Journey through creativity

THE RADIANT smile, utterly cheerful face, silky mane cascading down to her waist, slim figure - all belie Anju Poddar's age. And she doesn't mind flaunting it either. "I am 50 years old and a grandmother too," she declares, amidst talking about her book "A Journey to the Heavens", much to the disbelief of the small audience at the Landmark bookshop, recently. It's not just her appearance. Hear her talk, the enthusiasm and energy can put a teenager to shame. Quite apparently, there was never a dull moment as Anju Poddar spoke with the ease and elan of a seasoned writer, while she is just a book old.

Penning a book was no conscious move for this Hyderabad-based daughter of industrialist, K.N. Modi. It just happened after she returned from a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar. "I have always kept a diary and did so even during my arduous 20-day journey. However tired I was, every night I would carefully jot down the day's activities. When my friends saw how well- documented and extensive the diary was, they suggested that I compile the copious notes into a book," explains Anju.

What emerged was a soul-stirring travelogue and a perfect guide for prospective travellers. As if words were not enough, the beautiful pictures shot by Anju, memorabilia in the form of soil, pebbles, air and bus tickets, stamps, entry passes etc., paintings of the sacred place by renowned artists and maps illustrating the route, reveal the writer's meticulousness and sincerity in sharing her experiences and providing practical tips to readers. She has put down in minutest detail the preparations she made for the yatra - right from finding a reliable travel agent, getting Chinese visas, buying good books, maps on the area, to writing the sankalp mantra (there are no priests, each has to say his/her own prayers), food supplies, shoes, medicines, clothing, Swiss army knife, torchlight (with lots of extra batteries), sunglasses without metal frames, clothes clips etc.

"A Journey to the Heavens" also delves into the myths surrounding the two holy places. "I had heard about them from my parents. So in a sense, I was able to relate to all that I saw. For instance, a dog followed us on our parikrama at Kailash, reminding me of the dog that went up with the Pandavas".

Her face instantly lights up, when she narrates her account. "It's pristine pleasure, pure happiness... No, I really cannot describe it," she says hurriedly.

At a height of 5,340 mts, Mount Kailash also known as Mount Meru, is referred to as the navel of the earth, informs Anju. One parikrama of the mountain is a three-day trip and 53 km long. Mansarovar is said to be the manifestation of Lord Brahma's mind. It is at a height of 4,560 mts with a circumference of 110 kms and 300 feet deep. Through the year the lake remains frozen but, around May when the waters thaw, the pilgrims start their yatra.

A religious person, Anju had been planning the pilgrimage for many years. It finally materialised last year after a chance call from a close friend, Sheetal Bangur and her family.

"You need faith and determination to make it," she says matter-of-factly. The four of them (Anju and her friends) did not choose the usual route taken by most Indians through the Kumaon Hills. But instead, chose the Nepal-Lhasa-Mansarovar-Darchen route. "We were fortunate to get a travel agent who made excellent arrangements. After Lhasa(Tibet capital) we were either travelling in a four-wheeler or walking. We also owe it to the Chinese herbal massage parlours in the villages on the way, which helped rejuvenate our tired nerves and kept us going".

The hand-written script font is what sets this book (brought out by Samay Publications, Rs. 485) apart. But the most notable feature is a foreword by the Dalai Lama. There is also a message by Karan Singh and former director of the CBI, D. R. Karthikeyan.

If you cannot lay your hands on the book, you can view the CD-Rom and video films created by the writer herself. All fruits of her spiritual odyssey.

CHITRA SWAMINATHAN

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Features
Previous : Non-stop entertainer