C now has the 2 coins. His net asset is also 2 dollars.
* The net asset of the country = 5 dollars. A bubble is building up.

5) B saw that the value of land kept rising. He also wanted to own the land. So he bought the land from A for 4 dollars. The payment is by borrowing 2 dollars from C, and cancellation of his 2 dollars loan to A.
* As a result, A has got his debt cleared and he got the 2 coins. His net asset is 2 dollars.
* B owned a piece of land that is worth 4 dollars, but since he has a debt of 2 dollars with C, his net Asset is 2 dollars.
* C loaned 2 dollars to B, so his net asset is 2 dollars.
* The net asset of the country = 6 dollars; even though,the country has only one piece of land and 2 Dollars in circulation.

6) Everybody has made money and everybody felt happy and prosperous.

7) One day an evil wind blew, and an evil thought came to C’s mind. “Hey, what if the land price stop going up, how could B repay my loan. There is only 2 dollars in
circulation, and, I think after all the land that B owns is worth at most only 1 dollar, and no more.”

A also thought the same way.

9) Nobody wanted to buy land anymore.
* So, in the end, A owns the 2 dollar coins, his net asset is 2 dollars.
* B owed C 2 dollars and the land he owned which he thought worth 4 dollars is now 1 dollar. So his net asset is only 1 dollar.
* C has a loan of 2 dollars to B. But it is a bad debt.Although his net asset is still 2 dollars, his Heart is palpitating.
* The net asset of the country = 3 dollars again.

10) So, who has stolen the 3 dollars from the country ? Of course, before the bubble burst B thought his land was worth 4 dollars. Actually, right before the collapse, the net asset of the country was 6 dollars on paper. B’s net asset is still 2 dollars, his heart is palpitating.

11) B had no choice but to declare bankruptcy. C as to relinquish his 2 dollars bad debt to B, but in return he acquired the land which is worth 1 dollar now.
* A owns the 2 coins, his net asset is 2 dollars.
* B is bankrupt, his net asset is 0 dollar. ( he lost everything )
* C got no choice but end up with a land worth only 1 dollar
* The net asset of the country = 3 dollars.

End of the story; But points worth noting.

1.There is however a redistribution of wealth.A is the winner, B is the loser, C is lucky that he is spared.
2.When the bubble burst, the fellow with cash is the winner. The fellows having the land or extending loan to others are the losers. The asset could shrink or in worst
case, they go bankrupt.
3.If there is another citizen D either holding a dollar
or another piece of land but refrains from taking part in the game, he will neither win nor lose. But he will see the value of his money or land go up and down like a see saw.
4.If you are smart and know that you are living in a growing bubble, it is worthwhile to borrow money (like A ) and take part in the game. But you must know when you should change everything back to cash.
5.As in the case of land, the above phenomenon applies to stocks as well.

Source: Internet

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Ashish Malhotra from Bridge View hotel said, “Majority of the bookings have come in the past two days. We have a daily DJ night being organised at the hotel. A white Christmas would have been an icing on the cake for the tourists.” Besides hotels on the Mall road, other hotels on Cart road, Kacchi Ghati and Chotta Shimla have also reported full occupancy. Hotels at Naldehra and Kufri also are running full. HPTDC hotels have also reported full occupancy in Shimla, Fagu and Narkanda. Mr. Ramesh Thakur, Senior Manager at HPTDC’s Hotel Hatu, Narkanda, confirmed the hotel to be full till Dec 31st. Hotels in Fagu also have reported full occupancy. Hotels have started preparations for the New Year Eve, though most of the hoteliers confirmed that bookings for 31st still haven’t picked up.

This year the New Year Eve falls on Wednesday during midweek. Majority of the hotels have introduced packages for New Year Eve and hoteliers sounded hopeful of full occupancy. Hoteliers here are banking upon cancellations in Goa on account of Mumbai terror strikes and subsequent ban on beach parties. “People from North are definitely going to venture out during this period, all we need is snowfall,” said Shalin Sood at Hotel Woodrina. But that sounds a distant possibility as weather sites are predicting clear days till 31st December.

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Had China vetoed this move once again it would have turned Pakistan as a battle field against China; somewhat similar battle ground as West enjoyed against Russia in Afghanistan. China has once again bailed out Pakistan and now controls more swaying power over Pakistani establishment. Pakistan has a strategic geographical location advantage as it is the corridor for the West to access Central Asia. However, now it can’t get done without prior Chinese approval. So it is going to be a tit for tat situation between China and USA. If China feels it’s supplies any where in the world are being pressurized by the West, they can always play the Pakistan card.

China’s other interest in Pakistan is mainly from the point of view of containing India’s influence in the Indian Ocean. China has established bases near Andaman & Nicobar Island and is in the process of creating one of the biggest ports for Pakistan at Gwadar in Baluchistan. (This is a deep sea port at the entrance of Persian Gulf on the Arabian Sea) China plans to connect this port with Karachi through a highway and then  to the Karakorum highway thus having a direct access to the Arabian Sea.  Pakistan, now economically crippled, welcomes all Chinese investments and China no longer needs to cajole Pakistan. Chinese influence has been growing in Africa and in no time will it establish ports in Africa making it a potent naval force in Asia and Africa, from South China sea across the Indian Ocean to the Arabian sea.

India is a large country however is strategically less significant. India will have to strive for good trade relations with China but will continue to counter China in strategic spheres. In the coming years, India will have to walk a tight rope in balancing the relations with the USA and China. India could not have won the UNSC ban on Jamaat had the US or China vetoed it.

Pakistan, by its nature, will go at any lengths not to be seen as geo-strategically useless. Because of its geographical location, Pakistan will continue to be a “rent” state, someone who charges a heavy price - cash, aid, weapons etc - for its location in the sub-continent. Pakistan would be happy being a pawn of the USA or China.

It took both India and Pakistan 60 years to reach where they are. Despite all the challenges related to multiple race, religion and ethnicity, India has reached a position that actually brings some amount of respect from people all across the world. On the other side, Pakistani leadership took all these 60 years to turn their country into a slave of the powerful, nothing more! Instead of investing time and effort to create a functional civil society nation Pakistan ended up creating human bombs. Patience within India and the Western countries is ending slowly given it’s open track record of aiding and abetting terrorism in entire South Asia and the world. Could there be covert re-thinking happening, probably redrawing boundaries of our neighbor nation? China would however like to see India and Pakistan at peace to avoid excessive US influence in the region and especially in India.

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The company is offering a call rate of 20 paise per minute for Vodafone to Vodafone localcalls, 50 paise per minute for Vodafone to other local mobiles and 60 paise per minute for Vodafone to  local land line calls. This will be available on a power top up of Rs. 39/ per month for pre paid customers in the state. Vodafone numbers will be available in 97360xxxxx series. More details will be available at the launch today at  Shimla.

Till now the market leader Airtel has not been affected with the arrival of other companies in the state. Idea, Aircel and Reliance have massive distribution and technical problems and have not been able to reach the customers in proper fashion, one reason why Airtel has been acting cocky being a market leader for so long. BSNL, on the other hand has grown from strength to strength and it’s latest student pack has been a big hit . BSNL offers one of the best coverage in the entire state including the tribal districts.

Looking forward for a price war among mobile companies in Himachal. I am with Airtel for the past 7 years with 6 connections in the family and have not received a single thank you card/ gift / movie vouchers ever. I will be the first to switch over to Vodafone wagon.

Vodafone Himachal site is now live. <u>Click here for more details.</u>

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